Today marks the official launch of two major research infrastructure initiatives in Sydney that promise to elevate Australia’s translational research capacity, delivering health breakthroughs for oncology, neurology, cardiology and immunology.
The UNSW Biological Resource Imaging Laboratory (BRIL), the National Imaging Facility (NIF) and the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer have co-invested to upgrade BRIL’s high-field preclinical MRI and establish new radiochemistry facilities to support research in nuclear medicine.
The major upgrade to the Bruker BioSpec MRI will deliver the highest specifications and most advanced preclinical MRI currently available. It ensures continued support of leading-edge research in oncology, and the health and disease of neurological, cardiovascular, and immune systems, for many years.
A new radiochemistry capability provides state-of-the-art equipment and radiochemistry expertise – enabling researchers to create new radiotracers and radiotherapeutics, and to explore new applications for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. It also supports preclinical research to validate and optimise these applications. This capability supports clinicians and researchers to develop better methods for diagnosing, detecting and monitoring diseases, and better treatment approaches.
“These new capabilities fill critical gaps in research infrastructure in NSW. We are very excited about these investments because they are already delivering real impacts for patients, researchers and industry partners,” says Dr Carl Power, Director of Medical Research Facilities at UNSW.
These initiatives drive research collaboration and partnership and strengthen Australia’s international competitiveness for research that ‘translates’ basic scientific discoveries into practical applications that improve Australians’ health.
“Preclinical MRI and radiochemistry are both cornerstones of health research – giving critical insights into cancer, brain function, healthy hearts and immunity,” says Dr Wojtek Goscinski, CEO of the National Imaging Facility. “This funding paves the way for innovative new discoveries and new drugs, and helps drive Australia’s international research competitiveness.”
Margaret Harding at the BRIL November 18 launch; credit S Flaim
The radiochemistry capability is also supported through recent Australian Government Department of Education National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), NSW Government and Australian Research Council (ARC) funding.
The UNSW Sydney, Biological Resources Imaging Laboratory is part of the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre (MWAC), UNSW Division of Research and Enterprise.
National Imaging Facility (NIF) is Australia’s advanced imaging network. We provide open access to flagship imaging equipment, expertise, tools, data and analysis. Seeing changes everything.