A pioneering facility dedicated to advancing RNA therapies will soon open in Darlington, backed by £29.6m of UK Government investment.
The UK RNA Biofoundry aims to accelerate the transition of cutting-edge medical research from the laboratory to the clinic, paving the way for new treatments against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and rare conditions.
The facility represents one of the first major projects outlined in the government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan, signalling a long-term commitment to supporting innovation, clinical trials, and advanced healthcare manufacturing nationwide.
Science Minister Lord Vallance highlighted the transformative potential of these cutting-edge treatments: “RNA therapies are a new frontier in healthcare.
“With their ability to reprogramme our cells, and adapt to different diseases, they could be the answer to many treatments the British public are desperately in need of, tackling cancers, infectious diseases and more.
“This new biofoundry will accelerate the journey RNA therapies take from labs to the markets, to give our innovators the best opportunities to turn their great ideas into the lifesaving treatments for our NHS patients, and faster.”
Building on mRNA vaccine success
The global spotlight on RNA technology began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when mRNA vaccines played a pivotal role in protecting populations.
Scientists are now expanding this breakthrough into wider medical applications. RNA therapies can be designed to reprogramme immune cells or tumour cells, teaching the body to attack cancer more effectively or switch off disease pathways that drive chronic illnesses.
Unlike traditional medicines, these treatments are faster to design, more adaptable, and often more precise, offering new hope for tackling both emerging diseases and long-standing health challenges.
Health Minister, Stephen Kinnock, added: “This investment is exactly the kind of approach that will pull our health service into the 21st century.
“RNA therapies hold extraordinary promise for patients battling some of our most devastating diseases – from cancer to cardiovascular conditions that claim far too many lives each year.”
A high-tech workshop for discovery
One of the biggest hurdles in developing RNA-based medicines is the cost and complexity of manufacturing clinical-grade material for early-stage trials. Too often, promising discoveries stall before they can prove their worth.
The new UK RNA Biofoundry, located at CPI’s RNA Centre of Excellence in Darlington, will change that. Acting as a state-of-the-art workshop, it will provide scientists and businesses with affordable, scalable, and rapid manufacturing of RNA to the standards required for clinical testing.
The facility will also have the flexibility to pivot to vaccine production in times of crisis, strengthening the UK’s pandemic preparedness.
Supporting innovators and patients
By lowering the barriers to entry for RNA development, the biofoundry will help researchers validate their science, attract follow-on investment, and scale up production. For patients, this means faster access to potentially lifesaving therapies through the NHS.
The government is also moving to streamline regulation and reduce clinical trial setup times to under 150 days. Initiatives such as the NHS ‘Innovator Passport’ are being introduced to speed up the adoption of novel health technologies.
Strategic partnerships driving progress
This investment is part of a wider national effort to cement the UK as a global leader in RNA innovation.
A partnership with BioNTech aims to deliver personalised cancer immunotherapies to as many as 10,000 UK patients by 2030.
Meanwhile, Moderna has recently completed construction of its Innovation and Technology Centre in Harwell, under a decade-long partnership with the government.
Together, these initiatives ensure that patients across the UK will benefit sooner from advances in RNA therapies, while boosting the domestic life sciences industry.
A collaborative effort for global health
The UK RNA Biofoundry has been made possible through collaborative support from organisations including Wellcome Leap and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Both groups are focused on accelerating breakthroughs that improve human health and ensuring equitable access to lifesaving medical technologies worldwide.
With Darlington now set to become a hub for RNA innovation, the UK is positioning itself at the forefront of a medical revolution that could transform the treatment of some of the world’s most pressing diseases.
