The unveiling of a new tool at the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN) to support ground-breaking cancer research illustrates how Monash is enabling collaboration leading to extraordinary research and commercialisation outcomes.

Monash is the host of the MCN, a joint venture between Monash and seven other Victorian universities and the CSIRO, which has the largest open access cleanroom space in the southern hemisphere.

Established in 2011, it has more than 100  pieces of major research infrastructure designed to enable and support innovation and commercialisation of research in the field of Advanced Manufacturing by groups across Australia.

The Centre is located in the Monash Technology Precinct at Monash’s Clayton campus, which through its partner network of universities, CSIRO and product developers, it brings together the best minds in Australia to advance research and product development in the fields of MedTech,Energy/Renewables, Micro-Electronic Mechanical Systems, Optics and Security/Defense.

Federal Minister for Education The Hon Alan Tudge unveiled a $500,000 tool for the MCN - an EULITHA Phabler - that has been purchased through the NCRIS-enabled consortium that will enable La Trobe University’s Professor Brian Abbey to more consistently identify breast cancer cells.

Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AC said the MCN demonstrated the importance of universities and research groups such as the CSIRO, working together to solve some of the world’s greatest problems and bring extraordinary outcomes to life through start-ups and licensing agreements.

“Australia is home to world-leading researchers and infrastructure. Bringing them together into one place, where resources and expertise are shared, enables the translation of ground-breaking research into commercialisation to deliver real-life outcomes,” she said.

Image caption- Professor Margaret Gardner AC, The Hon Alan Tudge, Professor Nico Voelcker, Dr Ian Griffiths, Professor Brian Abbey and Dr Megan Fisher