A variety of projects have been selected for funding under the new and emerging science and technology (NEST) activity of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).
The activity was introduced for the first time under FP6, and is designed to respond to new scientific opportunities and challenges as they arise.
The projects selected for funding thus far deal with issues ranging from immunisation against weapons of bioterrorism to breath testing for the detection of diseases and the impact of perfluorinated organic compounds (PFCs) on human health, and obesity.
According to CORDIS, competition for the €215 million chunk - cut down from double that figure during inter-institutional negotiation - is high with around 170 proposals submitted before the first deadline in April 2003, and 275 received in October 2003.
Every six months, when the deadlines for proposal submissions arise, around 30 proposals are selected for further evaluation, and around ten of these will go on to be offered funding. The first retained projects are now the subject of contract negotiations, and work is expected to start in spring 2004.
The issue of bioterrorism is growing in importance in a western world inceasingly fearful of attacks. Just last week in the US, the country imposed tight new rules on bioterrorism for imports of foodstuffs into the country.
Under NEST, Europe will fund the 'biodefense' project to 'address the rapid induction of passive immunity against weapons of bioterrorism using transformed organisms which are generally regarded as safe (GRAS)'.
The objective is to develop a completely new mechanism of rapid immunisation through the genetic engineering of Lactobacilli, microorganisms that live in the human gastrointestinal tract.
After ingestion, writes CORDIS, the microorganisms will colonise the intestinal mucosa and secrete antibodies enabling rapid protection against bioterrorism agents or emerging diseases.