AusCann has announced a five-year research alliance with Murdoch University, intended to lead to the development of projects in the field of medicinal cannabis. [ + ]

The CEO of the Australian Research Council, Professor Aidan Byrne, will depart the ARC later this year to take up the position of provost at The University of Queensland. [ + ]

The TGA has informed Illumina that its MiSeqDx instrument for next-generation sequencing has been included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods as a cleared in vitro diagnostic medical device. [ + ]

Anyone with a computer or Android device can volunteer to join the OpenZika project — and you don't need to provide time, expertise or money to help. [ + ]

The genetics of individuals with Down syndrome have provided researchers with a method to identify a single gene that may be responsible for defective insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. [ + ]

GSK has opened up nominations for its annual Award for Research Excellence (ARE), said to be one of the most prestigious available to the Australian medical research community. [ + ]

The Australian Academy of Science has elected 21 new fellows, including former Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry and Australia's Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel. [ + ]

Friday, 20 May 2016 is World Metrology Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875. [ + ]

Cost, regulatory speed and flexibility and quality are the key drivers for biopharma companies selecting Australia for early-phase trials, according to a new report. [ + ]

For decades, scientists have been baffled as to why gestational diabetes often leads to type 2 diabetes. The answer could be in our genes' ability to change their behaviour due to signals from the environment. [ + ]

Scitech has been announced as the authorised distributor for the QImaging range of products in Australia and New Zealand. [ + ]

Australian researchers have developed a model to predict whether a person with acute back pain is likely to go on to develop chronic back pain (lasting longer than three months). [ + ]

IPAS and Austofix have collaborated on the development the VRP 2.0 (Volar Radius Plate) — an innovative device that will help wrist fractures heal faster and can be fitted more easily by surgeons. [ + ]

Professor Tim St Pierre has received the inaugural Panos Englezos Award for his outstanding contribution to the management of, and improvement in, quality of life for patients with the haemoglobin disorder thalassaemia. [ + ]

Regeneus has completed the enrolment of all 20 patients in its STEP trial — the first clinical trial of its allogeneic off-the-shelf MSC product for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. [ + ]