The use of Drosophila fruit flies as a model for human neurodegenerative disease has led to the insight that molecular chaperones, such as heat shock proteins, may play a common role in the development of these diseases, says the University of Pennsylvania's Assoc Prof Nancy Bonini, in Australia this week for the Genetics Society of Australia's annual conference in Melbourne. [ + ]

Canberra and San Diego-based Phenomix has signed a multi-year collaboration agreement with Genentech to identify and prioritise drug target for immune disorders. [ + ]

A $20 million grant to the Western Australian Energy Alliance (WA ERA) under the State Government's major research facilities program will be a critical part of Western Australia's future development, Premier Geoff Gallop said recently.

Two Perth-based biotechs have made key executive appointments. [ + ]

The head of a new advisory committee for the Australian synchrotron has urged industry to make sure it could get maximum use of the new Australian synchrotron. [ + ]

Researchers at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth are hoping to persuade big pharma to test therapeutics targeting specific inflammatory response effector molecules in young children at risk of developing persistent asthma. [ + ]

Monash University Department of Surgery staff have made history by performing the first robotic heart operations in the southern hemisphere.

Its name and design may seem better suited to a science fiction movie but the Aquanator could become the way of the future for power generation.

Drug firm GlaxoSmithKline has told the US subsidiary of Melbourne-based Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) that it will not extend the companies' research collaboration on novel hepatitis C drugs beyond its scheduled expiry date of August 9. [ + ]

The merger between Bresagen's US subsidiary Bresagen Inc and San Diego stem cell company Cythera has been completed. [ + ]

Early Australian settlers evocatively dubbed fire 'the red steer' -- the untamed beast that rampaged through the bush, grazing it back to bare earth. 'Red prince' might have been more appropriate, because the smoke from bushfires delivers a potent chemical kiss that rouses the sleeping seeds of many native plants -- including many of Australia's most beauteous species -- to vibrant life. [ + ]

Three Australian biotechnology companies logged share price gains of over 300 per cent this financial year: pSivida (ASX: PSD) soared 387 per cent, Progen (ASX:PGL) was up 368 per cent and Australian Cancer Technology (ASX:ACU) was up 316 per cent. Biopharmaceutical company Anadis (ASX:ANX) also hit its stride, its share price rising 177 per cent. [ + ]

Nanobiotechnology is one of the main opportunities for Australia to develop capabilities in nanotechnology, the CEO of Nanotechnology Victoria (Nanovic) Peter Binks said today. [ + ]

Australia's biotechnology industry has had its best performing year since the halcyon days of the 1999-2000 tech boom, with both Intersuisse and Southern Cross Equities reporting a 24 per cent rise in their biotechnology indices to the end of the financial year, compared to the 18 per cent rise seen in the ASX's All Ordinaries Index. [ + ]

CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), in Geelong, Victoria, has become the first facility in the world to be accredited as an international collaborative centre for new and emerging diseases.