Research

Uncovering the roots of the placebo effect

A German research team has shown that ancient neural pathways in the human brainstem are involved in the 'placebo effect', the well known medical phenomenon that occurs when a patient feels less pain after being given what he or she thinks is a painkiller but is, in fact, a medically inactive substance.

VTT starts to investigate Bayer Schering Pharma's preclinical anti-cancer compounds

The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany have signed a two-year research contract to study the mode of action of a Bayer Schering Pharma's preclinical cancer drugs. As part of this contract, VTT will use its new gene and cancer biology methods such as the 3D-cell culture model developed at VTT's Medical Biotechnology unit in Turku, Finland.

White blood cells feed Leishmania parasites, study finds

Scientists in the UK have gained new insights into the way Leishmania parasites, which infect close to 12 million people worldwide, increase their rate of survival during the initial stages of infection. The results, published in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Pathology, could help in the development of new vaccines against the most common form of this disfiguring disease.

Why some tolerate malaria better than others

A team of researchers from Portugal and the US has shown how an antioxidant enzyme that occurs naturally in the body plays an important role in helping individuals to tolerate the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium. The findings, funded in part by the EU and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), offer a new approach to treatment of this deadly disease.

Study reveals factors behind blood vessel cells' fate

EU-funded researchers have identified a mechanism that controls the fate of cells that make up blood vessel walls. The findings could lead to the development of new drugs to promote blood vessel repair and treat diseases of the blood vessels.

EU-funded BRIDGE Project and Pharma Traceability

The results of Pharma Traceability, a pilot of the EU-funded BRIDGE (Building radio frequency identification solutions for the global environment) project, are in. Referred to as Work Package 6 of BRIDGE, which is supported with EUR 7.5 million under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), Pharma Traceability is the first to kick-start a global supply chain-wide traceability system based on mass serialisation techniques.

iawards to Recognise and Celebrate the Best Achievements in Science, Technology and Innovation

iawards are the first awards of their kind to be backed by the British government, working in partnership with leading entrepreneur James Caan. They will shine a light on new technologies and innovations, showing how they can translate into the innovative products and services that improve our daily lives. They will stimulate commercial interest, as well as helping to bridge the gap between business and the general public.

Research & Development

Uncovering the roots of the placebo effect

VTT starts to investigate Bayer Schering Pharma's preclinical anti-cancer compounds

White blood cells feed Leishmania parasites, study finds

Why some tolerate malaria better than others

Study reveals factors behind blood vessel cells' fate

EU-funded BRIDGE Project and Pharma Traceability

iawards to Recognise and Celebrate the Best Achievements in Science, Technology and Innovation

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