A new $12 million electromaterials centre based at the University of Wollongong aims to create the materials needed for the next generation of bionic ears, artificial muscles and nerve repairs.

In what CEO Chris Roberts called "an absolutely fabulous result", bionic ear specialist Cochlear (ASX:COH) has posted record revenue, cochlear implant sales, and core earnings for the half year ended December 31, 2005.

Most of Australia's leading healthcare firms are expected to post strong first-half profit growth and provide positive outlook statements as the benefits of takeovers and spin-offs start to filter through, according to analysts.

Paul Trainor AO, 78, 'father of Australia's medical device industry' died on January 13, 2006.

Australian biotech stocks underperformed both the All Ordinaries and the Nasdaq Biotech Index in 2005, but the second half of the year was brighter with stocks gaining 23.2 per cent, according to the Intersuisse Biotechnology Index.

Bionic ear specialist Cochlear (ASX:COH) has announced an upgrade of its guidance on core earnings for the 2005-06 financial year to AUD$80 million.

Melbourne-based biomedical company Dynamic Hearing has signed an agreement with the House Ear Institute (HEI) to develop and commercialise the US-based non-profit organisation's patented feedback cancellation technology for use in hearing aids and auditory implants.

The Australian Stock Exchange has created a market that attracts not only local biotechnology companies, but also gives opportunities to foreign companies that would be unable to attract capital in their own markets. Helen Schuller reports.

The Australian life sciences sector has picked up with small cap stocks seeing positive growth in the last quarter, according to the November edition of PricewaterhouseCoopers' quarterly BioForum report.

The new AusBiotech/ASX code of practice for reporting by life science companies, launched last week, is being hailed as an important milestone in the development of the Australian biotech sector. Here, Igor Gonda, who was on the committee to review the code's first draft, explains why he believes the code is so important to the industry.

Cochlear boss Chris Roberts has spent 30 years at Australia's leading device companies -- but that doesn't mean he has stopped learning, as Helen Schuller discovers.