Industry News
Australia to put spotlight on global brain mapping initiatives
Australia is to host an eminent world congress as the prominence of brain mapping is growing around the globe. Recent and significant initiatives from the US and Europe have been initiated to better understand the brain and develop new and better treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's, autism and depression, and to help people suffering from brain injuries. [ + ]
FDA to hold public meeting on human germline modification
The US Food and Drug Administration will next week hold a public meeting to discuss ‘oocyte modification in assisted reproduction for the prevention of transmission of mitochondrial disease’. [ + ]
ABCA appoints Ken Matthews as chairman
Former Department of Agriculture secretary Ken Matthews has joined the Agricultural Biotechnology Council of Australia (ABCA) as chairman. [ + ]
Identifying new drug candidates using genome sequences
A new technique is using computational approaches to identify optimal drug targets by mining a database of drug-RNA sequence interactions against thousands of cellular RNA sequences. [ + ]
Invion teams with 3M for inhaled respiratory drugs
Invion (ASX:IVX) has signed a deal to develop and evaluate inhaled versions of its two respiratory drug assets using inhaler technology from 3M Drug Delivery Systems. [ + ]
$133 million for NHMRC medical research
Minister for Health Peter Dutton has announced $133 million to fund 153 grants across five National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) schemes. [ + ]
New drug 'cures' bacteria of antibiotic resistance
A chemist based at the University of Copenhagen has taken out a patent for a drug that can make previously multidrug-resistant bacteria responsive to antibiotics. [ + ]
Starving melanoma cells
Researchers from the Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney have suggested that it could be possible to treat melanoma by cutting off its food source. [ + ]
Lower BMI equals fewer nasal bacteria in men
Researchers from the University of Wroclaw have found a link between body mass index (BMI) and the number of bacteria colonising noses. [ + ]
Convergence expert to speak in Melbourne this week
Dr Keith Yamamoto, from the University of California San Francisco, will this week make two presentations on the topic of convergence in Melbourne. [ + ]
Physicists measure quantum particles with unprecedented accuracy
The Heisenberg principle states that it is impossible to jointly measure two incompatible quantities, eg, speed and location, of a quantum particle with perfect accuracy. Yet physicists at The University of Queensland (UQ) have come very close to doing just that. [ + ]
Genea Biocells to provide stem cells to US
Approval of its human embryonic stem cell lines for use in the US puts Genea in the lead. [ + ]
Low-cost lab on a chip for diagnostics, drug detection and more
European researchers have developed a rapid diagnostic system called LabOnFoil, which is based on smart cards and skin patches combined with a portable reader. Its test results can directly be sent to a remote computer, tablet or smartphone through a wireless connection, thus enabling access from anywhere in the world. [ + ]
Australian medical research measures up
The NHMRC's recently released bibliometric report reveals a strong international position for Australian health and medical research. [ + ]
New reports show GM crop usage, benefits and role in future food security
The Australian Biotechnology Council of Australia (ABCA) has advised that two key agricultural biotechnology resources released globally last week outline the increasing global uptake of GM crops, their benefits and their role in ensuring food security in a changing climate. [ + ]
