Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ExoSensor (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Tumour-derived circulating exosomes are an ideal, easily accessible reservoir of cancer biomarkers to assess disease processes. Quantitatively pinpointing exosome tumour markers, a clinical field of an unmet need is appealing, yet challenging. The main objectives of the proposal are to develop an integrated dual-signalling exosome biosensor (ExoSensor) for rapid and specific detection of GPC1+ exosomes and fabricate a 3D-printed portable prototype for POCT diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, offering an universal technology for clinical cancer diagnosis through quantitatively monitoring the protein marker of cancer-derived exosomes, in a simple way. The novelty resides in creatively achieving accurate, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of exosomes by integrating two synergetic methods (optical and electrochemical) on one single nanosensing platform, avoiding false positive/negative results to the utmost and ensuring the reliability of tests. This European Fellowship at Kings College London will provide the researcher with advanced technical training in molecular biology, exosome, cancer cell and animal handling, analytical chemistry and microscopy and imaging techniques, as well as academic mentoring in research management. A secondment to Cardiff University will seek and confirm the best possible biomarker(s). Another secondment to the industrial partner AstraZeneca Ltd will offer access to various exosomes research (diagnostics, toxicology and therapeutics) and evaluate the feasibility of commercial transfer if possible. Guy’s, St Thomas, and King’s College Hospital (part of King’s Health Partners) will provide valuable clinical samples for final validation stage. Other collaborators will advise on 3D-printing, pancreatic cancer and biomarkers. These interdisplinary contributions are essential and well-related to the proposal research, fostering high-quality cooperation from biology, chemistry, engineering, nanotechnology and clinical areas the other way round.

Mots clés : exosome, poct diagnosis, pancreatic cancer, dual signalling, biosensor, early stage cancer detection

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet BITCAT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Tumours escape proper immune response by propagating immune suppression. Immunotherapy aims to enhance anti-tumour immunity. This highly relevant research area arose recently from advantages in immunology, genetics and oncology. Currently, immunotherapeutics are either protein (e.g. antibodies) or cell-based (e.g. cancer vaccines) and promising approaches target immune checkpoint control, a mechanism crucial for anti-tumour T cell activity. Here, development of a completely new class of immunotherapeutics based on advantageous oligonucleotides is proposed. To this aim, oligonucleotides will be designed to modulate expression of receptor genes involved in immune checkpoint control (e.g. PD-L1, CTLA4) and thus block tumour-mediated T cell inhibition. Of special interest will be the employment of the exon skipping technique to reduce surface receptor and potentially induce antagonistic soluble isoforms. To ensure delivery of oligonucleotides, liposomal or polycationic nanoparticles will be utilized as previous studies demonstrated good tissue bioavailability, e.g. for PTO-antisense RNA and polyethylenimine. Oligonucleotides will be tested for functionality, efficacy and non-toxicity in vitro. To facilitate practical clinical application of the developed drugs, most promising candidates will then be applied to pre-clinical tumour models in vivo. Charmingly, this novel technique will also be applied ex vivo to enhance anti-cancer cell therapy, thus evading systemic distribution. Collaboration of two world-renowned scientific institutions, the German Fraunhofer society and Canadian partner McMaster University, will ensure a prolific environment for successful project conclusion and allow considerable advancement of the career of a most promising European researcher. Furthermore, the project will support development of a key technology in the important field of cancer therapy, thus providing a significant competitive advantage for European interests in health research.

Mots clés : cancer immunotherapy, oligonucleotide based therapeutics, immune checkpoint control

Participants :
- Fraunhofer Society (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 243352.8 €
- McMaster University (Canada) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet ECOMAT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Two dimensional materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) are very sensitive to surface adsorbates and thus require proper encapsulation. In addition, functional devices based on those materials, like transistors, diodes or electro-optical modulators require high-k gate dielectrics to be deposited on top of the material. However, the deposition of high quality dielectric layers ontop of 2D materials is very challenging due to their inert surface. The project ECOMAT addresses the important challenge of depositing high-k dielectrics on top of 2D materials. In particular, the experienced researcher Dr. Barbara Canto will explore different routes to encapsulate graphene and MoS2, which is the most explored TMDC material, with different high-k dielectrics using a combination of atomic layer deposition and surface functionalization using seed layers. The key control parameters for those layers are dielectric constant, breakdown voltage, charge traps, minimal thickness achievable, and gas barrier properties, which will be characterized by electrical and spectroscopic methods. Finally a new route for fabricating low-resistive edge contacts to MoS2 will be explored, building up on encapsulated MoS2 layers. This contacting scheme is expected to significantly reduce contamination of the MoS2 layer during processing, while offering low-resistive contacts and thus will significantly increase the performance of electronic device based on MoS2. This interdisciplinary research activity builds up on the experience of Dr. Canto in the field of material science and physics and utilizes the infrastructure and knowledge at AMO on high-k dielectrics and electronic devices.

Mots clés : high k dielectrics, graphene, tmdc, atomic layer deposition

Participants :
- AMO (Germany) (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet QriUS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : European Researchers' Night
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Two unique nights, ten different science disciplines and more than 150 different activities: QriUS, under coordination of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and together with partners from cutting-edge research, science education, science communication and the arts, invites the public to come and play science in the city of Heidelberg, Germany. The project offers a unique opportunity for all age groups to engage with researchers from different areas, and experience and understand the impact of research on our daily lives. Interactive projects across both days and dedicated activities at night will inspire the public to think and see the world through a scientific lens and encourage younger generations to explore careers in science. QriUS also aims to link the past with the future and science with the arts to foster creativity among researchers from all fields, artists and the public. The project will highlight the power of science and culture in Europe’s future.

Mots clés : science, research, public outreach, research profession, research careers, international collaboration

Participants :
- Stiftung jugend und wissenschaft heidelberg gmbh (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 11250.0 €
- Heidelberg University of Education (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 34000.0 €
- University Hospital Heidelberg (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 26250.0 €
- Heidelberg University (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 24750.0 €
- German Cancer Research Center (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 22000.0 €
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 105445.0 €
- Schurman-gesellschaft ev (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 22625.0 €
- Heidelberger dienste ggmbh (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 20000.0 €
- Max Planck Society (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 21250.0 €
- Landesmuseum fur technik und arbeitin mannheim (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 20000.0 €
Projet vdWForcesIn2D (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have a rich structural diversity and therefore are of high interest for applications in material science, chemistry, and biology. Many applications rely on interfacial stacking of 2D materials, hence understanding interactions between and within 2D materials are of paramount importance. During this fellowship, we will develop a strategy enabling rapid and high-throughput measurements of van der Waals (vdW) forces between 2D materials and their binding energies with each other by using atomic force microscopy. In contrast to existing experimental techniques, we will conduct experiments in the multilayered thin films having various numbers of 2D sheets with metallic, semiconducting, and insulating electronic properties. For this, we will use a tipless cantilever for the long-range macroscopic vdW force measurements between large areas of surface in a fast and reliable way. Next, vdW force measurements within 2D materials will be realized with the help of a new hollow probe. This new construct will allow using freestanding 2D materials for making direct contact with a surface and measurement of binding energy in the format of adhesion energy. Since the binding energy experiments are more complex as highly affected by surface roughness, we believe that this new implementation will help to uncover those properties much accurately. In summary, our experiments will provide much needed experimental benchmarks for the development of theoretical vdW methodologies, analysis of which is proposed in the final work package, while allowing the researcher to reintegrate the European research community after a fruitful post-doc abroad.


Participants :
- University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 178320.0 €
Projet SEE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/carbonitrides (MXenes), discovered by the outgoing phase Supervisor, Yury Gogotsi (H-index = 160), at Drexel University (USA), have stepped into the limelight of 2D materials (2DMs). Within the SEE project, the Fellow, Dr. Laura Fusco, will learn to produce and characterize MXenes from the most recognized leader in the field. SEE will provide a thorough evaluation of the skin impact and possible immunomodulation of a wide variety of MXenes. No study has investigated at the same time and on a large scale these key aspects for MXene safety and effective use as bioelectronics or biomedical tools applied to the skin. The outstanding peculiar scientific expertise of the Fellow, relying on the characterization of 2DM effects at the skin level depending on their physicochemical properties, will be essential to achieve the project goals. The European Fellow Supervisors, Bengt Fadeel and Lucia G. Delogu, among the most influential scientists in the field of nano-immunology and toxicology, will contribute to the Fellow training by employing the most cutting edge high-dimensional technologies at the single-cell level (e.g., CyTOF, Rhapsody and Hyperion) and pioneering cell-cell analysis systems (e.g. LIPSTIC approach) in this context. The Fellow will also explore the commercial applicability of her results during a secondment at the revolutionist biotech company Fluidigm Corporation. Within SEE, the Fellow will introduce her own novel concept of “Nano-SkinImmunity-by-design”, where the analysis of the cutaneous effects when designing MXenes (and 2DMs) will not only be relevant for their safety, but will also turn them into active tools for cutaneous applications endowed of immune properties, tailorable adjusting their physicochemical profile. By exploring these crucial aspects, SEE aims at incising the strategic field of MXenes and 2DMs as well as their role in biomedicine and nanotechnology at European level and beyond.

Mots clés : mxene, 2d materials, nanotoxicology, nanomaterials

Participants :
- University of Padua (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 251002.56 €
- Drexel University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet MitoFeron (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Type I interferonopathies (T1IFNs) are rare genetic diseases associated with an inappropriate upregulation of type I interferon (IFN) signalling. IFNs represent the first line of defence against viruses, and are induced by sensing of viral nucleic acids. Definition of the genetic basis of the T1IFNs has led to a coherent understanding of underlying pathology, involving previously unappreciated pathways of nucleic acid metabolism, and enabled the introduction of rational therapy targeted at blocking IFN signalling. Thus, it is important to identify new T1IFNs and determine their molecular and cellular basis. Beyond their role in energy metabolism, mitochondria are also recognised to play a role in the immune response to infection. Interestingly, both mitochondrial (mt) DNA and mtRNA have the potential to trigger IFN. Indeed, loss of mt integrity promoting pathogenic IFN induction, through mt nucleic acids released into the cytosol, is a novel topic of high clinical and scientific interest. We have identified patients with mutations in a gene encoding a mt protein, in which we consider the observed enhanced IFN signalling directly relevant to the associated neuropathology. My project aims to better understand the link between mt homeostasis and IFN induction, thereby defining novel pathways relating to mt integrity, mt nucleic acids and innate immune surveillance. Specifically, I will study these relationships in the context of human disease, and I will search for further novel determinants of mt function linked to innate immune homeostasis using our unique clinical screening protocol. I will bring my expertise in mt biology to the host laboratory. At the same time, this project will place me at the leading edge of clinically-directed research on nucleic acid sensing and autoinflammation. Thus, this training opportunity is designed to lead me towards independence through the acquisition of new skills and the discovery of novel research paths for my future career.

Mots clés : nucleic acid sensing, mitochondrial homeostasis, mendelian disorders, ifn signalling, potential diagnostic applications and therapeutic targets

Participants :
- Institut des maladies génétiques (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet TOPMed10 (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Cofund Postdoctoral programme
Statut du projet : CLOSED

UCD proposes the implementation of a new postdoctoral fellowship programme supporting career development and interdisciplinary training in omics driven Personalised Medicine for 10 high calibre experienced researchers undertaking transnational ‘incoming’ mobility to Ireland (TOPMed10). Experienced researchers, by definition under Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), are those in possession of a doctoral degree (or at least 4 years of research experience (FTE)) at the time of the deadline for the submission of their fellowship proposal. TOPMed10 offers 10 prestigious fellowships, 2-3 years in duration, across two calls. Fellowships will be offered at 2 levels: level 1 will be targeted at incoming experienced researchers (as per MSCA definition) with 0-3 years additional research experience and level 2 will be targeted at incoming experienced researchers (as per MSCA definition) with 3+ years additional research experience. Career breaks will be taken into account. Fellowships of level 1 and 2 are open to candidates of any nationality who, at the time of the deadline for submission of proposals, shall not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Ireland for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the deadline for submission date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account. Fellowships will be based in the UCD Research Institutes (Systems Biology Ireland, UCD Charles Institute of Dermatology, UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research and the UCD Clinical Research Centre). Fellows may undertake an optional 3-9 month secondment to a Partner Organisation (incl. academic, industry, clinical sector) or a research performing organisation in any country in the world deemed to be appropriate in terms of meeting the needs of the fellows’ research, training and career development requirements.

Mots clés : personalised medicine, omics, translational biology, computational modelling, molecular bioinformatics, clinical informatics, biostatistics, career development, interdisciplinary training

Participants :
- Cancer Research UK (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- National University of Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 885000.0 €
- Icon plc (Irlande) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- OncoMark (Ireland) (Irlande) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Max Planck Society (Allemagne) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- University Medical Center Groningen (Pays-Bas) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Mosaiques diagnostics gmbh (Allemagne) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
Projet ELiQSIR (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Ultracold quantum gases in optical lattices are a key experimental platform for quantum simulation, at the boundary of atomic physics and condensed matter physics. In that context key models can be implemented to help us understand properties of strongly correlated materials such as high-temperature superconductors, opening the route towards “designer materials” with tailored quantum properties. The recent development of “quantum-gas microscopes” allows for the direct observation of the spatial distribution of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice, with single-atom and single-site resolution, shedding a new light on the behaviour of strongly-correlated quantum phases. With the possibility of local spin manipulations, out-of-equilibrium dynamics of the system can be further investigated by perturbing it locally and observing the ensuing evolution. In order to fully exploit these systems, full control of the light potentials, locally and globally, is highly desirable as it will give experimentalists more degrees of freedom to tailor their experiments. Light patterns can be spatially and dynamically changed by a spatial light modulator and projected at a microscopic scale onto the atoms using a quantum gas microscope. The proposed Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow, Dr. Bruno Peaudecerf, will implement and characterize versatile optical potentials with a spatial light modulator. These will allow for a new generation of experiments with quantum gases in optical lattices, in the context of the quantum-gas microscope experiment of Prof. Stefan Kuhr at the University of Strathclyde. By careful tailoring of the shape and dynamical evolution of the light patterns, we aim at realising novel cooling techniques, bringing the atoms down to unprecedentedly low temperatures. Engineering diffraction-limited patterns, we will address individual atoms and reveal the fascinating properties of the quantum phases obtained.

Mots clés : optical lattices, cold atoms, quantum simulation, cold quantum gases

Participants :
- University of Strathclyde (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet THz Photochemistry (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Ultraviolet or visible light induces chemical transformations via electronic excitation. Infrared radiation, corresponding to low-frequency molecular vibrations, can also bring about photochemical reactions by multi-photon absorption. Then, how low photon energies can we reach in photochemistry? In this proposed research, I will realize a novel concept of terahertz photochemistry: activating chemical reactions with intense terahertz (THz) light of extremely low photon energy (1 THz = 4.1 meV). Based on this novel approach, I will study aqueous proton transfer in external electric fields, the process underlying key bioenergetic phenomena as well as renewable energy technologies. Despite its obvious relevance, it has remained elusive how E-fields affect the known proton transfer mechanism in aqueous systems. Ultrashort THz pulses, on the one hand, will allow monitoring the THz photochemical proton transfer reactions in real time on the femtosecond time scale. On the other hand, THz light pulses will also serve as external E-fields, which bias the proton transfer reactions. Due to recent technological development, sub-picosecond strong field THz pulses on the order of hundreds of kV/cm with near single-cycle duration can be generated in the host laboratory, and the short pulses allow for ultrafast time resolution of ca 300 fs. Systematic studies varying field strengths and solvents will provide important insights into the local and external E-field effects on the proton transfer and the non-equilibrium solvation dynamics. The possibility of THz control over proton transport processes will also be examined by applying THz pulses at different delay time after photo-initiation.

Mots clés : thz photochemistry, aqueous proton transfer in ultrafast electric fields, ultrafast thz visible spectroscopy

Participants :
- Max Planck Society (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 159460.8 €