What's covered by Biomedicine and Health? The following priorities have been established for the biomedicine and health programme : "Research into major illnesses" : cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, cardio-vascular diseases, chronic and age-related illnesses and rare diseases; "Pharmaceuticals research" in order to evaluate new generations of drugs; "Research into biomedical technology and engineering"; "Brain research" in order to improve our understanding and the treatment of illnesses of the nervous system (pain mechanisms, addictions, brain damage and cognitive sciences); "Human genome research" the aim being to participate in genetic mapping and human genome analysis, to identify gene functions, to diagnose genetic illnesses and to develop genetic therapy techniques (only on somatic cells); "Public-health research". In addition to RTD, studies will be carried out in order to understand the various bioethical issues. Research designed to make it possible to replace animal experiments by in or other tests will also be encouraged. BIOMEDECINE PROGRAMME | 10.02.2000