Melbourne-based Epitan (ASX:EPT, ADR:EPTNY, XETRA:UR9) has raised AUD$6.9 million before costs via a private placement to institutional and private investors and will once again seek to list on London's AIM stock market. [ + ]

Prof Vicki Sara has been appointed as director of the Australian Stem Cell Centre and will replace inaugural chairman Robert Moses when he relinquishes the role he has held for three years at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 22. Sara is the chancellor of the University of Technology, Sydney, a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering and a former head of the Australian Research Council. [ + ]

A new gene suspected to contribute to autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and lupus has been discovered by ANU immunologists.

Melbourne's Austin Research Institute (ARI) and vaccine developer Panvax have signed an agreement with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research to develop an experimental malaria vaccine. [ + ]

Melbourne-based Acrux's (ASX:ACR) US partner Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS) has completed enrolment for its phase III clinical study of Acrux's estradiol transdermal spray product Evamist for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. [ + ]

Phylogica (ASX:PYC) has signed a licensing deal with Massachusetts General Hospital and Johns Hopkins University to give the Perth-based company access to a new genetic screening technology. [ + ]

Patients suffering from oral cancer have increased levels of certain bacteria in their saliva, according to research published in the Open Access journal, Journal of Translational Medicine. Six common species of bacteria were found at significantly higher levels in the saliva of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) than in the saliva of healthy individuals. The researchers were able to use three of the six species as a diagnostic tool to predict more than 80% of oral cancer cases. These preliminary findings indicate that three species of bacteria may be incidentally or causally linked with OSCC, and if so detection of these species could be used as a simple, rapid and non-invasive saliva test to diagnose oral cancer.

Investigative research into the novel origins of nerve fibre damage in Multiple Sclerosis by Australian, Jacqueline Orian has been rewarded with a US$372,300 grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of America (NMSS).

Melbourne-based Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) has accelerated its clinical program for obtaining regulatory approvals for its adult stem cell platform technology following a successful pre-investigational new drug (IND) meeting with the US FDA. [ + ]

Australian malaria vaccine researcher Professor Ross Coppell says smallpox was eradicated from the planet because the mass vaccination campaign employed a powdered formulation of dried, attenuated virus. [ + ]

The Queensland BioBus is stopping in Gympie this week to encourage more young people to take up a career in science. [ + ]

A Mississippi State research team is developing a cancer screening process that may allow physicians to more quickly diagnose malignancies without performing invasive biopsies. Utilising laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, or LIBS, scientists are seeking to precisely distinguish malignant and normal cells in real time by inserting a single optical fibre microprobe directly into suspicious tissue for a cancer diagnosis, including breast cancer.

In a move that underscores its growing commitment to the market for rapid diagnostic medical test products, Beckman Coulter has entered into a supply relationship with Princeton BioMeditech (PBM). Under the agreement, PBM will supply a wide range of rapid diagnostic tools used at the point of medical care to Beckman Coulter's Primary Care Diagnostics business unit (PCD).

Laboratory information management systems, or LIMS as it is popularly known, has been gaining good acceptance world over. Australia is not far behind in adopting this new technology. LIMS has been there in the market for over 10 years now and many organisations are now implementing their second or third generation of LIMS.

Melbourne biotech is benefiting from a recent business mission to China led by the city's Lord Mayor John So. [ + ]