Cancers affect one in three Europeans at some stage in their lives. Rapid advances in the molecular understanding of these diseases are already leading to a major shift in diagnosis and therapy. The opportunities for creating technologies for earlier diagnosis and much more focused targeting of therapies are enormous. These new approaches will bring much more effi cacious use of the resources currently devoted to cancer and will lead to increasing likelihood of long term remission Cardiovascular disease continues to be a leading cause of death in Europe. More research is needed in areas ranging from genetic and molecular studies of the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease to studies of vascular properties, lifestyle interventions, and respon- siveness to preventive pharmacotherapy. The rising incidence of overweight and obesity means there is a need for even more research into how physical activity and training, in addition to nutrition, can prevent the steadily increas- ing average body mass index in Europe, not to mention the major health problems e.g. diabetes associated with overweight. Research of host defence mechanisms in disease – the innate and adaptive immune systems – are of importance, as well as immuno- therapy. Stem cell research is a related issue. Research in infection diseases and vaccines are central due to the changes in climate and society structure. Research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and management of reproductive health disorders, including infertility in areas of long standing low fertility rates below replacement level. There is a strong need to focus on fetal origin of adult reproductive diseases in both sexes. It is important to develop the understanding of rare diseases and to optimise diagnosis, care, and treatment, including the clinical evaluation of the long-term effects of new treatments. Patients suf- fering from rare diseases are scattered all over Europe, but some countries could take charge of certain given diseases. Establish- ment of centres of expertise within specifi c diseases. The role that whole genome sequencing is starting to play in fi nding therapies will certainly accelerate. Medical imaging is central to improving diagnosis and treatment in a non-invasive or minimally invasive setting. Molecular imag- ing might enable the characterisation of patients based on the behaviour of certain tracer molecules or tissue characteristics using imaging modalities. Specifi c actions towards mapping molecular imaging technologies and other biomarkers would help foster the development of personalised medicine and 26
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