New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has officially opened the UNSW Health Translation Hub, a centre designed to accelerate the movement of medical research into real-world clinical practice.
Developed in partnership between UNSW Sydney and infrastructure developer Plenary, the 35,600-square-metre Hub is designed to connect the University with its neighbouring hospital network. The integration aims to shorten the time between discovery and improved patient outcomes, offering researchers, clinicians and students direct pathways to collaborate on innovations that can be rapidly deployed into care.
The launch marks a significant milestone in the NSW Government’s $1.5 billion Randwick Campus Redevelopment, one of the largest health infrastructure projects in the state’s history. Premier Minns said the facility embodies the potential of strategic partnerships to reshape how health care is delivered.
“The opening of this facility is a game-changer for health care, innovation and education in NSW,” he said. “This facility embodies what’s possible when government, universities and industry work together, breaking down barriers between research and care and putting NSW at the forefront of global health innovation. The ultimate goal of this hub is simple: better health outcomes for people across NSW. Every discovery made here, every partnership formed, will translate into better treatment, faster diagnosis and stronger communities.”
The Hub offers an interdisciplinary environment. Students across medicine, allied health, population health, biomedical engineering and other health sciences will learn alongside researchers, clinicians and industry partners. The model is designed to immerse students in real-world challenges while cultivating the leadership, technical and problem-solving skills needed in the future health workforce.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the Hub will transform how students experience health education and how innovations are brought to patients. “The UNSW Health Translation Hub is about bringing people together to transform health. By uniting students, researchers, clinicians, industry and the community in one place, we can rapidly turn discoveries into real improvements in health care, strengthen patient outcomes and help prepare the health professionals of tomorrow,” he said. “It is wonderful to see our bold vision come to life. This groundbreaking facility reflects UNSW’s deep commitment to improving health and patient care, and achieving health equity in partnership with government and industry.”
Research efforts within the Hub will concentrate on some of the most pressing health challenges facing Australians, including precision and personalised medicine, advanced therapeutics, mental health, ageing well, new models of care, health systems reform and cancer. The facility also forms a critical component of the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct, a rapidly expanding cluster of research institutes, universities, hospitals and industry partners.
Under an initial 20-year agreement, UNSW will occupy two-thirds of the building, sharing space with the Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre and The George Institute for Global Health. The remaining space will be leased to industry, providing an opportunity for health and life-science organisations to co-locate within the precinct and collaborate directly with UNSW and the hospital network.
Plenary Group Head of Development Sergio Calcarao said the Hub represents a significant evolution in how health precincts are conceived. “The UNSW Health Translation Hub represents a major step forward in how we design and deliver places that bring research, education and industry together. It’s more than a building. It’s an anchor for the precinct and broader community,” he said. “This truly collaborative project has delivered on the promise of co-locating the best public and private health and life science organisations to bring together research, learning, innovation and community impact, generating long-term value for the community and economy.”
The UNSW Health Translation Hub is fully funded by Plenary, IFM Investors, HESTA and UniSuper.