Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet EcoFunc4Cast (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Patterns observed among twenty first century climate change imply a warmer and wetter climatic environment in the near to mid-term (50-150 years). Changes in climate results in changes in vegetation patterns as plant species shift there respective range. Subsequently, large-scale shifts in vegetation composition in response to climate change will impact upon vegetation dependent ecosystem functioning (structure and dynamics) and in-turn on the ecosystem services on which human societies depend. Understanding therefore how ecosystem functions respond to changing climate is extremely relevant for the development and implementation of successful European policy on climate change mitigation. This project will develop novel hybrid species distribution models (SDM) at national and European scales. The models will circumvent several limitations renowned with SDMs, through incorporating mechanistic simulations of species dispersal and establishment probabilities among a changing climate. Furthermore, these hybrid models will be validated, not by using the same spatial-temporal data but using an independent fine-scale temporal data-set. This unique and independent data originates from experimental field studies investigating impacts of warming and precipitation on Norwegian alpine vegetation. The model parametrization and validation phase of this project will result in a modeling framework that can be used to accurately forecast species range patterns and in-turn evaluate climate change impacts on ecosystems functions at the European-wide scale. .

Mots clés : species distribution modelling, hybrid modelling, functional traits, europe

Participants :
- Aarhus University (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 200194.8 €
Projet nAChR PAM-to-gate (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs), including nicotinic acetylcholine, 5HT3, glycine, and GABAA receptors, are membrane proteins specialized in the communication between neurons. These neurotransmitter receptors are the target of general anaesthetics, anxiolytics, alcohols and nicotine. In particular, enhancing the activity of neuronal nicotinic receptors holds promises in the treatment of pathologies including nicotine addiction, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. The current project aims at deciphering the molecular and pharmacological determinants of positive allosteric modulators of neuronal nicotinic receptors. We will over-express and purify these proteins, study their pharmacology through electrophysiology in cell lines and planar lipid bilayer, and surface plasmon resonance binding studies. Our study will provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of allosteric regulation, paving the way for the rational design of allosteric modulators with therapeutic potential.


Participants :
- Institut Pasteur (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet NeuCoDe (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Perceptual decisions rely on the integration of information from the environment, which typically involves the combination of stimuli from different senses. The quality of sensory evidence depends highly on our actions that affect how we acquire information from the external world. Importantly, the processing of this multisensory information requires the interaction of multiple neural processes over time. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this complex human behaviour remain elusive. In this project, I will employ a novel active sensing paradigm coupled with state-of-the-art neuroimaging and computational modelling to probe how the brain samples, processes and integrates multisensory information in order to make fast and accurate decisions. I will devise a reaction-time task where human subjects will actively sense and discriminate the amplitude of two texture stimuli a) using only visual information, b) using only haptic information and c) combining the two sensory cues, while electroencephalograms (EEG) will be recorded. To study this, I will develop a novel computational methodology for the joint analysis of brain activity (EEG), sensorimotor signals (movement kinematics) and behavioural measurements (choice and response time). First, behavioural modelling will provide a mechanistic account of the constituent processes underlying decision fomation. Then, model predictions will inform the joint analysis of neural and sensorimotor signals, to characterize the neural and behavioural basis of active multi-sensing and decision-making. To achieve this, I will devise an information-theoretic methodology that quantifies a) the contribution of each sensory modality to perception and b) the interaction of their neural representations to drive perceptual decisions. Ultimately, this project will elucidate the brain networks involved in active multisensory decision-making and characterize their respective functional roles in behavioural performance.

Mots clés : perceptual decision making, active sensing, multisensory integration, information theory, drift diffusion model

Participants :
- University of Leeds (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet Perceptual Learning (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Perceptual learning is fundamental to human cognition. It can be defined as an enhancement in the ability to distinguish between similar stimuli (that otherwise would be very hard to tell apart) as a consequence of experience with them, or with stimuli similar to the target stimuli. This allows the wine connoisseur to distinguish between different wines, the bird watcher to tell one warbler from another, and people to identify that face as a given person rather than someone else, if the face is taken from an ethnic grouping that they are familiar with. My research focuses on the mechanisms responsible for perceptual learning. By using a range of neuroscience techniques (tDCS, fMRI, TMS/MEP, EEG/ERP) in conjunction with the behavioural designs provided by experimental psychology I will investigate the neural basis for perceptual learning, test a computational model of the phenomenon, and try to control the development and expression of this perceptual skill. This programme of research will train me in new techniques, further develop my expertise in the domain of perceptual learning, and allow me to work in one of the leading laboratories for this type of research at the present time. It will also allow me to raise my and my discipline's profile, and to do this, as part of this research proposal, I will convene an International Workshop on Perceptual Learning to bring together the various researchers working on this issue and publish the proceedings as an edited book.

Mots clés : perceptual learning, associative learning, face inversion effect, face recognition, tdcs, fmri

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

Perovskite oxides are one of the most promising materials for developing new ReRAM devices, because they show a Resistive Switching (RS) behaviour and multilevel (ML) storage properties through reversible nanoionics redox phenomena. However, several challenges remain to be addressed before introducing them in the emerging memories market. From a material point of view, it is still unclear how to tune and control the mass transport properties at the nanoscale to get the best resistive switch response. From a device point of view, the development of new heterostructures thermally and chemically stable and compatible with the microelectronics technology is required. The ‘PerovSiC’ project combines synergistically perovskite and carbide materials to overcome the current constraints. Starting from the recent breakthroughs of the hosting group, the project focuses on understanding the RS behaviour in perovskites using physical and chemical cutting-edge characterization methods. Further, computational modeling will allow improving the RS process in the new carbide-based heterostructures. The final optimized configuration will be integrated in a highly stable ML ReRAM device. The results of the project will lead to unexpected breakthroughs for neuromorphic computation, memories and logic devices. The multidisciplinary approach proposed will allow the researcher candidate gaining a deep understanding and specialisation in material science - acquiring new competences in advanced techniques, such as XPEEM and operando Raman - and in Key Enabling Technologies, such as micro-technology. Moreover, the collaboration with the ENSC-Lille and the Institute Néel will complement the researcher’s training giving her unique skills in IEDP-ToF-SIMS and synchrotron measurements. Therefore, planned research and training activities in the ‘PerovSiC’ project will re-enforce a position of professional maturity in research and will provide the researcher new career perspectives.

Mots clés : resistive switching, perovskite oxides, conductive carbides, thin films, tailored engineering nanostructures, nanoscale mechanisms, advanced characterization, computational modelling, multilevel reram device

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet PERSIST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : TERMINATED

Persisters are transiently non-growing bacteria cells that evade antibiotic treatment and immune response. Persisters have been associated with antibiotic treatment failure and the spread of antibiotic-resistance (AMR) through mobile genetic elements. Consequently, persisters contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality of bacterial infections, and increased medical costs. Although it is known that many pathogenic bacteria are able to form persisters, the occurrence of persistence among commensal bacteria is yet unexplored. This project aims to identify and exploit commensal persisters able to antagonise and displace pathogenic persisters, offering opportunities for the development of innovative treatment options to arrest both the relapse of persistent infections and the horizontal transfer of AMR. To this effect, I will use a combination of cutting-edge omics-based tools, in vivo murine models and the well-established and relevant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium enteric model pathogen. After identifying commensal species forming persisters (WP1), I will assess the ability of these persisters to compete with Salmonella persisters during infection (WP2) and to arrest in vivo horizontal gene transfer from Salmonella persisters to intestinal microbiota (WP3). My goal is to become a leading academic scientist in the intertwining fields of antibiotic-resistance and antibiotic-persistence, with emphasis on the involvement of persister cells in the maintenance and spread of mobile genetic elements encoding AMR. The state-of-the-art computational and experimental training at the pioneering groups of in vivo persister biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) in USA and of genome spatial organization at the Institut Pasteur (IP) in France will be instrumental towards achieving my goal. Apart from empowering my career track, this fellowship will foster future collaborations between HMS and IP, and promote transfer of knowledge in Europe.

Mots clés : bacterial persisters, salmonella infections

Participants :
- Harvard University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Institut Pasteur (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 257619.84 €
Projet ITHACA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Personalised medicine (PM) is a novel approach to medical care that customises each treatment not just to the disease but also to the patient. While the advantages of this framework are widely recognised and its development is acknowledged as a fundamental societal challenge by the H2020 program, clinical applications are still limited, due to the increased complexity and costs, with respect to the current standard of care. ITHACA aims at developing an innovative PM toolkit that, relying on an advanced computational simulator, innovative in-vitro techniques and standard clinical data could provide an efficient and ethical framework for the screening of different ovarian cancer therapies and the identification of the most effective for each subject. This project builds on my experience with computational modelling and multidisciplinary research environments, to develop a programmable in-silico simulator capable of reproducing the patient-specific response to standard and novel ovarian cancer treatments. This tool will be extensively validated with both standard and primary cell lines and will then be used to determine patient-specific therapy outcome (RECIST 1.1 criteria) in women affected by ovarian cancer. Additionally it will be integrated in a novel bioreactor system for the in-vitro study of metastasization in HGSC. This compound device will allow for automatic treatment optimisation within an accurate and unique experimental model for this disease, and will thus provide an effective platform for personalised treatments development. Funding of this action will be a fundamental opportunity of career development, that will support my training in a highly innovative, interdisciplinary field while fostering the achievement of professional independence. Additionally the results of ITHACA will lead to high profile, impactful publications and provide the scientific community with enabling tools for the extensive application of PM in the clinic.

Mots clés : mathematical model of cancer, therapy outcome prediction, 3d cell culture, translational cancer research

Participants :
- UNSW Sydney (Australie) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Bologna (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 257209.92 €
Projet EIEEI (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Perspective taking, the ability to take another person's perspective, is instrumental in building successful and harmonious partnerships, from romantic relationships to international cooperation. Yet, failure to achieve perspective taking, or egocentrism, is increasingly observed in clinical and healthy populations. Fortunately, perspective taking is a skill that can be acquired through training, but, to date, existing training has only yielded limited results. This project aims to conduct the first epidemiological study of egocentrism (i.e. to assess its prevalence in Europe, its severity, its psycho-sociological determinants, and its consequences on mental health and well-being) and the first large-scale perspective-taking training intervention for both healthy and clinical populations. By distinguishing the profiles of egocentrism and identifying their key determinants, Work Package (WP) 1 will assess perspective-taking performance (and associated psycho-sociological factors) in Alzheimer, addictive disorder, anorexic, and forensic patients and in matched healthy control participantss. Building on the Supervisor’s team expertise in devising and conducting training interventions, WP2 will devise and conduct intervention programs tailored to the distinct egocentrism profiles in the same populations as WP1. WP3 will export the WP1-WP2 methodology into a free web-based assessment and training tool to conduct the epidemiological study and the large-scale training intervention in the general population, from adolescents to seniors. The assessment and training tool will be made available to all clinicians, researchers and all other actors to foster further uses such as for youth education programs, support programs for caregivers, or mental health promotion programs targeting vulnerable populations.

Mots clés : perspective taking, training, intervention, mentalizing, theory of mind, cognitive empathy

Participants :
- Université de Lille (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet INFERNO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly fluorinated compounds, with a variety of industrial and consumer uses, including stain resistant coatings, plastics, fire‐resistant coatings, and fire‐fighting fluids. PFAS are the active ingredient in aqueous film‐forming foam (AFFF) use to extinguish fuel-based fires. Potential links between the occupational use of AFFF by firefighters and certain negative health outcomes have not been sufficiently studied. As the overall objective of this study is to investigate the influence of PFAS newly identified in AFFF on reproductive health of firefighters, we will fully delineate PFASs composition found in AFFF and use by firefighters during their duties. We intend to characterize the composition of individual PFASs and their precursors in AFFF using unique analytical set up consisting of liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrom¬etry (LC-ICPMSMS) followed by high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-OrbiTrap -MS). We will perform sampling and analysis of blood and semen in newly recruited group of firefighters after their first exposure to AFFF to monitor the change in concentration levels of the compounds identified in the AFFF and evaluate the relations with fertility parameters (sperm count, morphology, motility), as firefighters are at higher risk to be diagnosed with male infertility. To directly compare in vivo observations and verify our findings we will set up in vitro experiments to elucidate the effects of these compounds on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis pathways. The proposed interdisciplinary study is a major step in elucidating the role of PFAS originating from AFFF in male reproductive health. Moreover, these findings will also support efforts designed to introduce a more rigorous regulatory framework tackling PFAS collectively rather than on a compound-specific basis.

Mots clés : occupational exposure, endocrine disruptors, perfluorinated compounds, male infertility

Participants :
- Masaryk University (Rép. Tchèque) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 156980.64 €
Projet TakeupSLaCk (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Phagocytes are confronted daily with the dreaded task to respond to billions of dying cells and a plethora of external pathogens. Dendritic cells (DCs) comprise a heterogeneous group of phagocytes that are equipped with several phagocytic and pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), and with the processing machinery to mediate efficient elimination of apoptotic or infectious cargos. This, in turn, helps to maintain tissue homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. However, there is fast-growing evidence that DC functions also affect metabolic pathways. Moreover, we are now beginning to appreciate that phagocytes need to adapt to metabolic changes and deal with the ingested material by recruiting, among others, the membrane-bound solute carrier transporters (SLCs). SLCs are the second largest family of membrane proteins in the human genome, yet remain relatively under-studied. SLCs mediate the import and export of ions, nutrients, lipids, fatty acids or drugs, and the relevance of their functions is reflected by the vast number of diseases linked to altered expression or function of SLCs, and the many drugs that target SLCs. Using sophisticated mouse models, we will analyse the expression of SLCs in DC subsets in vivo upon engulfment of apoptotic or infectious cargos. Using cutting edge technologies, we will dissect the transcriptional and metabolic programs that dictate functions of DC subsets in both tolerogenic and immunogenic conditions. We wil address, for the first time, the role of SLCs in major DC functions such as sensing pathogens and presenting antigens to T lymphocytes for the initation of adaptive immune responses. Altogether, this study will provide new insights into SLC regulation and DC biology. This proposal has the potential not only to reveal novel aspects of the use of SLCs for drug development and therapeutics of both common and rare diseases, and to enhance the targeting of engulfment or of metabolic pathways in healthy states.

Mots clés : immunogenic dendritic cells, tolerogenic dendritic cells, transcriptional programs, metabolic programs, engulfment, apoptosis, infection, homeostasis, drug development, rare diseases

Participants :
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160800.0 €
Projet PhononGap (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Phonons (collective atomic vibrations in solids) are more effective in transporting heat than photons. This is the reason why the conduction mode of heat transport in solids (via phonons) is dominant compared to the radiation mode of heat transport (via photons). However, since phonons are unable to traverse a vacuum gap (unlike photons) it is commonly believed that two bodies separated by a gap cannot exchange heat via phonons. Recently it has been recognized that a mechanism could exist where phonons can transport heat across a vacuum gap - through Van der Waals interaction between two closely separated bodies. Important recent experimental measurements have indeed confirmed that photon-mediated heat transport cannot be the only source of heat transport between two objects with small spacing, thus leaving open a fundamental question over what other sources of heat transport can exist. The first aim of this project is to theoretically estimate the heat transport mediated by phonons transmitting across a vacuum gap via the Van der Waals force. Closely spaced bodies can not only exchange energy resulting in heat transfer but also momentum which results in frictional forces. There is no one single theory that explains the origin of friction; indeed there can be many sources. Considering the importance of friction, especially to the micro-electromechanical industry, it is important that each of the sources is identified and quantified, and the situations when each mechanism can dominate is understood. One known form of friction is Van der Waals friction where photon exchange between surfaces result in friction due to the Doppler effect. Likewise it is possible for Doppler-shifted phonons to contribute to friction when they transmit across a vacuum gap via the Van der Waals forces. The second aim of this project is to quantify this source of friction and understand when it can dominate.

Mots clés : phonons, near field physics, van der waals forces, heat transfer, noncontact friction, doppler effect, elastic waves

Participants :
- Imperial College London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €