How Townsville shaped 80 years of vital medical research

Townsville’s historic role in supporting medical research will be highlighted this week during the 80th anniversary celebrations for a world-leading medical research institute.

Eliminate Dengue scientific officer Darren Stanford announced in 2016 that almost all Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were carrying Wolbachia across the Stage 1 area after a year and half. Picture: Wesley Monts

Townsville’s historic role in supporting medical research will be highlighted this week during the 80th anniversary celebrations for a world-leading medical research institute.

Established in 1945, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer was the brainchild of Dr Edward Derrick, whose work on Q fever, scrub typhus and leptospirosis made him aware of the need for an institute devoted to full-time research into infectious diseases of northern Australia.

From humble beginnings, it has grown to become one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes working across cancer, infection and inflammation, population health, and brain and mental health.

QIMR researchers made the landmark discovery of Ross River virus after isolating the virus from mosquitoes collected on the banks of the Ross River in 1963, transforming our understanding of mosquito-borne diseases in Australia and around the world.

To celebrate the eight decade milestone, world-leading tropical health and mosquito researchers were joined by local MPs, councillors, and health and education partners at Townsville’s Queensland Museum Tropics on Tuesday.

Ross River virus was first detected in mosquitoes found in Townsville.

Townsville Public Health Unit were out and about searching for mosquito hot spots in 2018.

Infectious disease expert Professor Darren Gray provided an update on the program’s research into causes of diseases as diverse as skin and gynaecological cancers, cardiovascular disease, and chronic conditions, and share insights from his Global Health and Tropical Medicine Laboratory.

Leading QIMR Berghofer’s Mosquito Control Laboratory (MCL), Adjunct Associate Professor Leon Hugo shared his lab’s work on strategies to combat mosquito-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis virus, chikungunya, and dengue.

Community donations play a crucial role in supporting QIMR Berghofer’s groundbreaking research, and driving future breakthroughs.

To donate, visit: www.qimrb.edu.au.

Originally published as How Townsville shaped 80 years of vital medical research