ESF report warns of threats to Europe's early leadership position in nanomedicine
Europe is currently at the leading edge of advances in nanomedicine, an emerging area of technology with the potential to transform medical care and research, according to a newly published report by the European Science Foundation (ESF). The 'Scientific forward look on nanomedicine' report follows two years of study by leading European experts, who were asked by ESF to define the field, assess its future impact on healthcare and society, characterise Europe's strengths and weaknesses, and provide recommendations on future research priorities and the required structural changes needed to ensure Europe's success. The chair of the panel that produced the report, Professor Ruth Duncan from Cardiff University, UK, defines nanomedicine as using nano-scale molecular tools and molecular level knowledge of the human body to diagnose and treat disease. The extremely small size of nanomedical tools not only allows a multitude of objects with different functions to be packed into a small space, but nano-scale objects also have unique physical properties compared with larger objects. Presenting the report, Professor Duncan concluded that nanomedicine would have a major impact on healthcare in the 21st century, and emphasised that Europe is currently at the forefront of research in areas such as nanomedical imaging agents and drug delivery systems. One existing commercial example is a suspension of the anticancer drug doxorubicin in fatty nanoparticles called liposomes, which extends the drug's lifetime in the body reducing its cost and toxicity and increasing its effectiveness. Indeed, the experts that worked on the report agreed that cancer should be a prime area of focus for nanomedicine, as it already shows great potential for providing new treatments for the disease. Cancer is not the only therapeutic area that will benefit, according to the report, as nanomedicine also has the potential to revolutionise treatments for atherosclerosis, AIDS, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The report welcomes the fact that funding for nanotechnology research in Europe is growing rapidly, however, Professor Duncan and her colleagues warn that Europe risks missing out on medical and economic benefits from advances in nanomedicines because of difficulties in translating research findings into clinical applications. The report therefore makes a number of recommendations designed to keep Europe at the forefront of nanomedical research and innovation. These include a strategic focus on nano-therapeutics for major diseases, the promotion of interdisciplinary education and training in nanomedicine, the development of a new regulatory approach for this new class of pharmaceuticals, and ensuring that politicians, the media and the general public are informed about the advantages and potential drawbacks of nanomedicines. Bertil Andersson, chief executive of ESF, said he was pleased at the successful conclusion of the first ever foresight study focussing on the medical applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Implementing the report's recommendations would, he said, ensure that Europe remains at the leading edge of research and development in nanomedicine, and most importantly, would lead to 'reduced healthcare costs and the rapid realisation of medical benefits for all European citizens'.