http://ec.europa.eu//research/mariecurieactions/index.htm en Tue, 21 May 2013 07:42:27 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss For more RSS news feeds click the link above. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:42:27 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_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/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_02_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29873 Despite a massive research effort, cancer is still a major killer in Europe. European researchers are working on a sugar-based drug-delivery system which they believe will boost the potency of anti-cancer drugs, helping them reach and destroy cancerous cells more effectively. The project team has developed particles tiny enough to invade cancer cells and deliver treatments to the very heart of the tumour.]]> Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-02:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_05_02_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29873 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_16_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29673 The hardening of arteries – also known as 'atherosclerosis' – can cause cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. New evidence has been uncovered strengthening the link between inflammation – a defensive reaction of the body – and cardiovascular diseases. This could lead to new innovative preventive and therapeutic strategies, and perhaps ultimately to a cure for atherosclerosis.]]> Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-04-16:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_04_16_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29673 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/headlines/news/article_13_04_02_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29533 In their quest to better understand the past, archaeologists also take great care to preserve the resting grounds of ancient artefacts. This is not always easy in large digs. But the Radiography of the Past (Radio-Past) project has harnessed the skills of international research teams to develop the next generation of non-destructive approaches to archaeology, including aerial surveying and remote-sensing technology. This approach has unearthed new evidence from buried settlements across Southern, Central and Western Europe which sheds light on how Roman cities and societies were constructed.]]> Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-04-02:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_04_02_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29533 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_03_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29518 Survival of the fittest, according to Darwin's theory of evolution, is a slow biological process that takes place in a species over many generations. But Spanish researcher Marta López Darias and colleagues had a different idea. Her EU-funded research contributes to the growing body of evidence pointing to "rapid evolution in action".]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-27:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_03_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29518 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_03_21_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29453 A century old mystery as to why, for some animals, it's the father rather than the mother that takes care of their young has been cracked by researchers at the University of Sheffield. ]]> Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-21:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_03_21_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29453 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-vocat&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29362 A university Chair funded under the European Commission's Marie Curie Actions (MCAs) has pioneered ground-breaking research into the chemical transformation of organic compounds which take place high in the sky - an area where the biological dimension is traditionally ignored. ]]> Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-vocat&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29362 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-spins&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29361 The phenomenon of the spin transfer effect has received much attention due to its promise for the electronics industry. In the phenomenon, a current can give a jolt to thin magnetic layers sandwiched between non-magnetic materials. This jolt can be used to excite oscillations or even flip the orientation of the magnet. ]]> Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-spins&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29361 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-semeai&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29360 Research fellow Dr Renato J. Orsato published a book entitled 'Sustainability Strategies: when does it pay to be green?' as part of a European Union (EU)-funded Marie Curie Action (MCA), specifically a research fellowship called Strategic Environmental Management at European and Australian Industries (SEMEAI). His fellowship was part of the Marie Curie programme designed to support mobility and attract talented young researchers to the EU. ]]> Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-semeai&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29360 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-safeast&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29359 In Europe over 41,000 people die and 1.6 million are injured in traffic accidents every year. However, there are striking regional differences. In Southern Europe the number of traffic deaths is as much as two to three times higher for the same number of vehicles. The project SAFEAST, Towards Safer Road Traffic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, was set up to examine the reasons behind these differences in October 2004. Universities from Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Greece participated in the four-year project. ]]> Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-safeast&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29359 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-premaid&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29358 As the group of components that generates power for a locomotive, the powertrain – which includes the transmission, drive shafts, and differentials – is the motor of the railways. It needs to be watched and maintained carefully to ensure every aspect is safe and in proper working order. But this is a tough task: there are few diagnostic tools available to check the reliability of powertrains, so maintenance is either done after a component fails (with all the associated risks to the service), or through a systematic yet indiscriminate replacement of key parts. ]]> Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-13:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-premaid&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29358 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-phelinet&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29357 The revolutionary medical research project PHeLINet has not only created openings for doctors to better diagnose cancer, asthma, cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases, but it has expanded the professional horizons for budding scientists like Guilhem Collier. ]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-12:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-phelinet&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29357 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-moglad&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29356 A Marie Curie Action (MCA) was a key step in attracting a talented Russian physicist to Europe and stimulating an important strand of co-operation between European and Russian scientists and research institutes whose work could play an important role in advancing environmental monitoring and safety capabilities for the direct benefit of society. ]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-12:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-moglad&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29356 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-microgen&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29355 Most people associate bacteria with disease and contamination, leaving the microorganisms with few saving graces. Yet their reputation could be about to change over the next few years: researchers are engineering bacteria to provide alternative energy sources to replace fossil fuels. And if they succeed, it will be thanks to projects like MicroGen, a European Union (EU) research project looking at new ways to generate renewable fuels from microorganisms. ]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-12:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-microgen&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29355 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-europia&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29354 Professor Frank Schaeffel has spent a quarter of a century studying myopia, the phenomenon of how the eye often grows too long and becomes short-sighted. Schaeffel, who is the Head of the Section of Neurobiology of the Eye at the Institute for Ophthalmic Research in Tübingen, Germany, has scored some crucial breakthroughs, yet for much of his career he has felt like a lone explorer in myopia research. ]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-12:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-europia&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29354 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-sugar&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29318 The Dutch company Avantium is leading the way in replacing plastic PET bottles and other oil-based products, with 'green' versions made from sugar derivatives – starch, protein and cellulose. Success in making the technology break-through has been partly achieved by the technological expertise brought to the company through the European Commission's Marie Curie Actions (MCAs) mobility support scheme. ]]> Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-03-06:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-sugar&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29318 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_02_22_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29293 Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) & cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are parasitic diseases transmitted to humans by the bite of sand flies. In VL, the parasite migrates to the internal organs such as liver, spleen and bone marrow. Signs and symptoms include fever, weight loss, mucosal ulcers, fatigue, anaemia and substantial swelling of the liver and spleen. VL if left untreated will almost always result in the death of the host. Meanwhile, CL is the most common form of leishmaniasis. It is a skin infection caused by a single-celled parasite that is also transmitted by sand fly bites and can cause facial disfigurement.]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-02-22:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_02_22_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29293 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_02_14_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29213 A Marie Curie research Fellow has uncovered a potential ally in the fight against obesity, together with a team of international researchers. The ally, found in our 'love handles', is a type of anti-tumour immune cell which protects against obesity and the metabolic syndrome that leads to diabetes. ]]> Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-02-14:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_02_14_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29213 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=8203C2DA-E205-B672-FAA1E95AF2FC96AF Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-28:/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=8203C2DA-E205-B672-FAA1E95AF2FC96AF http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-isense&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28939 In today's world, there has never been a greater need for quick and accurate ways to detect explosives, toxic chemicals, illegal drugs and other potential hazards to public safety and health. Contributing to this effort is a European Union (EU)-funded project that has united a Russian-born physicist working at a Dutch university with a private company in the UK. ]]> Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-isense&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28939 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-heeal&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28938 For Dr Paul Lane of the University of York in the UK, the co-ordinator of the four-year HEEAL (Historical Ecology of East African Landscapes) project, the significance of the Marie Curie Action (MCA) which made the project possible was immense. 'It allowed me, for the first time, to run my own research group,' he says, 'with post-doctoral and early-stage researchers working under my direct management with a focused set of research questions.' ]]> Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-heeal&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28938 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-eurecon&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28937 What economic and non-economic factors determine an individual's well-being? And how can these be applied when assessing the convergence of Europe's regions in terms of performance? These were the key questions addressed by Professor Luisa Corrado under the EURECON project - 'Regional convergence clusters across Europe: methodological issues and empirical evidence'. ]]> Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-10:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-eurecon&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28937 http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/index.htm For more information on Human resources and mobility - Marie Curie Actions, click the link above, which will take you to the Marie Curie Actions web site. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:42:27 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/index.htm