Industry News
Florigene to be sold to Suntory as Nufarm exits biotech
Australian biotechnology pioneer Florigene, a subsidiary of Australian agricultural company Nufarm, is being sold off to long-time joint venture partner Suntory. [ + ]
'Open-source biology' stance earns international honour
Maverick molecular geneticist Richard Jefferson is in New York this week to accept a prestigious Scientific American award as one of the magazine's 50 Global Technology Leaders of 2003. [ + ]
New Bionomics mouse model shows epilepsy writ small
When Florey Institute epilepsy researcher Dr Steve Petrou showed the electroencephalogram trace to his colleague, Prof Sam Berkovic, the veteran clinician recognised it immediately. [ + ]
Lessons in coping with strees from yeast
The humble yeast can provide vital lessons in coping with stress, according to researchers from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England. Dr Jan Quinn told delegates at a meeting of the Society for General Biology how she and colleagues have tracked stress responses in yeast to give a new understanding of how cells cope with oxidative stress.
[ + ]Meditech raises $2.2m in share purchase plan
Meditech Research (ASX:MRL) has added AUD$2 million to its coffers through a shareholder purchase plan, bringing the total capital raised recently to $6.8 million. [ + ]
QUT team develops rapid staph test
A Queensland research team has developed the world's first rapid DNA test to identify methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). [ + ]
US firm Biosite to use AGEN antibody
Agenix (ASX:AGX) subsidiary AGEN BioMedical has licensed its D-Dimer antibody and associated intellectual property to US point-of-care diagnostics company Biosite. [ + ]
AGRF talks up genome project spin-off benefits
As the Australian Genome Research Facility continues its drive to get AUD$6 million funding for the sequencing of the wallaby genome, the benefits of participating in a 'big science' project like this are becoming apparent. [ + ]
NIH awards Melbourne researcher US$1.7m
Melbourne University epilepsy investigator Dr Steve Petrou has received a prestigious National Institutes of Health grant to study what happens in the brain of a transgenic mouse that exhibits human-like epileptic seizures. [ + ]
Peptech in cancer JV
Peptech (ASX:PTD) has entered into a joint venture with University of Sydney spin-off Biosceptre International to develop a range of diagnostic and therapeutic products based on a specific cancer marker expressed in a broad range of human cancers including skin, prostate, breast, bowel and uterine cancers. [ + ]
Nano-diamonds colour road to quantum computer
With a hint of alchemy, University of Melbourne scientists have shot carbon atoms into glass and by adding a bit of heat, turned them into nanometre-sized diamonds with properties that could create help create a quantum computer.
[ + ]The dark side of global warming
Global warming is making nights warmer around the globe and from pole to pole, and will have major effects on plant photosynthesis and productivity, according to Columbia University plant physiologist Dr Kevin Griffin. [ + ]
BresaGen to spin off cell therapy business
BresaGen (ASX:BGN) is likely to become a holding company with stakes in several businesses, including a new stem cell company formed by the merger of BresaGen's cell therapy division with San Diego stem cell company CyThera, CEO John Smeaton told the company's AGM yesterday. [ + ]
Norwood expects revenues from next month
Norwood Abbey (ASX:NAL) executive chairman Peter Hansen told shareholders at the company's AGM yesterday that the first revenues from the company's laser assisted drug delivery device would flow into the company in late December or early January. [ + ]
AgGenomics ties up A2 milk DNA profiling deal
AgGenomics, a joint venture company owned by Melbourne-based Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) and the Victorian government, has been selected as the exclusive Australian provider of DNA profiling services for the selection of A2 dairy cattle for New Zealand company A2 Corporation. [ + ]