Our Facilities
For registered users some of our facilities can be booked here ( requires registration) as well as access to our genomics services.
The Health Futures Institute is a state-of-the-art research Institute at Murdoch University Perth campus. The HFI consist of several research centres ( see https://www.murdoch.edu.au/research/institutes-centres/health-futures-institute ). The Core Medical Genomics laboratories (IIID), Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics ( CMMIT) are integrated into state of the art laboratory space within building 390 comprising two floors covering 3600 SqM (38750 Square Feet). Designed to optimise interactions and productivity of the various teams, the ground floor is allocated to clinical facilities including a pharmacy and phlebotomy facility as well as consulting rooms, interview rooms and suitable accommodation for researchers and support staff.
The first floor has specimen reception with extensive purpose-designed biologic repository facilities and high throughput automation labs with pre- and post-PCR areas. The cellular immunology laboratory suite includes a PC3/2 laboratory, along with radioisotope laboratory facilities.
The HFI building 390 translational research facility aims to produce clinical practice-altering outcomes for patients with chronic diseases. Capabilities of the genomics core are automated and configurable high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing, flow cytometry and automated ELISpot assays. This is combined with dry-lab capacity for bioinformatic and biostatistical analysis and a robust laboratory information management system that ensures complete sample and data integrity. The core medical genomics laboratories are accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), Australia for compliance to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for laboratory testing. Additionally our human HLA typing capabilities are accredited by the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI).
The HFI building 390 has a total floor space of 5400 square meters over three floors (1800 SqM per floor). The main laboratories are a 144 square meter (1,550 square foot) Pre- PCR laboratory, a 198 square meter (2,130 square foot) Post-PCR laboratory, two Cellular laboratories with a total area of 72 square meters (778 square feet) and an 72 square meter (775 square foot) general laboratory for work requiring PC2 level of containment. There is also general lab space set aside for flow cytometry, imaging, chemical storage and reagent preparation and liquid nitrogen storage. Automated work flows in the laboratories are provided by a total of nine Biomek robotic liquid handling systems (Beckman Coulter) as well as a suite of other automation devices, ABI MagMax, Formulatrix Mantis etc.
Cellular Laboratories
The cellular laboratories are equipped for peripheral blood separation and cryopreservation and a Biomek robotic liquid handling system, contained within a Class II biosafety hood to prevent contamination, for automated ELISpot assays. Flow cytometry capability is provided by a Beckman Coulter Gallios instrument equipped with 3 lasers and 10 colour filters.
There is a separate PC2/3 laboratory used for both molecular and cellular activities that require PC2 containment. It is also used for activities that are incompatible with other laboratory areas (for example, culture of cell lines that have not been screened for mycoplasma infection).
Specimen Reception
All samples and biological specimens arriving at the HFI building 390 for the genomics core are received exclusively by a dedicated specimen receptionist who is responsible for management of all samples arriving at the genomics core. This includes inspecting samples to ensure sample integrity has not been compromised during transit, comparing sample identifiers with the shipment manifest, entering sample details into our registration software and assigning storage locations. Any discrepancies in the shipment are resolved with the sample owners before processing can begin. Registration software records all sample identifiers, storage location, date of receipt and other pertinent information. An internal identifier is assigned to each sample, which enables tracking of the sample.
Computing and Laboratory Information Management
The core laboratories (IIID) have developed a highly customisable Laboratory Information and Management system, called eLab. This allows high throughput laboratory work with excellent sample to data integrity, interfacing with automation and security systems. This software has been an evolution over 15 years with its initial roots being in viral immunology of HIV. The system is configurable and encompass greater levels of quality control and reagents and sample management.
We operate our own computing infrastructure and networking (subnet) ensuring we are at the cutting edge of technology in terms of both hardware and software and has enabled the development of several proprietary software applications to meet laboratory requirements (see below)
Bioinformatics
The core genomics laboratories have a dedicated computing team responsible for development of software applications required to implement new technology platforms and gives the flexibility required to rapidly respond to technological improvements. For instance, our software developers have developed Visual Genomic Analysis Studio (VGAS) an application that facilitates visualization of complex DNA sequence data generated through next generation sequencing into manageable datasets for analysis. It is also able to integrate other data for multidimensional data analysis. This has been used in single cell TCR sequencing to visualize frequency of TCR alpha and beta pairings. Software development and data analysis is carried out in consultation with specialist biostatisticians, who have developed analytical tools to ensure validity of analysis.
Assays performed
Please see our laboratory section for the different assays we are able to perform.
Our Staff
We have 10 Core staff that can assist you with every aspect of your project from concept planning through to Publication.
Our accreditation
We are accredited by the American Society for Immunology and Immunogenetics (ASHI) and the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) meeting the ISO17025 and ISO15189 and more recently being the first research laboratory in Australia to obtain the Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) certification through NATA (July 2019)
High Throughput
Our laboratories are fully equipped for high throughput assays in both molecular and cellular technologies. Our lab is the largest automation lab in health research in Australia with 15 automation units. We can handle thousands of samples at once with a high degree of fidelity using our in house LIMS system to ensure sample to data integrity regardless of sample size.
Equipment portfolio
Some of our equipment is available for trained persons to access through our Infinity portal . However, some of our high end equipment such as our NGS equipment is only available through our dedicated support staff.
Automation
Dual head 96/384 / span 8 Beckman FXp automation units x 3
Dual head 96/384 / span 8 Beckman i7 automation units x 2
Formulatrix Mantis automation nanolitre dispensing unit x 2
Applied biosystem Magmax
DNA sequencers
Applied Biosystems SeqStudio
Applied Biosystems 3730XL (available on campus)
Illumina iSeq
Illumina MiSeq
Illumina NextSeq (available on campus)
Illumina NovaSeq 6000
Ancillary support equipment
Agilent tape station
Significant in house computing capabilities for data analysis
Proprietary software for genomics analyses
Beckmann Optima Ultracentrifuge L-100 XP
Other facilities
Large capacity -80 and LiqN2 Storage for samples
Fluorescence imaging microscopy with digital capture
PC3/2 facility
10 colour flow cytometer Beckman Gallios
4 Laser Cell sorter Beckman CytoFLEX SRT
