QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Hear from Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital haematologist and QIMR Berghofer researcher Dr Siok Tey at Monday's RBWH Medical Grand Round. Dr Tey will speak on: Driving CAR T cell therapy to the clinic. These events are designed to foster greater collaboration and knowledge sharing between researchers, academics and clinicians. The Grand Rounds are held in the #RBWH Education Centre on Mondays from 1-2pm (with lunch beforehand from 12:30pm). All are welcome to attend and registration is not required. Queensland Health #CARTcells #immunotherapy #bloodcancer #disease #health #research

We hosted a captivated crowd for this year’s Derrick Mackerras Memorial Lecture, which was presented by CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Doug Hilton AO. The theme for this year’s lecture was ‘building trust in science in a distrustful age’. Dr Hilton, who is a molecular and cellular biologist and former Director of the WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research), spoke candidly about the current challenges facing scientists and society at large in a world of #misinformation. He shared his belief that science would stand up to the test because of the rigour behind it, noting #communication must be a “two-way street” between scientists, and the community. Dr Hilton also encouraged scientists to always consider how their work will impact different communities across Australia, and beyond. The Derrick Mackerras Memorial Lecture started more than 40 years ago and is centred on innovative #research and its implications for #publichealth. It is inspired by the work and passion of the Institute's first two Directors, Dr Edward Derrick and Dr Ian Mackerras, who played significant roles in shaping QIMR Berghofer to be the world-class research institute it is today. #QIMRBerghofer #medicalresearch #innovation #CSIRO #scientificrigour #sciencematters Fabienne Mackay Stephen Weller

Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges we face, with the number of Australians living with the disease rising rapidly. At the same time, we are increasingly exposed to bushfire smoke, even in city areas, due to warming temperatures and more extreme weather events. What does this increased bushfire smoke exposure mean for our brains? Associate Professor Michelle Lupton has dedicated her career to studying neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and she is on a quest to find out. Understanding the possible links between bushfire smoke exposure and brain health is important to protect our most vulnerable Aussies, including those over 50 years, our children, people living with or susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases, and of course, our frontline volunteer rural firefighters. #cleartheair #dementia #ResearchForGood #BrainHealth #bushfire #climatechange #donate #christmas2024

QIMR Berghofer researchers have found a way to diagnose a severe form of #depression known as ‘melancholia’ by looking at the facial expressions and #brain activity of people with depression as they watched emotional movies. #Melancholia is a form of severe depression that leaves people unable to move their bodies or think quickly. People with melancholia are less likely to respond to talking therapies and often need treatment with very high doses of #medication or brain stimulation (such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or electroconvulsive therapy). Dr Philip Mosley and his team used #AI and MRI brain scans to analyse the facial expressions and brain activity of 70 clinical trial participants with depression. Although all participants were experiencing similar clinical levels of depression, people with melancholia showed almost no facial or brain reactivity to emotional clips, whereas non-melancholic participants were still able to smile and respond with brain activity in emotional regions in response to a funny joke. The findings offer new hope for people who have struggled to get an effective #diagnosis and treatment plan for their depression, and will educate the community that not all depression is the same.

Associate Professor Michelle Lupton is on a quest to clear the air on bushfire smoke and brain health. While the impacts of bushfire smoke exposure on respiratory and cardiovascular health are well established, little is known about what it does to our brains. Michelle and her team want to change this with a pioneering study of those at the frontline of bushfire smoke exposure – our rural firefighters. #cleartheair #dementia #ResearchForGood #BrainHealth #bushfire #climatechange #donate #christmas2024

📽️ WATCH: #Brisbane researchers have for the first time found a way to diagnose a severe form of #depression known as #melancholia, offering new hope for people who have struggled to get an effective diagnosis and treatment for their depression. Melancholia is a form of severe depression involving lots of physical symptoms. People affected by melancholia cannot move their bodies or think quickly, and experience deep, long-lasting sadness that restricts their mood, energy and ability to enjoy life. They are less likely to respond to psychological treatments and often need very high doses of medication or brain stimulation, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or electroconvulsive therapy. The team at QIMR Berghofer studied a small group of people diagnosed with depression and showed them emotional videos while analysing their brain activity and facial expressions. What they found was remarkable. People with non-melancholic depression were still able to crack a smile, or laugh at a video, and the #brain regions associated with pleasure lit up. But people with melancholic depression were unable to move their faces, and brain activity in those #emotional processing regions barely registered. “We know that standard ‘first-line’ treatments for depression may not always be as effective for those deeply affected by melancholia. If we can identify this type of depression more quickly and accurately, it will benefit not only patients, but their families and community, who may be devastated by the effects of treatment-resistant depression upon a loved one,” said Dr Philip Mosley.

We are excited to announce Dr James Reid's arrival at QIMR Berghofer as Senior Manager in the Research Grants team 🎉 James has a wealth of experience in strategic #grant development, application, administration and contracting. James was originally a theoretical and computational chemist specialising in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, before pivoting to administer major research initiatives at UQ. He’s spent time reviewing National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator grants, building #MRFF portfolios and overseeing teams focused on STEM, humanities, and business grants. After living in New Zealand, Canada, the UK and US, James is now looking forward to streamlining grant processes to empower the world-class work done by researchers here at QIMR Berghofer. When not at work, you’ll find him living his best #geeklife through his love of science fiction, fantasy and gaming. Join us in welcoming James to QIMR Berghofer! 🔬🌟 #newrole #researchadministration #medicalresearch

We're proud to take part in PacMOSSI training each year. Professor Gregor Devine is in beautiful #Fiji sharing his knowledge of all things #mosquitoes to ensure the Pacific Islands can roll-out effective mozzie control strategies to save lives and ensure good health for everyone in the region.

The world’s largest study of #genetics and #brainvolume, led by Associate Professor Miguel Renteria and PhD candidate Luis Garcia Marin, is featured on the cover of Nature Genetics! Congratulations to all involved in this exciting research project. 🧬 Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/gAHEhCK6 #research #ADHD #Parkinsons #brainhealth #neuroscience

During the 2019-2020 Black Summer megafires, 80% of Aussies were exposed to bushfire smoke and air quality was 10 times the recommended level. At the same time, bushfires are becoming more frequent and intense and fire seasons are lasting longer. What does this mean for our brain health and risk of dementia, currently the second leading cause of death for all Australians? With your support, Associate Professor Michelle Lupton and her team can find out, with a pioneering study to clear the air on bushfire smoke exposure and brain health: https://lnkd.in/gt5dEWhP #cleartheair #dementia #ResearchForGood #BrainHealth #bushfire #climatechange #donate #christmas2024