Sigma-Aldrich Corporation has opened its European Regional Headquarters in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Professor John Dewey has been elected as Corresponding Member of the Australian Academy of Science.

IVD Australia has called on the Department of Health and Ageing to look at ways of extending point-of-care testing and to broaden the discussion on the business of pathology.

QIAGEN NV has reached an agreement to acquire Cellesis Limited, which will provide them with access to QuantiFERON technology.

Regenerative medicine leapt forward today as Japanese scientists were able to form the precursor of an eye from embryonic stem cells. [ + ]

Health researchers are alarmed by rumours the federal government will slash NHRMC funding in the coming budget. [ + ]

Attacking cancer with multiple drugs with synergistic effects might overcome the ability of cancer to resist drugs that only hit a single target. [ + ]

Beckman Coulter featured seamless, automated workflow solutions and improvements in throughput and cellular analysis at the LabAutomation 2011 conference in Palm Springs, California. In addition to workshops and scientific posters, the exhibit showcased applications and systems dedicated to next generation sequencing (NGS) sample preparation, stem cell research, assay screening miniaturization and more.

Beckman Coulter Genomics and Vitrology Ltd have announced a strategic partnership to offer customers a wide range of biosafety testing services. The alliance provides the biopharmaceutical industry with two inclusive sources for the full complement of molecular, in vitro and in vivo genomic services necessary for the identification, stabilisation and purification of biological products.

Dr Lisa Butler is figuring out how to use a patient’s very own tumour cells to get the drug cocktail just right to combating prostate cancer. [ + ]

Cellestis board gives tick of approval to the deal which values the tuberculosis diagnostic company at $341.3 million. [ + ]

A new study reveals that overweight older men are less likely to develop dementia.

Scientists have discovered new genes that could be responsible for causing heart defects in children.

Astrophysicists have found a way to peer into the core of stars known as red giants, in order to find out how far along they are in their life cycle.

Australian researchers have helped uncover the role of a key protein, sharpin, in causing inflammation and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. [ + ]