Brandon Wainwright

Professor Brandon Wainwright is the Director of the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) – recognised nationally and internationally as one of Australia's leading centres for molecular bioscience research.

Brandon was appointed IMB Director in 2006 after previously holding the position of Deputy Director (Research). As Director, he oversees 400 research staff and research students with an annual budget of approximately $60 million. He currently serves on several boards, including the Australian Genome Research Facility, the Australian Stem Cell Centre, and the Health and Medical Research Council of Queensland.

His laboratory’s major focus is the use of genomic approaches to dissect the basis of common genetic disease, in particular, cystic fibrosis and basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Through the mapping and isolation of the genes which are responsible for these diseases he has continued to follow through on each in order to understand how the genetic defects lead to the disease. The ultimate aim of this work is to discover the genes which, when altered, cause the tumour cell to grow in an uncontrolled fashion. Ultimately this will provide validated targets against which potential therapeutics can be developed.