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Australian and European scientists join forces to fight disease
Under an Australian Government research grant, Australian
and European scientists will join forces to try to
develop new treatments for prostate cancer and diseases
such as type1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid
arthritis.
The Australian-European Union Collaborative Grants
Program provides additional money to Australian researchers
that are already part of a team that has been given
funding from the European Union under its Sixth Framework
Programme.
Because the selection process is peer reviewed it
is extremely competitive and the grants are highly
sought after. Researchers that have been selected to
work on these projects are considered among the best
in their field.
Dr Hamish Scott from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
of Medical Research will receive $995,640 over five
years to develop a treatment for autoimmune diseases,
such as type1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid
arthritis.
Dr. Miles Prince from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
will receive AUD$180,923 over two years to join French,
Italian, Austrian and German researchers to develop
and test a new cell-based vaccine for prostate cancer.
Free Trade Agreement with the United States
Trade Minister Mark Vaile has agreed on the text for
the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement
with his US counterpart, Trade Representative Bob
Zoellick, this month.
"
The Agreement represents the culmination of months
of effort, and is a great example of government working
with industry to deliver real results for Australians." Mr
Vaile said after a final negotiating session in Washington
DC lasting more than two weeks.
The Agreement aims to provide greater access to the
US market for Australian exporter of most manufactured
goods and provides for enhanced legal protection to
guarentee market access and non-discriminatory treatment
of Australian service providers in the US market.
Importantly, the Aggreement has ensured critical elements
of Australian public policy have not been compromised.
Elements such as Australian health and environment
policies, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – specifically
the price and listing arrangements that ensure Australian’s
access to affordable medication, and policies ensuring
local content in Australian broadcasting and audiovisual
services, including new media formats.
"The FTA between Australia and the United States
is overwhelmingly in the Australian national interest," Mr
Vaile said. "This deal will further integrate
the Australian economy with the largest and most dynamic
economy in the world, delivering lasting benefits for
generations of Australians."
The US buys Australia, one gift at a time
A massive retail outlet inside a giant aquarium complex
in the United States modelled on the Northern Territory’s
Umbrawarra Gorge will soon be selling a wide range
of Australian arts, crafts and giftware.
Austrade’s Washington-based Senior Trade Commissioner
Geoff Gray, currently looking for items for the retail
store inside the National Aquarium in Baltimore, said
the exhibit would bring a slice of Australia to the
US.
Inside this Aquarium complex is a massive 5,000 square
foot shop space. The centrepiece will feature Australia’s
indigenous arts as well as a wide variety of crafts
and gift items.
“As part of efforts to promote Australian trade
in the US, Austrade has partnered with the Aquarium’s
retail buying team who are in Australia looking to
include items in the new shop space,” said Gray.
The Aquarium buyers will be looking to stock items
such as authentic indigenous arts and crafts, cottage
industry products, Australian musical instruments,
music by artists performing Australian music (indigenous
or Anglo) etc.
This visit will allow Australians to vie for
a chance to have their products featured in the Aquarium’s
retail stores which attracts 320,000 visitors each
year. When the Australian exhibit opens later this
year, the percentage of sales is expected to increase
a minimum of 25 per cent or to 500,000 customers. The
increase in revenue is estimated to total $6 million
in overall sales.
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