Two Australian research teams have been awarded $50 million to develop a bionic eye.

Ian Olver, CEO of Cancer Council Australia, and Trevor Davies, of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia, debate the merits and dangers of gene patents. [ + ]

CSL has announced that a vaccine to treat severe gum disease is being developed in a new collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur.

Australian R&D firm delivers first of 3D bio-printer to Organovo using latter's NovoGen technology.

The Caribbean sun anemone disables its prey with a potent neurotoxin that could provide a new treatment for the disabling auto-immune disorder, multiple sclerosis. [ + ]

NHMRC lifts moratorium on xenotransplantation in Australia, LCT aims to begin trials. [ + ]

Pilot study shows afamelanotide improves quality of life in cancer patients. [ + ]

Treatment could help improve blood flow and decrease tissue death in individuals with diabetes. [ + ]

CLS, Cochlear, ResMed, Ansell, Living Cell Technology, Ramsay Health Care, ChemGenex [ + ]

The ECHA Member State Committee has identified 15 new chemical substances for the Candidate List of substances of very high concern which will be added to the Candidate List in January 2010.

$11.2 million Victorian Recombinant Proteins Feeder Facility opens at Monash University. [ + ]

First patient to receive Living Cell Technology's Diabcell implant has reduced insulin dose. [ + ]

Gareth Evans has been appointed Chancellor of The Australian National University. He will replace Professor Kim Beazley, who is moving on to his next role as the Australian Ambassador to the United States.

U.S. researchers are aiming to inventory the DNA of every living thing on a French Polynesian island. [ + ]

French toxinologist, Pierre Escoubas, is finding interesting pharmacology in the venoms of smaller species that punch way above their weight. [ + ]