You can help progress our research
You don't have to be a scientist to get involved with QBI. We offer a range of opportunities for everyday people to connect and progress our research and discoveries.
The foundation for all of our work is the funding we receive through a range of sources, including philanthropic donations from our generous supporters. There are many ways to give to QBI: directly, through planned giving, or holding fundraising events that entertain or challenge supporters as they dig deep to help us better understand the brain.
We also offer opportunities for students to learn directly from our inspiring researchers through lab placements, and for community members to tour our facilities and attend events. Finally, you can give one of the greatest gifts of all by volunteering for studies to advance treatments and diagnostics for brain diseases and disorders.
How you can support us
What your donations fund
Through your support you are helping QBI solve the major neurological health challenges facing our community today
World leading research
Brightest scientific minds
Solutions to global health challenges
Brain Research Endowment Fund
Find out more Donate to research
QBI’s Brain Research Endowment Fund supports scientists exploring the unknown, which will guide new research on finding cures for diseases or improving quality of life.
Community & school programs
Australian Brain Bee
The Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) is a competition for high school students in year 10 to learn about the brain and its functions, learn about neuroscience research, find out about careers in neuroscience and to dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses.
Participate in a research study
By being part of our human research studies you can make a valuable contribution to improving the lives of people living with brain disease and disorder.
Research in action
Burne: Qld Centre for Mental Health Research
Group Leader
Professor Thomas Burne
Professorial Research Fellow - Group LeaderQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Researcher biography:Professor Burne is a leading Australian researcher in the field of biological psychiatry. Prof. Burne has >150 peer reviewed publications, which have attracted over 8500 citations (H-index 50). His research impact is evident by his 11 papers with >200 citations, with two recognised as Web of Science 'Highly Cited Papers'. Together with collaborators he has been awarded >$8 million in research funding. Since 2003 he has supervised 17 PhD students, and 28 honours students Prof. Burne has a broad background in behavioural neuroscience, with specific training and expertise in animal models. As a Professorial Research Fellow with the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and Group Leader at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) the focus of his research includes cognitive testing in rodent models of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, as well as psychopharmacological studies and research on clinical populations. As a CI on several university- and NHMRC-funded grants, he has helped establish infrastructure at QBI for behavioural assessment and methods of automated operant-based cognitive tests in rodents. Prof. Burne is a past president of Biological Psychiatry Australia, he is the Queensland representative for the Australasian Neuroscience Society, and he is a member of the NHMRC Animal Welfare Committee.
Prof. Burne's group studies brain development and behaviour in animal models to learn more about neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia. Research is focused on investigating the underlying biological basis for schizophrenia, with the goal of finding public health interventions that will alleviate the burden of this disease. The group has been exploring the impact of developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency on brain development, the impact of adult vitamin D deficiency on brain function and behaviour, and the neurobiological affects of having an older father. More recently his group has been focussed on assessing cognitive function in rodents. Prof. Burne's research is carried out in close collaboration with Professors John McGrath and Darryl Eyles, in a multidisciplinary team. Together they have an integrated research program using a broad range of neuroscientific techniques to explore potential causes of schizophrenia. There is a particular focus on early life, nongenetic risk factors and the team has skills in epidemiology, psychiatry, neuroanatomy, molecular biology, developmental biology and behavioural neuroscience. The Burne group is currently developing animal models related to risk factors for schizophrenia and autism.
Body:Professor Thomas Burne: Developmental neurobiology
Professor Thomas Burne’s laboratory studies brain development and behaviour in animal models. The laboratory is focused on investigating the underlying biological basis for schizophrenia, with the goal of finding public health interventions that will alleviate the burden of this disease.
Research Members
Mrs Suzy Alexander
Conjoint Research FellowQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Students
Mr Md Mamun Al-Amin
PhD StudentQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Dr Michelle Sanchez Vega
PhD StudentQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Miss Kyna-Anne Conn
PhD StudentQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Mr Jonathan Flintoff
PhD studentQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Mr Sam Van De Wakker
Honours StudentQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Ms Manon Fassin
Occupational TraineeQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Miss Phoebe Mayne
Postdoctoral Research FellowQueensland Brain InstituteResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Support Staff
- Professor Elizabeth Coulson’s career has focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating neuronal survival and death