Prostate Cancer Foundation chief executive Leslie Michelson is turning to eBay to raise research dollars as baby boomers approach the danger age when the disease -- the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in US males -- is most likely to strike. [ + ]

The outlook for biotech IPOs dimmed further last Friday, as Senomyx cut the price of its offering for the second time in as many days and Momenta Pharmaceuticals reducing its estimated price range. [ + ]

Adelaide epilepsy specialist Bionomics (ASX:BNO) has validated its promising genetic test for severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI) by successfully screening a large cohort of children diagnosed with severe epilepsy. [ + ]

New Zealand cancer prognostics company Pacific Edge Biotechnology appears close to securing multi-million dollar investments from several big Japanese pharmaceutical companies. [ + ]

Shareholders of Melbourne-based AGT Biosciences (ASX:AGT) have backed the company's merger with privately-held Californian firm ChemGenex Therapeutics. [ + ]

Amrad (ASX:AML) has not received specific instructions from Japanese drugmaker Chugai that it intends to sell of its 9 per cent stake in Amrad, CEO Peter Smith said today. [ + ]

Researchers at the Queensland Institute for Medical Research (QIMR) in Brisbane hope to begin human trials late this year of a vaccine that could prevent three different forms of cancer associated with infection by Epstein-Barr virus. [ + ]

How do plant pathogens proliferate? Graeme O'Neill finds that new research suggests the answer is blowin' in the wind. [ + ]

The way certain cytokines regulate the immune response to mousepox has potential to help with poxvirus infections, including smallpox, according to new research at the ANU. [ + ]

Prof Len Harrison, of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, has been awarded the David Rumbough award for scientific excellence by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International for his research towards finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. [ + ]

One of the highlights of the 7th World Biomaterials Congress was the presentation by plenary speaker Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub, from the Imperial College London, Heart Science Centre in the UK, brought to Australia by Sydney-based company Ventracor. [ + ]

Scientific studies of a unique Australian frog could lead to the development of new ways to improve livestock production levels and boost the prospects of maintaining human muscle strength into old age.

New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra this week announced that it was to cut research funds to its biotechnology subsidiary ViaLactia by 40 per cent -- about NZ$5 million. But ViaLactia CEO Dr Colin South said the impact of the cuts within NZ would be minimal. [ + ]

Chemeq’s polymeric antimicrobial has proved itself in a NZ trial of 584 21-day old weaner pigs, improving average daily weight gain, feed conversion and disease control. [ + ]

Life Therapeutics -- formerly known as Gradipore (ASX:GDP) -- today capped off its 200-day turnaround plan with a set of profit projections that culminated in a forecast overall profit for the company in 2006 of AUD$4.5 million. [ + ]