Photo: Olivier Le Queinec | Dreamstime.com
New microscope to help achieve major medical breakthroughs
Researchers at UOW’s Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) have just received a new, German-made confocal microscope, valued at more than $800,000, to further their research in diseases such as type II diabetes to alzheimer’s and motor neurone disease. This high-end microscope includes a single molecule detection (SMD) fluorescence system that will enable researchers to look beyond dead cells to see molecular processes happening in real time. IHMRI PhD student Daniel Whiten has been studying motor neurone disease and was the first researcher to use the confocal. “The SMD capability is particularly exciting as it offers us the chance to view interactions between single molecules, such as
disease-causing proteins and intracellular defence mechanisms. We can now conduct experiments we couldn’t have dreamed of six months ago.” The system, which uses sophisticated electronics and lasers to view slices of specimens as thin as one micron (one thousandth of a millimetre), was installed thanks to an Australian Research Council Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grant and topped up with contributions from IHMRI, UOW and the University of Sydney. Dr Justin Yerbury, who led the funding application, says that he and his colleagues are excited about making the switch from the old system they were using, which had “pretty much reached its use-by date” to the confocal, “that we know is helping researchers around the world achieve major breakthroughs.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) appointed to ANSTO board The Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, has announced the appointment of UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) as a new member of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology (ANSTO) board.
a centre of excellence in nuclear science and technology.
Senator Evans congratulated Professor Judy Raper on her four-year appointment and said he looked forward to her contribution as ANSTO (pictured right) continues its vital work as
ANSTO is home to Australia’s only nuclear reactor, supporting Australian science and each year provides more than 500,000 patient doses of nuclear medicines to Australians.
“She is eminently qualified, with expertise in the fields of chemistry and engineering and has considerable experience across a range of boards and executive committees,” he said.
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