There were mixed reactions from the science and research sector to yesterday's budget.

The New Directions in Leukaemia Research Conference starts next week and will feature John Rasko and two zinc finger transcription factors called BORIS and CTCF.

ANSTO and Siemens will build a $10 million nuclear medicine facility in Sydney.

Epitan (ASX:EPT) has been given the green light to go ahead with its Phase II study evaluating the photo-protective effects of its sustained release formulation of Melanotan, after receiving ethics approval from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

New Zealand biotech Neuren today lodged the prospectus for its mid-January IPO with ASIC, announcing that it will aim to raise AUD$15 million, giving it an indicative market capitalisation of AUD$40 million.

Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) investors will be breathing easy after the company announced a positive result from its Phase II clinical trial of Bronchitol, its lead compound for treating the chronic lung disorder bronchiectasis.

Dr Susan Clark from the Sydney Cancer Centre and the Garvan Institute has been awarded a major international prize for her contribution to DNA methylation research over the last 10 years.

Melbourne biotech EpiTan Ltd (ASX: EPT) has announced "outstanding" results from the Phase IIb clinical of its experimental tanning drug Melanotan - and says the data could be the subject of new patent applications.

The anti-sunburn drug Melanotan has turned a pallid lifesaver into a bronzed god, according to initial results from trials conducted at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.