Prof Ian Chubb will chair a new Commonwealth committee to guide government research investment.

Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall institute have revealed some enticing information about how people develop immunity to malaria, opening the door to possible diagnostics and therapies. [ + ]

A major award to research a treatment for a dangerous and silent brain abnormality has been received.

GE is calling for final submissions for its $100 million global ‘healthymagination Challenge’ aimed at accelerating innovation in breast cancer, ahead of the closing date later this month.

A 50/50 joint venture with Japanese Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory has injected $25 million into the company which was running perilously short on cash. [ + ]

New treatments for cancer, producing better wine and greater protection of our Great Barrier Reef are some of the benefits that could flow from over 1000 new research projects being supported by the Labor Government.

Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) has seen its share price drop 14% in the last two days after being downgraded to "underperform" by Macquarie Research. [ + ]

Foreign investors have expressed interest in a number of Australian biotechnology companies following the AusBiotech 2011 conference last week. [ + ]

Sartorius concludes agreement to acquire the liquid handling business of Finnish laboratory supplier Biohit. 

The Ramaciotti Foundations are collectively one of the largest private contributors to biomedical research in Australia, and having recently celebrated their 40th anniversary, have granted more than $51 million to research projects since 1970. Last week saw the latest slew of awards and grants issued, with more than $2.6 million issued to biomedical researchers around the nation. [ + ]

The newly-published genome sequence of roundworm is hoped to reveal new targets for diagnosis and treatment of this pervasive pernicious parasite. [ + ]

John Gunn has been named new CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS).

ResMed has posted a record quarterly revenue of $314.8 million, but an 11% decrease in net income due to the high Australian dollar. [ + ]

AMS Instrumentation & Calibration has been appointed exclusive distributor for the Michell Instruments range of analytical instrumentation for Australia. The company manufactures dewpoint transmitters, cooled mirror hygrometers, relative humidity sensors, process moisture analysers, hydrocarbon dewpoint analysers, moisture in liquid analysers and oxygen analysers. [ + ]

Cystic fibrosis treatment, Bronchitol, has been recommended for approval in Europe, seeing Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) shares jump by nearly 60 per cent. [ + ]