A $33 million research complex opening today (July 15) is the new home for a University of Queensland research group pioneering vaccines against cervical cancer and genital warts.
The vaccines were developed by researchers in UQ’s Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research (CICR), headed by Professor Ian Frazer.
The CICR, which has grown to a 70-staff member organization in 10 years, is the major occupant of the research complex to be officially opened today at 4.15pm today at Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, Health Minister Wendy Edmond, Minister for Innovation and Information Economy Paul Lucas, and Education Minister Anna Bligh, will open The Centres for Health Research.
The Centres will house 140 scientists mostly from The University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital, undertaking world-class research in a variety of fields. It is an umbrella organization for research on the Hospital campus, from basic laboratory research through to clinical and health services research.
The groups include the Liver Transplant Research Group, Bowel Cancer Research Group, Urological Cancer Group, Liver Research Groups, Therapeutics Research Group and Renal Research Groups. The building will also house the Lions Laboratories previously located elsewhere on the hospital campus.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay congratulated the Queensland Government, the Princess Alexandra Hospital, the CICR and major sponsors including the Australian Cancer Research Foundation on the opening of the new development.
“The University of Queensland is pleased to be a partner in this research facility, which is a cornerstone in the development of a major biomedical precinct in conjunction with the Queensland Government,” Professor Hay said.
“The proposed Green Bridge linking the University’s St Lucia campus and Dutton Park will facilitate further linkages between the Centres for Health Research at Buranda and major UQ research centres at St Lucia. These include the Institute for Molecular Bioscience housed in a $105 million complex and the $50 million Australian Institute of Bio-Engineering and Nanotechnology.”
Professor Hay said the Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research had achieved “outstanding success” and was the current recipient of $3 million in competitive research grants, with commercial contracts worth more than $2 million a year.
“The Centre has pioneered the world’s first vaccine against cervical cancer and has a world-class portfolio of projects," he said. “The newly appointed research laboratories mark another milestone in the Centre’s history.”
10 PhD students are currently joining researchers in projects at the Centre.
Also located in the building is spin-off biotechnology company Coridon Pty Ltd, which has been responsible for a $3.7 million research and development contract with UQ’s Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research. Coridon is licensing technology developed by Professor Frazer and the late Dr Jian Zhou for identifying and modifying genetic codes used in particular cells in combining amino acids for the production of proteins. As part of the deal the University, through UniQuest, its technology transfer company, obtained a research contract from Coridon that sees most of these funds flow to CICR over the next two years.
The Centres for Health Research is co-located in conjunction with Herron Pharmaceuticals and Imaginot, a pharmaceutical research initiative involving industry and academic interests.
The Pharmacy Australian Centre of Excellence will be located in land adjacent to the development. This centre will bring together The University of Queensland’s School of Pharmacy, the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical companies.
Professor Ian Frazer said third phase clinical trials were being conducted for vaccines against cervical cancer and genital warts in Australia and the U.S. Cervical cancer kills 300 people in Australia each year.
Professor Frazer said the vaccines aimed to prevent cervical cancer before it developed and treat the cancer once it formed.
The researchers believe the work could benefit millions of people, especially women at risk of developing cervical cancer after human papillomavirus infection. It is expected the product will be available in the market as early as 2005.
The new facilities will help the CICR to advance its work and allow for much needed expansion..
Media: For further information, Professor Ian Frazer (telephone 07 3240 5315), Peter McCutcheon (mobile 0413 380 012) or Jan King at UQ Communications (mobile 0413 601 248).
