Research | RNA Institute

A world leader in RNA research

The UNSW RNA Institute is Australia’s leading RNA research institute, uniting UNSW researchers and collaborating with other universities and institutes.

This interdisciplinary research approach is significantly shaping the landscape of RNA technologies and therapeutics, creating a substantial impact on advancing solutions for human welfare.

Our expertise

We are proud of our visionary leaders in RNA biology, chemistry and medicine, forming the cornerstone of our expertise.

RNA Biology

Led by Prof Irina Voineagu (School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences).

RNA Chemistry

Led by Prof Pall Thordarson (School of Chemistry).

RNA Medicine

Led by Prof Maria Kavallaris (Children’s Cancer Institute and UNSW) and Prof Anthony Kelleher (Kirby Institute and UNSW).

Academic team

To support these RNA pioneers, the Institute has over 20 research groups in UNSW Science, Engineering, and Medicine and Health.

The Institute also has strong connections with other organisations within UNSW to facilitate research and development such as the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics (a node of Bioplatforms Australia), and the Recombinant Products Facility.

Science
Engineering
Medicine and Health

Kelly Clemens (Psychology)
Albert Fahrenbach (Chemistry)
Justin Gooding (Chemistry)
Christopher Marquis (Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences)
Kate Quinlan (Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences)
Martina Stenzel (Chemistry)
Irina Voineagu (Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences)

Merlin Crossley (Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences)
Selene Fernandez-Valverde (Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences)
Cecile King (Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences)
John Mattick (Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences)
Martin Smith (Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics)
Pall Thordarson (Chemistry)
Anna Wang (Chemistry)

Cyrille Boyer (Chemical Engineering)
Sophia Gu (Chemical Engineering)
Robert Nordon (Biomedical Engineering)

Rona Chandrawati (Chemical Engineering)
Megan Lord (Biomedical Engineering)
Peter Wich (Chemical Engineering)

Chantelle Ahlenstiel (Kirby / Medicine)
Scott Berry (Biomedical Sciences)
Daniel Fernández Ruiz (Biomedical Sciences)
Maria Kavallaris (CCI / Medicine)
Joshua McCarroll (CCI / Medicine)

Jake Baum (Biomedical Sciences)
Michelle Farrar (Randwick / Medicine)
David Jacques (Biomedical Sciences)
Anthony Kelleher (Kirby / Medicine)
Stuart Turville (Kirby / Medicine)

Our mission

Our mission is to grow and support the NSW RNA Ecosystem through research of four key challenge areas:

Interactions

Understanding sequence, structure and functional relationships of RNA.

A cutaway illustration revealing mRNA of a vaccine delivered within an envelope of lipid molecules.

Delivery

Delivery vehicles, targeted delivery, RNA design and stability, transport into cells, the fate of nanoparticles in vivo, crossing the blood brain barrier.

3d rendering of human cells in a blue background

Sensing

The development of sensing technologies for commercialisation and advancement of scientific knowledge.

Scientists at work at the RNA Accelerator – the core facility within the UNSW RNA Institute designed to expedite the discovery, manufacture and translation of RNA-based therapeutics and other products.

Manufacturing

RNA synthetic chemistry for sustainable manufacturing, lab-on-a-chip platform for synthesis and scale-up, scale-up of novel delivery systems, and documented production for pre-clinical studies.