Using bio-inspired approaches to contribute to drug discovery, disease diagnostics and therapeutics. Improving societal outcomes and supporting ecosystems through a focus on aquaculture, conservation and biodiversity.
Research Themes
Applied Microbiology
This theme includes studies into major diseases in both humans and animals as well as the development of disease diagnostics and therapeutics.
Aquaculture Biotechnology
This theme is focused on the development and application of innovative technologies for the enhancement of the aquaculture industry.
Learn more about Cultivated Crustacean Meat.
Biodiscovery
This theme focuses on drug discovery from natural products and proteins for applications mainly in the medical world but also as new technologies for aquaculture and conservation. The tools used, based on the advanced instrumentation lab, are also used for basic research into the role of metabolites in biology.
Conservation and Biodiversity
This theme is focused on applying molecular tools to address key questions in global conservation and biodiversity.
Human and Animal Health and Disease
The Human and Animal Health and Disease theme focuses on infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, and the environment. Members work on novel diagnostics, prevalence and epidemiological aspects of disease, prevention, management, and therapeutics development, including vaccines and anti-microbials. Other health-related research includes the study of human breast milk.
About us
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
- Contribute to society through innovation in creating knowledge and solutions using bio-inspired approaches, to improve societal outcomes
- To support our ecosystem through conservation of biodiversity and heritage
Values
- Excellence and scientific integrity
- Collaboration and sharing of knowledge
- Collegiality and respect
Mission
- Bring together local, national and international leading researchers to enable the Centre to lead international efforts in solving key biological challenges
- Promote innovation through the creation of new technologies that are applied for the benefit of society and the environment
- Support the advancement of knowledge and the achievement of excellence through the promotion of state-of-the-art facilities and strong national and international collaborations
- Provide high quality training of future scientists and ensure they are exposed to innovation and opportunities to expand their research and horizons
- Promote productive partnerships with industry to ensure research is applied and solves real world challenges, being built on innovative basic science
- Work closely with commercial partners to ensure research outcomes are industry relevant
- Create an internally supportive and collegiate research environment that would foster excellence and international standing
Bioinnovation in the news
Focus on healthier people and planet proves winning formula for UniSC
30 Aug 2024From a ‘game-changing’ koala chlamydia vaccine to a trial of a needle-free flu vaccine, the University of the Sunshine Coast’s success in research and bioinnovation has been recognised in the Life Sciences Queensland GENE Awards
New koala research seeks chlamydia hotspots and risk factors
20 May 2024University of the Sunshine Coast researchers will develop a frontline tool to diagnose chlamydia risk factors in koalas and use detection dogs to seek out chlamydia hotspots
Spider venom to be developed into insecticide against locusts
9 May 2024A University of the Sunshine Coast researcher is using arachnid venom to help farmers fight locusts, after being awarded a $240,000 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship