EU-funded researchers have developed a DNA test to help determine the correct dose of anticoagulant medication for people at risk of thrombosis, a blood-clotting condition that affects millions worldwide. Their work is advancing the emerging field of pharmacogenetics that aims to provide patients with personalised and more effective treatment based on their genetic profile.
European researchers have been awarded over €4.5 Million to create a user-friendly tool for asthmatic patients to monitor and self-control their disease.
In Europe, some 463 000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, making it the most common form of cancer in women. Depending on certain conditions, different drug combinations will be more – or less – effective. The EU-funded RESPONSIFY project has identified these conditions. Their findings could help physicians tailor treatment to individual patients, avoiding ineffective therapies. The researchers are now working towards further clinical trials.
Advances in nanomaterials and nanotechnologies promise to revolutionise many aspects of modern life. The mathematical-modelling project Nanotranskinetics investigated the health hazards posed by nano-sized objects, developing paradigms to develop a computer model of a human organ.
Most wind energy comes from turbines 150 metres above ground level. Winds at this altitude are however weak and intermittent, with most wind farms operating at only 25 – 30 % of their capacity. EU-funded researchers have developed a prototype wind energy system that works at much higher altitudes, where winds are stronger and more constant, increasing electricity production dramatically. A commercialised product is in the pipeline.
The BBC published a video on telemedicine and the newly funded Elector project.
Buildings account for some 40% of the EU’s energy consumption and CO2 emissions. More than half of them are residential, often with plenty of room for energy efficiency gains. An SME-led project funded by the EU has developed an innovative heating solution specifically for existing single-family homes. It expects this system to be on sale within a year.
The MyCyFAPP project will help Cystic Fibrosis patients and caregivers to manage the disease with an innovative app.
Possible applications of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer treatments have been identified thanks to EU-funded research. The research team targeted some 100 compounds exhibiting potential anticancer activity. These are now being assessed through further research.
An EU-funded project has expanded our understanding of what causes high blood pressure. The results will help to treat people at risk and reduce heart disease – the number one killer in the world.
Electric vehicles have long been heralded as the future of transportation. They are relatively cheap to run, don’t depend on declining oil stocks and don’t release nasty emissions into the environment. But their initial cost, together with the inconvenience of finding charging points, is keeping electric vehicles in the showroom. EU-funded researchers are finding answers to these challenges with studies into the feasibility of wireless charging in public spaces.
Conventional water treatment technologies do not remove all of the pharmaceutical residues currently found in wastewater. Helping to eliminate a potential health threat, an EU-funded project has shown that enzymes can be used to neutralise these drugs when treating wastewater.
The EU-funded FASTINCHARGE project is designing a more practical and efficient means of recharging electric vehicles (EV). In doing so, the project aims to make electric vehicles more appealing to consumers – helping car makers become more competitive.
An eco-friendly method of preventing corrosion in major infrastructure could help reduce environmental pollution, protect maintenance workers and save Europe billions of euro in repairs.
Innovative machine tool ‘joints’ developed in the EU-funded PoPJim project can tune-out the vibrations that cause material and productivity losses. Manufacturers can expect a long-sought competitive edge as the technology moves towards commercialisation in the coming years. Testing has already shown a two to three-fold productivity boost for certain tooling jobs.
If you’ve ever been stuck on the motorway in a tailback of polluting heavy goods vehicles, then you’ll welcome this EU-funded project to reduce the burden of freight on the roads by moving it to rail with a new loading system. The method, which also saves rail freight companies both time and money, is already being introduced in one Italian port.
The world's oceans are veritable power houses. If we could harness the forces of their waves and tides on a large scale, they could provide a considerable amount of sustainable electric power. An innovative offshore test facility developed with EU funding and already on the market is taking us one step closer to that goal.
The findings of one of the largest ever EU-funded social research projects will help key decision-makers design effective employment policies and ensure Europe’s workforce is equipped to meet 21st century labour demands.
An EU-funded project shows that alternative propulsion systems and new hull designs could improve the efficiency of ships and barges by at least 15%. More efficient vessels will help to keep prices – and emissions – down.
An EU-funded project has developed the first terahertz scanners for non-destructive testing of aeroplane parts. Outperforming existing technologies, these systems detect small defects on and deep within composite materials – improving safety in the air and helping manufacturers and airline operators optimise maintenance and lower costs.
