The NCRIS Health Group warmly welcomes the release of Australia’s RNA Blueprint by the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

The NCRIS Health Group includes Bioplatforms Australia, EMBL Australia, National Imaging Facility, Phenomics Australia, Population Health Research Network and Therapeutic Innovation Australia. We are delighted that our advanced translational research infrastructure has been recognised in the RNA Blueprint.

Supported by the Australian Department of Education’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), the NCRIS Health Group facilitates cross-disciplinary health and medical research, providing Australian researchers with access to world-class infrastructure that enhance outcomes across the entire translation cycle for various therapeutic products, including RNA-based therapies.

The blueprint acknowledges that over $160M has been collectively invested by NCRIS Health Group members to establish an RNA Products Capability, enhance and expand synthetic biology capability and provide models for disease studies.

Therapeutic Innovation Australia recently launched the RNA Products Capability at UNSW, with the assistance of NSW Senator Tim Ayres, Chief Scientist Cathy Foley and UNSW Vice Chancellor Atilla Brungs. This Capability will revolutionise the development and manufacturing of RNA-based therapies, addressing a wide array of medical conditions with unprecedented precision and efficiency. The four nodes are drawn from leading universities with expertise and infrastructure for translating RNA from discoveries into potential therapeutics, and already work closely together on collaborative projects. The nodes of this capability are:

• Australian Centre for RNA Therapeutics in Cancer – University of Western Australia, led by Professor Archa Fox
• BASE Facility – University of Queensland, led by Associate Professor Tim Mercer
• mRNA CORE – Monash University, led by Professor Colin Pouton
• RNA Institute – UNSW, led by Professor Palli Thordarson

We are committed to leveraging our research infrastructure capabilities to contribute to the blueprint’s identified goals to drive the growth of Australia’s RNA sector, particularly the connection and promotion of the national RNA ecosystem and increasing access to cutting edge national research infrastructure.

We look forward to collaborating with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources to implement the actions outlined in the blueprint.

Read the RNA Blueprint here – https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/australias-rna-blueprint