Uncategorized

Mega-droughts – droughts that last two decades or longer – are tipped to increase thanks to climate change, according to University of Queensland-led research. UQ’s Professor Hamish McGowan said the findings suggested climate change would lead to increased water scarcity, reduced winter snow cover, more frequent bushfires and wind erosion. The revelation came after an analysis of…

Two international studies have shed light on why the virus that causes COVID-19  is so infectious compared to other SARS viruses. University of Queensland researchers collaborated with colleagues in the United Kingdom and Europe on the studies, which also showed a way to potentially prevent the virus from infecting cells. The SARS-CoV-2 virus uses a protein…

Federal funding will help a team of researchers determine how long immunity lasts in people who’ve recovered from COVID-19, critical information as the world waits for a vaccine. The Commonwealth Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has granted almost a million dollars to the two year project, run by The University of Queensland, QIMR Berghofer…

Technology that helps to quickly extract and analyse genetic material could be used for cheap, accurate and mobile COVID-19 testing, including at airports and remote testing centres. ‘Dipstick’ technology, developed by the University of Queensland’s Professor Jimmy Botella and Dr Michael Mason, allows genetic material to be extracted in as little as 30 seconds, with…

A startup company developing treatments for inflammatory diseases based on a research partnership between The University of Queensland and Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has been acquired in a landmark deal – one of the largest in Australian and Irish biotech history. Inflazome has been acquired by Roche for an upfront cash payment of €380 million (about $A617 million), plus additional payments based…

Global biotech company CSL Limited will supply the Australian Government with 51 million doses of The University of Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate if it proves successful, under a heads of agreement announced today. CSL expects the first tranche of doses to be available by mid-2021, with additional doses following in late 2021 and early 2022,…