A new coating technique that can make fabrics ‘self-cleaning’ has been developed by Deakin University scientists. The technique creates a fabric coating that repels water, dirt, grease and other materials. [ + ]

Professor Trevor Lithgow is tinkering with the cogs of bacteria to understand how they, and their mitochondrial cousins, tick. [ + ]

Ventus Medical plans to use the proceeds of its upcoming ASX IPO to fund efforts to build a market for its sleep disorder breathing products. [ + ]

Retail chain David Jones has agreed to stock the Elixia range of skincare products from Melbourne-based Phosphagenics (ASX:POH). [ + ]

Researchers are an important step closer to finding a vaccine that protects against a wide range of strains of meningococcal B - the most common cause of meningococcal disease in Western Australia. [ + ]

A new study, published in the international scientific journal Cell, has identified that a novel defect in gene regulation, never before seen in a human disease, is the cause of one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). [ + ]

An AusBiotech investment mission to Hong Kong later this month will culminate in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between AusBiotech and the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization (HKBIO) to boost biotechnology development. [ + ]

Cardiac catheter company CathRx (ASX:CXD) will likely seek shareholder approval to go private after it raises funds to pursue a potential sale of the company. [ + ]

BioDiem (ASX:BDM) and France's VIVALIS are exploring the feasibility of using BioDiem's LAIV flu virus to create a viral vector for non-influenza vaccines. [ + ]

Despite a budget riddled with cuts, funding for science has increased and the recently-passed R&D Tax Incentive has remained intact. [ + ]

The Gillard government intends to secure Australia’s competitive economic edge by boosting funding for science and research in universities by more than $126 million in 2012-13. [ + ]

Researchers at The University of Western Australia (UWA) say the ‘next frontier’ of agricultural science is understanding the root system and function of crop plants to significantly increase Australian grain production, keep farms viable and help continue to feed the world despite the onset of increasing drought and climate change. [ + ]

BioDiem (ASX:BDM) has received license fees totalling around 10% of its market cap from its LAIV flu vaccine technology. [ + ]

Hydrix, an engineering consultancy company operating in the medical device and other sectors, has won an award from the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. [ + ]

Returning to Melbourne this year, the biotechnology industry event of the year, AusBiotech 2012 national conference, is now open for registration. [ + ]