Institute for Glycomics celebrates 20 years and top honours

Griffith University’s Director and Head of Research for the Institute for Glycomics Professor Mark von Itzstein AO  has been honoured with the Gold Coast Citizen of the Year award at the city’s 2020 Australia Day awards, marking the start of 20th anniversary celebrations for one of the Precinct’s flagship research institutes. 

The honour recognises the commitment and success of Professor von Itzstein, who led the research team that discovered the world’s first drug for Influenza, Relenza, and has championed the strong vision for the Institute that has seen it grow from humble beginnings with a handful of staff to more than 200 researchers tackling infectious diseases and cancers.

“The vision that we started with 20 years ago has not changed, and as a unique leading medical research institute in the country, we strive to discover solutions to difficult diseases,” Professor von Itzstein says.

“I am honoured to accept the award on behalf of all members of the Institute, as it is the team that has driven the success of our translational research in fighting diseases of global impact.” 

With a number of discoveries progressing into the commercial pipeline, the Institute most recently signed a landmark multi-million dollar co-development deal with Hong Kong listed China Grand Pharma’s newly established Australian company Grand Medical Ltd to develop a new drug for Human Parainfluenza Virus (hPIv).