$96 million RNA facility is coming to Macquarie Park

Macquarie Park will become home to a new $96 million RNA research and pilot manufacturing facility, built on the Macquarie University campus and operated by global gene specialists Myeloid Therapeutics.

The announcement of the Australian-first facility by the NSW Government comes as the State prepares to go to the polls this March.

The strategic partnership is designed to leverage the state’s capacity for local production and enhance clinical outcomes and biomedical proficiencies in our precinct.

Laboratories and other support spaces will populate the site, making it the only one in Australia - and one of only a handful in the world - where an extensive range of RNA therapeutics and potential delivery technologies can be independently produced.

Local testing and development will boost Australia’s sovereign capability and reduce reliance on international supply chains.

Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Alistair Henskens said the facility will promote positive medical outcomes including faster access to innovative therapeutics:

“The cutting-edge work that will be done at this world-leading facility has the potential to save lives by accelerating our biomedical research capabilities and boosting early phase clinical trials to combat disease”

Macquarie University President and Vice-Chancellor, Bruce Dowton added that the new facility would elevate the reputation of Macquarie Park as an innovation district:

“Our world-leading researchers and clinicians are engaged in answering some of the most urgent medical questions of our time, working to improve diagnosis and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, motor neurone disease and cancers - all areas where RNA research has tremendous potential”

The Myeloid-operated facility will be in good company in Macquarie Park, with medical and health-related organisations and industrial and technological start-ups as neighbours.

This includes AstraZeneca’s recently upgraded medical manufacturing facility, and other international industry leaders who call Macquarie Park home, including Abbott, Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson.

An experienced project team has been appointed to progress planning and design for the pilot RNA facility, which is due to open for production in 2025.