Translational Research Institute (Australia)

Translational Research Institute

Type	Research Institute
Industry	Genomics
Founded	2007, Brisbane, Australia
Headquarters	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Key people	Carolyn Mountford, current CEO Ian Frazer, Former CEO
Slogan	n/a.
Website	http://www.tri.edu.au

The Translational Research Institute

The Translational Research Institute (TRI) is Australia’s first translational research facility dedicated to translating scientific discoveries into applications for medical practice.^[1]

The institute brings together four partner institutes - The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Mater Research, a division of Mater Health Services and Metro South, a division of Queensland Health, to combine clinical and translational research to advance progress from laboratory discovery to application in patient care.^[2] The institute combines academic medicine and translational research, in order to minimise the time between a laboratory discovery and its effective application in the clinic and the community.^[3]

History

In 2004 a proposal was submitted to the Queensland Government for the development and construction of TRI. In 2007 this progressed to project design. Five years on and $354 million in funding from the Australian and Queensland Governments, The Atlantic Philanthropies, UQ and QUT, TRI became operational and four institutes came together to populate one very special facility.^[4] TRI was officially opened by Dame Quentin Bryce in October 2013.^[4]

Research

Over 650 researchers from TRI’s four partner organisations undertake medical research into cancer; inflammation and infection; obesity and diabetes; kidney disease and liver disease; and bone and joint disorders.^[2][4]

TRI research aims to:

• prevent disease and provide protection against infection
• understand diseases to improve early detection, diagnosis, treatment and recovery
• reduce the risk of disease spreading
• relieve symptoms and better manage chronic diseases and trauma.

Researchers

Some of TRI's researchers include:

• Professor Ian Frazer AC - known for the development of the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer.
• Professor Carolyn Mountford - Current TRI CEO, known for magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging.
• Judith Clements AC - known for Kallikrein proteases in prostate and ovarian cancers.
• Elizabeth Powell - known for establishing an internationally recognised liver research group.
• Josephine Forbes - specialises in the study of glycation and diabetes.
• Glenda Gobe - specialises in the molecular controls of apoptosis in kidney disease.

Facilities

Located on the Princess Alexandra (PA) Hospital campus, the seven-story TRI building incorporates four floors of state-of-the art laboratories; and facilities for research support, administration and teaching.^[4][5]

TRI's core facilities include:

• Clinical Research Facility
• Cytometry Core Facility
• Histology Core Facility
• Microscopy Core Facility
• Proteomics Facility
• The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Genomics (UQCCG)^[6]

Co-located with TRI are the following facilities:

• Patheon Biologics, the first major biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Australia.
• The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute’s Centre for Clinical Genomics, the largest human genomic facility in the southern hemisphere, enabling researchers to study the whole genome, and map single genes associated with common diseases.^[7]

The TRI Building

The TRI building was designed by Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill and was built by WATPAC, completed in 2012 at the total cost of $354 million.^[8] The facility features eight levels: four levels of laboratories, administration and teaching facilities, an auditorium and conference rooms, staff amenities and an "outdoor room" atrium area. TRI is a 32,000sqm building, making it the largest medical research institute in the southern hemisphere. It stands on the grounds of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia on the former site of the Vision Australia building, of which the red clay bricks were salvaged and reused as the base of TRI.^[5][9]

The building has received the following awards:

• 2014 QMBA Project of the Year Award^[10]
• 2014 QMBA Health & Educations Facilities over $125 million^[11]
• 2013 F.D.G. Stanley Award for Public Architecture^[12]
• 2013 G.H.M. Addison Award for Interior Architecture ^[12]

References

1. "Construction begins on Australia’s first Translational Research Institute". http://www.austrade.gov.au. Australian Government, Australian Trade Commission. Retrieved 16 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)
2. "TRI Story". http://www.tri.edu.au. The Translational Research Institute. External link in |website= (help)
3. "Translational Research Institute". http://www.qld.gov.au. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)
4. "Official opening of the translational research institute". http://www.gg.gov.au. Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)
5. "State-of-the-art facility". http://www.tri.edu.au. The Translational Research Institute. Retrieved 16 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)
6. "TRI Facilities". https://www.tri.edu.au/. Translational Research Institute. Retrieved 6 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
7. "UQ Diamantina Institute". http://www.aarnet.edu.au. Australia's Academic and Research Network. Retrieved 16 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)
8. "A state-of-the-art facility". http://www.tri.edu.au. Translational Research Institute. Retrieved 7 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
9. "ArchitectureAU Translational Research Institute". http://www.architectureau.com. ArchitectureAU. Retrieved 1 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
10. "Master Builders: Project of the Year". http://www.masterbuilders.asn.au. Master Builders. Retrieved 16 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)
11. "Master Builders: Construction Awards". http://www.masterbuilders.asn.au. Master Builders. External link in |website= (help)
12. "Queensland Awards: State Architecture Awards". http://wp.architecture.com.au. Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved 16 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)