Contents 21 Merit
4 Research News
EU Research’s Richard Davey takes a look at current events in the scientific news
10 AlterEgo The AlterEgo project aims to develop an innovative rehabilitation method exploiting virtual reality and robotics that will help people interact with their social networks, as Professor Benoît Bardy explains
14 Alcohol Lifecourse The project is analysing data from large population cohort studies, which will help researchers draw stronger links between alcohol consumption patterns and specific health impacts, as Principal Investigator Dr Annie Britton explains
16 European
Network on Robotics Dr Thierry Keller explains that while robots are already used to provide certain types of therapy, researchers in the European Network on Robotics for NeuroRehabilitation aim to improve them further Dr Hartmut Rütten explains
18 Epistasis in
Steroidogenic Genes In 2004 Dr Craig Atwood published a paper putting forward a theory of aging that explained how and why we age at the evolutionary, the physiological and the molecular levels. This theory has significant implications for human longevity and the prevention of age-related diseases, as he explains
2
The MERIT consortium aims to develop individualised cancer vaccines that target the shared antigens associated with a tumour, as well as tumour-specific mutations, as project representative Dr Sandra Heesch explains
24 PROTEOSTASIS Aberrations in intracellular proteolysis play a central role in pathologies such as cancers, immune diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. The project aims to coordinate and integrate the work of research teams from across Europe in this area, as Dr Rosa Barrio explains
26 HemoSpec The HemoSpec platform represents a new approach to diagnosing sepsis, a life-theatening condition that is a major health problem across the world. Evangelos GiamarellosBourboulis, Jürgen Popp and Ute Neugebauer tell us how the platform will help diagnosis
28 Antimicrobial
Resistance (AMR) AMR is a global threat for us all. If left to develop unchallenged it would impact on the world to a scale we only dare to imagine. EU researchers are to play a key role in minimising the potentially devastating effects whilst pioneering new treatments
32 COMBIOSERVE Working closely with indigenous communities to develop effective co-enquiry research methods – aiming to protect bio-cultural diversity, while improving their wellbeing in protected areas. Project Coordinator, Professor Christian R. Vogl, explains
35 Climate Impact Expert System
The Climate Impact Expert System will make information on the regional climate available to key decision-makers in both the public and private sectors, which could help inform strategic decisions, as Dr Thomas Nocke explains
38 EPLACE Clear data on energy consumption patterns is a central element in efforts to improve efficiency, helping identify areas where improvements can be made. Alicia Jiménez of the EPLACE project tells us about their work in testing and validating innovative ICT solutions
40 Effidrip The EFFIDRIP system supports the management and supervision of irrigation and fertigation. It provides farmers an easy, reliable and cost-effective way to manage their irrigation and fertigation systems, which will bring long-term benefits, as project coordinator Albert Torres explains
41 Disaster Bioethics Ethical dilemmas frequently arise in the aftermath of natural disasters, yet few resources are specifically available to help guide people on the ground in their decision-making. We spoke to Dr Dónal O’Mathúna
47 BIORICE The nutraceutical, functional food and cosmetic markets evolve rapidly, and companies are always looking for new ways to develop innovative products that also meet regulatory standards. Rice by-products could offer a new source of ingredients for these markets, as Dr Annalisa Tassoni explains
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