Our history

Dr Joseph Bancroft, a medical doctor, surgeon, pharmacologist, and parasitologist, who pioneered medical research in Queensland, moves from England to Brisbane.

Dr Joseph Bancroft discovers the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti, which causes filariasis, a mosquito-borne infection causing swelling of the extremities.

He also investigates the properties of pituri leaves used by Indigenous people as a stimulant, laying the foundation for their use in the medicine hyoscine (used to treat abdominal pain) and atropine (used to treat pesticide and nerve agent poisoning, and to decrease saliva production during surgery).

Dr Thomas Bancroft, Joseph’s son and also a medical doctor, surgeon, and parasitologist, identifies the mosquito Aedes aegypti as responsible for spreading dengue.

Dr Edward Derrick finds ticks cause Q Fever and leptospirosis, infections impacting Queensland's livestock industry.

QIMR Berghofer, established in 1945 as the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), was the brainchild of Dr Edward Derrick, an early Director of the Queensland State Health Department Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology.

His 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. His pioneering research from 1935 onwards into Q fever led to the discovery of the causative rickettsia Coxiella burnetii.

It was largely through his persistence that the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945 was passed by the Queensland Parliament. The Institute began its operations with a staff of only seven and occupied temporary buildings (previously United States Armed Forces huts) in Victoria Park, opposite what was then the Brisbane General Hospital.

The first Director of QIMR was Dr Ian Mackerras, an entomologist, who, during World War II, was responsible (with others) for much of the malaria control work of the Australian Army. The complementary aims, interests, and expertise of Mackerras and Derrick (who succeeded Mackerras as Director in 1961) were to shape the research direction and impact of QIMR for the next 30 years.

Queensland Institute of Medical Research established via an act of Queensland Parliament. Seven scientists start work in an abandoned World War II United States army hut in Victoria Park/Barrambin, opposite what was then the Brisbane General Hospital.

Dr Josephine Mackerras joined QIMR Berghofer in 1947 as senior parasitologist and continued her research at the Institute until 1961. Her research contributed to entomology, veterinary medicine, and medical science. She was the daughter of Dr Thomas Bancroft and married to the Institute’s founding Director Ian Mackerras.

Dr Josephine Mackerras identifies that cockroaches are responsible for transmitting salmonella after an epidemic of gastroenteritis among infants in Brisbane.

Dr John Pope discovers murine leukaemia virus, a foundational step in understanding how some human cancers are caused by viruses. For this, he is awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship to study in the US. He later becomes a Deputy Director of QIMR.

The Institute establishes a field station at the Innisfail hospital in north Queensland to learn more about the tropical diseases occurring in the local area. Of most interest were leptospirosis (Weil’s disease or the ‘cane cutters’ curse’), scrub typhus, and dengue fever. An outbreak of dengue fever in north Queensland in 1954 heightened the need for research into arboviral diseases, and within five years of the Innisfail field station opening, enough had been learnt to improve diagnosis and treatment.

The first two autoclaves used to sterilise equipment at QIMR were gas-fired and lit by a wax taper. They were about 90cm high and 45cm wide with a bucket of water in the bottom. The lid was sealed with thumb screws and tightened with a spanner. All operations were performed manually, such as sealing the air chamber, controlling time and pressure, and the autoclaves had to be cooled before opening and emptying.

New research teams established to investigate environmental causes of asthma and cancer-causing viruses, and longitudinal studies on birth, growth and death trends in the north Queensland Indigenous population.

Ross River virus is discovered by a team led by Professor Ralph Doherty. The virus was named after the site near Townsville from which the mosquitoes were originally collected. Further research into Ross River virus confirmed it to be the main cause of epidemic polyarthritis – painfully swollen joints and muscles, extreme tiredness, fever, and a raised red rash.

Cancer cells are taken from Burkitt’s lymphoma patients in Papua New Guinea, which lead to the discovery that the Epstein-Barr virus (which causes glandular fever) can cause lymphoma and some forms of leukaemia.

At about the same time, Dr John Pope, German Dr Volker Diehl and American virologists Werner and Gertrud Henle, independently of each other, unravelled the ability of Epstein Barr virus to transform primary human B cells into cancer.

Melanoma research starts at QIMR, leading to many important discoveries, such as the understanding of genetic influence in melanoma development.

The Institute formally establishes an Aboriginal health research unit and an anthropologist joined the team of biomedical scientists.

After more than 30 years operating from Hut 8 in Victoria Park, QIMR relocates to new laboratories in the grounds of the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

QIMR researchers provide the knowledge needed to detect Ross River virus in a blood test.

A special five-year malaria vaccine project funded by NHMRC proves a major factor in the internationalisation of QIMR, placing it at the global forefront in the use of monoclonal antibody technology in parasitology.

QIMR scientists develop another way for Ross River virus to be detected, which enables blood samples from hundreds of patients to be tested in a single day.

Professor Adele Green’s investigations confirm that sunscreen minimises the risk of developing the most common type of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma.

Scientists confirm haemochromatosis is genetic and identify the gene responsible.

Work commences on new treatments for diseases caused by the organism, Giardia.

Parliament amends the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Act 1945 to make the Institute a statutory authority and allocates $30million to the rebuilding of a purpose-built research facility.

Construction of the 11-storey Bancroft Centre begins. Staff numbers more than double from 60 to 150 scientists and support staff during the 1980s.

Construction of the Bancroft Centre is completed.

First minicomputer is bought for computer modelling of malaria and arborvirus diseases.

Cancer Research Centre for Vaccine Development starts world-first human trial of a gene therapy for melanoma, which successfully shows immune response in body.

QIMR’s first website is launched.

American philanthropist Chuck Feeney, via his foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, donates $20 million to the Institute, enabling construction of a new building for the Institute’s Cancer Research Centre. Later named Clive Berghofer Cancer Research Centre, it is the first cancer research facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere to be built.

Cause of GVHD discovered; major chromosomes of Giardia duodenali and genome of flatworm mapped.

Professor Georgia Chenevix-Trench is part of a global collaboration to identify BRCA1 gene’s role in breast cancer.

The new Comprehensive Cancer Research Centre opens.

Q-Pharm Ltd becomes operational and hosts Phase I clinical trials of potential new therapeutic products.

Clive Berghofer donates $1 million a year for five years to QIMR and the Clive Berghofer Cancer Research Centre is named in his honour.

Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics is established as the Institute’s commercial arm for the contract manufacture of cell-based therapies.

Mental health added to QIMR research programs.

The construction of a new Central Building begins with another donation of $27.5 million from The Atlantic Philanthropies. The state and federal governments also contribute to ensure the building’s completion.

Toowoomba philanthropist Clive Berghofer donates $50.1 million to the Institute, the largest donation by an individual in Australian history. The Institute name is changed to QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the new Central building is completed.

The grand Central Building entrance wall - water me/our-artmory art is unveiled.

Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics becomes the first Australian manufacturing facility to receive Therapeutic Goods Administration approval to manufacture cellular therapies for human use, specifically clinical-grade T cell therapies.

Magic Glasses, a 10-minute animated children’s educational program is released in south-east Asia, explaining the importance of hand washing, wearing shoes, covering food, and using toilets to prevent intestinal worm infections.

World first brain cancer trial starts, using modified T cells to attack CMV, known to be linked to glioblastoma.

Existing brain cancer lab renamed Sid Faithfull Brain Cancer Laboratory. Sid Faithfull and his wife, Christine Sadler, had been major supporters of QIMR Berghofer since 2013. Tragically, Sid passed away from brain cancer in 2014. The lab was renamed to honour Sid and the valuable contributions of his family. Christine and Sid’s visionary investment enabled us to build capacity through innovation, obtain vital resources, and instigate trials that ultimately lead to better treatments and improved quality of life for people suffering brain cancer.

75th anniversary of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

First female Director and CEO Professor Fabienne Mackay is appointed.

The Institute is among the first in Australia to receive the COVID-19 virus in our world-class biosecurity research facility.

Two drugs created by Professor Sudha Rao and James Hudson to prevent and treat COVID-19 proceed to clinical trials.

Scientific Services gains NATA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for using flow cytometry to immunophenotype human and animal samples in support of clinical trials and pre-clinical studies.

Scientific Services gains NATA accreditation to AS/ISO 17025 for histological examination of human and animal tissues in support of clinical trials and pre-clinical studies.