Biophysical Characterisation Facility
A boost for medical research
While
the availability of whole genome sequences has given biologists an
understanding of the building blocks for a wide range of organisms, the next
major task is to decipher how these parts are formed and how they interact
with each other to form a functioning organism.
City East's Biophysical Characterisation Facility (BCF) is helping keep
South Australia at the cutting edge of the post-genomic research landscape
by allowing scientists to study proteins quantitatively at a biophysical
level.
The BCF houses a collection of state-of-the-art equipment previously
unavailable at one location in SA, including a CD spectrometer, isothermal
calorimeter and Biacore TX100.
The equipment allows scientists to examine protein-protein interactions;
protein structure, function and stability; kinetic and thermodynamic
properties of protein-protein and protein-drug interactions; as well as the
molecular interactions of compounds.
It is this kind of research that is essential, not only to better understand
disease and develop innovative new drugs, but also to shed light on the
basis behind disease and medicines interaction.
Managed by Dr Emma Parkinson-Lawrence, the BCF is a
cooperative venture involving UniSA, the University of Adelaide, the
Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, the Women's and Children's
Hospital, and AIB Labs.
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People
Key Staff
Dr Emma Parkinson Lawrence - facility manager
Management Group
The BCF advisory board includes representatives from UniSA's Sansom
Institute, University of Adelaide and meets throughout the year to review
progress and recommend strategic initiatives.
Management group members include:
Collaborators and clients
The BCF enjoys productive relationships with a number of collaborators and clients including:
- UniSA
- University of Adelaide
- Hanson Institute (SA Pathology)
- IMVS (SA Pathology)
- John Hopwood - Women's and Children's Hospital (SA Pathology)
- Centre for Drug Formulation and Delivery (Sansom Institute, UniSA)
Facility services
The BCF offers access to the equipment for publicly funded researchers as well as offering contract research services to industry.
To check on the availability of the instruments in the Biophysical Characterisation Facility please click on the links below:BiaCore
CD Spectrophotomer
Isothermal Calorimeter
Contact
For more information about the Biophysical Characterisation Facility,
please email Emma
Parkinson-Lawrence.