Construction is underway on Australia’s first RNA (ribonucleic acid) research and pilot manufacturing facility at Macquarie University, a $96 million project aiming to enhance NSW’s ability to develop and manufacture RNA-based therapeutics locally.
The facility will deliver new capabilities to develop world leading vaccines and medical therapies for humans and animals based on cutting edge RNA technology.
As the first of its kind in Australia, the facility will provide Australian patients with faster access to new and innovative RNA therapeutics to treat diseases such as cancer and rare genetic diseases.
The world-class facility will provide scalable manufacturing opportunities and bolster sovereign capability in NSW, fast-tracking potentially life-saving biomedical research and early-phase clinical trials.
Located at Macquarie University’s Wallumattagal campus within the Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District, home to many health-related organisations and start-ups, the facility is expected to become a hub for cutting-edge medical research.
The project is being delivered by Health Infrastructure, on behalf of the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer.
Aurora Biosynthetics, a subsidiary of Myeloid Therapeutics, will operate the facility, which will be overseen by RNA Australia, a newly formed joint venture between the NSW Government and several NSW universities, including Macquarie.
Construction of the RNA Research and Pilot Manufacturing Facility is expected to be completed by 2026.