Did you know that spider venom could one day help relieve chronic pain? Or that seagrass - those long, ribbon-like plants swaying beneath the ocean's surface - could play a vital role in fighting climate change?
Thanks to The University of Queensland (UQ) and its world-class researchers, these fascinating possibilities are being explored with renewed momentum. And now, with a $200,000 donation from The Lott by Golden Casket's unclaimed prize money, two groundbreaking research projects are set to take major strides forward.
This latest donation continues The Lott's ongoing support of UQ, now in its fourth year. The funding will support two innovative projects that tackle some of the most pressing health and environmental challenges.
Unlocking the healing power of spider venom
$100,000 will go towards supporting Professor Glenn King and his team as they continue investigating how venom from spiders and other venomous creatures can be used to develop non-addictive pain relief therapies-particularly for patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and endometriosis.
These conditions affect millions globally, with IBS impacting over 10% of the population and endometriosis affecting one in nine women in Australia. Despite their prevalence, effective treatments remain limited.
Professor King, who was awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation in 2023, is also leading efforts to transform venom-derived peptides into powerful therapeutics. His team recently made headlines when a molecule from the K'gari funnel web spider showed promise as a treatment for heart attack and stroke.
"Thanks so much for the support from The Lott because the funding has now got us to the point where we will be in a phase one clinical trial to treat people with a heart attack and those needing a heart transplant," Professor King said.
Monitoring seagrass and corals to protect our oceans
The second $100,000 donation will support Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema and his team at UQ's School of The Environment. Their research focuses on understanding how and where seagrass and corals grow, what affects its resilience, and how its carbon sequestration capabilities can be protected.
Seagrass meadows and coral reefs are vital ecosystems. They provide shelter for marine life, protect shorelines, reduce pollution, and seagrass store significant amounts of carbon. However, climate change and other environmental pressures are threatening their survival - especially in the Great Barrier Reef.
His team is combining underwater photography with satellite imagery to monitor these habitats in real time. This data will help develop strategies to protect and restore seagrass meadows and coral reefs, ensuring their resilience for future generations.
"Keeping an eye on the things we love and need is important to understand how to best protect them, such as seagrass and coral habitats. The Lott donation supports the development of tools to do this in the water and from space," Assoicate Prof. Chris Roelfsema said.
Liz McPherson, Partnerships Manager at The Lott, said it's a privilege to continue supporting UQ's world-leading research.
"Supporting the community is why lotteries were first established in Australia; we're so proud to continue this tradition by donating to UQ for the fourth year in a row," she said. "We hope that with this donation, we help UQ tackle some of the biggest health and environmental issues of our generation."
From spider venom to seagrass, these projects are proof that innovation can come from the most unexpected places-and with the right support, they can change lives.
