• Vale Malcolm Simons

  Malcolm Simons, pioneer of so-called ‘junk’ DNA, has passed away, succumbing to multiple myeloma at the age of 73.

• Xenome raises soothing $8m for pain treatment trial

  Brisbane-based biopharma Xenome Limited has secured $8m in funding from its major investors to pay for a clinical trial of a synthetic peptide as a pain inhibitor.

• Australian Life Scientist January/February edition out now

  In this issue: Lorne 2012; the war on superbugs; microRNAs; streamlining drug development; stem cell therapy; and more.

• Biosceptre seeks $15m for anti-cancer monoclonal antibody trials

  Funds sought to take monoclonal antibody treatment for multiple cancers into phase I trials on the lead up to IND submission with the US Food and Drug Administration.

• Epigenetic markers point towards ovarian cancer diagnostic

  The discovery of new epigenetic markers present in a majority of ovarian cancers could lead to improved early diagnosis of the deadly disease.

• BioProspect tightens its focus

  After suffering two costly delays, BioProspect (ASX:BPO) is refocusing on gaining local regulatory approval for its lead animal health product.

• Sienna signs licensing deal for cancer test

  Sienna Cancer Diagnostics has reached a new agreement with licensor Geron for the IP needed to continue development its telomerase protein detector tests.

• Malaria decloaked

  Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have identified a molecule that helps the malaria virus hide from the immune system.

• Research on deadly H5N1 influenza strain halted

  Scientists working on a highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus have voluntarily called a 60-day moratorium on their research to give governments and organisations time to prepare for their results.

• Chardonnay genome project seeks to improve wine

  A joint effort by the Australian Wine Research Institute and the University of British Columbia will sequence 15 varieties of the world’s most popular wine grape.

• vivoPharm signs oncology partner for US

  South Australia's vivoPharm has arranged to co-market primary patient-derived tumours owned by Berlin's EPO to US cancer drug researchers.

• Movers and shakers

  LCT and Biogrid hire new CEOs; Prana Biotech taps scientific advisor; Elastagen and Patrys pick new board members.

• UQ, industry partner for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

  UniQuest spinoff and pharmaceutical R&D company Janssen-Cilag will combine resources to support the development of a rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

• Clinuvel trading at nine-month highs

  Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals’ (ASX:CUV) cites positive trial results for SCENESSE as likely reason for 34.2% spike in stock price last week.

• Grant Watch

  Our regular roundup of news and announcements in the wild world of scientific and health & medical research grants and funding.

• Bootylicious fly named after Beyonce

  A new species of horse fly with a notably resplendent abdomen has been named after the American pop diva, Beyonce.

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