A champion of science

Chuck Feeney was a champion of giving.

Throughout his lifetime, he donated at least $350 million to Queensland science institutes, including $20 million to establish the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) in 2003.

From an initial team of four groups, QBI is now home to 34 laboratories and 250 researchers, all working towards understanding brain function, and further, to treat and ultimately prevent, disorders of the brain.

Our important advances in fundamental neuroscience over the past two decades are now being applied to the development of new therapeutic approaches for diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), concussion, amongst others.

Stage 1 human trials have started for MND, and testing a device designed at QBI for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

QBI owes its achievements in neuroscience to Chuck’s largesse. In this, our 20th anniversary year, we honour Chuck and Helga’s extraordinary philanthropic contributions in a golden era that transformed research and biological sciences in Queensland.