Building on the strategic plan that was presented at the AusBiotech national conference in November by AusBiotech Chair Dr Deborah Rathjen, the organisation is continuing its call for further tax reform in Australia. [ + ]

Laurence Gozlan, Nathan Drona and Dr Geert Cauwenbergh have joined Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) as non-executive directors. [ + ]

Fibrotech Therapeutics has been awarded patents in the US and Canada covering its portfolio of antifibrotic drug candidates. [ + ]

Researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine have found that the process of genome analysis, which could typically take many months, can be rapidly accelerated. [ + ]

The 2014 Australia to US Fellowships are open to applications. [ + ]

Quantachrome Instruments has announced that its Autosorb iQ surface area and pore size analysers have been chosen to equip the new NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) FACT (Facility for Adsorbent Characterization and Testing) laboratory in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA. [ + ]

A newly discovered microbe appears to be a key mediator of methane-based positive feedback to climate warming. [ + ]

In the latest announcement dedicating almost $186 million in funding, the federal government will create three new cooperative research centres (CRCs) and extend four existing CRCs, including the Hearing CRC and the Cancer Therapeutics CRC, to drive research that will deliver practical benefits. [ + ]

Immuron (ASX:IMC) has completed a $9.66m capital raising, giving it funds to commence a phase IIb trial of its liver disease drug candidate in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). [ + ]

A new report provides commitment to national investment in brain research. [ + ]

Contract research organisation Biopta has launched the first catalogue of assays based on human functional tissues. The catalogue serves to provide the scientific community with ready access to assays that improve the prediction of safety, absorption and efficacy of drug candidates in humans. [ + ]

San Diego Zoo Global and the University of Sydney are collaborating to save the Tasmanian devil. The institutions are working on the reintroduction and management of a population free of devil facial tumour disease. [ + ]

Benitec Biopharma (ASX:BLT) has launched a private placement to raise up to $31.5 million to further its ddRNAi development programs. [ + ]

Admedus, Nanosonics, Universal Biosensors and CSL were among the companies recognised last week as Australia's best performers in the Australian healthcare industry at the 2014 Frost & Sullivan Australia Healthcare Awards. [ + ]

Minister for Industry Ian Macfarlane has announced almost $186 million in funding as part of the 16th CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) Program selection round. The government funding will create three new CRCs and extend four existing CRCs. [ + ]