Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet FLEX-U (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

One of the brain's main challenges is decoding and integrating information from different sensory modalities to create a coherent perceptual representation. In this perspective, the study of people with sensory disabilities can be considered a model to investigate the mechanisms behind the ability to modify and adapt behavior to external stimuli. When a system is flexible, it can modify itself to gain greater benefit based on environmental conditions. However, when the system does not develop in a typical manner, as in sensory disabilities, it may be less flexible, causing problems beyond perceptual processing and affect aspects of everyday life. Starting with this assumption, FLEX-U unites a novel combination between psychophysics and statistical/modeling analysis to investigate the flexibility/rigidity of the sensory processing mechanisms in people with and without sensory disabilities. The project's main aim will be divided into three specific objectives (SOs). SO1: Understanding of sensory flexibility in the typical individuals; SO2: Modelling of sensory inputs to predict flexible behavior; SO3: Understanding the influence of contextual information on the flexibility of sensory systems in people with sensory impairment and develop rehabilitative training. These objectives will be achieved thanks to the transfer of knowledge between the partner (UNSYD) and the host (IIT) institutions involving advanced expertise in experimental psychology, behavioral modelling, rehabilitative training, as well as solid scientific and clinical collaboration networks. The outcomes of FLUX-U will advance, not only, our knowledge about human perception and multisensory processing at the scientific level, but will help to develop a new rehabilitative training based on multisensory inputs that on a wider scale could improve confidence and quality of life in people with sensory impairments.

Mots clés : multisensory perception, behavioral modelling, blindness, deafness, rehabilitation

Participants :
- Université de Sydney (Australie) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 263392.32 €
Projet LgDel-mPFC (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Schizophrenia is associated with impairment of social cognition and social function. Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is crucial for processing of social cues and regulation of social behaviour. Altered connectivity within mPFC in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls could explain patients’ poorer ability to differentiate between individuals and impairment to emotion recognition. 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is one of the largest know genetic risk factors for developing schizophrenia and is associated with impairments to social recognition and emotion processing. However, the changes to mPFC neurocircuitry in 22q.11.2 causing the social cognition deficits remain poorly understood. Oxytocin (OXT) is pivotal to social recognition and social function. Inactivation of mPFC OXT receptors impairs social recognition in mice comparable to social cognition deficits in schizophrenia. The 22q11.2 deletion mouse model (LgDel) displays impairments to social memory and emotion recognition and mice display altered mPFC neuronal activity patterns during cognitive tests and brain OXT levels are lower in LgDel compared to wild type mice. These findings suggest that social cognitive deficits in schizophrenia could be caused by disruption to mPFC neurocircuitry, possibly mediated by altered OXT availability or by OXT modulation of dopamine within mPFC. Using a combination of cutting edge electrophysiological recordings and measurement of OXT and dopamine real-time dynamics during a battery of non-social and social cognitive tests, I aim to deliver detailed information about neuronal activity and synchrony throughout the mPFC in during social cognition tests in WT and LgDel mice. This will provide insight into the micro-circuitry underlying changes to neurofunction and cognition in schizophrenia cause impairments, which could aid the improvement of treatment of social cognition deficits in Schizophrenia.

Mots clés : mpfc schizophrenia 22q11 2 oxytocin

Participants :
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 188590.08 €
Projet DELATOP (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Sunlight, as a non-stop power source granted by nature, provides about ten thousand times more energy than humans consume globally. Therefore, its harvesting and conversion to storable energy, such as plants perform in photosynthesis, represents a long-held dream of humanity. With the rapid progress of photocatalysis, humankind now endeavors to split water molecules using sunlight, thus storing solar energy into clean and recyclable hydrogen gas. To date, the efficiency of this conversion is up to 20% but with insufficient stability. In this context, DELATOP represents an effective solution to boost solar-to-hydrogen (StH) efficiency while significantly improving conversion robustness. Recently, cavity chemistry has arisen as a novel path to control chemical reaction rates in the context of light-matter interactions. Concurrently, photonic devices with topologically protected resonances have demonstrated superior defect tolerance and life-cycle durability. In this regard, DELATOP aims to design novel photocatalytic heterojunctions endowed with exceptional photon harvesting and carrier generation rate. Furthermore, using artificial intelligence (AI) for reverse engineering design, the R&D cycles can be significantly reduced with proper optimizations. As a result, the first AI-designed topo-photocatalysts will be delivered, conjugating high-imperfection tolerance and a super-extended lifetime of photo-carriers (~100 times), i.e., smart management of photons and carriers for the next-generation of green energy technologies. The project identifies three objectives to reach the final goal: I) Conceive and design novel photonic solutions based on topologically-protected resonances to be applied in the photocatalytic context; II) Deliver the first AI-designed topo-photocatalyst through injecting deep learning neurons into the previous design; III) Fabrication and characterization of topologically protected photocatalytic devices with enhanced StH conversion efficiency.

Mots clés : topological photonics, nanophotonics, cavity chemistry, nanofabrication, light matter interaction

Participants :
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet EDISENS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

EDISENS will deliver the first edible microelectrofluidic biosensor for enzyme activity quantification in gastric fluid that the human body can digest after completing its task. This will be accomplished by integrating passive microfluidics, electronics, and bioreagents into an edible device fabricated with food-grade materials. The biosensor will find application in the detection of pancreatic diseases, including pancreatic cancer. Today, existing ingestible electronics represent a trillion-dollar market. Yet, they suffer from retention risk as they use non-degradable materials and heavily contribute to the accumulation of e-waste in the environment. EDISENS will deliver a safe-to-eat device performing a rapid accurate enzymatic test on gastric fluid before being digested that eliminates the retention risk and does not require hospitalisation and disposal. The proposed technology will be highly versatile and will be beneficial for applications beyond our immediate test case. The transition to edible alternatives will spark the next generation of diagnostic devices for gastrointestinal tract monitoring which are safer, non-invasive, environment friendly and can be used at the point of care. The project will start a change in the social perception of diagnostic devices, where safe and familiar materials can be engineered to provide non-invasive diagnostic tools: EDISENS works toward the vision that clinical testing will be as easy as eating candy one day. This action is in line with the Horizon Europe global challenges program that promotes advanced non-invasive safer health technologies and a greener and more sustainable European society. For the success of this action, the researcher will utilise his experience in standard point-of-care and ingestible electronics, exploit the supervisor’s expertise in organic and bioresorbable electronics and benefit from the state-of-the-art laboratory at the Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia.

Mots clés : edible electronics, edible bioengineering, organic electronics, microfluidics, enzymes, transistors

Participants :
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet Micro-SENSE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Olfactory neurons allow circumventing the blood-brain barrier making this route particularly interesting for the non-invasive intranasal treatment of brain diseases (Alzheimer’s Disease). Moreover, commensal nasal microbes present in the respiratory region, the major surface of the nasal cavity, are assumed to induce health-promoting effects via metabolites as the gut or skin microbiome does. These complex nasal host-microbiome interactions are emphasized when considering that olfactory neurons sense bacterial metabolites like odorants and that a loss of smell is associated with an early stage of brain diseases. Demonstrating the importance of the human nose nose-brain axis its mechanisms are incompletely understood due to the use of currently available over-simplified 2D in vitro as well as animal in vivo models. Animal models provide highly valuable insights into cause-effect relationships, but translation to humans is challenging. Thus, within the Micro-SENSE project, we are proposing to build an advanced bioelectronic 3D model of the human nose-brain axis urgently needed for a better understanding of healthy nose physiology. This 3D bioelectronic platform will connect the recently developed (1) e-Transmembrane device hosting a respiratory nasal organoid and nasal microbes, (2) Microelectrode Arrays with affixed intact olfactory tissue and (3) patch-clamp set-ups for specific olfactory neuron studies. Integrated biocompatible PEDOT:PSS electrodes enable non-invasive monitoring and recording of nasal host-microbiome interactions by measuring epithelial barrier integrity and olfactory neuron firing in real time. PEDOT:PSS scaffolds compartmentalize the e-Transmembrane device for connecting with MEAs and patch-clamp set-ups enabling to study drug and metabolite uptake along the brain axis. Genetic and metabolic profiling of the gender-specific nose model will pave the way for optimized intranasal drug delivery targeting olfactory neurons and the nasal microbiome.

Mots clés : nose brain axis, gender, nasal microbiome, intranasal drug delivery, olfactory neurons, bioelectronics, 3d conducting polymer scaffold, microelectrode arrays

Participants :
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet SynEMO (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The ability to form emotional memories of aversive or rewarding stimuli is a crucial ability to determine avoidance or approaching behavior. Recent reports identify specific populations of nThe ability to form emotional memories of aversive or rewarding stimuli is a crucial ability to determine avoidance or approaching behavior. Recent reports identify specific populations of neurons within the basal and lateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) and their corresponding projections that are selectively activated during the retrieval of memories of positive or negative valence. Interestingly, BLA neurons projecting to the CA1 area of ventral hippocampus (vCA1) are tuned for either positive or negative predicting cues, suggesting the existence of two distinct pathways routing opposite information to vCA1. How emotional values originating from the BLA are differentially processed by downstream vCA1 neurons remains unclear. An appealing possibility is that vCA1 encodes different valence-related information through distinct spiking patterns and temporal structures. Distinct signal processing in the two BLA-vCA1 pathways might be supported by specific non-linear dendritic input integration, a mechanism that can be promoted by input clustering induced by heterosynaptic plasticity. We hypothesized that an organized synaptic distribution within BLA-vCA1 subnetworks exists, and that local heterosynaptic plasticity determines different temporal structures of neuronal output vCA1 in the processing of negative or positive information. We will use a novel viral-based tracing approach combined with an established assembly-labeling strategy to understand the anatomical input-specific structural organization synapses of different valence-related information along vCA1 dendritic arbour. Then, to dissect the functional implication of such synaptic organization, we will employ a combination of single-spine calcium imaging, electrophysiology, behaviour and in vivo endoscopic calcium imaging.

Mots clés : dendritic input clustering, heterosynaptic plasticity, inhibitory plasticity, associative learning, ventral hippocampus, amygdala

Participants :
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet HURO (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Economic Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Leading diverse human-robot or human-AI teams is slowly becoming the new normal. As automation and AI become integral to many industries, leaders must learn how to manage teams that include humans and AI/robots. Although there is plenty of training on how to use the technology, however, no one is teaching leaders how to lead the technology, thus creating skills gaps and workforce adaptability issues. As organisations face digital disruption, leaders must integrate these digital innovations into their operations and inspire their teams to become ‘technologically savvy’. However, despite the pressing need to better understand how to cultivate cohesive team dynamics amidst human and AI entities, research in this field is limited, which is problematic as leaders lack evidence-based solutions to deal with these novel challenges. Therefore, this project aims to unlock the potential of human-AI collaboration by: 1) uncovering the essential leadership qualities needed to effectively lead human-AI teams; 2) optimizing the design of virtual teams, where humans and AI work symbiotically; 3) pioneering the use of the newest AI for accurately assessing individual traits through natural language analysis; 4) investigating how feedback acceptance varies when it comes from human or AI sources. This research integrates the scientific fields of leadership, organisational psychology and IT, which pushes the boundaries of traditional research domains. Moreover, it is built on the newest technological trends and employs cutting-edge deep neural network technologies offering a state-of-the-art exploration of the subject. All in all, by achieving these objectives, this project will reshape the future of work, empowering organizations to harness the full potential of human/AI teams, enhance leadership capabilities, and optimize team dynamics in this ‘brave new world’ of workplace digitalisation.


Participants :
- ISM University of Management and Economics (Lituanie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 176773.44 €
- Idiap Research Institute (Suisse) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet NanoBioER-STM (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The aim of this proposed research is to determine the molecular paradigm for initiation of STM based on exosome release. Despite the vital role in neural disorders, the molecular mechanism to initiate STM remains a mystery. Understanding the mysterious mechanism of the STM initiation at the molecular level from how the exosome modulates synaptic strength and plasticity to effect memory is difficult to establish, as it requires advanced analytical measurements at the level of nanometer exosomes and synaptic cleft to monitor individual exosome exocytosis events. "NanoBioER-STM" will quantitative measure exosome release at single cell level and clarify it is another pathway of exocytosis through new analytical nanoelectrochemistry (Work Package 1), and will determine how exosome release in the presence of endogenous (lipids and zinc) and exogenous effectors (cognition enhancing drugs) is regulated and will correlate these changes to the molecular initiation of STM (Work Package 2 and 3). These changes, which might alter the cell communication, can be hypothesized to be the initial step that alters synaptic plasticity and commencement of STM. These studies will be developed based on state of the art analytical techniques including subcellular nanoelectrochemistry, Nano Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) super-resolution nanoscopy on model cells and simple animal nerve cells.  Overall, this project will provide new insights into the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, ultimately driving the development of exosomes as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic measures. Implementation of this project will also be a major innovation in the field of both neurochemical research and electrochemical sensing, which will provide innovative analytical approaches for modern brain science discoveries.

Mots clés : nanoelectrochemitry, bioanalytical mesurement, bioanalytical chemistry, exosome release mass spectrometry immaging short term memory stimulated emission depletion nanoscopy

Participants :
- Université de Göteborg (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 222727.68 €
Projet DIETherapy (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide, although advancements in glucose-lowering, weight-reducing, and lipid-lowering therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome and its metabolites are critically involved in the pathogenesis of various metabolic disorders contributing to CVDs, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, and also play a direct role in CVD development. Conversely, other reported microbiome-derived compounds appear to be beneficial for the host, exhibiting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This project aims to explore the therapeutic potential of microbiota-derived polyphenols in modulating the immune system to prevent and treat CVDs. Specifically, this proposal seeks to identify polyphenolic metabolites associated with a reduced risk of atherosclerosis development and to assess their immunomodulatory and protective effects in murine models. Aim 1 will involve bioinformatic analyses of a large human cohort with comprehensive microbiome and metabolome data to identify polyphenolic candidates associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis. Aim 2 will explore the capacity of these polyphenols to induce long-term anti-inflammatory phenotypes through epigenetic and transcriptomic reprogramming in human and murine innate immune cells (trained immunity). The therapeutic efficacy of these polyphenols will be further evaluated in murine models of atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation, with a focus on elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms. The methodologies employed will include advanced bioinformatics, in vitro immune cell assays, and in vivo murine studies, including microbiota and metabolome profiling. This interdisciplinary approach, combining human clinical data with mechanistic studies in mice, is expected to provide new insights into the role of microbiota-derived polyphenols in CVD prevention and treatment, potentially leading to novel therapeutic interventions.

Mots clés : atherosclerosis, microbiota derived metabolite, polyphenol, trained immunity, innate immune memory, therapy, microbiota

Participants :
- Université de Göteborg (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 236340.0 €
Projet SOLIDUPCONVERSION (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Solar irradiation offers the possibility of clean and renewable energy worldwide. One major challenge for solar energy conversion is the uncollected and wasted energy from the solar spectrum, photons with energy lower than the bandgap of photovoltaic materials are lost. A mere 1% utilization of low bandgap photons in today’s solar energy installations would result in an additional 3 GW produced capacity, equivalent to 5 nuclear power plants. Triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) provides the possibility to convert two photons of low energy to one of high energy even at low irradiation intensity. This allows the two unused photons otherwise penetrating the photovoltaic to be transformed into one useable photon The development of efficient TTA-UC systems, compatible to solar energy harvesting devices is therefore of pivotal importance. This project aims at fabricating a material that enables efficient solar energy harvesting at low photon energies. Specifically, we will do this through solid state triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion. I will employ novel organometallic sensitizers that allow for low energy harvesting. These sensitizers will be incorporated into an active host matrix that replaces molecular diffusion, with triplet exciton diffusion. This is a novel realisation of energy transfer in the solid state and will circumvent current limitations in solid state upconversion. This will yield an efficient TTA-UC solid state material that can be applied to devices. By fulfilling these tasks, this research project will ultimately contribute to a new strategy for enhancement of solar energy conversion.

Mots clés : photon upconversion, triplet triplet annihilation, solar utilisation

Participants :
- Université de Göteborg (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 206887.68 €