The way certain cytokines regulate the immune response to mousepox has potential to help with poxvirus infections, including smallpox, according to new research at the ANU. [ + ]

Prof Len Harrison, of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, has been awarded the David Rumbough award for scientific excellence by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International for his research towards finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. [ + ]

One of the highlights of the 7th World Biomaterials Congress was the presentation by plenary speaker Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub, from the Imperial College London, Heart Science Centre in the UK, brought to Australia by Sydney-based company Ventracor. [ + ]

Scientific studies of a unique Australian frog could lead to the development of new ways to improve livestock production levels and boost the prospects of maintaining human muscle strength into old age.

New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra this week announced that it was to cut research funds to its biotechnology subsidiary ViaLactia by 40 per cent -- about NZ$5 million. But ViaLactia CEO Dr Colin South said the impact of the cuts within NZ would be minimal. [ + ]

Chemeq’s polymeric antimicrobial has proved itself in a NZ trial of 584 21-day old weaner pigs, improving average daily weight gain, feed conversion and disease control. [ + ]

Life Therapeutics -- formerly known as Gradipore (ASX:GDP) -- today capped off its 200-day turnaround plan with a set of profit projections that culminated in a forecast overall profit for the company in 2006 of AUD$4.5 million. [ + ]

Business activity at EvoGenix continues apace -- the unlisted Sydney company announced today that itwould team up with Canadian biotech Viventia to identify antibodies as cancer therapeutics. [ + ]

Two biotech start-ups, Combinomics and Nucleics, are to team up to commercialise a novel DNA sequencing technology. [ + ]

A polymer made by one company is warming the places other materials cannot reach. UK company Inditherm has developed a material of the same name that looks like a clothing textile but which conducts low-voltage electricity to provide an evenly heated surface for virtually any purpose - from sports physiotherapy to warming up steering wheels to heated football pitches.

Genzyme aims to file for marketing approval this year for a therapy to reduce the side-effects of thyroid cancer treatment. [ + ]

The development of open industry standards that can be applied to life science and healthcare data across the board are a necessity, according to IBM's general manager for life sciences, Carol Kovac. [ + ]

Twenty-five scientists will receive a $235,000 salary each year for the next five years, plus several hundred thousand dollars each in on-costs support, under the federation fellowships announced today by the federal government. [ + ]

The day after Peptech (ASX: PTD) celebrated the knighting of its investee company Domantis’ co-founder Dr Gregory Winter, its joint venture partner Biosceptre International was tapped for a $2.1 million START grant to develop a skin cancer therapeutic. [ + ]

By 2025, as many as 157 million overweight Chinese are likely to be suffering from non-insulin dependent (Type 2) diabetes, more than the total for the entire world today. [ + ]