Industry News
Partnership boosts research on new-generation biofuels
RMIT University has signed a multimillion-dollar partnership with World Wide Carbon Credits Australia to develop an algae-based biofuel at a commercial scale. [ + ]
AtCor wins $3.2m SphygmoCor deal
AtCor Medical (ASX:ACG) has won a $3.2 million contract to supply its SphygmoCor specialist blood pressure monitoring systems for multiple clinical trial sites. [ + ]
Co-opting a killer virus peptide to combat cancer
A team at RMIT has used an advanced new technique to synthesise a key peptide from the myxoma virus that is responsible for its cancer killing clout, and have found this peptide can do its dirty work without harming healthy cells [ + ]
Search for element 113 concluded at last
The most unambiguous data to date on the elusive 113th atomic element has been obtained by researchers at the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science (RNC). [ + ]
Exciting new science for Australian primary schools
The Australian Academy of Science’s science education program for primary schools, PrimaryConnections, released 10 new units last week, fully aligned to the national science curriculum. [ + ]
Unique mechanism identified in bacteria as potential target for developing new antibiotics
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine have identified a unique mechanism in bacteria that has the potential to serve as a target for developing new antibiotics for diseases such as AIDS and soft tissue infections including respiratory and urogenital tracts. [ + ]
Quansys Biosciences appoints Sapphire Bioscience as distributor in Australia and NZ
On 21 August 2012, Quansys Biosciences announced that its products are now distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Sapphire Bioscience. [ + ]
Bluechiip cashes in on R&D Tax Incentive
Bluechiip (ASX:BCT) has become the latest life science company to take advantage of the government's R&D Tax Incentive. [ + ]
Sirtex sales continue to grow
Sirtex Medical (ASX:SRX) has reported another strong quarter for its SIR-Spheres targeted radioactive liver cancer treatments, reporting year-on-year sales growth of 37% for Q1. [ + ]
AusBiotech submits to Productivity Commission on compulsory licensing
AusBiotech has provided a submission in response to the Productivity Commission’s discussion paper on its review into compulsory licensing in the patents system. [ + ]
Scientists find new way to up safety factor of stem cell therapy
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found a way to detect and purge stem cells at risk of developing into tumours. [ + ]
McKeon Review proposes $2-3bn boost to health and medical research
The health and medical research community has reacted positively to a draft discussion paper released today by the Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research in Australia, better known as the McKeon Review. [ + ]
Feature: Protein treasure hunt
Dr Peter Hoffman’s research group is using mass spectrometry to create high-resolution images of proteins in archived tumour samples to help identify new diagnostic markers for cancer. [ + ]
Sunshine Heart to start C-Pulse Heart Assist trial in US
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conditional approval for an investigational device exemption (IDE) for Sunshine Heart’s (ASX:SHC) flagship C-Pulse Heart Assist System paves the way for the company to conduct a key clinical trial of the system to support its FDA application. [ + ]
Remarkable enzyme points the way to reducing nitric acid use in industry
An enzyme in the bacterium that causes potato scab could help create new, environmentally benign biocatalysts with the potential to cut use of the highly corrosive chemical nitric acid. [ + ]
