An EU-funded project has shown that high-resolution fluorescence microscopy allows doctors to make a diagnosis on whether cancer is present or not from tiny samples. This means smaller needles can be used for extracting the samples, with less side effects for patients.
EU-funded researchers have developed a compact portable lab that can deliver fast and accurate diagnosis of bacterial infection, in particular blood poisoning in infants. Huge markets in several application areas await the results of final clinical testing due next year.
Who’s at risk of osteoporosis? The older you grow, the more likely you are to have it, particularly if you are a woman. Whether you actually develop this debilitating condition depends on a combination of genes and lifestyle factors. EU-funded researchers have identified a number of genetic variants that play a role.
Research by the EU-funded ICE2SEA project allowed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to make more accurate projections of future sea level rises.
If your livelihood depends on the weather, you will need to plan ahead for the effects of global warming. But knowing that the climate will be different by 2100 doesn’t tell you much about conditions in the next few months or years. Luckily, climate predictions for the near future are becoming increasingly accurate and reliable, with help from EU-funded research.
How many contaminants have you been exposed to during your lifetime? None of us would be able to answer this question, but it would be very useful to know. EU-funded researchers are upgrading the techniques available for measuring environmental exposure, and searching blood samples for biomarkers that provide early warning of consequences for our health.
If doctors use genetic testing to assess the likelihood of patients developing a certain disease, they need to be sure that the results are accurate. In pre-natal testing, there is only one chance to get it right. An EU-funded project has vastly improved the entire testing process, ensuring patients have all the facts.
Think carbon data. Are you picturing a placid stream of harmonised figures from the four corners of the earth? Not so. At the moment, information from different sources can be hard to compare, and the coverage is patchy. Efforts to channel the available information into a global system of systems are under way. An EU-funded project has contributed to this drive.
From the individual birdwatcher to the most groundbreaking of satellites – a team of EU-funded researchers is integrating observation data on nature and the environment to give a fuller picture than ever before of biodiversity in Europe.
People born with dwarfism (achondroplasia) can also have problems with the spine, breathing and hearing. An EU-funded project developed a protein that can potentially restore growth in those affected by the genetic mutation that leads to dwarfism.
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are all around us: they let us know when the next bus will reach our bus stop, help monitor and manage road traffic and make air travel safer. But how does innovation work at this complex intersection between the transport and the ICT industries? The T-TRANS project found answers and laid the foundations for a European ITS innovation network.
New technologies allow emergency services to improve their communications. By using 4G networks and open standards, personnel can share pictures and videos, and talk to other emergency workers, no matter what device they use.
Africa’s ICT infrastructures are fast evolving, creating exciting opportunities for researchers keen to join the global e-science community. Dedicated European-African initiatives are exploring the potential and engaging with stakeholders to raise awareness of the possibilities. An EU-funded project has assisted them in this task.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the documents accompanying shipping containers are always accurate. But you would be wrong — discrepancies are frequent. EU-funded research suggests that a system of trusted trade lanes could address this problem and the associated business and security concerns.
EU-funded researchers around the world are collecting new information on poverty from 21 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, gaining fresh insights and making recommendations governments can apply to improve lives.
Sidelined for decades because of their traditional way of life, South Africa’s San, also known as Bushmen, are now attracting admiration and respect for their traditional knowledge on the medicinal properties of plants. An EU-funded project is helping the San to share this knowledge and claim their rightful benefits.
Aquaculture is making a vital contribution to feeding the world’s growing population. A project involving one African and several European partners has developed new water purification technologies that remove the nitrogen present in effluent from water used in fish farms. They are likely to reduce the costs and environmental impact of aquaculture waste water.
How extensive is codeine misuse and dependence? Although not yet substantiated, anecdotal evidence suggests the problem is common, making it a concern for public health and pharmacy practice. EU-funded researchers are collecting evidence to feed into guidelines for pharmacies and doctors.
Researchers, politicians and policy-makers from Europe and Africa are addressing major social, economic and environmental challenges through EU-funded projects that aim to foster long-term collaboration in science, technology and innovation.
African and EU countries have long worked together on science and technology research. Now the way they collaborate is being rethought for the modern world. An EU-funded project has used a different approach for a more equal, coordinated research partnership between Africa and the EU.
