Flagship projects

Building capability in more than one pillar serves to integrate a platform from beginning to end.

Flagship projects

Flagship projects are high-impact projects that bring together multiple expert teams within the RNA Platform. While pillar projects focus on capability building within specific domains, flagship projects aim to connect and integrate as many of the pillars as possible, fostering a cohesive, multi-disciplinary approach from design through to GMP manufacture and trials.

Working alongside our science advisory and steering groups, we have developed the flagship project approach to emphasise the alignment and integration between the pillars with a view to building an enabling platform for start-to-finish RNA production ultimately resulting in a clinical trial. It is also important that the successful project has a clear economic benefit to New Zealand.

Flagship projects aim to tackle issues that really matter to Aotearoa New Zealand, such as:

improving health outcomes
supporting animal health
strengthening biosecurity
contribute to pandemic preparedness.

They will be co-designed with industry and Māori and Pacific communities, as appropriate, to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Because of their size and ambition, flagship projects require a higher level of investment and collaboration.

Selection process

Flagships can grow from work already happening within the platform or start as brand-new projects. What’s important is that they involve multiple teams, cover the full development pipeline, and have a clear path from concept to real-world impact.

We expect to run one or two flagship projects at a time to ensure each gets the resources it needs to succeed.

We’re in the process of selecting our first flagship. At a recent planning meeting hosted by the University of Auckland, platform leaders and advisors established the selection criteria. Pillar leads then developed a longlist of potential projects through discussions with researchers across and beyond their organisations.

Flagship selection process

1. Develop criteria framework (February)

Directors and pillar leads collaborate with advisors to define selection criteria.

2. Identify potential projects (March)

Pillar leads propose potential flagship projects based on input from internal and external researchers.

3. Shortlist of potential projects (April)

Directors and pillar leads review and shortlist projects using the agreed criteria.

4. Consult and select flagships (May to June)

Directors consult with pillar leads to refine the shortlist, gather insights, and make the final selection. The selected projects to be presented to the platform advisory groups for endorsement.

Directors are now reviewing the projects and working to shortlist the best candidate projects, which will be discussed further with pillar leads. After refining the shortlist and gathering any additional information, directors will make the final selection for endorsement by the science advisory, commercial advisory, steering, and oversight groups.

Selection criteria

To be selected, a flagship project must:

involve multiple areas of the platform
deliver strong value for New Zealand and internationally
be scientifically excellent
support pandemic preparedness and future resilience.

The first flagship, focused on human health, a key advisory group priority, will be announced by the end of June.