Australian researchers will continue to undertake vital research - in areas such as health, manufacturing and food security - in Australia thanks to a new program to manage researcher access to the Australian Synchrotron. [ + ]

The discovery that a cancer drug is hiding in sunflower seeds has won a University of Queensland (UQ) plant scientist a national award. [ + ]

Lions Eye Institute (LEI) researcher Alex Hewitt is one of eight international recipients of a prestigious 2012 Alcon Research Institute (ARI) Young Investigator Grant. The grant is worth $50,000 and will allow Dr Hewitt to further his research into glaucoma genetics. [ + ]

An international collaboration involving the development of the next generation of smart medicines in Brisbane has received a boost, with more than $1 million in state government funding. [ + ]

Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA) has secured a deal to launch a new therapy for the colostrum difficile “superbug” in Australia and New Zealand. [ + ]

Providing opportunities for women in science is crucial to ensure the future productivity and global competitiveness of the country, the Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, told a newly created bipartisan support group at an event on 20 June. [ + ]

Nobel Laureate and molecular biologist Professor Elizabeth Blackburn was awarded the Curtin Medal for Excellence in Medical Research at The Australian National University this morning. [ + ]

TenasiTech, a materials science start-up company from UniQuest, based on University of Queensland research, has secured $1.4 million in grants and equity capital from the Queensland Government and Uniseed. [ + ]

CSL (ASX:CSL) has now repurchased close to $600 million worth of its own shares, under a buyback program which commenced in October last year. [ + ]

Mayne Pharma (ASX:MYX) is back on track to gaining marketing approval from the EMA for its SUBACAP fungal infection treatment, after its application was temporarily derailed by UK regulators. [ + ]

The world’s leading agricultural biotechnology event, ABIC (Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference) 2012, is coming to our region in September with the annual event to be held in Rotorua, New Zealand, and hosted by NZBIO with the support of AusBiotech. [ + ]

CSL (ASX:CSL) unit CSL Biotherapies has tentatively blamed the particulars of the manufacturing process for the adverse reactions to its Fluvax influenza vaccine in some young children in 2010. [ + ]

Dr Matt Cahill, Dow AgroSciences Research and Development Leader for Australia and New Zealand, and the Hon Sid Sidebottom, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, have recognised the work of promising students and inspirational teachers in the primary industries sector with the presentation of annual awards. [ + ]

Stem Cells Ltd, based at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at the University of Queensland, is set to receive $470,000 in Queensland Government science funding to advance cutting-edge stem cell research into diseases such as schizophrenia, Down syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and heart disease. [ + ]

Bionomics recently captured headlines with its spectacular deal with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals for its anti-anxiety compound, BNC210. But the South Australian biotech has even more tricks up its sleeve. [ + ]