Robert Ernest Nordon

Associate Professor Robert Nordon is a biomedical engineer and technology developer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, specialising in advanced manufacturing solutions for cell and gene therapies. He leads the development of scalable, automated platforms that enable cost-effective and decentralised production of therapeutic cells, bridging innovation from laboratory to clinical and commercial settings. Early in his career, A/Prof Nordon invented the Quantum hollow-fibre cell expansion system, one of the first closed, automated bioreactor platforms for large-scale stem cell manufacturing. The technology was licensed to Gambro BCT and is now commercialised globally by Terumo BCT, supporting clinical and industrial cell therapy production. He has a strong track record of translating technologies into real-world applications, working closely with industry partners including CSL and advanced manufacturing organisations to develop microfluidic bioreactor platforms for CAR T cell and gene therapy manufacturing. His work focuses on reducing production costs, increasing accessibility, and enabling decentralised manufacturing models for personalised therapies. A/Prof Nordon also served as Regional Vice-President for Australia & New Zealand of the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT ANZ) where he contributed to regional collaboration, industry engagement, and the growth of the cell therapy sector. Cell separation; bioreactor systems for cell therapies. Fields of Research (FoR): Biomedical Engineering, Regenerative Medicine (incl. Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering), Medical Devices, Cell Development, Proliferation and Death