1DG XII-B Hogan QoL

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RTD Activities of a Generic Nature Support to
Infrastructures
Chronic degenerative(esp. cancer
diabetes), cardio-vascular diseases, and rare
diseases.
Research relating to the disabled.
Biomedical ethics bioethics
Research into the genome diseases of genetic
origin.
Socio-economic aspects of life sciences
technologies
Neurosciences.
Support for research Infrastructures Biological
collections, Clinical research facilities,
Facilities for aquaculture and fishery research,
Pre-clinical research facilities, Biological
information resources
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RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES OF A GENERIC NATUREin the EC
Research Programme on Quality of Life and
Management of Living Resources

• The Fifth Framework Programme
• (1998-2002)

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RTD activities of a generic nature

• Content
• Definition
• Overall Objectives
• Scope of Generic RTD Activities
• Road map

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RTD activities of a generic nature

• Objectives
• Reinforce the knowledge base in chosen areas of
  strategic but generic importance for the Life
  Sciences
• Promote interaction between basic and applied
  research
• Involvement of research and health sectors in
  order to ensure maximum transfer of knowledge
  between research and its users, including
  industry
• Promote networking of projects in order to create
  a critical mass for optimum exploitation of
  results

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RTD activities of a generic nature

• Scope of RTD Activities - Action Lines
• 7. Chronic and degenerative diseases, cancer,
  diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and rare
  diseases
• 8. Research into genomes and diseases of
  genetic origin
• 9. Neurosciences
• 10. Public health research
• 11. Research relating to persons with
  disabilities
• 12. Bioethics
• 13. Socio-economic aspects of life sciences and
  technologies

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RTD activities of a generic nature
7. Chronic and Degenerative Diseases, Cancer,
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseasesand Rare
Diseases

• Objectives
• Reduce the impact of human multifactorial
  diseases through integration of basic and
  clinical research
• contribution of cellular, molecular, genetic,
  environmental and lifestyle factors which
  determine disease
• integration of different disciplines and advanced
  technologies to develop effective approaches to
  prevention, diagnosis and treatment

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RTD activities of a generic nature
7. Chronic and Degenerative Diseases, Cancer,
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseasesand Rare
Diseases

• Priorities
• Common underlying pathogenic mechanisms involved
  in disease initiation, progression and
  maintenance
• Evaluation of therapies through multinational,
  large scale studies / trials
• Optimised use of relevant databases, registries,
  repositories

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RTD activities of a generic nature
8. Research into Genomes andDiseases of Genetic
Origin

• Objectives
• Identification of the biological function of
  genes
• Improvement of the interpretation of sequence
  information (animal-, microbial-, plant- model
  genomes and human genome)
• Exploitation of genomic information for health,
  industry, agriculture and fisheries

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RTD activities of a generic nature
8. Research into Genomes andDiseases of Genetic
Origin

• Priorities
• Genome analysis
• Functional genomics and proteomics
• Development of novel expression systems, model
  organisms, mutant, transgenic and hybrid
  organisms
• Development and application of underpinning
  biochemistry, biophysical, statistical and
  computational approaches

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RTD activities of a generic nature
9. Neurosciences

• Objectives
• Better understanding of the nervous system in
  animals and humans, and of the mechanisms
  governing biological / psychological processes
• Promotion of diagnostic, preventive and
  therapeutic approaches to neurological and mental
  disorders
• Provision of new education and learning tools
• Explore synergies between neurosciences and IT

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RTD activities of a generic nature
9. Neurosciences

• Priorities
• Cell communication
• Brain theories, computational neurosciences and
  neuroinformatics
• Brain development, disorders and repair and their
  clinical, epidemiological and social implications
• Behaviour, cognition and functional mapping of
  the brain

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RTD activities of a generic nature
10. Public Health Research

• Objectives
• Health services research and health and safety at
  work
• Improve the health of European citizens through
  Community activities in health services research,
  and health and safety at work
• Fighting drug related problems
• Prevent and control health and social problems
  related to drugs, including doping agents in
  sport, alcohol and nicotine

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RTD activities of a generic nature
10. Public Health Research

• Priorities
• Health services research and health and safety at
  work
• Effectiveness of health intervention / promotion
  / prevention
• Variation in health care models / inequalities in
  health status
• Socio-economic / organisational aspects of health
  care systems
• Epidemiology / disease management / occupational
  health
• Fighting drug related problems
• Factors related to hazardous consumption and
  consequences
• Prevention, treatment, epidemiology ---gt demand
  reduction
• Techniques for detection, profiling and
  biological monitoring

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RTD activities of a generic nature
11. Persons with Disabilities

• Objectives
• Enhancement of the quality of life and the
  independence of persons with physical and mental
  disabilities
• Take account of their expectations and
  contributions to society

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RTD activities of a generic nature
11. Persons with Disabilities

• Priorities
• Determinants of impairment, disability and
  handicap
• Methodologies for the assessment of quality of
  life
• Innovative technological research for
  rehabilitation and assistance
• Health and social care delivery

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RTD activities of a generic nature
12. Bioethics

• Objectives
• Response to ethical concerns arising from Life
  Sciences
• Clarification of responsibilities of researchers,
  policy makers and economic actors
• Balanced dialogue between public and actors
• Inform decision makers / citizen on appropriate
  policy options

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RTD activities of a generic nature
12. Bioethics

• Priorities
• Ethical aspects of scientific and technological
  developments
• Ethical framework for life sciences
• Public policies, law and bioethics
• Bioethics infrastructures and methodologies

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RTD activities of a generic nature
13. Socio-economic Aspects of Life Sciences and
Technologies

• Objectives
• Encourage research into aspects of life sciences
  and technologies within the perspective of
  sustainable development
• Provide information to policy makers
• Promote public debate

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RTD activities of a generic nature
13. Socio-economic Aspects of Life Sciences and
Technologies

• Priorities
• Development of indicators and knowledge bases
  relevant to public policy making
• Managing technology in society
• Analysis of social and economic driving forces
  and of new opportunities in the bio-industries

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RTD activities of a generic nature
Road Map

• Deadlines
• 1 June 1999 EUR 104 m
• 15 November 1999 EUR 86 m
• October 2000 EUR 106 m
• October 2001 EUR 110 m
• EUR 406 m

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Quality of LifeSupport to Research
Infrastructures
A paper has been prepared by the QoL Management
for the information of potential
applicants Information Document Support for
Research Infrastructures in the Quality of Life
and Management of Living Resources
Programme Document may be downloaded from CORDIS
as follows http//www.cordis.lu/life.calls/199902
.htm (scroll to end of page for additional
reference documents)
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Research InfrastructuresDefinition

• The term research infrastructures refers to
  facilities and resources that provide
  essential services to the research community in
  the life sciences. Research infrastructures may
  be single-sited, the service being provided
  from a single resource on a single location they
  may be distributed, the service being provided
  by a network of distributed resources under some
  degree of coordinated management and they may be
  virtual, the service being provided
  electronically, either from a central or a
  distributed resource.

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Research InfrastructuresRationale

• The principal rationale for a Community action
  in the field arises, however, from the relatively
  low level of cooperation that currently exists
  between infrastructure operators in different
  countries.
• A strong European added-value would arrive if
  the same culture of cooperation could be created
  among infrastructure operators as is now existing
  between Europes researchers.

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Research InfrastructuresGeneral objectives

• The support for Research Infrastructures
  action of the QoL Programme has the following
  general objectives
• To encourage the optimum use of Europes research
  infrastructures, notably by fostering
  transnational cooperation in their rational and
  cost-effective development and by broadening
  access, particularly for young researchers
• To improve the European-wide consistency and
  complementarity of these infrastructures
• To help improve the quality of services offered
  to the European research community.
• The role of this Community action in the QoL
  Programme, is to add value by supporting the
  research at the European level.

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Research InfrastructuresInfrastuctures relevant
to the quality of life programme (1)

• Biological information resources
• Biological collections
• Pre-clinical research facilities
• Clinical research facilities
• Aquaculture and fishery research facilities
• Exploiting High Bandwidth Communication Networks

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Research InfrastructuresDetermination of
macromolecular crystal structures integrated,
automated and user-friendly approaches

• X-ray crystallography continuous to expand
  very rapidly and there are 100s of laboratories
  in academia and industry. This expansion will
  increase in response to genome based structural
  programmes. This proposal provides the growing
  community (often relatively inexperienced) with
  the crystallographic tools to meet the
  technically advanced demands of modern structural
  biology. The aim is to bring together major
  European crystallographic to design, implement
  and support a framework.

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Research Infrastructures Steroids in health and
disease

• Steroid-responsive conditions with major
  health cost implications include (I)
  inflammatory diseases (e.g. arthritis, asthma)
  (ii) cardiovascular disorders (e.g. hypertension)
  (iii) reproductive health (hormone replacement
  therapy) including reproductive cancers (e.g.
  breast, prostate) (iv) cognitive disorders
  including anxiety, depression and age-related
  dementias (Alzheimers). This project draws
  together teams at 7 European centres where
  high-calibre research is carried out on the
  biology and pharmacology of steroids in health
  and disease. The infrastructure offers open
  access, shared resources and materials and
  training. It will establish the knowledge base
  that is needed to improve diagnosis and clinical
  management of diseases and European standards
  based on best clinical practice.

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Research InfrastructuresNetwork of European
Brain and Tissue Banks for Clinical and Basic
Neuroscience's

• This project proposes a European network system
  of brain banks. The main objectives are (1) the
  standardised acquisition of brain tissues for
  basic research, (2) standardisation of
  neuropathological diagnosis and (3) laying the
  groundwork for future RTD projects dealing with
  clinical, genetic, epidemiologic and other
  aspects of brain diseases. Diseases of high
  frequency and outstanding medical and social
  importance such as Alzheimer disease and
  schizophrenia will be one aspect of the project.
  In addition it contributes to research in rare
  diseases, a research branch which can only be
  worked on successfully on an international
  European level. Harmonisation of data capture,
  neuropathological diagnosis, and quality control
  will be important milestones.