R&D

Scientists pinpoint gene involved in tumour suppression

A team of EU-funded scientists has discovered a gene that plays an important role in blocking the formation of cancerous tumours. The findings could lead to the development of new cancer treatments as well as diagnostic tools to determine the most effective treatments. EU support for the study came from the CANCERDIP (The use of methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) in cancer for better clinical management) project, which is financed under the Health theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Project Launched by VTT Develops Computer Models for Predicting Dietary Effects on Health

VTT is launching an extensive EU project called ETHERPATHS, studying the effects of dietary effects mediated by gut microbiota on lipid metabolism. The aim is to accelerate the development of health-promoting foods. The project develops computer assisted models with which food companies and research institutions, for instance, will be able to predict the effects of foods in the body.

The Five Myths of Generic Competition

The Healthcare and Science business of Thomson Reuters has released the white paper, "The Five Myths of Generic Competition," highlighting what originator pharmaceutical and biotech companies can do to improve their forecasting of the likely timing, source and intensity of competition from generic drugs.

Research paves way for life-threatening bacterial infection test

EU-funded researchers have demonstrated how a recently identified protein causes a simple bacterial infection to turn into a potentially fatal condition called rheumatic heart disease. The researchers are now using their newfound knowledge to develop a test system that will be able to identify the bacteria when the infection is still in its early stages.

New drug resistance threatens to deal blow to malaria control efforts worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed its concern over the emergence along the Thai-Cambodia border of malaria parasites that are resistant to a previously highly effective drug. WHO fears that the Plasmodium parasites' growing resistance to the drug artemisinin "could seriously undermine the success of global malaria control efforts".

A big leap for the small in fighting disease

Given the opportunity, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can play a key role in developing therapies for some of society's most common diseases. It was for this reason that the European Commission (EC) supported a team of European universities and SMEs with over EUR 2 million to pursue the aims set out by the MACROCEPT project, and its daughter project KINACEPT, to find a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

HIV in arms race with human immune system, study reveals

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is evolving rapidly to get round the weaponry of the human immune system, according to new research by an international team of scientists. The findings highlight the difficulty of developing an effective vaccine against the fast-evolving virus.

Research & Development

Scientists pinpoint gene involved in tumour suppression

Project Launched by VTT Develops Computer Models for Predicting Dietary Effects on Health

The Five Myths of Generic Competition

Research paves way for life-threatening bacterial infection test

New drug resistance threatens to deal blow to malaria control efforts worldwide

A big leap for the small in fighting disease

HIV in arms race with human immune system, study reveals

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