In five years time, biomarker analysis will deliver inexpensive, reliable tests for disease prognosis, delegates at a joint BioMelbourne and Australian Genome Research Facility event heard last week. [ + ]

Canadian-based cancer vaccine company Biomira has exercised its put option to take up equity in Prima Biomed (ASX:PRR) by swapping its 10 per cent equity in Prima's subsidiary company CancerVac for approximately 1.62 per cent equity in Prima. [ + ]

The Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) has criticised a decision by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson, to dissolve the board of the Australian Research Council from early next year. [ + ]

Sydney-based Ventracor (ASX:VCR) has implanted its first VentrAssist left ventricular assist system (LVAS) in the United States. [ + ]

Polartechnics has announced an increase in unaudited revenue results for the financial year ending June 2005 by 280 per cent to AUD$6 million, compared to $2.1 million for the previous financial year. [ + ]

Routine tests by the Australian Barley Board have detected traces of genetically modified canola seed in a small consignment canola to Japan, triggering a strong reaction from anti-GM activist organisations. [ + ]

Spinal implant technology company Columna has secured AUD$3.5 million in funding from Queensland BioCapital Funds for the development of spinal orthopaedic implants. [ + ]

South Australian technology company LabTech Systems (NSX: LTS) is poised to undertake commercialisation of its newly invented brush applicator for the automation of routine microbiology testing in pathology and science laboratories. [ + ]

Since CEO Pete Smith and chairman Bob Moses resigned in May, Amrad (ASX:AML) has kept quiet about its strategic direction. Ruth Beran spoke to chairman Ian Davis about the refocusing of the company. [ + ]

Sydney proteomics R&D company Proteome Systems (ASX:PXL) has reported positive results from pre-clinical trials of its lead compound, the potent antioxidant EUK-189, in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]

In the nick of time, climatically speaking, an Australian National University research team has cloned a plant gene that could markedly increase water-use efficiency in major food crops, including cereals. [ + ]

Business development and seed finance company Biocomm Services and Monash University, through Monash Commercial, have established CNSBio -- a new Melbourne-based company focused on the research and treatment of pain associated with cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. [ + ]

Despite terrorist attacks in London last week, BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC) investee company Stem Cell Sciences has raised £6 million (approximately AUD$14 million) as part of its initial public offering and listing on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM). [ + ]

Two months after his surprise resignation as CEO of Amrad (ASX:AML), Peter Smith has taken on a part-time role as CEO of Cerylid Biosciences, an unlisted company of which Amrad is the major shareholder. [ + ]

Chris Weaver has resigned as Medical Developments Internationa (ASX:MVP) managing director and CEO to take up an executive management position with a bank. Current CFO Jeremy Payling will act as interim CEO while the company searches for a new CEO. [ + ]