Health

Petri dishes on black background

Interview with Prof. Francesco Imperi on new strategies to fight antimicrobial resistance

When bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to medicines: this is set to become one of the major health threats of the 21st century. Francesco Imperi, Associate Professor of Microbiology at Roma Tre University (Italy), is working on novel strategies to tackle this antimicrobial resistance (AMR), more specifically in multidrug resistant bacterial human ...

The future of RNA-based technology

The future of RNA-based technology

Exploring RNA-based technology, its achievements, its future promises, and what it means for European healthcare: This was the aim of this year's STOA Annual Lecture, the 20th edition of a yearly event organised by the European Parliament's Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA). As its keynote lecturer, STOA welcomed Professor Özlem Türeci, ...

Coronavirus RNA strand. Medical illustration. 3D rendering

RNA technology already helped thousands of patients

"RNA-based technology can help babies with spinal muscular atrophy reach milestones such as sitting, standing and walking", says rare disease expert Prof. Annemieke Aartsma-Rus (Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands). This Wednesday 25 January the European Parliament's Panel for the Future of Science and Technology will hold its Annual Lecture on the future of RNA-based ...

HORYZN red drones flying

Drones to the rescue: how autonomous flying vehicles can save lives

Drones are already being used to save lives in medical and other emergencies. Now the aim is to make them more autonomous and efficient, helping them make the difference with less control from people.

Sad girl and exhausted on cracked dry ground, Concept drought and shortage of water crisis

Climate anxiety and young people

Young people are worried about climate change. Negative emotions can disrupt rest, which in turn can affect their mental health. However, climate anxiety can also drive young people to act. There is no way to prevent young people, even children, from knowing what is happening with the world. It's on the news, it's discussed in ...

Doc holding vaccine vial close up

Low cost and open source: vaccines in developing countries

In South Africa, a scientific knowledge transfer hub is working to create a Covid-19 vaccine based on the publicly available sequence of Moderna's mRNA vaccine, without Moderna's involvement but with its approval. In India, scientists are also testing a vaccine to fight SARS-CoV-2. These seem to be big steps for developing countries in order to ...

Ampules, syringe, tablets and spray

Massimo Florio: could a ‘European Medicines Infrastructure’ solve market failures in pharmaceutical R&D?

Interview with Massimo Florio (Professor of Public Economics, University of Milan, Italy) about a new European approach to pharmaceutical policy. In response to the Covid-19 crisis, the European Union has increased its commitment to the EU public health agenda. It has strengthened the mandate of both the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre ...

SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19 virus variants alpha, beta, delta, omicron - 3D illustration

Omicron, another chapter in the Covid-19 pandemic

Before the winter holidays, a new, more transmissible variant was discovered. By now, Omicron is responsible for most new infections in Europe. What do we know so far? And what are the future possible scenarios?