Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet EOBRECA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Observational studies indicate that obesity and the risk of developing estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers has an inverse association in premenopausal women, but a positive association in post-menopausal women. Breast cancer risk rises steeply after menopause, when estradiol decreases markedly and estrone become the major serum estrogen. Adipose tissue express high levels of the enzyme aromatase, being the major site of estrogen synthesis after menopause. Obesity in postmenopausal women correlates with increased serum estrone levels. Obesity and higher estrone, but not estradiol, are correlated with increased risk of ER+ breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Obesity mediates a chronic inflammatory state through NF-kB pathway activation of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. The chronic inflammatory milieu established in the obese adipose tissue may be associated to the increased risk of developing several cancer types, including postmenopausal ER+ breast cancer. It is known that estradiol inhibits NF-kB activation through different molecular mechanisms. However, the role of estrone in regulating the NF-kB pathway has not been studied yet. Notably, low intra-tumor expression of enzymes converting estrone into estradiol, and overexpression of enzymes that convert estradiol into estrone are both associated with a worse outcome in ER+ breast cancer patients. This proposal pursue to elucidate the role of estrone in the increased risk of developing ER+ breast cancer in obese postmenopausal women. We hope to determine the roles of estrone and estradiol in regulating NF-kB pathway in adipocytes and ER+ normal epithelial mammary cells. We will also determine if enzymes involved in estradiol to estrone conversion have an oncogenic role in the development of this disease. Data obtained from this work have the potential to identify new markers and therapeutic targets against ER+ breast cancers, and lead to the design of new strategies for its prevention.

Mots clés : er  breast cancer, obesity, nf kb, inflammation, estrogens, hsd17b14

Participants :
- University of Granada (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet SoWHat (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Observations of solar wind (SW) turbulence have usually emphasized magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) scales where the Kolmogorov scaling f −5/3 of the magnetic spectra is frequently observed. These spectra are thought to result from strongly nonlinear interactions. However, the question as to how turbulence of the MHD scales terminates its cascade at smaller (kinetic) scales is still hotly debated. Answering this question is indeed fundamental to understanding the processes of particle acceleration and plasma heating in the SW and in other astrophysical plasmas. This project aims at studying the mechanisms of energy dissipation in solar wind. We will use a innovative multiple approach that combines in-situ fields and particles data available from the multispacecraft missions, numerical simulations and theories to model the complex behavior of turbulence cascade at kinetic scales where it is dissipated.

Mots clés : turbulence, plasma, solar wind

Participants :
- École polytechnique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 264668.4 €
- University of California System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet Future4Oceans (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Ocean acidification (OA) is expected to profoundly alter the diversity and function of marine ecosystems, as well as the services they provide to society. Thus, understanding how future oceans will function in the face of OA represents one of the major challenges and needs for marine science and management. However, most of the studies to date on OA have consisted of short- to medium- timescale laboratory experiments of single species exposed in isolation to OA. Consequently, our understanding and ability to predict the impacts of OA at the community and ecosystem levels are extremely limited. There is, therefore, a great need for empirical investigations of the long-term effects of OA on marine ecosystems exposed to high pCO2, as found around naturally acidified systems. To fill the remaining knowledge gap of the emergent effects of OA on coastal marine ecosystems, I will adopt a multidisciplinary perspective by integrating three novel approaches: 1) functional-community level studies in natural CO2 vent systems; 2) use of newly developed multi-stressors experimental FOCE systems; and 3) genomic studies of the adaptive capacity of marine species to OA. Moreover, we will use virtual reality to increase public understanding of OA. This research, based on innovative and high-level training, is expected to generate a better understanding and ability to assess marine functional biodiversity vulnerability. Future4Oceans has a strong link to management and policy advice at EU and international levels. It directly addresses the H2020 Work Programme priorities of climate action and sustainable environment. This project will not only reinforce, extend, and diversify the scientific expertise of the fellow by facilitating the development of methodological skills but propel her career towards scientific independence and professional maturity.

Mots clés : ocean acidification, climate change, multiple stressors, marine benthic communities and ecosystems, functional traits, biodiversity, evolutionary adaptation, naturally acidified systems

Participants :
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 244269.0 €
- Stanford University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet VARIO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Ocean acidification (OA) threatens the persistence of calcifying marine ecosystems across the planet. Current predictions on the impacts of OA have limited ecological relevance because they are often based on models of the open ocean, where environmental conditions are relatively stable over a diel cycle. However, the majority of vulnerable marine plants and animals exist in nearshore ecosystems where daily fluctuations, resulting from biological carbon production and consumption, can exceed the changes in pH predicted for the end of the century. VARIO will implement a novel approach to elucidate the role of pH variability in shaping the structure and function of a globally distributed ecosystem and its response to OA. VARIO will use rhodolith (maërl) beds in Scotland and Greenland as a model-calcifying ecosystem to characterize the magnitude of natural pH variability inherent in nearshore coastal ecosystems and to explore how such variability may facilitate organismal and ecosystem resilience to OA. VARIO will use an interdisciplinary approach that unites physical and biological oceanography with biogeochemistry to measure natural pH fluctuations and relate that variability with baseline organismal and ecosystem-scale calcification processes. VARIO will then experimentally quantify the effects of OA, overlaid upon natural pH variability, on rhodolith ecosystem structure and function. The findings of VARIO are directly relevant to nations of the European Union, where rhodolith beds are widely distributed and economically valuable. The ecosystem services rhodolith beds afford to the EU, such as supporting commercial fisheries and industry, are directly compromised by OA, and VARIO will provide critical information to inform mitigation and management strategies under OA. By using a globally distributed ecosystem as a model and by incorporating natural pH variability, VARIO will provide the first ecologically relevant context to the impacts OA on nearshore ecosystems.

Mots clés : ocean acidification, global change biology, ecosystem services

Participants :
- University of Glasgow (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet PTOoC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Off late, there has been a tremendous surge in the cost of bringing new drugs to the market. The rising costs and ethical concerns related to screening with animal models have led to the development of alternate approaches for drug discovery. Owing to the advantages of high physiological relevance and predictive value, Micro-physiological systems (MPSs) (also referred to as Organ-on-chips (OoC)) are gradually taking over as powerful and cost-effective alternative to animal model-based drug screening. However, OoCs have yet to cross certain key barriers, before they are adopted as an industry standard for drug screening. The current state-of-the-art in OoCs suffer from a low standardization level, low throughput workflow, in comparison to conventional cell culture-based methods. The main objective of the project is to design and develop a library of inter-lockable hard-soft hybrid components, which can be used to construct any given organ-on-chip at the required physiological/functional scale. Each part of the library would serve to enable a certain physicochemical stimulus/structure warranting its use in the design of a specific type of organ-on-chip. The overall library would contain all the required parts to enable implementation of different microenvironments from different organs of the human body. The development of such parts would enable a standardized approach to OoC development and testing across the industry. The project will have a preliminary focus on demonstrating the proof-of-concept for assembling a lung-on-chip OoC from the developed modular components. Followed by integration of different organ-on-chips with functional scaling and parallelization for high-throughput. The project has a strong multi-disciplinary nature with expertise involved from fields of engineering/mechanical design, microfluidics, biological cell culture/microbiology.

Mots clés : microfluidics, organ on a chip, biomaterials, in vitro models, pharmaceutical testing

Participants :
- Elvesys (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet AeroArch (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Old, poorly insulated buildings represent a tremendous potential for saving energy in Europe. Aerogel building materials are characterized by very low thermal conductivities and ideal physical properties in building applications both in retrofits and new constructions. While several products have been developed and become commercially available in the last decade, knowledge with building professionals - such as architects, building designers, engineers and owners on their successful practical application in different contexts is still sparse. This hinders the implementation of available solutions as well as the development of new ones based on aerogels, which have the potential to play a significant role in the reduction of energy consumption in buildings and thus in meeting EU climate and energy goals. It is hence proposed, in a first work package (WP1), to document and analyse the usage of aerogel building materials in Switzerland and the EU by studying and measurement of realised retrofits and applications in new buildings. This data and its analysis will be made available within an online data base. In the second and third part will be bring unique new combinations of aerogel composite materials for architecture and construction (WP2) and new aerogel insulation for cavity walls of existing buildings (WP3). Subsequently (WP4) by studying building applications and their performance in terms of energy and costs, guidelines for the use of aerogel building materials will be developed, verified by simulation and published. For the first time building professionals will have free access to a comprehensive and unbiased body of knowledge detailing where and how aerogel building materials can be used. Crucial to the proposed work is its multidisciplinary approach which joins the architectural expertise of the researcher with the knowledge and experience of the hosting laboratory in material development, which constitutes an ideal framework for truly innovative research.

Mots clés : architecture, aerogel, sustainability, energy efficicency, superinsulation, insulation, retrofit, refurbishment, nanomaterials, energy consumption, visual appareance

Participants :
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175419.6 €
Projet DEXSAGE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Older adults’ daily experiences were shown to be detrimental to their Successful Ageing. Empirical studies demonstrate that the type and quality of daily activities are constitutive for senior citizens' Quality of Life, and for how many more years they would like to live. Meanwhile, there are very few studies collecting data on daily activities from respondents aged 65+. Even fewer collect information on respondent’s evaluation of these activities. This project aims to give voice to the respondents by collecting data on everyday events and their subjective perception by individuals aged 65+. It will use a time-use approach, i.e, Experience Sampling Method (ESM) including important methodological innovations. Three algorithms will be used to collect different but compatible sets of time-based data and allow for comparative analyses between them. Data collection will take one week per person and each individual will provide information on 15-50 time-points. First algorithm will use classic ESM approach to provide information on how events are plotted across the day and the week, and how wellbeing fluctuates depending on time and day. Second algorithm will allow respondents recording events which are meaningful to them and most detrimental to their wellbeing. Third algorithm will provide information on events considered essential for how a day is structured. Altogether the three datasets will be used to answer questions about the dynamics of elderly’s days, how they experience different activities and how these experiences affect their wellbeing and quality of life. We aim at promoting this project as bringing essential new knowledge not only for policy-makers but also for practitioners and elderly individuals themselves. Along with scientific publications, easy-to-understand brochures including main findings and recommendations will be made available online.

Mots clés : successful ageing, quality of life, time use, behaviours, subjective wellbeing, older adults

Participants :
- Synyo (Austria) (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 186167.04 €
Projet MEMORAGE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Older individuals experience problems in many every-day tasks, due to age-related decline in cognitive functions. Cognitive frailty is a societal and economical challenge, as it affects elderly’s quality of life and need for care. To understand, and counteract, cognitive difficulties, we need to be able to measure them. Basic research has revealed essential knowledge on age-related cognitive and neuronal changes. However, the correlation between laboratory task performance, brain alterations, and experienced difficulties in daily life is imperfect. In the realms of attention and memory, the problem may lie in the tasks we use. Most laboratory tasks are made of brief trial structures, which is useful to isolate specific process components. Real world tasks, while built of smaller components, are complex and extend over time. This project presents a multi-method neuro-cognitive approach to unravel sources of older individuals’ deficit. The research is based on leading theoretical models and includes behavioral data modeling, eye-movement and EEG data analyses. At my TC host, Wolfe’s Visual Attention Lab (Harvard Medical School), we will create new extended hybrid search and foraging tasks that enable us not only to look at the small components, but also to analyze how they interact over time, and how they relate to age-specific daily problems. At Bundesen’s Center for Visual Cognition (University of Copenhagen), the new knowledge will be integrated into the computational “Theory of Visual Attention” framework and the model-based assessment procedure. Our aim is to advance the theoretical knowledge about attention and memory and improve cognitive assessment products. Commercialization of the newly developed tests will be exploited together with the industrial partner Cambridge Cognition, a company producing cognitive assessment tools. The outcome will be relevant to the development of technology, products, and strategies to meet the needs of our aging population.

Mots clés : cognitive aging, visual attention, long term memory, visual search, cognitive assessment, cognitive modeling, reaction times, eye tracking, electrophysiology

Participants :
- Max Planck Society (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 199828.2 €
- Harvard University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet OncoResist (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Oncogenesis is a complex multi-step process that involves the combination of genetic and epigenetic alterations for normal cells to turn into cancerous cells. Remarkably, while some strong oncogenic signals can promote transformation in some cell states, they are completely innocuous to other cell types. My aim is to study this poorly understood phenomena, being my current hypothesis, that intrinsic cell state transformation protection mechanisms are likely to exist. I will use the Drosophila eye primordium epithelium, as I have previously observed that whereas committed epithelial cells over-proliferate in response to abnormal Hippo signalling, undifferentiated progenitor cells are resistant to this transformation. To molecularly define such resilience to oncogenesis, the gene expression and chromatin accessibility profile of these two cell populations were compared. My preliminary results showed that the chromatin accessibility profile differed significantly and suggested that some pioneer transcription factors primed cells to respond to Hippo signalling. Moreover, I observed that non-coding RNAs were differentially expressed between these two cell populations. In particular, some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of molecules that were recently described as regulators of oncogenic signals, were particularly enriched in the progenitor cell population. More specifically, I aim to address two main questions: 1 - Is the nuclear landscape (chromatin accessibility and TFs combinations) important to control the response to high oncogenic signals? And how much of this response relies on the activity of pioneer transcription factors? 2 - What is the role of the lncRNAs in controlling cellular response to Hippo signalling? A better understanding of the intrinsic cell state protective mechanisms against transformation is likely to open important new therapeutic approaches for cancer.

Mots clés : oncogenesis, cell state, resistance to transformation, netseq, chromatin landscape, pioneer factors, hippo signalling, lncrnas, transcription factors, progenitors, epithelium, differentiation

Participants :
- University of Aveiro (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 159815.04 €
Projet WEARSENSNANO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

One common influence of ageing is that it makes the individual susceptible to hypothermia, which is known to be death causing low body temperature (35°C). Hypothermia could be detected at early stages by monitoring various physiological parameters such as ECG signal, skin temperature and body movement. Owing to their flexibility and stretchability, wearable sensors could provide long term continuous recordings of electrophysiological activity for monitoring hypothermia in elder people. Wearable temperature, pressure and strain sensors in forms were studied by many research groups. Those approaches utilized complex and high-cost photolithography techniques, which makes the devices far from commercialization. Besides, the poor processability and lack of skin compatibility of stretchable polymers used as substrates prevents the practical use of these materials. However, solution-processable nanomaterials offer a unique way to reduce the cost and complexity, while cellulose hydrogel is easy processable and skin friendly polymer. Thus, in this project, we aim to develop an integrated wearable temperature and pressure/strain sensor based on solution processable nanowires, and cellulose hydrogel to monitor hypothermia in elder people via measuring pressure, strain and temperature. Pressure/Strain sensor will be prepared via laminating two silver nanowire printed cellulose hydrogels sandwiching a pressure sensitive dielectric layer. Temperature sensor will be fabricated via transfer printing of gold nanowires on the cellulose hydrogel substrate. Next, pressure/strain and temperature sensors will be laminated to form the integrated sensor. Finally, the sensors will be used in real patients. In terms of research quality, infrastructure and services, Prof. Vapaavuori’s lab and Aalto University are quite appropriate for the proposed project. The training is believed to strongly contribute to the researcher’s academic, and scientific career.

Mots clés : wearable sensor, hypothermia, pressure sensor, strain sensor, temperature sensor, silver nanowire, gold nanowire, cellulose hydrogel, microcontact printing

Participants :
- Aalto University (Finlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 202680.96 €