Industry News
Productivity Commission releases final report into Standards Australia
The Productivity Commission’s report into Standards Australia makes a series of demanding recommendations while acknowledging that Standards Australia had “embarked on a significant plan to address key issues of concernâ€, according to John Tucker, CEO of Standards Australia.
[ + ]Mice and men winners in NCRIS projects
The successful projects under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) have been announced, including the establishment of a national mouse phenomics network, a plant phenomics network and a national medical imaging facility. [ + ]
NCRIS funding - successful projects in brief
Bradley Smith, executive director of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), has kindly provided us with a breakdown of the individual projects receiving money through NCRIS. [ + ]
Gardasil on immunisation program from next year
The cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil will be available to 12 to 13-year-old girls next year after manufacturer CSL and the federal government agreed on price. [ + ]
Prana raises cash for next-phase Alzheimer's trials
Prana Biotechnology has raised $7.8 million in cash to add to its fund for a Phase IIa trial in human patients of its PBT2 compound for Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]
Regulatory pathways mapped out
The federal government has launched an internet tool for the biotechnology industry to help it navigate Australia's biotechnology regulations. [ + ]
The winners' guide to the Nobel Prize
On 14 December, the ABC will air a Film Australia documentary called the Winners' Guide to the Nobel Prize.
[ + ]UGA researchers use laser, nanotechnology to rapidly detect viruses
Waiting a day or more to get laboratory results back from the doctor’s office soon could become a thing of a past.
[ + ]New Award expands global connections for Australian Science
An award was announced at the AusBiotech 2006 Conference in Sydney, giving Australian scientists at the forefront of Australian medical research an opportunity to build their networks within the global arena and follow in the footsteps of Australian of the Year, Ian Frazer, taking his Australian research into the HPV vaccine to the global market.
[ + ]Neanderthal genome sequencing yields surprising results
Scientists with the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) have sequenced genomic DNA from fossilised Neanderthal bones with surprising results.
[ + ]US$4.6m biotech product development initiative launched
Box Hill Institute biotechnology students will get international training opportunities with the signing of an agreement with US-based company PaleoTechnology International.
[ + ]Decoded sea urchin genome shows surprising relationship to humans
The genome of the sea urchin has been sequenced, with discoveries including a novel immune system, unexpected sensory proteins and a broad similarity to human genes. [ + ]
Positive early results in stem cell trial for heart attack
Melbourne company Mesoblast has announced positive results from preclinical trials of its patented adult stem cells injected by catheter directly into damaged heart muscle of sheep after a heart attack. [ + ]
Merck wins Vioxx case
Drug maker Merck & Co has won another lawsuit over its Vioxx painkiller. [ + ]
Insulin receptor researchers win CSIRO award
A team of scientists who determined the molecular structure of the insulin receptor has won the 2006 CSIRO Chairman’s Medal.
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