Western Australia will establish the first RNA development centre dedicated to cancer treatments following a $2 million investment from the state government.
Archa Fox, a molecular cell biologist and professor in UWA’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, will lead the creation of the facility, the RNA Foundry, as the first recipient of funding from the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund.
The foundry is part of a national network of RNA manufacturing centers established to support and accelerate the translation of RNA discoveries into treatments, but will be the first center established to focus on the application of RNA technology to oncology treatments.
Researchers and innovators will collaborate with oncologists, consumers and patient advocates to design, produce, test and improve pilot RNA-based products under one roof.
RNA technology has been propelled to the forefront of the medical technology world during the COVID-19 pandemic with its use in vaccine production.
Professor Fox, who will lead the centre, has been chair of the RNA Network Australia since 2015 and in 2020 became director of the International RNA Society.
Minister for Medical Research Stephen Dawson said investment in initiatives such as the RNA Foundry was essential to ensuring Western Australia had the capacity and expertise to capitalise on medical and health research.
“This co-investment will drive improvements in health policy and medicine, in practice, in patient care and ultimately in better health outcomes for Western Australians,” he said.
“It will also enable WA to become a high-quality training and research centre, attracting talented students and researchers to our state.”
The FHRI Fund was established in 2020 and is backed by the state’s $1.8 billion sovereign wealth fund.
Around $250 million will be made available over the next four years to support health and medical research and innovation in Western Australia.