The Chemistry Centre performs over 120,000 tests annually on water, soil, sediment, and plant samples, providing critical data to mitigate pollutants affecting the reef. Highly accurate pesticide residue analysis, made possible through the advanced instrumentation on-site, is key for the development of sustainable farming practices and minimising the flow of pesticides into reef ecosystems.

Soil health and sediment studies on improving water catchment management and developing better solutions for erosion and nutrient leeching are also supported by the Chemistry Centre. A leading example of technical excellence and collaboration delivering solutions, its work is crucial in ensuring the long-term health of the reef and its surrounding ecosystems.

Born in UQ laboratories on this very site, this technology has the potential to eradicate the world’s fourth most common female cancer within a single generation – a market opportunity with profound human and economic impact. Pioneered by Emeritus Prof Ian Frazer AC and the late Dr Jian Zhou at UQ’s labs in the Diamantina Research Centre next to PAH in the 1990s, the human papillomavirus vaccine has prevented millions of cervical cancer cases worldwide since regulatory approval in 2006. Following intellectual property licensing to American drugmaker Merck & Co via Australian biotech firm CSL Limited, Australia led the wave of international adoption with a national HPV vaccination program. The results proved remarkable, including a 77% decrease in HPV infections among young women within five years. In addition to lives saved, the vaccine has spared hundreds of thousands from invasive treatments while preserving their ability to fully participate in their careers, families and communities.

Inspired by Gardasil’s impact, the Australian and Queensland governments partnered with Chuck Feeney’s Atlantic Philanthropies to invest over A$350m in establishing Translational Research Institute (TRI) under Professor Ian Frazer’s leadership, creating a model that connects scientists, clinicians and industry under a bench-to-bedside philosophy. Today, the ~40,000sqm facility houses more than 1100 research scientists, medical practitioners and business professionals.

BRIJ continues to address critical commercialisation barriers by providing clinical trial networks, regulatory expertise and industry partnerships that accelerate time-to-market. With Gardasil demonstrating how Queensland research can achieve global market penetration within 15 years of first laboratory findings, BRIJ offers investors early access to a pipeline of innovations with similar transformative potential. The Gardasil story is not just history – it is the template for BRIJ’s future.

A world-first chlamydia vaccine is being developed through the A$280m Translational Science Hub, a collaborative venture joining Sanofi with UQ and Griffith University alongside the Queensland Government.

The initiative addresses Australia’s most common sexually transmitted infection, which surged 24% between 2021 and 2023 and is linked to chronic pain and fertility issues. Unlike antibiotics, the vaccine candidate provides protection against primary infection and reinfection.

By connecting local researchers to 600 Sanofi scientists at mRNA Center of Excellence bases in the US and France, this groundbreaking project is set to strengthen Queensland’s capabilities in vaccine manufacturing and preventative healthcare innovation.

QUT spinout Microbio has developed a breakthrough pathogen test transforming the detection of sepsis—a silent killer responsible for 11 million deaths annually* worldwide.

Based at TRI, this biotech scale-up is pioneering blood testing with its InfectID products, which rapidly identify bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Every hour of delayed treatment increases sepsis mortality by 7.6%**, and InfectID-BSI detects blood-borne pathogens leading to sepsis and septic shock about 13 hours faster*** than conventional methods. Particularly valuable for developing regions with limited healthcare infrastructure, Microbio’s technology is already commercially available in Europe, the UK and India.

With A$3.5m raised in 2022, the company is conducting clinical trials at BRIJ in pursuit of Australian and US regulatory approval, expanding its manufacturing capacity and exploring applications.

Microba Life Sciences, launched at TRI in 2018, pioneered advanced DNA analysis technology known as metagenomics for comprehensive gut microbiome analysis, illuminating the complex relationships between microorganisms and health to advance personalised medicine.

Under the guidance of TRI ambassador Prof Ian Frazer AC and a team of microbiome experts, Microba developed the world’s first accredited diagnostic test capable of detecting 175 gut pathogens in a single exam. This breakthrough attracted international healthcare partners for the global rollout of at-home gut health testing.

Following a successful A$30m IPO in 2022, Microba continues to expand its gut analysis services while developing new treatments for autoimmune conditions. Research with the Australian Department of Defence further underscores the technology’s broader potential.

Brisbane biotech Vaxxas is developing a needle-free patch with the potential to transform vaccination globally. The high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) features thousands of microprojections covered in tiny doses of vaccine that efficiently deliver vaccines to the skin, prompting an immune response comparable to a traditional needle and syringe while requiring a smaller dose.

Born from technology developed at UQ, Vaxxas established operations at Translational Research Institute (TRI) in 2015 to leverage its advanced infrastructure and industry support before expanding to a custom-built biomedical facility just over the river in 2023.

Since inception, Vaxxas has secured over A$300m in funding. Its latest private funding round will support late-stage clinical trials and manufacturing scale-up, positioning the company for its first commercial products and revenue generation from 2028.

Infensa Bioscience is pioneering therapeutic solutions to treat the two leading causes of death worldwide – heart attack and stroke – by converting one of nature’s oldest weapons into life-saving medicine.

Inspired by a peptide from the K’gari funnel-web spider, Infensa’s drug candidates block the signal that prompts oxygen-starved cells to die during heart attacks or strokes.

After securing A$23m to launch Infensa Bioscience, the company licensed the game-changing research from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, and joined Translational Research Institute (TRI) Australia in 2022 to develop what could be the world’s first cardioprotective drug. With government funding set to support human trials in 2025, this breakthrough may transform emergency cardiac care by boosting survival rates and post-attack quality of life, while extending donor heart viability during heart transplantation.

Global bioplastic production has doubled since 2010, yet to fully realise its environmental benefit and contribute to a circular economy, improved systems for bioplastic degradation and recycling must evolve.

To this end, CSIRO researchers are developing enzyme-based technologies that break bioplastic waste into its basic chemical components. The team uses computational genomics, machine learning and high-throughput testing to screen thousands of enzyme variants at the BioFoundry.

The work offers two solutions: embedding enzymes during production to ensure biodegradability, or using enhanced enzymes for recycling. Its aim is to create enzymes that are highly active and stable, ensuring an efficient, cost-effective process for large-scale recycling.