Industry News
Genetic Solutions wins the race for the tenderness test
The race to launch the first commercial DNA test kit identifying cattle which carry a gene associated with meat tenderness has been won by Australian agbiotech Genetic Solutions. [ + ]
MHRI research identifies targets for psychiatric disease
High-throughput screening techniques are being used in a unique approach to studying the molecular causes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. [ + ]
Carn the blues: Florigene aiming for horticulture's highest prize
Roses are red, and Melbourne biotech company Florigene wishes that violets were blue -- if they were, it would already have produced horticulture's most elusive prize: the world's first blue rose. [ + ]
Local experts critical of proposed mouse chimera project
A proposed US experiment to produce a mouse for testing the organ- or tissue-forming capacity capabilities of human embryonic stem cells should not proceed -- at least, not with totipotent human ES cells, according to a leading Australian stem cell expert. [ + ]
Science must help society, conference hears
A scientific call for action to provide solutions for disease problems in developing countries was the topic of the Merck Sharp and Dohme Lecture at the opening of the first Australian Health and Medical Research Congress in Melbourne this week. [ + ]
IVF community doubts clone doctor claims
Australia's IVF community is deeply sceptical of claims by Italian embryologist Severino Antinori that the first birth of a cloned human embryo will take place in early January. [ + ]
VRI to use Proteome Systems platform to develop diagnostics
VRI BioMedical and Proteome Systems have signed a non-binding heads of agreement for a collaboration to develop some of VRI's diagnostic tests as point-of-care applications using Proteome Systems' proprietary diagnostic test platform. [ + ]
Nextec sets up incubator for early-stage biotechs
Melbourne-based Nextec BioSciences has established an incubator facility for aspiring and early-stage biotech companies. [ + ]
Student inventor wins award with laser-guided biopsy device
A device that allows doctors to safely take tissue samples from tumours has won a University of Melbourne student the Far Eastern Review Young Inventors Award.
[ + ]High-profile agreements give Ambri global clout
Sydney biosensor specialist Ambri is leveraging newly-forged ties with two high-profile US corporates to negotiate lucrative R&D contracts with the US military. [ + ]
New report pulls back the curtain on SA biotech
The secrets of the South Australian bioscience sector have been revealed in a survey released last week by BioInnovation SA, the government-supported biotech industry development team. [ + ]
Peplin swaps skin with Allergan
Brisbane's Peplin Biotech and California-based dermatology products specialist Allergan have swapped skin on a deal to bring Peplin's promising anti-cancer compound PEP005 to the skin-cancer market. [ + ]
CSIRO appoints new health sciences and nutrition chief
CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Geoff Garrett, has announced the appointment of Dr Graeme Woodrow as the new Chief of the Division of Health Sciences and Nutrition. Dr Woodrow will lead CSIRO's research into nutrition, drug design and the development of diagnostics for diseases.
[ + ]Ring the Bells
In its first year of publishing, Australian Biotechnology News has won four awards at the prestigious Australian Business Publishers Bell awards, held in Sydney last week. [ + ]
QBF chief named
The Queensland government has chosen a bioscientist with extensive overseas big pharma and commercial experience to head its $100 million life science venture capital fund. [ + ]
