Four QIMR Berghofer researchers have been awarded prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants to advance innovative research into major health challenges like cancer, glaucoma, and inflammatory disease.
These highly competitive grants will support projects using cutting-edge technologies-including artificial intelligence (AI), spatial multiomics, and patient-derived tissue models-to better understand, diagnose and treat disease.
Associate Professor Quan Nguyen received one of the grants to develop next-generation digital pathology tools to improve cancer diagnosis.
Most patients with suspected cancer undergo a tissue biopsy, which is examined under a microscope to confirm diagnosis and guide treatment. While this approach has saved millions of lives, it cannot detect the molecular markers that signal early-stage cancers or predict the likelihood that a tumour will spread.
Associate Professor Nguyen and his team in the Genomics and Machine Learning Lab will apply advanced spatial biology and machine learning techniques to visualise and identify disease signatures from thousands of additional biological markers in tumour tissue. By decoding complex patterns in this data, the team aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and better predict the risk of metastasis.
Associate Professor Puya Gharahkhani received a grant to lead an AI-powered study into glaucoma, one of the world's leading causes of irreversible blindness. Glaucoma is often diagnosed after damage to the optic nerve has already occurred.
Current treatments can slow progression but cannot restore lost vision.
Together with his team in the Genomics, Imaging and AI Lab, Associate Professor Gharahkhani will analyse large-scale genetic, multi-omics (layers of biological data), and eye-imaging information to enable earlier and more accurate prediction of glaucoma risk and identify novel targets for neuroprotective therapies. Their ultimate goal is to enable earlier detection and develop better treatments to preserve optic nerve function and prevent vision loss.
Two early career researchers from QIMR Berghofer have also received Investigator Grants.
Dr Amanda Oliver will investigate how the cells lining the lungs and gut communicate with the immune system. When this communication breaks down, it can lead to diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and asthma.
Using patient-derived tissue models, Dr Oliver will map how these cells interact with immune cells, with the aim of developing therapies to restore healthy communication and reduce symptoms of inflammatory disease.
Dr Santiago Diaz Torres will study how our genes affect the health and function of neuronal (nervous system) cells, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms in support cells that help maintain and protect neurons.
By studying the pathways involved in the responses of these cells, Dr Diaz Torres' research aims to advance understanding of how they contribute to diseases that affect the optic nerve and the broader nervous system, and to identify new strategies to protect neuronal function.
QIMR Berghofer Interim Director and CEO Professor Grant Ramm said the Investigator Grant results were testament to the Institute's medical research innovation and leadership.
"These grants support bold ideas that are pushing the boundaries of medical research discovery," Professor Ramm said.
"The work led by these researchers has the potential to transform how we detect, understand and treat a range of complex diseases, ultimately improving health outcomes for people in Queensland and beyond."
The NHMRC Investigator Grant scheme provides flexible funding to support outstanding researchers at different stages of their careers. The latest round of grants was announced on Wednesday 29 July 2026.
Learn more about the NHMRC Investigator Grants: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/find-funding/investigator-grants
