Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet OMG (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Mg2+ is the second most abundant intracellular cation after potassium and it plays an essential role in the human body. The kidney is the key organ regulating Mg2+ homeostasis through complex processes of excretion and reabsorption. This takes place in the nephrons, the functional units of the kidney, via paracellular mechanisms and ion transporters. Alterations in Mg2+ homeostasis are associated with several diseases and vice versa. Hypomagnesemia (serum Mg2+ <0.70 mmol/L) is the most common form of Mg2+ disturbance which can be due to impaired intestinal Mg2+ absorption or renal Mg2+ wasting. Remarkably, hypomagnesemia is associated with highly prevalent metabolic disorders including diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In the past, many genetic causes of hypomagnesemia and renal Mg2+ wasting have been identified in humans, encompassing mutations in magnesiotropic genes. This has been crucial to decipher part of the mechanisms involved in Mg2+ transport and renal (patho)physiology. However, many cases of Mg2+ disturbances cannot be explained with the current knowledge, meaning that there is a clinical need to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying hypomagnesemia to find an effective treatment. Recently, we have discovered OIT3, a new gene involved in Mg2+ handling. However, the mechanisms of action and its physiological role need to be deciphered. The aim of the present project is to unravel the physiological role and mechanisms of action of OIT3 in relation to Mg2+ handling as well as find clinical indications from human kidney disease where OIT3 can play a role. Applying a wide range of techniques including electrolyte analysis, advanced microscopy, RNAseq and bioinformatics, I will provide mechanistic insights and a holistic view into the role of OIT3 in renal Mg2+ homeostasis. This approach will contribute to the discovery of potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers of electrolyte-related kidney disease.

Mots clés : transgenic organisms

Participants :
- Jackson Laboratory (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Autres, subvention : 0.0 €
- Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 253052.16 €
- Radboud University Nijmegen (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet MicroFSMA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

MicroFSMA aims to deliver an assay for semen analysis and isolation of quality sperm for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). An automated, user-friendly, standardized, and efficient method is highly in demand from embryologists/andrologists. MicroFSMA consists three microfluidic chips integrated with a commercial computer program. Microfluidics chips will be designed to replicate in-vivo physical and chemical environment of a female reproductive tract. The thermal and chemical gradient will be generated in microchannels to identify responsive sperm cells. Additionally, a computer program will facilitate multi-sperm head and flagella tracking for the recorded time-lapse image sequence. Tracking algorithm will connect the positions of sperm cells in recorded successive images. The continuous wavelet analysis (CWT) /harmonic analysis of the flagellar wave and head trajectory will assist to identify the responsive sperm cell towards the chemical/physical cues. We are convinced that the correlation of sperm kinematics with harmonics/wavelet analysis will reveal potential parameters for male infertility screening. The successful employment of MicroFSMA in an industrial atmosphere will improve the experienced researcher (ER) knowledge of industrial R&D and market strategy. These unconventional skills will ensure the complete exploitation of MicroFSMA results by starting the small-medium enterprise(SME)/academic joint research schemes.

Mots clés : microfluidics, semen analysis

Participants :
- Cherry Biotech (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet ExoBBB (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

MicroRNAs (miRs) are identified as significant regulators in modulating brain functions in central nervous system (CNS) disorders like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease (PD) and amyotropic lateral sclerosis. Sustained delivery of miRNAs to brain could be an excellent strategy to regulate gene expressions affected in the progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Highly biocompatible nanocarriers like extracellular vesicles (eg: exosomes) are an excellent choice as delivery vehicles for miRs but their short half life in systemic circulation and difficulty in crossing BBB limits the application. ExoBBB proposes to use high density polymer brushes to maximise RNA capture and stability, confer biofunctionality, stealth behaviour and active targeting to CNS. Density and chemical composition of these polymer brushes can be tuned precisely to attain optimum physicochemical features necessary for active targeting of BBB. Grafting of polymer brushes over exosomes can impart a star shaped architecture which in turn has been proven effective for neuronal targeting. In addition, these brushes can offer abundant surface functionalities for the conjugation of active targeting ligands. Dual targeting ability of the polymer brush chains will be evaluated by surface modification with peptides which can actively target BBB and neurons. The aim of ExoBBB is to design highly stable and efficient cationic polymer brush-based RNA delivery vectors that can be grafted on safe and biocompatible nanoparticles like exosomes for brain targeting and regulation of neuronal cell phenotype for prolonged periods of time.

Mots clés : exosomes, polymer chemistry, blood brain barrier, mirna therapy, neuronal disorders

Participants :
- University of Coimbra (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 159815.04 €
Projet CMHAlgae (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Microalgae are a promising new biomass source for the production of chemicals and biofuel. Notwithstanding extensive R&D efforts, the cost and energy demand the production process remain too high, particularly in downstream processing. We believe the efficiency of microalgae downstream processing can be greatly improved through the use of nanotechnology. Hybrid and/or multifunctional nanoparticles can be tailored with multiple functional groups to combine several unit operations in a single technology. In this project, we combine expertise on Fe3O4 nanomaterials and cell disruption technologies from the experienced researcher with expertise of the two co-supervisors in nanocellulose materials and microalgae harvesting to create a bio-based and re-usable Cellulose Magnetic Hybrid (CMH) nanomaterial for downstream processing of microalgae. As a basis we will use nanocellulose, a natural material that can easily be grafted with multiple functional groups. The nanocellulose will be equipped with quaternary ammonium groups to generate flocculating and cell disruption activity, as well as pH-responsive to allow detachment of the nanomaterial after processing. The nanocellulose will be linked to an Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which will allow separating the microalgal biomass from the medium as well as recovery of the nanomaterial after downstream processing. Thus, our CMH nanomaterial will be capable of combined flocculation, dewatering and cell disruption of microalgae and can be removed from the biomass and re-used after processing. The techno-economic feasibility of this novel technology will be demonstrated in two model systems: lipid production in Nannochloropsis and astaxanthin production in Haematococcus. We believe that this CMH nanomaterial will be able to achieve a critical cost reduction in microalgal downstream processing and truly advance large-scale microalgae biomass production towards commercialization

Mots clés : microalgae, harvesting, cell disruption, nanocellulose, hybrid nanomaterial

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 160800.0 €
Projet ALGAE4A-B (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Microalgae were always an exciting target for Aquaculture and Biotechnology, as they represent a largely untapped reservoir of novel and valuable bioactive compounds. ALGAE4A-B (ALGAE For Aquaculture and Beauty) project seeks to exploit the microalgae diversity, as a source for state-of-the art high-added-value biomolecules in aquaculture and cosmetics. The diversification of microalgae biomass production towards two independent applications will allow the microalgae industry to gain access to alternative markets in an uncertain, highly competitive and fast changing commercial environment. The project will combine both basic and applied multidisciplinary research in the fields of –omics technologies, biochemistry and applied biotechnology in order to: a) Develop and optimize of low input and application-based microalgae culture systems, b) Develop of “-omic” resources for both microalgae and fishes, c) Develop of downstream processing of high value added products from microalgae, with an emphasis in polysaccharides, proteins, enzymes, antioxidants, d) Develop, formulate and in vitro evaluate a new range of cosmetic and nutraceutical products for aquaculture. The implementation of the project will offer the industrial partners the opportunity to translate scientific research into well defined knowledge-based end products and analytical tools. Apart from scientific objectives the ALGAE4A-B will provide a platform for an efficient dissemination, transfer of knowledge and training between academic, commercial partners and society. Overall, ALGAE4A-B aspires to foster both the European capacity building and the strategic objectives of EU Blue Growth and Marine Biotechnology to harness the untapped potential of Europe's seas and coasts for training and sustainable growth.

Mots clés : microalgae, cosmeceuticals, aquacutlure, applied biotechnology, downstream processing

Participants :
- Instituto andaluz de investigaciony formacion agraria pesquera alimentaria y de la produccion ecologica (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 81000.0 €
- Fitoplancton marino, s.l. (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 234000.0 €
- Agricultural University of Athens (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 225000.0 €
- Biopolis (Spain) (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 81000.0 €
- Apivita kallyntika diaititika farmaka anonymi emporiki kai viotechniki etaireia (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 216000.0 €
- University of Algarve (Portugal) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 108000.0 €
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 27000.0 €
Projet GPCR-Sensor (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Microbial cell factories are an economical and sustainable alternative for the production of pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals and other valuable chemicals. However, establishing efficient cell factories requires optimized production strains and efficient biosynthetic enzymes, and involves extensive protein and metabolic engineering to achieve industrially relevant yields. One of the main hurdles frequently encountered in this process is the lack of high-throughput methods for monitoring product accumulation. To overcome this limitation, I will harness G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), the unique molecular entities that eukaryotes use to sense their environment, to create a versatile in vivo biosensor. I will apply synthetic biology principles and an interdisciplinary approach to develop a yeast-based GPCR biosensor for the engineering of enzymes and production hosts. However, enzyme engineering is only one of the potential applications of GPCR-sensor. Its modular structure permits plugging in any GPCR, enabling a great variety of other powerful applications including bio-medical applications, such as recognition of pathogen epitopes, molecular diagnostics and drug discovery, or environmental applications, such as determining the presence of pollutants from environmental samples. In the GPCR-sensor project, I will combine my knowledge in natural product biosynthesis and enzymology with training in biochemical engineering and biotechnology to acquire a unique expertise that will help me establish my own unique line of research. Furthermore, the comprehensive professional development program, that is an integral part of GPCR-sensor, includes close mentoring in addition to training in fund-rising, research management, communication, teaching and academic leadership. These skills that are Instrumental for launching my future independent internationally competitive research career

Mots clés : metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, cell factories, high value compounds, plant specialized metabolites, isoprenoids

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 207312.0 €
Projet MICROPATH (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Microplastics (MPs), defined as between 1μm to 5 mm in diameter, are abundant within freshwater ecosystems and deposit and accumulate within stream transient storage areas, such as streambed sediments. Pathogenic bacteria use microplastics as a substrate, and therefore MPs can be used as a vector of disease transmission in streams. MPs can both impair the ecological quality of aquatic systems and pose a public health risk. Monitoring programs are often combined with mathematical models to assess risk for a wide range of flow conditions. A hydrodynamic model provides a powerful tool to identify high risk zones of MPs and pathogens in streams, such as hot spots of accumulation within sediments, and to predict the response to dynamic flow conditions. The overall goal of this proposal is to pioneer the development and field validation of a microplastic fate and transport model for predicting the persistence of microplastics and pathogens in streams worldwide, particularly lowland streams prevalent in the UK and Europe. The field study site is the Tame river, a headwater stream in Birmingham greatly impacted by urban influence. The project will assess three main objectives: 1) to accurately predict the fate and persistence of MPs in lowland streams by applying a hydrodynamic model that appropriately characterise their transport and varied residence time based on size, 2) to measure the spatial heterogeneity of MPs and pathogenic bacteria accumulation (separated by size fractions) in streambed sediments and important hydraulic drivers, and 3) improve predictions and fate of both MPs and pathogens by incorporating size-dependent immobilization and remobilization rates into the hydrodynamic model. The proposed project will advance a critical step for ongoing MP research by providing an advanced hydrodynamic model as a tool to improve predictions of MP and pathogen persistence in streams, and a synthesis study to advance knowledge on the fate of MPs in urban streams.

Mots clés : microplastics, fine particle transport, pathogenic bacteria, persistence, transmission

Participants :
- University of Birmingham (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet IMIPORU (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Microrobots with the ability of sensing physiologically important signals and respond by autonomously accumulating at target sites may revolutionize minimally invasive medicine. Miniaturizing electronic sensors, actuators and batteries to microscale is not feasible with the state-of-the-art technology. A promising alternative for instantiating on-board sensing and computation for remotely powered micromachines is exploiting structure and material properties. Recent studies show that micromachines can transform acoustic waves into controllable motion and powering can be realized using off-the-shelf medical ultrasound transducers. The objective of IMIPORU project is to develop the first truly autonomous microrobots powered by acoustic streaming (acoustically generated steady flow) that can perform taxis behaviour. To achieve this task, I will systematically study fluid-structure interaction (FSI) at the microscale numerically, experimentally and analytically. This analysis will lead to the design of novel mechanisms that respond to varying hydrodynamic loads. By manifesting mechanical instabilities, robots will mimic flagellated bacteria that exploits the buckling of the hook to change direction. Furthermore, understanding FSI is instrumental for optimizing the acoustic propulsion machinery. State-of-the-art, high-resolution two-photon polymerization technique for photocurable polymers will be used to manufacture multi-material structures with complex geometries. Since acoustic actuation does not depend on material choice, integrating responsive soft hydrogels into the structure will add another dimension for interacting with the environmental via chemical and temperature signals. Incorporating intelligent mechanical design along with responsive materials will enable microrobots to change their form and kinematics in different viscosity, temperature or chemical conditions, paving the way to autonomous navigation including viscotaxis, chemotaxis, and thermotaxis

Mots clés : soft robotics, additive manufacturing, embodied intelligence, microtechnology, fluid structure, interaction, mechanical instabilities, acoustic streaming

Participants :
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet MASETIH (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Migrant Authors from Southeastern Europe and the Transfer of Intangible Heritage (MASETIH) examines how intangible heritage (i.e. heritage that is mobile, dynamic and performative rather than material) is represented and transferred in contemporary writings and text-based performances by migrant authors from Southeastern Europe living in Austria and Germany. Challenging discourses which pit a European humanist heritage against the heritage of migrants and minorities, this project examines the role of literature in negotiating (trans)national identity and cultural heritage for migrant authors after 1980. The main objective of the project is to investigate the transmission and preservation of intangible heritage forms (such as language and dialect, religious rites or arts and crafts) through the tangible medium of the literary text, and the role they play in the life experience of migrants. As a comparative and interdisciplinary project, it foregrounds hitherto neglected aspects of cultural transfer, gender and affect/emotion. To that end, I propose to examine linguistic, religious and political heritage as three crucial heritage categories on which migrant writers draw to challenge narratives of homogeneity and assimilation prevalent in Europe since the 19th century. The project analyses the ways in which migrant heritage is shaped by the complex and dynamic exchange with 1) the respective host country (Austria or Germany), 2) other migrant groups residing in the host country, as well as with 3) networks in the country of origin. Applying feminist theories from cultural studies, literary studies and cultural geography to an intercultural reading of migrant literature, MASETIH seeks to facilitate a deeper understanding of national identity formation, collective memory, gender and transnational cultural exchange in the 20th and 21st century.

Mots clés : comparative literature, german literature, southeastern europe, migration, heritage

Participants :
- University of Graz (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 174167.04 €
Projet MIDIC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Migrant descendants (MD) represent an increasingly important share of the European workforce. Their multiple cultural belonging offers potential to develop intercultural competence (IC), a vital asset in contemporary labour markets. Surprisingly, neither migration studies nor literature on IC has ever examined this potential. Filling this gap is crucial if it is to make the most of the opportunities inherent to multi-ethnic societies whilst improving MD’s opportunities in the labour market. Through qualitative research, comparing UK and Italy, MIDIC explores: A) MD’s perceptions of their IC and its development; B) MD’s and employers’ perspectives on MD’s IC use in work organisations. In this way, it sheds light on MD’s IC features and on factors hindering or favouring their development and generates recommendations on how to best utilise this potential in work organisations. Dissemination activities will raise awareness of the contribution that MD could make to society. This interdisciplinary study combines contributions from literature on migration and on IC. It promises advancements in knowledge of MD’s integration and IC conceptualisation and lays the theoretical and methodological basis for a new research area on MD’s IC. The researcher possesses a solid background in migration studies that will be enhanced through collaboration with the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) at the University of Birmingham (UoB) (host organisation), which specialises in the study of migration-led diversity through an interdisciplinary perspective. IRiS will support the researcher in strengthening her knowledge of qualitative research methods, extending her core skills and professional opportunities. Fondazione Mondinsieme (Mondinsieme) in Reggio Emilia (secondment organisation), an intercultural centre promoting intercultural communication and integration in society, will support the development of skills around dissemination and communication of research findings

Mots clés : intercultural competence, migrant descendants, labour market

Participants :
- University of Birmingham (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €