Why is stem cell research so important? Not necessarily because these multipurpose cells may cure many diseases, but because of what they can tell us about "ourselves", says Ronald McKay of the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders.

The field of personalised medicine is changing slowly, but in a substantive way, said speakers at the meeting of the Personalised Medicine Coalition (PMC) late last month.

Toxicity is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges facing drug makers, and inadequate animal models and cell lines are part of the problem. Luckily, work with mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells is starting to make a difference.

They came hoping for news about 'smart bombs', 'silver bullets', and 'rational' therapies that would help them improve some of cancer's most pathetic cure rates. But if oncologists at this year's American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting learned anything, it was that the path to targeted cancer therapy is by no means clear.

RNAi development continues its rapid pace as companies vie to be first with a drug based on the new gene-silencing technique. Three leading contenders in the race -- Brisbane-based Benitec (ASX:BLT), US firm Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Germany's Atugen -- each took major steps this quarter.

'Automate' has become the new mantra for life science technology innovators, writes Malorye Branca.

Cancer specialists remain intrigued by the potential of genomic tools, but noticeably unconvinced by their performance to date.

Outgoing US Food and Drug Administration commissioner Mark McClellan has released a new report detailing technological barriers to medical advancement.

The balance of IT power has shifted at Merck & Co, and Rosetta Inpharmatics is now officially in charge of both bioinformatics and information technology.

"'If Bill Gates can do it, why can't I?" The same question that has launched a thousand IT start-ups has seduced no shortage of scientific talent intent on proving their smarts in the boardroom as well as at the bench. But scientists with visions of dollar signs should note that few of them hold on to the reins of power for long.

Against great odds and many experts' predictions, two clinical bioinformatics pioneers are set to launch proteomics-based diagnostics early this year.