What Phenomics Australia does

Phenomics Australia is a non-profit national research infrastructure organisation headquartered in Canberra that delivers openly accessible phenomics and genomics services to Australian researchers and clinicians. Established in 2007 (originally as the Australian Phenomics Network) and a founding member of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), it operates a distributed network of more than 20 service delivery centres across Australia, staffed by 200+ technical experts and embedded in 15+ host institutions including the Australian National University, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, WEHI, Monash University, University of Queensland, MCRI, and Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Its core service portfolio spans six integrated capabilities: biobanking of mouse sperm and embryos; in vivo and in vitro genome engineering and disease modelling (including the world's first RASTRUM 3D bioprinter installation at Peter Mac's Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, CRISPR gene editing, organoids, and organ-on-chip systems); genotyping and phenotyping with next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics; functional genomics and high-throughput screening (CRISPR, RNAi, and compound screens with automated liquid handling); and pathology services. Underlying technology combines capital-intensive instrumentation (RASTRUM 3D bioprinter, automated screening platforms, cryobanks, sequencing infrastructure) with proprietary protocols, three granted international patents held by affiliated PIs (e.g., Prof Alice Pebay), and global technology partnerships including Inventia Life Science, The Jackson Laboratory, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Fudan University.

The business model is government-funded research infrastructure rather than commercial product sales. Core operations are subsidised by NCRIS (with the non-animal modelling programme budget expanded to $12.2M through 2028), and the organisation has secured competitive project grants from MRFF ($2.975M stem cell governance in 2026; $2.8M for the Canberra Clinical Phenomics Service in 2024), NHMRC ($1.36M Ideas Grant in 2022), and the ACT Government ($525K). Pricing is project- and voucher-based, services are openly accessible to researchers, and there is no disclosed commercial revenue. Customer segments are predominantly Australian academic and clinical researchers served via the national node network, supplemented by industry collaborators and international research partnerships; outreach occurs through the website, LinkedIn, Bluesky, conference participation (ACRI, CORES, ASSCR, ISBER), workshops, and the PHENOMENA news platform.

Name

Phenomics Australia

Legal name

Phenomics Australia

Website

https://phenomicsaustralia.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Phenomics Australia is a Canberra-based, non-profit national research infrastructure provider operating 20+ service centres across Australia. It delivers subsidised biobanking, genome engineering, disease modelling, and high-throughput screening services to academic and clinical researchers, funded primarily through NCRIS government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomedical Research Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services (HLAGANAI)

Keywords

• Phenomics research services
• Genome engineering services
• Disease modelling infrastructure
• Biobanking cryopreservation
• High-throughput screening

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Infrastructure Services: Subsidized research infrastructure services funded through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). Services are openly accessible to researchers across Australia with government support to make research infrastructure affordable and accessible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Phenomics Australia is a non-profit national research infrastructure provider offering specialized phenomics services across Australia through a network of 20+ service delivery centres. Its core offerings include biobanking of mouse sperm and embryos, in vivo and in vitro genome engineering and disease modelling, genotyping and phenotyping with integrated bioinformatics, functional genomics and high-throughput screening, and pathology services. These services are subsidized by Australian Government NCRIS funding and made openly accessible to academic, clinical, and industry researchers to advance precision medicine.

Product overview

Phenomics Australia is a national research infrastructure consortium providing specialized phenomics and genomics services across Australia through 20+ locations. The core offerings include six major service areas: Biobanking (mouse sperm/embryo cryobank), In Vivo Genome Engineering & Disease Modelling, In Vitro Genome Engineering & Disease Modelling (cell/organoid/tissue-based models, 3D bioprinting), Genotyping & Phenotyping, Functional Genomics & High-Throughput Screening (CRISPR/RNAi/compound screening), and Pathology. Key specialized services include the RASTRUM 3D Bioprinter (world's first installation at VCFG, Peter Mac), CRISPR in Cells Service, and a Non-Animal Models consortium offering iPS cells, organoids, and organ-on-chip systems. Services are delivered through a distributed network of nodes at institutions including ANU, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, WEHI, Monash University, UQ, MCRI, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biobanking Database and cryobank of mouse sperm and embryos essential for discovering and distributing disease models in Australia, available to academic, clinical, and industry researchers.
• In Vivo Genome Engineering & Disease Modelling National capability producing bespoke in vivo models with targeted mutations of interest that replicate clinical findings, used by researchers to study the genetic basis of health and disease, particularly rare diseases.
• In Vitro Genome Engineering & Disease Modelling Cell-, organoid-, and tissue-based in vitro models including 3D bioprinting for studying disease mechanisms and developing new therapies, complementing in vivo capabilities.
• Genotyping & Phenotyping Next-generation screening and sequencing technology with integrated bioinformatics capabilities enabling researchers to identify new genomic variants and understand how they contribute to disease.
• Functional Genomics & High-Throughput Screening Genome-scale cell-based CRISPR, RNAi, and compound screening in 2D and 3D cell lines, PDX, patient-derived cells, and complex disease models using sophisticated liquid handling automation, high-content cellular phenotyping, and reporter-based readouts.
• Pathology Services Detailed pathological analysis of disease models to determine biological consequences of genome modifications, relate mutant phenotypes to human disease, and support drug development through identification of off-target effects.
• CRISPR Gene Editing in Cells Service Genome modification service in cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to produce bespoke cellular models of disease by generating targeted mutations that replicate clinical findings.
• RASTRUM 3D Bioprinter Access Access to the world's first deployed RASTRUM 3D bioprinter for cellular applications, embedding cells and 3D cellular structures in a customised hydrogel suitable for high-throughput screening, located at VCFG at Peter Mac.
• Non-Animal Models Services National consortium providing non-animal disease modelling technologies including CRISPR engineered cell lines, iPS cells, tissue cultures, organoids, 3D bioprinting, and organ-on-chip systems, delivered through a network of service nodes.
• Voucher Scheme Funded access program providing subsidised vouchers for researchers to use Phenomics Australia's infrastructure and expertise across its service portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered well over 1000 projects for over 300 researchers through non-animal modelling services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Academy for Collaborative Research Infrastructure (ACRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Phenomics Australia is a Foundation Contributor in ACRI's establishment. ACRI is dedicated to education, training, and professional development of the workforce employed by national research infrastructure facilities.
• Inventia Life ScienceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the RASTRUM 3D bioprinter with Phenomics Australia technical staff refining workflows, validating applications, and supporting early adoption. The technology won a Eureka Prize in 2021 and is now sold in 26 countries.
• Peter MacCallum Cancer CentrecoreTechnology or IntegrationHome to the Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics (VCFG), a Phenomics Australia node that hosts the RASTRUM 3D bioprinter and provides high-throughput screening services.
• Garvan Institute's CTRL PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on stem cell governance project to establish sustainable systems for ethical, collaborative and impactful stem cell research across Australia.
• SMART CRCflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhenomics Australia is a partner in the $238M SMART CRC initiative to transform Australia's regenerative-therapy manufacturing landscape, bringing together 63 partners.
• The Jackson Laboratory (JAX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Human Immune Model Facility (HIMF) generating high-quality preclinical models with humanised immune systems.
• Mater ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Kristen Radford instrumental in developing humanized immune system models at the Translational Research Institute for HIMF.
• University of QueenslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in HIMF initiative for humanized immune model development.
• Queensland Cord Blood BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in HIMF initiative for humanized immune model development.
• Bioplatforms AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Australian Psychiatric Research Knowledge Bank initiative to advance mental disorder research through large-scale omics data generation.
• Fudan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership established in 2014 with Peter Doherty Institute for infectious disease research, including OLAH gene discovery collaboration.
• St Jude Children's Research HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal collaboration on respiratory viral infection research including OLAH gene severity studies.
• Australian National UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to multiple Phenomics Australia nodes including Australian Phenomics Facility, ANU Centre for Therapeutic Discovery, and new Canberra Clinical Phenomics Service.
• Consortium for Preclinical Psychiatric Research (CPPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Professor Suresh Sundram and Associate Professor Rachel Hill from Monash University, developing the Australian Psychiatric Research Knowledge Bank.
• Australasian Biospecimen Network Association (ABNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on biobanking workshops and national biobanking strategy development.
• Therapeutic Innovation AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsoring Australian Functional Genomics Symposium and collaboration within NCRIS Health Group.
• MTPConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on showcasing Australia's national research infrastructure for therapeutic innovation.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WuXi AppTec: WuXi AppTec is one of the largest global CRO/CDMO organizations offering preclinical research services including in vivo and in vitro disease modelling, genomics, and bioanalytical services. A broad incumbent comparable in service breadth to Phenomics Australia, but with vastly greater international scale.
• Crown Bioscience: Crown Bioscience is a global CRO providing preclinical and translational drug discovery services including oncology and metabolic disease models, with strengths in patient-derived xenografts and in vivo phenotyping. Overlaps with Phenomics Australia's disease modelling and high-throughput screening capabilities.
• The Jackson Laboratory (JAX): JAX is a global non-profit research institute specializing in mouse genetics, disease modelling, and humanised immune models. It is both a direct partner of Phenomics Australia on the HIMF initiative and a leading international comparator in preclinical phenomics and biobanking infrastructure.
• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River is a major global CRO providing preclinical research services including disease models, phenotyping, and discovery services. Comparable to Phenomics Australia in the breadth of preclinical capabilities, but operating commercially and at significantly larger scale internationally.

Emerging players

• Newcells Biotech: Newcells Biotech provides organoid and in vitro disease modelling services, including organ-on-chip systems, to pharmaceutical and academic clients. Directly comparable to Phenomics Australia's non-animal modelling and organoid capabilities, but at smaller commercial scale.
• Cyagen Biosciences: Cyagen provides custom genetically engineered mouse and rat models, cell line engineering, and related preclinical services globally. Comparable to Phenomics Australia's in vivo and in vitro genome engineering and disease modelling service lines.

Others

• Inotiv: Inotiv is a CRO specializing in preclinical research services, including animal disease models, phenotyping, and pathology services. Overlaps with Phenomics Australia's in vivo modelling and pathology offerings but operates in a commercial, public-company context.

Direct peers

• Taconic Biosciences: Taconic is a global provider of genetically engineered mouse models, colony management, and related preclinical research services. Directly comparable to Phenomics Australia's in vivo genome engineering, biobanking, and disease modelling service lines.
• Bioplatforms Australia: Bioplatforms Australia is a fellow NCRIS-funded national research infrastructure provider offering 'omics services (genomics, metabolomics, proteomics). It is a peer within Australia's NCRIS network, co-supporting initiatives like the Australian Psychiatric Research Knowledge Bank with Phenomics Australia.
• Inventia Life Science: Inventia Life Science is the manufacturer and global distributor of the RASTRUM 3D bioprinter, co-developed with Phenomics Australia. As the commercial arm of the technology platform, Inventia is the closest commercial peer and distribution partner for Phenomics Australia's 3D bioprinting-based disease modelling services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phenomics-australia
• Xx.com/phenomics

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Phenomics Australia