RMIT launches Accelerator for Translational Research and Clinical Trials

RMIT launches Accelerator for Translational Research and Clinical Trials

Last month, the University launched the Accelerator for Translational Research and Clinical Trials (ATRACT), a research centre that empowers STEM researchers to translate excellence in fundamental research in cancer, immunology and infectious diseases into global impact.

ATRACT is a thriving hub for industry/academic collaborations at the core of the Bundoora Campus Health Precinct. It will accelerate impact from RMIT’s excellence in innovative technologies, analytics, and health products, supporting industry as their innovations progress into human clinical trials. 

The Centre offers streamlined development and translation across multiple STEM domains. For example, in cancer, radiotherapy with new drugs, immunotherapy and prognostic molecular biomarker discovery; or diagnostic imaging with blood biomarkers and lab-on-a-chip devices. Such synergies enable participation in multi-disciplinary consortia. 

05 December 2025

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Two key areas of impact

Led by Centre Director, Distinguished Professor Magdalena Plebanski, Research Centre Director Professor Melissa Churchill and Industry Engagement Centre Director Professor Ricky O’Brien, ATRACT will focus on two key areas of impact: ‘Immunity and Infection’ and ‘Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics’, with each theme split into three sub-themes.  

Plebanski said the Centre aims to achieve impact by streamlining core capabilities in clinical trials, clinical imaging, biobanking, biomarkers and bioinformatics and drug discovery and validation.

“ATRACT achieves global impact by streamlining core capabilities in clinical trials, clinical imaging, biobanking, biomarkers and bioinformatics and drug discovery and validation,” said Plebanski. 

Distinguished Professor Arnan Mitchell, Director ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS), attended the launch of the Centre at RMIT’s Bundoora campus this month. He said he was excited about the multi-disciplinary opportunities presented by the ATRACT Centre.

“As an engineer who works on technology platforms, if I want to create impact, I need to partner with researchers who have important problems to solve,” he said.

“The ATRACT Centre gives me access to clinical researchers working on biomedical problems of global significance - such as ovarian cancer - and gives me and others the opportunity to explore how our technology can really make a difference in these fields.”

“I’m very much looking forward to collaborating with ATRACT and achieving world-changing impact." 

Among the industry partners present was the Chief Medical Radiation Scientist for the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Dr Ivan Williams. He praised ATRACT as a “great example of government collaborating with academia to support research that benefits the economy and society.” 

“ARPANSA looks forward to continuing to collaborate with RMIT to bring to life their research to improve radiotherapy,” he said.

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Another Leading Research Centre launches

The Centre is one of seven Leading Research Centres (LRCs), which have launched over the last year in STEM College at RMIT.

The initiative involves providing multi-year funding to research teams that demonstrate a track record of research excellence in strategic priority areas and a compelling business case to grow their reputation over time to become top 10 in their respective fields.  

The LRC scheme’s purpose is to establish the STEM College as world leading over time in identified key areas of research strength. It is intended to grow research excellence and reputation in priority areas for the STEM College.   

You can find out more about the STEM LRCs here.

 

Story: Finn Devlin

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05 December 2025

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