Industry News
Wine industry seeks $225 million R&D investment
Australia’s wine industry is seeking to boost investment in research and development to $225 million per annum to maintain the edge that new technologies and innovation has given the industry over its global competitors.
[ + ]Giving laboratory managers a voice
At the opening of the 2006 Laboratory Managers Conference at the Carlton Crest Hotel, Melbourne, the SIA’s executive director, Duncan Jones MAICD, announced the formation of the Australasian Laboratory Manager’s Association (ALMA).
[ + ]Vote on stem cells expected next week
Debate on Senator Kay Patterson's private member's bill to allow therapeutic cloning for stem cell research will begin in the Senate next week, with a vote to be taken by Friday, 10 November. [ + ]
ARC major funding outcomes to commence in 2007
ARC has announced the outcomes of the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program for 2007.
[ + ]$70m research institute opens at UQ
The latest addition to a cluster of research institutes at The University of Queensland, the $70m Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), has opened at the university's St Lucia campus.
[ + ]Latest buzz: marijuana may slow progression of Alzheimer's disease
New evidence in rats suggests that marijuana may contain compounds that slow the memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]
Bee researcher loves his vegemite
The powerful enticement of vegemite on toast encouraged a biologist specialising in the visual systems of bees to make his home in Australia in the '70s. Now, Professor Mandyam Srinivasan has received the Prime Minister's Prize for Science. [ + ]
Pitch yourself into commercial battle
Australian scientists and researchers interested in commercialising their research are being encouraged to attend a two-day 'commercialisation bootcamp' being held around the country next year. [ + ]
Needle-free psoriasis treatment progresses
People suffering from severe psoriasis may soon find symptom relief without injections, after a cream-based treatment being developed by Sydney biotechnology company Apollo Life Sciences outperformed current market-leading drugs in pre-clinical studies. [ + ]
Science opportunity for year 9 students
The Siemens Science Experience is a three-day hands-on science, engineering and technology program that will be conducted in Australian universities in 2006/2007 for students who will be entering year 10 in 2007.
[ + ]Lab in lorry project wins astronomer top prize
Dr Charles Jenkins from the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at ANU has been awarded the 2007 Kelvin Medal for Physics by the London-based Institute of Physics (IoP), which praised his leadership of the Lab in a Lorry project.
[ + ]Call for submissions
The Small Scale Technology Cluster (STC) has available small cash grants and discounted access to MiniFAB’s facilities through its Small Scale Technology Access Program. Applications will be reviewed and ranked by the STC Scientific Review Panel.
[ + ]Ig Nobel Australians on the blinking world stage
American researchers may have run off with the big prizes in science this week, but finally there's some good news for dear old Orstralya - we won an Ig Nobel! [ + ]
100 genomes, 10 days and 10 million dollars
The US-based X Prize Foundation has launched an audacious competition to find a private company that can successfully map 100 human genomes in just 10 days. The winner will receive US$10 million (AU$13.75m). [ + ]
Prana to conduct Swedish trials of potential Alzheimer's treatment
Melbourne-based Prana Biotechnology has announced that it has received regulatory approval from Sweden's Medical Products Agency (MPA) to start a Phase IIa clinical trial of its proprietary lead compound, PBT2, in patients with early Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]
