CIPDD is a drug discovery-translation facility that is a major strategic asset of UQ, Queensland and Australia. We work in close collaboration with industry and academic groups in Australia and internationally assisting them to progress their intellectual property through the steps needed for commercialization into therapeutic products for improving human health. In the last 2 decades, CIPDD has conducted approx 750 R&D studies in collaboration with ~250 industry and academic entities. We also have an outstanding track record of collaborating with industry and academic groups on competitive grant-funded research projects.

Website

https://biomedical-sciences.uq.edu.au/research/groups/cipdd

Organisation type

• Tier 2 Research Infrastructure Centre in the School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Queensland.

Number of research staff

Up to 20 research staff

Address

Level 3, Steele Building, Staffhouse Rd, St Lucia QLD 4072

Strengths and capabilities

• Portfolio of 16 optimised rodent pain models of individual human pain conditions.
• Mouse model of triple negative breast cancer; mouse model of antibiotic resistant lung infection.
• Mouse model of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) that is a model of multiple sclerosis. a range of in vitro cell-based assays.
• In-life phase of rodent pharmacokinetic studies.
• Exploratory toxicology studies.
• Expertise to establish and optimise new rodent models of particular human diseases in collaboration with research partners.
• Generate preclinical efficacy data for novel molecules; collaborate with industry and academic research partners.

Facilities and major equipment

• Purpose-built preclinical drug development facility
• Quality management system.

Lead researchers

• Professor Maree Smith—Leading researcher internationally in the pain field. Awarded Companion of the Order of Australia in 2019.
• Dr Andy Kuo—Considerable expertise and know-how in assisting academic and industry partners to translate their drug discoveries towards commercialisation.

Achievements of the centre

Portfolio of 16 rodent pain models that mimic individual human pain conditions conducted in a purpose-built facility that operates in accordance with the requirements of a quality management system. These capabilites are unique in Australia and rare internationally; mouse models of triple negative breast cancer, antibiotic resistant lung infection and relapsing-remitted multiple sclerosis. Technology discovered by CIPDD was developed by Spinifex Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Novartis international).

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

• Biotechnology
• Health and medical