Industry News
iSonea picks manufacturing partner for AirSonea
iSonea (ASX:ISN) has engaged a Hong Kong manufacturer to produce its AirSonea mobile wheeze monitoring device, ahead of the product’s Australian launch in September. [ + ]
GTG expects no impact from US gene verdict
Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) believes a US Supreme Court patent ruling should have no material impact on its commercial operations. [ + ]
Bioengineering a new kidney
Queensland researchers have reprogrammed adult kidney cells to act as stem cells to repair damaged kidneys. [ + ]
Pharmaxis presents new cystic fibrosis trial data
Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) said CF patients receiving Bronchitol in recent phase III trials experienced fewer exacerbations long term than the control groups. [ + ]
Research alliance wants support for science
Australia’s research and science community has formed an alliance to urge political leaders to put short-term politics aside and back a strategic national research policy to build a stronger, smarter nation. [ + ]
National Geosequestration Laboratory beginning to take shape
In the eight months since its funding was announced, the National Geosequestration Laboratory (NGL) has come a long way towards its goal of establishing itself as one of the world’s leading R&D providers in the field of carbon storage and geoscience. [ + ]
AusBiotech delegation of CEOs to Parliament House
AusBiotech, its member CEOs and directors were yesterday hosted at Parliament House for this year’s CEO Forum, which was addressed by a range of speakers on innovation policy and programs, including the Hon Greg Combet, Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation. [ + ]
Primitive fish fossil nods its head
Preserved muscle fibres from a 380-million-year-old fossil fish reveal that the vertebrate neck and abdominal muscles evolved earlier than previously thought. [ + ]
Deadly Awards to honour Indigenous scientists
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in science and technology roles across the country are being encouraged to enter the inaugural Deadly Award for Scientist or Science Project of the Year. [ + ]
pSivida’s Iluvien close to UK reimbursement
The UK’s NICE has issued a draft decision recommending reimbursement of Iluvien, an ocular insert developed by pSivida (ASX:PVA), for pseudophakic DME patients. [ + ]
Fluorescent eel lights up the path to assay development
Researchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, led by Drs Atsushi Miyawaki and Akiko Kumagai, have discovered a fluorescent protein in the Japanese Unagi freshwater eel. Not only is this the first fluorescent protein found in vertebrates, but it could also be used to help save human lives. [ + ]
US Supreme Court rules that human genes are not patentable
The United States Supreme Court has released its landmark decision in Association for Molecular Pathology et al v Myriad Genetics, Inc et al. The Court unanimously agreed that “A naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated, but cDNA is patentable because it is not naturally occurring.” [ + ]
On-site analyses via autonomous energy-scavenging micro devices
Sophisticated instruments small enough to fit in a shirt pocket will one day scavenge power from sunlight, body heat or other sources enabling analysis in the field rather than bringing samples and data back to the lab. [ + ]
DNA brings materials to life
Scientists have discovered a technique to control and direct the self-assembly of two different colloids. [ + ]
Genes and lifestyle both factor in phenome facility
The MRC-NIHR Phenome Centre, opened on 5 June, is the world’s first large-scale national phenomics facility. It will help scientists and doctors better understand how the interaction between a person’s genes and the environment (phenomics) affects that person’s susceptibility to various diseases. [ + ]