ACRTC
The Australian Centre for RNA Therapeutics in Cancer (ACRTC) is an RNA innovation node in Western Australia dedicated to developing cancer treatments.
On this page
About us
Who we are
Cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, and aggressive cancers often lack effective treatment options. RNA therapeutics offer an alternative approach by enabling precision-targeted therapies that has the potential to disrupt cancer at its molecular roots.
The ACRTC was established in late-2023 to address the growing need for innovative solutions in cancer treatment through RNA-based therapies. Based at the School of Human Sciences at The University of Western Australia, the centre leverages cutting-edge RNA technologies to target aggressive or hard-to-treat cancers. By focusing on the structural features of RNA, the centre aims to develop therapies with greater stability and efficacy, driving impactful innovations for one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare.
Vision
To transform lives with innovative RNA-based cancer treatments and foster a vibrant biotech ecosystem, enabled by scientific excellence.
Mission
To bring together RNA and cancer innovators, pro-actively collaborating with oncologists, consumers and patient advocates, to uncover new insights and develop new therapies.
What we do
The ACRTC is a research centre focused on advancing RNA-based cancer treatments. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, the centre combines cutting-edge RNA technology with Australia's cancer research expertise to design, synthesise, test, and improve RNA drugs.
In addition to collaborative research, ACRTC conducts in-house research that specialises in the study of RNA sequences and structures, utilising Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the synthetic design of RNA drugs.
The centre's efforts are bolstered by the RNA Innovation Foundry (RIF), a dedicated mRNA production facility that serves as the Western Australia node in a national network of RNA production facilities supported by Therapeutics Innovation Australia (TIA).
Beyond research, the ACRTC is committed to training the next generation of researchers, equipping them with the knowledge of translation and commercialisation to bring scientific discoveries to the clinic.
Our advisory groups
Scientific advisory group
Prof Maria Kavallaris
Member
Head of Translational Cancer Nanomedicine & NHMRC Investigator
Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
Founding Director, Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, UNSW Sydney
Dr Gavin Knott
Member
Snow Medical Fellow, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Prof Vihandha Wickramasinghe
Member
Laboratory Head, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Prof Greg Goodall
Member
Centre for Cancer Biology, an alliance of SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Dr Wan Yue
Member
Executive Director, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
Consumer advisory group
- Ms Mar Knox
- Chair
- Ms Elizabeth Ban
- Member
- Ms Petrina Burnett
- Member
- Ms June Williams
- Member
- Mr Simon Hicks
- Member
Our people
Archa Fox
Professor
Carol Tan-Fujita
Business and Innovation Manager
Olga Shimoni
RNA production Facility Manager
Tessa Swain
Research Fellow
Sania Zahan
Casual Teaching
Graeme Allen
Quality Assurance Manager
Mel Boyd
Senior Project Coordinator
John Blinco
Senior Technical Officer
Hayley Ingram
Research Officer
Michelle Kingsbury
Administrative Officer
Projects
Ongoing projects
Pilot projects
- mRNA cancer vaccine targeting neoantigens for personalised treatment of lung cancer, co-led by Prof Jenette Creaney and Assoc Prof Alec Redwood
- Targeted mRNA-encoded cytokines for pancreatic cancer treatment, led by Assoc Prof Juliana Hamzah
- Epigenetic targeting of oncogenes and tumour suppressors using mRNA for triple negative breast cancer, led by Dr Ben Dywer
- mRNA-loaded gel implantation post-surgery to reduce cancer recurrence in sarcoma, led by Dr Ben Wylie
- mRNA expressing ubiquiting binding variants as treatment for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, led by Assoc Prof Pieter Eichhorn
In-house projects
- Methods development projects, including algorithms, mRNA structure characterisation, and assay optimisation.
The centre has the potential to improve cancer outcomes in WA and give local cancer researchers a powerful competitive edge.Professor Anna Nowak
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), UWA
Initiatives
The ACRTC offers top-up scholarships to support and encourage PhD students pursuing research in the field of RNA and cancer. The top-up scholarship initiative aligns with ACRTC’s mission to uncover new RNA insights with translational potential, develop new RNA-based therapies for cancer patients, and grow the biotech industry in Western Australia.
The Top-Up Scholarship is available at $10,000 per annum, provisioned till the expected completion date of PhD candidature.
Eligibility for this top-up scholarship is limited to:
- Currently enrolled PhD students at the University of Western Australia.
- PhD projects that involve the use or investigation of RNA in cancer research.
- Candidates who are not currently receiving a top-up scholarship from another source.
- Candidates who commit to completing an internship with an identified industry partner during their candidature (not mandatory, but highly desirable and will be viewed favourably in the selection process).
The ACRTC Research Impact Catalyst Scheme offers funding support for researchers, staff, and students to acquire specialised knowledge and skills crucial for driving research translation, commercialisation, and entrepreneurship. The Scheme aligns with ACRTC’s commitment to advance the field of RNA and cancer R&D through the development of a dynamic ecosystem of research translators and innovators.
This scheme is open to all WA-based ACRTC-affiliated researchers and their staff and students who demonstrate how their proposed training aligns with our centre's objectives and will contribute to advancing the translation and commercialisation of RNA therapeutics in cancer research.
Eligible courses/workshops include, but are not limited to, those covering the topics of intellectual property management, market analysis, regulatory affairs, negotiating agreements, business model development, capital raising, and science communication.
The WA-RNA Salon is designed to enhance the RNA research community in Western Australia by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among researchers at various career stages. Supported by the RNA Society and Lexogen, this initiative aims to host a series of seminars, symposiums, and networking events throughout the year.
Thank you to our supporters and partners
Get in touch
Our details
Location: Anatomy Building, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009
Visitor parking available along Hackett Drive
Email: [email protected]