New class of non-protein coding genes
04 February, 2009
Researchers have uncovered a vast new class of previously unrecognised mammalian genes that do not encode proteins, but instead function as long RNA molecules, and seem to play critical roles in both health and disease, including cancer, immune signalling and stem cell biology.
NSW and Victoria make stem-cell research breakthrough
02 February, 2009
Understanding Type 1 Diabetes and infertility is a step closer now NSW and Victorian researchers have developed Australia’s first human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line.
Dangerous DNA can cause cell suicide
16 January, 2009
The discovery that some cells sacrifice themselves if they are infected with a virus will help improve understanding of how cells normally combat viral infection, and may also be relevant for the disease lupus, where the immune system attacks normal cellular proteins.
Differentiating normal and cancer stem cells
07 January, 2009
Canadian researchers have demonstrated the difference between normal stem cells and cancer stem cells in humans. It is anticipated that this research will help scientists target cancer cells and leave healthy cells untouched during cancer treatment.
Stem cell therapy used to reverse brain birth defects
06 January, 2009
Brain birth defects in animal models have been reversed using mouse embryonic neural stem cells by scientists at the Hebrew University.
Controlled drug delivery in gut
01 January, 2009 | Supplied by: Philips Scientific & Industrial
Philips Research has recently announced its intelligent pill technology iPill, targeted at assisting drug development and enabling new therapies for digestive tract disorders such as Crohn’s disease, colitis and colon cancer.
Point of care lab-on-a-chip cancer diagnostic
18 December, 2008
Smart-Biomems is developing a comparatively inexpensive, easy-to-use and portable point-of-care system which will detect cancer at a very early stage.
Fluorescent probes detect reactive oxygen species
16 December, 2008
Reactive oxygen species can be detected and measured in vivo using a new family of fluorescent probes called Hydrocyanines.
Inducing chirality
03 December, 2008
Chirality can be introduced by irradiation of molecules while adsorbed on a magnetised substrate.
Re-invigorated CRC Program
28 November, 2008
Public interest research has been reinstated in the re-invigorated CRC Program.
Alzheimer’s disease breakthrough
17 November, 2008
Scientists working within CSIRO’s Preventative Health Flagship have discovered a rapid screening system to identify inhibitors of toxic multimer formation which is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease progression. It is hoped that this may lead to the discovery of new agents which may prove useful in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease.
Excellence in Biomedical Research Award for Prof Ian Frazer
14 November, 2008
The 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer, has been awarded a further honour, the Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research.
Novel cell division mechanism discovered
04 November, 2008
A research group has identified a completely new cell division machinery which may shed some light on other processes in human cells and evolutionary lineages.
A new approach to tackling cancer cells
03 November, 2008
Every year worldwide, melanoma, a particularly lethal form of skin cancer, kills 48,000 people and 160,000 new cases are identified. Annually in Australia alone, melanoma kills around 1300 people, while about 10,000 new cases are diagnosed. Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute are suggesting a combination therapy that may offer more success.
Biodiscovery in Victoria
28 October, 2008
A Victorian government policy will make it easier for researchers to access specimens of native flora and fauna in Victoria, while at the same time protect the biological resource from exploitation.
