The NIH has awarded $5 million to Emory University in Atlanta and $5.2 million to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as part of a $53 million, five-year effort to advance a cure for HIV. Vaccine development has proved challenging, so momentum has shifted instead to development of a curative treatment, and studies will zero in on HIV reservoirs and/or post-treatment control, durable control of viral resurgence and ways of targeting latent virus.

Rampart IC, based in Birmingham, Ala., has signed an agreement with Australia-based Wilhelm Integrated Solutions for distribution of its Rampart M1128 protective shield for protection of medical staff during procedures that expose clinicians to radiation. Wilhelm supplies medical centers and clinics with equipment and technology in Australia and New Zealand.

Georgia Tech bioengineers led a recent study that could help improve the precision and effectiveness of CAR T-cell therapies. The treatments are less effective for solid tumors than cancers such as leukemia, but researchers have developed a way to help the therapies weather the hostile microenvironment of solid tumors using a genetic on-off switch and a remote-control model that directs precision targeting by the modified T cells.

BioAgilytix Labs announced plans to acquire San Diego-based MicroConstants just days after disclosing its intention to purchase Australia-based 360biolabs. Durham, N.C.-based BioAgilytix had already announced plans to expand locally, adding 800 jobs and investing $61.5 million.

Experts at The Park at Auburn's Office of Innovation Advancement and Commercialization connect Auburn University researchers with funding, mentors and other resources to help them navigate the complexity of bringing ideas from the lab to market. Among the projects supported by the program are a noninvasive heartworm disease breath test for dogs and CytoViva's imaging technology, which enables real-time visualization of how living cells interact with new treatments.