The Australian sugar industry will receive a huge boost when the $54 million Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology opens for business in Queensland this month.

Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed a clone of the locally endemic Kunjin virus, and successfully trialled in mice it as a West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine. [ + ]

Device maker Polartechnics is to focus on the Italian market for the introduction of its TruScreen cervical cancer diagnostic device, as a precursor to a major push into the European screening arena. [ + ]

Cooperative competition -- or 'coopetition' -- was the name of the game last night at the launch of the AUD$18 million National Neuroscience Facility in Melbourne. [ + ]

Dr Anthony Filippis, formerly of BioComm, has joined recently listed Select Vaccines as VP of business development. [ + ]

Starpharma has appointed prominent Melbourne businessman Peter Bartels as a director and chairman of its board of directors, replacing Richard Oliver, who has retired. [ + ]

CSIRO has formed a strategic alliance with UK-based medical device company AorTech producing spinal disc implants, using a unique polymer developed by Melbourne researchers. [ + ]

Melbourne biotechs Prima BioMed and Prana Biotechnology will collaborate on a project to develop a vaccine for Alzheimer's disease, the companies announced today. [ + ]

Delegates from 10 UK biotechnology companies will attend the upcoming AusBiotech 2003 conference in Adelaide, led by expatriate Australian Dr John Sime, currently the director of research support and development at Imperial College, London. [ + ]

Biosensor company Ambri is to set up a clinical trial and research link with Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital as part of a wider deal with the BioMed North group of medical facilities. [ + ]

New Zealand biotech Genesis Research and Development has successfully lured an ex-US heavyweight to head up its increased push into the plant biotech arena. [ + ]

Premier Bionics has announced a successful clinical trial for its AirwayClear device for non-invasive detection and diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), providing support for commercial discussions and laying the groundwork for a larger trial. [ + ]

Despite dwindling cash reserves, Prima BioMed has reassured the Australian Stock Exchange that it has enough resources to support it at least through the first quarter of 2004. [ + ]

Melbourne biomedical company Cytopia has won a $1.7 million AusIndustry Start grant to develop treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), a currently untreatable condition that affects more than 600 million people worldwide. [ + ]

Queensland's government has bought a slice of farming's value-added future with a $125,000 investment in Farmacule Bioindustries.. [ + ]