Tropical Shirt Day 2026

Supporting QIMR Berghofer Centre for Tropical Health and Emerging Diseases

Loud Shirts, Big Impact

Tropical Shirt Day is coming to QIMR Berghofer - 21 August 2026

Dig out the hibiscus and palm leaf prints and turn up the colour. This August, we're swapping the office dress code for sunshine shades and island vibes — all in support of QIMR Berghofer's tropical health research.

Behind the colour and creativity is a serious purpose. Funds raised through Tropical Shirt Day will support QIMR Berghofer’s Centre for Tropical Health and Emerging Diseases, where researchers focus on diseases that thrive in warm climates and disproportionately affect communities across the tropics.

From parasites carried in soil and water to infections driven by heat and humidity, this research helps improve health outcomes where the need is greatest. Every donation helps fuel science that saves lives - long after the shirts go in the wash.

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Every donation helps fuel science that saves lives.

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How To Get Involved

Supporting Tropical Shirt Day is easy and fun!

Purchase a limited-edition QIMR Berghofer Tropical Shirt

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Wear your loudest tropical shirt on and around 21 August

Start your own fundraising page (individual or team)

Fundraise

The Centre for Tropical Health and Emerging Diseases

Our vision is clear: together, we are shaping a healthier future for the tropics

We are a collaborative research centre for tropical health. Our goal is to unite and empower tropical health researchers across the Asia Pacific region by driving collaborative programmatic initiatives that foster strategic partnerships, accelerate cutting-edge research, and deliver translational outcomes that improve the health and wellbeing of communities living in the tropics.

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Research Spotlight

A closer look at the research your support makes possible

Two diseases. One mosquito problem. QIMR Berghofer research on both fronts.

When a deadly new strain of Japanese Encephalitis Virus emerged in Australia in 2022, QIMR Berghofer's Dr Daniel Rawle moved fast, designing an experimental mRNA vaccine that has potential to be easier manufacture, cheaper and more suitable for immunocompromised individuals. At the same time, A/Prof Bridget Barber's Clinical Malaria Group have be trialling MMV367, a next-generation antimalarial that clears parasites with hours — a critical new tool as drug resistance spreads globally.

Two different mosquito-borne threats. Two Brisbane-based research teams turning lab discoveries into real protection for people in the tropics. This is an example of what Tropical Shirt Day supports.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
QIMR Berghofer acknowledges the Traditional and Cultural custodians of the lands, waters, and seas across Queensland, pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the role of current and emerging leaders in shaping a better health system. We recognise the First Nations peoples in Queensland are both Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples and support the cultural knowledge, determination, and commitment of First Nations communities in caring for health and wellbeing for millennia.

DISCLAIMER
While QIMR Berghofer makes every effort to make sure the information on this website is accurate and informative, the information is not professional or medical advice. The information on this website is general in nature and based on the information available at the time of publication. You should obtain advice relevant to your particular circumstances from a health professional.