Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Expands Cancer Research Efforts with Automation Tool from Caliper Life Sciences
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Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. has announced a collaboration with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. PMCC is using Caliper’s Staccato automation system to perform oncology related lab discovery experiments in less time, leading to a better understanding of how to treat and prevent cancer through gene knockdown therapies.
“We would be unable to perform this type of large scale research without the Staccato workstation from Caliper,” said Dr. Kaylene Simpson, manager of the Functional Genomics Group at PMCC. “The instrument helps us work toward our primary goals: to identify genes that regulate cancer cell growth, survival, and proliferation, and responses to drug targets.”
The Functional Genomics Group at PMCC is funded by the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) and provides Australian research institutes with access to large scale, high throughput RNAi gene knockdown technology that aids cancer research. By eliminating a gene’s ability to express, gene knockdown techniques may uncover ways to silence specific genes associated with cancer, leading to new forms of treatment.
Researchers at PMCC are currently working with the Dharmacon entire human and mouse genome collections (~21,000 genes), attempting to knockdown each one. The Staccato enables the researcher to work through these gene sets in a systematic and reproducible way.
“The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s decision to rely on the Staccato reinforces Caliper’s position as a leading provider of automation solutions for the life sciences industry,” said Kevin Hrusovsky, CEO of Caliper Life Sciences. “Caliper has made significant strides in helping our customers with oncology research. From automation to imaging and tumor models, Caliper provides researchers with the tools to conduct quality oncology research.”
“We would be unable to perform this type of large scale research without the Staccato workstation from Caliper,” said Dr. Kaylene Simpson, manager of the Functional Genomics Group at PMCC. “The instrument helps us work toward our primary goals: to identify genes that regulate cancer cell growth, survival, and proliferation, and responses to drug targets.”
The Functional Genomics Group at PMCC is funded by the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) and provides Australian research institutes with access to large scale, high throughput RNAi gene knockdown technology that aids cancer research. By eliminating a gene’s ability to express, gene knockdown techniques may uncover ways to silence specific genes associated with cancer, leading to new forms of treatment.
Researchers at PMCC are currently working with the Dharmacon entire human and mouse genome collections (~21,000 genes), attempting to knockdown each one. The Staccato enables the researcher to work through these gene sets in a systematic and reproducible way.
“The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s decision to rely on the Staccato reinforces Caliper’s position as a leading provider of automation solutions for the life sciences industry,” said Kevin Hrusovsky, CEO of Caliper Life Sciences. “Caliper has made significant strides in helping our customers with oncology research. From automation to imaging and tumor models, Caliper provides researchers with the tools to conduct quality oncology research.”
