The European Union and the United States recognise the importance of health-related Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in promoting individual and community health while fostering innovation and economic growth. Both the US and the EU wish to facilitate more effective use of health-related ICT to support the health of the population, and to strengthen their relationship and support global cooperation in this area.

Scientists have developed an X-ray imaging method that could drastically improve the contrast of computed tomography (CT) scans whilst reducing the radiation dose deposited during the scan. The new method is based on the combination of the high contrast obtained by an X-ray technique known as grating interferometry with the three-dimensional capabilities of CT.

Are you a social media enthusiast or simply a Facebook addict? Researchers from Norway have developed a new instrument to measure Facebook addiction, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale. The use of Facebook has increased rapidly.

Rats with spinal cord injuries and severe paralysis are now walking (and running) thanks to researchers at EPFL. Published in the June 1, 2012 issue of Science, the results show that a severed section of the spinal cord can make a comeback when its own innate intelligence and regenerative capacity is awakened.

Humber NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating being the first mental health Trust in England to go live with Lorenzo Regional Care, a brand new electronic patient record system. Over 600 staff across 50 sites are now using the system to record clinical activity.

Despite improvements in healthcare IT infrastructures, a gap remains in the ability of these systems to deliver knowledge and insight back to the researchers, clinicians and patients they are intended to support. EURECA, a new European project, aims to close this gap by building software solutions to improve interoperability among existing data systems, such as clinical trials and electronic health record systems.

Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust has announced the success of its clinical portal and said that it is providing a cornerstone in helping the trust to become a world leading hospital. The clinical portal, which went live at the trust at the end of 2011, allows clinicians to view vital patient information, stored on a variety of systems, through a single view.