Research

Top EU firms cut investment less than US rivals, but Europe still well behind

The European Commission's 2010 "EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard" shows that R&D investment by top EU companies fell by 2.6% in 2009, even though sales and profits fell much more, by 10.1% and 21.0% respectively. The fall in R&D investment by leading players in the US, at 5.1%, was twice as sharp as in the EU, but the worldwide reduction was lower, at 1.9%. Japanese firms maintained their level of investment.

Parasites adapt to host's immune system, study shows

The parasites that cause diseases like elephantiasis and river blindness develop and reproduce faster and in greater numbers when they encounter hosts with a strong immune system, new EU-funded research reveals. Writing in the journal PLoS Biology, the scientists from France, the UK and the US note that the findings could have implications for efforts to develop vaccines against these debilitating diseases.

Experts rally to get European commitment to halting the hepatitis B and C epidemic

Experts rally to get European commitment to halting the hepatitis B and C epidemic Brussels, Friday, 15 October 2010, 12.00 noon CET: In an unprecedented move to address the public health threat that viral hepatitis represents across the European Union (EU), leading physicians, scientists and patient groups demanded policy action(1) from EU officials at today's Summit Conference on Hepatitis B and C.

VTT printed haemoglobin test on paper

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a method of using printing technology to produce simple tests related to health, well-being and the environment. VTT has demonstrated the efficacy of the method by printing a haemoglobin test, i.e. manufactured paper that reveals whether a given sample contains haemoglobin.

Inefficient management of chronic pain costs Europe billions of Euros each year

A new report launched in the European Parliament shows inefficiencies in the treatment of chronic pain result in increasing healthcare costs and prolonged patient suffering.[1] Chronic pain costs Europe billions of Euros every year, with national costs ranging from €1.1 billion to nearly €50 billion.2,3 21% of Europeans with chronic pain are unable to work at all as a result of their chronic pain,[4] and of those able to work, 61% said it had impacted directly on their employment status.[4]

EU-funded study offers hope for stroke sufferers

An international team of researchers has come up with a novel way of treating strokes by blocking the activity of an enzyme responsible for much of the damage caused to brain cells in the period following a stroke. The findings represent a major step forward in the search for new treatments for ischemic stroke, which is the second leading cause of death worldwide.

First DataBank Signs Major New Contract with BT

First DataBank, the UK's leading provider of drug knowledge bases and active clinical decision support, has been awarded a contract by BT for its Multilex Drug Data File (Multilex DDF). This will be incorporated into CSE Healthcare Systems', RiO electronic patient record system which BT is installing at community and mental health trusts in London and the south of England as part of the NHS National Programme for Information Technology.

Research & Development

Top EU firms cut investment less than US rivals, but Europe still well behind

Parasites adapt to host's immune system, study shows

Experts rally to get European commitment to halting the hepatitis B and C epidemic

VTT printed haemoglobin test on paper

Inefficient management of chronic pain costs Europe billions of Euros each year

EU-funded study offers hope for stroke sufferers

First DataBank Signs Major New Contract with BT

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