Potential new treatment for gastrointestinal cancers discovered
17 January, 2013Researchers have identified a complex of proteins that promotes the growth of some types of colon and gastric cancers, and shown that medications that block the function of this complex have the potential to be developed into a new treatment for these diseases.
Saliva glands may diagnose Parkinson’s disease
15 January, 2013 by Lauren DavisNew research from Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Banner Sun Health Research Institute suggests that testing a portion of a person’s saliva gland may be a way to diagnose the degenerative disorder Parkinson’s disease. The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in San Diego in March.
Not only humans wilt in heat: developing heat-tolerant crops
11 January, 2013With heatwaves predicted to increase in intensity and duration, the importance of heat tolerant crops is becoming increasingly urgent. Dr Daniel Tan, from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, specialises in exactly that.
Alzheimer’s to be diagnosed online
10 January, 2013The early onset of Alzheimer’s disease could be detected using a simple online test, according to scientists from the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at The University of Queensland (UQ).
Images of insulin in action could lead to better diabetes treatments
10 January, 2013An Australian-led research team has obtained the world’s first 3D pictures of insulin in the process of binding to cell surfaces so that the cells can take up sugar from the blood. The images solve the 20-year mystery of how insulin binds to the insulin receptor and will enable the development of improved forms of insulin for treating type 1 and 2 diabetes.
A temperature below absolute zero
09 January, 2013Atoms at negative absolute temperature are the hottest systems in the world.
Research collaboration to develop greener medical treatments
08 January, 2013Research into a cost-effective biomimetic that has the potential to treat many bone diseases such as osteoporosis will be pioneered through a joint venture between Cardia Bioplastics and the University of Sydney.
Researchers find new molecule to target in pancreatic cancer treatment
08 January, 2013Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have identified a new target to improve treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer, which accounts for more than 95% of pancreatic cancer cases.
Planting ideas for medicine
08 January, 2013Medical research designed to benefit humans may, in the future, also be carried out on plants, according to Associate Professor Sureshkumar Balasubramanian of the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University.
Growing tumours grows hope for children with cancer
21 December, 2012 by Lauren DavisDiffuse Pontine Glioma (DIPG) may not be particularly well known, but according to oncologist Dr David Ziegler, it is “one of the most common and the most aggressive brain tumours we see in kids”. Now, Dr Ziegler and colleagues from the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA) have set out to grow their own tumours in the institute’s ACRF Drug Discovery Centre.
National initiative to personalise breast cancer treatment
20 December, 2012Researchers are working on a solution for a large number of breast cancer patients who do not respond to chemotherapy, thanks to $5 million in funding.
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.
Research reveals twist in the fight against malaria
10 December, 2012New research published in the prestigious journal Science has challenged previous notions about how the body fights against malaria infection. Scientists have discovered that platelets, normally known for their role in preventing bleeding, can actually target and kill the parasite that causes malaria as it grows inside red blood cells.
EPO doping in elite cycling: no evidence of benefit but high risk of harm
07 December, 2012The drug erythropoietin, often called EPO, is banned from sports because it is believed to enhance an athlete’s performance and give people who use it an unfair advantage over unenhanced competitors. A new systemic review of existing research reveals that there is no scientific evidence that it does enhance performance, but that its use in sport could place a user’s health and life at risk.
Collaboration to develop compound to boost vaccine efficacy
07 December, 2012The University of Melbourne has announced an agreement with vaccine company Bio Farma to develop an adjuvant - a vaccine delivery system which could boost the effectiveness of vaccines for a range of infectious diseases.
