New $1.1m cancer unit opens at the Garvan
17 May, 2005 by Ruth BeranThe prime minister has officially opened the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Unit for Molecular Genetics of Cancer at Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney.
Federal budget: nothing new for biotechnology
12 May, 2005 by Ruth BeranThe federal budget, handed down on Tuesday night, makes no new commitments to science, with most of the money allocated simply honouring previous election promises.
Brain and Mind Institute receives $5 million
11 May, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonThe federal budget has allocated AUD$5 million to Sydney University's Brain and Mind Research Institute, to go towards fitting out its new premises.
Australian e-health progress stalled by debate
10 May, 2005 by Michael CrawfordIntellectualised debate is stalling progress towards a national electronic health records system, according to the MD of database specialist Intersystems Australia.
HPV vaccine looks promising: Frazer
09 May, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonPositive results from a new phase II clinical trial of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardisil, developed from research originally conducted by Prof Ian Frazer's group at the University of Queensland, were presented at the 22nd International Papillomavirus Conference and Clinical Workshop held in Vancouver, Canada last week.
Leibman jumps ship to Heartware
04 May, 2005 by Ruth BeranHoward Leibman, who advised Heartware (ASX:HTW) during its recent ASX-listing as an associate director of specialist biotech investment bank Emerging Growth Capital, has been poached by the artificial heart company.
In brief: Biota, Cytopia, Pharmaxis, Ventracor, Vision Systems, Replikun
29 April, 2005 by Staff WritersAndrew Macdonald has resigned as chief financial officer at Melbourne-based Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) and is taking up the CFO position at fellow biotech Cytopia (ASX:CYT). Cytopia is relocating its corporate HQ from Brisbane to Melbourne. Macdonald has given three months' notice at Biota.
Govt releases report on future of medicine and health
28 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillA preliminary report by Australia's Productivity Commission has concluded that advances in medical science have benefited Australians, but have also been a major driver of increased spending on health.
Get ready for a sugar rush
27 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillIn 2000, a research team led by University of Queensland molecular geneticist Prof Robert Birch first inserted a gene from the plant-dwelling bacterium Pantoea dispersa into sugarcane cells, aiming to create plants that would synthesise isomaltulose, instead of sucrose.
In brief: Isotechnika, Allergan, Merck, H2N2 flu kits
26 April, 2005 by Staff WritersIsotechnika has said a pivotal trial of its experimental drug, ISA247, to treat psoriasis showed positive preliminary results.
Chemeq, Metabolic boosted by timely good news
20 April, 2005 by Renate KrelleShares in two of the biotech sector's most troubled companies Chemeq (ASX:CMQ) and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) rose today by 20 per cent and 15 per cent respectively, as the companies announced positive news.
'Provocative' study could unravel lymphoma mystery
20 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillUniversity of NSW epidemiologists have uncovered evidence for an unexpected upside to allergies -- people who suffer from asthma and hay fever are 50 per cent less likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Proteome signs sweet deal with Agilent
19 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillInternational proteomics technology and research company Proteome Systems (ASX:PSX) has signed a agreement with life-science research systems company Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) to develop and market an integrated technology package for glycomics, the analysis of glycosylated proteins.
Perth team tracks HIV's 'escape mutants'
12 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillThe 'H' in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) could stand just as well for Hydra, the multi-headed monster of Greek myth. By the time the human immune system has decapitated one strain of the virus, it has spawned a host of novel mutants. Mutants proliferate because natural selection endowed the virus with a dodgy reverse transcriptase enzyme that introduces random errors into the genetic blueprints of newly replicated virus particle.
WEHI team gets behind malaria's cloak of invisibility
08 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillIn the science fiction series Star Trek, the Klingons use cloaking technology to render their spaceships invisible to the Enterprise's sophisticated sensor systems. But like many other futuristic ideas, that cloaking technology was invented by nature first. The tiny vampire Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the deadliest form of human malaria, has up to 60 ways of cloaking itself against its host's immune defences.
