US scientists have developed a promising new strategy for identifying previously unrecognised 'druggable' protein targets in cancers that currently lack effective treatments. [ + ]

US scientists have developed technology that can print pure, ultraprecise doses of drugs onto a wide variety of surfaces, in a breakthrough that could one day enable on-site printing of custom-dosed medications at pharmacies, hospitals and other locations. [ + ]

Electronic data capture (EDC) may be gaining traction in the clinical trials market but companies face a growing number of challenges building and managing study databases, according to a study by Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. [ + ]

Israeli scientists have created proteins based on what they call 'existing natural parts', which reportedly carry out their intended function with flying colours. [ + ]

Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham surprised attendees at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide by announcing the government's plans to establish Australia's very own space agency. [ + ]

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have shown that alterations in alternative splicing may trigger cancer. [ + ]

Researchers have compared the effectiveness of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing to the common but somewhat unpopular practice of Pap tests, in what is said to be Australia's biggest clinical trial. [ + ]

Most of us are aware of the impact globalisation is having on vulnerable rainforests, apex predators and a swathe of endangered species, but little attention is paid to how human activity is affecting microorganisms across the planet. [ + ]

Chemical engineers at the University of Sydney have developed and tested a new pilot-scale spray drying system that is designed to recover more than 95% of particles. [ + ]

Scientists may not be able to stop fair-skinned redheads from getting sunburnt but they are a step closer to reducing their likelihood of certain types of skin cancer. Researchers from Boston and Edinburgh have found that triggering skin pigmentation in the laboratory can prevent mice from developing melanoma. [ + ]

Asian researchers have discovered a newly emerged superbug, hyper-resistant and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae, which may cause untreatable and fatal infections in relatively healthy individuals and is apparently set to pose an enormous threat to human health. [ + ]

An international team of researchers from Australia, the UK, Malaysia and India are developing a prototype vaccine to minimise the impact of Nipah virus (NiV) on the pig industry. [ + ]

Sufferers of Parkinson's disease may soon be enjoying improved movement thanks to a team of researchers from Kyoto University, Japan, and some crab-eating macaques. [ + ]

Canadian researchers have found that a simple smell test may help in diagnosing those at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]

For some time, it has been known that people with lower levels of ascorbate (vitamin C) are at increased risk of cancer. Now, US researchers think they finally know why this is — and it all comes down to our stem cells. [ + ]