The Diamantina Institute was established on 1st January 2007 as the sixth research institute of The University of Queensland. It was created as the amalgamation of the Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research (CICR), a University-level research centre that was established in 1996, and the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology Research (CDER), a research centre of the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Institute was officially opened on 22nd April 2008 by the Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, Desley Boyle.

The Institute was named in honour of Lady Diamantina Bowen, the highly regarded wife of the first governor of Queensland, Sir George Bowen. Lady Bowen was a beautiful, caring and conscientious woman who stimulated the formation of many charitable organisations, including the Diamantina Hospital for Chronic Disease, now known as the Princess Alexandra Hospital. It was decided upon the amalgamation of the CICR and CDER to take the name ‘Diamantina Institute’ to honour Lady Bowen and her dedication and commitment to improving heathcare in Queensland.

Based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, the Institute has over 200 researchers, students and support staff. It is headed by Professor Ian Frazer and research is focused into three major research areas: Cancer Biology, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine. The Diamantina Institute is governed by an Advisory Board and a Scientific Advisory Committee.

The Diamantina Institute is gaining an international reputation for its basic and translational biomedical research into diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, osteoporosis, genital warts and liver disease. The Institute has important collaborations with national and international institutions and places emphasis on establishing connections with hospitals and industry.

Funding for the Institute is received from a range of prestigious and highly competitive Australian and overseas sources, such as the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC), Australian Research Council (ARC), The Cancer Council Queensland and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF).

The Institute will continue to build capacity and deliver internationally competitive outcomes in translational and clinical research in the fields of immunology, cancer, diabetes and obesity.