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The EU4Health programme aims to improve the resilience and accessibility of healthcare systems to tackle long-term health challenges. Through investments in crucial health priorities, EU4Health will play a role in establishing a unified and strong European Health Union. Many ERC grantees' research projects, spanning areas such as cancer research, diagnostic tools, virus biology, and mental health, directly address health challenges and contribute to advancing knowledge and offering practical solutions in support of the EU4Health program.
Health-related research has received significant support from the ERC through the funding of 2,281 projects under the H2020 framework programme, amounting to over €4.6 billion. These projects involve 2,377 researchers and their teams, distributed across 29 EU member states and Associated countries. While most funded projects fall under the life sciences domain (1,482), a substantial number also come from the physical sciences and engineering field (108) as well as the social sciences and humanities (391). This diverse distribution highlights the multidisciplinary nature of health research supported by the ERC.
Scientific synergies
The figure below illustrates eight research areas of significance to the EU4Health programme. The size of each red circle corresponds to the number of ERC-funded projects relevant to these areas. The strength of the connection between policy areas is represented by the thickness of the arc, which is proportional to the number of shared scientific fields.
Methodological developments
ERC-funded projects in the field of health have achieved significant methodological advancements, particularly in computational modeling and simulations. These advancements have focused on in silico modeling and machine learning, enabling researchers to gain valuable insights and make predictions. In addition, notable progress has been made in experimental methods, with a specific emphasis on imaging, microscopy, and the utilization of animal models. These methodological developments hold great potential for addressing complex health challenges.;
A selection of relevant research
- ERC grantee Maya Schuldiner has harnessed 21st-century microscopy and employed an interdisciplinary approach to visualise basic cellular phenomena for the first time. Her work radically altered the established understanding of organelles – the functional elements of a cell – in the field of cell biology. The findings also have implications for understanding and treating rare genetic conditions. Read more
- ERC grantee Ugur Sahin is driving a new generation of mRNA cancer vaccines. His interdisciplinary team is using cutting-edge technology to develop vaccines that enhance immune responses to tumour mutations in individual cancer patients. This frontier research is not only changing the course of personalised cancer treatment, but also stimulating a general acceptance of mRNA as an immunotherapy solution with high potential in terms of vaccines against infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Read more
- Every cell in the human body contains a blueprint of DNA which enables it to create a perfect copy when the cell divides. ERC grantee John Diffley has unlocked new opportunities in structural biology by succeeding to recreate the entire DNA replication process. His research has generated a deeper understanding of an essential process in human cells and has inspired molecular research, with implications for the study and treatment of cancer. Read more
- Developing mathematical models to describe the role of musical performance could open the door to new applications, including treating cardiac arrhythmia. ERC grantee Elaine Chew has brought together radically different disciplines in order to drive and expand our understanding of this complex and elusive concept. Read more
- ERC grantee Nuria Montserrat studies kidney diseases and healing and in particular how to regenerate mammal’s kidneys by modelling genetic kidney disorders. The engineered mini-organs her team produced have served as model to study SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Maria Carmen Collado studies the mechanisms behind the protective role of maternal microbes on the baby’s health. Her work opens up possibilities for research and applications in the field of personalized nutrition and medicine, for mothers and infants. Read more
- Daniel Miller and his team lead a world-wide project examining the global impact of new social media and how the rise of the smartphone is changing people’s relationship to age and health. Read more
