ARC Centre of Excellence for Advanced Molecular Imaging
Science in Public helped the ARC Centre of Excellence for Advanced Molecular Imaging in 2014 and 2015 through its establishment phase and launches. Read more about the current work of the Centre at www.imagingcoe.org.
Edible oyster mushrooms have an intriguing secret: they eat spiders and roundworms. And they do so using proteins which can punch their way into cells, leaving tidy but deadly holes. It’s a trick that our immune cells also use to protect us; destroying infected cells, cancerous cells, and bacteria.
Research published today in PLOS Biology by an international team, led by the ARC Imaging Centre at Monash University and Birkbeck College, in London, reveals the molecular process behind the punch. [continue reading…]
Today: a $20 million microscope facility opens at Monash at 11 am.
A unique electron microscope launched today at Monash University, Melbourne, will transform the way we view the human immune system, and advance Australian research towards better treatment for diseases from cancer and malaria to diabetes, rheumatism and multiple sclerosis.
The FEI Titan Krios cryo-electron microscope is the centrepiece of the $20 million Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Structural Cryo Electron Microscopy. Standing 3m tall, weighing around a tonne, and with a powerful 300kV electron gun, it’s a true giant of a machine. More below.
On 6 February in PLoS Biology (6am AEDT) carnivorous mushrooms will reveal an intriguing secret that has implications for the human immune system. Embargoed release online at www.scienceinpublic.com.au. Call me for the password.
On 15 February in San Jose, California, we’re hosting our annual dinner for journalists attending the AAAS (Association for the Advancement of Science). Contact me if you’ll be there.
Launch of the $20 million Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Structural Cryo Electron Microscopy
Monash University, Melbourne
11 am Monday 2 February 2015
With Prof Aidan Byrne, CEO of the Australian Research Council; Prof Edwina Cornish, Provost and Senior Vice-President, Monash University; and Caitriona Fay, National Manager Philanthropy, Perpetual.
A unique $5 million electron microscope launched today at Monash University, Melbourne, will transform the way we view the human immune system, and advance Australian research towards better treatment for diseases from cancer and malaria to diabetes, rheumatism and multiple sclerosis.
Life and health ultimately depend on the interactions of large biological molecules, such as proteins and carbohydrates. And those interactions depend on the 3D shapes and structures of the molecules.
The launch of the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Structural Cryo-Electron Microscopy provides a missing piece in Australia’s most extensive and comprehensive suite of technologies to support biomedical research, all based around the Clayton campus of Monash University.
Launch15 October 2014 from 11 am at Building 75 (STRIP Building), Monash University, Clayton. Click for map.
With Professor Aidan Byrne, CEO of the Australian Research Council and MP Michael Sukkar.
The $39 million ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging launches today with the mission of changing the way we see the immune system.
Understanding our immune system is central to fighting cancer and infectious diseases. And understanding why our immune system sometimes over-reacts is critical to tackling auto-immune diseases.
Yet many of the workings of our immune systems are a mystery, especially at a molecular level – for example:
How does trauma and infection trigger inflammation?
How does a T-cell recognise an infected and cancerous cell?
And how does it persuade other T-cells to join the fight?
What happens when our immune system over-reacts?
How is coeliac disease triggered?
How do diabetes and other autoimmune diseases start?
How can we persuade the immune system to accept organ transplants?
Posted on behalf of James Whisstock, Director Imaging CoE
It’s now less than three weeks until Aidan Byrne, the CEO of the ARC, officially launches the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Molecular Imaging on Wednesday 15 October.
Posted on behalf of James Whisstock, Director Imaging CoE
The Centre is collaborating with EMBL Australia to expand the highly successful EMBL Australia Group Leader program at UNSW and Monash. The program offers a five-year funded position, extended to a maximum of nine years subject to an external review.
Two new five-year EMBL Australia Group Leaders working in light microscopy and single molecule science will be recruited to UNSW. The new Group Leaders will benefit from close linkages to the UNSW node of the Centre led by Chief Investigator Kat Gaus and with her new single molecule imaging centre.
At Monash University a further four new EMBL Australia Group Leader opportunities are being created. Two of these researchers will be in protein crystallography and electron microscopy and will have natural synergy with the structural and cell biology directions of the Imaging Centre. A further two Group Leaders will be recruited in regenerative medicine and based at ARMI, the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute.
Altogether this represents a new funding commitment of $21 million to the EMBL Australia Group Leader program and will represent a major opportunity to recruit new talent to our shores. An international recruitment drive is being developed, and the formal advertisements for the positions will be released through EMBL Australia in the coming couple of weeks. [continue reading…]
Posted on behalf of James Whisstock, Director Imaging CoE
The contribution of young and enthusiastic scientists – the leaders of the future – is central to any research endeavour. This month we launch our Centre PhD scholarship top-up program. We hope the scheme will encourage this year’s crop of chemistry, biology and physics honours students around Australia to start thinking about further research and of undertaking PhD projects with the support of the Imaging Centre of Excellence.
A wide range of exciting projects is on offer, in areas that involve inventing and applying new technologies to visualise immune events in exquisite detail, and thereby understanding how the immune system can spiral out of control and developing approaches to control such aberrant events.
We are continuing to build our links with industry and end users. Researchers from the Centre have been awarded two prestigious ARC Linkage grants in collaboration with Bitplane AG (Katharina Gaus) and Vaxine Pty Ltd (Jamie Rossjohn and Dale Godfrey). In addition, Adam Uldrich, a postdoctoral researcher at The University of Melbourne working closely with Dale Godfrey and Jamie Rossjohn, has won a highly competitive ARC Future Fellowship – many congratulations, Adam. [continue reading…]
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Sarah's structure of the course, specific insight and understanding of science, her contacts and common mistakes made in communication were great and furthered my skills in this area.
This is one of the best science communication courses I have ever encountered. It teaches all research to think out of box and really simplify their research in lay man's language. I will highly recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about science communication.
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2020-02-24T09:29:55+11:00
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This is one of the best science communication courses I have ever encountered. It teaches all research to think out of box and really simplify their research in lay man's language. I will highly recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about science communication.
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Sufficient time given to work one-on-one with each participant. TV, radio and newspaper given sufficient weight. Practical, informative and professional
Good mix in terms of topics covered, people invited and media coverage. This course will make me more comfortable and I believe it will improve my confidence about myself and how I talk about my work in front of media.
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2022-09-05T13:01:49+10:00
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Good mix in terms of topics covered, people invited and media coverage. This course will make me more comfortable and I believe it will improve my confidence about myself and how I talk about my work in front of media.
Sarah is an amazing instructor. She has looked after each of the participants very well. I really like her style. Thank you to all team for a valuable training session.
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Seyhan Yazar, Garvan Institute of Medical Reseearch
Sarah is an amazing instructor. She has looked after each of the participants very well. I really like her style. Thank you to all team for a valuable training session.
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Megan Bater
Pushed me to finesse/develop a pitch, find an edge that will facilitate communicating my research findings. The real world experience/opportunity for interviews was exceptionally helpful
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Ben Westmoreland, 2022
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Ben Westmoreland, 2022
The day was a great balance of topics and presented in an approachable and friendly style that was very inclusive. It was a fantastic and informative session that will really help me day-to-day in the communications work I do.
