Following intense activity around the globe, researchers have identified critical aspects of the SARS genome -- and now the race is on to file patents. [ + ]

UNSW engineering student David Snowdon is the NSW winner of the 2002/2003 Siemens Prize for Innovation, one of the country's richest awards offered within the tertiary engineering sector.

Researchers at The Burnham Institute in the US have found that humanin, a small, 24-amino acid protein recently discovered in studies of Alzheimer's Disease, suppresses activation of the protein Bax. Bax triggers pathologic cell death in a number of diseases, including Parkinson's, stroke, heart attack and degeneration of ovaries during menopause. These results suggest a novel target for therapeutic design based on inhibiting the cell destructive activity of Bax.

Australia's agribiotechnology industry has reluctantly accepted the Victorian government's decision to impose a 12-month voluntary moratorium on growing Australia's first commercial crops of genetically modified (GM) canola in Victoria. [ + ]

Perth entrepreneur Farooq Khan is maintaining a stiff upper lip in the aftermath of his failed bid for a board seat on Biota Holdings. [ + ]

Melbourne-based Amrad has granted an exclusive license to Swiss/US company Serono to develop and commercialise emfilermin for use in reproductive health indications, under an option in the original partnership between the two companies. [ + ]

Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute are devising a stem-cell-based approach designed to prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in susceptible individuals by engineering the haematopoietic stem cells to express proinsulin after differentiation into antigen presenting cells. [ + ]

Both Monsanto and Bayer CropScience have agreed to the Victorian State government's 12-month moratorium on the commercial release of GM canola in Victoria, which was announced by Minister for Agriculture Bob Cameron today. [ + ]

Sleep disorder specialist Compumedics has signed a deal with German medical manufacturer Draeger for distribution of its monitoring and diagnostic products. [ + ]

Five novel genes linked to depression and anxiety have been identified by AGT Biosciences (formerly Autogen) using the company's unique Israeli sand rat model for the disorder. [ + ]

Three US patients with advanced, metastatic melanomas -- one of the most aggressive and rapidly lethal forms of cancer -- remain alive 22 months after being treated with PI-88, an experimental cancer therapy developed by Brisbane-based biotechnology company Progen. [ + ]

Recently-formed alliance The BioMelbourne Network has unveiled its action agenda for driving the Victorian biotechnology sector forward, focusing on building networks between science, government and business, and promoting Melbourne as a regional hub for the industry. [ + ]

Acrux subsidiary FemPharm is poised to commence a Phase II clinical trial testing its proprietary Metered Dose Transdermal System for the delivery of testosterone to women with low libido. [ + ]

The anti-sunburn drug Melanotan has turned a pallid lifesaver into a bronzed god, according to initial results from trials conducted at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. [ + ]

Some publicly-funded Australian biotech research institutes are enjoying lucrative returns from selling the microarray fabrication skills of their scientists. [ + ]