Research and Innovation Year in Review 2020 - mailsnd.com
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Research and Innovation Year in Review 2020
MESSAGE FROM THE
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research and Innovation)
There’s no denying that 2020 has been Our commitment to deliver through our
an extremely challenging year for all of us partnering mindset to enable and support
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however research excellence and impact has not
we have also had many successes to wavered. In 2020 we have continued to
celebrate and be proud of. work closely with UniQuest, UQ’s primary
commercialisation company, to provide
The Research and Innovation Portfolio
expert support to our researchers on
had a rapid response to COVID-19,
their commercialisation and intellectual
including business continuity planning
property journeys. We also rebranded
and daily huddles with portfolio leaders,
ourselves as the Research and Innovation
Faculty Associate Deans (Research) and
Portfolio to more fully reflect the breadth
Institute Deputy Directors (Research).
of our Portfolio expertise and services.
Portfolio staff were quickly supported
I am pleased that we have been able
to work from home and, as the year
to recognise efforts of many across the
progressed, the return to campus was
Portfolio in this way, and to also promote
carefully planned to comply with health
the importance of innovation in creating
directives and to support staff wellbeing.
research impact.
Through 2020 we also increased
communications to staff via extra editions The achievements summarised in
of the staff newsletter, featuring initiatives the following pages showcase the
such as a ‘Sustainability-at-home Bingo enormous talent, efforts and innovation
competition’ and a regular feature in the portfolio. I celebrate these 2020
interview from a staff member working achievements, and I am proud to share
from home. It was inspiring to see and them with you.
hear how staff adapted, and even thrived,
under these shifting conditions.
In 2020 the Research and Innovation
Portfolio has continued to deliver on our five
Strategic Imperatives through our culture
of collaboration that connects, convenes
and catalyses. We have maintained our Professor Bronwyn Harch
commitment to engage and inform
professional and research staff through
virtual quarterly Town Halls and targeted
researcher forums, and actively contributed
to strategic discussions and initiatives.
Staff working from home
Looking forward – 2021
Research at UQ is supported holistically across five strategic imperatives:
High-quality Entwined State-of-the-art Game-changing Facilitating
and impactful partnerships infrastructure researcher the research
research development enterprise
Our focus for 2021 will be the implementation of strategic initiatives, progressing research alliances, research
infrastructure strategic planning, a review of research partnerships functions and capabilities and effective
implementation of research systems to empower researchers and optimise the research enterprise.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 3
World-class research
and facilities
$452.5m $300m
in research income in research infrastructure
(HERDC 2019)
206 95%
fellows of learned of UQ research is
academies are UQ staff above world standard
and professors emeriti ERA (2018)
#3 740
University in Australia PhDs awarded
Nature Index tables (2020) in 2020
4 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020
High-quality
and impactful research
Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19
pandemic, UQ had a landmark year in securing
research funding and enhancing our systems and
procedures to ensure our research reputation
remains strong and secure.
Trusted research practice Australian Research Council
• New Human Research Ethics Procedure
Discovery Indigenous Projects
• Revised Animal Ethics in Teaching and
Research Procedure
$4.091m $1.776m
• New Clinical Trials Procedure nearing
finalisation
• Establishment of an International
Safeguards Advisory Group to provide UQ is number one UQ was awarded the
advice on development of policy and nationally, with the largest total project
processes relating to UQ’s obligations largest number of value and the highest
in areas such as foreign influence,
international sanctions and export
awards, and the highest average project value
controls. total funding ($1,363,666)
Facilitating the research
enterprise
MyResearch Ethics: development of new
$5.066m
forms and digitisation of ethics review
workflows to streamline processes for awarded to UQ for
researchers and ethics committees. UQ was awarded two Discovery Indigenous
The system will provide many benefits, five-year projects, and Project
including increased visibility of application
one three-year project A total of $30,404,995 has been
status and reporting capabilities.
awarded to Discovery Indigenous
Projects over the past five years
(2017–2021). Of this, UQ has
received $5,066,000 (17 per cent
of the funding pool) resulting in the
most funding received nationally
over 5 years. This is a significant
achievement given UQ’s last
UQ applied for two successful Discovery Indigenous
Discovery Australian Projects were awarded in 2017.
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Awards
(DAATSIA) and was
awarded both
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 5
Australian Research ARC Linkage Enhancing capability
Council National Infrastructure, and performance in
Fellowships Equipment and Facilities international research
UQ is cumulatively number one for In 2020 UQ has continued to extend funding
all current ARC fellowship schemes its engagement across Queensland to Following the establishment in 2018
(Laureates, Future Fellowships and support coordinated submissions to the of a specialist team for international
Discovery Early Career Researcher upcoming ARC Linkage Infrastructure, competitive funding in Sponsored
Award) across all relevant scheme years Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) Research, a US negotiated rate was
(2009–2021), being awarded more than scheme. The state-wide coordination is successfully agreed with the US Federal
$316M to support the highest quality strengthening the quality and number Government. As a result, UQ can now
researchers. In 2020, UQ was delighted of submissions to the LIEF scheme, to claim 47% indirect cost recovery, rather
to claim third ranking in the ARC Future the betterment of the state’s research than 10%, on Federal Government Agency
Fellowship scheme, behind the University agenda. Further to this engagement applications. Since acceptance early
of Melbourne and Monash University. a Development Workshop was held in in 2020, UQ has generated a further
UQ’s Faculty of Humanities, Arts and 2020 for the 2022 round of LIEF, with $500,000 of indirect cost recovery gain
Social Sciences performed particularly approximately 100 attendees on five grant applications that would
well, with Associate Professor Shahar otherwise not have been possible.
At the end of 2020 UQ was awarded four
Hameiri and Drs Alison Crowther and Education and training programs have
LIEF Grants awards (a 44.4% success
Erich Round being successful in their been undertaken with UQ researchers
rate and the largest number of awards to
Future Fellowship applications. so that an unprecedented number of
UQ since 2017) in the LE 21 round. These
awards amounted to over $3.7 M which UQ-led bids are being prepared for the
represents 9.6% of the total funding pool. US National Institutes of Health within
In addition, four externally-led LE21 bids the year; an indicator of the growth in
with UQ partners were also successful. confidence of UQ researchers applying
into US competitive granting agencies.
6 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020
Higher Education
Research Data Collection
National Health and
Medical Research $37m
Higher Education Research Data Council secured by UQ for Medical
Collection assesses the relative Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Research Future Fund
performance of providers in research
and research training. In 2019, UQ’s
National Health and Medical Research (MRFF)
Council (NHMRC) has adjusted its
total HERDC income increased by 13.2% funding schemes to support the research
$25m
with the biggest increase in Category 3 community. While the outcomes for the
Industry and Other Funding for Research 2020 funding rounds have not yet been
16.3% and Cooperative Research Centre finalised, UQ was delighted to perform
Funding 31.4%. well in the NHMRC Ideas Grants round, in NHMRC Ideas Grants
securing $25M in research funding for 39
research projects. UQ also received an
for 39 resarch projects
Medical Research Future award for an NHMRC Centre of Research
Fund Excellence for Associate Professor Coral
UQ secured more than $37M in Medical
Research Future Fund (MRFF) funds
Gartner’s research in the cessation of
smoking. With only 14 awarded each
year, the Centres of Research Excellence
$316m
across a number of schemes announced
scheme supports research networks, for ARC fellowship schemes
in January 2020, largely involving clinical
trials research. With more than $1B per capacity building and research translation. (2009-2021)
annum likely to be available through the
MRRF, UQ’s success in the 2020 grant
rounds positions its researchers well
for continuing to grow programmatic
research focussing on health and health
services translation for impact.
Australian Research Council Linkage Projects
$12.8m $2.490m
UQ is currently equal second nationally
for number of successful applications
(5) and third nationally for total ARC
awarded to UQ and 26 given, ARC funding awarded to funding awarded for the Linkage
the highest in Australia UQ for the Linkage Project 20 round to date.
Program 20 round 2021 funding announcements are made
mid-year.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 7
117
agreements relating
to the UQ COVID-19
CSL vaccine
50%
of current
researchers
involved in CRCs
are from UQ
12
capability
statements
Entwined
partnerships
4200+ Positive research partnerships are IndustryConnect events
research vital to the success of UQ. Not only
contracts do external partners inform our IndustryConnect provides a coordinated
projects with real-world insights entry point for external stakeholders
about the challenges facing wanting to undertake research
community, industry and government, collaborations with UQ researchers.
but research collaborations also In its first full year of operation,
provide a platform to test new ideas IndustryConnect successfully conducted
and approaches that enable UQ workshops with partners Thales, Stanwell,
6
researchers to create change. Infosys, Google and Microsoft. Through
In 2020, UQ has continued its trend these events, UQ Research Partnerships
of increasing both the number of was able to meet known needs,
IndustryConnect partnerships and, the breadth of while also identifying other potential
Events these agreements. Despite the areas for collaboration. As a result of
impact of COVID-19, UQ Research these workshops, a Memorandum of
Partnerships has seen an increase Understanding was signed with Infosys
in research contracts from 3,952 in and a research agreement with Stanwell.
2019 to more than 4,200 in 2020. In 2021, IndustryConnect will expand
The average dollar value and length to include broader engagement
of research projects increased across opportunities for existing and new
the last four years, indicating a partners wanting to learn more about
greater complexity of research being particular areas of UQ research strength.
undertaken with external partners.
8 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020
IBM@UQ Centre of
Excellence
“By solving current problems Research Partnerships has coordinated
and generating new ideas, a significant multi-year agreement with
IBM Australia that will support researchers
we are able to make a real working across health, manufacturing
and environmental sciences by providing
difference to society that will access to the latest technology.
As research efforts become increasingly
propel us into the future.” data-rich, the IBM@UQ Centre of Excellence
and Innovation will provide researchers
Professor Tapan Saha, with novel data storage and computer
UQ Industry 4.0 Energy TestLab Leader hardware platforms to help address the
challenges associated with extreme data
growth and data organisation.
UQ-CSL Vaccine research
support
UQ was asked by the Coalition for
Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to
utilise its molecular clamp technology
to develop a vaccine in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic in just 16 weeks.
Through the extraordinary efforts
of Professor Paul Young’s research
group, this request was met with the
development of a vaccine ready for phase
1 clinical trials.
The vaccine development was a truly
collaborative venture, with more than
61 research partners involved from
development of the vaccine candidate to
advanced manufacture. While the Phase 1
trial of the COVID-19 vaccine showed that
it elicited a robust response towards the
virus and had a strong safety profile, it will
not proceed beyond Phase 1 trials as the
vaccine interfered with certain HIV tests.
Research Partnerships oversaw the
signing of 117 research agreements in
collaboration with the Science Faculty and
Australian Institute of Bioengineering and
Nanotechnology. Support was provided
by UQ Legal, UniQuest, Advancement,
Governance and Risk, and Insurance.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 9
UQ leads the
university sector in
translating research
outcomes through
commercialisation
(2020 Survey of
Commercialisation Outcomes
from Public Research)
UQ Energy TestLab launch
Launch of Industry 4.0 UniQuest • The Queensland Emory Drug
Discovery Initiative (QEDDI), operated
Energy TestLab UQ’s innovative technologies continued to and managed by UniQuest, was
The UQ Industry 4.0 Energy TestLab, attract significant global interest in 2020: awarded competitive funding from
which will enhance global knowledge on • Startup company Inflazome Ltd was the Medical Research Futures Fund
electricity networks and cyber security to acquired by multinational pharmaceutical (MRFF) to advance projects in
protect critical infrastructure, was opened company Roche in September in the cancer and neurodegeneration to
in November 2020. largest deal for a spinout company from commercialisation.
Bringing together industry, research and an Australian university, with an upfront
education, the UQ TestLab uses the sorts payment of €380M (AU$617M) plus UQ and the Indian
additional development and regulatory
of digital tools that we will all need in
milestone payments. Inflazome is
Institute of Technology
the future, including power generation;
transmission and distribution; and energy developing potential treatments for a Delhi
consumption and management. broad range of inflammatory diseases, The Academy of Research established by
including inflammatory bowel disease UQ and the Indian Institute of Technology
The UQ TestLab is one of six such and Parkinson’s disease, based on Delhi (UQIDAR) has further developed,
labs based in Australian Universities IP developed by UQ researchers in with the recruitment of Dr Rajeev Shorey
established through the Australian collaboration with Trinity College Dublin. as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer.
Government’s Industry 4.0 program,
• Startup company Vaxxas will partner
with Siemens as a founding partner. The appointment has enabled UQIDAR
with the US Government to test its
UQ Research Partnerships managed to broaden its industry engagement. In
high-density microarray patch (HD-
the relationships with the Australian November, UQIDAR organised a workshop
MAP) needle-free vaccine delivery
Government and Siemens, including the with the Google Research Lab in India on
technology for pandemic influenza,
associated Product Lifecycle Management artificial intelligence, with researchers now
receiving $30 million from the
software grant from Siemens. working on proposals for consideration by
Biomedical Advanced Research and
Google. Renew Power will also undertake
Development Authority (BARDA).
research into wind speed forecasting
Streamlining support for With the support of the Queensland
through the Academy.
Government, the company will establish
researchers a facility at Brisbane’s Northshore UQ Research Partnerships was strongly
Research Partnerships is currently Hamilton for the manufacture of involved in defining and shaping the
developing a pipeline of activities to products, ensuring that the UQ research focus areas and the thematic
support researchers wanting to engage research continues to be developed impact areas for the UQIDAR program.
with industry and business partners in Brisbane. A long-term partnership This exercise was based on the joint
through federally-funded initiatives, such as with Merck & Co Inc has seen the global strengths of both UQ and IITD, calls for
Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) bids. pharmaceutical company investing $18 proposals launched in India and Australia,
million in Vaxxas in a combination of analysis of on industry and society
In 2020, the team held a number of equity funding and option fees. needs and national research priorities,
workshops for UQ researchers wanting
• In the first 9 months of 2020, UQ’s particularly in India. This exercise will now
to learn more about the CRC process and
other startups attracted over $27 enable UQIDAR to better target industry in
how they can be involved in the future.
million in investment to advance their India and Australia, which will be a primary
UQ is involved in 12 of the 24 active
technologies towards the market focus for 2021.
Cooperative Research Centres in Australia.
10 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020State-of-the-art infrastructure
UQ’s investment in major infrastructure, in partnership with
government, industry and donors, provides cutting-edge facilities
and leading technologies for researchers. Researchers have access
to extensive high-tech research equipment and instrumentation,
laboratories and wide-ranging scientific services and training.
Biological Resources Centre for Geoanalytical
Biological Resources (BR) was able to Mass Spectrometry
continue onsite support during COVID-19 The Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Central Research
restrictions across St Lucia, Herston, Spectrometry’s Radiogenic Isotope
Woolloongabba, Gatton and Hidden Vale Platforms
Facility maintained full operation
sites. This specifically included the support throughout 2020, attracted external Aligned along interdisciplinary lines,
of research that necessitated the use of funding of $1M, and an annual analytical Central Research Platforms (CRPs)
animals, with UQBR staff ensuring the revenue of $800,000. offer core services and world-class
daily care of over 50,000 animals, ranging capabilities that are integral towards
from zebrafish to cattle. The Environmental Geoscience Lab
achieving research excellence. UQ’s
performed comprehensive and high
CRPs house over $125 million worth
resolution analyses of metal suites on
of high-end equipment and have
Centre for Advanced Moolayember Formation in Surat Basin.
more than 220 qualified staff on
Imaging The work has informed and improved the
hand to assist researchers to boost
reactive transport reservoir model and
All facilities at the Centre for Advanced their research capabilities. To date
led to a significant new project to study
Imaging (CAI) remained operational for more than 10,000 researchers have
South Surat metal mobilisation and fate in
contract research studies and critical used these state-of-the-art facilities
collaboration with Simon Fraser University,
research projects during the shutdown to advance their research.
B.C., Canada. In addition, this project has
period. Imaging involving human led to enhanced engagements in the
participants was suspended for 3-months, provision of external analytical services
recommencing on July 6 following inboth the Centre for Geoanalytical
the implementation of a COVID-19 Mass Spectrometry and the Centre for
Management Plan developed with the Microscopy and Microanalysis.
assistance of the UQ CAI Human and
Companion Animal Imaging Team, UQ
Legal, UQ Health Safety and Wellness, and Centre for Microscopy Conditions Study between the major
UQ Insurance. and Microanalysis surface science infrastructure at UQ
and QUT as well as the Cryo-Electron
CAI received $1.2 million from the In the Centre for Microscopy and Microscopes at UQ. In 2020 CMM received
Australian Cancer Research Foundation Microanalysis (CMM) the integration of the first Tims-Tof MS Maldi2 system in
(ACRF) to establish an Australian first novel cryo tools, developed and built in Australia, only the second world-wide,
facility to develop radiometals for cancer house, with the new cryo-Surface-Station- in a partnership establishing subcellular
therapy. This new facility will focus on XPS was successfully tested in 2020. cryogenic imaging mass spectrometry
alpha therapies, a type of precision The testing and integration was which will pave the way for studies of the
medicine, which has the potential to be made more difficult due to COVID-19. location of drug and other metabolites in
more effective in killing cancer without This project was a finalisation of the tissue sections.
damaging healthy tissue. Connectivity under UHV and Cryogenic
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 11Genome Innovation Hub Pinjarra Hills Research Protein Expression
In 2020, The UQ Genome Innovation Hub Facility Facility
(GIH) hosted 20 UQ research projects The entire Pinjarra Hills site has been fully In 2020 the Protein Expression Facility
which spanned 7 Institutes, 3 Schools and operational in 2020. Major infrastructure (PEF) partnered with the Public Health
8 Research facilities, with more than 70 repair and grazing management has Virology team at Forensic and Scientific
collaborative researchers. Despite UQ- continued with a total of 60 new students, Services (FSS), Queensland Health to
wide COVID setbacks, GIH supported the staff and visiting researchers inducted develop SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins. These
preparation of a number of manuscripts, to Pinjarra Hills since March. Despite the synthetic proteins can be used in a blood
bioinformatic analysis tools and grant effects of COVID-19, animal husbandry has test to safely screen patient antibodies
applications by UQ researchers; with continued with precinct-specific planning for prior exposure to COVID-19, and are
funding success from the NHMRC, ARC, in place to ensure projects are COVID-19 sufficient for more than 500,000 tests.
ASSC and MNDRA. In addition the GIH also safe. All large animal research projects have
supported several seminars, webinars and Another significant collaboration was
continued and milestones are on track, with
technical workshops. GIH went live with with the digital diagnostic company,
105 male and female cattle, representing
a new UQ website for researchers and at Ellume, in the fight against the COVID-19
four breeds; 16 standard bred and miniature
the end of 2020, it opened its third call for pandemic. Ellume’s rapid COVID-19
horses; and 80 mixed breed sheep.
2021 collaborative project applications. diagnostic tests are based on proprietary
In 2020 work done at Pinjarra Hills has fluorescent immunoassay and single use
contributed to buffalo flies successfully biosensor technology. With the delivery
UQ Genomics being transinfected with three strains of of highly pure and functional SARS-CoV-2
Wolbachia shown to have potential use in recombinant proteins at the outset of the
2020 saw the delivery of the first in
future area wide biocontrol. Development pandemic, PEF was able to accelerate
Australia Sequel II long read capability to
and testing of an immunocontraceptive Ellume’s development and verification of
UQ in partnership with AGRF. This Sequel
vaccine for cattle successfully their range of COVID-19 diagnostic tests.
II complements the Illumina sequencing
demonstrated that vaccination of female
platforms at the IMB Sequencing Facility.
cattle against specific purified zona
The facility completed 68 individual
pellucida proteins induces infertility in the Research Computing
projects in 2020. Those projects ranged
from Transcriptomics, WGS, amplicon,
majority of cattle for at least 12 months. Centre
A Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and
single cell sequencing and long read Research Computing Centre (RCC)
Food Innovation-led cattle tick vaccine
sequencing. managed infrastructure remained fully
was also tested, completing a second
operational throughout the COVID-19
challenge at Pinjarra Hills farm with a lead
closures to support all UQ research,
Central Glasshouse vaccine candidate showing promise.
including critical COVID-19 research.
Services RCC-backed technology support meet-
2020 was an eventful year which saw Island Research Stations ups for UQ researchers went virtual
a number of upgrades to the Facility Nestled in a seaward corner of Dunwich during the COVID-19 lockdown, and
(including pasteurising trailers, growth on Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), remain virtual while many UQ staff and
cabinets and an electric delivery vehicle), the Morten Bay research station has students continue to work from home.
which have enhanced its efficiency as well coped well with COVID-19 operational This included Hacky Hour weekly sessions
as its environmental and health and safety requirements and continues to provide in which IT experts help UQ researchers
profiles. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, a and enable diverse teaching and research with IT-related research issues, such as
high volume of research was conducted program support; following a five-month coding and data storage; the weekly
at the Facility with over 5000 2m2 plots shutdown due to COVID-19. MBRS is Microscopy and Image Analysis clinics;
of plant growth space utilised. The CGS the base for a remote sensory network and a weekly Virtual HPC User Support
team continued to provide services program which has recently commenced (vHPC) meetup specifically to support
and assistance to UQ Institutes and and will involve setting out several researchers during the pandemic.
Schools and external groups through the mooring buoys around southern Moreton
delivery of media and consumables, and Bay fitted with real-time data telemetry.
the provision of support for over 1000
research experiments. The Heron Island station is the largest and
best equipped scientific research station
physically located on the Great Barrier
Reef. After the completion of minor repair
from water damage occurring during the
COVID-19 closure, the station is now fully
operational and commencing 2021 at near
full capacity. Work to install a new seawater
intake system has commenced which will
provide quality seawater to the research
labs, wet decks, tanks and aquaria.
12 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020TetraQ National Collaborative National Imaging Facility
Toxicology and bioanalytical teams Research Infrastructure The National Imaging Facility (NIF)
provides advanced imaging capabilities
successfully completed a rat toxicity Strategy Facilities of humans, animals, plants and materials.
study to support the UQ-Coalition for
The National Collaborative Research Despite the challenges of 2020, NIF
Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (UQ-
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) builds attracted almost $28M in co-investment
CEPI) COVID-19 vaccine program over the
collaborative research facilities that bring from partner institutions and State
peak of the lockdown period in April and
together funding from the Australian Governments and established a number
May. Subsequently a second COVID-19
Government, Queensland Government, of new imaging infrastructure facilities,
toxicity study was completed in June-
industry, universities and university including the first Magnetic Particle
August and an antibody titre method
researchers to help provide open access Imaging facility in Australia.
was established to support the COVID-19
research infrastructure. UQ is a lead node on
vaccine clinical study. Partnerships continued to strengthen and
several NCRIS facilities, and a collaborator
grow over the past year. The Queensland
These studies include two pivotal non- on many other significant NCRIS facilities.
NIF node officially expanded to include the
clinical GLP safety studies in rats to
Herston Imaging Research Facility (HIRF),
support the progression of the UQ SARS-
UQ-led NCRIS facilities bringing QUT, QIMR and Queensland Health
CoV-2 Sclamp vaccine into clinical studies
into the national network. NIF continued
and the development and validation
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network its partnership with ARDC, collaborating
of methods for detection and titre of
on three platform development projects
SARS-CoV-2 Sclamp antibodies in rats Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
for national federated repository and
and humans to support the UQ vaccine (TERN) is Australia’s land ecosystem
computing capability. Recognising the
program. Approximately 1400 human observatory. In 2020, TERN sensors have
importance of FAIR data practices, NIF has
serum samples from the UQ vaccine operated 24/7, providing ecosystem
an ARDC-funded Training and Community
clinical study were analysed for SARS- researchers with unique data from the
Engagement Manager to promote the
CoV-2 antibody responses enormous unintended experiment of
collaborative eResearch infrastructure and
reduced pollutants and human impact
Sixty-nine new research studies provide training and advocacy in FAIR data.
across the continent resulting from
supporting the preclinical and clinical pandemic lock-downs.
development of new therapies for
human health were also initiated in 2020, TERN’s ecosystem national research
including 22 toxicology studies and 47 infrastructure project has been
bioanalytical studies. awarded a three year contract with
the Commonwealth Department of
Agriculture, Water and Environment
to provide standardised ecological
Other NCRIS facilities
monitoring protocols and systems for data involving UQ
collection, storage and management. • Astronomy Australia
• AuScope
• Australian Research Data Commons
• Microscopy Australia
• Australian National Fabrication Facility
• Australian Plant Phenomics Facility
• Bioplatforms Australia
• National Computing Infrastructure
• Translating Health Discovery
• Therapeutics Innovation Australia
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 13Game-changing
researcher development
97% Career Development
Framework
Supporting HDR
students in response
Overall Satisfaction As a result of COVID-19 CDF activities to COVID-19
for the CDF we pivoted from a largely face-to-face Supporting the success of UQ’s graduate
delivery model to a fully online mode. researchers is at the core of our purpose
To support students during this
170+
and depends on collaborations with
challenging period, the Graduate School Faculties/Schools and Institutes, central
launched a series of COVID-19-specials. Portfolios across UQ, and the HDR
These ‘specials’ addressed employability
CDF sessions held student community. In 2020 these strong
and pivoting research projects, but partnerships were invaluable as we met
in 2020 overwhelmingly focussed on protecting the challenges as a result of COVID-19.
mental health and promoting resilience The Graduate School led a coordinated,
1729
among our HDR cohort. University-wide response that supported
HDR students; focused on ensuring they
COVID-19 specials
could continue to progress their research,
unique HDR • Scientific career paths: Put your best as well as support their health and
candidates attended foot forward wellbeing during this challenging period.
a CDF workshop • Expert Panel: How to adjust your We worked with students on a variety of
as at September 2020 research for COVID-19 options regarding their HDR candidature,
• Mental Health First Aid and collaborated with Student Services
to offer additional sessions centred
5283
• R U OK: Student panel lived
on dealing with uncertainty and the
experience
changed working environment. We also
• Maintaining well-being while working coordinated a particularly successful
attendances at from home panel discussion on adjusting research
CDF workshops • Keep calm and carry on: Dealing with projects affected by COVID-19 held with
as at September 2020 uncertainty in the COVID-19 era 5 researchers from across UQ:
• Finish that thesis! “I liked the panel’s examples of how
100
they or their HDR students have been
The unintended but positive outcome of
impacted and how they’ve made changes
this move to online delivery has widened
to their research due to COVID-19. I also
our reach and improved accessibility of
unique workshop the Career Development Framework.
liked how the panel speakers all had the
titles theme ‘Everyone has been impacted in
Attendance increased by nearly 17% in
some way’ e.g. industry, HDR advisors
in 2020 2020 compared with 2019.
…. Thanks for being able to arrange this
panel and thank you to the speakers who
gave their time to do this “
Following this, the COVID Impact
Industry placements HDR Scholarship extension has been
implemented to provide an additional
Higher Degree by Research (HDR) organised more than 55 placement 3 months of scholarship for UQ
placements adapted quickly to new opportunities with 48 partners in scholarship recipients to assist in writing
ways of working as a result of the 2020, with a further 15 placements up and finishing the thesis if their
COVID-19 pandemic. A shift was to commence in 2021. Placements research was affected by COVID-19.
made to enable remote placements to were undertaken within government, Specialised bootcamp is now offered
ensure the numerous HDR candidates industry and the not-for-profit sectors to support final submission, with very
who undertook international or and provided HDR candidates with an positive feedback. Further programs are
interstate placements were not opportunity to further develop their scheduled for 2021.
disadvantaged. The Graduate School transferable skills.
14 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020The 3MT competition
demonstrates the tremendous
capabilities of our PhD candidates
and their potential to have a real
impact through their research.”
Professor Alastair McEwan,
Dean Graduate School
3 Minute Thesis The Asia-Pacific 3MT competition was also
a success in 2020 in its virtual video format.
As a result of COVID-19 the 2020 A total of 53 universities were represented,
3 Minute Thesis Competition moved to a with participants from 8 countries across
virtual format. The move to a virtual video the region. The winner was Yifei Lou
submission resulted in a 31.5% increase from Nanyang Technological University
in participation in UQ’s own competition. for her presentation titled Listening in
The UQ 3MT winner was Emma Schimke on Plants through a Conductive Liquid
from the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Glue. The Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition is
Sciences for her presentation titled To proudly supported by Springer Nature and
sleep or not to sleep? UniBank and the Graduate School values
their ongoing support.
Emma Schimke, School of Health
and Rehabilitation Sciences
200 900+ 404 84,951 53
3MT Facebook hosting UQ HDR total views of institutions
followers joined universities candidates the 3MT website participated in
in 2020 across 85+ competed in 2020 the Asia-Pacific
countries in 3MT 3MT in 2020
in 2020
Global Change Scholars Program
The Global Change Scholars Program cohort presented their research to the
(GCSP) launched as a 1 year Program with 2020 cohort via recordings that they had
new modules in 2020: produced as part of the program. Due to
COVID-19, the program quickly adapted
• Module 1: The global trends interactive
to a mixed mode approach, making the
seminar series
learning activities available both virtually
• Module 2: Research impact and and in person to accommodate the
innovation workshops and group projects different needs of the cohort. A measure
• Module 3: Science communication of the impact of the Global Scholars was
training the selection of four of these students (out
This year, the program selected 25 of a total of six HDR students in total) to
talented scholars who commenced in July participate in the Group of Eight taskforce
2020. The scholars hosted a Showcase of leading researchers to produce a COVID
event in November where the 2019 ‘Road to Recovery’ Report.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 15Facilitating the
Research Enterprise
3600+ UQ Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Research
Digital Research
Notebooks
active research and Innovation Strategy Digital research notebooks (DRN) enable
projects The UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait UQ researchers to organise, store, curate
in 2020 Islander Research and Innovation Strategy and share all their projects’ research
(2021-2025) was approved in December or laboratory data including working
2020 and will launch in early 2021. The documents, images, observations, and data
1000+ Strategy sets a framework for UQ to excel
as a national and international leader
in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
in any format. During the early procurement
planning phase, UQ anticipated there would
be an initial take-up of 500 DRN notebooks
new research projects by the end of implementation, but a
research and innovation and to support
approved career progression for Aboriginal and stronger than expected take-up has led to a
in 2020 Torres Strait Islander researchers. total of 2,012 new DRN notebooks with over
3,291 registered users. The completed Digital
The Strategy sets out a vision for UQ to Research Notebooks (DRN) service has
1300+
leverage research as a tool of empowerment been successfully integrated into RDM.
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples, communities and organisations. The DRN project has realised the following
continued critical work This will be achieved through nurturing benefits:
on campus during a respectful and supportive University • Replacement of traditional hard copy
environment alongside a broad and robust
COVID-19 lockdown laboratory notebooks with a digital
program of research and innovation. solution that provides efficient storage
including staff who and retrieval of documentation and
• Cared for live organisms MyResearch
reduction of administrative burden.
• Improved collaboration with internal
• Maintained critical Due to go-live in early 2021, the Ethics and external researchers through
physical infrastructure component of MyResearch will revolutionise integration with RDM and improved
the management of ethics applications and storage and security of research data
• Continued COVID-19- approvals for human and animal research at for all researchers.
related research UQ. 2020 also saw significant progress on • Improved research data governance
MyResearch Projects, the second stage of
• 80 COVID-19-related implementation.
with date stamping and real time user
changes to enable version control.
projects have begun
in 2020
HDR Enhancement
Work done in 2019 to move the
management of HDR candidature from a
paper-based system to a modern online
application has continued throughout
2020. Stages two and three of the thesis
examination development has undergone
extensive user acceptance testing and
we are looking forward to deployment
Consultation
highlights for the in late-2020. The project has established
UQ Aboriginal and a comprehensive library of Standard
Torres Strait Islander Operating Procedures covering the
Research and enhancements and these are available to
Innovation Strategy staff via SharePoint.
16 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020Research Policy Review
The Research portfolio has commenced a
review of Research policies to align with
the objectives of the UQ Governance and
Management Framework Policy [1.00.01].
Throughout 2020, 24 policies were
reviewed and updated, ensuring the UQ
research community has access to the most
current information covering the areas
of Research Administration [4.10], and
Research Conduct and Integrity [4.20].
Research Data Manager
Research Data Manager (RDM) provides
Research Management Business Transformation
UQ with an integrated data management The Research Management • Increased digital workflows and
system covering the entire research data Business Transformation (RMBT) efficiencies supporting the HDR
lifecycle. It offers seamless provisioning Program is progressively experience and administration of
of easily accessible, secure, and sharable transforming the way research the UQ Graduate School.
data storage in real-time, and enables support and administration • Policies and procedures
publication of datasets into UQ eSpace. is delivered at UQ to provide supporting the research
RDM facilitates link publication records and an integrated, digital research endeavour are up to date with
datasets and provide a mechanism for the management capability national codes and legislation,
storage and retrieval of archived data. for researchers, research consolidated and simplified for
In 2020 RDM transitioned to business- administrators and management. practical application and support
as-usual under the leadership of the Pro- The RMBT Program and projects and embed the outcomes of
Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) are providing enormous benefit to RMBT projects and other related
with the establishment of the Research the University in delivering: University initiatives in research
Systems Team. • Significantly increased quality practice.
In 2020, 3,901 researchers used RDM for and accuracy of data available for It is acknowledged that while
the first time; 4,703 new records were University planning and reporting not everything has gone to
created; 5,531 terabytes of data was stored at enterprise and Faculty/ plan in a year of unprecedented
in RDM; UQ researchers collaborated with Institute/School level regarding; challenges brought about by
more than 1,200 external collaborators research funding, research COVID-19, the careful planning for
through RDM; and the Library held 35 ethics, the location and curation contingencies and adaptability
RDM training sessions. of research data, and research of projects, together with strong
outputs. risk monitoring, governance and
• Transparency and visibility for oversight of the Program by the
researchers in managing their Steering Committee, has ensured
projects end-to-end, including continuity of the progress towards
the capacity to collaborate delivery of the program of work.
more easily and share data with
internal and external colleagues.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 17Winners of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)’s Award For Team Excellence
Town Hall Meetings Staff Development • Co-operative Research Centre and
CRC-Project Information Sessions
This year we held Town Hall Forums in Research and Innovation continued
• Medical Research Future Fund
July, October and December all via Zoom to provide assistance and support to
Information Sessions
which provided a great opportunity researchers. With 2020 being a year of
for all staff within the portfolio to hear tumultuous change due to COVID-19, • National Health and Medical Research
updates on the strategic imperatives. In all workshops needed to pivot quickly Council Information Sessions
October we were lucky to hear directly to Zoom. By the end of the year training • Grantsmanship Training Webinars
from vice-chancellor Professor Deborah sessions were run across the following
Research Ethics and Integrity training:
Terry, AO and we are working on a variety themes:
of speakers both internal and external for • Research Integrity Online Module
next year’s events. HDR Advisor, Coordinator and Examiners • Human Research Ethics Information
training: Session
• Compulsory HDR Advisor Induction • Animal Ethics @ UQ Information
Wellness • Masterclass for HDR Advisors Session
2020 saw an increased focus on • Chair of Examiners Training • Human Ethics POLSIS
promoting positive mental health
• Supporting the Welfare of HDR • Human Ethics Information session
initiatives across the portfolio – including
Candidates during Candidature • Got Ethics
rolling out a program of Mental Health
First Aid Training offerings, RU OK? Day • Postgraduate Coordinator Forum • Research Integrity at UQ
events, mandatory training compliance • Supervising Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Research Management training:
improvements, increased Ally Network Islander HDR candidates
representation, fundraising for Movember • Research Performance Reporting
• Contemporary expectations in HDR
and representation on Green Office and Supervision • Essential Knowledge for Research
new sustainability initiatives. Management
• Respectful supervisory relationships
(pilot) Researcher Inductions and other Fora:
Staff Awards Grants and Research Funding training: • Inaugural UQ Researchers Forum
2020 Research and Innovation awards • Australian Research Council Projects • Academic Orientation (led by HR
went virtual in 2020. We received 176 Information Sessions with R&I input)
nominations and congratulated over 80 • Advance Queensland Information • New Staff Expo (led by HR with
staff across nine categories. Sessions R&I input)
Tom Ingraham, winner of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)’s
Award For Excellence with Bronwyn Harch
Staff supporting Movember
18 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020Research Impact Highlights
ENVIRONMENT CULTURE SOCIETY ECONOMY
Mysterious Navigating Tackling Landmark deal for
‘quantum dots’ Indigenous native disadvantaged Inflazome Ltd start-
to revolutionise title claims children’s education up from UQ-Trinity
solar energy with research post-COVID-19 College Dublin IP
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 19Research Impact
Research Impact continues to be an
important strategic focus for UQ. In
Achieving Resilient 2020 Research Strategy, Planning and
Performance established the Research
Environments and Impact community of Practice and held
Livelihoods an inaugural Research Impact Showcase.
The Global Change Institute’s Impact
Nexus was also piloted.
Research Impact
Showcase
An inaugural Research Impact Showcase
was held in 2020 to accelerate the research
impact conversation at UQ. The showcase
focussed on the importance of research
Building Better impact and keynote speakers highlighted
Bioeconomies different ways in which research impact is
relevant to the UQ research community.
The showcase was attended by 217 UQ
RESEARCH IMPACT THEMES
staff, who heard keynotes from:
• Professor Bronwyn Harch, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (Research and
Innovation) on Approaches to
Maximise Research Impact
• Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro-Vice-
Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement)
on Indigenous-led research to impact
Transforming • Ms Helen Morgan, Deputy Director,
Societies Research Strategy, Planning and
Performance, on Institutional impact
and reporting
Research Impact
• Professor Rachel Parker, Director of UQ’s
Community of Practice
Global Change Institute, on the Role of Established in 2020 and with 43
GCI and transdisciplinary research active members, the Research Impact
Community of Practice boasts a diverse
membership including Pro-Vice-
Impact Tracker
Chancellors, Directors, Faculty Research
The measurement of research engagement Managers, and Associate Directors of
and impact is growing in significance Research along with representation from
Leading globally, with a focus on tangible benefits all areas of the Research and Innovation
Healthy Lives to non-academic end-users and best portfolio, all Faculties and Institutes, the
return on research investment. As a result, UQ Library, Global Engagement, Marketing
research organisations need to help and Communications and UniQuest. The
academics embed impact at each stage of Community of Practice held 2 meetings in
the research process and deliver a system 2020 with the first introductory meeting
allowing researchers to understand and involving an analysis of research impact
track impact along the research pathway. at UQ and the second meeting focussed
Impact Tracker is a unique platform for on current and potential research impact
researchers to plan, capture and report training and information available to UQ
on the impact and engagement of their staff. The Community of Practice is also
research. The use of Impact Tracker accompanied by a Research Impact Teams
Designing has increased dramatically in 2020 group, with over 300 members from
and funding has been approved for the across UQ.
Technology
integration of Impact Tracker with UQ
for Tomorrow RDM to streamline project creation and
significantly increase user adoption.
20 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020“Our value
to society is
Global Change Institute reinvigoration realised when
and transdisciplinary research our researchers
In 2020, the Global Change Institute
(GCI) launched the core elements of its
GCRNs will address societal challenges,
harnessing UQ research excellence and
collaborate to
operational model under the leadership of engaging end-users and stakeholders solve global
its new Director, Professor Rachel Parker, to pursue major research funding
ensuring progress towards delivering GCI’s opportunities to deliver impact. Four challenges”
mission to build funded transdisciplinary GCRNs were awarded and a further 7 have
partnerships that impact on society’s been identified as ‘pipeline GCRNs’. Rachel Parker, Director GCI
complex and enduring challenges.
The Research Impact Nexus (RIN) is a
Innovation Brokers have been appointed further core element of GCIs operational
to negotiate research opportunities and model. RIN will support researchers
ensure GCI has the capacity to support and partners to unpack the research
major research initiatives that deliver components of societal challenges
impact across UQs five research impact through Future Forums involving Q&A
themes. Panels of researchers and partners.
Research co-design facilitation will
The Global Change Research Network
enable researchers from a wide range
(GCRN) Program was launched and
of disciplines to collaborate with their
received 27 applications from UQ Faculties
external partners to design research
and Institutes. The program supports
programs and research impact pathways.
researchers and partners to address
GCI is now positioned to deliver on its goal
challenges which require input from
of making it easier for UQ researchers and
multiple disciplines and end-users across
partners to collaborate to solve societal
government, industry and the community.
challenges and deliver maximum value
from UQs research excellence.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 21Research and Innovation Portfolio dvc.research@uq.edu.au research.uq.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00025B
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