Salt-resistant wheat developed by CSIRO
13 March, 2012A salt-tolerant variety of durum wheat that outperforms other varieties by 25% on salty soils has been developed by CSIRO scientists using traditional crop breeding techniques.
Australian Synchrotron discovers how plasminogen is activated in the body
09 March, 2012Researchers at Monash University have used X-ray beams created by the Australian Synchrotron (AS) to discover how enzymes work to dissolve blood clots and clean up damaged tissue in the body - a finding that could ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of heart disease-related deaths occurring each year as a result of blood clots.
Sturdy Scandinavian conifers survived the ice age
08 March, 2012A Murdoch University researcher has helped rewrite history after radiocarbon dating and genetic analysis proved that Scandinavian conifers in the high arctic survived the last ice age for several thousands of years. Until now, it was presumed that the Scandinavian landscape was devoid of trees during the ice age.
Consortium converts water into chemical fuels
08 March, 2012University of Wollongong scientists are behind the establishment of a global consortium which is using sunlight to convert water into important chemical fuels such as hydrogen gas. The research promises a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by reducing CO2 from fossil fuel use.
Study reveals contraceptive cancer risks
07 March, 2012A study has revealed that injectable contraceptives that are widely used around the world influence the risk of developing several types of cancer. The study builds on previous research which found that women using oral contraception have a temporarily increased risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer and a decreased risk of ovarian cancer and cancer of the lining of the womb.
Shark blood holds potential for new antibody technology
05 March, 2012Australian research into shark antibodies that holds out the potential for new drugs and diagnostic agents is a step closer to realising its goal following an agreement with international diagnostic and pharmaceutical giant Roche. The pioneering work, which has attracted worldwide interest, is based on research led by Associate Professor Michael Foley at the La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science (LIMS).
Mitochondrial dysfunction precedes memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease
02 March, 2012 by Brian KilenMitochondria - subunits inside cells that produce energy - have long been thought to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. Now, Mayo Clinic researchers using genetic mouse models have discovered that mitochondria in the brain are dysfunctional early in the disease.
International consortium delivers data on cell changes during disease development
02 March, 2012An international consortium comprising around 100 scientists and mathematicians, including Australian researchers, has for the first time pooled shared knowledge and data to deliver a holistic understanding of the biological changes in a cell. The findings of the Bacillus Systems Biology (BaSysBio) project, published in leading journal Science, will ultimately lead to the development of new drugs to protect people against antibiotic-resistant infections, including golden staph.
Allied announces Coridon to develop HPV therapeutic vaccine
29 February, 2012The board of Allied Healthcare Group has announced that its investment company Coridon has embarked on the development of a next-generation therapeutic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The program will be based on preliminary work by Coridon founder Professor Ian Frazer’s team and follows on from Professor Frazer’s work that resulted in two successful cervical cancer preventative vaccines - Gardasil and Cervarix.
Vitamin C may enhance radiation therapy for aggressive brain tumours
22 February, 2012Recent research by the University of Otago, Wellington, has shown that giving brain cancer cells high dose vitamin C makes them much more susceptible to radiation therapy.
Improved UOW anti-cancer formulation patented in Europe
21 February, 2012A novel formulation for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, developed by University of Wollongong researchers, has been granted patent rights by the European Patent Office. The formulation, called Fluorodex, was developed to address key adverse events associated with current treatment regimens that are used to combat metastatic colorectal cancer.
New findings in drug-induced receptor activity using the Roche xCELLigence system
17 February, 2012A research team, led by Dr Michel Bouvier at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the University of Montreal in Quebec, has used the Roche xCELLigence SP Instrument to measure changes in cell response following ligand.
Production method could fill major need for new sources of MSCs
15 February, 2012Stem cell scientists from the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) have discovered a method for producing mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) from human iPSCs that substantially improves on current methods and speeds up conversion time.
Drug link may help fight cancer
15 February, 2012Australian scientists say they have made a genetic breakthrough which could help in the fight against cancer. The Melbourne-based team says it has pinpointed a link between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, and the ability of tumours to spread in the body.
Improving catalytic sustainability
14 February, 2012 | Supplied by: http://www.riken.jpRIKEN researchers are leading the way with novel rare-earth metal catalysts that reduce waste and improve aromatic bond-forming reactions.
