District and The University of Sydney partner to open first.

Sydney Local Health District, in partnership with The University of Sydney, has officially opened the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator (SBA) Innovation Hub – a shared collaboration space for clinicians, researchers, scientists, students, academics and industry partners. 

The Innovation Hub is based at Gloucester House on RPA’s campus and marks the first activation of the SBA ahead of building works that are set to begin in 2024. 

“The Innovation Hub is an incubator for ideas allowing us to bring our people together to begin the work of the SBA enhancing the culture, operations and physical connection between biomedical research industry partnerships and clinical services,” Dr Teresa Anderson, the District’s Chief Executive said. 

“It will help us accelerate the translation of research from bench to bedside, and most importantly, it will lead to improved health outcomes for the people of New South Wales, Australia and internationally,” Dr Anderson said. 

She was joined by the District’s Board Chair John Ajaka, and Adjunct Associate Professor Vicki Taylor, the Executive Director of the Sydney Innovation Precinct for Health Education and Research, Sydney Research and Professor Christopher Semsarian, a Clinical Academic Cardiologist at the launch. 

The University of Sydney’s Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson, Vice Chancellor Professor Mark Scott, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Emma Johnston and Professor Robyn Ward, the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health also attended. 

The SBA is an over $650 million initiative between the NSW Government, the District and the University, backed by the generous support of donors. 

It will be a state-of-the-art complex of three interconnected buildings across RPA and the University – a 36 000m2 innovation, education and research partnership.    

“It's just great to see the start of this wonderful collaboration. This is just the start, 800 square metres in this space here [at the Innovation Hub], but we will have 36,000 square metres [once the SBA is completed],” Ms Hutchinson said. 

“That's a huge area on which to really build biomedical research and to accelerate that research, commercialize it, to put it into startups. That's incredibly exciting for us because we'll be able to have industry partners on this campus to work very, very closely with us,” she said. 

It will also feature a strong partnership with the Centenary Institute which will be first research collaborator of the SBA. 

“This is the best day of my life. This is so exciting. To me, the ultimate goal of everything we do...  it's all about the patient. They will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the SBA. And I'm so proud to be part of it,” Professor Christopher Semsarian, a world-renowned cardiologist who leads the Molecular Cardiology Program at the Centenary Institute, said.  

During the official opening Uncle Brendan Kerin from the NSW Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council led a traditional smoking ceremony to prepare the space as a safe and welcoming place for all those who work there.  

To learn more about the SBA please visit https://sydneybiomedicalaccelerator.org