We believe that the most transformative breakthroughs often begin with a simple question: Why?
Discovery Research doesn’t always start with a clear destination but it often leads to revolutionary insights. We explore the unknown - pushing the boundaries of biomedical science to uncover new knowledge that lays the foundation for future health solutions. By understanding the basic science of life, we open doors to new diagnostics, therapies, and technologies that can change how we treat disease.
We investigate the fundamental biology that underpins human health and disease including:
• Decoding how cells grow, divide, and communicate
• Uncovering the molecular triggers of inflammation and immunity
• Studying how genetic and environmental factors influence disease
• Mapping the complex networks that regulate life at the cellular
Innovation in research is critical and the pandemic demonstrated that this cannot be confined solely to achieving commercial success at the end of the discovery pipeline. Enabling scientists to pursue hypothesis-based, discovery research that will ultimately drive innovation is crucial. To encourage researchers to pursue their own ideas driven solely by the criterion of excellence, we will encourage a culture that enables play as an integral part of the design thinking process. Play is a means by which we create and discover new things. Scientists should formulate and act on questions that they believe are important to their field (the ‘what if’ questions) and be enabled to ‘fail fast’ to succeed.
The renewed commitment by funding agencies to provide greater opportunities to support discovery research pursuits is very welcome. As an Institute, this presents greater opportunity to enable researchers with Discovery Research programmes to excel as we continue to enshrine this concept within our research strategy.
We foster a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Our researchers work across disciplines - from molecular biology and chemistry to computational science and clinical medicine - to ask bold questions and follow the evidence, wherever it leads.
Our foundational research has contributed to:
• Identifying new drug targets for cancer and autoimmune diseases
• Advancing understanding of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s
• Developing biomarkers that help detect disease earlier and more accurately
