Currently there are no therapy options available for those suffering acute radiation sickness. But hope is on the horizon. A combination of carbon and pectin developed by the EU-funded NanoMed project can absorb damaging molecules generated in the body after exposure to radiation. It’s the first step towards a simple pill that can be given to those exposed to high levels of radiation.
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.
Around half a million people in Europe rely on a cochlear implant. The EU-funded MOSAICS project is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing the lives of these patients. The collaborative initiative between researchers and a leading MedTech manufacturer has been instrumental in paving the way for improvements in cochlear implant technology and patient care.
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.
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.
Paediatric oncology researchers in Lithuania often lack opportunities for international research and training. The EU-funded TREL project helped place 32 specialists from Lithuania in Europe’s leading medical institutions. The programme is already having an impact on the treatment of paediatric cancers in Lithuania, and accelerating scientific excellence in this research area.
Synaesthesia, a neurological condition associated with anxiety disorders and autism, is difficult to identify in children. The EU-funded SYN-TOOLKIT project developed a new method to gather evidence of this perceptual phenomenon. The research has led to the development of a diagnostic smartphone app that could help these individuals access support.
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.
Miniature medical devices have the potential to screen, monitor, diagnose and treat a range of body functions, conditions and diseases. But implanting these devices into the body requires safe, non-toxic materials. The biocompatible materials developed by the EU-funded BioWings project could open the door to a new era of medical innovation for EU citizens and the world.
It was assumed that viruses spread as independent particles called virions. The EU-funded Vis-a-Vis project used social evolution concepts to study viral transmission, showing how viral particles compete and collaborate with one another. An improved understanding of virus-virus interactions paves the way for a new generation of treatments.
