Professor Simon Carroll and Ms Jan Stewart with the new equipment.

Representatives from all the key Western Australian medical research institutes and four public universities have been successful in their first joint application for Lotteries Commission funding.

The $1.4 million grant has purchased the latest DNA microarray technology, providing a significant boost to anyone undertaking genetic research in Western Australia. The microarray equipment, which has two sections, is one of only three in Australia.

The Affymeytrix Microarrayer machine enables researchers to investigate the activity of known genes - determining whether they are active during different disease states and in the presence of a range of drugs.

The first part of the equipment, which will be managed by the Western Australian Biotechnology Research Institute (WABRI), has been installed at Murdoch University in the State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (SABC).

“This new technology complements the genomics research currently being carried out in the SABC, which is already a successful multi-user facility,” said Dr John Keesing, (then) Director of Research Management at Murdoch University.

“With this technology we will be able to design new drugs and treatments that are specifically tailored for a particular disease such as a form of cancer,” said Dr Nigel Swanson from the University of WA and Executive Officer of the WA Microarray Consortium and Facility.

“We will be able to see how different genes interact to trigger and progress diseases and also find out why different people have varied side effects to particular drugs.”

WABRI Director Professor Simon Carroll said the new equipment would do more than enable broad-based and insightful genetic research in Western Australia.

“Having this capability will enable researchers to rapidly turn clever ideas into technologies. This will make Perth an attractive place for bright young scientists to base their careers,” said Professor Carroll.

“The equipment will also draw research endeavours from South East Asia into Western Australia.”

Professor Carroll said this grant should be seen as the vanguard of future collaborative behaviour for the medical community in Perth.

Ms Jan Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the Lotteries Commission, said she was delighted with the collaborative approach to medical funding applications.

“The medical community have managed to look beyond their personal interests for this grant, and we hope to build on their collaborative efforts,” she said.

“The grant will also provide for training and support, and will provide an environment for communication and collaboration within the medical community.”

The first training session was held at the SABC from 9-11 April, and was attended by members of a broad cross-section of medical research groups across Perth.