A multi-million dollar investment will transform a Woolloongabba research facility into a major manufacturing hub for personalised cancer treatments, giving local patients faster access to cutting-edge therapies that use their own immune cells to fight the disease.
The new project is driven by a $7.7 million grant awarded to medical company BioOra to set up a specialised manufacturing suite at the ENTRI facility, located at the Boggo Road Innovation Junction.
The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2028. This move aims to produce advanced CAR T-cell therapies right here in Australia. These specific treatments work by taking a patient’s own immune cells and retraining them to recognise and destroy cancer cells in the body.
By producing these advanced therapies locally, the community will rely less on overseas supplies. This means Australian cancer patients could receive these critical, life-saving treatments much sooner.
The project is also a massive win for local employment, creating 72 highly skilled jobs in the area. BioOra chief executive John Robson explained that the financial support fast-tracked the company’s move into Australia by 18 months, making these locally made therapies available to the public far quicker than originally planned.
The funding comes from the state’s $180.6 million Sovereign Industry Development Fund, which is designed to boost local manufacturing in key areas like medicine and defence. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie stated that the financial backing will help establish the state as a leader in medical manufacturing, ensuring that local communities are creating breakthrough technologies rather than simply importing them from other countries.
Moving forward, BioOra will work closely with the local Translational Research Institute to ensure the successful rollout of these advanced health solutions for the wider community.
Published Date 30-June-2026
