The UNSW RNA Institute is open for business and collaborating with several companies and research institutes.
There are myriad ways in which we can collaborate with companies to solve problems and advance technologies.
These include, but are not limited to, scaling up (m)RNA or (lipid) nanoparticle delivery systems, developing quality control processes as well as compiling the ideal cross-disciplinary team of scientists, medical experts and engineers to advance your deep tech R&D program. We invite you to join us.
RNA ecosystem
RNA resides both at the centre of our biology and at the frontier of biomedical research. In NSW and Australia, this frontier is being explored by the UNSW RNA Institute and our rich network of partners and collaborators.
The UNSW RNA Institute is part of the NSW RNA Production and Research Network (NSW-RPRN), a network that includes five NSW and ACT universities (UNSW, UTS, Macquarie Uni, Uni of Sydney and ANU), as well as institutions such as the Children’s Medical Research Institute, the Kirby Institute, the Westmead Institute of Medical Research, the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, the Children’s Cancer Institute and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Facilities and Projects
RNA Accelerator
One of the three pillars of the NSW-RPRN is the RNA Accelerator, the institute’s nucleus designed to expedite the discovery, manufacture and – crucially – pre-clinical trials of RNA-based therapeutics and other products. The Accelerator will supply high quality RNA/nanoparticle formulations under ISO-9001/GLP conditions for pre-clinical studies.
NSW RNA Production and Research Network
Supported by the Office for Health and Medical Research, the RNA Accelerator is primed for action with three pilot projects within the NSW RNA Production and Research Network (NSW-RPRN):
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery pilot project
- Better RNA nanoparticle delivery systems for the respiratory tract
- Synthetic RNA (siRNA) therapeutics for treating SARS-CoV-2
Therapeutics Innovation Australia (TIA) and National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)
The UNSW RNA Institute is a TIA facility, meaning that government support is available to use our services for the development of RNA therapeutics. TIA has developed the Pipeline Accelerator voucher scheme, with successful applicants able to receive up to $50,000 in matching funds to develop therapeutic projects using RNA Institute capabilities. See the Pipeline Accelerator Scheme link below for more information.
Therapeutics Innovation Australia (TIA)
National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)
Education and training
A core objective of the UNSW RNA Institute is to train the workforce for the RNA manufacturing industry and the next generation of leaders in RNA Science, Engineering and Medicine. Our research programs will be tailored to give graduate students and early career researchers the chance to collaborate in a cross-disciplinary environment, putting them in prime position to become tomorrow’s leaders in their field.
The RNA Accelerator and our strong commitment to industry collaboration will provide a great opportunity for students to get hands-on training in the techniques that underpin RNA manufacturing. Through its outreach program, the UNSW RNA Institute will also provide the broader community with educational material on RNA science, technology and therapeutics.