John Mattick (1), Branwen Morgan (2) (1) Executive Director, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney (2) Visiting Fellow, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney We are on the brink of a revolution in healthcare. Genomics soon will help us not just cure but also predict and even prevent diseases such as diabetes, dementia, cancer and … More Whole genome sequencing is medicine’s Snowy Scheme (The Australian)

After decades without any specific drugs for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the first few years of the millennium brought hope in the form of two approvals. But this new era turned out to be a false dawn. In February 2000, alosetron became the first drug to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) … More Drug development: a healthy pipeline (Nature)

Who can forget Superman? Christopher Reeve with his dazzling white teeth, blue eyes and biceps of steel embodied the superhero – in films and in life. When he fell from his horse in 1995 while training for an equestrian event, Reeve was left quadriplegic but undefeated. He continued his film career and his activism, campaigning … More Microbial gangs are organised killers (Cosmos magazine)

The slimy-smooth, dark-red exterior of a healthy liver yields few clues about its complex nature. This 1.5-kilogram lump of tissue is so good at recovering from injury that it requires as little as one-quarter of its original bulk to fully regenerate. But the organ has its limits. Constant cell damage, such as that caused by … More Fatty liver disease: The liver labyrinth (Nature)

Research impact: Income for outcome When it comes to research, governments the world over are asking more questions about whether they are getting value for money — and there is nothing wrong with that, says Peter Gluckman, chief science adviser to the prime minister of New Zealand. “It is what the whole of a nation’s … More Nature Outlook: Assessing science

Gloomy pharma forecast in Japan downgraded after quake Japan is the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market after the US on the basis of total revenue. But according to Business Monitor International (BMI), a London-based analyst firm, Japan’s overall pharmaceutical market is stagnating, and the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck in March has introduced new uncertainties. … More Gloomy pharma forecast

Experts emphasize need for speed in launch of Australian trials SYDNEY — This past December, Oprah Winfrey took 300 of her audience members on a much-publicized trip to Australia to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of her US talk show. But it’s going to take more than an Oprah endorsement or a catchy advertising campaign for … More Experts emphasize need for speed in launch of Australian trials

The search for child cancer drugs grows up “Off the top of my head, I really can’t think of a single cancer drug that was developed specifically for pediatric use,” says Peter Houghton, director of the Center for Childhood Cancer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “All have had their origin in adult clinical … More The search for child cancer drugs grows up

Animal pharma Cosmos magazine: Transgenic animals are poised to become pharmaceutical factories, churning out everything from natural insulin to cancer treatments. Branwen Morgan reports. It’s an idyllic setting: the silence of the countryside, green meadows rolling into the distance and cows foraging lazily on the grass. What’s out of place is a double row of … More Animal pharma

Conference brings Asia-Pacific research funding scheme closer Nature Medicine: For several years, the idea of a multinational funding scheme to support research in the Asia-Pacific region has been brewing. Finally, at the biannual Australian Health and Medical Research Congress late last year, policymakers publicly discussed the merits and challenges of such a venture for the … More Conference brings Asia-Pacific research funding scheme closer