Tracing the journey from Egyptian cat mummies to modern house pets

Egyptian cat mummies could reveal new information about the ancestry of our feline companions. ©Andrea Izzotti, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are testing DNA from archaeological cat remains to help unravel the tale of cat domestication. By Ali Jones It probably will not surprise cat owners, familiar with the enigmatic and independent nature of their beloved pets, to know that scientists have found the feline domestication process to be rather unconventional in comparison to … Read more

Researchers and patients join forces to battle rare diseases

Pooling resources and data across Europe will transform research into rare diseases. © raker, Shutterstock.com

Researchers, clinicians and patients are collaborating in an EU-wide alliance to advance understanding of rare diseases and speed up the development of new treatments. By Jessica Berthereau Michela Onali, an Italian language teacher now living in Sardinia, never expected to find herself at the forefront of the European fight against rare diseases. But the diagnosis … Read more

Stamp-sized microchip that imitates the human brain could speed up treatments for Alzheimer’s

New brain-on-chip technology makes it possible to test the efficacy of treatments more efficiently.

Advanced brain-on-a-chip technology developed by EU-funded researchers helps make potential treatments for neurological diseases more effective. By Tom Cassauwers A human brain-on-a-chip sounds like something from a science fiction film, a gadget powering its cyborg villain. But chemical and biological engineer Dr Raquel Rodrigues at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Braga, Portugal, believes … Read more

Mapping the mind – EU-funded research unlocks secrets of the human brain

EU-funded researchers are at the forefront of advancing a deeper understanding of the human brain and accelerating treatments for various neurological conditions. By Michaela Nesvarova Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience sound almost like miracles: neurostimulation techniques that help paralysed patients to walk again, or an implant that could help restore vision to the blind. These are … Read more