Establishing a new research facility: Flinders Advanced Analytical Laboratory (FAAL)

1. Establishing a new research facility: Flinders Advanced Analytical Laboratory (FAAL) Lyn Spencer Flinders University

2. Background: • Bio Innovation SA • is a South Australian Government organisation established to accelerate the development of the bioscience industry. • The Adelaide Integrated Biosciences Laboratories (AIB Labs) • is an initiative between Bio Innovation SA, South Australia's 3 universities and key bioscience research institutes • The Flinders Advanced Analytical Laboratory is the first purpose-built consolidated ‘node’ of BioInnovation SA’s Adelaide Integrated Biosciences Laboratories Ref http//:www.bioinnovationsa.sa.gov.au Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

3. The Concept: • The AIB Labs model is a ‘virtual facility’ designed to: • maximise the availability of equipment across institutions • promote the sharing of technical expertise and build the pool of technical capabilities • increase interaction between researchers across institutions and with industry • increase the transparency of collaboration • broaden the pool of potential collaborators • deliver first class teaching and research training to the bioscientists of the future • Contribute to the quality of bioscience publications Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

4. The AIB Nodes: • Flinders Campus Node (Flinders University and Flinders Medical School) • Adelaide Central Node (University of Adelaide, University of South Australia - School of Pharmacy, IMVS/Hanson Institute, Child Health Research Institute, and the proposed Adelaide Medical Research Institute for Women's & Children's Health) • Waite Campus Node (University of Adelaide, Australian Genome Research Facility, Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, Australian Wine Research Institute and the South Australian Research & Development Institute) • Mawson Lakes Node (Ian Wark Research Institute, Uni of South Australia) • The Flinders Advanced Analytical Laboratory represents the future of high-end analytical research capability, and a ‘new age’ in how research is conducted Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

5. In the beginning…. • However, it began in the traditional fashion in early 2002: • A group of researchers desiring the use of mass spectrometry • Prof. Greg Barritt and A.Prof. John Rice as Directors of Flinders research Institutes pushing the AIB concept • Gradually convincing the researchers that pooling resources (both purchasing and purchased) provided a very powerful argument to attract further funding and ‘grow’ • My involvement began in September 2002 when the possibility of purchasing ‘some’ mass spectrometers began to coalesce to reality • And some planning was needed…. Industry approach would be: Need MS Where? Who? How? Purchase MS But c’mon…this is a University…. Purchase MS Where? Who? How? Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

6. Why me???? • I was asked to manage: • The renovation of a dedicated area in the faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) • The installation of the mass spectrometers • The employment of operators and an interpretive/manager position • The establishment of management systems for training, access, cost recovery • Why me? • I wholeheartedly supported the centralised concept • I had significant experience in renovation (recycling) of laboratories • I was in the 1st year of a 2 year x0.5 secondment to the position of Faculty Technical Services Manager therefore it was relevant to my role • I thought it would be challenging… • I was a sucker? • And…I have a background in microbiology and immunology – what is a mass spec? Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

7. The renovation: • The location: • Suite of 2 laboratories and service rooms in FSE formerly used for physics undergraduate practicals • Initial approach: • Extracted the engineering, environmental and logistical requirements for each mass spectrometer from the (poorly written) installation manuals • ambient temperature control • power and services • vibration-free benches • vacuum pump venting • preferred positioning of components for ease of servicing and access • Worked with University architect in 2 stages to remodel the area within the constraints of finances and the instrument requirements • Solid oak tables were recycled as acceptable ‘vibration-free’ benches • A chemical storage and preparation area was located centrally to jointly service both laboratory areas • Designed to accommodate future secure sample handling and tracking Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

8. Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

9. Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

10. Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

11. The people and the politics • Although I was asked to ‘manage’ the AAL from its inception: • We had a Users Group to do that…. • Not all were truly committed to the centralised concept • A few were bullying, demanding, intimidatory, impatient and one of life’s rather unpleasant experiences ….am I staying calm? • The focus was on personal needs, and policy development etc ‘could be done down the track’ • We needed staff before the instruments were installed to take advantage of the installation training • We needed policies and procedures to manage training, access and cost recovery • This group eventually reached agreement on charges and some policy issues but I tended to just go ahead with what had to be done to get the facility ready for users Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

12. Starting out: • In the absence of any operational policies, I wrote a position description for what I envisaged would be a hands-on instrument operation and maintenance role: • It was agreed that the cost of this position would be shared between the schools of Biological sciences and Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences – in reality, due to funding constraints, 2x 0.5 positions were advertised and 1x 0.5 staff from each School was appointed: • Peter Pfeiffer and Dominic Reppucci • There was no start-up budget (but we had $1m of cool instrumentation) • Significant expenditure was required for installation reference materials and consumables, plus basic laboratory equipment • I was able to establish an account: • With permission to go into deficit and roll that deficit over in anticipation of cost-recovery • Debts eventually exceeded $30k before use and cost recovery started to ramp up Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

13. The instruments:1) Maldi-ToF • Micromass (Waters) M@ldi-ToF MSMatrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS) • Incorporating both linear and reflectron modes • Adaptable for a wide range of applications requiring high sensitivity and mass measurement accuracy across a wide mass range for: • Protein Identification • Intact protein analysis • Bacterial Mass Fingerprinting • Industrial polymer analysis • DNA/oligonucleotide analysis • Significant problems post-installation caused delays and frustration – now ~OK Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

14. Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

15. The instruments:2) LC MS/MS • Waters Micromass Quattro micro API Mass Spectrometer • high precision tandem quadrupole mass analyzer technology for: • general quantification • environmental analysis • neonatal screening • bioanalysis • Industry standard approach for dedicated quantitative analysis: • Part per billion detection of drug metabolites • Tandem mass spectrometry for structural analysis Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

16. Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

17. The instruments:3) Stable isotope ratio MS GV Instruments IsoPrime stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer • Measures isotopic ratios on light elements - C, H, O, N and S • Very expensive to commission • Still not in paying service Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

18. Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

19. The instruments:4) Biacore 2000 BiaCore 2000 Surface Plasmon ResonanceExceptionally sensitive optical biosensor technique generating vital information on biomolecular interactions Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

20. Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

21. Policies and procedures • Training • Installation • On-going – authorised users • Access • Authorised users only • Swipe card • Booking • On-line database • Authorised users only • Linked to charge, reporting summary of user charges for administrator Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

22. A manager at last… • Funding was attracted from Bio-Innovation SA for a manager/interpretive position • I also wrote this position description ‘blind’ • We were very fortunate to attract and appoint Dr. Daniel Jardine • Formerly from Macquarie University • Extensive hands-on MS experience • Extensive experience in a similar facility Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

23. I gratefully handed over to Danielin February this year Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment

24. Where to now? • The facility will be officially launched in September • Must attract external users to improve cost-recovery • Must maintain numbers of users to ensure leverage for replacement instruments • All the impatience and demands to get the instruments installed and available have not been matched with USE by several groups • Will be expanded strategically to further strengthen this node of expertise, and improve research outcome opportunities for AIB participants Lyn Spencer: FAAL establishment