Industry News
Adelaide attracts science best
South Australia's capabilities in biotechnology, agriculture and wine, earth and environmental sciences and chemistry and physics have received a major boost, with the appointment of four new Heads of School at the University of Adelaide's Faculty of Sciences.
[ + ]Feds, industry team up on science action agenda
The federal government has teamed up with industry group Science Industry Australia (SIA) to create a new action agenda. [ + ]
Peptech draws strength from antibodies, new and old
Peptech's (ASX:PTD) recent investment in UK domain antibody specialist Domantis took centre stage at the company's annual general meeting today, despite shareholder discontent regarding an employee performance share plan. [ + ]
Macfarlane pledges continued biotech support
The biotechnology industry is likely to be one of the beneficiaries of the forthcoming successor to the Backing Australia's Ability program, according to federal industry minister Ian Macfarlane. [ + ]
Flu epidemic lifts Biota revenues
Shares in Biota Holdings fell more than 6 per cent yesterday, despite the company's announcement that it had reduced its operating loss by almost half, reporting a loss after tax of $3.1 million as compared to $5.5 million in 2002. [ + ]
US healthcare workers lag in flu vaccines: study
Health officials lecture Americans every year on the importance of getting an influenza vaccine but it seems they are not even able to get a majority of their colleagues to do so. [ + ]
WA researchers develop new MRI method
Researchers at the University of Western Australia have developed a novel method for detecting iron overload diseases using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). [ + ]
Bionomics, WEHI team on drug discovery
After announcing a $6m capital raising yesterday, Adelaide epilepsy specialist company Bionomics Limited (ASX:BNO, US OTC: BMICY) has wasted no time mounting a project to identify new drugs to treat inherited epilepsy and anxiety disorders. [ + ]
Antisense moves into development with growth hormone compound
Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has advanced its acromegaly project from research to development after seeing efficacy in animal studies for its antisense compound ATL1103, which targets the growth hormone receptor. [ + ]
Deakin University launches measurement of energy efficiency.
The first mobile facility in the world to measure the energy efficiency of buildings and houses on-site will be launched by Deakin University
[ + ]GM deliberation leaks worry gene advisory chairman
The chair of the NSW Agricultural Advisory Council on Gene Technology, Prof Tim Reeves, has expressed concern that anti-GM representatives on the council have breached its confidentiality code by claiming that the council had already decided to recommend a large-scale trial planting of genetically modified canola in NSW. [ + ]
Ethics, research needs must be balanced: Cotton
An Australian geneticist has called for better balancing of ethical concerns with researchers' needs when it comes to developing guidelines for the collection of human genetic and genomic information into databases for research purposes. [ + ]
Bionomics raises $6m for drug development
Adelaide-based epilepsy specialist Bionomics has raised AUD$6 million in additional capital to fast-track its drug-discovery for new drugs to treat epilepsy and anxiety disorders. [ + ]
Carbon Economy for Northern Australia
Australia's tropical savannas cover two million square kilometres and are largely uncleared. They account for about a third of Australia's land-based carbon stores and have the potential to store even more.
[ + ]Peptech boosts Domantis investment
Sydney biotech company Peptech (ASX:PTD) is lifting its investment in leading UK domain antibody therapeutics developer Domantis by the equivalent of £6.2 million (AUD$15 million) this year to remain Domantis' major investor. [ + ]
