The European Spallation Source (ESS) will be the world's most powerful source of neutrons, a key tool in advancing materials science and technological progress. An EU-funded project has supported the development of ESS, which could lead to scientific breakthroughs that improve our quality of life.

A new generation of particle accelerators will help physicists explore the mysteries of the universe, provide engineers with novel tools to combat pollution and enable doctors to treat cancer more effectively. An EU-funded project is leading the advance, developing technologies that are set to have a profound impact on science and society.

EU-funded researchers are leading efforts to develop a functional cure for HIV using innovative therapeutic vaccines to halt the progression of the devastating virus, increase the availability and affordability of treatment, and improve patients' quality of life.

An emotionally intelligent, partially autonomous social robot could help children with autism spectrum disorder improve their social skills, according to EU-funded researchers who have been developing the next generation of robot-enhanced therapy.

Scientists have long hoped that uncovering the mechanisms of the ageing process may provide hints as to how to halt or slow it down in humans. Now, EU-funded researchers have found that bats hold important clues.

This conference brings together scientists from multidisciplinary fields employing different research strategies:

• Epigenetic profiling at genome-wide and/or single cell level to identify complex dynamic regulatory interactions, • Bioinformatics and mathematical modelling to understand and predict observed (dynamic) phenotypic responses, • Innovative epigenetic interference tools using for instance CRISPR/dCas-based epigenetic editing tools to locally overwrite epigenetic signatures and to verify the impact of defined alterations in epigenetic regulation.

The meeting provides a platform for scientists focusing on fundamental and biomedical research, clinicians and private sector scientists.

The Systems Epigenetics: Towards Precision Cancer Medicine Conference is organized in the context of the EpiPredict EU H2020 Innovative Training Network (www.EpiPredict.eu) coordinated by Dr Pernette Verschure.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending EUR 24 million to F2G Biotech, a research-intensive company in Austria, focusing on the discovery and development of novel drugs to treat life threatening fungal diseases.

Key nutrients can improve vision both in ageing and in healthy eyes, according to EU-funded research. Doctors are now prescribing supplements of these nutrients, while the researchers are investigating other possible health benefits.

While the harmful effects of smoking are well-documented, the impact of second-hand smoke and e-cigarette vapour are still being determined. An EU-funded project aims to improve understanding, inform policy and reduce the economic and healthcare burden caused by exposure to these emissions.

An EU-funded project is using synthetic biology techniques to design broad-spectra vaccines against mycoplasmas and viral infections in farm animals. By designing a growth medium without animal components and developing a platform to engineer new vaccines, the project will give the EU livestock industry a much-needed boost.

EU and industry-funded researchers have split type 2 diabetes into subgroups and are working on a tool to personalise treatment for the disease. Their aim is to help patients get the best possible care for their specific condition and cut public health costs.

Type 1 diabetes develops in childhood, requiring constant - often painful - management from the start. EU-funded researchers are testing an artificial pancreas that could transform the quality of life of youngsters suffering from the disease.

To answer the question of why diabetic patients are more susceptible to developing tuberculosis, the EU-funded TANDEM project linked leading European laboratories with field sites in TB-endemic countries such as Indonesia.

EU-funded researchers have developed computer models that accurately predict and monitor the progression of metabolic syndrome and its associated diseases. This advance may result in new therapies for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, liver disease and more.

The European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) Group of Chief Scientific Advisors has today published a statement providing ‘a scientific perspective on the regulatory status of products derived from gene editing, and the implications for the GMO Directive’.

Novel solutions for monitoring air quality and ultraviolet radiation are set to emerge from an EU-funded project that will harness unprecedentedly detailed data from new Earth-observation satellites.

An EU-funded project has developed a game-changing physical activity programme held at professional football clubs that motivates overweight fans to get moving and lead healthier lives. Its goal is to help prevent chronic diseases among middle-aged men and cut public healthcare costs.

Most vaccines need to be kept cool during transport and storage, but this can be hard to accomplish. EU-funded researchers keen to tackle this healthcare challenge have developed heat-tolerant and even needle-free formulations of an HIV-1 vaccine candidate. They expect their processes to work for many other vaccines as well.

A team of EU-funded researchers from seven countries is working to discover hidden links between Alzheimer's disease and stroke in order to improve the prevention and treatment of these intertwined conditions.

EU-funded researchers are developing tools to analyse and predict the potential toxicity of nanomaterials, addressing scientific, environmental and public health concerns about exposure to these novel tiny particles found in cosmetics and other products.