Enabling precision conservation of threatened species through national-scale genomics infrastructure
There is a global biodiversity crisis with Australia having the highest mammal extinction rate in the world. Many threatened species now persist only in small, fragmented wild populations or captivity, where loss of genetic diversity further increases extinction risk. Despite advances in conservation genetics, uptake has historically been limited by fragmented datasets, inconsistent methodologies, and […]
Genomics for biosecurity: stronger screening for plant pathogens
Australia’s biosecurity relies on the rapid and accurate detection of pathogens at the border. The Australian Government’s Post Entry Quarantine facility faced increasing volumes of high-risk imported plants requiring screening. Traditional viral screening approaches were labour intensive and highly specialised, and fast becoming unsustainable. Image credit: Robin Eichner (DAWE) Australian BioCommons, enabled through Bioplatforms Australia, […]
A nasal spray to protect against COVID-19 and future respiratory viruses
Researchers at the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney are developing a new antiviral approach that could help protect against COVID-19 and potentially other respiratory viruses. The work, led by A/Prof Chantelle Ahlenstiel, explores the use of short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics delivered through an intranasal spray. Unlike vaccines that train the immune system to recognise […]
Bioplatforms-supported startups recognised in NSW Emerging Technology Commercialisation Fund
Three startups supported by Bioplatforms Australia have been announced as recipients of the NSW Government’s Emerging Technology Commercialisation Fund, recognising the strength of Australia’s deep-tech pipeline and the role of national research infrastructure in translating discovery into real-world impact. The successful companies are Number 8 Bio, Platypus Bio and HydGene Renewables. Each is developing technologies […]
Australian Access Federation (AAF)
The Australian Access Federation (AAF) is Australia’s leading provider of identity and access management services to the education and research sector. We make it easy for people to securely access education and research services nationally and internationally, by providing single sign-on. It allows individuals from different organisations to collaborate and access online resources within a trusted environment.
Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC)
The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) provides Australian researchers with competitive advantage through data. It accelerates research and innovation by driving excellence in the creation, analysis and retention of high-quality data assets. The ARDC is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). NCRIS is a national network of world-class research infrastructure projects that support high-quality research that will drive greater innovation in the Australian research sector and the economy more broadly.
Microscopy Australia (MicroAu)
Microscopy Australia provides researchers and industry with open access to the nation’s largest range of high-end microscopes, microanalysis tools, and specialists. It consists of university-based microscopy centres around the country. Our instruments have dedicated experts to deliver high quality training and support to ensure you get the best research outcomes.
National Imaging Facility (NIF)
National Imaging Facility (NIF) is Australia’s advanced imaging network. We provide open access to world-class imaging equipment, expertise, tools, data and analysis. We address Australia’s strategic science and research priorities, and this benefits Australian industry and helps keep Australians healthy.
Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre (Pawsey)
Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre is home of Setonix, Australia’s fastest and most energy-efficient supercomputer, delivering the nation’s most advanced AI research infrastructure through massive GPU power.
Our integrated platform combines cutting-edge GPU acceleration with AI frameworks, real-time analytics, and advanced remote visualisation services and expertise. This gives researchers nationwide access to the scale, speed and expertise needed to accelerate discovery and innovation across every field, from climate modelling and drug discovery to quantum research and astronomy.
Phenomics Australia (PA)
Phenomics Australia provides a national capability to explore the human genome and the genetic basis of health and disease. Our openly accessible service delivery centres span twenty locations across Australia. Through these, we offer specialised infrastructure, research services and technical expertise dedicated to advancing our fundamental understanding of health and disease and enabling next-generation innovations in healthcare and therapeutic development to benefit all Australians.
Data Connect Australia
The Population Health Research Network (PHRN) has been at the forefront of integrating health and human services data across Australia. With a robust network of data linkage units, PHRN empowers researchers to unlock insights into disease, shaping innovative treatments and enhancing health services nationwide. Underpinned by a commitment to privacy and ethical standards, PHRN exemplifies collaborative research, bolstered by substantial support from government and academic sectors.
Bioplatforms Initiative recognised as an official project supporting Australia’s Animal Plan
We are pleased to share that the Bioplatforms Animal Disease Genomics Initiative is now listed as an official project supporting the ambitions of the DAFF Animalplan 2022–2027, Australia’s first national action plan for production animal health. Led by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Animalplan 2022–2027 provides a coordinated national framework to strengthen […]
From discovery to spin-out: advancing new therapies for polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease is a common inherited condition that can lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation, with limited treatment options available. Researchers at Monash University identified a key cell signalling pathway driving cyst growth, forming the foundation for xCystence Bio, a biotech spin-out developing new therapies to slow or halt disease progression. NCRIS-enabled […]
Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA)
Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA) is the lead agent for the NCRIS “Therapeutic Innovation Australia” project. TIA a national consortium of translational research infrastructure that provides researchers and SMEs the expertise and capabilities required to move a potential therapeutic product along the development pathway.
AARNet
AARNet is Australia’s national research and education network, a not-for-profit organisation equally owned by 38 Australian universities and CSIRO. AARNet provides essential high-speed internet and advanced network services tailored to meet the specialised needs of researchers in Australia.
EMBL Australia PhD Course celebrates 10 years of training Australia’s future research leaders
More than 60 PhD students from across the country came together in Adelaide for the 10th EMBL Australia PhD Course – a unique, two-week residential program designed to equip emerging researchers with the skills and confidence needed for modern scientific careers. Co-hosted with the South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI), this year’s course focused on future-ready […]
Strengthening international research relations and showcasing Australian capability
Driving global collaboration through the Prato 2025 Health Research Infrastructure Symposium The 2025 Australian & European Health Research Infrastructure Symposium, held from 16-18 September at the Monash University Prato Centre in Italy, united leaders from major Australian and European research infrastructures to strengthen international partnerships and tackle shared challenges in health and life sciences. The three-day […]
Cost-effective imaging technology to revolutionise spatial transcriptomics
EMBL Australia group leader Dr William Roman & his team have launched a new imaging-based spatial transcriptomics platform that dramatically reduces experimental costs from more than $35,000 to approximately $30 per experiment, making spatial biology more accessible to researchers across Australia. While modern sequencing technology has made it relatively easy to tell which genes are […]
NCRIS Turbo-Charges New mRNA Drugs
Therapeutics that use mRNA are a growing area of development and work by introducing the ‘’message” to make a therapeutic protein into the patient’s body, instead of the protein itself. This approach can revolutionise combatting many kinds of cancers, and for treating genetic and infectious diseases. Conventional strategies deliver mRNA drugs to tissues inside lipid […]
Preparing Australia for lumpy skin disease
Scientists at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) are working with government agencies and industry to prepare Australia for lumpy skin disease. What is lumpy skin disease? Lumpy skin disease is a highly infectious disease of cattle and water buffalo caused by a capripox virus. It does not occur in Australia and it does […]
MAB: advancing bioimaging through collaboration and innovation
EMBL Australia Group Leader Dr Senthil Arumugam, along with Dr Toby Bell and Dr Kate McArthur, recently launched the Monash BDI Advanced Bioimaging (MAB) platform – a researcher-led, global collaboration hub designed to bring innovative microscopy technologies directly to the researchers who need them. From light-sheet imaging to custom-built microscopes and large-scale data visualisation, MAB integrates experimental […]
Supercomputing powers the fight to accelerate phage therapies against antibiotic-resistant infections
NCI, Pawsey, and ARDC help researchers rapidly identify therapeutic phages from metagenomic data through the powerful new Sphae toolkit. Flowchart of Sphae’s modular process for predicting suitable phages for antimicrobial therapy. Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing global health threats of our time, prompting scientists to urgently explore alternative ways to combat deadly […]
First in-human images of new hope treatment for poor-prognosis prostate cancer
In a world first, supported by National Imaging Facility, Australian researchers have imaged and measured the uptake of a promising new prostate cancer therapy drug developed by Australian company AdvanCell, which was recently administered to its first patient in a clinical trial. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men. Around 50% of […]
New brain imaging set to improve and speed epilepsy diagnosis, treatment
Novel imaging methods combined with cognitive, genetic and medical data will use AI to increase the speed and accuracy of diagnoses and treatment for epilepsy patients, according to researchers working collaboratively with NIF. Advanced MRI imaging methods are helping Australian epilepsy researchers move closer to faster, more accurate, individualised diagnoses and treatment options for patients. […]
Future-proofing computational proteomics
EMBL Australia and Bioplatforms Australia joined forces to host a pivotal proteomics workshop titled ‘Future-proofing Computational Proteomics’ on 24 April, featuring leading guest speakers, Dr Rolf Apweiler, Prof Marc Wilkins and Dr Richard Lipscombe. The Australian proteomics community discussed advancements in proteomics research and the pivotal role of computational approaches in shaping the future of […]
Protein discovery for better bowel cancer treatments
Bowel cancer claims more than 100 lives in Australia every week. Thankfully, researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) have discovered that an immune protein can slow the division of bowel cancer cells. This is a promising target for both early detection tests and bowel cancer treatments. DR ABHIMANU PANDEY SAYS AN IMMUNE SYSTEM PROTEIN […]
Strengthening our European connections to EMBL and beyond
On a recent visit to EMBL Heidelberg, Ian Smith, Chair of the EMBL Australia Council, spoke about the synergies between EMBL and EMBL Australia, opportunities for collaboration and ideas for exciting future programs. Ian Smith, Chair of the EMBL Australia Council, chatted to EMBL about the synergies between the organisations, opportunities for collaboration, and ideas […]
Clinical Trial Data Unlocked for Research with New National Platform
Health Data Australia is unlocking clinical trial data for research at a national scale. For the first time in Australia, researchers can find clinical trial data from multiple research institutions and request access to it via a new platform, Health Data Australia. Launching tomorrow at SAHMRI in Adelaide, Health Data Australia allows clinical trialists and data […]
Vaccine patch delivers protection from dengue in mice
Dengue is the most significant mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. With an estimated 390 million cases annually, it results in approximately US$6.9 billion in economic losses. Now Dr David Muller and the vaccine team at the University of Queensland (UQ) have developed a promising dengue vaccine candidate that provides strong immunity in mice when […]
Renewable, versatile spinifex and the future of nanofibres
From nanotechnology to Indigenous empowerment Spinifex, a hardy Australian grass, spread widely across inland Australia, presents a new high-tech opportunity for the future of construction, medical technology, and day-to-day life. In partnership with the Indjalandji-Dhidhanu People of North-West Queensland, through Bulugudu Ltd, researchers at the University of Queensland have been developing a high-tech product from […]
Biobanks: the Australian Phenome Bank
The Australian Phenome Bank: a national biobank and database aiding the discovery of genetic disease causes and advancing Personalised Medicine. Phenomics Australia’s Biobanking service provides a database and cryobank of mouse sperm and embryos essential for discovering and distributing disease models in Australia. The challenge: Ensuring the ongoing availability of mouse strains preserving the investment made in […]
CRISPR/Cas as diagnostics tools
Phenomics Australia NCRIS expertise is used in providing knowledge to look into the commercial and translational potential of CRISPR technology. Phenomics Australia’s long-term support of the In vivo Genome Engineering and Disease Modelling nodes over the years has allowed researchers at the Melbourne Advanced Genome Editing Center (MAGEC) to have a solid understanding of CRISPR/Cas […]
When food kills
Infrastructure and expertise supported by Phenomics Australia and Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA)are used in fighting food poisoning toxins. Prof Si Ming Man (right) and Dr Anukriti Mathur (left). Image Lannon Harley/ANU The challenge: Food poisoning is estimated to affect more than 4 million Australians every year – costing the economy $1.25 billion, and in some […]
How Australia’s national research infrastructure is responding to COVID-19
Australia’s National Research Infrastructure (NRI) swiftly redeployed to support national and international COVID-19 research. Some examples are listed below. Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Bioplatforms Australia (BPA), Microscopy Australia and Therapautic Innovation Australia (TIA) were involved in the University of Queensland vaccine program. Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF) is supporting research into plant-based vaccines. Astronomy Australia […]
From ancient grass to modern materials
A unique partnership between Dugalunji Aboriginal Corporation and a University of Queensland research team has lead to the development of valuable and sustainable nanofibres leading to the creation of regional, Indigenous jobs. Challenge Nanofibres can strengthen many materials for a wide range of applications from thinner more flexible electronics and plastics, to next generation building […]
Better cholesterol imaging
An international team of researchers has developed a new way to localise cholesterol is in cells and tissues. This provides insights into how cholesterol moves in and out of cells and could eventually lead to new therapies for cardiovascular disease. Deuterated cholesterol enabled by the National Deuteration Facility and NanoSIMS (nano-Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy) at […]
