The Victorian Platform Technologies Network (VPTN) has developed software that enables industry and researchers to access research instruments and capability.
The initiative is the Australian Research Infrastructure Network or ARIN, a world-first in facilitating access to capabilities located cross-institutionally.
ARIN is a software solution that allows researchers from industry and academia to access publicly funded research infrastructure located across Victorian universities, medical research institutes and research organisations.
It provides single sign-on access to instruments and services in any of the participating facilities.
Anyone can browse ARIN’s facilities, instruments and services at before even logging in. Then it’s just a matter of creating an account and requesting access.
From a single user account, the user can request access to any instrument, service or product in any participating facility.
ARIN has already taken over 23,000 bookings across the 14 facilities located in six organisations, in its first few months of usage, and the numbers are growing.
Participating organisations to date include Monash University, The University of Melbourne, The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, RMIT University, Monash Health Translation Precinct and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.
Technologies available for access via the ARIN software include gene sequencing, flow cytometry, microscopy and micro-nano research with many more on the horizon.
ARIN is funded by the Victorian Government with the support of Monash University and Biomedical Research Victoria, and is an initiative of the VPTN.
The VPTN itself is a network of over 130 facilities across 30 organisations offering capabilities including bioassay, devices, mathematics, flow cytometry, informatics, antibody production, nanofabrication, imaging and many others.
There are hundreds of world class research instruments available through the VPTN such as 3D printers, 3D analytical visualization, confocal laser scanning microscopes and MRIs, high throughput screening and chemical analysis robots.
Services provided by VPTN platforms include Next-Generation genome sequencing, high throughput protein purification, prototype modelling using polymers and high-tech metal alloy powders and diagnostic microarray manufacturing based on advanced nanotechnology