Key Technologies - LICR Melbourne Centre for Clinical Sciences

MELBOURNE CENTRE FOR CLINICAL SCIENCES

Research > Key Technologies

Key Technologies

The Melbourne Centre maintains a system of core research groups that provide state-of-the-art technologies as a shared resource for the Centre’s research laboratories and support for the Institute’s global Programs.

Biological Development Facility

The Biological Development Facility (BDF) has been established to conduct Quality Control testing for release and stability testing programs for clinical trial reagents, and to coordinate storage and supply of these reagents for clinical trials world wide. This includes interaction with contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs) to ensure that out-sourced production and testing of clinical materials is conducted to appropriate GMP standards. The BDF is also involved in the development of new assays and biologics as part of the LICR International Clinical Program. In addition, the BDF is involved in the preparation of regulatory documentation for submission to Australian, American and European regulatory bodies in support of the introduction of new reagents into early stage clinical trials.

Therapeutics Modelling Group

The Therapeutics Modelling Group provides assistance with establishment and conduct of experimental models to assist the preclinical investigations of novel therapeutics including anti-cancer antibodies, cancer vaccines, small molecule and enzyme inhibitors.

Cell Biology Group

The Cell Biology Group has expertise in mammalian cell cloning, cell biology research and scale up production of recombinant proteins from mammalian cell lines in fermenters. The group provides support for optimisation of protein expression from cell lines, and establishment of cell banks suitable for GMP scale-up in large scale production facilities.

Tissue Bank and Pathology

There is a long standing collaborative program in tumour antigen screening, histological analysis and tissue banking between the Ludwig Institute For Cancer Research and the Department of Anatomical Pathology. The Tissue Bank is a part of the Victorian Cancer Research Tissue Bank Consortium (VCTRB), which is supported by the Cancer Council of Victoria, and which assists in the sharing of tissue samples between participating institutions. The Tissue Bank collects and store blood, tissue samples and information from healthy individuals and from cancer patients for research projects which meet strict ethical and scientific standards.

MoFlo/FACS Group

The MoFlo/FACS group primarily provides core support to individual researcher within the Institute. The high-speed cell sorter MoFlo will be used to enrich live cells from a mixed cell population. The down-stream applications include single cell-based PCR, cell cloning, further phenotyping and transfer into in invivo models, etc. Our newly acquired FACScanto flow cytometer is equipped with 2 lasers and an automated sampler enabling simultaneous 6 colour high throughput analyses of intracellular and cell surface markers. This machine combined with the MoFlo sorting capacity will allow the researchers to study complex issues, such as T cell memory development or potentially tracking antigen-specific T cells vaccinated in the cancer patients for their function and/or differentiation properties. In the event of light internal demand, these services might also be provided to other researchers at Austin Health.

Research Links

	Overview
	Tumour Targeting Laboratory
	Cancer Vaccine Laboratory
	T Cell Laboratory
	Uro-Oncology Laboratory
	Oncogenic Transcription Laboratory
	Joint Austin Ludwig Oncology Unit
	Centre for PET
	Key Technologies

Key Technologies Staff

Biological Development Facility

Roger Murphy - QC Manager
Melissa Smullen - QA Associate
Harjit Singh – Research Assistant

Therapeutics Modelling Group

Glenn Cartwright - Assistant Investigator
Diana Cao - Senior Research Officer
Angela Rigopoulos - Senior Research Officer

Cell Biology Group

Angelo Perani - Senior Cell Biologist
Benjamin Gloria - Senior Production Scientist
Dongmao Wang - Cell Technologist

Tissue Bank and Pathology

Carmel Murone - Scientist Anatomical Pathology
Judy Browning - Research Scientist
Carly Gemelli - Tissue Bank Co-ordinator
Tina Leeuwrik - Tissue Bank Co-ordinator
Angela Mountain - Tissue Bank Co-ordinator
Catherine Fang - Research Assistant

MoFlo/FACS Group

Roleen Lata - Cell Sorter Operator

Of Note

Grants

Vic Govt. STI Grant for Victorian Cancer Biobank (VCB) 2005-2010
Perpetual Trustees- H & L Hecht Trust Grant 2009