The Monash Health Translation Precinct Translational Research Facility

A partnership of Monash University, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Monash Health

Executive Summary and Background

The Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) brings together the largest health service in Victoria, Monash Health, with the largest university in Australia, Monash University, and the world-renowned Hudson Institute of Medical Research, to translate innovative scientific research into clinical practice. Together, they are a major contributor to Monash Partners Academic Health. United in the vision to be world leaders in translational research, MHTP partners have created a unique environment, which thematically collocates our research and facilities at Monash Medical Centre (Figure 1). The Monash Health Translation Precinct’s Translational Research Facility (TRF) is a purpose-built research space designed to drive research-based healthcare and provides a unique site for multidisciplinary, translational medical research in partnership with commercial entities such as Miltenyi. Recently launched, the $84 m il l ion, six-storey MHTP-TRF hosts a centrally positioned, technology platform floor with state-of-the-art capabilities to underpin research excellence and clinical translation. On this flagship floor we have collocated medical genomics, cell therapies, bioinformatics, mass spectrometry and micro-imaging, and together with histology, flow cytometry, animal model and biobanking capabilities, they create an integrated network of world-class capabilities. Our MHTP Technology Platforms are also closely affiliated with the extensive Monash Technology Research Platforms (MTRP) located at Monash University. Our Technology Platform floor is ideally positioned within the MHTP-TRF between the clinical trials floor, research floors dedicated to women’s and babies health (The Ritchie Centre) and cancer research and a research translation incubator floor in which Cartherics is located. The fully-integrated Clinical Trials Facility contains eight clinical beds and 21 chairs, is available 24/7 and is dedicated and increasingly accessed to a suite of rapidly expanding Phase 1 and Phase 2-4 trials. Importantly, the TRF is directly linked by bridge connections to the clinical departments of Monash Health and to the Hudson Institute of Medical research laboratories. The 7th Floor is occupied by companies involved in translation of discoveries to the clinic. Cartherics Pty Ltd are developing immune stem cell therapeutics for the treatment of human cancer. The focus is on an “off the shelf” product that includes gene edited chimeric antigen receptor expression in cytotoxic T cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and selected TCR expression of key tumor antigens. Further exciting developments, and integrated along side the MHTP-TRF, is the $250M, 239 bed Monash Children’s Hospital scheduled to open in early 2017. Creating Australia’s third largest children’s hospital, the Ritchie Centre is a major research partner of Monash Children’s. The Ritchie Centre and the MHTP are also strategically positioned more broadly within the South East Melbourne Innovation Precinct, which includes the Australian Synchrotron (with its medical beamline), Monash Biomedical Imaging, the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (Figure 2). The Monash Health Translation Precinct is perfectly poised to embark on a exciting new era of translational cell therapy research as part of the newly launched Translational Research Facility.

Figure 1. Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) has established the $84 million MHTP Translation Research Facility (TRF) and $250 million Monash Children’s Hospital. The clinical departments (blue) are directly connected to research areas (orange) and the new MHTP-TRF (green).

Figure 2. South-East Melbourne Innovation Precinct hosts the Australian Synchrotron, CSIRO’s largest research and development site, and Monash University, Australia’s largest university. Monash University also hosts an array of national facilities, including the Monoclonal Antibody Technology Facility, the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute and Melbourne Centre of Nanofabrication.

Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) MHTP is a partnership between:

• Monash Health – Victoria’s largest public health service providing integrated care

across the entire lifespan. http://www.monashhealth.org/

• Hudson Institute of Medical Research – Improving global wellbeing through excellence in medical research and clinical application. www.hudson.org.au

• Monash University – Australia’s l a rg e s t u n iv e rs i t y w i th a n in te rn a t io n a l

re p u ta t io n f o r innovative health research. http://med.monash.edu/ MHTP is also a critical component of Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre. https://www.monashpartners.org.au/

Through these partnerships, leading researchers have direct access to clinicians and patients and biotech companies, enabling scientific breakthroughs to reach the bedside more effectively than ever before.

Our Vision The vision of the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) partnership is to be a world leader in translational research, generating innovative scientific discoveries and revolutionising clinical care in a dynamic and collaborative environment. Our Purpose The MHTP:

• Is dedicated to translating medical research to improve healthcare • Uses clinical insights to focus the agenda of basic research • Is committed to innovative research development • Enhances research collaboration locally, nationally and internationally

Our Aims

• Develop the Precinct’s capacity for world-leading innovative translational research • Identify new opportunities for the translation of research into advances in healthcare • Improve the health and wellbeing of the population • Attract world-renowned research talent • Encourage collaboration and partnerships between clinicians and researchers • Optimise productive interactions between MHTP partners and external stakeholders • Increase efficiency by sharing resources and cutting edge platform technologies

Our Location The MHTP is based in Clayton, within the South-East Melbourne Innovation Precinct (SEMIP). Its location creates new opportunities for collaboration and commercialisation with some of Australia’s leading research organisations and companies, including the Australian Synchrotron, the CSIRO and emerging biotechnology entities.

Our Researchers Together we harness the combined research talents and innovation of more than 500 scientific and clinical staff engaged in basic and clinical research with more than 200 postgraduate students.

We attract internationally recognised researchers, clinicians, and collaborators to engage in research and innovative clinical practice development aligned to improve patient outcomes through early diagnosis, targeted and effective treatments, and prevention of disease. Our Focus Research undertaken at MHTP responds to national health priorities by focusing on health conditions and diseases recognised as having major social and economic impact. They include:

1. Cancer and Immune Stem Cell Therapies

2. Cardiovascular

3. Diabetes, Obesity, Men’s Health and Endocrinology

4. Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases

5. Neuroscience and Psychiatry

6. Women’s, Children’s, and Reproductive Medicine (The Ritchie Centre)

MHTP Technology Platform network To achieve the highest level of quality, the MHTP Partners have made significant investments in our technology capabilities that operate within a unified strategy, governance and quality framework. Several platforms have already achieved NATA accreditation promoting shared research and clinical utilisation. Access is available via a collaborative or fee-for-service model throughout the MHTP as well as to national scientific communities.

Medical Genomics - hosts a board range of specialist genomic services that include; Next Generation Sequencing, High Content Screening, Microarray, Real-Time qPCR and Fluidigm Single Cell technologies. The Medical Genomics core is fully integrated with the Monash Bioinformatics Platform for bioinformatics analysis and the Monash e-Research for data processing and storage.

Most recently, the Facility was awarded Australia’s only Fluidigm Single Cell Centre of Excellence establishing strong collaborative ties with this world leading microfluidics and genomics company.

Mass Spectrometry - provides protein identification from samples such as SDS PAGE gel pieces, LC-MS/MS analyses for samples in solution or more complex samples such as cell or tissue lysates, accurate mass measurement for characterising recombinant proteins and identifying impurities and specialised sample fractionation techniques. The Facility provides a direct pathway to promote the translation of research findings from bench-to-bedside though collaboration and colocation with Monash Pathology’s Biochemistry department.

Flow Cytometry – research flow cytometry capabilities are colocated with Monash Pathology’s diagnostic flow laboratory promoting translational research activities.

Through a partnership of Monash Pathology’s Immunology and Clinical Haematology departments, more than 1500 Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma panels are performed annually to aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected haematological neoplasms.

Histology - offers both a Professional service provided by specialist staff, and a DIY service that provides access to laboratory facilities, specialist equipment and consumables. The Facility provides advice, training and research assistance and operates as a node of the Monash Histology Platform on Clayton Campus.

Micro Imaging - provides consultation, instrumentation, services and training, collaborative research and project development in the areas of Optical and fluorescence microscopy, Confocal microscopy, Live cell imaging and Digital imaging and image analysis.

The facility is also a part of the Monash Micro Imaging network, and as such has unfettered access to additional suites of imaging platforms, training, analysis and expertise located on the Monash University Clayton campus and Alfred Medical Research Precinct.

Animal Models - Monash Medical Centre Animal Facilities (MMCAF) operates as an integral component of the Monash Animal Research Platform (MARP) dedicated to providing best welfare practices for all animals under our care whilst supporting the various scientific research groups at the MHTP

Monash Bioinformatics Platform – has a wide range of expertise in biological research fields requiring cutting edge computational techniques such as genomics, proteomics and structural biology

Monash Biobank - is an initiative established by Monash Health’s Pathology department to support translational research through procurement of human samples.

For comprehensive details for platform capabilities, expertise and technologies, pleaser refer to MHTP Technologies Platform brochure provided.