Ever wondered where groundbreaking drug discoveries happen? Welcome to the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery 1. This is GRIDD for short. It is a world-class research facility. GRIDD tackles the world’s most devastating diseases.
GRIDD is Griffith University’s research hub. It focuses on early-stage and pre-clinical drug discovery. GRIDD aims to use its unique resources. It relies on dedicated researchers and international partnerships. The goal is to develop revolutionary new treatments. These treatments improve human health and wellbeing.
GRIDD focuses on key areas. These include cancer and infectious diseases. Parkinson’s disease and drug resistance are also priorities. Spinal cord injury repair is another focus. GRIDD innovates at the cutting edge. It combines chemistry and biology. It collaborates with various partners. These partners include health institutions and governments. GRIDD also works with academia and industry. Not-for-profit organizations and communities are collaborators. Together, they create knowledge that transforms lives.
GRIDD houses two significant resources. Compounds Australia is one. It is the nation’s industry-standard compound curation facility. It is unmatched in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a global leader. NatureBank is the other resource. It is Australia’s largest collection of raw biota. This biota is processed into large extract and fraction libraries. Both resources are available worldwide. Researchers and industries use them to discover new treatments. They seek cures for debilitating illnesses.
GRIDD’s history spans over 20 years. It began with Professor Ronald Quinn in 1993. He led a large industry-funded research partnership. This partnership involved Astra Zeneca. It focused on natural product drug discovery. In 2003, it was formally recognized as a Griffith University Research Institute. In 2017, the institute was rebranded as GRIDD.
GRIDD boasts state-of-the-art facilities. These include high-throughput screening. They also include Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Fragment-based screening is another key technology.
GRIDD extends heartfelt gratitude to its partners. These include the Clem Jones Foundation. The Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation is another. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation is a supporter. Tour de Cure is also a partner. GRIDD also appreciates community donations. These donations advance the quest for novel treatments. They target cancers, malaria, and Parkinson’s disease. Spinal cord injury and other diseases benefit.
GRIDD researchers are working to discover compounds. These compounds target various cancers. Breast, prostate, pancreatic, and brain tumors are included. Other GRIDD researchers seek new drugs. They aim to treat diseases like malaria and TB. GRIDD is also exploring ways to reverse multidrug resistance in cancer. It is also working to disarm bacteria. The goal is to prevent them from causing disease.
GRIDD offers hope for spinal cord injury repair. Professor Emeritus Alan Mackay-Sim pioneered this research. He was named Australian of the Year in 2017. He demonstrated the safety of transplanted olfactory stem cells. This was in paraplegic patients with injured spinal cords.
GRIDD invites you to explore its world-class facilities. They regularly organize tours. These tours bring the community beyond the laboratory doors. You can meet with their research teams.
GRIDD’s purpose is clear. It is “Creating knowledge that transforms lives.” Its core values are excellence. Integrity, collegiality, and respect are also vital.
GRIDD is a significant leader in educating the next generation. It hosts many PhD candidates. These candidates come from around the world. GRIDD provides a welcoming environment. It offers challenging research projects.