VICS is co-located on four metropolitan University campuses; the University of Melbourne (Parkville), Monash University (Clayton), Monash University (VCP Parkville) and RMIT University (City campus).
VICS has a combined academic and technical staff of recognised University departments with broad expertise across the chemical sciences and access to some of the most modern scientific instruments in Australia.
VICS originally established activities in four themes:
- Drug Discovery and Chemical Synthesis
- Chemistry Education and Outreach
- Environmental Solutions
- Molecular Analysis and Dynamics
Some of our successes in these areas are:
MOLECULAR ANALYSIS AND DYNAMICS
Associate Professor Richard Morrison has used seed funding from VICS to design a new Polarimeter and a nitrogen and sulfur analyser. A prototype of the Polarimeter has now been constructed and the company is evaluating its potential for commercial development. The nitrogen and sulfur analyser is being evaluated by Associate Professor Ron Beckett for rapid onsite evaluation of water quality. Both of these instruments are designed to be affordable for schools and possibly export to developing countries.
ENVIRONMENT
VICS funds have been used to construct a Mobile Field Laboratory for use by the Water Studies Centre in Monash University. The Laboratory has been used in collaboration with Golburn Murray Water Authority to evaluate water quality in Nagambie Lakes. Further opportunities for collaboration with water authorities are being explored.
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Mr Mick Moylan has developed a school program which has been running successfully for four years. Approximately 20,000 students participate in the program each year.
DRUG DISCOVERY AND CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS
Two of the projects that were initiated with the help of seed money from VICS have been highly successful. Helmut Hugel and Mark Rizzacasa are looking at lactam analogues of marine salicylate macrolides which have great potential in the anti cancer field. Mark and Helmut have obtained a large Discovery Grant from the ARC and have some promising compounds under evaluation. Carl Schiesser's and Peter Scammells' project leading to the production of dual acting cardiac protective compounds was an integral part of the successful bid for an ARC Centre of Excellence in Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology. Again this continuing project is producing some active compounds which are showing promise.