Actor Christopher Reeve, famous for his role as Superman before a horsing accident left him paralysed, will be one of the keynote speakers at a new conference on stem cells to be held in Melbourne in September. [ + ]

Stem cell company BresaGen has submitted a position paper to the drafting committee responsible for the forthcoming legislation for use of embryonic stem cells for creation of new stem cell lines for research and development. [ + ]

The Commonwealth government is hosting nationwide forums to help it set research priorities. [ + ]

Genetic Technologies (ASX: GTG) has severed more of its ties with its former life as gold mining and exploration company Duketon Goldfields by offloading its remaining Victorian mining assets. [ + ]

A Melbourne-developed topical antisense drug has been shown to successfully penetrate human psoriasis lesions, paving the way for better treatment of the disease. [ + ]

Queensland-based diagnostics company Panbio has announced that CEO and co-founder Mel Bridges will retire in early 2003. [ + ]

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has moved to tighten procedures for post-harvest monitoring and strengthen the management of GM field trials performed under the new regulatory system. [ + ]

Australian research has led to clinical trials of a drug which could provide a painless and non-destructive way to treat blindness in diabetics.

Perth-based Meditech Research has signed an exclusive commercial agreement with British drug company SkyePharma giving the local biotech access to a suite of new patents. [ + ]

Biotech start-up EvoGenix has teamed with Adelaide-based company BresaGen to work on a protein biopharmaceutical project. [ + ]

A $1 million deal to analyse molecular changes in tumours has been signed between Melbourne's Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery (BOBIM) and a private London biotech. [ + ]

A new procedure for knee replacement, in which cultured cartilage cells grow themselves into place, is available now for Australian patients. [ + ]

A new way to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) with antisense drugs is being developed by Melbourne company Antisense Therapeutics with the assistance of its US partner Isis Pharmaceuticals. [ + ]

Dedication to warding off a common form of blindness has earned a Melbourne ophthalmologist the 2002 Amgen Medical Researcher Award. [ + ]

Ease of use, reliability and service and support are the main things that scientists consider when buying a new chromatography system. But previous familiarity with a particular brand is also a major factor. [ + ]