The Monoclonal Antibodies Technology Facility was officially opened at Monash University today by federal science minister Kim Carr.

The facility, thought to be the largest in the world, was first announced in 2006. It is headed by Alan Sawyer, who has several patents pending for his methods for producing monoclonal antibodies.

It has the ability to produce up to 3000 antibodies per year and is equipped with robotic technology from Tecan of Switzerland.

Equipment company Millipore has announced it will license some of the antibodies.