From discovery to you
We aim to improve lives through a deeper understanding of the brain in health and disease.
This is how we did in 2021.
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Vice Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry AO
Nurturing research excellence
In 2021, The University of Queensland climbed to equal 54th place in the global ranking of universities and equal second place in Australia. The result reflects the exceptional commitment of our people in teaching and research, with the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) standing out as a world leader in neuroscience research. QBI is a powerhouse where bright minds are dedicated to discovery research that ultimately will improve lives.
Director, Professor Pankaj Sah
Our research is only possible with your support
How did we stay optimistic in a year that tested everyone’s resilience? It’s not hard if you see our team’s drive, the quality of their research and the inspiration they receive from donors. In 2021, despite the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, we pushed on with discovery research that underpins translational research and better health outcomes. To our team, donors and partners, thank you. We cannot achieve this without you.
Chairman, Mr Jeff Maclean
Improving lives
Many of you will know I’ve supported the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) from its early days, following my Dad’s experience with motor neurone disease. In 2021, the QBI team continued pushing the boundaries of neuroscience to improve lives. COVID-19 was a challenge, but the biggest one is still funding. We thank every organisation and person who, despite a difficult year, had the vision to support QBI and its outstanding research.
39 laboratories and 186 research projects underway
202 researchers and 100 PhD students
382 scientific papers published
Research that makes an impact
In 2021 we hit some major scientific milestones with innovative research being taken to clinical trials.
Our researchers continued their outstanding legacy of generating new knowledge, with 382 papers published in scientific journals.
QBI Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board, chaired by Jeff Maclean, helped steer us through 2021, navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to deliver outstanding research outcomes.
Partnerships and collaboration
To ensure that QBI discovery research positively impacts people - especially those living with neurological conditions - we work with clinician-researchers, other leading academic institutions, government, industry and commercial partners. Some of these partners support our discovery research from its infancy, well before we identify an end-use. Others join us as QBI research teams translate their findings into clinical trials.
Ultimately, we're working with organisations and people who share our mission to improve lives by delivering innovative therapeutics, novel treatment technologies and diagnostic tools.
11 fellowships
36 grants
21 awards and prizes
Equity, diversity and inclusion
QBI brings together researchers from diverse cultures and backgrounds to share ideas and research insights. This collaborative environment celebrates the uniqueness of our scientists – their ethnicity, gender, religious belief – to foster a research community which is driving the next breakthrough discoveries in neuroscience.
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (ED&I) helps establish a supportive and welcoming workplace by committing to a policy of promoting equality of opportunity.
We are a not-for-profit with 100% of our income from donors and grants going straight to research.
Funding
- Australian competitive grants (ARC, NHMRC, and other Commonwealth grants): $10.9 M
- Other grants (other research grants): $5.3 M
- Other revenue (Commonwealth funding for research and other commercial income): $10.2 M
- Philanthropy (research donations): $3.8 M
- UQ allocation (funding in arrears, contribution model tax, and institute support): $7.3 M
2021 total income: $37.5 M
"Government funding for basic research over the past two decades has not increased significantly despite increased application numbers and decreased success rates"
Thank you to all our 2021 donors
This year we have a lot of individuals and companies to thank.
Your generosity and support has helped us take steps forward in our mission to improve human lives through unravelling the mysteries of the brain.
Support our research
Help us make new discoveries about the incredible and complex brain on the path to new cures for neurological diseases and injury.
You can support us through donations, gifts in will or memory, and fundraising, with the assurance 100% of donations goes straight to our research.