The final touches on the newly refurbished Cancer Genetics Laboratory complex in the Department of Biochemistry are complete, and around 35 scientists and students from four research groups are finally moving in.
The researchers moved out of the main Cancer Genetics Laboratory temporarily in November last year for the final stage of renovation, however staged renovation has been going on around them since October 2022.
The refurbishment includes a large joint laboratory space, tissue culture facilities, separate student write-up rooms and offices for research group leaders.
As well as replacing worn-out and inefficient work spaces, the new facility will help researchers to improve Māori tikanga and protocols around working with tissues sourced from people, such as keeping different tissue types separate.
Four research groups will be enjoying the newly refurbished space, led by Professor Parry Guilford, Professor Mik Black, Associate Professor Anita Dunbier, and senior lecturer Dr Sarah Diermeier.
All of these groups carry out research into cancers at the molecular level, but each has their own research focus, in the cancer types they study, the types of therapeutics being developed, the molecules being targeted, and the research techniques employed.
You can find out more about the Department of Biochemistry’s cancer research groups on their team leader expertise pages:
Biosafety cabinets for safe handling of cell culture materials in one of the new tissue culture rooms.
A row of new offices for Cancer Genetics research group leaders, including Prof Parry Guilford who is pictured walking along the corridor.
Gemella Reynolds-Hatem, MSc student in the Guilford group, and friend give a thumbs-up to the new Cancer Genetics facilities.