Over the last 21 years our unique medical research and public health programs have been aimed at substantially reducing the impact of diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, avian influenza, measles, inflammation and cancer, in order to improve the health of communities throughout the world. Highlights from Burnet's 21 year history are included below, along with some of our major scientific discoveries and public health achievements.

1980s

  • Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research established at Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital in 1986, with Founding `Director Professor Ian Gust and Founding Chairman The Hon Geoffrey Connard.
  • Research Centre for Cancer and Transplantation based at The University of Melbourne formed the basis of the (former) Austin Research Institute, which was Directed by Professor Ian Mckenzie.

 

1990s

  • The Austin Research Institute, is incorporated on 1 June. Founding Director is Professor Ian McKenzie with Mr Harry M Hearn as Founding President and Chairman.
  • The Austin Research Institute is officially opened by Founding Patrons, Nobby Clark and Sir Edward Weary Dunlop on 25 November 1991.
  • Cloning of human genes CD48, CD99, Ly-9, ThB in 1991.
  • Identification of an attenuated strain of HIV-1 in 1995 that is a possible basis of a potential vaccine for HIV.
  • Soluble FcR are shown to inhibit Arthus-like inflammation in 1992, suggesting that new drugs are possible for arthritis and lupus.
  • Austin Breast Cancer Foundation established in 1995 under Chairman Mr Bill Jane OAM 2004.
  • Major antigen barrier to pig-to-human transplants discovered in 1993 Gal alpha (1,3) Gal; cloning of gene makes engineering of animal organs possible.
  • Development of strategies to identify and reduce sexual risk behaviours among young people; ongoing since the early 90's.
  • Positive outcomes in field programs in helping to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among less developed countries of the Asia Pacific and Africa; ongoing.
  • First crystallisation of Fc receptor  in 1996 - a breakthrough with the potential for designer drugs with major antiinflammatory action.
  • Growth of Burnet Institute's Centre for International Health (CIH) over the past 10 years, to a turnover of $5.5 million per annum. CIH provides significant importing of revenue for Australia by providing high levels advice to less developed nations.
  • The acquisition of Ilexus Pty Ltd in 1998 by the Austin to commercialise the Institute's intellectual property.
  • Development of infectious diseases resource manuals (recognised as a benchmark industry standard resource manuals) for the prevention, care and support individuals and communities in resource-poor settings.

 

2000s

  • The establishment of a spin-off biotechnology company (Select Vaccines) in early 2003, that utilises vaccine technology developed at the Burnet Institute. Select Vaccines are utilising Burnet's intellectual property to progress research into commercial opportunities thus translating research into tangible benefits for the community.
  • New drugs for rheumatoid arthritis designed in 2000 at the Austin campus.
  • Development of low cost testing kits for detection of hepatitis A and E infection implemented for point-of-care testing.  Now licensed for distribution in Australian and internationally. Tests have been used in the refugee camps of Chad and the Sudan as well as in Ache following the 2004 tsunami.
  • The Sir Zelman Cowen Cancer Foundation in 2005.
  • CD46 transgenic pigs flown to Cape Town, South Africa: collaborative kidney transplant experiments confirm potential for organ xenotransplantation and indicate new research.
  • New vaccines for cancer and malaria tested in mice in 2002.
  • Successful testing in mice of novel drugs that suppress inflammation at the Austin campus.
  • Development of low-cost testing kits to monitor HIV infections in developing countries and training of scientific staff in new technology implementation.
  • Development of oral vaccine platforms in 2002, which use transgenic plants as the mechanism for the expression of immunogenic proteins for infectious diseases such as measles. Potential spin offs from this research into other viral infectious diseases.
  • The development of a new treatment for hepatitis C (now undergoing clinical trial) based on plasmapheresis and laboratory maturation and infusion of dendritic cells. This is an ongoing project which commenced in 2005.
  • The identification of new Amantadine derivatives for the potential treatment of hepatitis C and viral clearance.
  • Identification of cholesterol disruption in 2005, and the use of Dendrimers as a potential mechanism for the prevention of cells becoming infected with HIV.
  • The establishment of primary healthcare facilities in 2005, for street-based injecting drug users with the Footscray model becoming the model for five other centres in Melbourne.
  • Austin Research Institute signs Memorandum of Understanding with Burnet Institute 2006 Austin Research Institute officially merges with the Burnet Institute on 1 January.

The Burnet Institute is the leading organisation in Australia and the southern hemisphere focused on infectious diseases, immunology, immunotherapy and cancer.