The Commission has awarded some €508 million in grants to 75 projects to tackle cancer, brain-related diseases, infectious diseases, complex chronic conditions, antimicrobial resistance and other important areas of health research.
These projects are to receive money following the official signatures of grant agreements in the coming weeks.
They were short-listed after evaluation and will involve 1,158 participants from 58 countries. In this final year of Horizon 2020, the EU research and innovation programme, it marks the largest total award for collaborative research for health.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “EU-funded research and innovation is a key part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but, at the same time, we are not neglecting other vital issues for our health and well-being.”
“The EU has a crucial role to play through the scale of investments, including in key European research infrastructures, its attention to major challenges, such as cancer, antimicrobial resistance and environmental impacts on health, the coordination of national efforts and international collaboration.”
The investments will also enable the development of digital diagnostics and various new interventions, including treatments and vaccines.
Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank (EIB) says it will provide €25 million of financing to Minoryx Therapeutics. Minoryx is a biotech company specialising in the advancement of treatments for rare central nervous system disorders. The newly available funding will thus benefit Minoryx’ research and development activities in orphan genetic diseases for which there are currently no approved drugs available.
Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said: “This EU support will help Minoryx to develop breakthrough therapies for genetic diseases and treatments for diseases of the central nervous system. The coronavirus pandemic has shown how important it is to continue to push scientific boundaries and deliver medication for rare diseases. The European Commission will continue to support companies’ efforts in this sense at every opportunity.”
