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.
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.
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.
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.
Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed too late for treatments to work. The EU-funded EARLYDETECT project developed innovative screening tools capable of detecting the disease early.
This will help patients receive the therapies they need sooner, before the disease spreads, saving the lives of citizens in the EU and beyond.
Many implants can be rejected from the body if the bone doesn’t heal around them properly. The EU-funded BoneImplant project developed new ways to quantify implant status and improve their overall success rate. The research will directly improve the quality of life of EU citizens.
While researchers were busy developing a handheld device to rapidly detect biomarkers to guide the therapy in lung cancer, the pandemic struck. Realising their device could be adapted to test for coronavirus, researchers refocused their work. The result is the market’s smallest portable PCR device.
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.
A new innovative model allows health organisations across Europe to access new technologies through collaboration with IT companies. Some 22 solutions improving healthcare staff and patients’ daily lives have been developed using this model by the EU-funded inDemand project. And more will come soon, promising an even bigger boost in the drive to provide citizens with high-quality healthcare.
