Australian Researchers Win Eureka Prize for Evolutionary Analysis Software
Dr Minh Bui and Professor Robert Lanfear from the Australian National University developed IQ-TREE2, an open-source software that analyzes DNA data to reveal evolutionary patterns. Released in 2019, the tool has been widely adopted by life scientists globally for applications ranging from studying ancient life forms to tracking the COVID-19 virus. In 2023, their work earned them the Australian Research Data Commons Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software. The software's open-source nature allows community contributions and enhances transparency, though securing ongoing funding for maintenance remains challenging. IQ-TREE2 has played a significant role in public health efforts, including contact tracing during the pandemic.
Key facts
- IQ-TREE2 is open-source software for evolutionary analysis from DNA data
- Developed by Dr Minh Bui and Professor Robert Lanfear at Australian National University
- First released in 2019 and used globally by life scientists
- Won the 2023 Australian Research Data Commons Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software
- Applied to study COVID-19 origins and spread, as well as ancient life forms
Entities
Institutions
- Australian National University
- Australian Research Data Commons
Locations
- Australia