When the systems that regulate proteins fail, the outcome can be cancer, heart disease or neurodegenerative disorders. Research by the EU-funded Nedd8Activate project offers a window into how the body clears away unwanted proteins. This knowledge could help treat protein dysregulation, and pave the way for drugs that flag disease-causing proteins for elimination.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the EU. Researchers in the EU-funded Survive project examined how cells adapt to acidic conditions – a trait that can allow tumours to grow. Their findings highlight new ways to identify aggressive cancers, and point to potential new treatments to regulate acid resistance.
Half of the world’s population lives in cities, and this figure is growing. Delivering water and sewage services in urban areas continues to be a significant challenge, especially in the face of climate change. Digital tools developed by the EU-funded DWC project are already being used to maintain Europe’s commitment to high-quality water infrastructure.
The thyroid gland produces many of the body’s essential hormones, but chemicals found in food, clothes and furniture can interfere with its function. Predicting the toxicity of these chemicals – especially at low doses – has proven difficult. The EU-funded SCREENED project created a model thyroid made of human cells to provide more accurate testing, as well as reduce reliance on animal studies.
There is an acute need for implantable devices that can report prompt and accurate data about the body’s chemistry. The EU-funded ImplantSens project developed long-term implantable biosensors for glucose monitoring, to improve the management of diabetes. The project also helped train the next generation of scientists to carry on this work.
As Europe’s population grows older, the burden of age-related diseases is rising. A promising avenue of research is understanding how protein dysfunction can drive cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The EU-funded PhasAGE project created a research centre focused on protein phase separation, growing Europe’s research capacity to prevent and treat age-related diseases.
Liver disease kills over 130 000 people in Europe every year, driven by obesity, hepatitis and alcohol consumption. The EU-funded FORCE project developed a cutting-edge diagnostic tool to aid early detection of liver disease. The technique, which quantifies the elasticity of soft tissue, can also be used to monitor tumours, improving outcomes for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Honeybees are critical to agriculture, yet are increasingly under threat. The EU-funded HIVEOPOLIS project developed a range of digital hive technologies to monitor and manage honeybees. The technologies could help support precision agriculture, and even boost the survival of wild pollinators
Mental health issues, many of which are stress-induced, are a significant healthcare challenge. The EU-funded STRESNET project developed techniques to help patients reduce the impact of stress-related memories. The work could lead to preventive interventions that increase our resilience to stress, reducing the burden of mental illness and disease.
Microbiomes may have the potential to benefit the global food system, but tapping that potential requires coordinated research – which currently isn’t the case. The EU-funded MicrobiomeSupport project aims to change this by mapping the research landscape and highlighting the need to standardise data. In doing so, it is ensuring that microbiome research can support safe, healthy and sustainable food systems.
