The University of Southern Queensland's efforts in biomedical research are set to enhance the University's national and international standing, according to Dr Mike Kotiw, director of the centre for biomedical research.

Amrad Corporation's embattled board has urged major shareholder Circadian Technologies against holding a general meeting in May, calling instead for internal discussions. [ + ]

Queensland private sector and academic researchers will share an Australian Research Council grant to probe an enyzme that plays a role in cancer and inflammatory diseases. [ + ]

The time is ripe to insist multinational pharmaceuticals lift their commitment to the local life sciences industry, claims venture capitalist Dr Geoff Brooke. [ + ]

Creating artificial organs to help ease the transplantation demand gap is the ultimate aim of Australia's new centre for cell engineering. [ + ]

Immunologist Prof Mark Hogarth has been appointed to the board of Melbourne biotech Prima Biomed. [ + ]

GroPep is hoping to license out its research into a topical treatment for diabetic neuropathy after product development studies failed to come up with a suitable transdermal formulation. [ + ]

A molecular geneticist has joined Freehills Carter Smith Beadle's biotechnology group as a patent attorney. [ + ]

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks was courageous for supporting the use of spare IVF embryos for stem cell research, leading researcher Prof Alan Trounson said. [ + ]

New Zealand may have opportunities on information and communications technology, but Pete Hodgson, NZ Science Minister, says he is determined not to let it happen again with biotechnology.

The Western Australia Biomedical Research Institute (WABRI) has launched a A$500,000 fellowship program, funded jointly by Murdoch University, Curtin University of Technology, and Macquarie Bank Foundation.

In a first for the Australian dairy industry, four genetically modified calves have been born with an additional protein gene for milk protein production. [ + ]

Metabolic Pharmaceuticals has announced a trans-Tasman licensing deal and research collaboration to develop a new osteoporosis treatment. [ + ]

Brisbane biotech and animal venom specialist Xenome Ltd has found yet another partner to screen its library of bioactive peptide molecules. [ + ]

Next week's meeting of Australian governments should reopen the debate over therapeutic cloning of human embryos, top stem cell scientists said last night. [ + ]