A greater focus was needed on advancing Australia's pre-clinical development capabilities, a biotechnology conference was told today. [ + ]

Cardia Technologies has signed an option agreement worth $10,000 on diabetes type 1 food toxin research at the International Diabetes Institute (IDI). [ + ]

Small to medium-sized biotechnology companies are missing out on an important source of cash by failing to claim the Federal R&D rebate, according to a tax specialist. [ + ]

One of the commanding figures on Queensland's life science scene, Prof Peter Andrews, is resigning as co-head of the state's flagship biotech research centre, the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. [ + ]

Australian proteomics research will receive a $50 million boost, thanks to a five-year program now being negotiated by three universities, a private company and the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF). [ + ]

It is often the small things in life that have the greatest effect on our standard of living and the fascinating science of particle technology is certainly no exception. The application of particle technology is as varied and far-reaching as determining the taste of chocolate by the size of the milk and chocolate particles to the processes involved in refining petrol.

Meditech company ResMed's latest sleep apnoea devices, the S7 Elite CPAP and AutoSet Spirit autotitrating devices, have been approved by the FDA for sale in the USA. [ + ]

Nominations for two major Australian science prizes, the Clunies Ross Award and the Unsung Hero of Australian Science, close this Friday. [ + ]

A team of scientists and university administrators from the University of Technology, Sydney, has returned from a world tour that established new contacts and showcased the University's research activities. [ + ]

Think twice before you next swat an insect - it could end up saving your life. A collaboration of leading research organisations has formed a private company to screen an insect library for potentially therapeutic molecules. [ + ]

A new deal will see an unnamed UK biopharma using nanotechnology developed by Perth biotech pSivida in vaccine delivery trials. [ + ]

Laser drug delivery group Norwood Abbey has finalised an agreement with United States drug company Ferndale Laboratories over the joint marketing of an anaesthetic product. [ + ]

Perth life science company Rockeby Biomed is expanding in several directions simultaneously. [ + ]

The New Zealand government will seek further advice to supplement the Law Commission's report on liability issues for GMOs, which was released this week. [ + ]

A series of meetings will take place this month to set the intellectual property ground rules for the new Centre for Stem Cells and Tissue Repair. [ + ]