Issue 581 (March 2009) - Office of Marketing and Communications

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UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 6$22 MILLIONBOOST FORUQ RESEARCHVaccines for cancers, better pain reliefand getting people off the couch andexercising are some of the UQ researchprograms given a multi-million dollarboost last month.Three UQ teams will receive almost $22million as part of the National Health and MedicalResearch Council 2010 Program Grants that areaimed at giving scientists the ability to expand thescope of their research. UQ was awarded morethan 20 percent of the national total.Professor Ranjeny Thomas’s team at UQ’sDiamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology &Metabolic Medicine received $10.13 million towork on vaccines for cancer, chronic infectionsand autoimmune diseases such as diabetes.“There is a large unmet need for effectivesolutions with fewer side effects in thesediseases, which cause a high disease burden inour society,” Professor Thomas said.Professor Neville Owen, who leads the CancerPrevention Research Centre in UQ’s Schoolof Population Health, received $5.39 million toexamine ways to increase physical activity in anincreasingly less active society.“The majority of Australian adults spend mostof their waking hours sitting,” Professor Owen said.“This leads to weight gain and to diseasesof inactivity particularly diabetes, heart disease,cancer and depression.“Our research will measure sitting time andBooster shot: Professor Ranjeny Thomas has received $10.13 million to develop vaccines for cancer and otherdiseasesthe physical activity in people’s daily lives, whatfactors encourage inactivity, and how to increaseactivity levels, especially among the ageing babyboomer population.”Associate Professor Richard Lewis, from UQ’sInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, has received$6.36 million to develop new drugs to treatchronic pain.“The goal of our research is to improvetreatments for pain, especially persistent pain,” DrLewis said.“We are investigating the venom from animalssuch as cone shells to develop a new class ofpain killers that can treat persistent pain.”UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)Professor David Siddle said the three grantswould fund work that had the potential to reshapethe health of Australia.“Work by our outstanding researcherssuch as Professor Thomas has the potentialto revolutionise the way we treat cancer anddisease,” Professor Siddle said.“In much the same way that many diseaseswere controlled last century by the use of vaccines,the new generation of vaccines could do the samethis century.”– ANDREW DUNNECHRIS STACEYUQ welcomes new ChancellorSUNCORP-METWAYThe University’s new Chancellor isMr John Story, a highly experiencedcorporate leader with strong familial,professional and personal links to UQ.Members of UQ’s governing body, Senate,voted Mr Story into the honorary position,which carries important governance, ceremonialand symbolic responsibilities.Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfieldcongratulated Mr Story, and said hisacceptance of the role showed a generouscommitment to serving UQ and the broadercommunity.“John’s paternal grandfather, John Douglas(‘JD’) Story, was UQ’s first full-time Vice-Chancellor, serving in an honorary capacity, andJohn has continued the affiliation by studyinghere and formerly giving legal advice to UQ,”Professor Greenfield said.“He has held two voluntary positions, asa Senator since May 2006 and formerly as anAdjunct Professor, and whilst he was a partnerof Corrs Chambers Westgarth he initiatedsupportive links between the legal firm andUQ’s TC Beirne School of Law.“He is a lawyer with deep and broadcorporate experience, being Chairman ofSuncorp-Metway, Tabcorp Holdings and theAustralian Institute of Company Directors,a Director of CSR, and a member of theQueensland Public Service Commission.“John’s loyalty to UQ and his extensivebusiness experience are fitting qualities for theChancellor who will take UQ – which will markits centenary in 2010 – into its second century.”Mr Story thanked his Senate peers forhonouring him with the position, and paidtribute to his predecessor Sir Llew Edwards AC,who was Chancellor for 16 years.“I look forward to working with theVice-Chancellor to fulfil the office’s duty ofmaintaining high standards of accountabilityby the University executive to the Senate,” MrStory said.“Equally importantly, this officeencompasses the spirit, traditions and valuesof Queensland’s oldest university, and it grantsopportunities for interaction with members ofthe UQ community and with partners in thebroader community.“Sir Llew was a superb Chancellor, andI am very conscious of the responsibilitiesassociated with being his successor.”Mr Story’s term as Chancellor will extenduntil December 31, 2012.
UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 7PHOTOS JEREMY PATTENWorthywinnerTHE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLANDRECENTLY PRESENTED AUSTRALIA’SFIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR-GENERALWITH A SPECIAL AWARD ATCUSTOMS HOUSE.Australia’s first female Governor-GeneralDr Quentin Bryce, AC, was last monthpresented with the University’s Alumnus ofthe Year for 2008.Dr Bryce, formerly Governor of Queenslandfrom 2003 until 2008, was announced as UQ’sAlumnus of the Year late last year along with UQ’sInternational Alumnus of the Year, Cambodianlabour camp survivor, Path Heang, and YoungAlumnus of the Year, music therapist AlissaPhillips.Dr Bryce received her award at a specialpresentation ceremony at Customs House,attended by UQ’s former Chancellor Sir LlewEdwards, AC, and Vice-Chancellor ProfessorPaul Greenfield, AO, as well as President of theAlumni Friends of The University of QueenslandInc. Feona Walker and the group’s Senior Vice-President Dalma Jacobs.Dr Bryce, who was the official Visitor to theUniversity, is a University of Queensland graduate,former UQ academic and an honorary Doctor ofLaws recipient.She was sworn in as Australia’s 25thGovernor-General at a ceremony at ParliamentHouse in Canberra on September 5, 2008.Professor Greenfield said UQ was privilegedto have alumni of Dr Bryce's calibre.“A university’s reputation is determined largelyby the character of its graduates, and QuentinBryce is a great example to students, staff andother UQ graduates,” he said.“She has put her UQ education to excellentuse by improving conditions for people who havenot shared in her advantages.”Ms Walker said the Alumni Friends werehonoured Dr Bryce had accepted the award ofAlumnus of the Year for 2008.Dr Bryce graduated with a Bachelor of Artsand a Bachelor of Laws from UQ where shelater spent 14 years teaching Introduction toLaw, Criminal Law, Administrative Law and LegalAspects of Social Work.Some of her appointments have includedfounding Chair and Chief Executive Officer ofthe National Childcare Accreditation Council andFederal Sex Discrimination Commissioner.– SHIRLEY GLAISTERCause for celebration: (from left) Mrs Louise Greenfield, Dr Michael Bryce, Vice-Chancellor Professor PaulGreenfield, Dr Quentin Bryce, former Chancellor Sir Llew Edwards, The Honourable Paul Lucas MP, and DalmaJacobs of the Alumni Friends of The University of Queensland Inc.
Page 1: NEWSNEW HONOUR FORGOVERNOR-GENERALS
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Page 8 and 9: AUSSIE COLOURSJEREMY PATTENUQNEWS,
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Page 16 and 17: UQNEWS, MARCH 2009 ➔ 16All smiles
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Page 20 and 21: INPRINTBook offers aGOODLAUGHHumour
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