The potential for mRNA goes well beyond the COVID-19 vaccine. With the support of the EU-funded MOSaIC project, one research centre in Poland is conducting cutting-edge research in the field, paving the way for new treatments against diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and genetic conditions.
A rare infectious disease that can cause permanent blindness may soon have an approved treatment for the first time. A formulation of the molecule polihexanide, optimised by the EU-funded ODAK project, has been shown to cure 87 % of patients. The drug will soon be available to patients across Europe through an early access programme.
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease, particularly dangerous to young children. With no child-safe method for treating it, millions of kids are left untreated and susceptible to anaemia, stunted growth, and impaired cognitive development. The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) supported the research that aims to change this by providing equitable access to an effective and safe paediatric treatment for the disease.
Cell division is fundamental to life, but still not fully understood. By building one piece by piece, the EU-funded ACTOMYOSIN RING project found out more about the complex ring of proteins that guides the process. The research offers new avenues for treatments against hundreds of conditions, including heart disease.
Drug assessment for potential negative effects on patients’ hearts is a cost-intensive task, and it still occasionally fails to deliver on its promise. The EU-funded MAREP project has created a new laser-based technology that can streamline the drug development process. At the same time, it enhances patient safety which is a big plus for all citizens.
If countries can't train high-quality research staff, they will struggle to deliver innovative cancer treatments. An EU-funded project enabled four academic institutions to exchange staff and share best practices, resulting in various career advancements and successful research grant applications. These will benefit citizens through the researchers' expanding skills to advance cancer treatments.
Developing a vaccine is a time-consuming and complex process. But as the current global pandemic has made abundantly clear, time is of the essence. That is why a group of EU-funded researchers launched a platform that provides services, support, networking, and training to help accelerate the development of important vaccines, including one for COVID-19.
Until recently, there was no treatment specific to alpha-mannosidosis, one of the many rare diseases that jointly affect some 30 million citizens in Europe alone. Today, there is as EU-funded research developed enzyme-replacement therapy to stop the illness in its tracks, and this medicine is on the market.
EU-funded researchers are using innovative genomic and microfluidic technologies to identify useful enzymes in nature which could reduce the need for toxic chemicals, save energy, and boost the overall sustainability of a range of industries, from agriculture to pharmaceuticals.
Enzymes could make many chemical conversions more efficient, more sustainable and more affordable - and marine microbes produce an abundant variety of these biological catalysts, say EU-funded researchers who set out to find new ones for use in industry. A vast collection, new knowledge, four patents and a start-up are the result.
