Do you live near a volcano? How exposed are you if it erupts? And what can be done to mitigate the risk? EU-funded researchers have helped communities in four countries to assess their vulnerability and plan ahead. They have also produced a handbook to inform similar initiatives elsewhere and set up monitoring systems to help detect signs of an impending eruption.
Dr. Vyacheslavs Kashcheyevs is a physicist and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the University of Latvia. He is also a partner of the SiAM FET Proactive project. In 2013, he was one of the 40 “Young Scientists’2013” invited to the Annual Meeting of the New Champions (the “summer Davos” by World Economic Forum). In this interview, he tells us more about his experience as a researcher, and as being involved in a FET project.
The immune system is the body's defence against infections and other invaders. While the system works unaided and unnoticed for most of us, others cannot take it for granted, due either to disease or treatments such as chemotherapy. EU-funded researchers have investigated combining nanotechnology and biotechnology to ‘re-educate’ failing immune systems and get them back in working order. Initial results are promising, and clinical trials are 5-10 years away.
Burning rubber is the last thing a driver wants to do to save fuel. In fact, tyres account for up to 15% of a vehicle’s fuel consumption. An EU-backed project has developed new compounds, designs and treads for tyre manufacturing to slash this “rolling resistance” for the good of the transport sector and the environment.
A simple blood test for Alzheimer’s could one day be possible, thanks to work done by EU-funded researchers. When the disease is present, certain proteins increase in the blood, their study found. The blood test has already been patented, while the research project also developed other new tools that can boost current Alzheimer’s research.
Advances in driverless vehicle technology could revolutionise the way we travel. An EU-funded project is working to develop a prototype automated transport system for urban areas with low passenger numbers.
Biological visual organs have unique capabilities for the processing of information not matched by electronic devices.The SEEBETTER Future and Emerging Technologies project works in finding ways to bridge this gap and the development of "silicon retinas".
From sporting events to festivals and concerts, the most successful are those that leave participants talking about the event itself – not overcrowded busses that delayed arrival or gridlock on the roads afterwards.
Breast cancer is a leading cause of death for women, despite screening programmes cutting mortality rates. EU-funded researchers have developed new tools for personalised screening programmes to improve detection and prognosis – several of which are ready for use.
Forest fires are not necessarily becoming more frequent, but they could become increasingly severe, say EU-funded scientists. Forest management strategies must evolve in line with the changes that are compounding the risk of blazes across large areas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
