The flagship facility aims to bring RNA drugs from lab to clinic as ministers tout pandemic preparedness and biotech jobs boost.
A $96 million RNA research and manufacturing facility has opened at Macquarie University Innovation Precinct.
The move steps up the NSW government’s push to accelerate the development of vaccines and advanced therapeutics and reduce reliance on global supply chains.
The government hopes the purpose-built centre will enable researchers and industry to translate discoveries into clinical candidates onshore, with operator Aurora Biosynthetics working with partners to move projects from early research through to trials.
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Health minister Ryan Park said the centre created “an exciting new link between NSW’s world-class RNA researchers, our outstanding clinical trials capability and the health system”.
“This a major step forward for the future of healthcare in NSW and an opportunity for us to develop and deploy new advanced health therapies,” he said.
The facility, the only one in Australia designed to produce a broad range of RNA therapeutics under one roof, comes after the covid pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in international supply and underscored the need for sovereign manufacturing capacity.
Innovation minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the centre would allow ideas to move “rapidly from the lab bench to real-world solutions that improve lives,” noting the state must be able to respond quickly to future health threats.
“We all saw during covid 19 how quickly global conditions can change, and how vital it is to have the capability to develop vaccines and treatments here at home,” he said.
“This facility strengthens NSW’s resilience and ensures we can respond faster and more effectively to future health threats.
“By bringing together cutting-edge equipment, world-leading expertise and strong industry partnership under one roof, this centre puts NSW at the forefront of RNA medicine and opens the door to new breakthroughs, new jobs and new opportunities across health, biotech and agriculture.”
Beyond vaccines, RNA technologies developed at the site are expected to target cancers, rare genetic conditions and agricultural challenges, reflecting the expanding scope of RNA medicine.
Medical research minister David Harris said the hub would become “a cornerstone of NSW’s RNA research ecosystem,” building on earlier investments in manufacturing and training networks.
“We know how important it is to provide the sovereign capability needed to develop, test and manufacture life-saving treatments right here in NSW,” he said.
“From next-generation vaccines to transformative treatments for cancer and rare genetic diseases, the potential of RNA technology, for both humans and animals, is limitless.”
The government has committed an additional $119 million over the next decade to support RNA R&D at the site, alongside existing funding streams aimed at workforce development and pipeline grants.
Aurora Biosynthetics founder Dr Daniel Getts described the project as “a significant cross-team effort”.
“This is a moment to celebrate government stewardship of resources for the betterment of the public,” he said.
“The facility opens an even broader channel for Australian researchers and clinicians who can gain support for their ideas, to innovate and accelerate new therapies to patients.”
Industry group RNA Australia will coordinate engagement with the academic sector, with CEO Paul McDonald saying the hub ensured researchers “no longer have to head overseas” to advance their work.
“We are providing the infrastructure to realise life-saving medicinal breakthroughs right here in our own backyard,” he said.
Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton said the timing aligned with “extraordinary global momentum in biomedical science,” adding that RNA technologies were “transforming how we understand, prevent and treat disease”.
“Macquarie University is proud to host this new RNA facility and to help bring it to life at a time of extraordinary global momentum in biomedical science,” he said.
The project was delivered by Health Infrastructure in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer. Ownership of the Facility will now transfer to Property and Development NSW.
