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COUNCIL DECISION of 25 January 1999 adopting a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on quality of life and management of living resources (1998 to 2002)
(1999/167/EC)
(b) RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OF A GENERIC NATURE
These activities have a longer-term impact that may even preclude the possibility of satisfying some of the citizens' expressed needs, for as long as fragmentary knowledge is not pooled together to a sufficient degree of completeness. There is, in the related disciplines, a time-dependent need for integration of the science base, which is why industry, services and policy-making in Europe must maintain or reinforce their response capacity in a rapidly changing world.
Efficient interaction between research laboratories and industry will be promoted. Clustering of projects involving core centres and associated laboratories will be encouraged to create a critical mass, to promote interaction between basic and applied research and to ensure maximum transfer of knowledge to and from industry and undertakings. Support ranging from training of young scientists to fellowships for senior researchers will be developed.
- Chronic and degenerative diseases (in particular cancer and diabetes), cardiovascular diseases and rare diseases
Major challenges in biomedical research are the elucidation of the aetiology and pathogenesis of multifactorial diseases (e.g. genetic, environmental, lifestyle) of high (e.g. cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes) or low (e.g. rare diseases) morbidity. There is an urgent need to improve diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance through epidemiology and applying advances in modern technology, requiring a multinational approach. The objective is to increase knowledge with regard to the genetic basis, epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of diseases by integrating basic and clinical research, and to apply modern technology to the treatment and control of major diseases, including rare (e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) and orphan diseases (e.g. illnesses which are prevalent in industrialised or developing countries but are receiving less attention for research in industrialised countries).
RTD priorities: contribution of molecular, genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors and their interactions to the aetiology, pathophysiology, progress and outcome of diseases, leading to new approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment, including the development of orphan drugs. Evaluation of novel therapies where multinational, large-scale studies/trials are required, and optimum use of databases, registries, reagents and sample banks,
- Research into genomes and diseases of genetic origin
The aim of this activity is to identify the physiological functions of genes and to improve the understanding of the meaning of sequence information. The new knowledge and technologies deriving from this generic action should promote the exploitation of genome information to the benefit of European health, agriculture, industry and the environment. The organisation of collaboration in this area will underpin the development of expression systems to facilitate the study of genes of industrial and agronomic interest as well as the design of effective molecular and gene-based preventive and therapeutic strategies for human and animal disease. Efforts will be made to ensure that the gap between diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities does not widen.
RTD priorities: this area will address the meaning of genome information and the improvement of the knowledge and understanding of the genetic basis of diseases, including chronic and degenerative diseases. This will require structural studies; comparative analyses of genomes and proteomes; development of novel and user-friendly informatics approaches to enable acquisition of, access to and interpretation of genomic and functional data; development of novel expression systems, model organisms, mutant, transgenic and hybrid organisms with strict regard to ethical principles and the principles of biosafety; development and application of underpinning biochemistry, biophysical, statistical and computational approaches,
- Neurosciences
This activity will provide new insights and a better understanding of the mechanisms governing the interrelationship of biological and psychological processes, to promote new diagnostic (e.g. imaging), preventive and therapeutic approaches to neurological and psychiatric disorders and to underpin opportunities for education, innovation in healthcare and computational industries. In this context, synergy and an appropriate flow of information will be strengthened with the human frontier science programme.
RTD priorities: the integration of diverse disciplines, technologies and levels of biological organisation in the following areas: cell communication, mechanisms of learning and memory; mechanisms of brain development, disorder and repair, and their clinical, epidemiological and social implementations. Brain theory, computational neurosciences, and neuroinformatics; human behaviour, cognition and functional mapping of the brain. Integration of theoretical and experimental approaches; integration of basic and clinical research in developing innovative diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic strategies based on novel genetic, cellular, non-invasive, pharmacological and psychological approaches,
- Public health and health services research
Improvement of health systems: to improve the health of European citizens and the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health-promotion and healthcare technologies and interventions, including evaluation of the effectiveness of non-conventional therapies, enhance health and safety at work, evaluate healthcare models, develop the evidence base for clinical practice and health policy, and study public health variations across Europe.
RTD priorities: improved methodologies in epidemiology; identification of new health determinants (including factors leading to inequalities in health) and aetiologic factors of disease through common methodologies and comparative research; socioeconomic and organisational determinants of prevention, care and health services; at the workplace and in the home exposure to biological, chemical and physical agents and to physical and mental stress.
Fighting drug-related problems: to prevent and, where appropriate, control drug-related health problems through establishing the psychological and socioeconomic factors involved in drug-taking and drug abuse, developing better understanding of the long-term health and social consequences of abuse, and developing more effective treatment strategies.
RTD priorities: comparative and analytical research on biological and social causes, risk factors and effects of drug addiction and misuse; psychological and socioeconomic factors of drug abuse; long-term health effects of drug consumption; physical detection aspects, drug profiling and biological monitoring of drugs,
- Research relating to the disabled
The aim of this activity is to enhance the quality of life and independence of disabled people.
RTD priorities: research aimed at contributing to improvement of their social and physical environment and the effective and efficient delivery of the health and social care services available to them,
- Study of problems relating to medical ethics and bioethics in the context of respect for fundamental human values
The objective is to identify the ethical, legal and social questions raised, not only by medical and biological research alone but also, more broadly, by scientific and technological developments to understand and to promote public discussion of issues of public concern, and to analyse the ethical dimension of legal and regulatory measures.
RTD priorities: ethical aspects of life sciences research and its application to medical practice, food, animals, plants, and the environment (1),
- Study of the socioeconomic aspects of life sciences and technologies within the perspective of sustainable development (the impact on society, economy and employment)
Competitiveness and sustainable development will together be the source of the Union's future wealth and employment opportunities, ensuring an enhanced quality of life for Europe's citizens.
Simultaneous pursuit of these objectives is only possible through an adequate recognition of the key interrelations between technologies, environment and society and integration of knowledge into sustainable development policies.
Socioeconomic research is also needed to enhance the quality of the public debate, as illustrated by the interest shown in the applications of modern biotechnologies and its scientific bases and the need for transparent information. The regulatory process in life sciences and technologies and its impact on citizen's confidence influences public opinion, which in turn has a strong impact on decision-makers.
The objectives are to assist in the construction of strategies and models for sustainable development and to provide a sound scientific basis for the conception, implementation and evaluation of relevant policies, exploiting knowledge and technologies from the life sciences and technologies (including the creation of employment opportunities in the bio-industries), and to develop a better understanding of the links between science and policy; including the ways in which opinions on the benefits and risks of technological progress are formed and are reflected in the regulatory process.
RTD priorities: technology evaluation and assessment, systematic provision of information to the public, education and opinion forming in the field of life sciences and technologies; analysis of social and economic driving forces and of new opportunities in the bioindustries; development of indicators and knowledge bases relevant to decision-making and regulation; analysis of the social and economic aspects of the links between life sciences and technologies and policies in the field of industry, agriculture, fisheries, food, environment, sustainable development, public health, etc.
(c) SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES
Objectives
To broaden access, to make optimum use of and to improve the consistency of the existing European research fabric at Community level.
To facilitate and to encourage transnational cooperation in the rational and cost-effective development of RTD facilities in response to emerging needs.
In order to reinforce the European added-value and the optimisation of the required efforts, Community support will be directed towards: transnational coordination, integrated management of, specific aspects of operation of, access to and improvement of existing facilities; coordination and complementation of national or multinational initiatives to develop facilities needed at the European level; networking of communities of researchers and users through research projects and specific training activities centred on appropriate infrastructures, or cooperation of several partners, leading to an integrated service provider; increasing the compatibility of dispersed systems, aiming to provide rapid and effective integration of facilities and resources.
Classes of infrastructures
- Biological data and collections of biological material. Databases, information services and networks of biological expertise; major specialised instrumentation for the study of biological structures; collections of genetic materials, living and non-living specimens; breeding of animals to develop models of human diseases,
- clinical research facilities, including pre-clinical research, identification of studies and clinical trials that should be done at the European level,
- facilities for aquaculture and fishery research.
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