Beam me up: the Synchotron is on its way

Medical researchers in Melbourne were given a brief glimpse this week of the potential of the synchrotron to enhance and expand medical science.

The seminar, organised by the Australian Synchrotron National Scientific Advisory Committee, was part of a series being held around Australia. Similar seminars have been held in Sydney and Adelaide, and are planned for Brisbane, Perth and Canberra in July.

The coordinator of the National Science Case for the Australian Synchrotron project, Dr Robert Hobbs, said the synchrotron would be available for a wide range of applications, including x-ray imaging, cellular biology, structural biology and potentially even new therapies for cancer.

"It's a very powerful analytical tool and the more we look at it, the more we realise that we can apply it across the board," Hobbs said.

Among the applications highlighted in the seminar were the use of infrared spectroscopy to analyse the distribution of macromolecules and other compounds in cells and tissues, and the uses of x-ray crystallography and circular dichroism for protein structure studies. The synchrotron's potential for medical uses including x-ray imaging and targeted therapy was also discussed.

Prof Peter Colman, the head of WEHI's structural biology division, said scientists could learn more about synchrotron research through the federal government's Australian Synchrotron Research Program (ASRP) which provides access to overseas synchrotron facilities, travel support, and training, as well as supporting the growth of the Australian synchrotron research community.

More information on the seminar series can be found at www.synchrotron.vic.gov.au.