Monash boosted by Agilent equipment grant

Monash biomedical science students will get hands-on experience with mass spectrometry thanks to a US$150,000 equipment grant from Agilent Technologies awarded to the School of Biomedical Sciences today.

The grant provides for an Agilent LC-MS ion trap mass spec, to be used by 800 of the 2500 students taking courses through the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology each year. The instrument will form the core of new classes in protein chemistry, molecular pharmacology, developmental and reproductive physiology and HPLC methods and applications, allowing students to experience the technology first-hand, rather than on paper.

"There's nothing to stop the students from injecting their own samples and getting data," said senior lecturer Dr Mibel Aguilar. "By providing hands-on laboratory experience, Agilent's grant gives our students a deeper understanding of a subject matter that is difficult to duplicate in a textbook. It is quite a unique opportunity for our students."

Aguilar said she planned to introduce the technology into the practical components of courses in the first semester of next year.

Rod Minnet, Agilent's life sciences chemical analysis country manager for Australia, said the company's university relations program, which provides equipment to educational institutions around the world, was quite unique.

"We have a really strong belief as a company that works in the technology area that we should support the teaching of the next generation," he said.

Monash was the recipient of one of 17 grants worth a total of US$1.6 million awarded worldwide this year by Agilent through the program.