RAPID: Research & Applied Innovation Districts
Bridging the critical gap between discovery and early-stage development in advanced therapeutics.
Bridging the translation gap
Australia produces world-class biomedical research, but relatively few breakthroughs progress beyond early-stage development to patients or the market.
Promising discoveries often stall during translation due to gaps in:
- Translational infrastructure and capability
- Regulatory and commercialisation expertise
- Access to coordinated investment.
RAPID is dedicated to bridging this gap, focusing specifically on advanced therapeutics, including mRNA therapies, and cell and gene therapies.
Without targeted intervention, Australia risks under-realising the value of its research strengths.
Introducing RAPID
Research and Applied Innovation Districts (RAPID) is a new, independent innovation hub designed to accelerate early-stage translation and de-risk promising biomedical innovations.
Located at La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus, RAPID will bring together universities, clinical partners, industry and investors in a neutral, multi-partner environment.
RAPID fills Australia’s critical translation gap at a time of growing global competition, complementing existing Victorian precincts while leveraging emerging capabilities, including BioNTech’s mRNA facility, and strong cross-sector support.
What we offer
RAPID is the solution for when innovations reach a stage where they are ready for clinical development, partnering and scaling up.
Express your interest
RAPID will be a national asset, not a single initiative.
We are now inviting a select group of organisations to express their interest in being part of RAPID.
La Trobe University proudly acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands where its campuses are located in Victoria. We recognise that Indigenous Australians have an ongoing connection to the land and the University values their unique contribution to both the University and the wider Australian society.