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Antibodies lab first for southern hemisphere

13 August 2008

A new Monash University facility that produces a key agent central to many types of scientific research and treatment options is officially up and running at the Clayton campus.

The Monash Antibody Technologies Facility (MATF) is one of the largest and most sophisticated monoclonal antibody facilities in the world, and a first for the Southern Hemisphere.

Millions of different antibodies are created naturally in the human body to help the immune system identify, neutralise and target infection, viruses and disease.

MATF is able to generate large numbers of specific types of antibodies, creating monoclonal antibodies which are used by scientists to study immune responses to specific diseases and infection.

Monoclonal antibodies are used as:

  • diagnostic agents to detect cancers or infectious diseases
  • vaccines to boost the body's immune response
  • therapeutics, to target cancerous cells and treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

The facility will increase Monash's production of antibodies from hundreds per year to potentially 5000, helping to solve supply problems which can cause delays in research and treatment.

"Probably the main bottleneck in biomedical sciences right now is a lack of affinity reagents like antibodies -- we wanted to remove that bottleneck and open up new ways for investigators to source their research materials," MATF Director, Alan Sawyer said.

The centre has been funded by Monash University, the Victorian State Government and the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.

MATF products will be sold throughout Australia and internationally to the science community and related organisations. The first phase in the business venture will see biomanufacturing and bioresearch company Millipore licensing MATF antibodies.