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

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) enable the user to control a computer or external device directly through his or her brain signals. This interface can be used for restoring communication for completely paralysed patients, to restore motor function through prostheses but also for non-medical applications such as gaming. The initial BCI prototypes relied on voluntary modulation of the brain signals to control the computer. Nowadays, it is the computer that is taught via machine learning algorithms how to interpret the brain signals and this reduced the training times to 15-30 minutes for a calibration session. During such a calibration session, the user is instructed to perform specific mental tasks, such that the recorded brain signals can be labelled with the user’s intention. This labelled data-set is then used to train the machine learning algorithm. Unfortunately, due to non-stationarity in the observed brain signals, re-calibration is often required to ensure the accuracy of the interface. Obviously, frequent (re-)calibration is not desired. Especially for patients with a limited attention span, it must be reduced to a minimum. The BCI community has invested much effort in reducing the need for calibration data. However, despite this effort, true zero-training BCIs that do not require calibration are rather rare. For the Event Related Potential (ERP) based BCI, we were able to develop such a true zero-training BCI based on the concepts of constraint based learning and transfer learning. That decoder was designed specifically for the ERP based BCI and cannot be ported directly to other paradigms. Hence, the goal in this project is to expand on this idea and to develop a true-zero training Motor Imagery (MI) based BCI by investigating novel machine learning methods based on constraint based learning and transfer learning.

Mots clés : machine learning, brain computer interface, motor imagery

Participants :
- Technische Universität Berlin (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet NANOCARGO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Breast cancer (BC) accounts for 28 % of the total cancer cases in the European Union (EU) and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality of European women. The stratification of individual BC sub-types for corresponding therapy modalities is poor. Therapy outcomes in several BC sub-types are unsatisfactory. Its diagnosis is marred by high proportion of false positives and the economic burden to healthcare systems is very high. To overcome this NANOCARGO will develop a simultaneous diagnosis and therapy (theranostics) approach based on a multimodal nanocomposite termed as nanocargos. The battle against cancer is much more effectively fought if it is aided by early detection and, potentially concurrent, efficient treatment. NANOCARGO, introduces a new paradigm that theranostics can be made far more effective if a multimodal action can be integrated by adding a plasmonic shell to a magnetic nanoparticle core. The plasmonic shell can be functionalized with the chemotherapeutic drugs and aptamars. Magnetic@gold and magnetic@silver type core/shell nanocargos can be conjugated with anticancer aptamer. These nanocargos can be stimulated by simultaneous application of magnetic hyperthermia and photonic therapy. Cellular delivery can benefit from photoporation. Anticancer therapy can thus be made much more effective through the multimodal actions of these nanocargos exposed to endo-luminal, minimally invasive optical stimulation and extra-corporeal magnetic resonance imaging based excitation. Such a combined will maximise the delivery of these nanocargos into tumor cells. The magnetic core is advantageous for a controlled delivery of aptamer through an externally applied magnetic field. Gold and silver shell will support aptamer attachment. X-ray computed Tomography (CT) imaging contrast of absorbing tumors will be better due to higher X-ray absorption of gold and silver.

Mots clés : biomedical nanotechnology, magnetic nanoparticles, photothermal effect, photodynamic therapy, mri imaging, cancer therapy

Participants :
- Wrocław University of Science and Technology (Pologne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 146462.4 €
Projet FBC predisposition (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Familial breast cancer (FBC) is expected to account for up to 15% of breast cancers. Although recent breakthroughs have resulted in the identification of distinct new groups of genetically inherent breast cancer genes, about 64% of the genetic predisposition to FBC remains unexplained. Therefore, new approaches are required to identify remaining genetic factors underlying FBC susceptibility. This is crucial because the elucidation of inherent cancer defects offers the ability to counsel and monitor patients. Importantly, it also provides firm ground for therapeutically targeting particular cancer pathways for example through Poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) that exploit synthetic lethality with particular DNA repair deficiencies. To advance the field, my host lab has performed High-Throughput phenotypic screen, based on gene variants recognized in a FBC cohort of 135 early-onset (age <35 years) breast cancer patients through whole exome sequencing. The 270 new genes with potential disease association were enrolled in screens, focusing on genome maintenance and PARPi sensitivity. These unique preliminary data form the basis for my project. I hypothesize that by performing following specific analyses I will be able to elucidate new FBC predisposition genes: •Ranking of screen hits by performing FBC-associated variant analysis in an international and Danish FBC cohort. •Elucidating molecular function of novel FBC predisposition genes in genome maintenance. •Unraveling the molecular network of candidate proteins by unbiased Mass-spectrometry as well as follow-up analysis of interactors. I anticipate that my work will provide novel FBC predisposition genes, which will markedly contribute to clinical risk assessment tools (such as targeted sequencing) by ensuring identification of individuals at elevated risk who benefit from advances in surveillance and targeted interventions.

Mots clés : familial breast cancer, precision medicine, genetic instability, pathogenic variants, parpi sensitivity, crispr  cas9 based gene editing, automated image based screening, molecular network

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 219312.0 €
Projet Biochip-images (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in women and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in females worldwide, with 25.1% of incidence and 14.7% of mortality across all cancers. A convenient blood-based tumor marker test has the potential to underpin a significant improvement in early intervention. In this context, this proposal is concerned with development of a new point of care (POC) device for biomarker detection by exploiting a combination of state of the art magnetophoresis, electroanalysis, nanotechnology, and microfluidic integration. In the POC device, dual-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (dual-NPs) with antibodies and redox probes will be capable of selectively recruiting specific markers from real patient samples and will additionally underpin amplified redox probes for detection. Second, using a magnetic gradient chip, composed of both magnetic gradient (Mag) and microelectrode (Me) arrays, the exerted magnetic gradient field will be capable of separating dual-NPs labeling biomarkers (MBs) from free dual-NPs (MPs) to be positioned at distinct sensing zone of micro-electrode, prior to assay. Herein, only those biomarkers hosted by dual-NPs, will be reported electrochemically for quantification. Three primary objectives are proposed by the candidate: i) development of dual-NPs combining immunological recognition and electrochemical amplification properties, ii) fabrication of Mag chip engineering Mag and Me arrays for magnetic gradient ranking and electrochemical sensing, iii) integration of POC platform with Mag and Me arrays, dual-NPs and microchannels, for cancer biomarker diagnosis. As a proof-of-concept, the developed POC device will be applied to the detection and quantification of breast cancer markers (CA15-3, PAI-1 and HSP90A) in a small (<20µL) blood serum. The detection limit of this device is expected to be ng/ml quantities and duration is estimated to 15 mins for each test with blood serum.

Mots clés : magnetic nps, magnetic gradient magnetophoresis, electrochemical sensing, microfluidics, cancer biomarkers

Participants :
- National University of Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 184590.72 €
Projet GenSPaD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Breeding for improved perennial ryegrass (PRG) cultivars to support pastoral based production systems for milk and meat is a critically important goal. However, genetic gains for traits such as forage yield and quality have very much lagged behind genetic gain for agronomic traits in cereals. One reason for this is the long breeding cycle in a typical PRG breeding programme, where a single cycle of selection can take 5-6 years. Genomic selection (GS) is a form of marker assisted selection that simultaneously estimates all loci, haplotype, or marker effects across the entire genome to calculate Genomic Estimated Breeding Values (GEBVs). The main advantage that GS could offer PRG breeding is to enable multiple cycles of selection to be achieved in the same time it takes to do a single cycle of conventional selection, thereby increasing the rate of genetic gain. Improving digestibility of the forage leads to an increase in animal performance, and is therefore an important target trait for forage breeders. Furthermore, it has already been shown that increases in organic matter digestibility can reduce methane emissions. Reducing methane emissions is a key target of the EUs climate and energy policy. In this action I will focus on developing and validating GS equations for feed parameters that are being used as model inputs into the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). This CNCPS is currently being adapted to predict nutritional value to the grazing animal in pasture based production systems, and it is envisaged that it will be able to identify feed parameters limiting milk-solid production and thereby direct future forage breeding efforts. The work of this action will lead to a novel and innovative forage breeding programme that can select for multiple feed parameters to develop the ideal forage cultivars for pasture production systems.

Mots clés : forage grass, grasslands, perennial ryegrass

Participants :
- Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196590.72 €
Projet Labour and Migration (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

British workers emigrating to industrialising Europe, c. 1815-1870 Viewed from the perspective of 21st-century political debate, British labour and migration history is often noted for its insular tendencies. The rise of isolationist political parties and the broader antagonism to Europe expressed by many British commentators has produced a common vision of the British past as a period of secure national borders. This project fundamentally disrupts this understanding of British and European labour markets in the past. By examining the widely dispersed phenomenon of skilled labour migration from Britain to continental Europe in the nineteenth century, it allows us to understand the pre-history of European economic integration. Its focus is on the experiences of British migrant workers. The project will address their lives on the continent in the first phase of this migration. It will build upon an ongoing study of those who went to France and expand its analysis to the whole continent. What were the practicalities of these workers’ migration? Did they constitute isolated or instead relatively integrated communities? Why and how were some of them targeted by xenophobic riots, e.g. in 1848? What were their religious, cultural and associational lives? By addressing such questions, this project will not only deepen historical understanding of Europe’s past but also illuminate contemporary understandings of the place of Britain in Europe and that of migration in European economic well-being. This project will also lay foundations for historical analysis of later global economic phenomena. Many of the migrants studied in this research programme were also involved in the subsequent flows of (for example) some 10,000 British engineers across the globe between 1850 and 1914. These workers played a part in British imperial expansion, contributing not only to technical developments in the USA, Canada, Australia and South Africa, but also to some in large parts of Sout

Mots clés : migration, labour, britain, europe, industrialisation

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet SAFE-FACE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Building facades are currently designed targeting high levels of energy efficiency, due to the urgent need for more resilient and sustainable communities, often driving the socio-political and economic priorities. However, environmentally sustainable facades are insufficient to create resilient societies. In seismic hazard zones, façade performance and serviceability can be severely impacted by earthquakes. Façade damage can occur even at low seismic intensities, leading to potential life-safety threat and substantial socio-economic losses. Safer façade systems are thus urgently needed, and SAFE-FACE addresses this need. Damage-control details and sustainable techniques are integrated to develop earthquake-proof sustainable facades for mid-rise new/built residential/office buildings. Moreover, the common façade design is advanced by integrating the seismic study. Multi-criteria performance-based tools/frameworks, including seismic safety as a decisive criterion, are developed (or enhanced) to support the design of façade systems: a novel practice-oriented tool; an advanced optimization-based tool; an innovative probabilistic-based approach. The project is built on the integration of the strength of the Participating Organizations in façade design and the Fellow’s expertise in seismic design. Involving parallel disciplines (Façade Engineering, Earthquake Engineering) and industrial/academic collaboration, the research is topical and represents both a scientific problem and a socio-political priority; it aims at the resilient and sustainable development of the European Community, and timely responds to the safety and socio-economic needs of our modern society. The action will be beneficial for the Fellow’s career, by expanding the applicant’s skills and opening up exciting collaboration opportunities. Being of interest to building industry/practitioners/decision-makers, the research will initiate a virtuous cycle through research-development-education-dissemination.

Mots clés : seismic safety, sustainability, multi criteria performance based, facade technology, facade design

Participants :
- Delft University of Technology (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175572.48 €
Projet GEMS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

By 1603 the political power of the Gaelic world, or Gáidhealtachd, had been broken in the face of the recently created British state. Though certain Gaelic dynasties (i.e., the Campbells and O’Briens) actively worked with the state, little research has been undertaken on how dynasties such as the O’Donnells and O’Neills possessed the capacity not only to resist but also to threaten this process of state formation throughout the 16th century. Using a series of case studies and drawing upon a broad base of primary material, this project explores the political and military development of the Gáidhealtachd during two key phases of Anglo-Scottish relations. The first section investigates how certain Gaelic lords manipulated the course of Anglo-Scottish hostilities from 1513-59 in order to enhance their position within ‘British’ politics. The second section explores how the Gaelic lords reacted to the development of Anglo-Scottish peace and amity from 1560-94. The main objective of this project is therefore to uncover the basis for the strong level of Gaelic political and military resilience within ‘British’ politics throughout the 16th century and how significant a factor this was in contributing to the outbreak of the Nine Years War (1594-1603). This is an interdisciplinary project, involving Gaelic, English, Scottish, and Latin historical material as well as elements of literature and archaeology. The project will be strengthened by the experienced interdisciplinary research team at the University of Glasgow and will involve both the transfer of knowledge to the host institution and the training of the researcher in new competences. Ultimately, this project will make a major intervention in the history of Early Modern Ireland and Britain and will result in a series of high-impact publications. The proposal also entails a secondment to BBC Scotland and a detailed public engagement strategy aimed at changing public perceptions of 16th century Ireland and Britain.

Mots clés : late medieval, early modern irish and british history, gaelic irish and gaelic scottish history, atlantic world history, state formation in early modern ireland and britain

Participants :
- University of Glasgow (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet VoiiComm (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

By fusing the sensing information provided by the automated vehicles (AVs), an accurate and real-time representation of the highly dynamic traffic environment can be formed and disseminated to all traffic participants, to enable a variety of safety and efficiency improving applications and push the transition towards connected and automated transportation. A powerful wireless network plays a key role in this vision. As the number of AVs increases, however, the huge data volume will easily exceed the capacity of the wireless network. Owing to the application-oriented nature of vehicular communication, a paradigm shift towards the value-of-information (VoI) driven design is crucial to avoid wasting network resources and degrading traffic safety and efficiency. Nevertheless, no simple mathematical model and existing theory can be applied to assess VoI exactly. The main goal of the VoiiComm project is to establish a theoretical framework and practical methods for evaluating and modeling VoI statistically, by exploiting the intrinsic relationships between traffic flow, density, and speed, to enable the systematic design of efficient communication protocols. The specific research objectives are (1) Design metrics that capture the space-time statistical properties of VoI; (2) Analytical and empirical modeling of spatio-temporal VoI metrics; (3) Strategy development for efficient sampling and transmission scheduling. By accomplishing these objectives, data congestion and resource waste can be avoided, and the potential benefits of AVs can be maximized as their number gets large. VoiiComm will initiate a fresh new interdisciplinary research area and advance the transformation to sustainable and automated transportation and society. In parallel, it will allow the ER to achieve several knowledge transfer and training objectives, increase prominence in her research field, and enhance her career prospects in academia.

Mots clés : vehicular communication, connected and automated vehicles, cooperative sensing, value of information

Participants :
- Chalmers University of Technology (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191852.16 €
Projet VibMolCryst (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

By this project, the routine calculation of anharmonic vibrational spectra and properties for practically relevant molecular crystals will be enabled via the usage of a quantum-mechanical (QM:QM) embedding approach. All monomers and relevant dimers are treated with a high-level method, while the fully periodic system is considered at a lower level. Highly accurate vibrational spectra can be obtained for small molecular systems with benchmark CCSD(T) utilizing second-order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2) only with a computational cost prohibitive for routine applications involving larger systems. Therefore, the applicant will create a diverse benchmark set of monomers and molecular dimers covering a wide range of intermolecular interactions and subsequently benchmark the performance of various dispersion-inclusive density functional approximations (DFA) against CCSD(T) for vibrational properties calculated with VPT2, independent Morse oscillators, and the harmonic approximation. Next, the QM:QM embedding approach for molecular crystals will be extended from available gradients to the calculation of harmonic vibrational spectra, which will already enable the usage of hybrid DFAs at a cost comparable to the generalized-gradient approximation. Subsequently, VPT2 calculations for monomers and dimers will be incorporated in the embedding scheme and the accuracy of the so obtained anharmonic vibrational spectra will be assessed for a variety of molecular crystals using promising DFAs identified during the first stage of the project. This methodology will be computationally affordable for practically relevant molecular crystals and is expected to aid peak assignments and interpretation of low-frequency THz spectra—used for instance for the detection of explosives. This approach is also expected to increase the accuracy of calculated thermodynamical stabilities, which is critical for drug development since existing molecular crystal polymorphs are almost degenerate.

Mots clés : density functional theory, coupled cluster, vibrational spectroscopy, molecular crystals, vibrational perturbation theory, quantum mechanical embedding methods

Participants :
- University of Graz (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 174167.04 €