The establishment of this Centre was an initiative of the National Health and Medical Research Council. It operates in collaboration with The University of Queensland, Griffith University and Queensland Health. The Centre is an autonomous academic Unit within The University of Queensland and located in the Queensland Health Sciences Services Campus at Coopers Plains, Brisbane near Queen Elizabeth II hospital and Griffith University. It is a multidisciplinary subject which draws together a number of medical and scientific disciplines.
Environmental toxicology is a major component of public health research.
The winning bid by The University of Queensland and Queensland Health established the Centre in the well-appointed laboratories of the Queensland Health Scientific Services in Coopers Plains. Griffith University latterly became a partner in the Centre organisation in 1994. The Centre achieves its research goals through the development of research groupings with expertise in specific areas. These include both scientists employed by the Centre and collaborating workers in the host institutions and other institutions throughout Australia. Industrial linkages have been fostered.