Mariapia Degli-Esposti's team at Perth's Lions Eye Institute is looking closely at why the immune system puts up a good fight against some viral infections but has problems with others. [ + ]

A research alliance has recently been announced between the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and The Dow Chemical Company.

The Australasian Society for Immunology is holding its annual conference this week. Key note speaker Andreas Strasser will discuss his latest findings on the functions of apoptosis-related proteins in the immune system. [ + ]

Scientists will have access to the latest in climate change technology to investigate future atmospheric conditions and their impact on plant crops, after the official opening in November of a $3.7 million climate change research facility in Horsham, Victoria.

The 'guardian of the genome' has an unexpected role in regulating embryo implantation in mice. [ + ]

HealthLinx has reached an agreement with The University of Liverpool (UK) to in-license patented biomarkers and antibodies that show efficacy in detecting grade one and two ovarian cancer.

Kim Carr is the new federal minister for science. [ + ]

Extra insurance for the Tasmanian devil announced as scientists fear for its future. [ + ]

The Vienna-based company, Affiris, announced that it has been granted a Europe-wide patent for a pool of peptide sequences that are key elements of its Alzheimer’s vaccine. The company will be able to use these newly patented components to manufacture an optimised vaccine against beta-amyloid, the peptide responsible for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The 2008 Pfizer Australia Research Fellowships have been announced, bringing one Australian scientist home. [ + ]

Researchers at Cornell have discovered some 300 previously unidentified human genes and found extensions of several hundred genes already known, according to a study published online in the journal Genome Research.

NSW set to lift GM crop moratorium, while Victoria faces a tougher test. [ + ]

In recent years, scientists have discovered that biological clocks help organise a dizzying array of biochemical processes in the body — but exactly how the microscopic pacemakers in every cell in the body exert such a widespread influence has remained a mystery.

Infecting almost 20 million people worldwide each year, the measles virus remains a dangerous, highly contagious disease despite extensive vaccination efforts. However, recent advancements in understanding the pathogen’s binding mechanism could provide a new strategy to fight infection.

Petra Bachmann was announced this year’s Open Senior Division winner in the highly respected Coast Association Tow Research Awards.