Engineers at GF Piping Systems have succeeded in finding the balance between light permeability and durability. They have developed a piping system made of transparent PVC, which allows sufficient light to pass through in the right wavelength for microalgae to be grown in the interior of the pipe. [ + ]

BioDiem (ASX:BDM) has commenced an up to $2.5m rights issue to raise funds for its various vaccine and infectious disease development programs. [ + ]

The Australian life sciences community is mourning the loss of Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC, who passed away this weekend at the age of 90. [ + ]

AusBiotech and Beacon Events, organiser of the largest resource sector investor event in the Asia Pacific Region – Mines and Money – have announced a partnership to deliver biotechnology investor meetings in Hong Kong and Sydney until 2015. [ + ]

A pioneering mobile device using cutting-edge nanotechnology to rapidly detect malaria infection and drug resistance could revolutionise how the disease is diagnosed and treated. [ + ]

Monash University and CSIRO will build on their shared strengths with an agreement to develop a world-class innovation precinct that aims to underpin the future of Australian manufacturing. [ + ]

Avita Medical (ASX:AVH) has secured additional funding from the US Department of Defense to support the FDA trial for its ReCell Spray-On-Skin in burn injuries. [ + ]

New Zealand Pharmaceuticals (NZP) has announced it will be involved in a phase I trial treating rare genetic disease Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy (HIBM) launched by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). [ + ]

A new dual-site research centre focusing on kinomics is now open for business, focusing on developing new drugs to battle cancer and other diseases. [ + ]

A drug candidate developed by CSL (ASX:CSL) which blocks the protein VEGF-B prevented the development or progression of type-2 diabetes in three separate animal trials. [ + ]

The Federal Government said in media release this week that it is “considering tough new standards for Innovation Patents in order to discourage large companies from abusing the IP system.” [ + ]

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the launch of its new Fisher Chemical and Fisher BioReagents Laboratory Reagents Handbook, an easy-to-use reference guide for one-stop access to the company’s comprehensive laboratory reagent ranges. [ + ]

Allied Healthcare has had a win in the step to see its congenital heart defect treatment, CardioCel, approved for use across Australia. [ + ]

A new University of Sydney exhibition chronicles some of Australia’s most significant advances in the biological sciences during the past half-century. ‘The Meaning of Life: Celebrating 50 years of Biological Sciences’ marks the anniversary of the schools of Zoology and Botany’s amalgamation into the School of Biological Sciences in 1963. [ + ]

AusBiotech has made a submission to Treasury’s Business Tax Working Group (BTWG) in response to its recent discussion paper suggesting that the 40% offset of the newly implemented R&D Tax Incentive be targeted for removal or reduction. [ + ]