Bulletin

Issue: January/February 2004

News

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute opens New Biotech Centre on La Trobe R&D Park

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research has opened a world-class Biotechnology Centre on La Trobe University's Research and Development Park at the University's main Melbourne campus in Bundoora.

Designed to strengthen Melbourne's position as the 'biotech capital' of Australia, State Minister for Innovation, Mr Brumby, who opened the facility late last year, said the new Centre was a key feature of Victoria's drive to become one of the world's top biotech destinations by 2010.

The $27 million Biotechnology Centre has been supported by a $2.06 million grant from the Victorian Government, with other funds from philanthropic trusts and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI). It contains a High Throughput Chemical Screening Facility, a Malaria Functional Genomics laboratory and a Monoclonal Antibody Laboratory.

WEHI Director, Professor Suzanne Cory, said the new centre will greatly enhance the Institute's capacity to convert discoveries in basic science into improved clinical outcomes for patients. She also spoke of the warm welcome from La Trobe and that she looked forward to opportunities for further research collaboration.

La Trobe Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Fred Smith, said La Trobe researchers Professor Robin Anders, Dr Leann Tilley and Dr Michael Foley are already collaborating with WEHI on studies into malaria.

'With the new facility now right on our doorstep, we will explore further collaborative research with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute so we can expand opportunities for our senior scientists and leading post-graduate students.

'For example, our researchers into multiple sclerosis, led by Professor of Neuroimmunology, Claude Bernard, are keen to use new technology at the Centre to look at the modification of biological processes by probing genetic mutation.'

Companies based at the Centre are working on the discovery of drugs to treat major human diseases and on testing system for rapid DNA analysis for environmental and health diagnostics.

The High Throughput Chemical Screening facility at the Centre is the only one of its type in Australia - and one of the few in the world in a publicly-funded institution. It seeks to identify compounds that have the potential to be developed into pharmaceuticals. Promising molecules can be further enhanced in adjacent medicinal chemistry laboratories.

The Malaria Functional Genomics laboratory is tackling a disease that kills about two million people every year and debilitates hundreds of millions more. It is determining the function of the proteins involved in malaria infection to identify potential targets for new drugs and vaccines.

A Monoclonal Antibody laboratory at the centre services both WEHI researchers and external researchers and companies. The global market for monoclonal antibodies is valued at US$5 billion.

back contents next