Industry News
CSIRO and GRDC team up to study grain crop problems
CSIRO Entomology and the Grains Research and Development Corporation have signed a $20 million agreement for a research alliance focusing on the pests and diseases affecting Australia's grain industries. [ + ]
Applied Bio on track with forensics software
Life science device and software company Applied Biosystems has passed a key milestone en route to what may be its largest single sale of bioinformatics products in Australia. [ + ]
Plastic growing coming to fruition
A technique that 'grows' plastics easily and cheaply has been developed by Warwick University chemical researchers. Called controlled radical polymerisation, the process has been patented and is being tested by a number of manufacturers for applications as diverse as hairspray, anti-obesity drugs and inkjet printer ink.
[ + ]Rathjen nets top job at Adelaide science faculty
Leading stem cell scientist Prof Peter Rathjen has been appointed executive dean of the new Faculty of Sciences at the University of Adelaide. [ + ]
Virax files prostate cancer therapy patent
Immune-based drug developer Virax Holdings has announced it had filed a patent relating to a potential new prostate cancer therapy. [ + ]
Iatia's technology wins R&D 100 Award
Melbourne vision sciences company Iatia has taken out the top award for optical imaging technology in a prestigious international competition. [ + ]
McComas steps down from EpiTan board
Investment banker Malcolm McComas has resigned from the board of Melbourne tanning drug company EpiTan after almost three years. [ + ]
GTG claims progress made in AIDS research
Melbourne company Genetic Technologies has reported that it is making good progress with its AIDS research project. [ + ]
Peptech seeks approval for dog contraceptive
Peptech's animal health division has applied to register its medication to control fertility and reproductive behaviour in dogs. [ + ]
Peplin overcomes scale-up hurdles and exports cancer drug
Peplin Biotech has shipped the first significant quantity of its lead anti-cancer drug PEP 005 after a year-long effort which it says has "cracked the back" of any manufacturing problems. [ + ]
Acrux raises $9.8m to speed drug delivery program
Novel drug delivery company Acrux has raised $9.8 million through the sale of 10 per cent of its stock to Queensland Investment Corporation. [ + ]
Is the universe made for life?
Researchers all over the world are looking for evidence of life elsewhere in the solar system, and intelligence beyond. The Australian Museum is hosting, in conjunction with Macquarie University's Australian Centre for Astrobiology (ACA), a panel discussion on July 5th, in which four leading researchers will give a picture of where we are in the quest to discover our true place in the universe.
[ + ]Victorian TAFE to offer biotech degrees
Biotechnology will be among a raft of specialised degrees on offer at Victorian TAFE institutes. [ + ]
Industry R&D spending shows first rise in four years
Business expenditure on R&D (BERD) in 2000-01 increased for the first time in four years, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today. [ + ]
CSIRO appointments indicate greater biotech role
The arrival of a group of new appointees on the board of CSIRO could foreshadow a larger role for biotechnology within Australia's premier scientific research organisation. [ + ]