Adelaide Integrated Biosciences Laboratories (AIB Labs)

Adelaide Integrated Bioscience Laboratories (AIB Labs) is an initiative between Bio Innovation SA, South Australia’s three universities and key bioscience research institutes. The role of AIB Labs is to coordinate and advance development of research resources for the benefit of the SA bioscience industry, as well as the research community in general. The aim is to support basic research of the highest quality, but also to underpin and further develop the range of service providers necessary for bioscience product development.

The vision of the AIB Labs project is to create a network of state-of-the-art facilities in South Australia which energises the South Australian bioscience community and serves customers worldwide.  The project has five key objectives:

• Increase impact of research and development by facilitating access to leading edge technical expertise and major equipment infrastructure
• Maximise funding for current and future strategic infrastructure investment
• Implement and support effective management and accredited quality systems at AIB Labs facilities and other key technical service facilities
• Establish a central organisation to expand the AIB Labs concept to encompass all science-based research facilities in South Australia to help boost the State’s national and international research impact
• Facilitate linkages between research and industry by promoting AIB Labs facilities and capabilities to potential users and investors

Funding for AIB Labs is provided by Bio Innovation SA through its Research Infrastructure Fund (RIF) program which allocates funding to research facilities for technical expertise and major pieces of bioscience equipment.

 

Steering Committee

AIB Labs is driven by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives of the various research institutes involved in the project.  The Steering Committee is responsible for ensuring access to the various capabilities for the research community and industry sector and promoting interaction between researchers and industry.

The Steering Committee has been endorsed by the Minister for Science & Information Economy as a formal advisory body to the Bio Innovation SA Board, and operates in accordance with specific Terms of Reference.

The Steering Committee is chaired by an independent member of the South Australian bioscience sector.  Current members of the Steering Committee are:

• Prof Grant Sutherland, Independent Chair
• Prof Greg Barritt, Head of Department of Medical Biochemistry, Flinders University
• Prof Hans Griesser, Deputy Director, Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia
• Dr Marianne Hellers, Research Infrastructure Manager, Bio Innovation SA
• Mr Maurice Henderson, Executive Director, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Foundation
• Prof Caroline McMillen, Pro-Vice Chancellor Research, University of South Australia

• Dr Jurgen Michaelis, CEO, Bio Innovation SA
• Prof Howard Morris, Director, Hanson Institute
• Prof Ray Rodgers, Principal Research Fellow, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide
• Prof Andrew Somogyi, Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide
• Mr John Terlet, Director, Adelaide Microscopy
• Prof John Turnidge, Chief Laboratory Medicine, Women's & Children's Hospital
• Prof Steve Tyerman, A/Head, School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, University of Adelaide

Ms Natasha Crichton, Industry Relations Manager, Bio Innovation SA manages the AIB Labs project on a day-to-day basis, with Quality Assurance advice and assistance provided by Mr Andrew Dinan, Bio Innovation SA’s QA / GLP Manager.

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AIB Labs Facilities

There are currently 12 AIB Labs facilities which provide access to equipment and technical expertise across a diverse spectrum of bioscience areas.  The facilities are located at strategic locations throughout Adelaide to enable efficient access by research institutions and companies.  Facilities involved in the AIB Labs network are:

• Adelaide Microarray Facility
• Adelaide Microscopy
• Adelaide Proteomics Centre
• Australian Genome Research Facility – Ag Section
• Centre for Pharmaceutical Research
• Flinders Advanced Analytical Facility
• Flinders Microscopy and Image Analysis Facility
• IMVS Vet Services Division
• MAbSA (Monoclonal Antibody SA)
• Multi-scale Fermentation Facility
• Provisor Pty Ltd
• The Wark Biointerface Facility
• Membrane Transporter Expression Facility
• Epigenetics & DNA Methylation Measurement Facility

Each of these facilities participates in various activities coordinated by Bio Innovation SA which are designed to enable them achieve self-sustainability, thereby providing bioscience research and economic benefits to their respective institutes and South Australia.

For further information about each Facility, please click here.

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Competitive Advantage

South Australia has an excellent research reputation both nationally and internationally, and is also home to some of the most profitable biotechnology companies in Australia. The AIB Labs project has identified that the major pieces of bioscience equipment available within the AIB Labs facilities is valued at more than $30 million, and combined with the technical expertise required to use the equipment, is a significant resource. The total value of all equipment available within the universities and research institutes is expected to be much higher.

It is believed that the AIB Labs collaborative approach to purchasing, locating and promoting major bioscience equipment and capabilities is unique in Australia. A common perception is that universities do not collaborate, however this project has developed a model which encourages and enables the universities and research institutes in South Australia to work collaboratively to ensure researchers have access to quality equipment and technical expertise. 

The AIB Labs project also enables linkages with industry to be developed and provides the universities and research institutes with commercial opportunities.

The key competitive advantage of the AIB Labs for South Australia is the provision of access to high-value bioscience equipment and technical expertise to research and industry through a collaborative approach. The AIB Labs provides customers access to quality analytical services across a broad range of areas within bioscience.

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