Dr Edward Derrick was a medical practitioner known for his contribution to public health through identification of Q Fever and the establishment of the Queensland Institute for Medical Research (QIMR).
Born in Victoria in 1898, Dr Derrick completed his studies in Melbourne and took up local roles before travelling to work in London Hospital.
Upon returning to Australia in 1924, Dr Derrick worked in locum placements in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland, before opening a private practice in Brisbane. In 1935 he was appointed director of the Queensland Department of Health Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology. During this time, he identified Q Fever, which was causing an outbreak of unexplained illness in abattoir workers.
Dr Derrick was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Queensland Institute for Medical Research (QIMR), and was named deputy director in 1947 before becoming director in 1961. In the later years of his career, Dr Derrick developed an interest in the epidemiology of asthma, and was director of the Queensland Asthma Foundation’s research bureau from 1966 to 1973.
In 1961 he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 1966 he received a Doctor of Science honoris causa from UQ. Dr Derrick passed away in 1976.