The Imaging CoE is passionate about maximising the impact of the cutting edge research conducted within the Centre.
In addition to making scientific discoveries that impact on our knowledge and understanding,
we also aim to translate our discoveries into tangible outcomes for society at large, either through commercialising our discoveries into products and services or through inspiring and educating the next generation of scientists to drive innovation.
Partnering for Research & Development
The Imaging CoE’s goal is to develop and use novel imaging technologies to visualise the molecular interactions that underpin immunity. Our two key R&D outcomes are development of novel imaging technology and identification of novel drugs and/or drug targets for immune disease. Sample preparation and data analysis & visualisation are key enabling steps that drive our outcomes, as shown in the figure below, and so we develop collaborations and strategic partnerships that assist us in addressing the challenges faced in these areas as well.
International and National Linkages
The Imaging CoE has been growing in its collaboration and connections, nationally and internationally, every year. This map is a graphical representation of our current linkages in Australia and internationally with a range of businesses, research institutes and universities. These are strategic relationships that work towards fostering new opportunities and ensuring we are working with the best minds possible for industrial and academic partnerships. Our work with these partners encompasses a wide range of activities, from sample preparation, imaging data acquisition, data analysis and visualisation, through to interpretation, application, and commercialisation.
XFEL – European XFEL (DESY) & LCLS (Stanford)
The Centre’s researchers have access to X-ray Free Electron Laser beamlines at the European XFEL through our Centre partners, the Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), and the Linac Coherent Light Source facility at Stanford University. The ultrahigh energy, femtosecond pulses of X-rays generated at these facilities could potentially be a revolutionary technique for protein crystallography by enabling structure determination of very small crystals.
European XFEL: www.xfel.eu
SLAC: portal.slac.stanford.edu/sites/lcls_public/
Australian Synchrotron
The Centre’s researchers are heavy users of the Australian Synchrotron, particularly the Macromolecular Crystallography (MX) beamlines, which are a crucial and routine instrument used to determine structures of microcrystals. The Centre’s formal partnership with the Australian Synchrotron allows us to embed researchers at the Synchrotron itself. This enables us deeper insight into the design and operations of these instruments as well as provide the Synchrotron with closer access to key users and their research outputs and needs.
Australian Synchrotron: www.synchrotron.org.au
Partnering for Education
Growing Tall Poppies Program
The Imaging CoE is passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists who will drive the next wave of innovation for our society. The Centre is a key partner in the Growing Tall Poppies (GTP) Science Partnership Program that aims to increase the number of secondary students who study science in Years 11 and 12.
Our scientists host groups of secondary students, typically in Year 10, in their laboratories for a period of one to two weeks to provide an immersive, hands-on experience of scientific research for these students.
More information re: GTP can be found at http://www.growingtallpoppies.com/about/
International Student Science Fair 2015
Bringing together students, teachers and school leaders from all over the world, the International Students Science Fair (ISSF) promotes excellence in science education. Hosted by John Monash Science School at Monash University’s Clayton campus, the five-day event is poised to attract over 200 talented high school science students from a wide range of countries. Taking place on 7-11 December, the event will also welcome 50 inspiring science teachers and 50 eminent school leaders. Click here to find out more.