Serving the Adelaide Research Community 

With the establishment of one centralized Zebrafish facility for all the research centres in Adelaide to utilize, the economies of scale relating to Zebrafish research are improved immensely. The costs involved with building and establishing multiple small holding facilities would be far more expensive than those relating to one large facility capable of servicing the same number of researchers. The total cost of ownership for research within South Australia is diminished, as the costs associated with running a Zebrafish facility will never be burdened on an individual institution, but rather divided amongst all the institutions wishing to employ the single, centralized facility’s services.

The salary costs involved with employing technicians and facility managers is spread over multiple clients, and the costs of maintenance and infrastructure repair and replacement are decreased as a whole. The costs of continued improvement are also split by all the research institutions using the Facility, thus for the same amount of research and development expenditure, a far more modern and up to date facility is achievable.

Vital Statistics 

The Adelaide Zebrafish Facility was first established as a component of Dr Michael Lardelli's Zebrafish Genetics Laboratory in 1998 (Dr Lardelli is happy to advise and collaborate with new and intending users of zebrafish to facilitate their research - send him an email).  In 2005 the Facility began an equipment upgrade and expansion, and became a centralised resource within the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science.

The AZF is located within two isolated rooms of the Molecular Life Sciences building, of the University of Adelaide.  These wet rooms measure 40.1m² and house the equivalent of 178 9L and 128 1L tanks.   

The facility attends to the diverse interests and differing needs of 9 research laboratories divided across 3 research institutions, as well as contributing to the Biology teaching curriculum at the University of Adelaide.

The AZF employs 4 staff, 1 full time Facility Manager to ensure the Facility is meeting its potential, and 3 part time technical assistants who assist with maintaining a clean facility and ensure the fish are fed 7 days a week.

Additional associated infrastructure exists to further facilitate the Zf User group.  These include apparatus required for microinjections, embryo culture, in situ hybridization, fluorescent, multiphoton and confocal microscopy.

Establishment of the centralised Adelaide Zebrafish Facility was possible due to the generous support of several funding bodies including the Centre for the Molecular Genetics of Development, the Faculty of Sciences REISS grant, the disciple of Biochemistry, and the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science RIBG funds.

Where to Park

Parking can be arranged by booking a permit with Adelaide Zebrafish Facility to use in one of the white parking bays along the access road for the Molecular Life Sciences building (see campus map C11).  These parking spaces are not always guaranteed to be vacant upon arrival.  To access these parking bays you will need to enter the driveway via gate 8 on Victoria Drive and turn left. The parking permit can be collected from the Facility Manager upon prior arrangement.  Phone 8303 3256 or email for permit bookings & details.

Alternatively parking is always available in the multi level car park (U-Park) situated behind the Medical School building.  Turn left off Frome Rd before the Medical School (if travelling south) or turn right off Frome Rd at the hospital entrance (if travelling north).

 Numerous on-street parks can be found behind the Medical school building, along Frome Rd adjacent the Adelaide Zoo, and on Victoria Drive between Torrens River and the University of Adelaide but are usually limited to three hours.