The Adelaide Research Assay and Services Facility

Scientific Director
Associate Professor DJ Kennaway, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide

Management Committee

Professor Julie Owens
Professor Robert Norman
Associate Professor Sarah Robertson
Professor Richard Ivell

Aim

The aim of the facility is to provide specialised, high-throughput, high-sensitivity biological analyte assay and other services at competitive prices for the research market in South Australia , nationally and internationally. The centre consolidates services and assays already provided by researchers in SA on a collaborative and/or commercial basis to maximise market profile, efficiency and profitability.

The aim is self sufficiency plus capacity to invest in future replacement, upgrading and expansion of human and technical infrastructure.

The primary users are Biomedical and other researchers in the University of Adelaide (Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Science), Flinders University, University of SA, CSIRO, WCH, Hanson Institute, SARDI and CHRI. It provides these researchers with the following benefits:

• Cost savings
• Time savings
• Quality control
• Savings on equipment.

Structure

The facility is comprised of a senior supervising scientist and participating research laboratories and infrastructure. The services provided in this way will increase the competitiveness of South Australian research and increase the state's capacity to attract further national competitive research and industry funding.

Analytical Services

The facility offers a flexible analytical service for researchers who require specialised measurements of analytes in human and animal tissue, plasma, urine, saliva, and culture media. The research areas covered include but are not restricted to endocrinology, neuroscience, physiology, immunology, pathology and cancer.

The facility provides a one-stop-shop for researchers who require these analyses but who do not have expertise, reagents, equipment or appropriately trained and experienced personnel to undertake them.

The general services provided include:

1. Assay of analytes by conventional RIA (double antibody and coated tube), ELISA or xMAP technology (Luminex ), in biological fluids or cell/tissue extracts using commercially available kits or reagents. Examples of recent assays.

2. Assay of challenging analytes using unique validated in-house assays eg., IGFs and melatonin.

3. Assay of plasma/serum glucose, NEFA, triglycerides, cholesterol, etc using a Roche/Hitachi 912 Chemistry analyser.

4. Multiplexed mRNA analyses (up to 30 genes) using the Beckman Coulter Gene Expression Analyser GeXP .

5. New bioassays and cell testing for protein hormones and cytokines

6. In vivo metabolic, endocrine and physiological assessment in non human species

7. Metabolomic analyses by Tandem-MS and NMR (coming soon)

8. A consultation service to assist researchers in choosing the appropriate reagents/kits or in developing new assays for their analytes

This will complement the current range of services provided to the biomedical community in South Australia and other states which include IGF-I and IGF-II, IGF-binding proteins, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, melatonin, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol and testosterone, glucose, NEFA, LH and FSH assays in a range of species (eg, mice, rats, sheep, pigs, bovine and human) in a range of biological fluids (eg., plasma, serum, saliva and culture medium).

Contact Us

For general information on The Adelaide Research Assay and Services Facility and for quotations, contact:

Associate Professor David Kennway
Discipline of Obsterics and Gynaecology
School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health
Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Adelaide South Australia 5005

Telephone: +61 8 8303 4090
Fascimile: +66 8 8303 4099
Email