Heart disease patients are at higher risk of depression and should be screened for the illness as soon as their heart condition is diagnosed, said the National Heart Foundation of Australia. [ + ]

Research led by the University of Sydney in collaboration with the University of NSW investigated a genetically modified strain of mice. The researchers unexpectedly found that the mice remained thin on a high-fat diet. [ + ]

Australian Scientists are closer to developing a blood screening test for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease after identifying blood-based biological markers associated with the build up of a toxic protein in the brain. This protein occurs years before symptoms appear and irreversible brain damage occurs. [ + ]

A collaboration between the University of Sydney and Harvard University has resulted in scientists being a step closer to being able to repair human heart tissue. [ + ]

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced planned increases to the Medicare levy to fund DisabilityCare Australia, the renamed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). [ + ]

Monitoring heart rate patterns can help identify risk and treat people who are dependent on alcohol by predicting their craving levels, researchers at the University of Sydney have shown. [ + ]

Exercise at the time of having a flu shot may increase the success of vaccination according to a University of Sydney researcher. [ + ]

Reflecting on Standard 3, at least half of all healthcare associated infections are considered to be preventable and can cause extensive harm and have significant resource costs, writes President of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control, and Co-Director for Sterilization and Infection Control, Southern Health, Elizabeth Gillespie BN, RM, ORMgt, CICP, MPubHlth(Melb). [ + ]

Canberra’s Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher has announced expressions of interest will be called from suitably qualified consultants to design the new northside sub-acute hospital, to be located on the University of Canberra campus. [ + ]

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon and Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek announced in November last year an agreement which would enable the Department of Defence and the Department of Health and Ageing to prepare for the establishment of a Medical Countermeasures Consortium involving Australia, USA, UK and Canada. [ + ]

In response to the dramatic rise in allergies and public health concern, researchers and clinicians from across Australia have developed a collaborative research centre to tackle the growing allergy epidemic. [ + ]

The report of the McKeon Review – Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research – Better Health through Research has been released by Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek. [ + ]

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The Australian Government has announced a new two-year pilot of a national Live Organ Donor Leave Scheme. [ + ]

Four national health bodies have come together to support the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association’s call for the establishment of a Commonwealth Chief Dental Officer (CCDO) position in Canberra and a permanent Oral Health Advisory Council. [ + ]