QIMR Berghofer

16/03/2026

Associate Professor Michelle Lupton from QIMR Berghofer featured in a 10 News report on the possible link between bushfire smoke and dementia.

While about 60% of Alzheimer’s disease risk is linked to genetics, environmental factors also play an important role. Air pollution is now recognised as one of the fourteen modifiable risk factors for developing .

Associate Professor Lupton leads the Neurogenetics and Dementia Research Group and is launching a study examining how bushfire smoke impacts brain health in Australia.

Fine particles in bushfire smoke known as PM2.5 can enter the bloodstream and reach the brain, where they are thought to increase inflammation.

With climate change increasing smoke exposure and Australia’s vegetation potentially producing more toxic bushfire emissions, understanding these impacts in the Australian context is critical.

Learn more about the Neurogenetics and Dementia Research Group at QIMR Berghofer: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/researchers-and-labs/neurogenetics-and-dementia

13/03/2026

What is “moliness” and why does it matter? 🤔

Well, the research shows that kids today are developing about 47 percent fewer than children in the 1990s and that could mean a much lower lifetime risk of .

A 25 year study led by QIMR Berghofer tracking nearly 4,000 children living in South-East found that better sun protection in childhood is changing how and when moles develop.

With fewer moles linked to lower melanoma risk, children born after 2000 could have up to four times lower risk than those born in the 1980s.

Professor Nick Martin, the study’s lead, says the results were even stronger than researchers expected when they first planned the research in the 1990s.

“I think this will reinforce and remind parents to make sure their kids are well protected when they go out in the sun. There’s a lot of good sun safe behaviour happening, but there’s always a new generation coming along and a danger that the attention could slip.”

“This is a really good case of research and public health going hand in hand to help save lives in the future.”

Read the full story on our website: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/whats-on/news/sun-smart-kids-have-50-per-cent-fewer-moles-and-a-lower-melanoma-risk

10/03/2026

New project to expand pioneering cellular immunotherapy technology to India 💡

QIMR Berghofer in collaboration with St. John's Research Institute (SJRI) in Bengaluru, India has been awarded an Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) grant to progress research on a cellular that targets life-threatening viral infections in immunocompromised transplant recipients.

The Australian federal government funding will support Professor Rajiv Khanna and his team at QIMR Berghofer to expand their innovative adoptive T cell therapy directed to viral complications to , addressing an unmet clinical need among transplant recipients and other vulnerable patient groups across the country.

St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI) will receive matching funding from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

Read more: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/whats-on/news/new-project-to-expand-pioneering-cellular-immunotherapy-technology-to-india

10/03/2026

🌟 Celebrating a major boost for brain cancer research at QIMR Berghofer

The Institute is grateful for Daniela Dwyer Foundation’s latest $150,000 donation to Professor Sudha Rao and her team!

Daniela was 34 when an aggressive brain cancer ended her life, just 11 months after it was diagnosed. Despite this, Daniela met Professor Rao and provided samples to help in her research. Daniela’s parents Luisa and Kevin Dwyer and partner Taylor Bow started DDF to support experts in finding better ways to diagnose and treat brain cancer.

DDF’s support will help progress Professor Rao’s non‑invasive Liquid Biopsy Digital Pathology Platform, a promising technology designed to improve how aggressive cancers are detected and monitored.

In a world‑first, the platform is currently being tested in the Advanced Breast Cancer–Paxalisib (ABC‑Pax) study, which is underway across several Queensland hospitals. Early feedback from oncologists and patients has been extremely positive, reinforcing the potential this technology holds for improving cancer care.

Earlier this month, Luisa, Kevin and Taylor visited our laboratories to meet the researchers driving this work and to see firsthand how their contribution will accelerate the next stage of development.

We’re grateful to the Daniela Dwyer Foundation for their commitment to supporting research that aims to improve outcomes for people affected by cancer. Partnerships like this make a meaningful difference in bringing new diagnostic tools closer to patients.

You can read more about this work here: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/about/our-people/professor-sudha-rao

09/03/2026

When funding uncertainty forces talented researchers out of the lab, Australia risks losing the discoveries that could save lives.

In this report from ABC News, QIMR Berghofer Interim Director and CEO, Professor Grant Ramm, and cancer epidemiology researcher Dr Rehan Villani share their perspectives on the pressures facing the medical research sector and why sustainable investment matters.

Supporting researchers means supporting the future of health innovation in Australia.

Researchers say securing funding has become increasingly tough, with many left with no choice but to spend a disproportionate amount of time applying for grants.

08/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating Associate Professor Severine Navarro — a scientist transforming how we treat chronic inflammatory diseases, from asthma and allergies to gut disorders.

Severine’s career has taken her across the world — from the USA, to France, to Australia — but her aim has always been the same:
💜 to find safer, smarter treatments for conditions that affect millions of children and adults.

Through her work in translational immunology and drug discovery, Severine is helping turn fundamental discoveries about the immune system into new therapeutic strategies. She made a remarkable breakthrough showing that certain proteins produced by hookworms can calm the immune system. Instead of causing harm, these molecules can restore immune balance and reduce inflammation in diseases such as asthma and inflammatory bowel diseases — opening the door to an entirely new class of therapies inspired by nature but designed with modern biomedical science.

Today, Severine leads a team at QIMR Berghofer working to translate these discoveries into real medicines. Her research focuses on how the immune system can be safely re-educated to restore balance and protection — with the ultimate goal of not only treating chronic inflammatory and allergic diseases, but one day preventing them before they begin.

Behind this work is a remarkable team of scientists who help bring these discoveries closer to patients. Dr Yan Lu, Dr Serena Gallozzi and Shubhangi Seth are instrumental members of the team, contributing their expertise, creativity and dedication to advancing this research. Together, they exemplify the collaborative spirit of science and the powerful impact of women working together to improve human health. 💜

Learn more: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/about/our-people/associate-professor-severine-navarro

08/03/2026

Today, on International Women’s Day, the Institute is proud to celebrate the incredible women of Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics.

At Q-Gen, women make up 50% of our team and hold 45% of our leadership roles — a reflection of our belief that innovation thrives when diverse voices are at the table and leading the way.

From driving strategic decisions to building cutting-edge solutions, the women at Q-Gen shape our culture, our vision and our impact every single day.

We’re committed not just to representation, but to opportunity, growth and equity — today and every day.

Here’s to the leaders, innovators, mentors and changemakers who inspire progress across Q-Gen and beyond.

Find out more: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/commercial-collaborations/q-gen

08/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating Associate Professor Tracy O’Mara — a scientist whose work is helping us understand why some women develop endometrial cancer and how we can better prevent it.

Tracy began her career studying how hormones affect cancer‑related genes, and she quickly became involved in major international research efforts. Early in her career, she contributed to the first-ever large genetic studies of prostate cancer — work that helped shape how scientists study cancer risk today.

During her PhD, Tracy turned her focus to endometrial cancer, the most common gynaecological cancer in developed countries. She helped lead major genetic studies to identify common risk factors for this disease, and her discoveries have guided research ever since.

Today, Tracy leads the Endometrial Cancer Association Consortium, a global collaboration involving more than 12,000 women from Australia, Europe and the United States. Her team works to pinpoint the genetic changes that increase a woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer — crucial knowledge for improving early detection and personalised care.

Her work is driven by one goal:
💜 to give women better answers about their endometrial cancer risk and to help create a future where more cancers can be prevented.

Learn more about Associate Professor O'Mara's work: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/about/our-people/associate-professor-tracy-o'mara

07/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating Associate Professor Vanessa Beesley — a behavioural scientist transforming how we support people affected by cancer, grief and trauma.

Vanessa leads the Psychedelic Medicine and Supportive Care Lab at QIMR Berghofer, where she focuses on improving the emotional and psychological wellbeing of patients and caregivers. Her work spans innovative therapies, national support programs and world‑first clinical trials.

Recently, Vanessa has successfully completed:
• a national telehealth counselling trial for cancer caregivers
• the world’s first psilocybin‑assisted therapy trial for prolonged grief

Right now, she is leading:
• a group‑based MDMA‑assisted therapy trial for treatment‑resistant climate‑related PTSD

Vanessa has published more than 70 scientific papers, co‑authored a data analysis manual and advised government through Cancer Australia.

She is also a founding executive member of the Queensland Collaborative for Cancer Survivorship, creating a state-wide platform that accelerates the development, testing, and implementation of innovative models of supportive care, and convened the inaugural Northern Australia Psychedelic Science Conference, Australia’s first national conference dedicated to psychedelic science, catalysing a new community of practice and positioning Northern Australia as a leader in this emerging field.

💜 On International Women’s Day, we honour Associate Professor Beesley’s leadership, her courage to explore new therapeutic frontiers, and her dedication to improving the lives of patients and caregivers.

Find out more about Associate Professor Beesley’s work: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/about/our-people/associate-professor-vanessa-beesley

07/03/2026

On the eve of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating Professor Amanda Spurdle — a global leader in cancer genetics and a driving force behind more accurate, equitable genetic testing for families around the world.

Amanda has spent her career studying how our genes influence the chances of developing cancers like breast and ovarian cancer. Since joining QIMR Berghofer in 2007, she has become a global leader in making genetic testing more accurate, consistent and useful for patients.

She co‑founded and now leads the ENIGMA consortium, a worldwide network of experts working together to understand which genetic changes truly increase cancer risk — and which don’t. She also leads the international the ClinGen Variant Curation Expert Panel that sets the standards for interpreting BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants, the same genes made famous by Angelina Jolie’s preventive surgery.

Here in Australia, Amanda initiated the Shariant project, enabling a platform and network which helps hospitals and labs share information so patients get clearer, more reliable genetic results no matter where they’re tested.

Her work is all about one thing:
💜 giving people better information so they can make informed decisions about their health.

Find out more: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/about/our-people/professor-amanda-spurdle

07/03/2026

Ahead of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating Associate Professor Antiopi Varelias — a scientist whose work is helping improve the safety and success of life‑saving stem cell transplants.

Antiopi leads the Transplantation Immunology Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer, where she studies the microbiome and immune system’s role in complications that often occur after stem cell transplantation — a critical treatment for many blood cancers. Her research aims to better understand what drives these complications and how we could potentially prevent them, giving patients a better chance at long‑term recovery.

After completing her PhD at the University of Adelaide, Antiopi held several research scientist positions within the Departments of Surgery and Haematology/Oncology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (in Adelaide) before moving to Brisbane in 2008 to join QIMR Berghofer.

Throughout her time at QIMR Berghofer, Antiopi has made groundbreaking discoveries that have led to seminal contributions to our fundamental knowledge in transplant immunology. She has contributed to the translation of this research knowledge into clinical trials, paving the way for new therapies and diagnostics for vulnerable patients who need them most.

💜 She is helping build a future where stem cell transplants are safer, more effective and more personalised.

Learn more about Associate Professor Varelias’s work: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/about/our-people/associate-professor-antiopi-varelias

06/03/2026

We were deeply honoured to host a special International Women’s Day event featuring Lisa Curry AO, who shared her powerful and personal story of losing her daughter, Jaimi, to an eating disorder. It was an emotional session which resonated with the audience.

Lisa’s courage in speaking openly and from the heart is a reminder of how urgently we need better understanding, better support and better outcomes for anyone affected by eating disorders.

Lisa’s advocacy is now helping drive momentum for the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative 2 ( ), QIMR Berghofer’s major research initiative into the genetics and lived experience of eating disorders. Her support is amplifying the voices of families and shining a light on a condition that affects many, yet is still so often misunderstood.

The event was emceed by Professor Sarah Medland OAM, with insights from Professor Nick Martin, both of whom boast decades of work in psychiatric genetics.

On a day dedicated to celebrating the strength and impact of women, we are grateful to Lisa for sharing her vulnerability alongside her strength. honesty and leadership — and to everyone who joined us in supporting research that can change lives.