Private Sydney-based biotech BTF has achieved 101 per cent revenue growth over the last three years, earning itself a place in the 2005 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards. [ + ]

Diabetes specialist Dia-B Tech's (ASX:DIA) shares rose nearly 70 per cent yesterday on news that it had filed a new Australian provisional patent to protect a mechanism for dispersing insulin more rapidly. [ + ]

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has formally joined the pre-seed commercialisation fund Uniseed with a financial commitment of AUD$10 million. [ + ]

PolyNovo Biomaterials and the CSIRO have shaken hands on an agreement to extend their collaboration on a radical new method of repairing damaged cartilage in the knees and joints, using the CSIRO-developed biopolymer NovoSorb. [ + ]

The first few patients have been formally recruited for two pilot clinical trials of Melbourne-based Mesoblast's (ASX:MSB) adult stem cell platform technology. [ + ]

Professor Linda Blackall, research director at the Environmental Biotechnology CRC (EBCRC), has won an international award for significant lifetime achievement in the field of biological wastewater treatment.

After three years with the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC), Dr Dianna DeVore has resigned as vice-president of clinical cardiac development, and will be returning to California to pursue stem cell collaborative opportunities, effective December 31. [ + ]

A US$6 million fund was launched today for joint Israeli-Victorian projects in areas such as biotechnology, healthcare, nanotechnology, environmental technologies and advanced manufacturing. [ + ]

Following the resignation of CogState chief executive officer Peter Bick, Brad O'Connor has been promoted internally from chief financial officer to the CEO role. [ + ]

Shareholders in Regenera (ASX:RGA) have been asked to attend a meeting in Perth between Christmas and New Year, as the company seeks to revise terms of its planned merger with US firm Advanced Ocular Systems (AOS). [ + ]

On Friday, Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) introduced Peter Cook as its new CEO and managing director, replacing Peter Molloy. On his first day at the company, Cook spoke with Ruth Beran about his background, the future for the company and the similarities between orbital engines and biotechnology. [ + ]

Researchers at Sydney's Garvan Medical Research Institute may have provided an explanation for the dramatic breakdown of champion Australian marathon runner Lisa Martin-Ondieki at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. [ + ]

UK firm Domantis, 36 per cent owned by Peptech (ASX:PTD), has signed an agreement with global pharma Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) to develop domain-antibody (dAb) therapeutics for multiple immunology and cancer targets. [ + ]

Brisbane biopharma Alchemia (ASX:ACL) will commence a collaborative research project next year with the University of Queensland through its preclinical service provider, TetraQ to develop a new generation of opioid-based painkillers to treat severe pain. [ + ]

Two deadlines have come and gone, and a third expires today for Melbourne gene-testing company Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG; NASDAQ:GENE) and US firm Applera, who were due to announce a resolution of their licensing dispute in California today. [ + ]