Immune system kill switch could be target for chemotherapy and infection recovery
10 December, 2012Researchers have discovered an immune system ‘kill switch’ that destroys blood stem cells when the body is under severe stress, such as that induced by chemotherapy and systemic infections.
Placebos provide pain relief … for some people
06 December, 2012Why is it that the placebo effect - the idea that taking fake medicine can make someone feel better - seems to work for some people but not others? According to researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M), it all comes down to the personality of the person taking it.
Faster, safer method for producing stem cells
06 December, 2012A new method for generating stem cells from mature cells promises to boost stem cell production in the laboratory, helping to remove a barrier to regenerative medicine therapies that would replace damaged or unhealthy body tissues.
Curtin investigates new treatments for diabetes
05 December, 2012A group of Curtin University researchers has been awarded a Diabetes Australia Research Trust Grant for research to improve diabetes treatment, potentially eliminating the need for insulin injection.
Zooming down the tree of life, digitally
12 November, 2012Exploring the evolutionary tree of life is now as easy as navigating an online map, thanks to a new interactive website which does away with giant pieces of paper and confusion.
Gene find turns soldier beetle defence into biotech opportunity
08 November, 2012New antibiotic and anticancer chemicals may one day be synthesised using biotechnology, following CSIRO’s discovery of the three genes that combine to provide soldier beetles with their potent predator defence system.
Sea snails could have medicinal purposes
05 November, 2012A workshop for the development of natural medicines from the Muricidae family of sea snail will be conducted at Southern Cross University (SCU) this week.
EMD Millipore and Sistemic collaborate to identify control markers for stem cell production
02 November, 2012EMD Millipore and Sistemic are jointly developing a monitoring methodology utilising Sistemic’s microRNA marker detection capability to enable consistent growth of stem cells in EMD Millipore’s Mobius CellReady platform.
Want an honest man? Give him a testosterone boost!
02 November, 2012 by Lauren DavisResearchers at the University of Bonn have investigated a link between testosterone and self-serving lying. Surprisingly, the study revealed that a subject’s level of testosterone seems to be linked to his level of honesty.
Reducing the immunity of cancer cells
29 October, 2012Recently published research by a team based at La Trobe University Bendigo shows partial success in bringing the fight against cancer one small step closer to success.
Size does matter - well it does for beetles
26 October, 2012Microscale laser surgery on male beetles’ genitalia has been used to establish that for beetles size actually does matter.
Birth of calf expected after ‘handmade cloning’
26 October, 2012Professor Gábor Vajta has been working on a handmade cloning technique in collaboration with Australian Reproductive Technologies.
Cracking the epigenetic code
22 October, 2012A team of researchers at The Australian National University is one step closer to better understanding how organisms function after discovering how epigenetic information is transmitted from one generation of cells to the next.
Sea sponges offer hope for new medicines
16 October, 2012Flinders University researcher Dr Jan Bekker is on a mission to chemically fingerprint South Australia’s marine sponges, with the wider aim of identifying new compounds that could ultimately play an important role in the fight against cancer and infectious diseases.
Odours of mass deception: how rats learn to ignore native birds
16 October, 2012Rats’ keen sense of smell can be exploited to dramatically reduce their attacks on native birds, researchers from the University of Sydney have shown. The technique could be adapted to protect vulnerable species worldwide.
