Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet CORAE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The coherent Raman endoscope (CORAE) project aims to develop a lensless endoscope for label-free in vivo deep brain imaging. In particular, the scope of the project is studying demyelination-related diseases in animal models. Myelin sheaths, lipid-rich membranes that surround the axons, are essential for speed and efficiency of propagation of electric signals in the central neuronal system (CNS). The degradation of myelin, i.e. demyelination, can lead to neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis. Understanding myelin dynamics in the CNS is essential to advancing both basic neuroscience and therapeutic approaches. However, current imaging techniques have been constrained by limited penetration depth and invasive procedures, preventing the study of myelin dynamics in its natural environment over time.  I propose a novel solution using a multi-core fiber (MCF)-based lensless endoscope (LLEs). In LLEs, the endoscope size reduces to the size of the optical fiber itself (around 150 micrometers diameter), giving access to the deep brain with minimal disruption to surrounding tissue. The MCF design allows the use of long and flexible fibers, ensuring ease of operation of the endoscope. By using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) imaging, this endoscope will enable label-free visualization of myelin sheaths in vivo and study their dynamics over time. The CORAE project will focus on studying mice with induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis - the most widely used model for multiple sclerosis research - investigating both the demyelination processes and potential therapeutic interventions aimed at promoting myelin repair. The ability to image live, awake animals over extended periods will provide unprecedented insights into disease progression and the efficacy of treatments.

Mots clés : lensless endoscope, multi core fibers, coherent raman scattering, cars, imaging, myelin, multiple sclerosis

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 226420.56 €
Projet SCOPE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

There is an increasing need to find novel and sustainable alternatives to current dominating cooling systems. These systems are based on the compression and expansion of powerful greenhouse polluters and thus contribute notably to global warming when released to the atmosphere. Caloric materials, which display thermal changes upon variations on the corresponding applied field, are promising candidates because 1) they can be energy efficient and 2) do not compel the direct use of greenhouse gases. Among the different caloric families, those sensitive to hydrostatic pressure (barocalorics (BC)) are of particular interest because of the wide range of candidates, their very large caloric effects and no mechanical breakdown. Nevertheless, BC materials suffer from high intrinsic irreversibilities that limit their caloric efficiency. Interestingly, some BC materials exhibit ferroelectric transitions that make them sensitive to the application of electric fields and, hence, display electrocaloric (EC) effects as well. The goal of this MSCA project is thus to take advantage of multicaloric effects to improve the caloric performance in polar barocaloric materials. To do so, for the first time we will simultaneously apply pressure and an electric field to these materials by performing unprecedented experiments of calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy under these two fields. From these measurements, we will be able to define novel multicaloric routes to enhance the reversibility and, thus, report improved caloric performances. Additionally, a detailed characterisation of the lattice dynamics will be performed to understand the physical origin of these novel multicaloric strategies. This proposal joins the expertise in barocalorics of the Host Group and the expertise in electrocalorics of the Applicant. The successful achievement of our proposal will represent a breakthrough in the material science community, both at the fundamental and applied level.

Mots clés : solid state cooling, pressure, electric field, first order phase transition, multicalorics, ferroelectrics

Participants :
- Université polytechnique de Catalogne (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165312.96 €
Projet DiPoLiGene (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Nucleic acid-based therapies are currently booming with the advent of mRNA vaccines formulation. Hence, gene delivery systems employing polyplexes or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as versatile carriers have shown great promise for therapeutic applications due to the advantages in terms of tuneable properties and biocompatibility. Key to the success of these therapies is the development of efficient and controlled delivery systems capable of transporting the genetic material into target cells, releasing it intracellularly, and minimizing cytotoxicity. However, the efficient release of genetic material from its carriers within the endosomal compartments of target cells remains a critical challenge. This project will investigate the endosomal distribution and in-vitro dissociation mechanisms of polyplexes and LNPs, aiming to provide an outstanding insight on the structure/activity relation of nucleic acids careers. Employing a combination of state-of-the-art microscopy and spectroscopy techniques such as Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), live-cell imaging, and physicochemical approaches, this research will uncover vital insights into the intracellular dynamics of these gene delivery carriers for the better understanding of endosomal escape and particles dissociation. Furthermore, we will explore the relations between pH distribution of endosomes at various maturation levels and the corresponding accumulation of particles. This research contributes valuable insights into the intracellular fate of gene delivery carriers and provides strategies to overcome endosomal entrapment. Improved understanding of endosomal distribution and in-vitro dissociation mechanisms will ultimately facilitate the development of more efficient and targeted gene delivery systems for therapeutic applications. This will bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical applications for a diverse spectrum of diseases.

Mots clés : endosomal escape, gene delivery, intracellular dissociation, polyelectrolyte complexes, lnps, fret, flim, fcs

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 242260.56 €
Projet QUANTIFLAC (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Ultracold quantum gases allowed to realize experimentally several paradigmatic models of theoretical physics, such as nonrelativistic bosons and fermions with zero-range interactions. One of the issues driving the last decades of research on quantum gases was understanding how, from these fundamental models, macroscopic structures and quantum phenomena emerge. Along this direction, the most recent advances of the field include the discovery of dilute quantum droplets and supersolidity in gases with long-range interactions. A great deal of experimental and theoretical attention is now directed at identifying novel phases of multi-component Bose or Fermi mixtures with different compositions, different types of interactions, and in various geometries. The QUANTIFLAC project will analyze low-dimensional Bose-Bose and Fermi-Fermi mixtures of ultracold quantum gases, with the goal of engineering minimally-complicated microscopic models displaying exotic many-body effects. We plan to study emergent inhomogeneous structures in bosonic mixtures and self-binding in fermionic mixtures, aiming to determine whether this type of phenomena can be driven exclusively by structureless zero-range interactions. We will also investigate Bose-Bose mixtures confined in various curved geometries, to understand how the interplay of curvature, boundary conditions and topology regulates the macroscopic quantum behavior of the system. This theoretical project has tight connections with various established experimental groups: its results will raise immediate interest and have far-reaching implications for the quantum simulation of matter with ultracold atomic mixtures and for the fundamental understanding of macroscopic quantum aggregates.

Mots clés : ultra cold atomic gases, few body physics, two dimensional, one dimensional, quantum gases, curved geometry, superfluid vortices, shell shaped atomic gases

Participants :
- Université polytechnique de Catalogne (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 181152.96 €
Projet TRAIN (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cancer is the number one cause of death among Europeans under 65, being estimated that half of Europeans will develop cancer at some time in their lives. Despite the significant progress made in the prevention and treatment of cancer in recent years, this disease continues to claim lives and straining the European health and social systems and economies. In addition, cancer incidence and mortality are predicted to raise as consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce these dramatic repercussions, innovative therapies, more effective and accessible to a wider population, are needed to treat patients with advanced cancer. The overarching aim of the TRAIN project is to leverage the enzyme activities in the tumor microenvironment to boost the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies via molecularly engineered peptide nanomaterials capable of metabolic modulation of tumors and release of chemotherapeutic drugs. TRAIN is focused on pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) and will develop biomimetic 3D PAAD models to test the proposed combined chemo- and immuno-therapy. The feasibility of this major goal will be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach that will employ concepts from peptide nanotechnology, enzymology, immunology and cancer biology, together with cutting-edge materials science, proteomics and cell biology methods. TRAIN is in line with “The Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan”, aimed at reducing the negative impact of cancer for patients, their families and healthcare systems, and addressing cancer-associated disparities across countries, while providing training and career development opportunities for a young and creative researcher at the intersection of peptide nanotechnology and cancer immunology.

Mots clés : peptides, enzyme sensitive nanobiomaterials,  immuno therapy, cancer, 3d biomimetic cancer models

Participants :
- Institut de Recherche et d’Innovation en Santé de l’Université de Porto (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 169120.56 €
Projet D-PhosMate (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Supramolecular biomaterials represent a promising solution to address complex challenges in advanced therapies and disease modelling platforms. D-PhosMate’s overarching aim is to explore different formulation strategies and molecular designs based on enzymes, natural phosphate-containing units, and peptide amphiphile building blocks, to generate self-assembling hydrogels with time-dependent mechanical and degradation properties as vehicles for the delivery of living therapeutics (generated in situ) and in vitro extracellular matrix models along disease progression. These biocompatible hydrogels will exhibit enzyme-instructed biomechanical and chemical tuneability, which represent versatile platforms that will be leveraged for two applications. First, for the post-operative treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (the most aggressive malignant brain tumour), and second, for understating the molecular mechanisms responsible for ectopic calcifications (the mineralisation of the extracellular matrix of soft tissues like kidneys, joints, heart valves, and arteries, among others).  Outcomes from the project will benefit several communities, including peptide and supramolecular chemistry, biomaterials science, bioengineering, cancer, and cardiovascular medicine, among others. All of this, while providing advanced training and career development opportunities for a young researcher at the intersection of advanced biomaterials design, peptide nanotechnology, and precision medicine. Molecular tools provided by D-PhosMate will increase available cancer therapeutic choices and will contribute to improving the translation of preclinical research, enhancing success rates of clinical trials (with a consequent multibillion-dollar impact) and the life quality improvement of patients in need of innovative therapies.

Mots clés : hydrogels, peptides,  poly phosphates, self assembly, mechanical properties, enzymatic degradation, metabolites, therapies, in vitro models, biomineralization

Participants :
- Institut de Recherche et d’Innovation en Santé de l’Université de Porto (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 156778.56 €
Projet PLOBOT (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The 1966 sci-fi film, Fantastic Voyage, portrayed a scientist who miniaturized a submarine to enter his body to remove a blood clot. It is only recently that scientists have been able to assemble microrobots from scratch to autonomously move and perform complex tasks, such as catching and delivering cargo, and/or performing chemical reactions. The bots use energy from their surroundings or from an external stimulus, and turn it into motion. Light-driven motion in photocatalytic robots is exceptionally appealing as it allows actuation and control by using an external free energy source i.e., sun and enhancement of chemical reactions due to two effects: self-generated micro-mixing effect and constant surface refreshment, giving place to new chemical reactions ‘on-the-fly’. Yet, the reported photocatalytic bots up to date are so slow that their speed can be confused with Brownian motion. This project seeks to combine two approaches for the first time to enhance the efficiency and speed of light-driven bots: Lorentz force as an ultrafast motion mechanism and plasmonic effects for bettering light harvesting. A novel system will be introduced in which the robot’s motion based on the magnetohydrodynamic convection effect is triggered by visible light and can pursue desired reactions (degradation of organic wastes and hydrogen generation). By leveraging the host’s fundamental photophysical approach in nanoplasmonic design and my interdisciplinary angle on microrobots and energy field, the results are expected to bring knowledge gain for the microrobot field, and possibly a long-term impact on Europe’s solar technological innovations. The project‘s training comprises transferrable (leadership and communication) and technical skills development (bridging a knowledge gap in photophysics), to advance my career as a future group leader in Europe with an unorthodox research angle combining photo/electrochemistry and microrobots for alternative energy and environmental solutions.

Mots clés : microrobots, nanoplasmonics, photocatalysis, light driven reactions, autonomous motion

Participants :
- Université Louis-et-Maximilien de Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet LIGHTAIDGE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The annual growth of the global energy consumption of digital technologies is 9%, hindering the EU Green Deal objective of reducing 55% greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction by 2030. With the ever-increasing deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Edge Computing (EC), and more specifically Edge Intelligence (EI) – which seeks to exploit these IoT (Edge) devices to process Artificial Intelligence algorithms – has risen as a technology with booming demand potential, but which can also negatively contribute to the global energy consumption and GHG emissions of digital technologies. Regarding EC and EI, emissions-aware (in CO2 equivalent) simulation and orchestration solutions are still under-explored. The LIGHTAIDGE project therefore focuses on light-weight, CO2 emissions-aware EI simulation and orchestration. It proposes significant advances by (i) creating a bridge between High-Performance Computing (HPC) and EC communities through the development of a novel, fast and scalable, CO2 emissions aware simulation framework for EC, and (ii) by producing light-weight, CO2 emissions aware Edge Intelligence orchestrators for low-CO2 EI model training. Foreseen impacts are, at scientific level: the project will establish a bridge between HPC and EC/EI scientific communities, and will pave the path to future, CO2 emissions aware EC and EI research. At technological, economical and societal levels: the project will reduce R&D costs by enabling an economically viable EC and EI prototyping through simulations, will help to drive EI companies in the climate transition by reducing the EI's CO2 emissions through better orchestration, and will contribute to reduce the CO2 emissions due to digital technologies, participating in the European Union Green Deal's objective. The project also proposes training, transfer of knowledge, and dissemination/communication activities for the researcher, constituting a solid path to develop his skills and experience.

Mots clés : edge computing, edge computing simulation, edge intelligence, sustainable systems

Participants :
- Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 195914.88 €
Projet FIndS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

It has been a long-lasting major mystery in modern physics that our current best theories, namely general relativity for spacetime and quantum mechanics (QM) for matter, are incompatible with each other, revealing deep conceptual flaws in the way we understand the physical world. We currently lack a truly fundamental theory of nature that provides a quantum description of space and time (i.e. a theory of quantum gravity (QG)). Yet, an important obstacle currently stands in the way of the current development of QG. Indeed, influential research programmes attempting to find a theory of QG yield theories in which spacetime is emergent, rather than fundamental. Such approaches, called emergent spacetime theories (ESTs), raise critical philosophical challenges for the very possibility of considering these theories as describing the fundamental physical world, beyond their mere mathematical content. There exists a gap between the mathematical nature of the theories and their postulated meaning. Such a gap is highly detrimental to the development of fundamental physics. The project FIndS intends to fill that gap by providing a clear, intelligible interpretation of what it means for spacetime to be emergent in ESTs.  The project’s outputs are expected to contribute to the following scientific impacts. First, the research will provide a unified solution to the current conceptual obstacles of ESTs. In the long term, this can foster new knowledge in philosophy (of spacetime, emergence and indeterminacy), and quantum physics, thereby contributing to the objectives of the European Quantum Flagship initiative. Second, the research will promote a specific realist interpretative recipe that can, during and shortly after the project, be used as a defence of scientific realism in the face of theory change and proliferation.  The researcher has a background in physics and quantum metaphysics (esp. of spacetime). FIndS is the ideal project to complete her expertise in that field.

Mots clés : philosophy of spacetime, emergence, indeterminacy, quantum physics, quantum gravity

Participants :
- Université Louis-et-Maximilien de Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet ECOSACs (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The design of efficient catalysts is vital for developing advanced catalytic processes, which allows to switch to more sustainable industry. Single Atoms Catalysts has caught all the attention within the field of catalysis owing to their outstanding catalytic performance, being potential efficient systems. However, their applications in industry is hindered by the low metal loading required and by the lack of an environmentally friendly, simple and inexpensive batch preparation method. Ecofriendly and COst-effective preparation of Single Atoms Catalysts (ECOSACs) aims to synthesize several SAC formulations using high metal loading through a new and innovative mechanochemistry route, allowing their batch preparation in a near future. The specific goals of ECOSACs are: (i) use of continuous flow mechanochemistry reactor for the synthesis of given SACs formulations, mainly composed by reducible metal oxides supported noble (Pt,Au) and earth abundant (Co,Fe) metals; (ii) verify the versatility of this new synthesis method; (iii) determine the physicochemical properties and electronic environment of the SACs by using traditional and advanced characterization techniques; (iv) determine the catalytic activity of SACs in selective oxidation reaction of biomass derived molecules and (v) develop an understanding of the relationship between physicochemical properties and the activity and stability of SACs . The results of this project have the potential to introduce a green and low-cost continuous preparation of SACs and thereby develop more sustainable and greener European and global industry sectors, being align with the European Green Deal program, area 3 “Industry for a Clean and Circular Economy”. Throughout this project I will learn new techniques relevant to industrial catalysis, develop my skills as an independent researcher and mentor, and expand my network to include international collaborations and relationships as transition to an established researcher.

Mots clés : single atoms catalysts synthesis mechanochemistry selective oxidation reaction

Participants :
- Université de Malaga (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165312.96 €