The APF provides expertise and scale to your advance your research programme through:

• Access to large scale collections of ENU gene-variant libraries for detection of recessive mutations.
  
• Access to custom made pedigrees for meritorious research.
  
• Access to expertise in screen and library design, phenotyping equipment and pathology expertise.
  
• Expertise in project management.
  
• Access to electronic data management and project tracking.
  
• Access to mapping and resequencing expertise to coordinate and interpret initial genome scan, perform fine mapping, candidate gene resequencing.
  
• Risk management, cryopreservation, quarantine and rederivation services to defined flora free health status.
  
• Access to the Australian Phenome Bank services.
  
• Access to gene-variant strains that serve as unique animal models of human disease.
  
• Access to mouse holding space.
  
• Participation in Federation of International Mouse Resources consortium, integration and leveraging international resources and best practice.
  
• Consortium and collaborative approach to assist in winning new grants.
  
• Flexible IP policy: including open access (free access to any results), own outcome (subject to payment of full rate) and joint ownership with ANU (proportions to be agreed).
  

How does the APF work with their clients?

The APF serves as an engine to promote invention and uptake of new genome-phenome analysis tools by Australian research and industry in health, agriculture, the environment and biotechnology. This facility is a National node for promoting interactions across disciplines and the pipeline of Australian research and development, and foster international collaborations aimed at maintaining Australian R&D expertise in health, agriculture and biotechnology at the international cutting edge. The facility is available to all academic and commercial clients on a first-come, first-served basis. A Scientific Access and Advisory Committee helps guide the priorities and access procedures of the Facility.

The Australian Phenomics Facility offers researchers access to screen current ENU-gene variant libraries and to develop specialized custom made libraries. In addition researchers can access strains that have been discovered in previous ENU gene variant libraries. These new strains are at a stage of analysis where the map location and preliminary phenotype is known and a researcher can use the APF facilities for further phenotypic examination. The APF also offers gene-variant research strains that have already been identified and serve as valuable unique models for investigating allergy, obesity, autoimmunity, neurological, cancer and development.

In relevant cases the APF will work with the researcher to expand strains of interest to gene identification and further phenotypic characterisation. In these cases IP will be claimed but recoverable at cost to the research team or institution if the outcomes are not to be shared with other research groups.

For more information interested researchers should discuss their screen with Head of Scientific Programs, Dr Ed Bertram (Edward.Bertram@anu.edu.au or 02 6125 1328). [Please note: while all screens will be considered by the APF's Scientific Advisory Board, priority will be given to those that are best able to overlap with existing phenotypic screens.]

For more information on access to new gene-variant strains and those that serve as valuable animal models of disease please contact our Phenome Bank Curator, Dr Stuart Read (Stuart.Read@anu.edu.au or 02 6125 1324).

Figure: The APF will help you forge the connections between genome sequence and mammalian function. Diagram depicts the process of phenotype to gene discovery process at the APF and access points for researchers.