It has been a busy time for the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator (SBA).

Procurement of the main building works contractor is currently underway after the project reached the milestone of 70 percent building design.

Minister Harris, Deputy Secretary Levesque and Executive Director Sutherland met with University and District executives on the Susan Wakil Health Building balcony overlooking the build site.

The enabling works for the build is nearing completion, with construction due to commence in 2025. 

The SBA complex, totalling more than $650 million, will be built in close coordination with the $940 million redevelopment of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital - the largest transformation in the 140-year history of Australia’s leading hospital. 

Together, these initiatives will transform research and clinical capabilities in New South Wales and see further recognition nationally and internationally for the Sydney Innovation Precinct for Health Education Research (SIPfHER).

In August we welcomed the Hon. David Harris MP, NSW Minister for Medical Research, Dr Jean-Frédéric Levesque, Deputy Secretary of Clinical Innovation and Research at NSW Ministry of Health, and Kim Sutherland, Executive Director of the Office for Health and Medical Research to view early works progress and discuss upcoming milestones.

The Hon. Steve Whan MP, NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education also visited in August and met with Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Emma Johnston to view the SBA site.

Industry engagement and operating models are being developed for the SBA which will integrate fundamental research with clinical and patient-centred research.

Minister Whan and Professor Johnston overlooked the SBA site from the Susan Wakil Health Building. 

SBA build site viewed from Susan Wakil Health Building.

In August, the University’s flagship public talks program Sydney Ideas hosted an evening panel discussion on medical innovation and research acceleration, in collaboration with the SBA and the Brain and Mind Centre. Hosted by the ABC’s Tegan Taylor, the panel featured neuroscientist and psychopharmacologist Michael Bowen, biomedical research leader Victoria Cogger, and neuroimaging scientist and engineer Chenyu Tim Wang. It was followed by an intimate networking reception with friends of the SBA. Missed the event? Watch back or listen to the podcast.

Medical Moonshots panel and MC (left to right): Associate Dean (Research) Antoine van Oijen, Chenyu Tim Wang, Victoria Cogger, Tegan Taylor, and Michael Bowen.

SBA team members attended the recent BIO International Convention 2024 conference in San Diego, the largest conference of its kind in the world. BIO 2024 brought together leaders from the pharmaceutical industry, research sector, regulatory agencies, and investment firms. Richard Wang, Biomedical Enterprise Manager and Emma-Louise Hunsley, Commercialisation Manager met with world-class universities, incubators, and accelerators and visited strategic partners at the University of California San Diego. They toured the Design and Innovation Building and the Center for Novel Therapeutics at the university’s Science Research Park. The visit opened doors to new collaborations, demonstrating the strength of our international network in key biomedical industries.

The SBA was a key feature of this year’s Sydney Innovation and Research Symposium at the Seymour Centre. Keynote presenters, Australians of the Year, and co-directors of the Melanoma Institute, Professors Georgina Long AO and Richard Scolyer AO, spoke about the way innovation drives hope. The Sydney Biomedical Accelerator will bring together some of the brightest minds to accelerate ideas and transform patient care. View the highlights or watch talks online.

The exhibition space showcased artists’ impressions of the SBA, and staff were on hand to answer questions from delegates who explored a 3D model of the complex.

The inaugural SBA Commercialisation Masterclass Series concluded with a final pitch workshop in June where participants showcased their skills and learning. They practiced pitching their product or innovation and received feedback from a panel of expert judges. There are some exciting and innovative projects being developed within the SBA ecosystem. Congratulations to those who completed the series.

Delivered in partnership with Cicada Innovations, the series included ten interactive workshops held monthly covering topics such as IP, customer discovery, funding strategies, and regulatory fundamentals. Over 110 participants attended, including researchers, clinicians, start-up founders, and HDR students.

Keep an eye out for future SBA workshops and events.

There have been over 250 staff and affiliates of Sydney Local Health District and the University of Sydney collaborating on the SBA project.

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The SBA is a partnership between the University of Sydney, Sydney Local Health District, and NSW Government to fast-track innovative research into better health outcomes.

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