Technology Research Platforms · Research Platform Award for 2012. This award recognises the importance the Monash Research Technology Platforms play in driving research outcomes,

www.monash.edu

Technology Research Platforms

AustrAliA CHiNA iNdiA itAly MAlAysiA soutH AfriCA

About Monash UniversityMonash University is a world leading university, fostering and promoting excellence in research and research training, education and leadership. The University undertakes innovative, multidisciplinary research aimed at addressing recognised national and international priorities. With campuses and partnerships in Australia and overseas, Monash pursues knowledge and solutions from a global perspective. The University’s primary research goal into the next decade is to ensure our world leading research outputs truly benefit the various communities we engage with and serve. These outcomes and impact will only be achieved through research that is excellent, innovative and relevant.

The Multi-modal Australian ScienceS Imaging and Visualisation Environment (MASSIVE) facility was launched in 2011. MASSIVE will be the primary Australian high performance computing facility for computational imaging and visualisation. The facility provides the hardware, software and expertise to help scientists apply advanced imaging and visualisation techniques across a wide range of scientific fields and will provide scientists an unprecedented view of captured data and simulated models by providing the capability to view full resolution datasets.

MASSIVE is coordinated by Monash University, with partners Australian Synchrotron, CSIRO, and VPAC, and additional funding from the State Government of Victoria and an investment from the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI).david Parsons,

Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, and Karen siu, Monash university and Australian synchrotron

Sport scientists from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Cycling Australia have worked together with Monash Aerodynamicists over the past five years. Innovative research in cycling aerodynamics has lead to refined riding positions and evidence-based decisions with equipment selection. The aerodynamics research and testing conducted by Monash University has contributed to the recent international success Cycling Australia has enjoyed both on the track and on the road. Not only is the partnership between the AIS and Monash University helping cyclists win gold medals but the collaboration is also leading to successful grant funding and innovative publications. Overall, this collaboration is an exceptional example of how an Australian University with world class scientists and research facilities can partner with elite sport. Feedback from Cycling Australia, AIS.

Australian Cyclist luke durbridge celebrating his win of the prestigious olympias tour Prologue in 2011

The Monash Animal Research Platform (MARP) and the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) Medical Genomics Facility were joint winners of the inaugural Outstanding Monash Technology Research Platform Award for 2012. This award recognises the importance the Monash Research Technology Platforms play in driving research outcomes, talent recruitment and industry engagement. The achievements and levels of excellence that these platforms have accomplished is a direct reflection of their high-quality leadership and management.

Six facilities were shortlisted for honourable mention: Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation (MIPS), Micromon, Monash eResearch Centre, Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash Histology Platform and Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy.

Award presented by Professor ian smith to MArP director dr John Phelps and MArP Manager rachel Borg and MHtP Medical Genomics Manager Vivien Vasic.

technology research Platforms | i

Monash Technology Research Platforms

Professor Ian Smith Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Research Infrastructure Monash University

In recent years, Monash University has made a series of major investments into research infrastructure to establish an integrated network of world-class technology platforms that underpin the efforts of the University's strong research community and their research goals. These core technology platforms are also readily available and easily accessible to our collaborating research, and broader industry partners. Recognising the important role that our platforms play in driving research outcomes, the University’s research strategy has identified world-class research infrastructure as one of six core pillars that will underpin the University’s research goal of ‘impact through excellence and relevance’.

Our mission is to enhance local and international research outcomes through providing users with access to a network of cutting edge technology platforms, operated with world-best expertise and leadership practices, to enable innovative research of the highest quality. Coordinated by the University’s Office of Research and Research Infrastructure, the platforms offer a one-stop technology shop, with strong governance, oversight and maintenance contracts in place, to ensure a seamless user experience. Built on the University’s strong commitment to education, the Monash platforms further serve to provide undergraduate and postgraduate academics with unprecedented access to world-class and cutting edge technologies for advanced education and training and the opportunity to work at the academic industrial interface.

Whether it be generating a custom-made monoclonal antibody through Monash Antibody Technologies Facility (MATF), followed by scale up and purification by the Monash Protein

Production Unit (PPU) or having your favourite protein manufactured (PPU), characterised (Monash Biomedical Proteomics Facility and FlowCore) and crystallised (Monash Macromolecular Crystallisation Facility), we can do it all. The Monash platforms also support many academic and industry users for example, the automotive and transport industry (Monash Wind Tunnel Facility) as well as materials and manufacturing (Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy) and nanoengineering, through our partnership with the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication.

A number of major, cross campus and cross institutional research initiatives such as the bionic eye program, bring together and are critically dependant on, the linking of a number of platforms such as optical and biomedical imaging, engineering, nanotechnology, unique animal models and others. Our efforts in drug discovery, development and delivery, bring together drug candidate optimisation, engineering, nanotechnology, structural biology, genomics and proteomics. All these major research programs, which are delivering fabulous research and translational outcomes, are reliant on our high-end core technologies and their seamless operation, which is underpinned by our world-class e-Research capabilities.

I encourage you to read about the Monash Platforms and to consider engaging our network of experts for all your research needs.

platforms.monash.edu

ii | technology research Platforms

technology research Platforms | 1

Contents

MiCRoMon2Monash healTh TRanslaTion PReCinCT MediCal GenoMiCs FaCiliTy4

Gene Characterisation

Monash PRoTein PRoduCTion uniT 6Monash anTibody TeChnoloGies FaCiliTy 8Monash bioMediCal PRoTeoMiCs FaCiliTy10Monash MaCRoMoleCulaR CRysTallisaTion FaCiliTy12

Protein and Antibody Characterisation and Production

Monash aniMal ReseaRCh PlaTFoRM14

FishCoRe 16

Animal Models and Services

FlowCoRe18Monash hisToloGy PlaTFoRM20

Flow Cytometry and Histology

Imaging

Monash MiCRo iMaGinG22Monash CenTRe FoR eleCTRon MiCRosCoPy24

Monash bioMediCal iMaGinG26

Monash e-ReseaRCh CenTRe28

Informatics and Biostatistical Analysis

CenTRe FoR dRuG CandidaTe oPTiMisaTion 30

Drug Discovery and Design

Monash wind Tunnel FaCiliTy32

Engineering

souTh easT asia CoMMuniTy obseRvaToRy (seaCo)37

Monash CenTRe FoR addiTive ManuFaCTuRinG (MCaM)34

naTional FaCiliTies and CollaboRaTive PaRTneRs in The ClayTon PReCinCT 39

PlaTFoRM ConTaCTs40

ausTRalian PhenoMiCs neTwoRk36

MelbouRne CenTRe FoR nanoFabRiCaTion35

Monash Partnered International and National Research Infrastructure

2 | technology research Platforms

Specialist services

■■ Sanger DNA Sequencing

■■ Next-Generation Sequencing

■■ Real-time PCR

■■ DNA & RNA Quantitation (fluorometric)

■■ Bioanayzer analysis

■■ DNA (Oligonucleotide) Synthesis

■■ Molecular Biology Workshop

■■ Microbial Testing

■■ Media/Culture Supply

Key instrumentation

■■ Applied Biosystems 3730 Genetic Analyzer

■■ Illumina Miseq V2 Next-generation Sequencer

■■ Airstream PCR Vertical Laminar flow cabinet

■■ Applied Biosystems 394 DNA Synthesizer

■■ Agilent Bioanalyzer 2100

■■ Covaris S2 focussed acoustic shearing device

■■ Invitrogen Qubit Fluorometer for DNA and RNA

service access to:

■■ Illumina HiSeq 2500


■■ Pacific Biosciences RSII

Micromon is the commercial arm of the Department of Microbiology within the School of Biomedical Sciences. With a solid service reputation and a mission for providing high quality outcomes, Micromon is a research driven, self sufficient platform that provides genomics services including both Sanger DNA Sequencing and Next-Generation sequencing. These services are supported by the provision of custom DNA synthesis, microbial testing, diagnostics and media/culture supply. Micromon also hosts a popular molecular biology workshop that provides training in the essential skills of recombinant DNA technology.

Sanger DNA Sequencing

The Micromon facility has a nationwide reputation for providing a reliable and customer-focussed service that is capable of producing long sequence reads, in excess of 1000 bp (QV20+). Our staff pride themselves on a very fast, sample turnaround time, and their ability to successfully troubleshoot technical issues which are encountered by customers.

Illumina ‘Next-Generation’ Sequencing

The Micromon Next-Generation Sequencing service provides a complete sequencing and data analysis solution based on Illumina technology. The instruments are capable of producing hundreds of gigabytes of sequence data per run. In addition to standard DNA sequencing, the instruments can be used for a wide range of applications including amplicon sequencing, genome

sequencing, transcriptomics and expression profiling (RNA-seq), small RNA discovery and quantitation, discovery of protein-DNA/ protein-RNA binding sites (ChIP-seq, RIP-seq, HITS-CLIP), microbial population profiling (metagenomics), and much more. Micromon provides a low cost, fast turn-around service based on the Illumina MiSeq platform. In conjunction with the Victorian Bioinformatics Consortium, we can also offer a comprehensive, bioinformatics service to help you analyse your sequence data. Our standard service includes project scoping and consultation, sample reception, library construction and QC, sequencing and electronic delivery of results via our dedicated Next-Generation Sequencing website.

Access detailsFee for service

Micromon is a not for profit facility and customers are charged on a ‘fee for service’ basis.

Micromon


Funding bodies

Mark Cauchi Manager

Mark Cauchi commenced his career at Monash in population genetics research before completing his research career years working on the molecular microbiology of Dengue fever and developing molecular detection techniques for Calicivirus. After gaining business administration qualifications, Mark established the role of Micromon Manager with an aim to develop the unit and its operations into a fully professional, commercial entity. Maintaining strong academic and technical ties with the Department of Microbiology, Mark has managed the facility to provide the highest quality DNA and RNA technology services to the industry, nationwide.

Tel: +61 (3) 9905 4830 Email: [email protected]

Contact details

Address Level 2 South, Building 75 Monash University Clayton campus Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia

Mark Cauchi Tel: +61 (3) 9905 4830 Email: [email protected]

Website: platforms.monash.edu/micromon

Service process

Cluster generationPreparation of the flowcell for sequencing.

submit your samplesSend your samples to Micromon with submission forms and purchase order

referencing our quote number.

library construction

data Format ConversionFastQ or another

customer-specified format.

bioinformatic analysesRanging from simple, automated analyses through to custom

software engineering.

data deliveryVia a personalised page on our dedicated next-gen sequencing website or physical

delivery on DVD.

Project complete

initial consultationA meeting by phone, email or in-person

to determine your sequencing needs and optimise your samples to minimise your

cost and maximise data utility.

sample submission kitWe send you an information kit containing a quotation, information and requirements

for sample submission.

sample receptionIncluding quality control and quantitation

library validationBy qPCR, flurometry and size verification

sequencingReal-time sequencing, base calling

and quality scoring.

Micromon will notify you at this stage of the process

next-Generation sequencing workflow

platforms.monash.edu/micromon


■■

MhTP Medical Genomics Facility

The Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) is a partnership between Monash Health, Prince Henry’s Institute, Monash Institute of Medical Research and Monash University located at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton. The vision of MHTP is to be a world leader in delivering the best healthcare by translating innovative scientific discoveries into best clinical practice in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

The MHTP Medical Genomics Facility is a core platform within the Precinct and provides key enabling genomic technologies to clients nationwide.

The MTHP Medical Genomics Facility provides the following services:

■■ The Gandel Charitable Trust Sequencing Centre provides a NATA accredited Sanger DNA sequencing service producing quality, long-read sequence data and comprehensive client support. Complementary services include Fragment Analysis, Gene Expression by RT-PCR and Cell Line Identification.

■■ The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Centre for Cancer Genomic Medicine provides a Next-Generation Sequencing service through use of the very latest technologies. Services include whole or targeted genome, whole transcriptome, small RNA sequencing, gene expression profiling, ChIP-Seq and methylation analysis. Complementary RNA and DNA Analysis and DNA and Chromatin Shearing services are also available.

■■ The MHTP High Content Screening Centre enables researchers to perform medium/large scale cell biology experiments with automation for both experiment set-up and fluorescent microscopic analysis. These approaches can be used for quantitative studies to examine cellular responses to stimuli such as drugs, cytokines and pathogens. The centre also has available human and mouse whole genome siRNA libraries for use in screens to identify the contribution of individual genes to cellular function.

■■ The MHTP Microarray Centre is an Authorised Agilent Service Provider and provides processing and analysis for Gene Expression determination and Comparative Genomic Hybridization to identify chromosomal aberrations or DNA copy number. Using the Agilent Scanner the Centre can also provide scanning services for other arrays.

Specialist services

The Gandel Charitable Trust sequencing Centre

■■ Sanger DNA Sequencing

■■ Fragment Analysis,

■■ Gene Expression (RT-PCR)

■■ Cell Line Identification

The aCRF Centre for Cancer Genomic Medicine

■■ Next Generation Sequencing

■■ RNA and DNA Analysis

■■ DNA and Chromatin Shearing

MhTP high Content screening

Centre

■■ siRNA Library Screens

■■ Automated Cell Imaging

MhTP Microarray Centre

■■ Gene Expression Analysis

■■ Copy Number Variation Analysis

■■ Microarray Scanning

Key instrumentation

■■ Applied Biosystems 3130xl Genetic Analyzers

■■ Applied Biosystems 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR Systems

■■ Qiagen robotic liquid handlers


■■ Life Technologies Ion PGM

■■ Life Technologies Library Builder

■■ Covaris Adaptive Focused Acoustic Shearing System

■■ Agilent Bioanalyzer

■■ ThermoFisher (Cellomics) ArrayScan VTi

■■ Caliper Zephyr Liquid Handling robot

■■ Agilent Microarray Scanner

■■ Life Technologies Ion Proton


mhtpmedicalgenomics.org.au

Access details

The MHTP Medical Genomics Facility is a not for profit Facility and fee for service.

Contact details

Address Monash Health Translation Precinct C/o Monash Institute of Medical Research 27–31 Wright Street Clayton, Victoria 3168 Australia

Ms Vivien Vasic MHTP Medical Genomics ManagerTel: +61 (3) 9594 3576 Email: sequencingfacility @monash.edu or [email protected]

Website: mhtpmedicalgenomics.org.au

Service process

Cycle sequencing (fluorescent labelling)

DNA template and primer in a total volume of 16 µl

1. sequencing and electrophoresis service

Submit DNA template and primer

2. Purification and electrophoresis service

Submit post cycle sequencing reactionsClean up of labelled extension fragments

Capillary electrophoretic separation on 3130xl3. Capillary electrophoresis service

Submit dried, labelled extension products

Quality control checked

Data available to download from client FTP login

electronic files generated: ab1 file (annotation, raw data trace

and electropherogram) seq file (text file of sequence)

Ms Vivien VasicManager

Ms Vivien Vasic received a BSc from Monash University and has extensive experience in managing DNA Sequencing Facilities. She was the founding member of the successful team that operates the Micromon DNA Sequencing service prior to moving to the Sequencing Centre at the Monash Health Translation Precinct on the Monash Medical Centre campus in 2002. Since then, the Centre has received NATA accreditation and expanded genomic services to encompass a range of complementary and state-of-the-art technologies. Vivien is also an accredited NATA assessor .


Funding bodies


Specialist services

automated high-throughput protein purification

Automated protein purification of recombinant proteins from a variety of protein expression sources. Up to 48 individual proteins at any one time can be purified using an automated purification scheme at a variety of temperatures depending on the sensitivity of the proteins involved.

Custom purification of general research tools

We specialise in the purification of individual proteins that can be used as general research tools. Many of these proteins have an established purification protocol and use commercially available chromatography resins. With these protocols, we are able to automate the procedure and generate up to 100 mg of protein on request.

Purification protocol development

The purification protocol can be developed for a specific protein using our AKTA avant unit as a scouting tool. The procedures developed using this unit can be directly translated to a more traditional FPLC process or for the larger scale industrial processes.

Protein expression optimisation

Using our liquid handling robot, up to 96 individual expression conditions can be analysed in a high-throughput manner. This allows for the effects of the expression media, time, temperature and solubility tags on the levels of recombinant soluble protein to be analysed.

Refolding screens/thermal melt analysis

Using customised buffer conditions, we are able to investigate the effect of different buffers, inhibitors and pH conditions can have on the stability of a particular recombinant protein. Customised refolding trays allow the optimisation of refolding conditions for a particular protein to be established.

Monash Protein Production unit

The Protein Production Unit (PPU) has the capability to purify a large numbers of recombinant proteins for a variety of research purposes in a high-throughput manner. The unit offers expertise in the optimisation of the protein expression systems using a high throughput approach and once established is capable of rapidly optimising the purification protocol for the specific protein of interest.

Key instrumentation

■■ AKTA Express units (12 units)

■■ Liquid handling robot: Tecan Evo

■■ RT-PCR machine

■■ Bacterial/yeast growth facilities

■■ Bioanalyser protein analysis

■■ AKTA avant

Access details

■■ Collaborative Research

■■ Fee for Service

■■ Consultancies

Contact details

Address Building 16, Level 1 Monash University Clayton campus Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia

Noelene Quinsey Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9902 0020 Email: proteinproductionunit. [email protected]

Website: proteinproduction unit.med.monash.edu.au

Professor Stephen Bottomleydirector

Professor Bottomley’s research interests are in the field of protein aggregation and disease and protein engineering. In particular he has studied how proteins fold or misfold and cause disease. His lab has developed many tools and techniques that aid protein expression and maximise success in refolding proteins from inclusion bodies.

Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9362 Email: stephen.bottomley@

monash.edu


Funding bodies

proteinproductionunit.med.monash.edu.au

Service process

Dr Noelene QuinseyManager

Dr Noelene Quinsey has over 15 years experience in gene cloning and expressing recombinant proteins in a variety of expression systems. Noelene has extensive experience in purifying both recombinant and native proteins. This allows Noelene to develop customised expression and protein purification protocols suitable for many scientific purposes.

Tel: +61 (3) 9902 0020 Email: noelene.quinsey@ monash.edu

Protein characterisation (Mass spectra, N-terminal

sequence analysis)

Protein Characterisation Dynamic light scattering and

Circular Diachromism analysis

Final product up to 100 mg of protein

Analysis of the purified products (SDS-PAGE analysis

or bioanalyser analysis)

dna of interest in expression vector

Provided with Cell paste or Media containing protein

of interest

Transform into a variety of cell lines

Grow the cell lines under different conditions

Determine optimal expression conditions

Purify proteins using automated purification methods

develop purification Protocols

Grow in larger scale up to 10L of material

using provide expression and

Purification protocol produce the cell paste required

verify dna sequence

Clone dna into a variety of

expression vectors

Provide transformed starting cell line


Specialist services

■■ Monoclonal antibody development

■■ Hybridoma cell line stabilisation

■■ Antibody expansion and purification

■■ SPR characterisation

■■ ELISA development

Key instrumentation

■■ Tecan liquid handling robotic platforms

■■ Array Jet microarray spotter

■■ ThermoFisher Cytomat robotic incubators

■■ REMP computer controlled -20C sample storage

■■ Genetix ClonePixFL

■■ Genetix CloneSelect imager

■■ Bio-Rad Profinia purification system

■■ BIAcore 2000 SPR

Monash antibody Technologies Facility

MATF uses state-of-the-art robotic platforms and microarray-based screening to produce custom made, high quality, high affinity mouse or rat monoclonal antibodies against peptide or protein antigens. MATF is a leader in antibody-related technology developments, including antibody purification, characterisation and validation and ELISA development. MATF is the prototype of only two facilities of its kind in the world, and has the capacity to provide thousands of novel antibodies every year to a global clientele.

Monoclonal antibody development

MATF produces hybridoma cell lines expressing monoclonal antibodies against a custom target protein or peptide. Our proprietary antigen microarray screening technology selects for large numbers of specific, high affinity, IgG secreting clones. MATF specialises in

the production of antibodies to PTM targets and can perform a custom monoclonal production with as little as 0.4mg of protein or 1mg of peptide. MATF will deliver up to five individual clones and antibody supernatants with a typical production time of 12–16 weeks. Additional clones can be supplied on request.

Antibody expansion and purification, SPR characterisation and ELISA development

Once antibody producing cell lines have been established, MATF can offer a number of downstream services including cell line stabilisation, antibody purification, Western blot analysis, SPR analysis and sandwich ELISA development.

Access details■■ Fee for service


Funding bodies

platforms.monash.edu/matf

Service process

Tube labelling

Reception

Cell Fusion

Clone Picking

antigen Microarray

injection

elisa

ReMP freezer

Freezing

expansion

Week 1

Week 2

Week 8

Week 10

Week 14

Contact details

Address MATF Ground Floor, STRIP 1 Building 75 Monash University Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia

Professor Ed Nice Director

Dr Caroline Laverty Head, Robotics and Process


Website: platforms.monash.edu/matf

Professor Ed Nice director

Ed Nice is internationally recognised in the fields of HPLC, biosensor analysis, micropurification, proteomics and bioassay development. He has published over 170 peer reviewed articles in these fields.



Specialist services

Protein identification

The protein of interest is digested with the proteolytic enzyme trypsin and the resulting peptide masses are then analysed by mass spectrometry and searched against a protein sequence database. This service can identify an unknown protein, identify binding partners, and confirm an expressed, purified protein or a mutation site.

Mass spec-sequencing

The protein of interest is digested with the proteolytic enzyme trypsin and the resulting peptide masses are then analysed by mass spectrometry and searched against a protein sequence database allowing for mass changes due to the presence of a modification, the site of which may be confirmed by MS/MS sequence analysis.

intact mass determination

Intact mass determination can confirm the size of a protein, with an accurate mass. We can confirm the presence of a modification through a post translational modification, mutation or cleavage.

Protein quantitation

Protein quantitation is performed through the use of specialised methodologies by labelling a protein with isobaric tags or by measuring the quantity of a specific peptide as a specific marker for a protein of interest.

n-terminal sequencing

N-terminal sequencing is an unequivocal sequencing method based on the Edman degradation chemistry which will confirm the identity of a protein, the N-terminus of a protein and can confirm the purity.

Monash biomedical Proteomics Facility

Mass spectrometry is one of the leading tools for identifying proteins, quantifying levels of expression and sequencing. In particular, a proteomics approach is now enabling us to focus on low expressing proteins that are potential novel markers of disease and targets for therapy.

Instrumentation acquisitions now enable the Proteomics Facility to collect complementary data through four mass spectrometry systems. High throughput screening, accurate sequencing, protein quantitation and determination of post translational modifications can all be achieved.

Key instrumentation

■■ Thermoscientific Q-Exactive LCMSMS for accurate mass, high sensitivity detection, identification and quantification of proteins.

■■ CHIP NanoLC and the Agilent 6430 QQQ system for SRM based protein quantitation.

■■ Applied Biosystems 4700 Proteomics Discovery System (MALDI-TOF-TOF) for mass fingerprinting and intact mass analysis.

■■ NanoLC and the Bruker HCT Ultra ion trap for protein identification and post translational analysis.

■■ Capillary LC and the Bruker Micro TOFq system for high accuracy mass determination.

■■ Applied Biosystems Procise Protein Sequencer for N-terminal sequencing of picomole quantities of protein or peptide.

Access details




Funding bodies

Monash biomedical Proteomics Facility

Contact details

Address Level 2, Building 75 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Monash University Clayton campus Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia

Dr David Steer Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9323 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.med.monash.edu.au/ biochem/facilities/proteomics

www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/facilities/proteomics

Service process

Discovery of differential expression of proteins of interest

between sample types using various mass spectrometry

based quantitation methodologies (SRM, SILAC, label free).

Cell lysate or crude protein extract from two sample sources to be compared.

1. Protein quantitation service using the Q-Exactive mass spectometer and

Agilent 6430 QQQ mass spectrometer.

2. Electrophoresis service protein fractionation, 1D and 2D SDS PAGE,

and protein purification service by HPLC.

3. Protein characterisation service using the 4700 MALDI

TOF: TOF and LCMS instruments.

4. Protein characterisation service, PTM analysis using the Q-Exactive and HCT ULTRA

ion trap and accurate intact mass analysis using the MicroTOF-Q mass spectometer.

Protein separation and different gel comparisons (DIGE) to select spots of interest representing proteins up or down regulated.

Spots of interest identified by mass spec data interrogation of a proteome database.

Determination of any post translational modification on proteins of interest.

Dr David Steer Manager

After completing his PhD in Peptide Chemistry at Monash university, David began his career as a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Protein Studies, CEO in France, where he worked on the development of enzyme specific probes to study the role of MMP's in cancer development.David returned to Monash University in 2004 to take up the role of Manager of the Biomedical Proteomics Facility. David's interests include protein characterisation, ranging from sequence analysis to post-translational modification analysis.


Professor Ian Smithdirector

Ian Smith is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Research Infrastructure) and is also the Director of the Victorian node of the NCRIS funded Proteomics Australia Consortium. Ian’s research applies proteomics technologies to study the proteases involved in the generation and metabolism of peptide regulators of both brain and cardiovascular function. He serves on seven international editorial boards, has held office bearing positions in a number of national and international societies and has published over 210 papers.



Specialist services

Crystallisation of macromolecules:

■■ Drop dispensing (vapour diffusion and LCP ), Seeding

■■ Custom screen making

■■ Drop imaging (automated and manual)

■■ Remote access to images via web interface

Macromolecular structure determination:

■■ We can provide in-house diffraction data collection and structure determination.

■■ Structure based drug design is also available.

Key instrumentation

■■ Rigaku fully automated CrystalMation System (including integrated Phoenix and Alchemist liquid handling robots, Minstrel Imagers and Incubators with capacity for ~5000 x 288 crystallisation trials)

■■ TTP Labtech Mosquito liquid handling robot with Lipid Cubic Phase capability

■■ Leica M205C stereomicroscope

■■ X-ray diffractometers (Including: Rigaku MicroMax007 HF microfocus X-ray generators with Copper anodes, equipped with Osmic VariMax multilayer focusing options, LN cryostreams and R-Axis 4++ area detectors)

■■ Small Angle X-ray Scattering System: Anton-Paar SAXSess mc²

Monash Macromolecular Crystallisation Facility

Macromolecular crystallography provides unparalleled details of 3D structure of biological macromolecules and provides the basis for the rational design of therapeutics. The Monash Macromolecular Crystallisation Facility operated by the Structural Biology Unit at Monash University provides access to a fully automated platform for the high-throughput crystallisation of biological macromolecules. This facility helps to overcome the common bottleneck in crystallographic structure determination, ie crystallisation. The Facility also houses state-of-the-art facilities for collecting X-ray diffraction data and crystal structure determination.

top: the CrystalMation robot provides full automation to the crystallisation of macromolecules.

left: All crystallisation trials are automatically photographed following a roster and displayed via a web-server.

Above: the CrystalMation robot allows for the automated aliquoting of reagents for crystallisation trials.


Funding bodies

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monash.edu/research/infrastructure/platforms/crystallisation.html

Access details




Contact details

Address Building 16, Level 1 Clayton campus Monash University Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia

Professor Matthew Wilce Director Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9244 Email: [email protected]

Website: monash.edu/research/infrastructure/platforms/crystallisation.html

Service process

Professor Matthew Wilcedirector

Professor Wilce is an expert in Structural Biology and has published over 120 peer reviewed research papers. His major research focus is understanding protein RNA interactions and their role in the cell. Prior to moving to Monash University he held positions at the University of Sydney, St Vincent’s Institute and the University of Western Australia.


Dr Danuta MakselManager, high Throughput Robotic Protein Crystallisation

Dr Maksel has been the Facility Manager since its inception. She is an expert in the crystallisation of biological macromolecules.


Selection of crystallisation

conditions

Preparation of crystallisation

reagents

Sitting drop crystallisation

Incubation at different

temperatures

Imaging

Crystals

Optimisation

Collect x-ray diffraction data

Protein structure elucidation

Grollo Ruzzene Foundation


Specialist services

■■ Transgenic rodents

■■ Rodent breeding

■■ Genetic cryopreservation

■■ Laboratory Animal Services

■■ National Non Human Primate Research Facility

■■ Veterinary facilities

■■ Blood products and antibody production

Key instrumentation

■■ Animal Irradiator

■■ Digital X-ray machine

■■ Animal Ultrasound

■■ Animal Endoscopy

■■ Fully fitted surgeries

■■ SPF Rodent Facilities

Monash animal Research Platform

The Monash Animal Research Platform (MARP) provides laboratory animal services from several facilities located across the Clayton campuses of Monash University and at its Gippsland Field Station. MARP can enable research projects through the supply of animals, specialised animal care and technical support as well as through the provision of advanced veterinary services.

MARP is committed to maintaining the quality and health of its animals at a very high level and to exceed the animal care and welfare standards described in the relevant industry regulations and Codes of Practice.

Monash Gene Targeting Facility (MGTF)

The MGTF offers a range of rodent transgenic and genetic cryopreservation services. Methods used for the generation of genetically modified rodents include ES Cell, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and pronuclear microinjection techniques.

The creation of target constructs and ES Cell transfusion is conducted in collaboration with the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) after Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute. MARP is also a collaborator in the ES cell to Mouse and sperm repository and reanimation projects through the Australian Phenome Bank.

national non human Primate breeding and Research Facility

The National Non Human Primate Breeding and Research Facility is managed by MARP. This centre was established through NHMRC support, as the only breeding colonies of marmosets and macaques for research use in Australia. This facility provides animals and technical support.


Funding bodies

Dr John Phelpsdirector

John Phelps has been Director of all facilities across the Monash Animal Research Platform since December, 2008. He is a registered veterinarian (BVSc, USyd) with Masters degrees in both Economics (Agricultural) and Veterinary Public Health Management. He has extensive experience in the production of bio-pharmaceutical products and in the management of laboratory animal facilities under Good Manufacturing Practice conditions with CSL Limited (1997–2008). John also has a varied background in the research and development of agrichemical products from his time with Rhône Poulenc Rural (1988 –1996) and commenced his professional career in production and domestic animal veterinary practice (1982–1988).

Email: [email protected]

marp.monash.edu.au

Access details




Contact details

Monash Animal Research Platform Building 41A Clayton campus Monash University Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia


Website: marp.monash.edu.au/

Platform services

laboratory animal services

The MARP facilities supply and maintain a wide range of laboratory animals including rodents, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs. The services include:

■■ Rodent supply, agistment and customised breeding programs for experimental lines under SPF conditions;

■■ Access to surgical facilities, imaging and diagnostic equipment and services;

■■ Specialised veterinary services and surgical support;

■■ Supply of animal blood products and antibody production from various animal species;

■■ Rodent import and export services in AQIS accredited facilities; and

■■ Supply, agistment, technical and surgical assistance in other species including sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs.

laboratory animal supply– Transgenic rodent production – Wild type and line bred rodents – Rodent importation service – Time mated sheep

veterinary services– Specialised surgical procedures – Surgical and anesthetic procedures – Veterinary care and health monitoring – Imaging and diagnostic equipment

Technical services– Sperm and embryo cryopreservation – Blood products and antibody production – Experimental techniques assistance – Embryo transfer and caesarians – Rodent irradiation service

laboratory animal Care– SPF rodent breeding and holding – Marmoset and macaque facilities – Indoor and outdoor sheep housing – Rabbit and guinea pig care


Specialist services

breeding, agistment and importation and exportation of zebra fish strains

FishCore provides purchasing, PC2 breeding and agistment of zebra fish strains as well as international and interstate importation and AQIS approved quarantining of zebra fish strains.

Production and cryogenic freezing and rederivation of zebra fish strains

FishCore provides zebra fish wild type, transgenic and mutant embro production and cryogenic freezing and rederivation of zebra fish strains.

access to microscope facilities

FishCore offers users access to phenotyping microscopes and their injection rigs as well as access to the microscope facility containing high end dedicated confocal microscope, and live imaging microscopes.

Training services

FishCore provides training in the use of zebra fish as a research model and offers training in the use of microscopes within the FishCore microscope facility.

FishCore

The ARMI FishCore facility is the largest zebra fish facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere, consisting of 1000 quarantine tanks and 5200 main facility tanks (non quarantine).

FishCore has the capacity to meet the needs of ARMI, Monash University and the external biomedical research community. It houses genetically modified and mutant strains of zebra fish that model a variety of human diseases and conditions. Additional services include a sperm freezing and rederivation service for any long term storage requirements. FishCore is an approved QAP quarantine facility for strains that require international importation. As such it can offer a comprehensive importation service relieving researchers of the regulatory requirements and paper work associated with importation. FishCore is also currently running a pilot system to house axolotl and shark embryos for research, with the intention of developing larger scale facilities in the future.


Funding bodies

Julian Cocks FishCore Manager

Mr Julian Cocks completed his Fisheries Degree in 1996 at the Australian Maritime College, Launceston, Tasmania and a postgraduate Diploma of Aquaculture at James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland in 2003. Julian previously worked as part of the curatorial team at the Great Barrier Reef and Melbourne public aquariums. Julian has managed live seafood facilities in both Queensland and Victoria, where he had experience in exporting to Asian markets. Julian managed the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute's zebra fish facility until 2008 before moving to Melbourne to manage the FishCore facility at Monash University.

Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9740 Mobile: +61 0402 963 968 Email: [email protected]

www.armi.org.au/facilities/fishCore.aspx

Key instrumentation and facilities

■■ PC2 zebra fish housing facilities;

■■ PC2 research microscopy facility;

■■ AQIS-approved QAP zebra fish quarantine facility;

■■ State-of-the-art recirculation and filtration systems to ensure optimal environmental conditions; and

■■ FishCore staff specialising in aquatic animal husbandry.

Access details




Contact details

Address Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute Science, Technology, Research and Innovation Precinct (STRIP) Monash University Clayton campus Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia

Julian Cocks FishCore ManagerTel: +61 (3) 9902 9740 Mobile: +61 0402 963 968 Fax: +61 (3) 9902 9741 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.armi.org.au/facilities/ fishCore.aspx


Specialist services

Flow cytometric analysis

Users are trained to run their samples on the analysis cytometers and are able to generate large amounts of data in a short time. The cytometers can be fitted with a high throughput sampler allowing researchers to analyse samples in 96 well plates, further speeding up the analysis process.

Cell sorting

Cell sorting or separation is provided as a service in FlowCore, where each sort is personally set up and supervised by a dedicated staff member. As a result, researchers can be confident in the pure populations of cells that are isolated for them, which they are able to use in subsequent in vitro or in vivo assays.

data analysis

FlowCore holds the site licence for FlowJo (Treestar), a specialised flow cytometry data analysis software. This provides researchers with access to high end software with which to dissect their acquired data.

education and training

FlowCore provides free training to researchers on the analysis cytometers on a regular basis. FlowCore also holds educational seminars and Users Group Meetings which allow researchers from different fields who are conducting flow cytometry experiments to come together and learn about developments in the field.

Key instrumentation

■■ BD Influx – five lasers

■■ BD Influx – three lasers

■■ BD FACSVantage-DiVa – three lasers

■■ BD LSRII – seven lasers

■■ BD LSRII – four lasers

FlowCore

FlowCore utilises more than 40 years of flow cytometry experience across its four full time staff to provide flow cytometry services to researchers within Monash University and the wider scientific community.

Flow cytometry is a high speed laser based technology enabling users to generate multiparametric data about the size, shape and proteins associated with their cells or particles of interest. Flow cytometry is a powerful tool in many fields including immunology, stem cell science, cancer research, aquatic biology and plant biology.

Clockwise from top: Operator Karen Clarke helping researcher Peter McCourt to analyse cells on the LSRII, operator Mike Reitsma sorting lymphocytes for FlowCore customer Kelly Chew on the Influx cell sorter, the Influx cell sorter, equipped with five lasers, allows researchers great flexibility in fluorochome choice.


Funding bodies

Mr Michael Reistmasenior Research officer

Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Moelecular Cell Biology from the University of California at Berkeley, after which he gained experience performing academic research as a biomedical scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and UCSF. Michael has also spent sixteen years in the California biotech industry with SyStemix and StemCells, Inc. Prior to immigrating to Australia, his career turned toward the development of manufacturing strategies for applying human cell therapy in clinical applications.


Mr Andrew FrygaManager

Andrew completed his Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Laboratory Science) in 1989, before working in various laboratories in Melbourne and London. In 1996, he joined the Bone Marrow Transplant Laboratory at the Royal Children’s Hospital, processing stems cells for transplant and running various flow cytometry based assays. Andrew moved to full time flow cytometry at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in 2001. In 2005 he joined the Australian Stem Cell Centre, managing the flow cytometry facility, and now manages FlowCore.


platforms.monash.edu/flowcore

Access details


Contact details

FlowCore Room 269, Level 2 Building 75 Monash University Clayton campus Ring Road West Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia


Website: platforms.monash.edu/flowcore

Service process

Flow cytometric analysis Flow cytometric cell sorting

specialised software available for data analysis

data available for download via FTP by researcher

analysis cytometer sorting cytometer

Researcher runs samples

(after training is provided)

FlowCore staff runs samples and

sorts cells

bring samples to FlowCore

Researcher

data acquisitiondata acquisition

Cells sortedsorted cells collected

by researcher

Operator Kathryn Flanagan sorting stem cells on the FACSVantage-DiVa.


Monash histology Platform

“Everything we do is focussed on assisting you, in all aspects of Histology so you can engage in what you do best”

– Monash Histology Platform; your partner in research and education

The Monash Histology Platform is located within the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and provides services for Monash University academic staff and students as well as other research organisations, universities, hospitals and industries. The Platform operates state-of-the-art equipment and offers users expert service, advice and training for all histological studies involving tissues embedded in paraffin and glycolmethacrylate, as well as frozen sections.

Specialist services and key instrumentation

Two specialised histology laboratories operate within the Monash Histology Platform. They have been developed to meet the quality and high throughput needs of researchers, academic staff and students. A full end to end service can be provided from cut-up and processing through to creation of digital slides with a virtual storage solution.

Paraffin laboratory

The paraffin laboratory is equipped with a range of state-of-the-art equipment to tackle the most demanding of processing requirements including:

■■ Fully equipped dissection area and cassette writer

■■ Rapid, dual processing Peloris tissue processor providing efficient, reliable and timely processing to paraffin wax

■■ Embedding units for high quality paraffin blocking

■■ Modern microtomes for specimen sectioning

■■ Fully equipped staining area including an automated staining unit with coverslipper, together with manual options for DIY staining and coverslipping

■■ Cryostat for frozen sectioning

■■ Tissue Arrayer for generation of multi tissue blocks

■■ Dako Autostainer for automation of all Immunohistochemical staining

■■ Aperio AT Scanscope – a whole slide scanning and access service is available using the Aperio ScanScope. Images of your slides can be readily retrieved at your computer and viewed or analysed at your leisure.

Resin laboratory

The Resin laboratory provides specialist processing, sectioning and staining services for projects requiring resin sections. The laboratory is well equipped with Leica RM2165 microtomes and Leica Ultra microtomes for cutting both methacrylate and epoxy resins for light and electron microscopy. A Leica RM2265 microtome with a stereomicroscope is also available for visualisation of small specimens. A fully equipped staining area includes an automated staining unit with coverslipper, together with manual options for DIY staining and coverslipping.

other services

Other specialised equipment such as a sledge microtome, Vibratome, digital camera for imaging and multiheader microscope are also available for use.

Specialist services

■■ World class, full service histology laboratory

■■ Consultation and collaboration

■■ Paraffin, frozen section and specialist staining services

■■ Expert training in all histological techniques

■■ Specialist methacrylate and epoxy resin methods

■■ Immunohistochemical techniques

Key instrumentation

■■ Peloris II Rapid Tissue Processor

■■ EG1150 Paraffin Embedding Station

■■ ST5010 Autostainer XL

■■ CV5030 Robotic Coverslipper

■■ Aperio ScanScope AT Turbo

■■ MTA-I Beecher Tissue Arrayer

■■ Dako Autostainer Plus and PT Link

■■ RM2235 and 2125 Rotary microtomes

■■ RM2265 and 2165 Automatic microtomes

■■ M60 Stereomicroscope

■■ Ultracut and OMU2 Ultratomes

■■ DFC450C Digital camera

■■ CM3050 Cryostat


platforms.monash.edu/histology

Camilla Cohenhistology Platform Manager

Camilla Cohen completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Laboratory Science) in 1990 before working in various private and public histology laboratories in Melbourne. Camilla has extensive experience in routine histology, laboratory quality assurance and management. She is an accredited NATA assessor skilled in immunohistochemical techniques and frozen sections

Tel: +61 (3) 9905 2740


Associate Professor Ian Smythhistology Platform scientific director

An ARC Research Fellow in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr Smyth is interested in the development of diseases affecting skin and kidney and has 15 years extensive experience in studying animal models of disease.

Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9119


Access details

The Histology Platform operates on a fee for service basis for all laboratory services and access, as well as providing assistance in collaborative research and consultation.

All personnel utilising Monash Histology Platform services are required to pre-register as approved users according to OH&S regulations.

Contact detailsPlatform Manager Camilla Cohen Ground floor, 13C, Clayton campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC, 3800

Tel: +61 (3) 9905 2740Mobile: +61 407 810 274


Paraffin Laboratory Tel: +61 (3) 99052740 Email: [email protected]

Resin Laboratory Tel: +61 (3) 99052708

Website: platforms.monash.edu/histology

Service overview

New Client Registration

Full Service Histology

Professional Services

Dissection

Processing

Embedding Paraffin / Resin / Fresh

Specimen

Microtomy / Cryotomy

Staining

Coverslipping

Quality Control

Job Completion /Handover

Histology Professional Services – Training provided

as required

Specimen Registration

Initial Consultation: phone, email or

in-person

Client Registered?

D.I.Y ?

No

No

Yes

Yes

Funding bodies


Specialist services

Training in Microscopy

■■ instrument operation

■■ research methods

■■ sample handling and preparation

■■ image analysis

Provision of instrumentation

■■ widefield microscopy

■■ confocal microscopy

■■ multiphoton microscopy

■■ automated and time lapse imaging

■■ microscopy of live cells and tissues

■■ FLIM

■■ FCS

■■ TIRF

■■ Spinning disk confocal

■■ transmission electron microscopy

■■ scanning electron microscopy

Project Planning

Project supervision

Research collaboration

specialist imaging workshops and courses

■■ Live cell microscopy

■■ Image analysis

■■ Cryo-preparation methods for electron microscopy

Monash Micro imaging

MMI is a leading imaging facility consisting of a cluster of two core laboratories at the Clayton campus for Bio Electron Microscopy and for Advanced Optical Imaging and two specialised Imaging Nodes at the Monash Health Research Precinct and the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct. MMI supported technologies include advanced light microscopy, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, multiphoton microscopy, and fluorescence applications such as FRAP, TIRF, FCS, FLIM, cell tracking, and kinetics.

The Bio EM Facility supports Scanning EM and Transmission EM, and has special expertise in cryo preparation techniques and immuno-gold labelling for detecting proteins at the ultrastructural level.

Key instrumentation

optical Microscopy

■■ Inverted automated widefield microscopes (Leica, Olympus, Deltavision), TIRF and confocal live cell imaging systems (Olympus FV1000, Spinning Disk, Nikon C1, and Leica SP5)

■■ Upright confocal microscope: Nikon C1

■■ Specialised confocal microscopes:

– Leica TCS SP5 (five channel, resonant scanning,high content screening capability)

– Zeiss LSM780 confocal and multiphoton system

– Leica SP5 Multiphoton Microscope, fixed stage, for deep tissue/small animal imaging

■■ Standard compound and stereo optical microscopes: brightfield and fluorescence, slide scanning

microscope (Olympus dotSlide) and quantitative polarisation (CRi Abrio).

electron Microscopy

■■ Transmission EM (Hitachi H7500);

■■ Standard Scanning EM (Hitachi S570)

■■ Cryo preparation equipment: Leica High Pressure Freezer (EMPACT2), Automated Freeze Substitution (AFS2) and Leica cryo-ultramicrotomes (UC7/FC7).

image analysis and visualisation

■■ Image analysis suite with dedicated workstations: licensed software includes Metamorph, Analysis, Imaris, Drishti and ImageJ


Funding bodies

Associate Professor Ian Harper director

Ian is the founder and director of Monash Micro Imaging, which has grown from a small Confocal Imaging Facility to become one of the premier imaging centres in Australia. Through successful research and infrastructure grant applications (>$10m) and liaisons with microscope manufacturers over the past decade, the facility now provides expertise, instrumentation and collaborative research in optical and fluorescence microscopy/confocal microscopy, live cell imaging, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, digital imaging and image analysis.


www.microimaging.monash.org

Access details

MMI charges an annual capped access fee for internal users or hourly fees for external users.

The attendance of an introductory session is required for access to optical microscopy.

New EM project require an initial discussion of the project with the Head of Bio EM.

Contact details

MMI Director Associate Professor Ian HarperTel: +61 (3) 9905 5635 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.microimaging. monash.org/

MMI Research Support Process

Above: scanning electron micrograph of viral microcrystals

MMI Nodes:

Advanced Optical Imaging Facility, Building 75, Clayton Tel: +61 (3) 9905 5612/20878

Bio Electron Microscopy Facility, Building 13C, Clayton Tel: +61 (3) 9902 0878/51280

MMI MHRP Node, Monash Health Research Precinct, ClaytonTel: +61 (3) 9594 7410

MMI AMREP Node, Alfred Medical Research and Educational Precinct, Prahran Tel: +61 (3) 9903 0142 +61 (3) 8532 1580

Bio EM Facility, Clayton

Adv Optical Microscopy Facility, Clayton

MMI@MHRP, Clayton

MMI@AMREP, Prahran

MMI Office Tel: 9902 0878 or Node Manager at:

Researcher/Project

initial Consultation*/Project Planning (*students must be accompanied by supervisor)

Training (incl. specimen preparation,

instrument operation etc) Collaboration

Reporting and Publications

ongoing Project discussion and Planning

Pilot Project/ Feasibility study

Register for access

Facilitated independent user


Specialist programs

■■ Conducts specialist research in advanced electron microscopy and atom probe microscopy;

■■ Provides advanced instrumentation, expertise and training in electron microscopy and atom probe microscopy.

Transmission electron Microscopy (TeM)

The Centre houses four advanced TEMs capable of examining materials at the atomic scale. These range from conventional microscopes for routine applications, through to the world-class 'double-aberration corrected Titan FEGTEM'. This instrument is capable of imaging atomic structures with a resolution of less than one-tenth of a nanometre and acquiring chemical information selectively from just one or two atomic columns.

scanning electron Microscopy (seM) and Focussed ion beam (Fib)

The Centre has three advanced SEMs and one SEM/FIB system capable of imaging surface features down to 2 nm in size. The SEMs can determine the chemical composition and crystallography of materials to be studied and offer utrahigh resolution, low voltage and low vacuum capabilities. The FIB can be used to fabricate site specific cross sections at the sub-micron scale.

atom Probe Tomography (aPT)

The Centre has two APT suitable for the study of conducting materials. 3D atom probe tomography is a very powerful technique for determining the distribution of individual atoms in three-dimensions with very high spatial resolution (~0.2 nm in the surface plane and ~0.05 nm perpendicular to the plane).

Monash Centre for electron Microscopy

The Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy (MCEM) is a central university research facility that performs first-class research in electron microscopy and atom probe microscopy. MCEM provides advanced instrumentation, expertise and training in electron and atom probe microscopy, enabling researchers to solve key problems across the non-biological sciences and engineering. The Centre’s suite of instrumentation can determine the composition, structure and bonding of materials down to the atomic scale. MCEM serves and collaborates with researchers from Monash University, other universities, government research agencies, Centres of Excellence, Cooperative Research Centres and industry.

Key instrumentation

■■ Double-corrected FEI Titan3 80-300 FEGTEM;

■■ JEOL JEM 2100F FEGTEM;

■■ JEOL JSM-7001F FEGSEM;

■■ FEI MAGELLAN 400 FEGSEM;

■■ Oxford NanoScience 3D APFIM;

■■ Standard TEMs;

■■ Standard SEMs; and

■■ Specialist specimen preparation equipment.

Access details


■■ MCEM charges for instrument access and training

Above: sEM image of Zno nanowires on polymer fibres. image courtesy of dr Xi-ya fang, MCEM.


Major funding bodies

ProfessorJoanne Etheridgedirector

Joanne is the founding Director of the Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy and Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering. Her research interests are in the theory of electron scattering in solids and its application to determine the atomic structure and defect structure of materials. Prior to joining Monash University, Joanne was a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy and Lecturer and Fellow at Newnham College, Cambridge.

Tel: +61 (3) 9905 1836 Email: joanne.etheridge@ monash.edu

www.mcem.monash.edu

Contact details

Professor Joanne Etheridge Director MCEM Building 81, Room G05 Monash University Clayton campus Victoria 3800 Australia


Dr Peter Miller Manager MCEM Building 81, Room G06 Monash University Clayton campus Victoria 3800 Australia


Website: www.mcem.monash.edu

MCEM programs

Monash Centre for electron Microscopy A research centre in electron microscopy

and atom probe microscopy

Research Programs and Research Collaborations

Expertise Specialist Teaching Advanced Instrumentation

Capability Provision


Key Instrumentation

Clayton

■■ Siemens 3T Skyra magnetic resonance imaging (MRI human and large animal) MRI scanner equipped with EEG, eye tracking, and stimulus presentation devices.

■■ Agilent 9.4T MRI (small animal) MRI scanner, designed for high resolution imaging of small animals and ex vivo samples.

■■ Siemens Inveon PET SPECT CT (small animal) A versatile platform for laboratory animal CT, PET and /or SPECT on a single gantry.

Prahran (alfred Medical Research and education Precinct)

■■ PET CT (small animal) A high precision gantry allows for precise alignment of PET CT data.

Parkville (Monash institute of Pharmaceutical sciences)

■■ FLECT/CT (small animal) In vivo optical imaging provides images of deep tissue phenomena without loss of image quality or quantitative accuracy.

■■ Experiment design, equipment training, data processing and analysis and specialised technical expertise are available.

Monash biomedical imaging

The Monash Biomedical Imaging (MBI) facilities are a Monash University led consortium of hospitals and research organisations that facilitate and accommodate interdisciplinary and multi-modal (PET, SPECT, FLECT X-ray, CT and MRI) imaging research. This includes pre-clinical and clinical collaborations among world-class experts in medicine, science and engineering, in concert with industry and government, to create innovative solutions to clinical health challenges.

Additional human research facilities:

■■ Neurocognitive testing and interview rooms

■■ Children and adult waiting areas

■■ High contrast stimulus presentation in MRI

■■ Multi-function MRI response pad

■■ Electroencephalography (EEG) laboratory

■■ Simultaneous EEG and fMR imaging

■■ Trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) laboratory

■■ Simultaneous TMS and fMR imaging

■■ Ocular motor/eye tracking laboratory

■■ Simultaneous ocular motor and fMR imaging

■■ Neuromotor assessment laboratory

■■ Advanced computing facilities for image analysis

■■ Mock MRI scanner for subject familiarisation

Additional animal research facilities:

■■ Surgical suites

■■ Anaesthesia facilities

■■ Physiological monitoring

■■ Wet laboratory facilities

■■ Short term animal holding facilities

■■ Adjacent long term animal holding facilities

Access details■■ Collaborative Research


sagittal image of a human knee showing cartilage as a bright rim at the interface between the femur and tibia


Funding bodies

Monash biomedical imaging (Mbi)

Monash Biomedical Imaging (MBI) has a full suite of biomedical imaging equipment and expertise.

We provide co-ordinated access and operational support for the core imaging infrastructure, as well as research training and technological development, in collaboration with researchers and industry partners.

We are co-localised with the Imaging and Medical Beam Line at the Australian Synchrotron, MBI offers unique opportunities for multi-modality imaging for pre-clinical and clinical research.

biomedical image analysis laboratories

Please refer to Monash e-Research – MASSIVE.

Professor Gary Egandirector

Gary Egan is an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Director of Monash Biomedical Imaging. Gary has published over 150 papers and over 250 abstracts in peer reviewed journals. Gary undertakes high resolution structural and functional brain mapping research and clinical neuroimaging research in basic neuroscience studies and clinical neuroscience studies. Gary is also a chief investigator of the Victorian Biomedical Imaging Capability and Deputy Director of the Australian National Imaging Facility.


Dr Lisa HuttonResearch and operations manager

Lisa Hutton has been involved in research and project management of strategic research initiatives within Monash University for a number of years. She has established and managed a number of research networks and consortiums during this time. Lisa completed her PhD in the Department of Physiology, Monash University focusing on developmental brain injury.


mbi.monash.edu

Contact detailsAddress Building 220 770 Blackburn Road Monash University Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia

Professor Gary Egan Director Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9750 Email: [email protected]

Dr Lisa Hutton Senior Research and Operations Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9782 Email: [email protected]

Website: mbi.monash.edu

Automated analysis of ultra-high resolution kidney images. Volume rendered computer graphic showing the initial stages of automated processing of a human kidney imaged ex vivo using the MBi Agilent 9.4t Mr. White (unprocessed) component shows the overall structure of the kidney and red shows the processed image beginning to reveal the many thousands of glomeruli throughout the sample. images were acquired with 0.05mm resolution.


Specialist services

high Performance Computing Facilities for Modelling and simulation

Researchers at Monash can access a variety of HPC facilities for simulation and data processing. These include: MASSIVE, a specialised Monash-led facility; the NCI national peak facility; and the local Monash Sun Grid (MSG). The Monash e-Research Centre provides specialist expertise in all aspects of HPC, including: simulation; data processing; and visualisation.

storage and Management of Research data

Researchers generally acquire and produce digital artefacts (data) during the course of their research. To ensure the data’s availability, researchers need to securely store and back up their data. This service also provides researchers with solutions for capturing data from instruments, managing and searching it, and sharing it for re-use.

advanced Collaboration Platforms

Researchers often need to collaborate with colleagues in other research institutions or across research disciplines. This service provides researchers with various solutions to foster their research collaborations including wikis, advanced video conferencing systems, survey tools, and document management systems.

visualisation Platforms

Visualisation facilitates the comprehension of research analyses and can lead to new research outcomes. Monash offers a range of facilities including 3DAlive, an immersive visualisation facility for interacting with 3D data; and OptIPortals, for display of high resolution images and collaboration.

specialised server hosting

This service provides researchers with production-level virtual machines and databases (Oracle, MySQL, or PostgreSQL) to enable the hosting of robust research software systems.

Monash eResearch Centre

The Monash eResearch Centre (MeRC) partners with researchers at Monash to enable, enhance, and foster collaborative research through ICT (Information and Communication Technology). It does this through specialist advice, customised eResearch solutions, and the following platforms and capabilities:

■■ High Performance Computing (HPC) Facilities for Modelling and Simulation

■■ Storage and Management of Research Data

■■ Advanced Collaboration Platforms

■■ Visualisation Platforms

■■ Specialised Server Hosting

Monash leads a number of national and international eResearch initiatives. The Monash eResearch centre is a partnership between the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), the Office of the CIO, the Library and the Faculty of IT.

MsG – Monash sun Grid

MSG is Monash University's central production-class HPC facility, and is used to process advanced algorithms and the computational modelling of data.

laRds – large Research data store

LaRDS is Monash’s central petascale research data store and provides researchers with potentially vast amounts of storage (hundreds of terabytes (TB) in some cases) for their research data. This is accessible in many forms to suit the researcher’s requirements.

Key instrumentation

Massive – Multi-modal australian sciences imaging and visualisation environment

MASSIVE is the NCI specialised facility for imaging and visualisation. It is particularly suited to: data processing, in particular image processing and analysis; interactive visualisation where users will pre-book nodes to use visualisation packages; modelling and simulation, in particular problems suited to GPU parallelisation; and large-scale visualisation problems requiring multiple nodes for rendering. See: massive.org.au


Funding bodies and partners

Professor Paul Bonnington

director

Professor Paul Bonnington serves on the National Research Infrastructure Roadmap Expert Working Group for e-Research and is on the Board of Directors for the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing.

He is a member of the steering committees for the Victorian Life Sciences Computing Initiative (VLSCI) and National Computational Infrastructure’s Specialist Facility for Imaging and Visualisation (MASSIVE). Paul is also a member of CSIRO’s e-Research Council.He recently served as the Chair of the Steering Committee for the Australian National Data Service Establishment Project. Paul's research interests lie in Combinatorial Computing, and Discrete and Computational Geometry.

Tel: +61 (3) 9902 0711 Email: paul.bonnington@ monash.edu

platforms.monash.edu/eresearch

MeRC services

3dalive

The 3DAlive facility consists of both a 3D stereo display plus real-time motion tracking, the combination of which will provide a virtual reality (VR) work space allowing real-time interaction with 3D data. The Monash e-Research Centre provides assistance and expertise with use of the facility. See: geodynamics.monash. edu.au/3d-alive

advanced Collaboration Platforms

As an example, Confluence is an enterprise wiki that provides researchers with a shared and secure space to enable them to collaborate on research concepts, work, and results. See: monash.edu/eresearch/about/collaboration.html

Access details




Contact details

Monash eResearch Centre Monash University Clayton campus Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia


Website: platforms.monash.edu/eresearch

Visualisation Platforms

Storage and Management of Research Data

Specialised Server Hosting

Advanced Collaboration

Platforms

High Performance Computing Facilities for

Modelling and Simulation

ResearcherContact MeRC Telephone: (03) 9905 9704 or email: [email protected]

Monash eResearch Centre


Specialist services

The CDCO has significant expertise in relating physicochemical properties of drug molecules to their absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination (ADME) characteristics.

Specific areas of expertise of the CDCO include:

Physiochemical profiling

Physicochemical profiling has become an integral part of drug discovery, leading to property optimisation and rank ordering for ‘drug-like’ characteristics.

drug metabolism, metabolite profiling, and metabolic drug-drug interactions

Rapid metabolism is a major limiting feature of many new drug candidates and can lead to low oral bioavailability, a short half-life, or the production of potentially active or toxic metabolites. Serious adverse events can also arise through metabolic drug-drug interactions. The CDCO offers a range of approaches to assess the metabolism of compounds during early lead identification through to candidate selection and optimisation.

bioavailability and pharmacokinetics

Appropriate ADME properties are essential to ensure efficacy and minimise toxicity for the desired route of administration. Coupled with the results from physicochemical and metabolic profiling, ADME data enables the early identification of compound liabilities, providing a basis for structural modifications or for the early initiation of strategies to overcome these problems.

bioanalysis

Rapid, specific and quantitative analysis of drug candidates is required to support all aspects of ADME lead optimisation. The CDCO is equipped with specialised LC-MS/MS instrumentation to enable the rapid development of specific methods for the analysis of candidate drugs and their metabolites in complex biological matrices.

Centre for drug Candidate optimisation

The Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation (CDCO) is a collaborative research centre based within the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences that undertakes drug candidate optimisation to accelerate and enhance drug discovery and development for commercial and not-for-profit research organisations. Drug candidate optimisation is a critical value-creating step in drug discovery/development which enhances the future developmental and commercial potential of candidate drugs through optimisation of their metabolic, physicochemical, pharmacokinetic and bioavailability properties.

Key instrumentation

■■ Six LC/MS instruments coupled with UPLC (single and triple quadrupole MS; time of flight MS);

■■ Automated small animal in vivo blood sampling using BASi CulexTM;

■■ Automated in vitro assays using a Hamilton MICROLAB® STAR liquid handling robot;

■■ In silico and in vitro methods for profiling physiochemical properties;

■■ Plate based assays for CYP450 metabolic stability, metabolite profiling and metabolic drug interactions; and

■■ Cell culture facilities for permeability assessment (Caco-2 or MDCK).

Access details




Dr Andrew Powelloperations Manager

Dr Andrew Powell joined the CDCO as Operations Manager in March 2010. Prior to this, Andrew worked in the biotechnology sector, overseeing the project management of preclinical animal efficacy and toxicology programs, GMP manufacture, and regulatory submissions to international agencies. Dr Powell holds a PhD in Physiology from Monash University and and has over ten years experience in basic research, lead optimisation and preclinical drug development.



Funding bodies

Professor Susan Charmandirector

Professor Charman has more than 20 years experience working in ADME lead optimisation and managing large collaborative drug discovery research programs. With an international reputation in the field, Professor Charman has published prolifically, is a regular invited speaker at major national and international conferences and frequently consults for the industry on matters related to lead optimisation, candidate selection and drug development.


www.cdco.monash.org

Work process

Contact details

Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Monash University (Parkville campus) 381 Royal Parade Parkville, Victoria 3052 Australia

Professor Susan Charman Director Tel: +61 (3) 9903 9626 Email: [email protected]

Dr Andrew Powell Operations ManagerTel: +61 (3) 9903 9149 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.cdco.monash.org

The CDCO collaborates with commercial and not-for-profit research organisations to provide expertise in ADME lead optimisation to design and identify better drug candidates. The CDCO undertakes its research to industry standards utilising validated platforms and state-of-the-art methodology to ensure that high quality results are delivered in a timely manner.

Discussion of project objectives

Propose study design to meet project objectives

Conceptualise and plan study, identify material

requirements

Provide materialStudies initiated and

tracked against time-lines in database

Conduct study according to established protocols

Integrate data into ongoing discovery

programs

Issue report to collaborator

Summarise data; draft and review report

Analyse and interpret data; confirm QC acceptability

Collaborator CdCo Point of contact

CdCo expert study team


Key instrumentation and facilities

■■ Large aerodynamic wind tunnel facility (four test sections);

■■ 2x2 metre cross-section 450kW wind tunnel (boundary layer tests);

■■ 6-component force balance system;

■■ Scale model force balance systems;

■■ Multi-channel dynamic pressure measurement system;

■■ High-frequency velocity probes; and

■■ Anthropometric mannikin.

Monash wind Tunnel Facility

Monash Wind Tunnel is the leading low speed automotive aerodynamic test facility in Australia. It supports aerodynamic and wind noise research and development of full-scale production vehicles for Australian and international markets. The facility also provides research and development capabilities for industries such as ground transportation aerodynamics (including trains and trucks), wind energy siting and turbine aerodynamics, aerospace (particularly unmanned air vehicles and microflight technologies), sports aerodynamics and fundamental aerodynamic research.

wind testing of building facades

The exposure of building facades and components to high wind speeds coupled with the current propensity to create more complex façade designs creates a significant risk of wind driven vibration and acoustic problems. Wind tunnel testing and measurement provides a method for identifying and eliminating these effects prior to installation.

aerodynamic and aeroacoustic behaviour of road vehicles

The primary capability at the Monash wind tunnel is research and development in aerodynamic and aeroacoustic behaviour of road vehicles. By combining aerodynamic force measurement with flow regime data obtained from surface or probe measurements Monash aerodynamicists can optimise the aerodynamic design of vehicles throughout all vehicle development stages.

Testing of models of wind turbine farms

The large closed-jet wind engineering section (~12 metres wide by 50 metres long) facilitates testing of scale topographical models of wind turbine farms. By investigating the wind distribution at a wind farm an understanding of turbulent and high velocities regions is gained, this then allows for improved micro-siting of the turbines.


Funding bodies

Mr David BurtonManager

David has a background in the automotive industry, since joining Monash in 2007 the facility has seen significant growth in research and industry partnerships. His research interests are bluff-body aerodynamics, specifically flow control and multiple-body aerodynamic interactions, and he is currently working with industry on three ARC Linkage Grants.


www.eng.monash.edu.au/mechanical/windtunnel/

Testing of turbine aerodynamic performance

Wind tunnel testing of turbine aerodynamic performance can be undertaken for the purpose of design, validation and evaluation purposes depending on project requirements. Measurement of power output and aerodynamic coefficients facilitates optimisation of power coefficient curves and identification of performance characteristics such as start up speed and braking capability.

sports aerodynamics

The overall goal of sports research is to improve performance within the rules, this means understanding all aspects that contribute to that performance and their relationship. Aerodynamics is crucial in many sporting events, Monash can help athletes, professional teams, and equipment designers/manufacturers can evaluate, understand and ultimately improve their performance.

Access details




Contact details

Monash Wind TunnelBuilding 37 Department of Mechanical Engineering Monash University Clayton campus Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia


Website: www.eng.monash.edu.au/ mechanical/windtunnel/

Service process

alternate solution (eg standards, etc)

Final Report

Testing unnecessaryTesting advised

Wind tunnel testing scheduled

initial Consultation

Test and development Plan

wind Tunnel Testing

data analysis and Reporting

Professor John SheridanProfessor of Fluid Mechanics

Professor Sheridan has made major research contributions in bluff-body aerodynamics and flow-induced vibration. His particular expertise is in experimentally investigating unsteady flow structures through their vortex dynamics. He is Chief Investigator on four ARC projects, holds the Chair of Fluid Mechanics, is Deputy Dean of Engineering, and President of Academic Board.


34 | technology research Platforms technology research Platforms | 34

Monash Centre for additive Manufacturing (MCaM)

Key instrumentation■■ Selective laser melting machine (EOS),

which is capable of producing high precision and complex, structured parts.

■■ Largest selective laser melting machine (Concept Laser) in the southern hemisphere, pushing the boundaries of additive manufacturing.

■■ Direct laser deposition machine (Trumpf), which is capable of rapid materials development and large scale part manufacture and repair.

■■ Hot Isostatic Press (Avure) with unique high temperature and pressure combinations.

The Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing takes their most recent discoveries in alloy and metallurgical science and find ways to apply them in real world applications – working with partners who need stronger, lighter, more cost effective components. Our global aerospace industry partnerships are profiting from their relationship with us, as we:

■■ Provide bespoke solutions

■■ Create solutions to reduce the carbon footprint

■■ Manufacture new designs and complex geometries

■■ Produce new materials with improved balanced properties to achieve higher fuel efficiency and performance

■■ Increase their global competitiveness

■■ Design new processes to reduce manufacturing waste

Methods of access:

Staff and students from Monash We work with partners to invent bespoke solutions to unique manufacturing challenges. The Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing has formed successful, ongoing collaborations with a number of partners across a broad range of industries.

Contact details

Professor Xinhua Wu Phone: +61 3 9905 5247 Email: [email protected]

Website: platforms.monash.edu/mcam

Funding bodies


url to go hereMelbourne Centre for nanofabrication

Funding bodies and partners

Specialist services

access to state-of-the-art nanofabrication equipment

We offer open access to a wide range of state-of-the-art nanofabrication equipment housed within different laboratories including bio/chemical, PC2 and cleanroom class 100/10,000 areas.

world-class nanofabrication service

We provide expertise in a wide spectrum of nanofabrication technologies and processes. In addition to technical services, we offer consulting and project management services to our clients.

Training and support

We offer comprehensive training programs and on-site technical support to customers who wish to use our equipment independently. One of the MCN flagship instruments is the EBPG5000plus Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) System which is capable of patterning with resolution down to 7nm.

The Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN) is the Victorian Node and headquarters of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) and is hosted by Monash University.

MCN is a brand new multi-user research facility, operating the largest purpose-built research cleanroom complex in the Southern Hemisphere. Drawing upon the wealth of knowledge from within six Universities and CSIRO, the MCN aims to bridge the gap between scientific concepts and commercial outcomes. We offer open access to leading edge, state of the art equipment and processes for all sectors of industrial, research and academic community, both local and global.

Current expertise is provided in the areas of advanced materials and biotechnology, leading to the development of a wide range of customised sensors, actuators, and devices applied to areas from biomedicine, and energy to nanoelectronics and the environment.

Contact detailsMelbourne Centre for Nanofabrication Building 222 Monash University 151 Wellington Road Clayton, Victoria 3168 Australia

Tel: +61 (3) 9902 4073 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nanomelbourne.com


australian Phenomics network

Funding bodies – Monash node of APN

Specialist services

Twelve Australian facilities and institutions contribute their infrastructure and expertise to the APN. Their services are summarised below:

es Cell to Mouse Knockout mice are generated from genetically modified ES cell lines of interest

enu variant Collection

Libraries of mice carrying unique point mutations are searched for phenotype of interest, prior to identifying the mutation.

histopathology and organ Pathology

Mouse samples are histologically prepared, imaged and analysed for changes in pathology.

Rna interference (Rnai) screening

Cell-based pipelines are used to screen libraries of gene knockdown sequences using shRNAs or siRNAs.

Cryopreservation

Mouse sperm and embryos of genetically altered mice of interest are cryopreserved.

The APN ES Cell to Mouse and Cryopreservation services are based the Monash Node of the APN.

Established in 2007, the Australian Phenomics Network (APN) brings together multiple partner services with world-class infrastructure and expertise for the creation, characterisation and cryopreservation of mouse models for the study of human disease. Generous funding from the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and Education Investment Fund (EIF) and with contributions from state governments, research institutions and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) means the APN can offer Australian medical researchers access to these services at a greatly reduced cost. By providing a leading capability to make genetic associations with disease, and describe resulting phenotype, the APN opens up avenues for investigations into the pathways associated with disease that were previously out of the reach of most researchers’ budget.

Contact detailsDepartment of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University

Associate Professor Ian Smyth Email: [email protected]

Professor Dr Leanne Cotton Email: [email protected]

Website: www.australianphenomics.org.au

what is the es cell to Mouse service?

The Embryonic Stem (ES) Cell to Mouse service gives researchers the opportunity to order genetically modified mouse lines in a more cost-effective and time efficient manner than ever before. The service uses genetically modified ES cell lines produced by the global initiativeto generate conditional knockouts for all genes in the mouse genome. Simply choose the ES cell line for your gene of interest from the international databases and lodge a request. The ES Cell to Mouse service will do the rest – delivering heterozygous knockout mice to your facility ready to advance your research. The complete process costs just $7,500* per knockout line.

* Price subject to change

what is the Cryopreservation service?

The Australian Phenome Bank (APB) is a repository of genetically modified mouse strains used in medical research. The APB has established a mouse strain archive consisting of cryopreserved sperm and embryos and also maintains a centralised database detailing the mouse strains held in Australia either live or as cryopreserved material. Researchers are welcome to contribute new strains to be cryopreserved and added to the database and/or search the database for mouse models that are of interest to them. Researchers can access the APB database and sperm cryopreservation service free of charge*̂ . * Embryo cryopreservation requires a specific set of circumstances and may incur a charge. ^ Conditions apply


south east asia Community observatory (seaCo)

Core services:

SEACO will provide a structured environment within which biomedical, health, social, educational, and environmental research can be conducted. High quality data captured through regular rounds of a household survey will be accessible for secondary analyses; or primary data collection, taking advantage of experienced data collectors working within a single district.

SEACO will also provide an ideal research training environment that embodies the Monash values of engaging with communities, undertaking high quality research, collaborating internationally and creating innovations in research led teaching.

SEACO is a developing longitunal Demographic Health Surveillance Site located in peninsular Malaysia. It is a community health laboratory that captures longitudinally, a fully enumerated population of approximately 70,000 people within a circumscribed geographical location in the state of Johor. The data collection process explicitly captures information on demography, morbidity and mortality from the individual, within the context of the household, and the household within the context of the community, as well as the physical, social, and geographical relationships between these. It provides an ideal sampling frame for a range of observational, experimental and intervention studies.

Methods of access:

Staff and students from Monash University and partner and collaborating institutions can access SEACO through an application to the independent SEACO scientific advisory board.

External agencies may also apply to undertake fee for service work.

Contact details

Professor Daniel D Reidpath Phone: +60 0 16 222 9729 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.seaco.asia

Funding bodies


new horizons

The New Horizons Centre, funded by the Australian Government through the Education Investment Fund, is a platform for excellence in future manufacturing, research and teaching. Opended in 2013, New Horizons will transform manufacturing in areas such as biomedicine, transport, aerospace and mineral processing.

The facility will bring together scientists and engineers from Monash University and CSIRO. Supported by platforms for global research and teaching collaboration through innovative ICT, the facility will generate greater linkages with industry and the community. The facility will be located at the Engineering Precinct of Clayton campus, immediately adjacent to CSIRO.

CsiRo

The CSIRO has a strong presence in Clayton and has made a major investment into a number of collaborative platforms in the Clayton precinct. These include the NCRIS Recombinant Protein Feeder Facility, a joint collaboration between the Centre for Green Chemistry at Monash University and the CSIRO Division of Molecular and Health Technologies (CMHT) as part of the NCRIS Biotechnology Products capability. This collaborative platform provides expertise for preclinical and clinical studies and commercial manufacture of recombinant proteins for human use. CSIRO is also a co founder of the Cooperative Research Centre for Biomedical Imaging Development and a partner in the Monash Biomedical Imaging (MBI) platform. CSIRO invested in the $8 million MASSIVE computing facility, with locations at the Australian Synchrotron and Monash University. Both facilities will enhance the synchrotron’s users’ ability to do real time imaging and computed tomography during experiments.

australian synchrotron

Since July 2007, the Australian Synchrotron has attracted thousands of users who have utilised the facility’s unique capabilities to further their research and industrial development objectives. The synchrotron offers a wide range of non-destructive, high-resolution, rapid, in-situ, real-time, x-ray and infrared imaging and analysis techniques. Several of its nine dedicated experimental stations (beamlines) are of particular interest for biomedical research. Macromolecular and micro crystallography are routinely used to determine high-resolution crystal structures of proteins and other biomolecules. Combining crystallography with small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) provides valuable insights into the behaviour and tertiary structure of large biological molecules in solution. SAXS also complements nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, light scattering and small angle neutron scattering techniques.

Synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy substantially extends the scope of laboratory-based infrared techniques, enabling users to examine individual components in samples a few micrometres across. Staff have designed a purpose-built sample chamber for studying live cells.

The x-ray fluorescence microscopy beamline provides elemental, structural and chemical information from a diverse range of samples with resolution down to 0.1 micrometre. Applications include drug design, bio-sensors, sub-cellular imaging and bio-remediation.

The imaging and medical beamline, which is currently being upgraded, will offer high-resolution, phase-contrast x-ray imaging of biomedical samples and enable research into new cancer treatments.

Support facilities include near-beam surgery and preparation areas. Integration with the MASSIVE computer at Australian Synchrotron will mean that scientists will be able to perform fast CT reconstruction and have access to a world-class analysis and visualisation platform. Access to the synchrotron is mainly on a merit-based, peer-reviewed basis for work that will be published in the scientific literature. Confidential access is available for commercial clients.

national Facilities and Collaborative Partners in the Clayton Precinct

Monash Platform users will further have access to an integrated suite of platform technologies and leading national platforms located within the Clayton precinct that are coordinated by collaborative partners of the University.

technology research Platforms | 39 technology research Platforms | 39

Platform contacts

PlaTFoRM ConTaCT deTails

Gene ChaRaCTeRisaTion

Micromon Mr Mark Cauchi Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9905 4830 Email: [email protected]

MHTP Medical Genomics Facility Ms vivien vasic Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9594 3576 Email: [email protected]

PRoTein and anTibody ChaRaCTeRisaTion and PRoduCTion

Monash Protein Production Unit dr noelene Quinsey PPu Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9902 0020 Email: [email protected]

Monash Antibody Technologies Facility Professor ed nice director Tel: +61 (3) 9902 0720 Email: [email protected]

Monash Biomedical Proteomics Facility dr david steer Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9323 Email: [email protected]

Monash Macromolecular Crystallisation Facility dr danuta Maksel Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9905 9788 Email: [email protected]

aniMal Models and seRviCes

Monash Animal Research Platform dr John Phelps director Tel: +61 (3) 9902 0220 Email: [email protected]

FishCore Mr Julian Cocks Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9740 Mobile: +61 0402 963 968 Email: [email protected]


PlaTFoRM ConTaCT deTails

Flow CyToMeTRy

FlowCore Mr andrew Fryga Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9902 0271 Email: [email protected]

iMaGinG

Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy associate Professor Joanne etheridge director Tel: +61 (3) 9905 1836 Email: [email protected]

Monash Micro Imaging associate Professor ian harper director Tel: +61 (3) 9905 5635 Email: [email protected]

Monash Biomedical Imaging Professor Gary egan director Tel: +61 (3) 9902 9750 Email: [email protected]

inFoRMaTiCs and biosTaTisTiCal analysis

Monash e-Research Centre Professor Paul bonnington director Tel: +61 (3) 9905 9704 Email: [email protected]

dRuG disCoveRy and desiGn

Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation Professor susan Charman director Tel: +61 (3) 9903 9626 Email: [email protected]

enGineeRinG

Monash Wind Tunnel Mr david burton Manager Tel: +61 (3) 9905 5865 Email: [email protected]

Monash CenTRe FoR addiTive ManuFaCTuRinG

Professor Xinhua wu director Tel: +61 (3) 9905 5247 Email: [email protected]

technology research Platforms | 41 technology research Platforms | 41

The victorian Platform Technology network (vPTn)

The objectives are:

■■ maintain Victoria’s reputation as a world-leader in research capabilities

■■ increase uptake and engagement of core facilities by academic and industrial researchers

■■ enhance the operations and professionalism of Victorian platform technologies and enhance career mobility prospects for facility managers

■■ increase awareness of the scientific core facilities available in Victoria.

The VPTN promotes awareness of Victoria’s research and technology capabilities to enhance collaboration between the commercial, academic and research communities. Our aim is to enable greater use of Victoria’s world-class infrastructure.

The VPTN consists of over 110 facilities in more than 30 publicly funded research institutes in Victoria.

Finding research infrastructure in Victoria:

Any platform technology that is accessible by researchers and industry can join the VPTN. No matter what the expertise focus.

Discover Victorian research infrastructure at www.platformtechnologies.org

■■ create a network hub for research infrastructure in Victoria

Contact details

Contact the VPTN Managers Ms Karen Clarke and Dr Gerard Gibbs at: Email: [email protected]

Website: www.platformtechnologies.org

Funding bodies


www.monash.edu

Further informationoffice of the Pro vice-Chancellor (Research and Research infrastructure)

Building 75 STRIP 1 Monash University Clayton campus Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia

Telephone: +61 3 9902 4050 Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: The information in this report was correct at the time of publication. Monash University reserves the right to alter this information should the need arise.CRICOS provider: Monash University 00008C. August 2013.

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Documents

Technology Research Platforms · Research Platform Award for 2012. This award recognises the importance the Monash Research Technology Platforms play in driving research outcomes,