Randox Laboratories to create more jobs in the U.K.; Lucigen raises $2M to develop Ebola and C. difficile tests;

> U.K. diagnostics outfit Randox Laboratories said it plans to create 540 jobs over the next four years as part of a new £29 million ($43.8 million) capital investment. Article

> Lucigen raised $2 million to support development of its tests for Ebola and Clostridium difficile. More

> Amarantus ($AMBS) inked an option agreement with Georgetown University that could lead to an exclusive license for blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. Story (reg. req.)

> Foundation Medicine ($FMI) is joining forces with Sioux Falls, SD-based Avera Cancer Institute to conduct research on cancer genomics. More (reg. req.)

> The European Commission will shell out €215 million ($250 million) to fund 8 research projects that concentrate on developing rapid diagnostics and vaccines for Ebola. Release

> Cancer Genetics ($CGIX) launched its ExpandDx collaborative testing platform that allows community-based hospitals and pathology labs to conduct remote consultations and access a broader range of tests. More

And Finally… Researchers from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases tracked down several hundred mutations and genetic drift patterns in the Ebola genome, including mutations that could help improve treatment. More (reg. req.)