Dr Iain Wilson

Iain Wilson: Impact Champion

Iain Wilson’s career is a shining example of how CSIRO’s role in the innovation system is to create impact for our customers and more broadly Australia. It also highlights how a personal impact mindset journey can lead to success in science and industry impact.

The beginnings
Iain was recruited by Liz Dennis and Jim Peacock to what was then CSIRO Plant Industry, from the Carnegie Institution of Washington (Stanford) at the end of 1999. Microarrays, a cutting-edge technology at the time to analyse large-scale gene expression patterns, was developed at Stanford in Pat Brown’s laboratory, and he was one of the first to apply microarrays to plant research using Arabidopsis as a model system.

“At CSIRO, I set up one of the first functioning microarray facilities in Australia. The focus at the time was on fundamental research mostly in model species such as Arabidopsis, with the goal of expanding knowledge on a wide variety of areas, with the impact mostly measured by the publication quality and number”.

The then large-scale nature of the data generated ‘new’ problems associated with the analysis and storing data. Iain identified this challenge and was involved in the hiring of Plant Industry’s first bioinformatician Gavin Kennedy (later replaced with Jen Taylor) and the development of partnerships with CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences that lead to more rigorous ways of analysing complex datasets.

“The development of these collaborations was significant as in the dim dark ages partnerships between CSIRO divisions were difficult due to funding disincentives. It was only through the good will of very clever and inquisitive scientists in that division that made it work”.

Realising science needs to embed impact:

In 2002 sponsored by Graingene (an alliance between CSIRO and Syngenta) the microarray work shifted from Arabidopsis to producing a large-scale array for wheat. This array, containing over 36,000 clones over three separate slides, was applied to characterise alternative wheat dwarfing genes and carbohydrate mobilisation in wheat. However, due to its restricted distribution to only Graingene projects, this work failed to make a major impact in wheat research in the division.

In 2005 Iain’s work shifted to cotton with funding from Cottech- an alliance between CSIRO, Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) and Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC). The aim was to study waterlogging tolerance, first in Arabidopsis, and then applying the findings to cotton via a transgenic approach by overexpressing key anaerobic response genes.

“This work really epitomised the period where it was thought that there were simple genetic modification solutions to complex problems, largely based on the success of BT cotton in combating the insect problem that almost ended the cotton industry in Australia”.

Iain reflects that consideration for the impact pathway is vital when aiming to produce real research impact.

“In hindsight this period of work was more about continuing previously successful research from model systems into a crop. However, it’s foundation wasn’t necessarily based in solving the problems that were considered important in the industry. However, it’s fair to say that the impact of the work also wasn’t helped by the upcoming millennia drought”.

The impact focus switch
“In 2008 it was made abundantly clear to me by Frank Gubler and Danny Lewellyn that that era of model system research was ending, and the time for choosing a real crop was nigh. As I had experience with cotton, I was given the opportunity to lead a small group who worked on cotton disease resistance”.

Before Iain’s arrival, the work appeared mostly focused on repeating the type of research carried out in model systems. However, Iain knew from previous work in Arabidopsis that cotton was not, and never would be, a model system and the only value of this research was in aiding the CSIRO cotton breeders to deliver more resistant varieties.

“The breeders were initially distrustful of my interest as ‘molly bollies’ such as myself had promised much but delivered very little impact. The relationship took many years to develop, and it took many small wins and a focus on practical solutions rather than publications”.

What’s been achieved?
Iain and his team have been a long-term quiet achievers in the Australian cotton industry, working in the background out of the spotlight. Their research efforts have and will continue to make a huge impact in the industry.

This has been observed in cotton varieties released with significantly improved Fusarium and Verticillium wilt resistances. In addition, the most recent varieties released and all future varieties in the development pipeline, contain resistance to the virus resulting in the disease Cotton Bunchy Top. Finally, Iain’s work has been pivotal in the identification of accurate molecular markers for Black Root Rot (BRR) resistance, enabling the development of germplasm with excellent resistance to BRR. The future impact of this work (variety release is expected in 6-8 years), particularly the Southern and cooler growing regions, will be significant. His research has and continues to significantly improve the overall sustainability of the cotton industry, particularly from a disease management standpoint.

Impact research doesn’t mean short term research, and my research has benefitted greatly from the long-term funding relationship with CSD who understand the timelines involved which has allowed us to tackle problem no one else in the world can.

Iain also reflects that developing commercial varieties with increased disease resistance requires a different way of working than more fundamental knowledge or ‘academic’ research. For example, instead of using conditions that accentuate resistance differences eg, using very susceptible lines, assay outcomes need to reflect field rankings where possible, and current elite lines used as a benchmark for progress.

“I have come to appreciate the great work of breeders, the true phenomics profession, that is now embracing a panomics approach in order to accelerate genetic gain. I believe the partnership between my molecular group and the breeders really flourished when our goals were the same: to release commercial varieties with improved resistance, but with elite yield and quality”.

Recently the impact of Iain’s research career has been acknowledged though him being awarded the 2021 Australian Cotton Researcher of the year.

“This award is a great honour, as it is an industry award that is rarely awarded to those working in the ‘ivory towers’ of Canberra. Although the work is not finished, the award indicates that my team is on the right path to delivering impact to the Australian cotton industry”.

Key learnings
Iain’s story highlights the vital importance of strong connections with the research customer, understanding and respond to their needs, as well as developing commercial relationships.

“Through the sometimes not subtle teaching of Warwick Stiller and others, I have come to appreciate that disease resistance is just one trait among many, important, but does not stand alone, it’s the complete package that is important. A simple but important point that your research fits into a larger world and must be compatible with it to have impact”.