Growing a world leading biotechnology industry in Queensland

By Ian Frazer

For many thousands of years Queensland’s indigenous peoples, through observation of the natural environment, were Queensland’s first scientists. 

Over 200 years ago, European explorers set up a prison colony in what is now Brisbane, and over time the state of Queensland was established, with prosperity derived from farming and gold mining. Queensland’s first University was established in Brisbane in 1909, and further facilitated development of knowledge through research, with an increased focus on medical research following the establishment of a medical school in 1936. 

The State government, recognising the significant range of tropical and other diseases prevalent in Queensland, established the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in 1945, and enabled a growing research program on infection and disease. More recently, Queensland state government and the Queensland Universities have increasingly recognised that basic research in the biosciences and biomedicine could add to the prosperity and international recognition of Queensland. 

Significant government and university investment in biomedical research infrastructure in the early 21st century, aimed to make Queensland competitive with the other Australian states as well as internationally, in this rapidly growing field of human endeavour.

Countries and regions that have grown a successful biotechnology industry have shown that industry is most likely to succeed when: 

1. Well-equipped academic facilities are provided staffed by talented researchers, conducting productive basic and early translational research, utilising competitively distributed (government and organisation) funds for basic research and early translational research programs, with no specific focus on commercially productive research. 
2. Early career training is available to research staff, rewarding success that can be measured by possibility of commercialisation as well as by production of significant research publications.
3. Substantial pooled academic and government support funding is available for a limited number of translational research programs emerging from academic and industry environments, which in the opinion of independent external assessors have a high chance of proceeding to successful commercialisation. 
4. Ongoing critical independent expert appraisal is available, to control and, as needed, increase financial support for projects that have proceeded to meet defined milestones and particularly when scaling towards GMP manufacture at scale, with the ability to quickly terminate those programs unlikely to make it. The source of funding for the necessary infrastructure and early support of such a precinct will likely be from local government. 
5. Further product development is located in a purpose-built research precinct adequately equipped for further research and development at GCP and GMP scale. 

In 2023, the conduct of much biomedical research in Queensland is recognised as of international standard, with a focus in bioscience reflecting the importance to Queensland of research in infectious disease and its prevention and in applied biomedical research that facilitates better medical practice. The 12 Universities (UQ, QUT, Griffith, James Cook, USQ, CQU, ACU, Bond, FUA, SCU, Torrens, USC) and institutes (QIMR, TRI) and their associated hospitals and colleges are contributing to the strength of Australia in medical and biomedical research as demonstrated through research publications, research grant income, and practical changes to medical practice. A well-regulated commercialisation pipeline, with expert commercial, regulatory, and manufacturing advisors, will ensure the development of further ideas and products, as well as training talented researchers, and over time will develop substantial wealth and jobs for Queensland.

The strength of Queensland’s current contribution to basic and translational biomedical research is demonstrated by the over 50 Queensland fellows amongst the 450 fellowship of Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, of whom 12 are also among the 61 Queensland Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science and 2 are elected Fellows of the Royal Society of London.

Additionally, Queensland received 14% of the over $500m of competitive funding for biomedical research through the NHMRC and will have access to national core research facilities through NCRIS and translational research funding through the MRFF but to bridge the translational gap will need as a state to provide research commercialisation funding, where appropriate with industry support

Queensland is now active in developing a research point of difference. Much of our state’s biomedical research, across the various institutes, is focussed on infectious diseases and their control through novel vaccines and delivery systems, growing out of the early practical interest in infection prevention.

However, Queensland research programs in biotechnology also focus on cancer prevention and treatment, on the genetic basis of disease, and on host/microbiome interactions for prevention and management of chronic inflammatory and cardiovascular disease, while surgical research spans a broad spectrum from 3D printed replacement bone to bio-prosthetic limbs and wearable personal health monitoring systems.



A virtuous cycle of increased funding, educational resources and talent now accelerates medical R and D in Queensland justly elevated our State to well deserved prominence.