A national survey to gauge how Australians feel about biotechnology has shown that the majority are strongly supportive of those efforts which lead to health and environmental benefits, while support for genetically modified (GM) food has fallen amid ongoing confusion and uncertainty. [ + ]

The treatment of a range of human blood cancers, such as chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, may be improved as a result of international research involving The University of Western Australia.

IRL has been selected as one of six accredited research organisations for the first phase of the government-funded technology transfer voucher funding scheme.

Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF), Macquarie University and Agilent Technologies Australia have announced a joint research collaboration in the field of glycoproteomics, to be led by Professor Nicolle Packer.

The University of Sydney’s Bosch Institute opened its new core facility - the Oxidative Stress Bioanalytical Facility (OSBF) in the Medical Foundation Building.

A new research method developed by Australian scientist Alan Mackay-Sim and his team has the potential to shed light on the biological underpinnings of mental illnesses. [ + ]

In an industry obsessed with finding the next big blockbuster, Melbourne-based Starpharma is using its technology platform to steadily accumulate wins in a broad range of markets. [ + ]

The heavy back-slapping and self-congratulations at this week’s AusBiotech 2010 shindig in Melbourne may have rubbed off a little on the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index, which managed to claw back most of last week’s losses. [ + ]

European researchers have identified for the first time a number of genetic variants indicating increased risk of the skin disease psoriasis. [ + ]

Dr Mark Shackleton was named at last night’s AusBiotech 2010 Conference Dinner as the winner of the 2011 Pfizer Australia Senior Research Fellowship grant for his proposal ‘Identifying determinants of human melanoma progression’. [ + ]

Melbourne cancer biotech ChemGenex announced today that US pharma Cephalon has become a major new investor in the company. The announcement saw the company’s shares surge almost 15 percent to $0.50 by mid afternoon trade. [ + ]

The vision to create an Australian-first home for medical research, clinical trials and treatment commercialisation reached an historic milestone with the official start of construction on the $354 million Translational Research Institute in Brisbane.

Any doubts as to the marketability of the Australian biotech and life sciences industries were thoroughly dispelled this week with 150 investors from more than 100 companies - foreign and Australian - attending AusBiotech’s Australasian Life Sciences Investment Summit in Melbourne as part of AusBiotech 2010. [ + ]

Premier John Brumby has launched a $55 million action plan to strengthen Victoria’s leadership in biotechnology, help in the fight against serious illnesses and create jobs across the state.

The gene patenting debate is complex, says Tania Obranovich, partner at law firm Davis Collison Cave, who spoke yesterday at the AusBiotech 2010 Conference on a panel entitled ‘Busting the myths about gene patenting.’ [ + ]