Leading Queensland research showcased in new book

Suncorp Queenslander of the Year, Associate Professor Geoffrey Hill, from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) is one of 10 top Australian scientists showcased in a new national publication on leading Australian research.

Associate Professor Hill has devoted his research career to leukaemia and has had remarkable success in developing more effective treatment. Currently, the most common curative treatment for leukaemia is bone marrow transplantation. Associate Professor Hill’s research has centred on a different type of bone marrow transplant using newly identified versions of molecules called cytokines to allow the collection of donor stem cells which, when transplanted, helps cure leukaemia while limiting the life-threatening complications.

“This research has considerable potential for commercial return, new therapies and better treatment to boost transplant tolerance in patients. More than 6,000 Australian adults and children are diagnosed with leukaemia or a related blood disorder each year and many will die,” said Dr Hill.

The ’10 of the Best’ booklet provides details of the ten medical research projects conducted in Australia in recent years (covering leukaemia, asthma, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and heart disease) and was written for the general public to demonstrate the benefits of Australian medical research resulting from public investment.

The Commonwealth Government has doubled investment in health and medical research since 1999. This year funding for health and medical research from the health and ageing portfolio will reach almost $500 million.

Australia is a world leader in health and medical research – on a per capita basis, our research output is twice the OECD average. Medical research makes good health and economic sense. A report by Access Economics shows that for every $1 invested in medical research, $5 is returned to the Australian economy.

The ’10 of the Best’ has been developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The booklet is available on the web at www.nhmrc.gov.au and also by calling the NHMRC on 1800 020 103.