A worldwide licence agreement will see CSIRO commercialise GO Resources' technology for the production of super-high oleic safflower oil (SHOSO) — a plant-sourced alternative to petroleum-based raw materials and traditional sources of oleic acid (an industrially significant fatty acid). [ + ]

SCU researcher Dr Lachlan Yee is investigating how to develop synthetic plastic surfaces that continuously generate nitric oxide to deter the formation of bacterial biofilms. [ + ]

The BMJ has become the first general medical journal to require data sharing for all trials. This means trials will be considered for publication only if the authors agree to make the relevant anonymised patient-level data available on reasonable request. [ + ]

ANU biologists have stated that journals should insist on blind trials more strongly in order to minimise bias. [ + ]

Adelaide researchers are developing an instrument they equate to an 'optical dog's nose', which uses a special laser to measure the molecular content of a sample of gas. [ + ]

Orthocell has received an ARC grant of $430,000 to continue its investigation of tendon tissue and the development of novel therapies — such as the laboratory-fabricated tendon project announced by the company late last year.

A panel of 10 business leaders from around Australia will take part in the Springboard Enterprises Australia Accelerator program, designed exclusively for female entrepreneurs. [ + ]

QIAGEN and Seegene have announced a collaboration to develop a menu of multiplex assay panels for the QIAsymphony RGQ MDx automation platform. [ + ]

The Australian Government will undertake a review of university research funding and policy as part of its plan to boost the commercial returns from research. [ + ]

Agilent Technologies and Waters have announced a formal agreement to exchange instrument controls to improve the productivity of customers who own software and instruments from both companies. [ + ]

Italian researchers have used 2D NIR spectroscopic imaging to reveal poor blood circulation in a patient suffering from autoimmune disease systemic sclerosis. [ + ]

Laboratory instrumentation company Metrohm Applikon has announced its new brand for process analysis — Metrohm Process Analytics. [ + ]

Anyone interested in attending or presenting at the Australasian Genomic Technologies Association's 2015 conference now has a bit more time to register their details. [ + ]

A newly developed bio-inspired zeolite may pave the way to small-scale 'gas-to-liquid' technologies which convert natural gas to fuels and starting materials for the chemical industry. [ + ]

Researchers have discovered a method for culturing stem cells that sees the highly therapeutic cells grow faster and stronger — a breakthrough which is expected to eventually lead to new treatments for transplant patients. [ + ]