Research

Renewed Commitment of Stakeholders to Combat Overweight and Obesity-Related Health Issues

Over half the EU adult population is now overweight or obese according to the "Health at a Glance: Europe 2010" report published by the European Commission and the OECD on 7 December. Yesterday, the European-level umbrella organisations, ranging from the food industry, health organisations and other civil society NGOs, who are members of the European Commission's Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health agreed to step up action to tackle the growing problem of overweight and obesity related health problems.

Study finds link between blood-clotting protein and cancer

Groundbreaking research from Germany shows how stressed cells increase the production of thrombin, an important clot performer. Presented in the journal Molecular Cell, the study provides new insight into how cancer cells may be profiting from this process. Researchers could use this information to develop novel ways to treat various disorders.

EU project to improve follow-up care after childhood cancer

Childhood cancer survivors, though being 'cured' of cancer, often experience late physical and psychological effects secondary to their cancer or its treatment. To accelerate the search for new successful treatments and improve the quality of life after cancer, 16 research institutes from 11 European countries have decided to join forces and launch a groundbreaking study funded by the EU.

Software releases researchers from microscope

EU-funded scientists have developed a system that releases researchers from the chore of spending hours hunched over a microscope looking for cells of interest in large samples. The system is described in the journal Nature Methods by a team led by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany.

Study points to potential new cancer drug

Scientists have uncovered details of the workings of a protein that both slows the spread of cancer and boosts the efficiency of chemotherapy. The molecule, called histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) could therefore prove useful to researchers' efforts to develop anti-cancer drugs. The study, which was partly funded by the EU, is published in the journal Cancer Cell.

First DataBank's FIRSTLight Goes Live

First DataBank's new online medicines reference tool, FIRSTLight, is now live and First DataBank is offering a free extended trial until the end of January 2011. FIRSTLight provides instant access to reliable medicines information, empowering clinicians and supporting safer, faster clinical decision making.

Study highlights smoking-rheumatoid arthritis link

Smoking may be responsible for over a third of cases of the commonest and most severe form of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), new EU-funded research suggests. Furthermore, in people with a greater genetic susceptibility to RA, smoking may be behind over half of all cases. The findings, published in the journal the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, provide another reason for health workers to advise people against smoking, particularly for those with a family history of RA.

Research & Development

Renewed Commitment of Stakeholders to Combat Overweight and Obesity-Related Health Issues

Study finds link between blood-clotting protein and cancer

EU project to improve follow-up care after childhood cancer

Software releases researchers from microscope

Study points to potential new cancer drug

First DataBank's FIRSTLight Goes Live

Study highlights smoking-rheumatoid arthritis link

More Pharma News ...