International Technical and User Advisory Group (ITUAG)
The ITUAG provides advice to the AMMRF Board and Operations Team on:- Best practice in research facility operation and management;
- Foresighting of technological developments and emerging microscopy and microanalysis techniques that could impact on Australian research priorities;
- Opportunities for strategic international linkages;
- Continuous improvement of the AMMRF user experience; and
- Relevant performance indicators and metrics that enable international benchmarking.
- World-leading experts who are internationally recognised by their peers to be providers of leadership and foresight in the development and application of microscopy and microanalysis science and technology;
- Leading Australian scientists whose research programs utilise a broad range of microscopy and microanalysis capabilities.
Members (at October 2010)
- Prof. David Sampson, The University of Western Australia (Convenor), Perth
- Prof. Wolfgang Baumeister, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany
- Prof. Lyn Beazley, The University of Western Australia, Perth
- Dr Jodie Bradby, The Australian National University, Canberra
- Prof. David Castner, University of Washington, USA
- Prof. Christian Colliex, Université Paris-Sud 11, France
- Prof. Vinayak Dravid, Northwestern University, USA
- Prof. Michael Ferry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney
- Prof. Hamish Fraser, Ohio State University, USA
- Prof. David Joy, University of Tennesse, USA
- Dr Tom Kelly, CAMECA Instruments Inc., USA
- Dr Richard Leapman, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIH), USA
- Dr Xiaozhou Liao, The University of Sydney
- Prof. Paul Midgley, University of Cambridge, UK
- Prof. Paul Robinson, Purdue University, USA
- Prof. Bob Sinclair, Stanford University, USA
- Prof. Roger Smart, University of South Australia, Adelaide
- Prof. Hans Tanke, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- A/Prof. Peter Thorn, The University of Queensland, Brisbane
- Prof. John Valley, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
- Prof. Marin van Heel, Imperial College, UK
- Prof. Simon Watkins, University of Pittsburgh, USA
- Dr Roger Wepf, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Switzerland
- Prof. Shohei Yamashina, IIRS, Japan
AMMRF ITUAG meets at IMC-17 in Rio de Janeiro
On 21 September 2010, members of the AMMRF International Technical and User Advisory Group (ITUAG) met during the 17th International Microscopy Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was the third meeting of ITUAG members and built on successful meetings held previously in Sydney (2008) and Richmond/Virginia, USA (2009). Participants were from the UK, France, Switzerland and the USA as well as the AMMRF Executive Director, Prof. Simon Ringer, Chairman of the AMMRF Board, Dr Greg Smith and the AMMRF General Manager, Dr Miles Apperley.
Prof. Ringer gave a presentation that summarised the AMMRF’s current status and recent achievements. This was followed by a wide-ranging discussion that covered issues including future Australian government processes for ongoing research infrastructure investment, world-class training and future scope for the AMMRF to link with European-Union-funded programs such as ESTEEM and Euro-BioImaging. The ITUAG members were impressed with the facitity’s performance to date and are committed to continue their support in the future.
From left: Dr Miles Apperley, Prof. Paul Munroe, A/Prof. Guy Cox (all AMMRF), Prof. Simon Watkins (University of Pittsburgh), Dr Tom Kelly (CAMECA Instruments), Prof. Simon Ringer (AMMRF), Prof. Roger Wepf (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Dr Greg Smith (AMMRF), Prof. Marin van Heel (Imperial College), and Dr Richard Leapman (National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, USA).
Professor Paul Robinson visits the AMMRF
The Director of the Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories and AMMRF ITUAG member, Prof. Paul Robinson, visited the AMMRF at the University of Sydney node while on a visit to Australia in December 2009. With interests and experience in core facility operation and advanced light and laser optical techniques for biomedical applications, Prof Robinson has considerable knowledge to draw on in discussions about AMMRF operations. While in Sydney, he met A/Prof. Filip Braet (Acting Director Sydney Node) and Ellie Kable (Laboratory Manager Sydney node) and Dr Miles Apperley (AMMRF General Manager). After reviewing and discussing AMMRF organisation, operating procedures and outcomes, Prof. Robinosn toured the laboratories of The AMMRF at the University of Sydney.
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From left: Dr Miles Apperley, Ellie Kable and Prof. Paul Robinson. |
AMMRF ITUAG meets in the USA
On 29 July 2009 a meeting of the AMMRF ITUAG was convened in Richmond, Virginia, during M&M 2009. Held over lunch, several ITUAG members met key AMMRF staff including Prof. John Drennan (Scientific Director and Director UQ node), Dr Miles Apperley (General Manager), Prof. Martin Saunders (Deputy Director UWA node) and A/ Prof. Marion Stevens-Kalceff (Deputy Director UNSW node). After a brief presentation by Miles Apperley on the current progress and performance of the AMMRF, John Drennan lead a discussion exploring the emerging technologies that will impact microscopy and microanalysis in the future. This provided an opportunity for ITUAG members to discuss future global trends in research instruments. The ITUAG will continue to take opportunities to get together at relevant events and meetings in Australia and overseas.
AMMRF ITUAG meets for the first time
4 December 2008.