Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet TGIP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Understanding parasite and pathogen resistance is crucial for human and wild-life health. Even though recent genomic advances have refined our knowledge of parasite resistance, the role that trans-generational effects and epigenetics play remains poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, this project is designed around four different objectives: 1) Perform laboratory controlled experiment to disentangle the genetics and epigenetics of resistance; 2) Identify those epigenetic marks on the genome that are inherited and associated to increased parasite resistance; 3) Test for the maternal or paternal origin of those marks; 4) Test for the specificity of non-genetic response to parasite resistance when facing multiple diseases. For all those research objectives, we will use the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) as well-established model organism for host-parasite studies. Sticklebacks are virtually present in all water bodies of the Northern hemisphere, they have small and well described genomes and are easy to maintain under laboratory conditions. The combination of the unique study system (G. aculeatus), the quantitative breeding design, the molecular (bisulphite and next generation sequencing; NGS) and immunological techniques as well as the state-of-the-art statistical approach, makes the research outlined in the proposal highly original and competitive. This work will contribute to European excellence through further advancement of European science within the field of host-parasite interactions and pathogen resistance. Upon a successful completion of the project, results will have major implications for diverse research areas, e.g. immunology, speciation, genomics and medicine, but also it could revolutionize management of human and wildlife diseases and improve supportive breeding programs of endangered species.

Mots clés : trans generational immune priming, specificity, three spined sticklebacks, epigenetics, host parasite interactions

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet PROIRICE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Understanding radiation effects on different materials is of paramount importance for many scientific and technological fields like those related to nuclear energy, space industry, laser- and ion-based materials processing and therapeutic applications. The particular case of radiation effects on pure and mixed water ice is very important in Astrochemistry and Prebiotic Chemistry, being water ice present in cosmic dust grains and on the surface of many bodies in the Solar System like asteroids and several satellites (e.g. Europa, Callisto and Ganymede). Despite previous extensive experimental investigations, the mechanism by which radiation damage on solids occurs is still a matter of debate. Clearly, an accurate theoretical description from first-principles simulations is needed in order to rationalize the experimental results. However, performing such simulations is a challenging task because of the non-adiabatic nature of the interaction radiation-solid, and few of such studies exist to date. In the PROIRICE project (Proton-Irradiated Ice: Dynamics and Chemistry from First Principles) Dr. Daniel Muñoz-Santiburcio will study the process of proton irradiation on pure and mixed water ice at space conditions by means of state-of-the-art Molecular Dynamics simulations coupled to Real-Time Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory, thereby adequately describing in real-time the non-adiabatic process by which the proton interacts with the ice matrix, promoting electronic and structural changes and chemical reactions of possible prebiotic interest. He will be supervised by Prof. Emilio Artacho, one the leading and most experienced scientists on the field of first-principles studies of non-adabatic processes under ion irradiation. PROIRICE will be carried out at CIC nanoGUNE, one of the reference research centers for condensed matter physics and nanoscience in Europe, which offers a very rich environment plenty of research, training and networking opportunities.

Mots clés : real time time dependent dft, molecular dynamics, electron stopping, proton irradiation, icy planets and satellites, cosmic dust grains, prebiotic chemistry, astrochemistry, astrobiology

Participants :
- CIC nanoGUNE (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 170121.6 €
Projet PDGeoFF (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Understanding subsurface geological processes is crucial for the prevention of environmental damage and the development of renewable alternatives for energy generation. The key for the successful assessment of subsurface activities is the ability to perform accurate numerical simulations able to predict the effects of soil exploitation. Envisioned research activities will focus on the design and analysis of advanced nonconforming polyhedral discretisation methods for simulating fault mechanics and fracture propagation in poroelastic media. The main goal is to provide an efficient mathematical and numerical framework to evaluate and prevent risks related to several human geological activities. In this project, we aim at developing and analysing new nonconforming polyhedral finite element methods able to tame the mathematical and numerical challenges that have to be accounted for in geomechanical modelling: the geometric complexity arising from the presence of various layers and fractures, the strong coupling between the flow and the mechanics, and the possible rough variations of the physical parameters. In this context, for inner interface and moving discontinuities problems, such as fault slip and fracture growth, the versatility of polyhedral finite element methods allows to successfully tame the geometric complexity as well as facilitate mesh adaptivity and provide a greater robustness with respect to mesh distortions. The research will target the investigation of the models describing fault mechanics and the interaction between propagating fractures and fluid flow. The computational performance of the proposed discretisation schemes will be assessed on a complete panel of realistic test cases.

Mots clés : polyhedral finite element methods, computational geosciences, poroelasticity, fracture propagation

Participants :
- Politecnico di Milano (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 171473.28 €
Projet TRAIT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Understanding the biological mechanisms governing carbon (C) exchanges between terrestrial and atmospheric C pools, and how these exchanges will respond, and feed back, to climate warming, are among the most urgent challenges for climate and ecosystem scientists. Heterotrophic microbes are dominant biochemical engineers in terrestrial ecosystems, governing the flux of C between terrestrial and atmospheric pools. Despite concerns that rising atmospheric temperatures will stimulate the respiratory release of C by heterotrophic microbes, recent work highlights the potential for thermal acclimation to partially ameliorate this positive feedback. The magnitude and efficiency of this physiological response is, however, highly variable, suggesting that the strength of climate-ecosystem C feedbacks will vary across landscapes. The proposed study uses a combination of trait-based and community-scale approaches to explore the relative importance of microbial community composition and climate conditions in governing patterns of acclimation potential across landscapes. Incorporating this microbial physiological information into Earth System Models (ESMs) is essential if we are to predict global patterns in biogeochemical cycling under current, and future climate scenarios. The proposed work incorporates aspects of microbial physiological biology, community ecology and ecosystem ecology to address a critical uncertainty in current climate models. This interdisciplinary project will allow me the opportunity to exchange knowledge with experts in the fields of microbial community ecology and terrestrial ecosystem ecology at NIOO-KNAW. I will also foster an international collaborative network, which will benefit my host organisation and myself. The proposed fellowship will allow me re-enter the European academic system and develop the skills required to initiate my own effective research group following the project.

Mots clés : microbial community ecology microbial biogeography, trait based approach, climate ecosystem carbon feedbacks, respiration

Participants :
- Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 165598.8 €
Projet GENEVOLCAV (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Understanding the causes of major changes of form and function of organisms is one of the big goals of evolutionary biology. Dramatic phenotypic changes happen at the transition from the surface to a subterranean life. They involve the loss of eyes and skin pigmentation, and augmentation of non-visual sensory organs. In this project I will investigate the genetic mechanisms involved in this transition, using the olm (Proteus anguinus), the largest obligate cave inhabitant, as a model organism. The olm is famous for its peculiar appearance and as a European flagship species of conservation priority. Underscoring its importance, sir David Attenborough listed it as one of ten species he would take on his personal ark to save it from extinction. The olm represents a famous example of convergent evolution at the transition from surface to caves, as already noted by Charles Darwin in his 'On the origin of species'. My overarching goal is to elucidate the genomic mechanisms involved in this transition. The specific objectives of this project are to i) reconstruct the number of independent transitions from surface to caves across all olm lineages, ii) produce a full chromosome-level assembly of the olm's genome, iii) identify the genetic and selective mechanisms associated with this transition, and iv) reconstruct the demographic history of olm lineages. This research will be made possible by combining the expertise of world-leading institutions in cave biology (University of Ljubljana) and sequencing technology (BGI- Research). Using this expertise and knowledge, I will answer a long-lasting question about the evolutionary mechanisms that drive the loss of characters. In addition, my work will contribute to the largest genome assembled for any animal species. The identification of independent evolutionary lineages will help setting urgently needed international conservation priorities for olms.


Participants :
- University of Ljubljana (Slovénie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 231619.2 €
- BGI Group (China) (Chine) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet SURVIVALIST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Understanding the extent of animal mortality, the where and when mortality occurs, is paramount to implement effective conservation actions and secure the persistence of animal populations. Unfortunately, so far our understanding of animal survival (which is the inverse of mortality) is very limited to a small fraction of species, and largely biased towards the breeding season of species life-cycle. This lack of knowledge is particularly striking for threatened species, such as most vultures. SURVIVALIST has the ambitious objective of filling this knowledge gap for the four European vultures. Based on a large collaborative network, SURVIVALIST will collate a uniquely large dataset of high-resolution vulture tracking data. These will be analysed using novel approaches to quantify survival in time across the species annual cycle (e.g. during the breeding and non-breeding season) and life-stages (juvenile, immature, adults; Objective 1). SURVIVALIST also aims to identify the factors (e.g. human density and land-use, presence of protected areas) underpinning vulture mortality (Objective 2). For example, does mortality occur disproportionately more often outside than inside protected areas? or in highly man-dominated landscapes? Finally, SURVIVALIST aims to identify hotspots of vulture mortality in space (also part of Objective 2), that is, does mortality concentrate in some specific areas compared to others? The results will provide the evidence-base for guiding the implementation of conservation actions for vultures in Europe. The outcomes will have relevance towards achieving the goals of the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Birds Directive, Convention on Migratory Species targeting raptors. Ultimately, as vultures play a key role in keeping the balance of ecosystems (e.g. removing carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases to wildlife and humans), their conservation has relevance towards several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Mots clés : population demography, survival, mortality, full life cycle, biologging, animal movement, vultures, avian scavengers, anthropogenic mortality, raptor, life history

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet INTEGRISTEM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Understanding the functional interactions between mammary epithelium and its microenvironment, with a particular focus on the stem cell niche, represents a challenge for developmental and cancer biologists. Mammary epithelium is a bilayer, with a layer of luminal cells, producing milk, and a layer of basal myoepithelial cells. Both layers contain clonogenic stem/progenitor cells, which ensure the drastic epithelial expansion in puberty and pregnancy. Whilst basal stem cells are thought to be bipotent, luminal progenitors appear to be lineage-restricted in normal gland. Recent studies indicated that basal-like breast tumors, notably those with BRCA1 mutations, might originate from luminal progenitors. Our project aims to elucidate the role of integrin receptors for Laminin, major component of the mammary basement membrane, in the regulation of the luminal progenitor function during normal mammary development and tumorigenesis. To this end, α3 and α6 integrin chains were deleted from mammary luminal cells in vivo using CreLoxP system. Cre expression was driven to luminal progenitors by the Blg promoter, activated in this cell population in adult virgin mice and further on, during lobulo-alveolar development in pregnancy. The stem cell activity and the maintenance of the stem cell populations in mutant mammary glands will be analyzed at different developmental stages. Morphogenesis, proliferation, survival, differentiation as well as the regenerative and clonogenic potential of the mutant epithelium will be examined. We will study the cytoskeleton organization and the capacity of mutant cells for baso-apical polarization. To analyze the responses of integrin-depleted cells to hormones and growth factors at the molecular level, organotypic ex vivo cultures will be employed. The impact of Laminin-binding integrins on abnormal luminal progenitor amplification during tumor initiation will be tested in a mouse model of basal-like breast cancer induced by p53 and BRCA1 loss.

Mots clés : mammary gland, integrins, laminin, stem and progenitor cells, mouse models of breast cancer

Participants :
- Institut Curie (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet BilMemBrain (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Understanding the implications of the level a language use in how we remember our past is a challenging and relevant goal in our growing bilingual world. Research evidence on memory and bilingualism converges in the idea that the level of language use changes the ability to access semantic representations. At the same time, individuals´ capacity to access semantic representations facilitates to process semantic information in a relational manner, which subsequently enhances episodic memory. This research project is aimed at investigating interactions between semantic and episodic memory as a function of the language use by means of behavioural and neuroimaging techniques. Basque/Spanish early bilinguals with high proficiency in both languages will be divided in two groups based on their use of languages in their everyday life: balance bilinguals (BB), if they use at the same level both languages; and unbalance bilinguals (UB), if they use one language over the other. We will employ two memory paradigms that are sensitive to semantic-episodic memory interactions. On one hand, categorical memory paradigm will be used to examine beneficial influences of categorical processing on episodic memory; and on the other hand, Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm will provide a measure of false episodic memories that will be modulated by relational semantic processing. In both paradigms, no differences between languages would be expected for BB. In contrast, UB in less used language condition would show decreased level of categorical memory and fewer false memories comparing with more used language condition. Regarding neuroimaging procedures, fMRI will allow us to examine brain pattern activations, connectivity and pattern prediction related to semantic processing and memory and to look for neural differences associated with the level of active use of a language. All this will facilitate the understanding of the intricate relationship between bilingualism and memory.

Mots clés : memory and learning, bilingualism, episodic memory, semantic memory, cognitive neuroscience, fmri

Participants :
- Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 158121.6 €
Projet PMLingAML (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Understanding the initiation and development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents an important challenge which may lead to the identification of new therapeutic strategies. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was formerly the most lethal subset of AML; however, today the vast majority of APL patients can be cured by combination therapy. Therefore, fully understanding the mechanisms underlying successful treatment, by analysing the biology of APL pathogenesis will assuredly improve the management of AML subsets associated with a poor outcome, such as NPM1-mutated AML. Using a novel knock-in mouse model, PmlC62A/C65A, which mimics Pml nuclear body (NB) disruption induced by the main oncoprotein PML-RARα in APL, we have previously shown that Pml NBs are essential in APL pathogenesis and treatment response. Our project “PMLingAML” aims to carry on elucidating the impact of Pml NB disruption in APL, and then to apply this knowledge in other AML subsets. To this end, a mass spectrometry analysis will be conducted on both hematopoietic stem and progenitor (LSK) cells and promyelocytes isolated from healthy and leukemic murine bone marrows, to decipher the consequences of Pml NB disruption on the SUMOylome. Next, since PML NBs and NPM1 share common cellular functions and characteristics, we will analyse the inter-relationship between them; their localisation and dynamics will be assessed according to their respective status (disruption, mutation, knock-out), for example by high resolution imaging, both in various healthy and leukemic mouse models (incl NPM1c+ and NPM1c+/FLT3ITD), and in patient samples. Their respective roles in response to a drug under clinical trial, Dactinomycin, will also be scrutinised. Finally, as DNA damage repair is an important function disrupted during leukemogenesis, the roles of Pml NBs and Npm1 will be assessed together with their inter-relationship, with particular focus on the base excision repair (BER) pathway.

Mots clés : leukemia, post translational modifications, mouse models, therapeutic targets, pml nuclear bodies, npm1, sumoylome

Participants :
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet MOSAIC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Understanding the locomotor behaviour of our Miocene ape ancestors is critical to reconstructing the evolution of walking on two feet, or bipedalism. The Miocene (20-5 million years ago (Ma)) epoch is crucial because it is during this period that the morphological features of living great apes, including humans, were defined. In this respect, Miocene apes show unique morphological combinations that are unlike any living primate, known as "mosaic morphologies", which include derived (ape-like) and primitive (generalised) features more suitable to provide a model from which bipedal fossil humans (hominins) – our direct ancestors – might have evolved. This project uses novel 3D methods (microCT scans and imaging sotfware) to conduct the first holistic analysis of the internal structure of Miocene ape forelimb bones. Bone remodels throughout life in response to load; variation in internal structure thus correlates with forelimb use and offers a more direct window into behaviour than external morphology alone. The bony joints of the forelimb on an array of extant Primate species, including apes and monkeys, will be analysed, shedding new light on Miocene ape locomotion, the evolution of living apes and the emergence of human bipedalism.

Mots clés : anatomy, function, miocene apes, evolution, locomotion, microct, hominins, bipedalism

Participants :
- University of Kent (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €