The University of Sydney has announced its largest ever capital investment to build a leading biomedical precinct to fast-track research and patient care in New South Wales.
The landmark $478 million investment will create a 36,000 square metre health, education, and research precinct co-located at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University’s Camperdown campuses.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott AO said the investment is a key component of the University’s new 10-year strategy.
“This is a historic investment for any University. The range of world-class buildings and facilities that will make up the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator (SBA) will bring together the brightest scientific and clinical minds with entrepreneurs, industry and government,” said Professor Scott.
“It gives our renowned researchers and partners the infrastructure to take a major step forward in the global quest to find solutions to our biggest health challenges. Together, we have the potential to dramatically improve the future of health and medical care in this country.
“Once the Accelerator is completed, the long-term relationship between our University and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital will be further strengthened by the physical sharing and linkage of facilities, accelerating the pathway between findings made at a patient’s bedside to the research bench and back again.”
The vice-chancellor said the SBA is a partnership between the University, the Sydney Local Health District and the NSW Government, in collaboration with the Centenary Institute.
“This project cements our long-standing partnership with the Sydney Local Health District and we are so thankful for the $143.3 million commitment that the NSW Government announced for this project back in June.”
The university said it expects over 1,200 biomedical researchers and clinician scientists will be located onsite at the SBA, including over 800 university laboratory researchers and PhD students and 100 industry researchers.
SBA funding includes $73 million in philanthropic donations, including $20 million from the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation that will establish The Isaac Wakil Biomedical Building, one of three buildings that make up the complex.
University of Sydney Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AC said, “This $20 million gift to the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator is the latest in one of many transformative donations made by the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation to the University of Sydney. These extraordinary philanthropists have now gifted more than $66 million, the largest named donation to a single institution in NSW history, to the University to enhance the future of healthcare and teaching in Australia. We are forever thankful for their vision.”
Isaac Wakil AO said the past two years have shown the vital importance of supporting medical research.
“The Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation is proud of its long relationship with the University of Sydney and is very pleased to be able to help make this important project a reality. We hope that our initial support encourages further investment in the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator,” said Mr Wakil.
Other support includes a bequest from Dr Marie Knispel, support for a bespoke anatomy and teaching laboratory, and the gift for the Clearbridge Chair in Immunotherapy to support cancer research within the SBA.
Early works for the SBA will commence this year and initial occupation is expected to occur from 2026.