Skip to the content
 

Cellular Neurophysiology Platform - Monash Node, Neurosciences Victoria

Overview

To faciltate  scientific and technological capabilities in the field of neuroscience, and to facilitate commercialisation opportunities, Neurosciences Victoria (NSV) was formed from a consortium of universities, research institutes and teaching hospitals.  To this end, Neurosciences Victoria provides access to state-of-the-art equipment, and to the neuroscientific and technical expertise at a range of laboratory and clinical sites through its support of leading Platform Technologies.  The Cellular Neurophysiology Platform  is based in part at the University of Melbourne and in part at Monash University in the Department of Physiology.

Facilities available at the Monash Node

The Monash Node includes facilities and expertise in the Department of Physiology and at the nearby Prince Henry's Institute.

The main emphasis is on elecrophysiological studies, mainly involving patch clamp, microelectrode, and single-microelectrode voltage clamp techniques.  These techniques are complemented with studies of cellular ion regulation, particularly Ca2+, using fluorescence probes and confocal or regular spectro-fluorometric microscopy.  Brain slice electrophysiology studies utilize infrared differential interference contrast optics. Other facilities available include flash photolysis, amperometry and capacitance recording.  Cell culture equipment is available for studies of transfected cell lines and stem cells, the latter facilitated by the Australian Stem Cell Centre being located on campus.   Advanced imaging facilities, including multi-photon confocal microscopy, are available via Monash Micro Imaging.  The Australian Synchroton, located at Monash, will provide additional advanced imaging opportunities when it becomes operational in 2007.

Personnel

The scientists who form the Monash Node of the Cellular Neurophysiology Platform include:

Contacts

Further details are available from:

A/Prof Helena Parkington  (Co-ordinator, Monash Node)
          e-mail: helena.parkington@med.monash.edu.au
          Ph:  (03) 9905 2505

Mr Simon Rabl (Manager Monash Node NSV)
          e-mail: simon.rabl@med.monash.edu.au
          Ph:  (03) 9905 1210