The message from this year's Australian Society for Medical Research medallist, Julian Savulescu, was controversial but clear: we should use science to enhance humans. [ + ]

Richard Opara has stepped down from his role as interim chairman of device company Polartechnics (ASX:PLT), and is replaced by corporate financial advisor Robert Hunter. [ + ]

Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) has developed a new class of orally-effective antivirals against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection that the company hopes will go to Phase I trials by 2006. [ + ]

The Victorian Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) affirming its support for laboratory accreditation as a key element of good business practice.

Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in US have provided the first detailed look at the core structure of the abnormal protein filaments found in at least 20 devastating diseases, ranging from Alzheimer's to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human version of “mad cow†disease.

Peptech (ASX:PTD) has claimed "significant" results in a preclinical study of its human domain antibody (dAb) therapeutic -- potency levels three times higher than the current market-leading anti-TNF drug against rheumatoid arthritis. [ + ]

Australia's newest research institute, the AUD$100 million Bio21 Institute, based at the University of Melbourne, officially opened its doors today. [ + ]

Avantogen (ASX:ACU), formerly known as Australian Cancer Tehcnology, is to team up with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to conduct a preclinical study to develop a new therapeutic vaccine for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). [ + ]

The tract of bushland near Narrandera, in southern NSW, where Brisbane natural pesticide developer BioProspect (ASX:BPO) is field-trialling its promising termiticide AP778 teems with voracious termites. [ + ]

Brisbane's Agenix (ASX:AGX, NASDAQ:OTC:AGXLY) has forecast a lower full year loss for the year ended June 30 of between AUD$12.3 million and $12.8 million, compared with a $14.3 million loss last year. [ + ]

The Institute of Drug Technology (ASX:IDT) has been granted US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to supply commercial quantities of Thalomid (thalidomide) to its US-based global biopharmaceutical client Celgene. [ + ]

A survey of Australian medical research specialists has found that bias and manipulation in reporting of clinical trial results are rife when the trials are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. [ + ]

Japan's SPring-8, the world's largest synchrotron, has signed a new partnership with the Australian Synchrotron to share expertise and develop new technology. [ + ]

Australia government must ramp up its investment in health and medical research to secure a strong, enduring, sustainable economic future according to Australian Graduate School of Management innovation and biotechnology expert, Professor Michael Vitale, and CEO of Research Australia, Dr Christine Bennett.

Melbourne-based Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has clarified details of a previously announced Phase IIb trial of its anti-obesity drug AOD9604, with recruitment expected to commence in September or October this year. [ + ]