Co-founder of Brisbane-based gut analysis company Microba, Professor Gene Tyson, will head up a new field of microbiome-focused research at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Professor Tyson is a leading expert in environmental and human microbiome analysis, with a career in microbiology spanning across more than 20 years within Australia and the United States.
In 2017, Professor Tyson with co-founder Professor Philip Hugenholtz, established Brisbane biotech Microba. Professor Tyson was also most recently the Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE) at The University of Queensland and has had more than a hundred papers published in reputable journals in the space.
Professor Tyson will lead microbiome research projects and take up an appointment as a Professor within the School of Biomedical Sciences at QUT as they look to expand their microbiome research capabilities.
Professor Tyson said he looked forward to bringing microbiome research excellence to QUT and also setting up the framework for world-leading microbiome course content for future budding microbiologists and bioinformaticians.
“The public awareness of the importance of microbiome is increasing, and our aim is to understand the role that different microorganisms play in health and disease states,” he said.
“Making microbiome research accessible to more Australian researchers and also bringing knowledge to future students is key to seeing our understanding grow to the point where we will see diagnostics and therapeutics developed that will have a global impact.
“Ensuring that momentum continues in this important health space is integral to a future where those with diseases with links to bacteria living on or in them have access to quick and effective diagnostics, and life-changing therapeutics.”
Microba CEO Blake Wills said he was pleased to see Professor Tyson take up the new role at QUT and lead a team of microbiome-focused researchers.
“We are very proud of Gene and his contributions to microbiome research, including our ongoing work at Microba in developing diagnostics and therapeutics for conditions such as IBD,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing Gene’s expertise continue to inspire both students and researchers within microbiome research and Australia’s tertiary curriculum.”
QUT Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Margaret Sheil said she was pleased Professor Tyson had joined the team at the university.
“Professor Tyson has been a leader in microbiome research and it will be exciting for our students to work with him and his team,” Professor Sheil said.
Microba has assisted more than 10,000 Australians to explore their gut bacteria since 2018 and received the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Award for Product Innovation in 2019.
