Perth-based biomedical devices developer, Visiomed Group (ASX:VSG) has been awarded two Business Development and Skills Training Scheme (BDSTS) grants, worth a total of AUD$40,000 from the Western Australian Department of Industry and Resources. [ + ]

Bacteria and fungi thrive in some of the most hostile environments on the planet, and employ exotic metabolic reactions to extract energy from the most toxic substrates -- including acidic industrial wastes and hydrocarbon fuels. [ + ]

Melbourne-based stem cell specialist Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) has entered into agreements with Colorado State University to perform preclinical dose-escalation trials of its universal donor adult stem cell technology for the treatment of long bone fractures, and a new indication, intervertebral spinal fusion. [ + ]

Researchers at Melbourne's Monash Medical Research Institute (MMRI) have identified a readily accessible source of adult mesenchymal stem cells in the lining of the uterus that could help repair uterine prolapse. [ + ]

Proteome Systems has won a prestigious 2005 Frost and Sullivan Technology Innovation Award for its ingenious Chemical Inkjet Printer (ChIP). [ + ]

Federal science minister Dr Brendan Nelson announced today the government will provide AUD$2,972,440 to fund 42 new awards for Australian-based researchers to participate in joint research projects with their overseas peers in 18 different countries, under the Australian Research Council's Linkage International Scheme. [ + ]

On the back of yesterday's announcement, Pharmaxis (ASX:PXC) has been granted approval from Health Canada to conduct a clinical trial of Bronchitol in patients with cystic fibrosis. [ + ]

Melbourne-based Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has raised AUD$4.04 million in its share purchase plan (SSP) which closed last Friday. [ + ]

BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC) investee company Continence Control Systems International (CCS) has commenced patient recruitment for its severe urinary incontinence treatment, following completion of pre-clinical studies and human ethics approval for human implants. [ + ]

BresaGen (ASX:BGN) has been awarded a Commercial Infrastructure Grant of AUD$200,000 from Bio Innovation SA, the South Australian government's biotechnology agency. [ + ]

Following a trading halt, Chemeq (ASX:CMQ) has updated the market on the allotment and issue of AUD$20 million additional convertible bonds to Japanese investment group Mizuho International and related entities of investment management group Stark Investments, due on July 15. [ + ]

The US Food and Drug Administration has expanded an 'orphan drug' designation to Pharmaxis' (ASX:PXS) drug Bronchitol, for the additional indication of facilitating mucus clearance in patients with cystic fibrosis. [ + ]

Sydney biotech Peptech (ASX:PTD) has signed up with its 36.1 per cent owned UK partner Domantis to develop a domain antibody (dAb) for the cancer target identified by its Sydney joint venture partner Biosceptre. [ + ]

Chemeq (ASX:CMQ) is in a trading halt in the lead-up to an announcement concerning the underwriting of AUD$20 million convertible bonds to Mizuho International, Stark Trading and Shephard Investments International, to which it committed itself in April. [ + ]

Fellowship grants of more than AUD$270,000 have been awarded to seven Australian scientists to pursue research and studies at American Institutions courtesy, of the American Australian Association. [ + ]