Ice age cave discovery in Australia
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of humans living in a huge cave in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, during the last ice age 20,000 years ago.
The indigenous people living in the cave, more than 1,000 metres above the current sea level, would have been surrounded by a harsh, frozen environment.
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News.com.au
30 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Biocurious: Rhythm gets into the groove of predicting and preventing cancer
Rhythm Biosciences has expanded its original remit of bowel cancer to diagnosing other cancers early in the piece The company late last year acquired the Genetype platform from the administrators of Genetic Technologies Rhythm is developing its blood-based bowel cancer assay Colostat as a laboratory test Cancer diagnostics house Rhythm Biosciences (ASX:RHY) goes by the age-old seamstress lore that a stitch in time saves nine. In the case of common cancers, treating them later is much more expensive than if they are detected early. 'Without screening, cancers are diagnosed at late stage, by which time the cost of treatment is much greater,' says Rhythm CEO Dr David Atkins. In the case of bowel cancer, Australians aged between 50 and 75 are eligible for a free biennial test, delivered to their door. One problem is fewer than half of the 'poo tests' – more formally known as faecal occult tests (FOTs) – are returned. The program is costly to run. Another is that the disease increasingly is being detected in the under 50s, which account for 20% of all cases. The reasons are unclear. One hypothesis is exposure to a particular e-coli toxin in early childhood, possibly more prolific because of antibiotics use, caesarean births or probiotics. Others blame wheat-based diets. 'We have good screening programs, but the economics are such that we can't really go below 50 years old,'' Atkins says. Getting into the Rhythm Rhythm is working on a double-banger solution to early detection not just of bowel cancer – its original remit – but other tumours as well. The company has been developing Colostat, a minimally invasive blood-based test that detects certain protein biomarkers. The tech had its origins from within the hallowed halls of the CSIRO, more than two decades ago. 'Our goal is to provide a simple inexpensive lab-based test that will be equivalent to the stool-based test for the symptomatic patient,' Atkins says. Late last year Rhythm acquired a testing platform, Genetype, from the administrators of the failed listed Genetic Technologies. Genetype tests an individual's genetic propensity to get cancer. 'The two platforms work hand in hand,' Atkins says. 'Genetype is the earliest possible point at which you can detect disease, while Colostat is able to detect disease once it has actually formed.' For many people, FOT is not the right fit Many recipients are unwilling to carry out the FOT test for religious or cultural reasons – or simply squeamishness. Requiring two samples over two days, the test is somewhat cumbersome. But Atkins says Colostat is unlikely to replace FOTs for routine screening. 'Screening tests anywhere take a long time to be adopted and authorities would be reluctant to disturb the status quo'. Rather, Colostat is likely to be an 'adjunct or alternative to the current standard of care' for the symptomatic population. In other words, the test would be used by GPs on doctors on the small minority of patients that present with symptoms. 'Unfortunately, in Australia most of the circa 15,000 cases diagnosed annually results from patients going to their doctor with symptoms,' Atkins says. 'Doctors need a solution to determine whether they can send the individuals for a colonoscopy, or send them home.' The clinicians obtain a result within 24 hours, rather than a week or more for the FOT test. The flipside of effective detection is avoiding overservicing. If the patient goes home safely, that's a big plus for the health system. Atkins notes that Australian clinics carry out one million colonoscopies annually. Given the detection figure of 15,000 patients, many are unnecessary and 'result in unnecessary cost and stress.' Clinical tests have shown that Colostat is more effective at detecting cancer than a FOT test, which detects blood in the stools. But this could also be a sign of polyps, ulcers, or hemorrhoids. That said, Rhythm is happy with mere equivalency. After all, the Colostat test always will be more effective than an unused poo test. Pursuing the lab-based route On March 6, 2023, Rhythm shares tumbled 45% after the company withdrew its 1300-page marketing application to the local Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The company felt it was unable to provide the information the agency requested within the requisite 20 business days. Initially, Rhythm planned to resubmit to the TGA, but now plans to commercialise Colostat via the laboratory-developed test route. 'Lab based' refers to the common path of shipping the test to an appropriately certified lab, which acts as the quality gatekeeper. Certification means National Association of Testing Authorities accreditation. The lab-based route obviates the need for TGA approval for general dispersal. 'Most new diagnostics go down the lab path,' Atkins says. 'It's rare for a new diagnostics company to put an assay in a box and try to get TGA approval, which is an expensive and difficult path.' In the case of Colostat, one or two labs nationally could handle the processing, so the lab route is not that arduous. 'We're not going to need hundreds of labs running our assays in future, but we will need more than one.' Atkins, who joined Rhythm a year ago says: 'We have focused on taking the work the previous team has done and leveraging that so we can get a high-quality product to market.' This work includes reformulating the protein biomarkers that Colostat detects, using a single simplified assay. 'We are finalising the verification validation for the assay to ensure it does what it says on the label.' Predicting cancer risk The Genetype tests are a mix of genomic data and clinical and demographic history. 'The selling point for Genetype is that it gives insights into individuals' risk profiles that they otherwise wouldn't get,' Atkins says. The Genetype acquisition transforms Rhythm from development stage to a revenue-generating business, Rhythm paid $625,000 for Genetype – less these days than a house in Darwin or Hobart. Atkins says Genetic Technologies spent 'comfortably more' than that on developing Genetype over more than a decade. In the year to June 2024 Genetic Technologies derived $134,085 of revenue from Genetype, 200% higher than the previous year. Atkins says Rhythm primarily has acquired the know-how behind Genetype – seven key staff members stayed on – as well as a watertight patent portfolio and US and local lab licences. Rhythm also obtains the medical history of several thousand patients which it ultimately could use for R&D. "This is incredibly valuable," Atkins says. Won't make the same mistake Atkins says Genetic Technologies tried to sell Genetype directly to consumers. In reality, physicians need to request the test. 'We are focused on partners who either are GP networks or have GPs within their system. For example, employee management groups, insurers, clinical networks and laboratories.' Health insurers could carry out the test routinely, as part of health checks. Atkins says there's a sizeable market of consumers willing to pay out of pocket for the test, ranging from 'worried well' those already deemed high risk. Nonetheless, the company is exploring reimbursement. Atkins says while the US is the obvious market, Europe and China are also challenging but appealing. 'We are not ignoring Australia – the tenth biggest global health wellness market based on out-of-pocket payments,' he says. 'GPs tell us there is a real appetite for individuals to invest in their own health.' Meanwhile, Rhythm expects Colostat revenue to flow from 2026. Following that, the company hopes to expand the assay to six other tumours, including lung cancer. 'The next 12 to 18 months for Rhythm should be truly transformational,' Atkins says.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Antarctic research at 'crisis' point due to funding cliff
Australia's ability to conduct strategic, in-depth, and long-term research in Antarctica is being compromised by "terminating" funding models for key programs, scientists warn.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Australian scientists warn of 'crisis' in Antarctic research due to funding cliff
Australian scientists are warning of a "crisis" in Antarctic research due to the impact of an impending funding cliff. Much of Australia's Antarctic research is overseen by three university-led programs, all of which have funding that is due to expire on a set date over the coming years. The Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) is facing the most imminent threat, with its funding due to run out within 12 months, despite a request for a two-year extension. ACEAS, which supports dozens of early career researchers and PhD students, focuses on climate risks in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, including sea level rise and changes to weather systems. It was set up in late 2021 after receiving $20 million over three years from the Australian Research Council — about half the amount and timeframe ACEAS had originally requested in 2019. Its program was subsequently impacted by delays caused by the pandemic and logistical issues with the RSV Nuyina icebreaker, prompting ACEAS to stretch out its limited funding until mid-next year. Professor King said the looming funding cliff was already having several detrimental effects. One of them, he said, was an inability to take full advantage of the data and samples captured during the Nuyina's first-ever dedicated marine science voyage to Antarctica earlier this year. "The things that we really want to target are going to require multiple years of analysis — things that we expected to be able to do within the lifetime of the original proposal," he said. "But now, because of delays and shortened funding cycles, we're not able to do those things and so some of those things will be left on the shelf." Another problem, he said, was the potential loss of some of Australia's next generation of Antarctic researchers, whose contracts will expire when ACEAS's funding ends. He said about a dozen members of his team had already moved on to other secure jobs. Marine geophysicist Katharina Hochmuth was one of 60 scientists, including 33 from ACEAS, who took part in the Nuyina's recent voyage to the edge of the Denman Glacier. The trip allowed them to undertake critical mapping of the sea floor and collect sediment cores and rock samples that will help scientists better understand the speed and scale of the glacier's retreat. But Dr Hochmuth said she and her colleagues were facing the prospect of not having jobs at ACEAS beyond the middle of next year. "Given the lead up of that voyage, and how much money has been invested, [we] should also give the scientists the appropriate time to actually process the data correctly, without any rush, to get the best outcomes," she said. Marine ecologist David Green, from ACEAS, was also on the voyage as part of a seal tagging team. The team's aim was to attach tracking devices onto the animals to monitor underwater conditions, including salinity and temperature at different depths in poorly observed areas. "It was an incredibly valuable opportunity for us to get out there," Dr Green said. But like others, he said short-term contracts made it difficult for researchers to focus on ambitious, long-term science. A government-commissioned review by the Australian Antarctic Science Council in 2023 found the current funding model was "clearly not fit for purpose". "The uncertainty and discontinuity of terminating funding measures is anathema to impactful scientific research," it said. In addition to ACEAS, the other two programs with funding that is set to expire are Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future (SAEF) and the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP). SAEF, which received $37 million over seven years, is due to run out of money in 2028, while AAPP, which is funded with $50 million over 10 years, is set to lose its funding in 2029. The 2023 review recommended ongoing funding at current levels, indexed to inflation. The push for funding certainty was backed by a Labor-chaired parliamentary inquiry into the importance of Antarctica to Australia's national interest, which released its findings in February. Among the inquiry's 13 recommendations was the implementation of ongoing funding by the end of this year. It also called for additional funding for the development and publication of research papers based on data and samples retrieved during the Denman Glacier campaign, and other Antarctic projects. The government is yet to respond to the inquiry's recommendations but is expected to do so once parliament returns following the recent federal election. In a statement, a spokesperson for the environment department said the government had invested significantly in Antarctic-related programs over recent years. "The Australian government has committed $1.28 billion in new funding for the Antarctic Program, including $804.4 million in new expense funding from 2022-23 for 10 years to strengthen Australia's strategic and scientific capabilities in the Antarctic region," the spokesperson said. Professor King said it was vital to ensure the continuity of Antarctic research at a time when the continent was undergoing significant change that will have long-term impacts on Australia, and beyond. "It frightens me, to be honest, to know that there are areas out there [in Antarctica] that we absolutely know nothing about," he said. "And so we have to start planning those [research projects], and if we don't have the people, well, we can't even do the planning work." The Australian Antarctic Division has its own science branch which is not impacted by expiring funding measures.
