THINK TANK: Professor Mark von Itzstein wants a cultural hub built on the Gold Coast

PROFESSOR Mark von Itzstein wants the city to follow in the research footsteps of San Diego, but first we need a cultural hub.

Professor Mark von Itzstein, director and professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Principal Research Leader, Griffith University, Gold Coast. Picture: Regi Varghese

From Professor Mark von Itzstein’s laboratory came a flu drug considered the most significant glycotherapeutic development of the past century. From the United States, he believes a tradition of combining universities with high-level sport could be a significant development for the Gold Coast’s national teams.

BIOGRAPHY:

Griffith University Institute for Glycomics director Prof Mark von Itzstein grew up on a dairy and beef cattle farm and was always in awe of the ways animals were bred and born. He began studying animal husbandry but, luckily for humans, his focus shifted to the very worst infectious diseases and novel ways to prevent them. His carbohydrate-based research led to the discovery of wonder flu drug Relenza and his lab at Griffith is in human trials for a landmark vaccine to prevent malaria — a pathogen that kills an estimated 627,000 people every year. They’re also working on treatments for melanoma and leukaemia.

What do you love about the Gold Coast?

“From the perspective of a university academic, the Gold Coast is in an extremely rapid growth phase in having exceptional quality higher education and research facilities being developed.

“That is not happening anywhere else in the country to the extent that it’s happening on the Gold Coast.

“There is so much going on in the Health and Knowledge Precinct that offer outstanding opportunities for the development of the region and that will impact economically and reputationally on the Gold Coast.

“I see real development that’s leading to a greater sophistication of the Gold Coast as a destination to visit and to live. We don’t want to be a Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney, we want to be unique.”

What do you think can be done better on the Coast?

“We do need a minimum level of things like an arts precinct, that is world-renowned.

“We need a cultural heart that is distinct to the Gold Coast that is attractive and is inviting and world-standing.

“We need that cultural hub and as soon as possible.”

What have you seen being done elsewhere you think could work well here?

“When you go around the world you see lots of different approaches to the integration of life, education and that cultural precinct I spoke of.

“There’s always been this barrier between universities and the public.

“The public generally think ‘oh, university, I can’t go there, I’m not a smart person’. But everybody is smart in their own way.

“It’s actually bringing community on to campus, saying this is yours, we are here to provide education to the broader community, not just the young, up-and-coming stars, but also to the senior citizens.

“What I’ve seen overseas, particularly in the US, is that there’s much more engagement, much more flow between the public and the universities.

“The University of Iowa does this very well and what helps that is that they also have their major football teams there on the campus, so the public naturally come along to support their major league teams.

“That could work for the Titans — I don’t see why not.

“In the US, the universities have very strong entrenched sports people, doing degree programs, playing in the college leagues and going on to the major national leagues.

“They’re attracting major sponsorship from various major league teams and companies to support the academic development of such people.

“Griffith does do that with some of the football stars but it’s an engagement we don’t see on campus that much.

“The Gold Coast is probably the only place where it could be done.

“Every other city university is out of space or is too far out.”

What is one big project you’d undertake tomorrow?

“I really believe the Gold Coast could become the next San Diego-style research city.

“San Diego has a coastline, and a lifestyle comparable to what we enjoy here.

“In their transition from being a naval base to being the premium biotechnology precinct in the world, pharmaceutical companies started to move in, recognising the brilliance of their knowledge and health precinct, and their research institutes.

“Since 2000, we’ve seen that developing here, fantastic infrastructure going up — half a billion dollars worth of infrastructure in Griffith alone, the University Hospital — all adds to that vision.

“The Gold Coast is known not only for the lifestyle we have, but also for the smarts that we have.

“If I had limitless access to funding, I’d say ‘let’s take it to another level and expedite it by building additional major research infrastructure to tackle intractable infectious diseases’.

“We have a fine footprint here already, but boy, if we had major investment in research facilities here ... malaria, dengue, influenza, croup in children, rotavirus, gastrointestinal disease.

“They’re all very tough beasts and ever-changing, which is the challenge that humanity faces. Cancer is another domain we feel we could bring new dimensions to.”

What are the conversations Gold Coast movers and shakers should be having?

“Transitioning the Gold Coast towards a broader and deeper engagement in areas other than tourism. We need to continue to develop sophisticated and advanced research and technologies on the Gold Coast that leave an enduring impact on the economy and on the young people coming through looking for jobs.”