SA researchers to have better access to equipment, expertise

A new South Australian initiative aims to give scientists in that state easier access to expensive research equipment and expertise.

The program, to be launched in Adelaide this evening, also hopes to make the state an attractive option as a base for bioscience researchers.

Known as the Adelaide Integrated Bioscience Laboratories, the initiative is a collaboration between industry body Bio Innovation SA and three South Australian universities.

Bio Innovation SA chief executive officer Dr Jurgen Michaelis said the organisation had also provided AUD$400,000 through a competitive grant scheme to participating institutions for technical staff salaries.

"A major experience when people are trying to access advanced equipment is the lack of experienced technical staff to operate it," Michaelis said. "The researchers who own the equipment often operate it themselves with little time to help others.

"The new technical staff will improve access to equipment by providing the state's researchers with the knowledge and expertise to use the various pieces of equipment."

He said it was hoped that AIB labs would act as a magnet for industry to work with the universities and research institutes, leading to commercialisation of research.

"Since June 2001, 18 new bioscience companies have been created in South Australia," he said. "The AIB labs initiative will see continued development of South Australia's bioscience industry."

Four AID Labs 'nodes' have been established across the state, to cover a range of bioscience research fields. These nodes are:

• Flinders (Flinders University)
• Adelaide Central (University of Adelaide, University of South Australia - School of Pharmacy, IMVS/Hanson Institute, Child Health Research Institute, and the proposed Adelaide Medical Research Institute for Women's & Children's Health)
• Mawson Lakes (Ian Wark Research Centre, University of South Australia)
• Waite (University of Adelaide, Australian Genome Research Facility, Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, Australian Wine Research Institute and the South Australian Research & Development Institute)

Each node comprises specialised equipment and expertise and will work to coordinate equipment purchase, to provide a more cost-effective solution for the state's researchers.

"This initiative is creating a totally new networking environment for the science community," said the initiative's project manager Dr Marianne Hellers. "As more researchers work together within the four nodes, this will lead to new collaborations and hopefully boost innovation within the state."