ANU Centre for Therapeutic Discovery
The ANU Centre for Therapeutic Discovery (ACTD) is a state-of-the-art high-throughput screening facility for biomarker and therapeutic discovery.
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About
The ANU Centre for Therapeutic Discovery (ACTD), previously known as the Target and Drug Discovery Platform, is a cutting-edge robotic and liquid handling facility designed for high-throughput screening and therapeutic discovery. Situated within the Biomolecular Resource Facility at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, and staffed with a team of specialists, our platform enables researchers to conduct assay development through to high-throughput screens to identify innovative therapies and biomarkers for the treatment of diseases and disorders. Opened in February 2017, it is the first facility of its kind in the ACT and among a select few screening centres across Australia. The ACTD is designed to meet various screening needs of our clients, featuring two distinct workstation with dedicated equipment: a high-throughput screening workstation and a high-content/imaging workstation. Both are equipped with robotic arms and liquid handling instruments, enabling researchers to perform tasks such as cell seeding and drug treatments on a large scale. This robotic access accelerates large-scale experiments, significantly speeding up the target discovery process. As an example, projects utilising this platform can lead to:
- Discovery of new therapeutic targets and biomarkers
- Repurposing existing drugs for other diseases
- Identification of drug combinations and synergies for optimised treatment
- Insights into cell biology
- Early development of novel biologically active compounds for human disease treatment
The ACTD operates on a ‘user-assisted’ basis, allowing researchers to conduct their screens or experiments with the support of our dedicated staff operating instruments. This collaborative approach ensures that researchers can maximise the platform’s capabilities while benefiting from the expertise of the ACTD team.
In addition to this hands-on assistance, the ACTD offers a comprehensive range of service offerings to our clients, including:
- Consultation on Screen Design and Assay Workflows: Our team provides expert advice to help researchers design effective screening strategies tailored to their specific objectives.
- Custom Screening Solutions and Packages: We collaborate with researchers to create bespoke screening solutions that meet unique project requirements, ensuring optimal results.
- Grant Application Assistance: Our staff can help researchers navigate the grant application process, focusing on aspects related to screening aims to enhance funding opportunities.
- Access to Biological and Chemical Libraries: The ACTD facilitates access to a diverse array of biological and chemical libraries
- General Screening Consumables and Reagents: The ACTD supplies essential consumables and reagents needed for screening experiments, streamlining the research process.
- Boutique Applications and Pilot Experiments: We offer support for specialised applications and pilot experiments that leverage automation, allowing researchers to explore innovative approaches in their work.
For more details, see our services links below.
Our funding partners enable our work and keep researchers at the forefront of scientific discovery
Services
3D bioprinting and droplet-based robotics create simple or complex, tissue-like structures that generate mammalian organoids for drug discovery and disease modeling in high-throughput.
The ACTD onsells automation consumables such as tips, microplates (96, 384, 1536), tissue culture consumables, screening reagents, transfection reagents and more.
Through close collaboration, we adopt assays established in your laboratory and make them amenable for boutique and large scale high-throughput screening.
Our automation and liquid handling services streamline laboratory workflows by increasing precision, reproducibility and enhancing efficiency in high-throughput processes.
High-throughput compound screening evaluates large libraries of chemical compounds to discover candidates for the development of new treatments and therapies.
CRISPR screening systematically modifies genes across a genome, enabling researchers to identify genes that are crucial for specific cellular functions or disease processes.
High-content imaging is an advanced technique that combines automated microscopy with image analysis to capture and quantify complex cellular phenotypes at high resolution.
High-throughput flow cytometry enables the rapid, multiparametric analysis of thousands of cells for large-scale screening and detailed cellular characterization in drug discovery and immunology.
Organoids and spheroids mimic the architecture and function of tissues, making them valuable tools in high-throughput 3D screening for drug discovery and disease modeling.
RNA interference (RNAi) screening is a technique used to knock down specific genes to study their function and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Equipment
The CellINK BioX6 and BioOne 3D Bioprinters offer advanced, multi-material bioprinting capabilities, enabling researchers to create complex, tissue-like structures for applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and drug testing.
The Inventia Life Sciences Rastrum Bioprinter is an advanced 3D bioprinting platform designed for high-throughput production of complex, multi-cellular models, accelerating research in drug discovery and tissue engineering.
Automate precise sample transfers and washing procedures in laboratory workflows with liquid handling robotics and platewashers, improving accuracy and efficiency in high-throughput experiments.
The Revvity EnVision Multimode Plate Reader is a high-performance, versatile instrument designed for fast and sensitive detection across multiple assay formats, supporting advanced research in drug discovery and life sciences.
The Revvity Opera Phenix High-Content Imaging Microscope is an advanced imaging platform designed for high-throughput phenotypic screening, offering superior sensitivity and resolution for detailed cellular analysis in various research applications.
The Sartorius iQue PLUS High-Throughput Flow Cytometer is designed for rapid, multiplexed cellular analysis, enabling researchers to process large sample volumes efficiently while delivering high-quality data for immune profiling, drug discovery, and more.
People
Senior Technical Officer - Phenogenomics Research Programs
Lead, ANU Centre for Therapeutic Discovery (ACTD)
Associate Professor in Pharmacogenomic Technologies
Group Leader
Technologies Specialist - ANU Centre for Therapeutic Discovery
Technologies Officer
Location
Sample Drop-Off
Level 2
The John Curtin School of Medical Research (Building 131)
Garran Road, The Australian National University
ACTON ACT 2601
Deliveries & Couriers
The John Curtin School of Medical Research
Stores - Level 1 (Ground Floor)
Building 131, Garran Road
The Australian National University
ACTON ACT 2601
Postal Address
ANU Centre for Therapeutic Discovery
The John Curtin School of Medical Research
Building 131, Garran Road
The Australian National University
ACTON ACT 2601