Over 100 new genetic regions that control obesity and fat distribution have been identified in a collaborative study involving Australian researchers. [ + ]

PolyNovo (ASX:PNV) has appointed a new CEO and a regulatory affairs manager as it pursues commercialisation of its products in areas including wound and burns treatment.

Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Science Karen Andrews has called for nominations for the Australian Museum 2015 Eureka Prizes. Presented annually by the Australian Museum since 1990, the comprehensive science awards recognise outstanding achievements in Australian science and science communication. [ + ]

Manufacturing company Romaco Group has concluded the acquisition of Innojet Herbert Hüttlin. Innojet develops, designs and delivers solutions for granulating and coating solids in the pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries on the basis of an innovative product-handling concept. [ + ]

IP Australia has announced a partnership with IBM to trial the latter's cognitive computing technology, Watson, in order to improve agency efficiencies and enhance online service offerings for Australia's innovators. [ + ]

RMIT University researchers are using four-dimensional GPS modelling to measure water vapour, in the hope of improving predictions of severe weather and reducing the impact of natural disasters. [ + ]

An international research team has found that stem cells collected from the placenta, which is generally discarded after childbirth, show promise as a treatment for heart failure. [ + ]

Increasing ocean temperatures are contributing to the survival of the coral-eating seastar, better known as the crown of thorns. [ + ]

The government's shock deal with the Palmer United Party and Independent Senator Xenophon to pass legislation in the Senate on Tuesday night to limit the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive deals a further blow to Australia's innovation ecosystem and will impact large and small biotech companies, according to AusBiotech.

The call for presentations at the 2015 Laboratory Management and Design Conferences will end in just over two weeks, on 28 February. [ + ]

ResMed (ASX:RMD) has acquired home medical equipment resupply software provider Jaysec and arranged to incorporate Brightree's billing software into its AirView patient management system.

Immunologist and virologist Professor Anne Kelso AO has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and will take up the position in April.

The Australian Government's Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act 2015, which passed the Senate this week, introduces changes which are said to simplify aspects of Australia's intellectual property (IP) system. [ + ]

Melbourne-based biotech company Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals has received a Notice of Allowance for US Patent Application Number 14/069,751 titled 'Anaesthetic Formulation' in the United States. [ + ]

Cochlear (ASX:COH) has reported a 240% surge in profit and 18% increase in revenue for the first half of FY15.