NSW Government invests more than $140 million in biomedical research complex.

Work will soon start on an Australian-first cutting-edge health and technology complex on RPA’s campus, thanks to a grant of more than $140 million over four years from the NSW Government.

The Sydney Biomedical Accelerator (SBA) will be a state-of-the-art biomedical research complex aimed at fast tracking real-world health outcomes by integrating fundamental, clinical and patient-centred research.

The NSW Treasurer Matt Kean and NSW Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens made the funding announcement ahead of the NSW 2022–2023 state budget.

They were joined by Sydney Local Health District’s Chief Executive Dr Teresa Anderson, University of Sydney’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Scott, the University’s Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor Medicine and Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Professor Robyn Ward and the Chair of the Centenary Institute Joseph Carrozzi. 

The SBA is being set up in partnership with the NSW Government, the District and the University in collaboration with leading medical research institute, the Centenary Institute.

It will support multidisciplinary collaboration between world-leading teams of clinicians, scientists, engineers, computer scientists, entrepreneurs and research and industry partners — all with the focus on better outcomes for patients.

“Our patients are at the centre of everything we do and we are always looking for ways to improve their lives so this announcement is very exciting,” Dr Anderson said.

“Investing in these state-of-the-art facilities will dramatically shorten the time between scientific discovery and health outcomes for patients and their families, getting people the answers they need faster.

“The SBA will also help us solve critical health challenges and revolutionise health care solutions for generations to come. 

“It will offer a unique global concentration of biomedical research talent and research facilities and will be positioned to dynamically collaborate with industry and start-ups as part of a hospital, university and technology innovation ecosystem.” she said.

The SBA will be located in the Tech Central precinct and will further enhance the 140 year partnership between RPA, the District and the University.

“The announcement consolidates the partnership that’s going to be happening in this precinct,” Professor Scott said.

“The ability to be able to bring together those different disciplines — from universities, medical research institutes, business, industry, hospitals — this is the dream that everyone is seeking,” he said.

The Chair of the Centenary Institute Joseph Carrozzi said the partnership will have a significant impact on future work researchers at the Institute do.

“Their future, their ability to attract talent, their ability to do some remarkable discoveries supported by two anchor institutions of the University of Sydney and RPA hospital — that is now becoming a reality,” he said.  

The SBA will also greatly enhance RPA’s $750 million redevelopment. It will be located at the back of the RPA campus, and will physically join RPA with the University of Sydney.

Early works will start this year and initial occupation is expected to occur from 2026.