About the Centre

The Centre for Molecular Therapeutics (previously the Centre for Biodiscovery & Molecular Development of Therapeutics, CBMDT) is based at James Cook University (JCU) adjacent to the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and the iconic Great Barrier Reef.

The Centre for Molecular Therapeutics is uniquely situated to discover and develop novel compounds of therapeutic potential. The Daintree Rainforest is considered the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, and The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef structure and marine park in the world. Both provide exceptionally high and unparalleled biodiversity.

North Queensland also harbours many parasites and other microorganisms that are restricted to tropical environments. This enormous biodiversity provides a unique opportunity to explore and test new medicines derived from these natural resources as novel therapeutics for a range of infectious diseases and non-infectious human illnesses, including chronic disorders, allergies and autoimmune diseases as well as envenomations.

The world’s tropical regions also have special significance as home to a number of major global health pathogens as well as important emerging or re-emerging infectious disease threats. It is estimated that half of the world’s population will live in the tropics by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for immunotherapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics to manage these diseases.

The Centre for Molecular Therapeutics provides a unique framework for researchers with diverse expertise to collaborate on innovative cross-disciplinary research projects using state-of-the-art technologies to discover and develop novel therapeutics, Vaccines and diagnostics from the tropics and for the tropics. We aim to translate discoveries in the tropics to commercial activities that reach the global market.

About JCU

JCU is Australia’s leading tropical research university and ranks in the top two per cent of the world's tertiary institutions. It is dedicated to teaching and research excellence in disciplines of particular relevance to the tropics, and consistently ranks above world standard in medical microbiology and research related to molecular therapeutics in the Australian Government's Excellence in Research Assessment (ERA).

The University's main campuses are located in the tropical cities of Townsville, Cairns and Singapore, and its extensive network of research stations and facilities includes sites on two UNESCO World Heritage areas – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforests of Northern Queensland.

The University conducts nationally significant and internationally recognised research in areas such as marine sciences, biodiversity, tropical ecology and environments, and tropical medicine and public health care.