An international team of scientists has used a specially designed microscope to capture the first live images of taste taking place on a tongue. [ + ]

A new trial has revealed that the prostate cancer blood test MiCheck, developed by Australian-owned biotech company Minomic International, is more than twice as accurate as existing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening technology.

Brandon Capital Partners, the manager of the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF), has announced the closing of a $200 million life science venture capital fund - Australia's largest ever life science venture fund.

Imugene has found that its lead candidate HER-Vaxx, an immunotherapy product for treatment of breast and gastric cancers, demonstrates a powerful increase in the production of cancer-fighting antibodies in preclinical animal model testing.

The United Nations has updated the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - an internationally agreed system that aims to synchronise chemical labelling in order to optimise safety. [ + ]

Researchers from Monash University have invented tiny optical antennas which function like spotlights at the nanoscale, offering the potential to measure food safety, identify air pollutants and even quickly diagnose and treat deadly diseases. [ + ]

The University of New South Wales is inviting participation in its upcoming massive open online course (MOOC) 'Myths and Realities of Personalised Medicine: The Genetic Revolution'.

Chinese researchers have developed a lab-on-a-chip device that can quickly diagnose cryptosporidiosis - a disease of the intestinal tract caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. [ + ]

The US Government has invested $2.5 million in an international study to determine the role of genetics in alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis) - a condition which costs $3.8 billion a year in Australia alone.

An associate professor from Virginia Tech has developed a credit card-sized gas chromatography platform that can analyse volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within seconds. [ + ]

Merck has announced that Udit Batra, the current CEO and president of Merck Millipore, will lead the combined life science business of Merck Millipore and Sigma-Aldrich once the acquisition of the latter has been successfully completed. [ + ]

Merck has announced that Udit Batra, the current CEO and president of Merck Millipore, will lead the combined life science business of Merck Millipore and Sigma-Aldrich once the acquisition of the latter has been successfully completed. [ + ]

Regenerative medicine company Avita Medical (ASX:AVH) has announced entrepreneur Adam Kelliher as its new chief executive officer.

Researchers from the University of Manchester have created a synthetic pathway for biosynthesis of the gas propane, bringing scientists one step closer to a renewable version of the fuel. [ + ]

Researchers from the Support Our Sharks (SOS) Ocean Conservation Society have launched the global database SharkBase - a citizen science project for mapping the global distribution of sharks.