Industry News
US bioinformatics funding extends to small companies
The Biological Database and Informatics program (BD&I) at the US National Science Foundation is expanding the list of targets for $8 million in grants it is currently awarding. [ + ]
Cochlear bucks uncertainty, meets expectations
Cochlear shares gained $A3.90 (+10.1 per cent) to close at $A42.50 on February 18 after half-yearly reports for the six months ended 31 December 2001 showed that the company would meet its long-term growth target of 20 per cent a year. [ + ]
Ambri prepares its first instrument for market
Sydney-based nanotechnology company Ambri Limited is on track to deliver its first biosensor to the Australian market in June, after hooking up with local instrument manufacturer Vision Biosystems. [ + ]
'Post-genomic era' challenges instrument makers
Soft revenues recorded by life science instrument giant Applied Biosystems in the second quarter of its 2002 fiscal year sent a shockwave through the markets last month. [ + ]
Florigene gets the Tasmanian blues
Blue carnations won't be appearing in Tasmanian gardens, after a Melbourne molecular breeder vowed it "would not waste its time" trying to have a GMO ban in the state overturned. [ + ]
Spirits up at Amrad despite revenue slide
A promising development pipeline is keeping spirits high at Amrad Corporation despite its posting a $54.6 million drop in revenues in the last half of 2001. [ + ]
GE free? Don't tell us about it, says Qld govt
Voluntary bans by local farmers are a preferable way of creating GM crop-free areas than passing State laws, says Queensland Premier Peter Beattie. [ + ]
Interim loss, but EpiTan still in the sun
The Melbourne company behind a tanning drug has posted a $1.5 million interim loss as it pushes towards advanced human trials. [ + ]
Ciphergen teams up on AIDS research using protein chips
US company Ciphergen Biosystems has signed two joint development agreements that will call on its protein chips to find out why AIDS does not progress in a small percentage of HIV-infected individuals. [ + ]
Distributed computing to be used for anthrax research
In your idle moments, your computer can now join the search for a cure for anthrax. [ + ]
IBM, Accelrys join hands to boost drug development
IBM and software developer Accelrys have announced an alliance aimed at developing collaborative applications that will help pharmaceutical companies shorten the development cycles for new drugs. [ + ]
Olympus develops DNA computer for gene analysis
Olympus Optical has developed what the company claims is the first commercially practical DNA computer that specialises in gene analysis. [ + ]
Singapore's Biopolis builds its biomedical grid
THE Singapore Bioinformatics Institute (BII) is exploring the potential of Itanium processor clustering based on Linux open source code as a platform for its Biomedical Grid. [ + ]
Hitachi eyes investing in more biotech startups
JAPAN'S Hitachi Ltd plans to increase the amount of money it invests in start-up companies involved in bioinformatics and biotechnology as it attempts to strengthen that sector of its business. [ + ]
Apple, Genentech tweak bioinformatics tool for Mac
APPLE Computer has collaborated with Genentech to launch a Mac version of popular bioinformatics tools from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). [ + ]
