Editorial, News, Bioshares, Florey Celebration, Letters, Biocomputing,\nMeetings

Australasian Biotechnology, Volume 8 Number 4, July/August 1998, pp.\n194-213 Editorial, News, Bioshares, Florey Celebration, Letters,\nBiocomputing, Meetings\tCode Number:AU98028 Sizes of Files: Text:\n119K Graphics: No associated graphics files FROM THE EDITOR Future\nof the ABA: Strategy Alternatives After fourteen years of existence,\nthe ABA has grown a bit complacent, or perhaps even lethargic. It needs\nnew drive, new ideas and new direction. NEWS\tGovernments Fund $50\nMillion Science Centre at University of Queensland The Minister for\nIndustry, Science and Tourism, John Moore, announced on 10 June funding\nfor a new $50 million centre of excellence at the University of\nQueensland. Experimenta Media Arts Links to Biotechnology The\nViruses and Mutations project to be included in the program of events\nat the 1998 Melbourne International Festival, aims to highlight the\nintersection between art, science and technology. Experimenta intends\nto create a forum for intellectual and theoretical debate on\nbiotechnology, including subjects such as the human genome project,\nmolecular biology, genetic engineering, digital imaging and viruses and\nmutations in the human body and in the environment. ESA Microgravity\nApplications Promotion Programme in Biotechnology "The European Space\nAgency Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity, within the\nframe of the Microgravity Applications Promotion Programme, invites\nproposals for Topical Teams to identify and promote European research\nmaking use of the microgravity environment of the International Space\nStation. The research must be in the field of Biotechnology including\nBiomedical Engineering." Press Announcements in Nature and other\njournals as from 21 May 1998 Pacific Rim Conference Canada has been\nselected for the 7th Pacific Rim Biotechnology Conference. BIO Launches\nIndustrial Biotechnology News In February, BIO began monthly\npublication of a new trade newsletter, Industrial Biotechnology News.\nIt will cover uses of microbial products and processes for industrial\nand other manufacturing activities, as well as biotreatment and\npollution-prevention applications. Organic Standard Debated The good\nnews is, consumers may soon have a clearer sense of what they are\npaying for when they buy foods labeled "organic". The possible bad\nnews: Biotechnology may not be included in new standards for organic\nagriculture if extremist views prevail. Roslin Seeks Partners\tThe\nRoslin Institute, the internationally acclaimed Scottish researchers\nwho brought Dolly to life, is seeking commercial partners in all fields\nof applications for its nuclear transfer technology, including human\npharmaceuticals and agriculture. AusIndustry - Grants for Graduate\nBased R&D Related Projects\tGrants are awarded to provide support\nfor companies to employ a graduate on an R&D related project.\nFunding is limited to $100,000 for up to 50% of eligible project costs\n(as determined by the IR&D Board) over a project life of 2 years.\nEighty percent of the grant is paid to the company to cover salary and\nother employment costs and the remainder is paid to the institution for\nthe provision of academic support and equipment. Project costs incurred\nprior to application lodgement are not eligible. Patenting Life in\nEurope\tOn 12 May 1998 the European Parliament approved the\nBiotechnology Patent Directive after ten years of discussion. One of\nthe major rate-limiting steps of the Biotechnology Revolution has been\nthe legal issue of prohibiting worldwide patenting of transgenic\ninventions. This vote removes legal prohibitions to patenting\ntransgenics. An Edible Vaccine in Transgenic Potatoes\tResearch in the\nPlants and Human Health group at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant\nResearch at Cornell University, led by Drs. Charles Arntzen and Hugh\nMason, is focused on developing both production and delivery systems\nfor subunit protein vaccines. They have reported that transgenic plants\ncan express a variety of antigenic proteins, such as hepatitis B virus\nsurface antigen, Norwalk virus capsid protein, and the B subunit of the\nEscherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin (LT-B). Biosafety Assessment\nof the Gus Reporter Gene The B-glucuronidase (GUS) gene is to date the\nmost frequently used reporter gene in genetically engineered plants. As\nsuch, it is likely to be present in some of the transgenic food, feed\nand ornamental crops being developed for commercial use. To aid the\nbiosafety evaluation of GUS-containing transgenic crops, the ecological\nand toxicological aspects of the gene and gene product have been\nexamined. The assessment concluded that GUS in genetically modified\nplants and plant products can be regarded as safe for the environment\nand consumers.\tMicro-Plants Yield Pharmaceutical New Wave Compounds\nwith anti-cancer properties and potential for use in new generation\nantibiotics and nutritional supplements have been found in tiny marine\nplants around Australia's coastline. NSW Chemist Presented with Biota\nAward NSW chemist, Dr Noel Chambers was recently presented with the\nBiota Award for Medicinal Chemistry, which recognises the work of\nyounger chemists in designing and developing small molecules as\npotential therapeutic agents. An Opportunity for Companies &\nOrganisations The Year in Industry Program - University of Sydney The\nSchool of Chemistry, University of Sydney, offers an elective program\nwhereby a group of Chemistry students spend their third year of\ntraining in Chemistry in full-time employment in the chemical industry\nor in a government scientific laboratory. At the end of the year, the\nstudents return to the University to complete their studies for the BSc\ndegree. The Berd has Flown Australia has just recorded its first fall\nin business expenditure on R&D (BERD) since the Australian Bureau\nof Statistics began measuring R&D in the mid 1970s. This is another\ngloomy sign for Australia's economic outlook, and a bad sign as we\nenter a millennium which is going to place an increasing emphasis on\nindustries that are sophisticated, intelligent and sustainable. \nMedical Treatments Unable to be Patented The Federal Court found this\nweek that methods of medical treatment are unable to be granted a\npatent monopoly, according to national law firm Freehill Hollingdale\n& Page, acting for the pharmaceutical company FH Faulding & Co\nLimited. Australian Scientists in World-First Cell Discovery A team of\nAustralian scientists from CSIRO and the Biomolecular Research\nInstitute has achieved a world-first advance by describing the\nstructure of a vital receptor found on the surface of the body cells of\nall animals including humans. The discovery, reported in a July issue\nof the international scientific journal Nature, has major implications\nfor our understanding of the mechanisms behind growth and development,\nand diseases such as diabetes and many forms of cancer. BioTechnica\n'99 - International Trade Fair for Biotechnology Break into new\nmarkets at the Biotech Marketplace, from 5-7 October 1999 - in Hannover\n ManuFesto '98\tAustralia's Own Giant High-Tech Fair Manufesto '98,\nthe prestigious annual event for Australia's industrial and technology\ndevelopment communities, will be held at the Melbourne Convention\nCentre from 22-25 September 1998. New Bioinformatics Company An\ninnovative new bio- informatics company, recently launched by NSW\nHealth Minister and Deputy Premier, Andrew Refshauge, is already a\npathfinder in areas of understanding of disease and the development of\nnew medicines. Bioinformatics is a new discipline at the leading edge\nof two of the fastest growing areas of science and technology -\nBiotechnology and Information technology. COMPANY NEWS AMRAD -\nClinical Trials of AM424 Progress Despite some important medical\nadvances, there has been little progress in providing innovative and\neffective drug treatments for debilitating diseases that destroy nerves\nand muscles. Cortecs plc Proposes to Appoint New Director of Finance\nto Main Board Cortecs plc has appointed Mr James Long as Director of\nFinance commencing Monday May 18, 1998. After a short qualifying period\nit is intended by the Company to invite Mr Long to join the Main Board\nof Cortecs plc. Biota and Monash University Benefit from New\nLaboratories The establishment of Biota Holdings Limited's\nlaboratories at Monash University is fostering a collaborative research\nenvironment, the biotechnology company's CEO, Dr Hugh Niall, said on 10\nJune. Biota Awarded Start Grant for Common Cold Project Biota\nHoldings Limited of Melbourne, Australia announced on 4 June that it\nhas been awarded a 3 year R&D Start Grant to the value of AU$3.2M\nto pursue its rhinovirus project. Biota and PanBio Sign Marketing and\nDistribution Agreement for Biota's Influenza Diagnostic Test Biota\nHoldings Limited announced on 28 May that it has signed a marketing and\ndistribution agreement in Australia with PanBio Ltd, for Biota's AB FLU\nOIA® rapid, point of care influenza diagnostic test. Distribution\nis planned to begin in the southern hemisphere winter of 1999.\tPeptech\nGains USA FDA Approval for Ovuplant Australia's emerging biotechnology\nsector has taken a quantum leap forward following the approval of\nPeptech Limited's new veterinary product Ovuplant, by the United States\nFood and Drug Administration (FDA). Peptech is the first Australian\nbiotechnology company to receive FDA approval of a drug product\ndeveloped entirely in Australia. Hyal Financials Mississauga-Hyal\nPharmaceutical Corp reported a consolidated net loss of $3.2M or $0.12\nper share for the three months ending March 31, 1998 compared to a\nconsolidated net loss of $3.4M or $0.13 per share for the same period\nin 1997. John Friend Dr J.P. Friend has been ap

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