First patent granted to Norwood Immunology
17 February, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerNorwood Abbey (ASX:NAL) subsidiary Norwood Immunology has been granted its first patent, covering the use of GnRH analogues to increase the T cell population for the treatment of a variety of diseases.
Lorne Protein report: the secrets of VII tripeptide
13 February, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillIn Douglas Adams' A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, humans learned that the answer to the question of "life, the universe and everything" is 42. The late author would no doubt have been amused to learn that 7 and 6, the factors of 42, provide an insight into the mysteries of death, from lethal brain disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Prion-like protein may be involved in memory
29 January, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerPrion-like proteins may hold the key to understanding how the brain forms lasting memories, according to the Nobel prize-winning researcher from Columbia University Prof Eric Kandel, who is in Australia for the Australian Neuroscience Society conference in Melbourne this week.
Synchrotron gets $15m for beamlines
27 January, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerThe University of Melbourne, Monash University and the CSIRO have joined forces to provide AUD$15 million towards the initial beamlines planned for the Australian Synchrotron project, currently under construction at Monash University.
Asian bird flu reveals Australian vulnerabilities
23 January, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillDespite contingency planning, Australia remains highly vulnerable to an influenza pandemic should the deadly strain of avian influenza burning through Asian poultry farms mutate to a form capable of direct human-to-human transmission.
Beattie promises $20m towards Qld brain institute
23 January, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillQueensland Premier Peter Beattie has pledged that his government, if re-elected, will contribute AUD$20 million towards the cost of a $60 million brain research institute at the University of Queensland.
Eqitx, Vaccine CRC join to take vaccine to market
21 January, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerPerth-based biotechnology company EqiTX (ASX:EQX) and the CRC for Vaccine Technology (CRC-VT) have joined forces to develop and commercialise the CRC's lipopeptide vaccine technology.
BioDiem to float next week after IPO success
21 January, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerBioDiem is looking forward to floating on the ASX on January 27, after successfully raising AUD$8.5 million through an IPO.
BioDiem gets a sniff of $50 million 'flu vaccine fund
19 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillIn the middle of its AUD$10 million float, Melbourne pharmaceutical development company BioDiem has been buoyed by news that the US Food and Drug Administration has allocated $US50 million to boost production of influenza vaccines, which are in chronically short supply in North America.
Funding starts to flow for stem cell projects
18 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerAlmost exactly a year after the federal government named the National Stem Cell Centre (NSCC) as Australia's biotechnology centre of excellence, the first round of funding has been distributed to researchers at six institutions across Australia.
Virax takes hep B compound into pre-clinical phase
12 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne therapeutic vaccine company Virax (ASX:VHL) has taken its hepatitis B treatment into the pre-clinical development phase.
QUT team develops rapid staph test
01 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillA Queensland research team has developed the world's first rapid DNA test to identify methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Peplin Biotech acquires omega-3 portfolio
24 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerBrisbane-based Peplin Biotech has acquired a portfolio of synthetic engineered polyunsaturated fatty acid compounds from researchers at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital in a deal worth AUD$225,000 plus shares and options worth around $350,000.
Blair backs biotech plan for more UK drug trials
18 November, 2003 by Ben HirschlerBritish Prime Minister Tony Blair said the government would provide £10 million (AUD$16.9 million) to study ways to get more experimental medicines to patients through better and faster clinical trials.
EQiTX to develop vaccine technology platform
17 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerPerth-based biotechnology company EQiTX and the CRC for Vaccine Technologies have negotiated an agreement for EQiTX to develop and commercialise the CRC's proprietary lipopeptide vaccine technology platform.
