Industry News
New blood test for prostate cancer avoids false positives
By measuring intact living cancer cells in the patient's blood, rather than the PSA protein, the method potentially provides a more accurate test for prostate cancer. [ + ]
Aus bioscience company acquires anticancer drug platform
The iQ Group Global has announced its acquisition of a novel anticancer drug platform, known as TEX Core, from the University of Texas. [ + ]
Dietary zinc helps protect against pneumonia
The immune system uses zinc as an antimicrobial for protection during attack by Streptococcus pneumoniae, the primary bacterial cause of pneumonia. [ + ]
Wombat poo research wins 2019 Ig Nobel Prize
Scientists from the University of Tasmania are among an international research team that recently set out to crack the secret of the unique cubed poo of wombats. [ + ]
How can roundworms help women extend their fertility?
What if there were a way to delay egg ageing, without losing egg quality? Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have now discovered the switch that may do this — in worms. [ + ]
Super-resolution microscopy improved with graphene
German researchers have developed a new microscopy method whereby the unusual properties of graphene electromagnetically interact with fluorescing molecules. [ + ]
Cancer's protective barrier could be removed
US scientists have utilised an existing antibody drug to pull down the protective wall that surrounds tumours, potentially re-exposing them to the killing power of the immune system. [ + ]
Single gene linked to several psychiatric conditions
Researchers have identified a specific gene they believe could be a key player in the changes in brain structure seen in several psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and autism. [ + ]
Thermo Fisher announces new collaboration, board member
Thermo Fisher Scientific has entered into a collaboration with Cedars-Sinai and elected Debora Spar to its board of directors. [ + ]
2019 Lasker Awards for biomedical research announced
Australia's own Jacques Miller is among the winners of the 2019 Lasker Awards, widely regarded as America's top biomedical research prize. [ + ]
Major diseases can be caused by depression
Researchers have found a causal relationship between depression and 20 distinct diseases, including asthma, coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, oesophagitis, gastroenteritis, E. coli infections and urinary system disorders. [ + ]
Aspirin use may alter breast cancer outcomes
Women with specific DNA characteristics in certain areas of the genome may live longer if they take aspirin before they are diagnosed with breast cancer. [ + ]
Algorithm can predict outcomes of chemical reactions
The model achieves 90% accuracy in predicting the correct product of unseen chemical reactions, whereas the accuracy of trained human chemists is around 80%. [ + ]
Eye-tracking tests could predict Alzheimer's development
Eye-tracking technology could be used in future to predict if people with mild memory and thinking impairments will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]
ART affects babies' genes, but only temporarily
Events that occur as part of assisted reproduction technology can impact gene health or epigenetics in babies — but these effects are short lived. [ + ]