Research's survival of the thriftiest
11 March, 2003 by Jennie SouthgateSome of the laboratory managers at Sydney's Centenary Institute are concerned that one of the more challenging aspects of their role is about to get harder. The Federal government's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), which issues licenses and certification to research institutes working with genetically modified organisms, has proposed introducing charges to recover its running expenses. If this happens, the research institute will have to bear the cost. "It would be a whole new area of funding which would have to come out of the institute's infrastructure budget because it would not be allowed for in other areas of funding," says Dr Nick Pearce, the institute's business development manager.
Shareholders bolster Polartechnics' coffers
07 March, 2003 by Pete YoungInstitutional shareholders in Polartechnics have tipped another $AUD3.63 million into the medical devices company, buoyed by the belief it is on the threshold of commercial viability.
IDT boosts profit on 26% revenue gain
05 March, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerA revenue increase of 26 per cent has helped Melbourne-based Institute of Drug Technology (IDT) push its net profit up nine per cent to $AUD2,077,053 in the half year ending December 31, 2002.
Iatia CEO looks to expand markets and development
04 March, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne-based imaging technology developer Iatia is positive about the prospects of the company despite low cash reserves, CEO Brian Powell said today.
Xcell to complete Visiomed acquisition
26 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerPerth based devices company Xcell Diagnostics will finalise its acquisition of German company Visiomed this week, propelling Xcell into a leading position in skin cancer diagnostic instrumentation.
Leaner, meaner Amrad refocuses on R&D
21 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne-based drug discovery company Amrad has rationalised its R&D portfolio, the company announced yesterday, with a renewed focus on five projects in the development and pre-clinical stage.
Mass spec and the soft cell
19 February, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillIf mass spectrometry didn't exist, biologists would surely have had to invent it. Mass spectrometry has put the pep into peptide sequencing -- there's no quicker nor more accurate way of doing it.
New maternity leave scheme aims to correct gender imbalance
17 February, 2003 by Melissa HulbertMonash University is to begin offering maternity leave grants to encourage academics to return to their careers.
Promising faster returns could be dangerous, bio-IT expert warns
13 February, 2003 by Pete YoungDrug development companies are dipping into dangerous waters by trying to persuade investors that the industry can achieve the same improvements in product cycle times delivered by other manufacturing industries, warns US-based bio-IT specialist Dan Stevens.
The biotech report cards
13 February, 2003 by Iain ScottAs the new year begins, market analysts are sounding the same warnings that they did in 2002 -- that Australian biotechnology companies must consider strategies like mergers and acquisitions and alliances to survive.
Synchrotron interest pulls in would-be users
12 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerA Melbourne workshop organised by the Australian Synchrotron Project last week attracted 350 participants, including representatives from synchrotrons all over the world.
Single shareholder to blame for Ambri's pre-Christmas crucifixion
11 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerBiosensor company Ambri has learned first-hand the fickle nature of the share market -- a stock slide that saw the company lose almost a third of its value since mid-December, before recovering 22 per cent on Friday, was precipitated by a single shareholder selling off its entire holding in the company.
Position, not salary, key concern for returning expats
11 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerGetting a suitably challenging position is a bigger concern to many returning expatriate Australians than salary, attendees heard at the first BioMelbourne Breakfast for this year.
US guidelines boost Cellestis' credibility, marketing push
11 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne diagnostics company Cellestis has received a major boost with the release of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for its Quantiferon-TB diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB).
Prima teams with law firm to manage patent portfolio
03 February, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne-based Prima Biomed has taken the unusual step of forming a strategic alliance with legal firm Blake Dawson Waldron's patent services group to manage its entire patent portfolio, which includes 26 granted patents and 44 patent applications at various stages.
