Translational Research Institute

Congratulations, TRI-based Infensa Bioscience and the team's researchers from The University of Queensland, nominated as a finalist in the Shaping Australia Awards. They are among five finalists in the problem solver category.

Conceived by Universities Australia and supported by The Australian the awards recognise universities’ achievements in solving the nation’s biggest challenges.

The Infensa team is using a molecule from a funnel-web spider's venom for a medicine to stop cell death during heart attack and stroke - as well as for use in protecting donor hearts during transplantation.

Voting for the awards is open until January 19 at https://bit.ly/4hulxwR and winners will be announced on February 25.

Read about the Infensa team's work: https://bit.ly/3YQJF5k

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPi1ZI784og

TRI-based Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani from The University of Queensland is approaching an important milestone in his work to reduce the burden of skin cancers in organ transplant recipients.

He is leading SiroSkin, which has passed the half-way point of recruiting the trial's 150 participants from around Australia.

Immune suppressive therapies allow many solid organ transplant recipients to live longer and healthier lives, but they also increase the risk of skin cancer. SiroSkin is investigating whether a topical ointment can reduce the number of skin cancers on the face in this population.

Read more about SiroSkin: https://www.masc.org.au/siroskin/

Recognition for TRI CEO Professor Scott Bell today: he has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

It reflects Professor Bell's standing as an internationally recognised respiratory physician and research leader, who has enhanced understanding of the mechanisms of infection and transmission in people with cystic fibrosis.

The election represents an opportunity to provide expert advice and advocacy in conversations with the community, industry and government about pressing health needs.

QUT (Queensland University of Technology) The University of Queensland Mater Queensland Health Queensland Government

Congratulations to all the TRI-based students recognised for their excellent research and presentation skills during the TRI Student Symposium.

Organised by the OneTRI Student Committee, the symposium included a poster session and a suite of oral presentations. There were also early-career researchers facilitating discussions and career sessions with guest speakers from industry, academia, operations, clinical research and core facilities.

Those recognised included:
- Best PhD talk: Rizky Nurdiansyah, QUT (Queensland University of Technology)
- Best Masters/Honours talk: Jenna Theron, The University of Queensland
- Runner-up, student talk: Lilibeth Cárdenas, QUT
- People's choice, talk: Wendy Kao, UQ

- Best PhD poster: Bhadra Kerala Varma, UQ
- Best Masters/ Honours poster: Danielle Gavanescu, UQ
- Runner-up, poster: Chenping Du, Mater Research
- People's choice, poster: Giuseppina Guida, QUT

Thank you to all the presenters at our TRI Cancer Therapy Seminar today, covering important topics such as genetic mutations, metastasis and therapy resistance.

We heard about the challenges, successes and next steps to be taken to improve understanding - and ultimately treatment - in lung, breast and brain cancer, leukaemia and skin cancer.

Thank you, Dr Paniz Tavakoli, Dr Jodi Saunus, Dr Rochelle DSouza, Dr Chenhao Zhou, Dr Murugan Kalimutho, Dr Mark Adams, Simranpreet Kaur and Dr Prahlad Raninga.

Mater The University of Queensland QUT (Queensland University of Technology) QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Congratulations, Wilson Architects, marking your 140th anniversary.

Our beautiful TRI building is among the practice’s award-winning design portfolio, conceived as a series of interconnected places to enable a community of research, with opportunities for collaboration.

The Australian Institute of Architects recognised the design with National Architecture Awards in 2013 for public and interior architecture, among a long list of accolades.

Wilson Architects have also designed our new translational manufacturing facility, set to begin operations in 2026.

Read more about the TRI building, in the words of Wilson Architects: https://www.wilsonarchitects.com.au/laboratories/translational-research-institute

Research has come to life for high school students from around Queensland.

The students spent time in a laboratory at TRI as part of a program delivered by Students Performing Advanced Research - Queensland Education (SPARQ-ed).

They were part of an immersion program, working with TRI-based Associate Professor Fiona Simpson and members of her research team from The University of Queensland.

Laboratory work began with learning how to use micropipettes and count cells. Students then completed an uptake assay and immunofluorescence staining - key elements of A/Prof Simpson's cancer research.

About SPARQ-ed: https://www.tri.edu.au/sparq-ed

Queensland Department of Education

TRI has today welcomed Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC FRS FMedSci, with a Game Changer Seminar that covered science, social media and cows. Yes, cows.

Professor Doherty regaled us with stories about his research career in immunology, and his thoughts on the challenges facing us into the future, as well as the importance of critical thinking. He shared that once upon a time, a fire truck was named after him. And Professor Doherty told the audience that his first job was as a vet on Queensland's Darling Downs, looking after pregnant cows.

The main take-aways for the audience:

- Discovery science is vital and needs ongoing government support. Without it, there is little science to translate into products and services that improve the lives of sick and injured people.

- Good science underpins all success, including building a good team. Do good science and people will want to work with you.

- The need for antiviral medications will grow into the future, with drug resistance expected to become a greater challenge.

- Communicating to people outside of research is important, including through social media. Use these channels for encouraging critical thinking, with evidence as a base to ensure credibility.

A special thanks to TRI-based Professor Gabrielle Belz from The University of Queensland for facilitating a brilliant discussion; and Lauren Aoude for hosting the fireside chat at our early and mid-career researcher morning tea.

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month - an opportunity to highlight why research is so crucial. Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with 9 people losing their lives to the disease every day.

TRI-based researchers are studying genetics, cancer biology, molecular and cellular processes; developing vaccines and new treatments; and using high-speed imaging, advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Join us at TRI on Friday 18 October to hear from scientists, clinicians and advocates at the Public Breast Cancer Research Forum: https://frazer.uq.edu.au/event/7057/public-breast-cancer-research-forum-2024

The University of Queensland QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Mater Queensland Health Metro South Health National Breast Cancer Foundation PA Research Foundation

Artificial intelligence: Friend or foe?

TRI-based Professor H. Peter Soyer from The University of Queensland has presented a plenary lecture at the EADV - European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress in Amsterdam.

Professor Soyer has spoken about AI's potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, especially in melanoma; personalise treatments; and improve patient outcomes.

He also detailed challenges, such as a reliance on technology potentially leading to a decline in clinicians’ diagnostic skills; data privacy; and the ethical use of personal health information.

About the Congress: https://eadv.org/congress/

Too many people have to live with disease. But when you take the entire population, it’s actually quite a small number proportionally. It’s an intriguing question: why aren’t all of us sick all of the time?

It's a question TRI-based Professor and Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow Gabrielle Belz from The University of Queensland poses in Cosmos - the Science of Everything.

https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/unravelling-the-immune-system/

It's RU OK Day, inspiring and empowering everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life.

We have started the conversation, put on some coffee and made sweet treats as part of our OneTRI initiative to bring awareness on this important day.

Thank you to the OneTRI Wellbeing Committee, volunteers and those who contributed to raising $875 for R U OK?

TRI-based SPARQ-ed does more than introducing high school students to life in a laboratory - and inspiring them to consider STEM subjects and careers.

The SPARQ-ed team also helps build outstanding leaders and innovators contributing to STEM education.

Take the Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in STEM Education as one measure. Six SPARQ-ed alumni have been recognised in the awards:

Maisie Atwell from Clifton State High School
Madeleine Lawson from Maroochydore State High School
Yusra Mahmood from Browns Plains State High School
Leila McLean from St Monica's College, Cairns (pictured)
Rohit Vaidya from Whitsunday Anglican School (also pictured)
Corbin Wood from Moranbah State High School.

About SPARQ-ed: https://www.tri.edu.au/sparq-ed
Meet the winners here: https://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/file/5da759ed-285d-4132-b8e8-58198109fb03/1/html/doherty-awards.html

Queensland Department of Education