A new Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Biomarker Translation has been officially opened at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

The CRC will investigate the discovery, development, clinical and diagnostic efficacy and commercialisation of new technologies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Partners include La Trobe and the Burnett Institute in Melbourne; the Mater Medical Research Institute in Brisbane; the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science in Adelaide; US biotech Amgen and scientific supplier Becton Dickinson (BD).

The CRC has received $30 million in cash funding from the Federal Government, $6 million from participants, and more than $100 million in-kind funding from its partners over seven years.

Expertise includes cell surface science, mass spectrometry, monoclonal antibody development, antibody-based diagnostics and clinical immunotherapy.

The CRC's chief scientific officer is immunologist Professor Heddy Zola, director of the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute in Adelaide. The CEO is Michael Kleinig.