News from the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator

2026 | Edition 2 

It’s been a whirlwind few months since I joined the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator at the end of March. It has been wonderful to start to grasp the sheer volume of work already done and to feel the energy that is being devoted to creating the once-in-a-generation opportunity that we have as we establish our hub for biomedical research, innovation and translation in Sydney.

Our teams have been hard at work to deliver the building, infrastructure and new ways of working that will ensure we realise this aim. A particular focus this quarter has been on cementing our plans for the state-of-the-art infrastructure that will support our translational vision such as the Medich Biobank, which will be one of the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and our cryo-electron microscopy facility, which will significantly boost capability for biomedical research and drug design in Sydney.

Over the second half of the year, I look forward to getting out and about and meeting more of our wider network as we strengthen our connections within the Tech Central precinct and expand our partnerships locally and globally.

I recently represented the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator at the BIO International Convention, an event that brings the global biotechnology community together to advance innovation and improve health outcomes. The level of enthusiasm and interest in our project was outstanding. I hope that many of those I had the pleasure of meeting are now subscribers and will continue to stay in touch as we approach completion in 2028.

Finally, it is with sadness that we acknowledge the recent passing of Isaac Wakil AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO. We are immensely grateful for Isaac’s commitment to health and medical research and education. His vision will live on through the SBA’s Isaac Wakil Biomedical Building, enabled by a $20 million donation to the University from the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation in 2022. Richard Scolyer is remembered for his early contributions to the project, shaping our translational vision and championing the SBA at events and engagement activities.

Regards,
Vic

Jacob Nash to create major public artwork at the SBA

Jacob Nash has been named as the artist for a public installation at the SBA, to be titled Collision.  

The artwork will incorporate fire and the collection of ashes as a central element, symbolising the fusion of old and new knowledge systems and the transformative potential of collaboration.  

It will reflect the SBA’s role in advancing biomedical research and translating discovery into public healthcare outcomes. 

Name the crane competition

Two cranes now proudly fly their names above the SBA site. Through our partner Richard Crookes Constructions' SBA Name the Crane competition, students from Newtown North Public School and primary-aged relatives from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital were invited to name the cranes helping deliver our state-of-the-art health, education and biomedical research complex.

Congratulations to the winning participants and welcome to the team - ‘Sir Luffs A Lot' and ‘Dulili’, an Aboriginal word meaning “together.” 

Construction update  

L: Victoria Cogger and Mike Ryan on site | R: Aerial view of the construction site in Camperdown 

The University’s Professor Mike Ryan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) recently joined the SBA project team and Richard Crookes Constructions on a walkthrough of the construction site at Camperdown. They saw the excellent progress first-hand including the steel reinforcement going down in the Core Research Facility Plaza on level 1, the erection of the level 2 suspended decks for nanobioscience facilities, and the building cores now reaching level 4.

Prof Khoon Lim in the lab

ARC Linkage success 

Congratulations to Professor Khoon Lim of the Biomanufacturing Incubator and team who have been awarded an Australian Research Council Linkage project. Professor Lim is partnering with BIO INX®, a spin-off company of Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, to develop advanced biologically-based resins for light-based biofabrication technologies. This project has the potential to unlock next-generation applications in regenerative medicine and drug testing, positioning Australia at the forefront of biofabrication innovation. The team includes collaborators at Harvard Medical School, University Medical Centre Utrecht and the University of Otago. 

University of Sydney-led Linkage projects received $8.6 million in the latest funding round.

International Clinical Trials Day showcase

To mark International Clinical Trials Day in May, Sydney Local Heath District held a competition showcasing Clinical Trial Units that demonstrate leadership in consumer engagement and trial inclusivity.

Congratulations to the team from the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health – a partnership between the District and the University of Sydney – who won the competition for their work to co-design musculoskeletal clinical trial programs with consumers.  

There are currently more than 800 active clinical trials underway across more than 80 departments in the District. 

Applications open for Biodesign Sydney

The SBA is the principal partner for the 2026 Biodesign Sydney Program—an intensive, hands‑on experience for aspiring biomedical innovators. The program allows multidisciplinary teams to undertake a period of immersion in a hospital setting to identify unmet clinical needs and develop innovative solutions. Participants also receive training in medical device development processes, writing patents, regulation, IP, and business and funding strategies. The program runs on Wednesday evenings from August to December at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. Applications close on 27 July.

Did you know?

Artist's impression of Medich Biobank. Image courtesy of Denton Corker Marshall

The SBA Medich Biobank is a specialised biobanking facility and, once built, will be one of the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. It will complement the NSW Health Statewide Biobank and support a coordinated, precinct-wide biobanking ecosystem. The facility will have the capacity to store more than five million biospecimens, supporting a wide range of research and clinical applications.

The Sydney Biomedical Accelerator is a visionary partnership between the University of Sydney, Sydney Local Health District and the NSW Government bringing together clinicians, researchers, academics and industry to solve the most complex health problems of today, tomorrow and the future.

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