Sydney based biotech incubator Xcelerator has beefed up its board with an old Asia hand in the form of ex-Johnson & Johnson chairman Michael Yates. [ + ]

A recent deal with Bio-Rad Asia-Pacific has seen Melbourne bio-optical equipment makers IATIA expand sales into an impressive 17 countries throughout the region. [ + ]

Time is not on Gradipore's side. Not only has its separation technology been delayed by production problems, but it still hasn't found a replacement CEO for the trouble-shooting Bob Lieb, who officially departs at the end of this week. [ + ]

A spin off company based on research from The University of Western Australia has developed a new method of assisting in the rapid diagnosis of chemical and biological warfare agents.

The first alliance of Australian bioinformatics groups to be created with a commercial focus has sprung up in Queensland. [ + ]

A Queensland biotech recently involved in a TV-driven stoush with defence scientists over anthrax-detecting equipment says it is days away from a working, non-invasive SARS test. [ + ]

A Sydney workshop to showcase the latest research involving stem cells has been set down for June 4. [ + ]

A new company established by proteomics pioneer Dr Brad Walsh has been chosen by a global leader to be its regional proteomics centre. [ + ]

Australia's first online journal examining the social implications of emerging technologies, from the internet and mobile phones to biotechnology and cybernetics has been established by the Australian Centre for Emerging Technology and Society at Swinburne University of Technology.

Top honours in the 2003 Australian Design Awards have been scooped by local diagnostics company NDP. [ + ]

Doomsayers repent. The assertion that the Australian biotech industry is Tech Wreck II is incorrect, according to a new study by the Australian Graduate School of Management. [ + ]

Below are excerpts from an article written by Kurt Lambeck FAA, FRS - Foreign Secretary of the Australian Academy of Science and Professor of Geophysics at the Australian National University.

The federal government is showing no signs of backing away from its Backing Australia's Ability program -- and there could be more good news to come. [ + ]

Researchers at the University of NSW looking for a protein analysis tool have accidentally come up with a drug that can halt cell growth in tumours. [ + ]

Speaking to a packed room of delegates at the Discovery Science and Biotechnology conference in Sydney last week, cloning pioneer Alan Colman described stem cell research as being in the same boat as gene therapy a decade ago. [ + ]