http://ec.europa.eu//research/index.cfm?pg=whatsnew en Thu, 23 May 2013 08:49:21 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss For more RSS news feeds click the link above. Thu, 23 May 2013 08:49:21 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_22_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30075 ENRAH-SME was a pioneering European Union (EU)-funded project which laid the crucial groundwork for a major breakthrough in the understanding and potential treatment of a rare childhood neurological disease.]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-22:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_22_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=30075 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=126&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30073 The brain controls our thinking, feelings and movements and a new exhibition in southern France aims to reveal some of its secrets. ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-21:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=126&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30073 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_15_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29993 Psychiatric disorders are a major, though often "hidden", health problem. It is estimated that mental disorders affect more than 160 million Europeans - 38% of the population each year. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in four of us will suffer from at least one mental disorder during our lifetime. In addition to the direct impact this has on patients and their families, the impact on national healthcare systems is significant. In Europe, the annual cost is estimated to be more than €200 billion. ]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-15:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_15_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29993 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_14_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29973 The ability to measure concentrations of oxygen inside living human cells is a key requirement to help advance our understanding and treatment of a range of serious medical conditions. These include ischaemic stroke (where the stroke is caused by a blockage in the artery, preventing sufficient oxygen from reaching the brain), neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. ]]> Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-14:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_14_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29973 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_08_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29920 Understanding how the brain processes new skills and actions can help to improve learning and aid research into neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. An EU-funded project has collected new data on the development of neural mechanisms of action learning and habit formation and addiction through the manipulation of the brain’s molecular networks. This could lead to breakthroughs in thought-controlled prostheses.]]> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-08:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_08_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29920 http://ec.europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-380_en.htm Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT press-release_IP-13-380_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_04_19_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29713 European researchers have identified new biological indicators that can predict, among other things, the likely effectiveness of 'interferon-ß', a vital treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) that is only effective in 50% of patients, in the treatment of individuals with MS. The ‘UEPHA-MS’ network has also discovered that ‘natural killer cells’ can influence the effectiveness of certain drugs. These and other findings are helping to put MS treatment in sharper focus.]]> Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-04-19:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_04_19_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29713 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_04_11_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29636 Parkinson's disease is the second most widespread neurodegenerative disease in the world, with an estimated 1.2 million sufferers in Europe alone. One Marie Curie Fellow is carrying out innovative genetic research that could one day lead to a better prognosis for patients.]]> Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-04-11:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_04_11_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29636 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-tspummnrps&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29136 Antal Berényi combined a boyhood passion for electronics and years of medical training to build a device that, once implanted under the skin, can detect and stop epileptic attacks just as a defibrillator corrects heart arrhythmia. Like its inventor, the prototype device, which is being readied for trials in the US, has all the makings of a big future. ]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-31:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-tspummnrps&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29136 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-epitargene&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29118 An EU-funded study has uncovered data that suggests a change in the behaviour of certain genes - the unit of heredity in a living organism - could be involved in precipitating epilepsy. By gaining a better understanding of exactly how the brain works, the EpiTarGene project aims to open the door to potential new therapies and novel drugs. ]]> Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-29:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-epitargene&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29118 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-fear-memory&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28915 What are the mechanisms behind human learning? Achieving a better understanding of this complex question is not just an academic pursuit, given the prevalence of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Indeed, this line of research could bring significant benefits for Europe's ageing population, including treatments for conditions that lead to memory loss. ]]> Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-08:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-fear-memory&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28915 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_10_05_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=27313 Scientists at the University of Ulster in the United Kingdom have discovered that a type 2 diabetes drug can potentially be used to help patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Past studies have shown that type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's, and researchers believe that impaired insulin signalling in the brain could impair neurons and contribute to triggering the disease. The results were published the journal Brain Research.]]> Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-10-05:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_10_05_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=27313 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_10_01_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=27193 Can vitamin C and beta-carotene help protect people from dementia? New research from Germany suggests they can. University of Ulm scientists investigated the effect of antioxidants on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Presented in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, the results indicate that it is possible to influence the pathogenesis of this neurological disorder through the use of dietary antioxidants or even a change in diet. The study was funded in part by the FP7.]]> Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-10-01:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_10_01_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=27193 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_09_17_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=26833 With the steady increase in the life expectancy of Europe's population, researchers estimate that the number of people affected by age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, will increase dramatically in the next few years. This makes improving our understanding of the disease and its early diagnosis an important priority. New research, led by Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, in partnership with Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS foundation trust, and published in the Journal of the American Aging Association, shows that people with Alzheimer's disease have difficulty with one particular type of eye-tracking test.]]> Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-09-17:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_09_17_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=26833 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_09_14_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=26793 What makes a person altruistic? Philosophers throughout the ages often pondered the question but failed to get concrete answers. New research from the University of Zurich in Switzerland shows that the answer may lie in our brains, or more accurately, that the volume of a small brain region can influences one's predisposition for altruistic behaviour. The results, presented in the journal Neuron, indicate that individuals who behave more altruistically than others have more grey matter at the junction between the parietal and temporal lobe. This shows for the very first time that there is a connection between brain anatomy, brain activity and altruistic behaviour.]]> Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-09-14:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_09_14_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=26793 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_07_02_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=25573 Medical operations have become almost commonplace, but the delicacy of medical procedures involving the brain and the spinal cord force physicians and patients to consider other alternatives. European researchers, however, could change this following their development of a laser for minimally invasive brain surgery. The achievement is a result of an interdisciplinary EU project that involved partners from seven European countries, creating a table-top solid-state laser system that can cut brain tissue with unprecedented precision.]]> Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-07-02:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_07_02_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=25573 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_06_29_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=25533 A European team of scientists has discovered that the olfactory bulb, a structure in the brain that processes sensory input from the nose, has something completely unique. It differs from all other mammals because no new neurons develop in this area after birth. This finding could shed light on why humans lack the heightened sense of smell that animals have. Presented in the journal Neuron, the study was funded in part by the European Research Council under the FP7. This project was led by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, in collaboration with researchers in France, Austria and Sweden.]]> Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-06-29:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_06_29_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=25533 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_06_13_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=25213 Neuroscientists in the United Kingdom have made an extraordinary new discovery that could lead to new therapies for stroke and epilepsy. The discovery involves a key protein that can regulate the transfer of information between nerve cells in the brain. When activated, it could protect neurons from damage during heart failure or epileptic seizure. This study was funded in part by a European Research Council grant under the FP7, and was published in the journals Nature Neuroscience and PNAS.]]> Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-06-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_06_13_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=25213 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_05_25_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24933 In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom have discovered a link between the déjà vu phenomenon and structures in the human brain, effectively confirming the neurological origin of this phenomenon. Despite past studies investigating this phenomenon in healthy individuals, no concrete evidence had ever emerged ... until now. The study, presented in the journal Cortex, was funded in part by the EU.]]> Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-05-25:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_05_25_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24933 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_10_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24473 Researchers in China, Italy and the United Kingdom have discovered what gene is responsible for blood orange pigmentation, and how it is controlled. The results, presented in the journal The Plant Cell, could help improve the growth of health-promoting blood oranges and lead to novel solutions for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. The study was partially supported by two EU-funded projects: FLORA and ATHENA.]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-04-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_04_10_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24473 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=124&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=24474 Researchers developed tailor made video games on existing commercial platforms which allow Parkinson's patients to improve balance and overall mobility. ]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-04-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=124&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=24474 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_03_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24333 An international team of researchers has clinched a near EUR 11 million grant under the Health Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to develop a novel stroke treatment. This groundbreaking, phase 3 clinical study is investigating 1 500 volunteer stroke victims with mild hypothermia. Past pilot studies have found that when the brains of stroke victims are cooled within six hours of their attack, damage to the brain can be reduced.]]> Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-03-27:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_03_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24333 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_03_22_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24293 Researchers in Finland are pushing the research envelope, especially in terms of investigating the brain mechanism in preterm babies. Their latest work is helping develop treatments to protect the brain as well as research methods for use in hospital settings. Presented in The Journal of Visualized Experiments, the study was funded in part by the BRADIMO ('Brain diagnostics and monitoring in early neonatal period') project, which has received a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development grant worth more than EUR 266 000 under the FP7.]]> Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-03-22:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_03_22_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24293 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_03_19_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24233 Researchers have discovered that there are a number of drugs that give cognitive function a boost. These drugs could help fuel our understanding of cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Presented in the journal PLoS Biology, the study was funded in part by the MEMSTICK ('Synaptic mechanisms of memory loss: novel cell adhesion molecules as therapeutic targets') project, which received more than EUR 2.9 million under the Health Theme of the FP7.]]> Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-03-19:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_03_19_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24233 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_03_02_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24093 Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have a complex inheritance pattern. Despite researchers having identified rare variants in synaptic proteins in patients with ASD, little work has been carried out to determine the effect at the synapse and their interactions with other genetic variations ... until now. A European team of researchers has confirmed that synaptic mutations heightens the risk of ASD. The study, presented in the journal PLoS Genetics, was funded in part by the EUHFAUTISM ('European high-functioning autism network: translational research in a phenotypically well characterised sample') project, a Neuron-ERA-NET funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of almost EUR 370 000.]]> Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-03-02:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_03_02_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24093