Andrew Brooks

Quality of Research Outputs

In the last 10 years I have published in journals including Science, Nature Cell Biology, Blood, Oncogene, J Immunol, and Nature Reviews. I have over 1000 citations (Web of Knowledge or over 1500 Google Scholar) with an h-index of 16 (Web of Knowledge) or 19 (Google Scholar; i10-index 20). I have presented my research at a number of national (including as an invited speaker) and international (including as an invited speaker: Keystone JAK-STAT 2016, Biochemical Society 2016, US ENDO 2013, ICIS 2014) conferences.

Grant Success

In the last 5 year I have been awarded two NHMRC project grants as CIA awarded $919,834 for "Defining a general mechanism for class 1 cytokine receptor activation" and $494,050 for "HLA-G/H2-Bl is Critical for Regulating Inflammation in the Liver". I was also recently awarded an NHMRC project grant as CIB with Melissa and Matthew Call (WEHI) $667,521 for "The Structural Basis of Cytokine Receptor Triggering". In addition I was awarded a GGI award (Merck) (~$200,000) in 2016 for "Targeting the Growth Hormone Receptor Achilles’ Heel for Novel Therapeutics". I have also been a CI for three NHMRC project grants. These grants are: “Roles of the nuclear growth hormone receptor in cell proliferation and survival” awarded $414,925 in 2011, “Mechanism of activation of JAK2 by a class 1 cytokine receptor” awarded $543,675 in 2011, and “Constitutive activation of the growth hormone receptor” awarded $546,732 in 2010. In 2009 I was awarded a University of Queensland Early Career Researcher Grant for $20,000 (competitive written ARC style grant application) for “Establishment of an RCAS-TVA gene delivery system and in vivo analysis of growth hormone receptor signalling and its role in oncogenesis.”

Research Supervision and Mentoring

I have always had a strong role in supervising research higher degree (RHD) students. I have previously supervised 19 research students including two PhD students. I am currently supervising 3 PhD students. All of the students I have supervised are currently either continuing their research studies or are employed in their desired scientific field. I have given a number of lectures to undergraduate students to students at UQ since 2006. I am a member of the Translational Research Insititute Mentoring committee.

Community Engagement

I am actively involved in promoting my field to the general community and due to my standing have received multiple invitations for public engagement, including a radio interview (ABC: The World Today) and medical research information talks to community groups including the Northlakes Probus Club, Brisbane, 2015 and the Palm Lakes Lifestyle Village, Toowoomba, 2015 as part of a Cancer fundraiser. I have also received an invitation to present at an Educational Conference (Ausmed Education Australia) which will be attended by, health professionals and clinicians. I was previously a part of the IMB Science Ambassador program where I supervised High School work experience students in my research environment, gave tours of the IMB research facilities to students and members of the community, gave educational science demonstrations to a local primary school, as well as being part of “Scientists on the Loose” run by Australian Broadcasting Corporation which promotes science and science careers to regional high school students. I have attended the Talking Scientists Workshop in Brisbane which is a Queensland government initiative to engage Queensland scientists to talk about their work at branch meetings of community groups, and business associations, with the goal of showcasing your research, and getting the Queensland public thinking and talking about Queensland science. I have been a member of the Australian Early-Mid Career Researchers Forum.