Institute for Molecular Bioscience

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Institute for Molecular Bioscience We harness nature to discover cures for a better world Our vision is to create a world with a cure for every disease.

We harness our knowledge of nature to create sustainable cures for diseases that plague people, animals and plants. Our researchers use Australian venoms, plants and soils to stop superbugs in their tracks, to create better cancer treatments, to ensure patients survive strokes and heart attacks, to solve inflammatory diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and to develop environmentally friendly and effective pesticides. We are based at The University of Queensland in Brisbane/Meanjin, Australia.

From discovery to impact.Last night, the Institute for Molecular Bioscience community came together to celebrate innovat...
08/10/2026

From discovery to impact.

Last night, the Institute for Molecular Bioscience community came together to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, and research translation at the 2026 Inflazome Translational Award and Ignite Innovation Award Pitch Night.

Congratulations to our outstanding finalists:
🔹 Dr Sabrina Sofia Burgener
🔹 Dr David Eagles, PhD
🔹 Dr Dani Rojas Azofeifa
🔹 Dr Solal Chauquet

And special congratulations to this year's award recipients:

🏆 Dr David Eagles - 2026 Ignite Innovation Award recipient ($40,000) for developing a non-addictive treatment for endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.

🏆 Dr Sabrina Sofia Burgener - 2026 IMB Inflazome Translational Award recipient ($125,000) for advancing an inflammasome-based diagnostic for chronic liver disease.

Together, the finalists showcased the breadth of impact-driven research underway at IMB, spanning women's health, chronic disease diagnostics, transplantation medicine, and cardiovascular therapeutics.

A huge thank you to our judges, mentors, supporters, donors, UniQuest colleagues, and the IMB team for making the program such a success.

The future of biomedical innovation is bright, and it was inspiring to see the next generation of research translation on display.

We’re so excited to see Institute for Molecular Bioscience Dr Rosemary Cater recognised with the 2027 Margaret Oakley Da...
07/10/2026

We’re so excited to see Institute for Molecular Bioscience Dr Rosemary Cater recognised with the 2027 Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award from the Biophysical Society!

The award recognises her contributions to advancing the structural and biophysical understanding of transporters at the blood-brain barrier.

Rosemary joins an incredible group of women recognised by this award, which she’ll receive in Philadelphia early next year.

Well done, Rosie! 👏

Help us champion women’s health research 💜We’re looking for UQ Giving Day ambassadors to help raise awareness and suppor...
05/10/2026

Help us champion women’s health research 💜

We’re looking for UQ Giving Day ambassadors to help raise awareness and support fundraising for women’s health research at IMB.

Women’s health research matters because too many conditions affecting women are still poorly understood, difficult to diagnose or lacking effective treatments. At IMB, researchers are working to understand these conditions better and improve diagnosis, treatment and care for women and girls, including research into endometriosis, reproductive health, cancer, cardiovascular disease and pregnancy complications.

This UQ Giving Day, 21 October, we can come together to support research that could help improve the health and lives of women and girls for generations to come. Volunteer as a UQ Giving Day ambassador and play a part in supporting women’s health research by sharing posts, spreading the word and encouraging your networks to get involved.

Want to help make a difference? To find out more about volunteering as a UQ Giving Day ambassador and to register, visit: https://givingday.uq.edu.au/pages/ambassadors

This week, IMB opened its doors to some very special visitors! 🧑‍🔬✨ Our annual Family Day saw our researchers and staff ...
03/10/2026

This week, IMB opened its doors to some very special visitors! 🧑‍🔬✨

Our annual Family Day saw our researchers and staff welcome their families to IMB for a morning of fun, hands-on science, curious questions and plenty of discovery. 🧪🧬

The Junior Scientist Hub was buzzing with activities, while lab tours gave children, partners and loved ones a behind-the-scenes look at the research happening across the Institute.

Family Day is a wonderful opportunity to share a little of what we do on the daily and give a glimpse into the work, passion and curiosity that drive discovery at IMB.

We loved welcoming our extended IMB family and inspiring the next generation of scientists along the way.

Who knows what they might discover next? 🌱

The University of Queensland

Congratulations to Institute for Molecular Bioscience Professor Glenn King, who has been elected a 2026 Fellow of the A...
02/10/2026

Congratulations to Institute for Molecular Bioscience Professor Glenn King, who has been elected a 2026 Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE).

Professor King is internationally recognised for his work in arthropod venoms and harnessing their components for human therapeutics and next-generation bioinsecticides. His research has translated discoveries from venom into new drug candidates, including a funnel-web spider venom-derived treatment that has progressed into clinical trials.

Well done, Glenn, on this fantastic achievement, and congratulations to all the 2026 ATSE Fellows. 👏

AI and microscopy: where do we draw the line?A new Nature News article explores the debate around AI-assisted scientific...
02/10/2026

AI and microscopy: where do we draw the line?

A new Nature News article explores the debate around AI-assisted scientific imaging following controversy surrounding this year’s Nikon Small World in Motion competition.

Institute for Molecular Bioscience group leader Dr Melanie White, who heads the Dynamics of Morphogenesis Lab and is an Affiliate Senior Research Fellow at the School of Biomedical Sciences, is featured in the article, sharing her perspective on the importance of ensuring scientific images remain grounded in the underlying data.

It’s great to see Melanie’s expertise contributing to this important conversation about the evolving role of AI in scientific imaging.

Read the full article 🔗 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03086-z

The latest defence in the fight against hospital microbes? Something you can’t even see. 🦠 A new two-year trial at The P...
24/09/2026

The latest defence in the fight against hospital microbes? Something you can’t even see. 🦠

A new two-year trial at The Prince Charles Hospital is putting a newly developed antimicrobial coating to the test in the ICU. Developed through collaboration between UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology - AIBN and the Critical Care Research Group, the coating is designed to reduce microbial contamination on surfaces and equipment.

It’s a tiny layer with potentially huge implications. If the trial proves successful, the technology could mean fewer infections and shorter hospital stays. We're excited to see this collaboration in action and to celebrate the work of the Critical Care Research Group and our colleagues at AIBN.

Professor John Fraser, who leads the Critical Care Research Group, sees the trial as an example of what collaboration can achieve: “This is just another example of how world-class collaboration across multidisciplinary teams can lead to major improvements in healthcare and save lives.”

Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/4Azt0UU

Metro North Health

A huge congratulations to Institute for Molecular Bioscience researchers Dr Rosemary Cater, Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Chris...
23/09/2026

A huge congratulations to Institute for Molecular Bioscience researchers Dr Rosemary Cater, Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Christian Nefzger, Dr Samuel Robinson and Dr Benjamin Weger, who have secured Australian Research Council 2026 Future Fellowships, supporting the next chapter of their groundbreaking research.

The fellowships recognise those making significant contributions to their fields and provide dedicated support for the next stage of their research. Together, the five fellowships provide more than $5.4 million in funding and allow each researcher to build on their work over four years, develop their ideas, and advance scientific discovery.

Dr Rosemary Cater will explore how choline, an essential nutrient for brain development and function, crosses the brain’s protective barrier. The project will focus on how choline is transported into the brain and between its cells, helping us better understand how essential nutrients reach the brain.

Dr Jennifer Deuis’ research will investigate how venom-derived peptides can be used to selectively and precisely alter the function of sodium channels, which play an important role in the nervous system. This could provide new insights into sodium channel structure and function and help establish a framework for designing peptide-based therapeutics and pesticides.

Dr Christian Nefzger will investigate how ageing changes the way cells maintain their identity, focusing on shifts in the activity of DNA regions that control which genes are switched on. By exploring how these age-related changes can reactivate very early developmental programs, his research could inform future approaches to preserve cell function and promote healthy ageing.

Dr Samuel Robinson’s project will identify and characterise new toxins found in animal and plant venoms that target the sensory nervous system and trigger pain. These toxins can then be used as tools to better understand how the sensory nervous system works, with the potential to inform new treatments for conditions such as chronic pain.

Dr Benjamin Weger will test whether the rhythmic breakdown of glycogen, a key energy store, helps coordinate circadian rhythms across different organs. His research will examine how metabolism helps regulate these rhythms, looking at how different tissues communicate to keep physiological processes in sync.

Congratulations to all of the successful ARC Future Fellowship recipients on this significant achievement. Here’s to the next four years of getting stuck into the research!

The University of Queensland

Earlier this month, we welcomed delegates from the IndOz Conference 2026 to our labs for a closer look at the research h...
22/09/2026

Earlier this month, we welcomed delegates from the IndOz Conference 2026 to our labs for a closer look at the research happening at the UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

Our guests got to go behind the scenes and explore some of the work happening across IMB, including genomics, chemistry and research exploring molecules from Australia’s unique flora and fauna.

The visit was part of the Australia-Indonesia Partnering for Innovation event hosted by UQ Global Partnerships in collaboration with Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC) and IndOz Conference.

We look forward to strengthening connections with researchers in Indonesia, sharing ideas and building collaborations across the global research community 🇮🇩 🇦🇺

From hunting for new antibiotics to leading global efforts against antimicrobial resistance, Professor Mark Blaskovich's...
22/09/2026

From hunting for new antibiotics to leading global efforts against antimicrobial resistance, Professor Mark Blaskovich's research is making a real-world impact.

We're delighted to congratulate Mark on receiving the 2027 ASM Award for Applied and Biotechnological Research, an international honour recognising outstanding achievements in advancing the microbial sciences.

A fantastic recognition of Mark's dedication to developing new solutions in the fight against drug-resistant infections.

Read the list of winners here - https://bit.ly/4dwv71H

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