The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports continues to be a source of serious concern for both national and international sports organisations.

A team of researchers from Imperial College London, the Charing Cross Hospital and University College London have identified a protein that they believe could be used to protect against neuro-degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, motor neurone diseases and the brain damage caused by strokes.

By mixing two solids, chemists can - as if by magic - create a liquid that is non-toxic and biodegradable: yet it can dissolve a range of materials. They have produced a series of such liquids that can be used to substitute the strong and corrosive acids traditionally used as solvents in many industrial chemical reactions.

Monash University researchers, using synchrotron radiation, have unravelled the structure of a protein that plays a crucial role in multiple sclerosis (MS), a finding that could eventually lead to the development of better drugs for treating this disease.

Perth-based nanotechnology company pSivida plans to list its UK subsidiary pSiMedica next year. [ + ]

They're not life as we know it, not even life at all. A viroid is just a naked, sub-microscopic loop of single-stranded RNA -- a virus in the buff. But despite their simplicity, viroids possess a primeval weapon that can devastate crops- a weapon that of recent and great interest to molecular biologists. [ + ]

Prof Garth Cooper, CEO of Auckland biopharmaceutical company Protemix Corp, aims to make his company the first New Zealand biotech to take a discovered compound all the way to market. [ + ]

Starpharma's (ASX:SPL) 2002-03 revenues jumped 11 per cent to AUD$1.5 million and its operating loss fell to $7.7 million, the company has announced. [ + ]

Medical research institutes in Victoria have received an 11 per cent increase in state government infrastructure funding, with almost AUD$20 million being distributed between 20 institutes. [ + ]

AGT Biosciences (ASX:AGT) has posted its annual financial results, showing an 11 per cent increase in revenues to $AUD5.2 million, and a loss of $1.9 million down 74.7 per cent from the previous year's loss of $7.5 million. [ + ]

Melbourne based Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) is taking on three of the big guns in the biotechnology industry. [ + ]

Xcell Diagnostics (ASX:XEL) will accelerate plans to file for FDA approval of its microDERM video dermatoscope system, following a positive review of its programs by senior management and expert advisors. [ + ]

Biota (ASX:BTA) is offering shareholders a chance to buy up to AUD$5000 worth of shares at a 10 per cent discount to the market price, the company announced today. [ + ]

Successful financial surgery on Australian eye-laser developer Q-Vis (ASX:QVL) will see the company reopen its eyes on the Australian Stock Exchange tomorrow, after a successful capital raising of $2.4 million. [ + ]

Auckland biopharma Genesis Research and Development Corporation (NSX/ASX:GEN) is to begin a Phase II clinical trial of its AVAC therapy for paediatric atopic dermatitis, or childhood eczema. [ + ]