About Us
ARAFlowCore is a PC2 compliant flow cytometry platform providing world-class services to scientists from Monash University, The Burnet Institute, The Baker Institute, other members of the Alfred Research Alliance (ARA), and the broader academic and commercial scientific community in Melbourne, Australia.
Our dedicated laboratories currently house three high speed cell sorters plus one dedicated to PC3, six analysers, and an imaging cytometer, making ARAFlowCore one of the top flow cytometry facilities in Australia. Our equipment boasts cutting-edge features such as spectral analysers and cell sorter that have the capacity to visualise 40+ fluorescent parameters on a single cell, and a six-laser cell sorter which can detect fluorochromes from ultraviolet wavelengths right through to the infrared end of the light spectrum; allowing for unrivalled flexibility for researchers.
The platform’s experienced staff operate the cell sorters and provide training and assistance for the analysers, along with expertise in experimental design.
Location
The ARAFlowCore office is located within the Department of Immunology and Pathology Monash University on level 6 of the Burnet Tower, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne.
The ARAFlowCore instruments are located within the Department of Immunology and Pathology Monash University on level 6 of the Burnet Tower, and level 1 and 2 of the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD) in the adjoining Monash building.
Business hours
Monday – Friday 8:30am-5pm
Staff
ARAFlowCore is run by three dedicated full-time staff. Services provided by our staff include operation of the sorters, provision of training and assistance for the analysers, and consultation for researchers regarding experimental design.
From left to right: Catherine Mun, Mélanie Le Page, Melissa Nardi
Mélanie Le Page - Manager
Melanie completed her Bachelor of Science at Monash University in 2008, focussing on Microbiology and Immunology. She continued working in Immunology at Monash University AMREP until 2013, when she moved to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute to take a position in the Flow Cytometry Laboratory. In 2019 Melanie put the knowledge and experience gained at WEHI’s core laboratory to use at her next role at biotechnology startup oNKo-innate, setting up and managing the flow cytometry arm of the company. From here Melanie moved back into research at the Hudson Institute, until the end of 2021 when she took the position of manager at the newly rebranded ARAFlowCore, located in the Central Clinical School and under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University.
Melissa Nardi - Senior Technical Officer
Melissa completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of Melbourne in 2013 and then went on to complete a Master of Laboratory Medicine where she majored in Haematology. She then worked as a Medical Scientist in Haematology at the Austin Hospital and then Royal Children’s Hospital where she developed an interest in flow cytometry. Melissa joined ARAFlowCore in 2022 to begin the next step in her scientific career.
Catherine Mun - Senior Technical Officer
Catherine completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Science at Monash University in 2020, graduating with a high distinction. She then commenced in 2021 Honours at the Central Clinical School, studying Group A Strep immunity. During this time, she was exposed to flow cytometry by enumerating and phenotyping antigen-experienced B cells. In 2022, she decided to pursue flow cytometry full-time and joined Alfred Research Alliance Flow Cytometry Core Facility as a Senior Technical Officer.
Contact
ARAFlowCore Facility Manager: Mélanie Le Page
Ph. + 61 3 9903 0661
E: melanie.lepage@monash.edu
General Enquiries
Ph: + 61 3 9903 0601
E: ara.flowcore@monash.edu