Flinders University researchers have discovered that a protein in the brain may play a role in the development of Parkinson’s disease, a common degenerative neurological disorder which affects the control of body movements. [ + ]

The University of Western Australia and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research have welcomed a commitment by the Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers to fast-track the development of a vaccine against rheumatic fever. [ + ]

The Australian Academy of Science today opened applications for its 2014 round of prestigious awards, including career and early career researcher awards, travelling fellowships, research bursaries and conference support. [ + ]

Alchemia has appointed former Chief Financial Officer Charles Walker to the post of Chief Executive after Peter Smith stepped down following the failed Audeo Oncology demerger. [ + ]

Novogen (ASX:NRT) stocks have soared over 200% following a study that found its experimental drug CS-6 can kill not only cancer cells but also cancer stem cells. [ + ]

The Australian Academy of Science has welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Science Minister Chris Bowen of new funding for bushfire and natural hazard research through the Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs). [ + ]

Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb has released five breakthrough actions governments could take to make Australia a more innovative nation. They include the establishment of an Australian Innovation Council and helping business access publicly funded research. [ + ]

The University of Technology, Sydney’s (UTS) ithree institute has launched Helmedix with a $1.25 million investment from Australia’s Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF). [ + ]

A new form of genetic testing of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis can provide better information on TB transmission and also trace TB outbreaks more accurately than the current standard test, according to a study from Germany published in this week’s PLOS Medicine. [ + ]

Qiagen has entered into a master collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company for the development and commercialisation of companion diagnostics for pairing with Lilly investigational and approved medicines across all therapeutic areas. [ + ]

Researchers have discovered how a new class of antimalarial drugs kills the malaria parasite, showing that the drugs block a pump at the parasite surface, causing it to fill with salt. [ + ]

Early-stage biopharma Helmedix has received $1.25m of start-up funding from the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund to develop therapies targeting autoimmune diseases. [ + ]

BioDiem (ASX:BDM) and a US army institute will collaborate on research into using antimicrobial BDM-I as a countermeasure for biological weapons including anthrax. [ + ]

Sirtex (ASX:SRX) has seen sales of SIRSpheres increase by 30.5% and net profit increase by 27.6% to $7.8 million in its half-year results. [ + ]

The market has reacted positively to news that CSL (ASX:CSL) saw a 24% increase in net profit to US$627 million in 1H13 and has completed the restructure of its Australian operations. [ + ]