A new scanner that measures the composition of the body - and can potentially also provide relevant data for studies comparing and relating body shapes to health risks such as heart disease - is being developed.

Scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have harnessed the power of DNA to create a self-assembling nanoscale transistor, the building block of electronics. The research is a crucial step in the development of nanoscale devices.

The developer of British Columbia's Discovery Parks -- technology parks based on four campuses around the Canadian province -- believes the Discovery Park model would be advantageous to the development of Australian innovation and technology. [ + ]

Victoria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese sister state Jiangsu Province calling for strategic biotechnology alliances and joint ventures. [ + ]

Academic researchers need a bit of encouragement to take the plunge into biotechnology, according to visiting University of British Columbia professor and biotechnology company founder Bob Hancock. [ + ]

Amrad (ASX: AML) has received its first milestone payment from its exclusive licensing and research collaboration agreement with Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD). [ + ]

AGT Biosciences (ASX: AGT) has signed an agreement with US drug discovery company the Institutes for Pharmaceutical Discovery (IPD) to collaborate on the development of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for obesity. [ + ]

Leading US nanotechnology innovator Dendritic Nanotechnologies (DNT) continues to shine for its associate and 49.9 per cent owner Melbourne drug-developer Starpharma (ASX: SPL), after being granted a US patent on a new self-assembly technique for its giant, branched molecules, called dendrimers. [ + ]

Researchers working with Melbourne medical technology company Norwood Abbey (ASX: NAL) will present results from their trials on the company's promising immune-boosting therapy in leukaemia and lymphoma patients at next month's meeting of the American Society of Haematology (ASH) in Washington, DC. [ + ]

Sydney pharmaceutical company Novogen (ASX: NRT, NASDAQ: NVGN) has been granted a US patent covering all applications of its promising anti-cancer therapeutic phenoxodiol for benign and malignant cancers, including ovarian, breast, prostate and cervical cancers. [ + ]

Two studies published recently in leading medical research journals have given ticks to the SimpliRED and Simplify blood-clot diagnostics developed by Brisbane biotech Agenix (ASX: AGX, NASDAQ: AGXLY) [ + ]

Sydney-based Brain Resource Company (ASX: BRC) has completed an AUD$4 million placement to institutional investors, giving it the funding to back a marketing push for its brain imaging and functional testing products and services. [ + ]

The market responded favourably today to news that Peptech has reached an in principle agreement with Abbott to resolve its dispute over royalties for Abbott's anti-TNF alpha arthritis drug HUMIRA. [ + ]

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the government would provide £10 million (AUD$16.9 million) to study ways to get more experimental medicines to patients through better and faster clinical trials. [ + ]

Genesis Biomedical (ASX: GBL) has signed a Heads of Agreement with ENSI-MED Manufacturing to acquire 100 per cent of the issued capital of the Canberra-based retractable syringe manufacturer. [ + ]