2010 Annual Report - Institute for Molecular Bioscience - University ...

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IMB HIGHLIGHTS 2010
TINY FISH MAY HOLD KEY
TO CANCER AND LYMPHATIC
DISEASE BREAKTHROUGHS
An IMB researcher is using small
transparent fish as a weapon in the
battle against cancer and lymphatic
disease. Dr Ben Hogan won a $70,000
UQ Foundation Research Excellence
Award to advance his work using
zebrafish to study the development of
the lymphatic system.
Lymphatic vessels form a network
similar to that of blood vessels to
transport fluid, immune cells and fats
around the body, and are also the route
through which cancer spreads.
“Despite these major functions, the
lymphatic system remains one of the
most understudied organ systems in
terms of its development,” Dr Hogan
said. “We have identified several
zebrafish mutants that develop without
lymphatic vessels, and will genetically
map four of these mutants and identify
genes essential for lymphatic vessel
development.”
Dr Ben Hogan in the zebrafish facility.
PERFECT SCORE FOR IMB HONOURS STUDENT
Ernest Tee, an honours student from
the Cooper group, was named the
Valedictorian of the UQ Bachelor
of Science, coming first in his
graduating class of 332 Bachelor
of Science and 162 Bachelor of
Science (Honours) students with
a grade point average of 7.0 – a
perfect score.
Mr Tee’s honours project involved
synthesising a chemical compound
called essramycin that supposedly
demonstrated antibacterial activity.
Ernest Tee, Bachelor of
Science Valedictorian and
IMB honours student
Mr Tee successfully manufactured an
artificial version of essramycin and
also confirmed its chemical structure.
However, he found that the synthetic
essramycin was inactive against
all major bacterial strains that were
tested.
“This was in direct contrast to its
reported antibacterial activity,” Mr
Tee said. “My project confirmed that
essramycin is not a suitable molecule
for treating antibiotic-resistant
bacteria.”
commercialisation
BIOTECH BOSS APPOINTED TO
NATIONAL BOARD
An IMBcom executive will have a hand
in driving the nation’s biotechnology
agenda with his appointment to the
Ausbiotech board.
Dr Peter Isdale, AM, CEO of IMBcom,
the commercialisation company for the
IMB, was appointed to the board in
August 2010 to replace retiring member
Dr Simon Carroll. AusBiotech is the
industry organisation for Australia’s
biotechnology sector, representing over
3000 members.
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute
to the progress of the industry through
the governance system of a very
effective advocate for its members,”
Dr Isdale said. “We are in exciting
and prospective times where the life
sciences-based industries are providing
responses to global challenges.”