Health

Modelling studies have uncovered a surprising simplicity behind the development of the lens in mouse eyes, revealing insights that could help prevent and treat cataracts in humans. A lack of flexibility in the human eye lens, which can lead to cataracts, affects almost everyone over the age of 50.

Right after the pandemic started, the EU rapidly implemented several measures to respond to COVID-19. One notable action was providing funding and a guarantee through the European Investment Bank (EIB) to help BioNTech in developing a safe and effective vaccine.

Researchers in Europe, led by Dr. Uğur Şahin at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany, have created a remarkable new vaccine that helps the human body fight cancer using its own immune defences.

Our attention to pain is highly variable and can influence how bad it feels. Research suggests that improved psychological approaches could help lessen suffering for the millions of people around the world who experience chronic pain.

For paediatric oncology researchers in Lithuania, the rest of the continent can feel very far away. There are few opportunities to train and research overseas, and a lack of investment in the country’s oncology infrastructure means its cancer care capability is lagging.

Every year, over two million people are diagnosed with breast cancer globally, 99% of whom are women. Thanks to EU-funded research we now have better insights into predicting and preventing breast cancer – saving lives.

If you are about to have surgery, especially a complicated one, you want the surgeon to have as much information as possible. Simple imaging techniques, like X-rays, are a good starting point, but they are not always sufficient.

For a pioneering study, scientists have captured in real time the brain’s activity during everyday movements. The technology could one day be used to diagnose diseases like Parkinson's before symptoms appear.

With over 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion synaptic connections, our human brain is enormously complex. Now, a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort is set to revolutionise brain research and treatment.