Cancer researcher and clinician Professor Maher Gandhi has been appointed as the next chief executive officer of Australia's Translational Research Institute (TRI).
TRI is a collaboration between four partners - Queensland Health, The University of Queensland, QUT and Mater Research.
Professor Gandhi will take up his new role in February 2025. He is already based at TRI as executive director of the Institute's partner, Mater Research. Professor Gandhi has served as the Mater Research Executive Director and as a Pre-Eminent Senior Staff Specialist in the Haematology Department at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Current CEO Professor Scott Bell did not seek an extension of his five-year tenure earlier this year.
TRI board chair Emeritus Professor David Siddle said the appointment would build on the outstanding work of Professor Bell.
"We believe Professor Gandhi's intimate knowledge of TRI and his distinguished research and clinical career make him the ideal candidate to propel the Institute on its mission to advance research translation, clinical collaboration and translational manufacturing," said Professor Siddle.
Professor Gandhi said the prospect of leading TRI into the new era is the career opportunity of a lifetime.
"Professor Bell has built the ideal foundation for TRI to excel in biomedical manufacturing and there has never been a more exciting time to lead the Institute," he said.
"TRI's translational manufacturing facility under construction will lead the nation in incubating Australian intellectual property and enabling start-ups to commercialise their technology in Australia without the need to go offshore," said Professor Gandhi.
Professor Siddle also paid tribute to Professor Bell for his leadership during a significant period in TRI history.
"Professor Bell did a remarkable job leading TRI through the global pandemic," said Professor Siddle.
"His greatest contribution has been to galvanise meaningful collaboration between our partner shareholders The University of Queensland, QUT, Mater Research and Queensland Health."
