A United States decision to approve reimbursement of Ventricular Assist Devices has come as good news to Australian artificial heart developer Ventracor (ASX:VCR). [ + ]

Biomedical nanotechnology company pSivida (ASX:PSD) will strengthen its stake in its United Kingdom operating subsidiary following a AUD$6.5 million capital raising, the biotech announced today. [ + ]

Optiscan Imaging's (ASX: OIL) partnership with Japan's Pentax Corporation to develop a flexible endomicroscope has taken another step forward with the Melbourne biotech receiving its first major order for the supply of components. [ + ]

Biota Holdings' (ASX:BTA) second-generation influenza program has leap-frogged into clinical trials thanks to a partnership with a Japanese competitor. [ + ]

The Australian Research Council has launched a new program aimed at encouraging the development of research networks, and fostering interdisciplinary research. [ + ]

Technology investment company EQiTX (ASX:EQX) has more than doubled its cash reserves with a successful AUD$2.7 million capital raising, raised mostly through investors in the United Kingdom. [ + ]

Melbourne pharmaceutical development company BioDiem has taken an option over research involving the use of a peptide to treat major retinal diseases and age-related blindness. [ + ]

It seems that memories are made of... cadherins. While cadherins -- cell adhesion molecules -- do not actually store memories, at the very least they have a major role in organising the basic architecture of the brain, and the dense filigree of fine neural interconnections in which memories are mysteriously stored. [ + ]

The telomeres are intriguing repetitive structures found on the chromosome tips, which are responsible for preventing the gradual erosion of the ends of the chromosomes. [ + ]

Monsanto has opened a biotechnology research centre in Queensland to support its cotton product stewardship program. [ + ]

VRI Biomedical has completed a preliminary study demonstrating that their probiotic product Progastrim, which contains a proprietary strain of Lactobacillus fermentum, reduced respiratory symptoms in elite athletes. [ + ]

Britain's disastrous epidemic of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in 2001 cost the UK economy an estimated AUD$18 billion, and confirmed the what international veterinary authorities had feared: their insurance against the world's worst livestock disease had lapsed. [ + ]

pSiMedica, the UK-based subsidiary of Perth nanotechnology company pSivida, has received a notice of allowance from the US Patent Office for "smart" drug delivery technology. [ + ]

Melbourne biotech Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) is looking for a fast and pain-free path to market for the latest addition to its IP portfolio: a potent peptide from cone-shell venom that shows great promise in the treatment of chronic, intractable nerve pain. [ + ]

A predicted shortfall in global production capabilities of monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic purposes has led Queensland researchers to look at ways of boosting production of the antibodies in cell lines. [ + ]