Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet THALAMODEL (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The thalamus is a brain structure that is responsible for important functions (e.g., sensory systems, sleep, the motor system, spoken language) which are distributed over its 12 nuclei . While recent advances in MRI technology have made it possible to image the thalamic nuclei in vivo, the lack of specific computational tools to analyze the images forces most research studies to either treat the thalamus as a single structure (limiting the spatial specificity of the analysis) or to rely on the excruciating process of manually labeling the data. Since very few sites currently possess the anatomical expertise and staffing resources to carry out studies based on manual delineations, the lack of tools to analyze MRI data of the thalamus is hampering progress in different branches of neuroscience. Here we present an interdisciplinary project to build tools to automatically analyze the thalamic nuclei in MRI data. The tools will be based on a statistical atlas of the thalamus built upon ultra-high resolution MRI and histological data from autopsy samples. We will use the tools in a study of the relation between thalamus and dyslexia, where they promise to increase our understanding of the pathology by testing which nuclei are affected and to what extent. In addition, the tools will be distributed as part of the software package FreeSurfer, allowing its over 10,000 worldwide users to carry out cognitive neuroscience experiments at the nucleus level, and to discover new imaging biomarkers of other diseases related to the thalamus, e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, MS and ALS. This project will allow the host to acquire knowledge in medical image analysis from the applicant and to establish collaborations with Harvard and Oxford (host of the proposed secondment). The project will also expand the applicant’s research network and train him in areas (ex vivo MRI, psycholinguistic studies) that complement his image analysis skills, preparing him for a future faculty position.

Mots clés : thalamus, statistical atlas, dyslexia, neuroimaging

Participants :
- Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 170121.6 €
Projet LieLowerBounds (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The theory of partial differential operators is one of the most important branches of mathematics with several consequences in many other mathematical fields and with applications in other sciences. This project, which is of theoretical nature, intends to investigate the validity of the Fefferman-Phong, the Hörmander and the Melin inequalities for partial differential operators, and in general for pseudo-differential operators, on compact Lie groups, and apply them to the problem of solvability of degenerate partial differential operators. The analysis of partial differential operators requires the study of geometric quantities attached to the operators, in particular, the (total) symbol, the principal symbol and the subprincipal symbol. However, in the context of compact Lie groups, the principal symbol is globally well-defined but it is not the same for the other symbols mentioned above. Our goal is to define in a suitable way the other geometric quantities needed in the analysis of the problem and use them to obtain lower bounds for partial differential operators on compact Lie groups (i.e. the Fefferman-Phong, the Hörmander and the Melin inequalities). These lower bounds will be used to treat the problem of solvability of partial differential operators on compact Lie groups. We remark that the validity of these inequalities will yield the development of several results in the theory of partial differential equations on compact Lie groups, as, for instance, in the problems related to solvability, hypoellipticity, and well-posedness of the (weakly-hyperbolic) Cauchy problem.

Mots clés : lower bounds, partial differential operators, compact lie groups

Participants :
- Ghent University (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 166320.0 €
Projet Hybridities (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The theory of urban space in cities widely referred to as Middle East-North African has been grounded on a spatial dichotomy shaped by the binary opposition of tradition and modernity. This attitude has dominated urban studies, design practices, and policymaking. Literature which challenges this domination has been largely marginalised. To dislocate this marginalised discourse into the core of the global urban theory debate, this project uses the concept of space ordering and its two constituent themes of privacy and interiority to articulate an alternative, temporally and locally hybrid, theory of urban space which builds on the empirical evidence from the actual urban life in two cities of Casablanca and Tehran. The research employs a methodological bricolage approach to address its interdisciplinary nature. It utilises critical discourse analysis to investigate global debates on the spatial dichotomy of interior/exterior-public/private, and de-construct their manifestation in the (re)production of urban space in two case study cities of Tehran and Casablanca. It then develops a place-specific framework for empirical study of space ordering in two realms of materiality and everyday practices using a wide range of advanced methods. This framework will be applied to four case study neighbourhoods through intensive empirical fieldwork to explore whether and to what extent historical spatial logics are materially and socio-culturally (re)produced and practiced in the contemporary urban space. The findings will be synthesised to formulate an alternative theory of space ordering for the MENA cities which is hybrid, place-specific, and empirically-informed. Policy and planning implications will be incorporated into two Policy Handbook documents for Tehran and Casablanca. Finally, using recent achievements in digital ethnography, the project will create a visual commentary on the indigenous modernities and local narratives of space ordering in case study cities.

Mots clés : modernity, urban space, space ordering, urban theory, urban policy, casablanca, tehran

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet DynaPIC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The therapeutic action of many peptides is limited by their poor stability in biological media and lack of cell specificity. In particular, cationic peptide amphiphiles are promising antimicrobial tools, but their targeted delivery inside infected host cells to kill intracellular pathogens remains challenging. Our goal is to develop a new supramolecular strategy to protect these peptides and provide them with cell specificity towards their safe and efficient intracellular delivery. In this project, we will combine dynamic covalent bonds, supramolecular, peptide and polymer chemistry, together with chemical biology, to develop a conceptually new targeted drug delivery platform: Hybrid polymer/peptide self-assembled nanoparticles combining stimuli-responsive, cell-penetrating and cell-targeting properties will be applied to the intracellular delivery of cationic peptide amphiphiles inside infected cells. We will prepare combinatorial libraries of cationic peptide amphiphiles that will be screened for membrane permeation and antimicrobial activity to find suitable dual-action peptides for intracellular application. These amphiphilic peptides will be self-assembled with anionic stimuli-responsive polymers into organic nanoparticles designed to disassemble and release their cargo upon cellular uptake, in response to pH reduction in the endosome. Under these conditions, the dynamic bonds present in the peptide amphiphiles can be broken to release conjugated molecules of interest (e.g. drugs, fluorescent probes, etc.). Cell targeting will be achieved by controlling nanoparticle size and by decorating the polymers with ligands for specific recognition by cellular receptors. Dual-action peptides will diffuse across cellular compartments to attack pathogens in the cytosol. The biological activity of peptides and nanoparticles will be assessed with advanced chemical biology and imaging techniques in suitable biological models.

Mots clés : dynamic covalent bonds, cell penetrating peptides, endosomal escape, antimicrobials, polymer chemistry

Participants :
- University of Santiago de Compostela (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet WINTERC-3D (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The thermochemical structure of the Earth’s lithosphere and underlying mantle controls fundamental dynamic processes including volcanism, seismic activity and surface topography variations. The growth of very large terrestrial and satellite geophysical data sets over the last few years, together with the advancement of petrological and geophysical modelling techniques, now present an opportunity for global, thermochemical 3D imaging of the lithosphere and upper mantle with unprecedented resolution. Established methods of seismic tomography and gravity data analysis constrain distributions of seismic velocity and density at depth, both depending on temperature and composition of the rocks within the Earth. However, independent modelling and inversion or a simple combination of models based on gravity and seismic data alone suffer from the intrinsic non-uniqueness of each type of models. Thermodynamic links between seismic velocities, density, temperature, pressure and composition within the Earth can now be modelled accurately using new methods of computational petrology. This project combines state-of-the-art seismic waveform tomography (using both surface and body waves), newly available global gravity satellite data (geoid and gravity anomalies and new gradiometric measurements from GOCE mission) and surface elevation within a self-consistent thermodynamic framework. A new method for global thermodynamic tomography will be developed and applied to obtain a robust and, at the same time, detailed thermochemical model of the Earth’s lithosphere and upper mantle.

Mots clés : integrated geophysical petrological modelling, lithosphere, upper mantle, mantle composition, geotherm, seismic tomography, gravity, remote sensing, waveforms, gradiometry

Participants :
- Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187866.0 €
Projet ThymEForT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The thymus plays an essential role in the establishment of adaptive immunity and central tolerance as it provides a nurturing environment for the differentiation of T cells, a process orchestrated by their interaction with multiple cell types. Despite advances in the knowledge of human thymus, how it functionally develops during foetal life remains elusive. This project aims at dissecting molecular mechanisms responsible for functional maturation of T cells by recapitulating human foetal development within a novel in vitro 3D system. Stromal and T cell compartments will be isolated and characterised at relevant developmental stages before and after mature T cells appear to underpin when thymic stroma acquires competence to sustain T cell development. Stromal populations from relevant developmental stages will be expanded in vitro to be cocultured with T progenitors within a unique 3D thymic natural matrix developed by the host lab. Repopulated 3D scaffold is sliced according to clinical grade protocols and cultured, allowing to set up multiple coculture conditions with the same stroma and compare the output on T cell maturation. In parallel, foetal thymic epithelial cells will be genetically modified to determine the role of specific transcription factors important for T cells onset during development. Recently developed microfluidic devices will provide an additional layer of information regarding molecular mechanisms regulating the crosstalk between stromal and immunological compartments. I anticipate to recapitulate human T cell development within a novel, whole human 3D in vitro culture system, to tackle fundamental immunological questions regarding human thymus development including maturation of tolerogenic T cells and regulation of central tolerance. Last, new key molecular and cellular players for T-cell specification will be uncovered opening new avenues for both congenital immune deficiencies based upon correction of the underlying molecular defect.

Mots clés : human foetal development, thymus, aire 1, t regs

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet MapDung (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The transition from foragers to farmers c. 12,000 years ago, is marked by plants and animal domestication, as well as by the exploitation of animal by-products such as milk, wool, and dung. Dung is a valuable material that can be used as fertilizer, fuel and for constructions, however, unlike other by-products, dung exploitation is less studied. While archaeological evidence for dung used as fuel and manure are increasing, its use for construction has been rarely identified. Thus, it is important to understand if its absence from the archaeological record is the result of human preference or a research/preservation bias. The aim of MapDung is therefore to explore the possible early use of dung for construction as a proxy for understanding human-animal-environment relations and ecosystem. The specific project’s goals are: 1) To develop a new multi-proxy methodology for improved identification of dung, focused on construction materials; 2) Studying the post depositional processes that affect archaeological dung used for construction; 3) Providing wide regional understanding of the utilization of animal secondary products during the Early Neolithic Period and and the socio-cultural aspects related to its use. MapDung will focus on early Neolithic Period sites from the core area of early animal domestication- the Near East. By using a multidisciplinary approach, new techniques and working strategies will be develop to securely identify the use of dung as a construction material. Archaeological materials will be analyzed using micromorphology, FTIR analysis, quantification of dung micro-remains, elemental analysis, GC-MS and geostatistics. MapDung will also explore the gender division of labor in relation to dung utilization using ethnographic sources. MapDung is expected to expand our understanding of human technology, resources exploitation, and subsistence practices along the early Neolithic Period, one of the most critical transitions in human history.

Mots clés : geoarchaeology, micromorphology, ftir, ftir spectroscopy, xrf spectroscopy, phytolith analysis, dung microremains, gc ms, geostatistic, early neolithic, animal secondary product utilization

Participants :
- Pompeu Fabra University (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 158121.6 €
Projet MultiBioScan (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The ultimate goal of the MultiBioScan is to train a talented researcher through a research project focused on the development of novel tools for the early in vivo real-time assessment of the diabetes mellitus complications, including diabetic foot syndrome. This will be achieved using the latest methods of hyperspectral imaging, including the measurement of diffuse reflection, fluorescence, speckle patterns and polarization, as well as an advanced data mining approach. The Fellow will be trained in biomedical optics (biophotonics), a fast growing field of science and medical application. He will receive access to a unique training experience at the host – Aston University (UK), and at academic and industrial secondment partners: University of Oulu (Finland), University-Hospital of Padua (Italy), SPECIM, Spectral Imaging Ltd. (Finland). The MultiBioScan outputs will be relevant to the EU life sciences sector by offering new cost-efficient technologies for real-time in vivo diabetes mellitus complications screening. Given the huge and fast-growing market of medical diagnostic equipment, the project results have a good opportunity for successful commercialisation. The Fellow will use his present connections to optical equipment manufacturers in EU to develop commercialisation opportunities, and new connections will be established through this project. The project brings together a talented young Fellow with a strong biomedical science and engineering background, and an internationally growing group of researchers at Aston University with expertise in the area of developing laser-based photonic devices for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics.The Fellow will be further supported by medical and industrial expert co-hosts who will help train the Fellow in key skills and support the translational research process. The translational part of the project will primarily be aimed at adapting results of scientific studies to actual conditions of clinical practice.

Mots clés : biomedical engineering, biophotonics, hyperspectral imaging, fluorescence spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, laser speckle contrast imaging, polarisation

Participants :
- Aston University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet FORECAST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The ultimate goal of this Fellowship is to train a talented researcher through a research project focused on the development of novel tools for the in vivo real-time assessment of the respiratory chain activity (NADH/FAD ratio) and mitochondrial dysfunction in tissues. This will be achieved by means of both laser fluorescence spectra and lifetime fluorescence data analysis, supplemented with additional optical measurements (laser Doppler flowmetry, tissue reflectance spectroscopy) in order to correct the impact of affecting factors (changes in blood perfusion, blood volume, blood oxygenation). The Fellow – Dr. Evgeny Zherebtsov – will be trained in biomedical optics, a fast growing field of science and medical application.He will receive access to a unique training experience at the host – Aston Institute of Photonics Technologies (AIPT), Aston University (Prof. E. Rafailov), and at academic and industrial secondment partners: University College London (Prof. Andrey Abramov), University of Bari, Italy (Prof. Annamaria De Luca), Axxam S.p.A., Italy (Dr Jean-Francois Rolland). The FORECAST outputs will be relevant to the EU life sciences sector by offering new cost-efficient technologies for real-time in vivo screening studies of metabolic activity in application of testing of new chemicals for efficacy and safety in small animals and test tubes during drug discovery and epithelium cancer diagnostics. The products transformed from the FORECAST outputs will contribute to the enhancement of EU scientific excellence. The project brings together a talented young Fellow with a strong biomedical science and engineering background, and an internationally growing group of researchers at Aston University with expertise in the area of developing laser-based photonic devices for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. The Fellow will be further supported by medical expert co-hosts who will help train the Fellow in key skills and support the translation process.

Mots clés : optical biopsy, fluorescence lfetime spectroscopy, tissue reflectance spectroscopy, laser doppler flowmetry, mitochondrial dysfunction, cancer diagnostics in vivo, nadh, fad redox ratio

Participants :
- Aston University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet FOC4SIP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The ultimate target of the project is to create and transfer knowledge on the development of novel functionalised macromolecular complexes for rapid sensing of hazardous industrial polluters. Recent developments of macromolecular complexes and opto-electronic techniques of their study have enabled advances in the formation of molecular probes able to recognize molecules and metal ions. These advances are currently being considered for application in a new generation of sensor technology, and opto-electronic methods have been proved as sensitive and rapid tools for such detection. However the selectivity and sensitivity of such methods requires further improvement. Here, we propose new detection systems combining use of functionalised macromolecules and development of sensor devices by novel micro-fabrication tools as well as training and career development of prospective researcher up to mature Senior Scientist level. The overall objective of this research is to select and characterise sensor/probe macromolecules (polymethine dyes, functionalised carbon nanomaterials, melanins), then to optimise mechanisms of detection due to interaction of macromolecules with industrial polluters, and finally to develop sensing devices. Performance and usability of the novel sensors will be evaluated in collaboration with industrial partner. This is an ambitious research initiative having strong interdisciplinary approach that combines physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and biology. Its success is upheld by combination of complementary expertise of the Fellow, Host and Partners in preparation and characterisation of functionalised macromolecules as well as development of sensing devices. The project will provide benefits in monitoring and detection of hazardous compounds, and optimisation of cleaning routine after industrial pollution. Therefore, positive impact on safety of ambient environment and public health care sector is anticipated.

Mots clés : materials science, sensors, functionalised macromolecules, polymethine dyes, carbon nanomaterials

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