Exhibitors on the Australian Pavilion at BIO 2008 in San Diego

Replikun and UQ agreement to develop vaccine for West Nile virus.

Brisbane biotech ImpediMed makes strong debut for lymphoedema diagnostic.

Brisbane biopharma Alchemia (ASX:ACL) will commence a collaborative research project next year with the University of Queensland through its preclinical service provider, TetraQ to develop a new generation of opioid-based painkillers to treat severe pain.

University of Queensland based contract research organisation TetraQ has formed a strategic alliance with Californian-based regulatory and product development consulting firm Ground Zero Pharmaceuticals (GZP).

Unlisted Brisbane-based company Adipogen has raised a further AUD$2.25 million to support the development of a novel treatment for obesity.

Four Australian universities have made an unusual decision to form a 'virtual company', Meristomics, to commercialise discoveries from basic research in their jointly operated ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research (CILR).

Scientists around the world are racing to create the first 'smart' contrast agent to enhance the use of MRI in measuring biological processes in the body, and three early-career researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) are in the running.

Brisbane biopharma Alchemia (ASX:ACL) has been named the overall winner of the Queensland Government's Smart Awards 2005 for its efforts towards commercialising a new treatment to fight cancer.

Brian McNamee has been at the helm of Australia's oldest - and now biggest - life-sciences company, CSL, for 15 years. He guided the company through its public listing in 1994 and has overseen its growth to a market capitalisation of $6.8 billion. He spoke with Melissa Trudinger about CSL's research and development programs, and his vision for the company's future.

Private Brisbane biotech VasCam has begun animal trials of a technology that would allow heart-bypass patients, or patients with blocked leg arteries, to grow their own replacement blood vessels.