Unique medical research units welcomed to Melbourne with Woi-wurrung names

Two BioNTainer mRNA manufacturing units from Germany have been installed at BioNTech’s new clinical mRNA manufacturing facility at La Trobe University.

Named Wirrarap and Boordup, the specialist units will support the rapid production of new mRNA vaccines and treatments for clinical trials.

The names were chosen in partnership with the Wurundjeri People, the Traditional Owners of the land on which the facility is located.

Wurundjeri Elder Colin Hunter Jnr Jnr performed a smoking ceremony to mark the occasion.

In Woi-wurrung, Wirrarap means medicine man, faith and spirit healer. Boordup means a source or place of comfort.

The facility builds on BioNTech’s R&D facility, which opened in November last year and is already supplying mRNA materials for research across Australia. The facility is expected to be completed later in 2026.

The facility will:

• support research and development of new treatments for cancer and infectious and rare diseases
• turn research into new medicines
• help contribute to the creation of 1,200 jobs across the ecosystem in the next 10 years
• drive economic growth in Victoria.

We're the only place in the world where both global mRNA leaders have R&D and manufacturing facilities.

Learn more about mRNA on the mRNA Victoria website.