Health

Preliminary results of a clinical trial for Crigler-Najjar syndrome point to gene therapy as a potential alternative treatment for this life-threatening liver disease.

Taking its name from the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, the BEYOND4.0 project has set itself the task of providing research-based advice for policymakers and stakeholders on the impact, challenges and opportunities of rapidly advancing digital technologies in relation to the future of work and welfare.

Scientists have identified different immune responses in people with COVID-19 ranging from asymptomatic to critically ill.

Even a highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variant can be beat. According to an Israeli study, proactive monitoring combined with prioritised vaccination can drastically reduce transmission of the B.1.1.7 variant as well as consequent severe illness and death in the elderly.

EU-backed scientists have presented a chemical compound that could lead to drugs that prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Addressing inequalities in urban and peri-urban contexts is at the heart of the UPLIFT project. This is particularly relevant as social and economic inequalities have been growing in most wealthy countries in recent decades, even more so since the 2008-2009 financial crisis. With a focus on vulnerable youth, the project aims to develop a Reflexive Policy Agenda through participatory co-creation that will hopefully lead to more flexible, adaptive policies.

What really happens when SARS-CoV-2 infects human cells? German and Swiss scientists have investigated the functions and interactions of the viral proteins, providing a comprehensive profile of coronavirus infection at the molecular level.

A CE mark has been awarded to a non-invasive imaging device that promises to lighten the burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) sufferers.

There’s new hope for patients with large bone defects. Scientists have developed a biomaterial that can help repair bone defects, defying the body’s natural capacity to heal.

EU-backed scientists show us how smart materials called magnetoactive polymers (MAPs) could someday be used to stimulate healing in epithelial wounds.

EU-backed researchers say a shift in the global distribution of bats due to climate change may be the cause of recent coronavirus disease outbreaks.

Scientists have reported a novel cancer treatment approach that could lead to a new drug for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The new approach targets enzymes connected with the development and maintenance of the disease.

Pollution affects us all, from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the food we eat. Pollution is the largest environmental cause of multiple mental and physical diseases, as well as premature deaths. In this episode of CORDIScovery, we meet three EU-funded researchers who are kicking up a stink against pollution with innovative solutions to tackle this health and environmental scourge.

Choosing walking, cycling or e-biking over a car trip just one day a week could help fight climate change.

An EU-backed company has developed a novel heart pump that can work in synchrony with the heart without the aid of sensors for over 30 days. This is the first time that a miniaturised pericardial pump has achieved this synchronisation.

This month we showcase the COVID-X project that began in November 2020. Its mission: To invest around EUR 4 million to fast-track to market over 30 European data technology solutions that have the potential to confront and overcome many of the challenges that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human Brain Project researchers have developed a computational tool to more accurately locate affected brain regions of patients with epilepsy. The team is now using a new digital research infrastructure called EBRAINS to boost the tool’s accuracy.

It’s great to wear a smartwatch or smart wristband telling us about our heart rate or level of stress. But for people with serious affective disorders, this isn’t of much help. The AffecTech project has devised a set of wearable technology that not only warns them, but also allows them to take effective countermeasures in case of episodes.

In the April 2020 issue of Research*eu we featured the AutoPilot-Dx project that had developed a novel assay to accurately diagnose between bacterial and viral infection, thus helping efforts to avoid the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics. In the rollercoaster year since, the project team have, with the continued support of the EU, shifted their attention to COVID-19. Tanya Gottlieb, vice-president of Scientific Affairs at coordinating company MeMed Diagnostics, tells us more.

As COVID-19 finally seems to be receding on the back of a pumped-up vaccination drive being dished out across Europe at increasing speed, the latest episode of CORDIScovery is looking ahead to the post-pandemic future, specifically at new and exciting technological innovations that have the potential to transform European healthcare over the coming years.