For an amputee, replacing a missing limb with a functional prosthetic can alleviate physical or emotional distress and mean a return of vocational ability or cosmetics. Studies show, however, that up to 50 percent of hand amputees still do not use their prosthesis regularly due to less than ideal functionality, appearance, and controllability. But Silvestro Micera, of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, is paving the way for new, smart prosthetics that connect directly to the nervous system.
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IHE-Europe Connects the Continents in Istanbul
The IHE European Connectathon, the landmark testing event for health IT systems, takes interoperability to a new level gathering actors from across Europe and the Middle East to achieve the safe exchange of medical information and improve patient care. The theme "Connecting the Continents" will be realized with the first IHE International World Summit, the Projectathon testing the cross-border exchange of patient data, and meetings of international organizations,
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The PROTECT Project on Pharmacovigilance Achieves Key Objectives
The PROTECT project, a public-private partnership for innovative methodologies in pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology coordinated by the European Medicines Agency, has reached a crucial stage with the delivery of two databases which will offer access to important data resources for pharmacovigilance activities and pharmacoepidemiological studies.
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A Privacy Risk in Your DNA
The growing ease of DNA sequencing has led to enormous advancements in the scientific field. Through extensive networked databases, researchers can access genetic information to gain valuable knowledge about causative and preventative factors for disease, and identify new targets for future treatments.
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MSc in Global eHealth: Under Development
A new online programme in Global eHealth is currently being developed under the auspices of the Centre for Population Health Sciences (CPHS) and the Global Health Academy. This modular and interdisciplinary programme will allow students to acquire in depth knowledge of eHealth from an international perspective and with reference to issues for global development.
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Launch of EU Rapid Alert Platform for Human Tissues and Cells
A secure alert platform launched by the European Commission will improve the safety of patients undergoing transplantation and medical procedures involving human tissues and cells, e.g. bone marrow, cornea, skin, oocytes, sperm, etc. National health authorities can use the web-based Rapid Alert system for Tissues and Cells (RATC) in case of alerts relating to human tissues or cells transferred across borders.
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Graphene and Human Brain Project Win Largest Research Excellence Award in History
The European Commission today announced the winners of a multi-billion euro competition of Future and Emerging Technologies (FET). The winning Graphene and Human Brain initiatives are set to receive one billion euros each, to deliver 10 years of world-beating science at the crossroads of science and technology. Each initiative involves researchers from at least 15 EU Member States and nearly 200 research institutes.
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