Articles
Enhanced energy harvesting with smart materials
Researchers have found a way to enhance smart materials known as electrostrictive polymers to improve their mechanical energy harvesting performance — that is, the ability for electronic devices to pull ambient energy from their surrounding environment and convert it into electrical energy for stored power. [ + ]
Australian cancer drug licensed for $730m
A promising new cancer drug, developed by the Cancer Therapeutics CRC (CTx), has been licensed to pharmaceutical company MSD for $730 million. [ + ]
Proposed stem cell trial on track for approval
Cynata Therapeutics has received favourable advice from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, causing shares in the regenerative medicine company to jump by over 20%. [ + ]
The eyes have it — bionically
UNSW engineers have developed a bionic eye with the potential to aid the blind in the same way that the cochlear implant has aided the deaf. [ + ]
Tips for thriving in the age of diversified laboratory testing
Opting to manage point-of-care testing in an overall framework for diversified testing is an opportunity for progressive laboratories rather than a threat. [ + ]
Parkinson's progress halted in study patients
Shares in Living Cell Technologies leapt over 40% after the biotechnology company revealed that it had halted the progression of Parkinson's disease in four study participants. [ + ]
Melanoma study to be conducted across Australia
Prima BioMed has announced the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation as the first clinical trial site for TACTI-mel, a Phase I study into melanoma treatment with lead compound IMP321. [ + ]
Gene editing saves Layla from leukaemia
In an impressive demonstration of the power of gene editing, designer immune cells have been successfully used to treat an infant cancer patient. [ + ]
Molecular engineering for more efficient solar cells
The goal of creating weather-resistant, highly efficient photovoltaic cells is two steps closer, thanks to research by two independent teams of Australian and Swiss scientists. [ + ]
Australia's outgoing Chief Scientist says we're good but we can be better
Friday 22 January marks Professor Ian Chubb's final day as Australia's Chief Scientist after almost five years in the role. So what are his achievements over that time and what's his advice for his successor, Alan Finkel? [ + ]
Hyperactive monocytes key to childhood food allergies?
A new Australian study has found an immune 'signature' that identifies babies at risk of developing allergies to common foods in their first year. [ + ]
The stunning diversity of gut bacteria
US scientists have produced a new technique for mapping the bacteria living in the human gut, revealing a far more diverse community than the researchers had anticipated. [ + ]
Cleaning procedures to protect Parkinson's researchers
Scientists have revealed the cleaning procedures that best protect Parkinson's disease (PD) researchers from alpha-synuclein, a protein that makes up Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in PD patients and self-assembles into fibrils in vitro. [ + ]
Kill switches for synthetic bacteria
US researchers have developed 'kill switches' that can cause synthetic bacteria to die, making it safer for them to be used outside of a laboratory environment. [ + ]
Plant enzyme to make better medicines
Researchers have identified and produced a key enzyme, found an in African plant, which can transform linear peptides into robust, chemically stable circular ones for use in pharmaceutical drug design. [ + ]
