Executives of three leading stem cell research companies - Stem Cell Sciences CEO Peter Mountford, ES Cell International (ESI) CEO Robert Klupacs and BresaGen medical director Chris Juttner - have debated the need for new human embryonic stem cell lines and the availability of commercially owned cell lines for basic research. [ + ]

Only one biotech luminary, drug discovery researcher Prof Mark von Itzstein, made the list the list of 11 Federation Fellowship winners announced this week by Health Minister Brendan Nelson. [ + ]

Adelaide-based company BresaGen has claimed a stem cell breakthrough, announcing that the company had successfully derived neural precursor cells from human embryonic stem cell lines. [ + ]

Peak industry organisation AusBiotech said it had secured 600 registrations so far to a conference it hopes to make an Australian biotechnology industry institution. [ + ]

Private cord blood storage service Cryosite has said it now does not expect to have to go through another round of fund-raising to achieve profitability. [ + ]

IBM has agreed to buy PwC Consulting for $US3.5 billion in cash and stock, the companies announced today. [ + ]

Homegrown bionic ear maker Cochlear continued to rally investor support today on the back of news its US rival Advanced Bionics had withdrawn its device from sale. [ + ]

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane was on hand to open the doors on a new research facility for devices company Sunshine Heart in Sydney today. [ + ]

One of Australia's oldest pooled development funds wants to toss in the towel as an investment vehicle to merge with its most promising holding, Perth biomed Clinical Cell Culture (C3). [ + ]

Multi-disciplinary research will be crucial to the success of the Centre for Stem Cell and Tissue Repair, its new chief operating officer told a Melbourne stem cell conference yesterday. [ + ]

The deputy director for extramural research at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) warned delegates at a stem cell conference in Melbourne yesterday that the high level of attention being paid to the controversial research was making it difficult to attract scientists to work in the field. [ + ]

National Health and Medical Research Council CEO Prof Alan Pettigrew told a stem cell conference in Melbourne yesterday that the council was already preparing to implement a new embryonic stem cell research and cloning Bill. [ + ]

The High Optical Power project at the recently commenced Australian International Gravitational Observatory near Gingin, in WA, will help scientists harness a million watts of laser power inside supersensitive detectors.

The first joint venture equity pact struck by Singapore's largest hospital could open a fast track to market for anti-cancer technology from Perth biotech pSivida. [ + ]

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute director Prof Suzanne Cory has been awarded a Royal Society medal in recognition of her work into the molecular basis for cancer. [ + ]