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.

Research and consulting firm GlobalData has released a report comparing the competitive positions of 35 mid-cap biotechnology companies, finding an increase in combined total revenues from $24.8 billion in 2013 to $26.5 billion in 2014. [ + ]

The UK's Defence and Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL) has developed a new diagnostic test for the Ebola virus which is said to offer significant advantages over the current testing method. [ + ]

The Australian Academy of Science has responded to the TGA's review into the regulation of autologous stem cell therapies, calling for the closure of a loophole which apparently allows practitioners to offer experimental and potentially risky therapies to vulnerable patients. [ + ]