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

I aim to transform the way disease is currently detected through innovations in the design of nanoparticle-based biosensors that can be used to detect a number of diseases with global implications. The three most significant challenges facing biosensing are inaccuracy, insensitivity, and low-throughput detection. One technique that is capable of facing these challenges is Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) which has demonstrated potential for extreme sensitivity (single molecule detection) and rapid, multiple-analyte detection within complex mixtures. Early stage diagnosis of disease requires the detection of trace amounts of analyte in multi-component biological samples (blood, urine, saliva). It is therefore particularly important for sensors to reach the single-molecule detection limit. Further, the ability to analyse biological samples without separation or other treatment steps is a crucial advantage of SERS. My approach involves the electrotuneable self-assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles at a liquid-liquid interface for SERS detection, overcoming the severe limitations of current sensors (sensitivity, specificity and speed). I will electrochemically control the positioning of the nanoparticles in a precise manner to maximise the Raman signal. Additionally I will utilise shaped nanoparticles, such as stars and ellipsoids, exploiting the enormous Raman enhancements observed at sharp metallic tips to push the sensitivity towards single-molecule detection limits. The ultrasensitive sensing capabilities will be extended to colorectal cancer diagnosis the third most prevalent cancer in the world which effects 1.4 million people per year. Due to the versatility of this system it can be adapted to any disease or virus where the related biomarker is known. This approach will allow me to build a new generation of sensors that will transform single-molecule SERS detection

Mots clés : plasmonic nanoparticles, surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, electrovariable, sensor, liquid liquid, colorectal cancer, ultrasensitive detection, early diagnosis

Participants :
- Imperial College London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet MiRepair (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

I hope to embark my first post-doctoral position, as a MSCA fellow, to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in demyelination/remyelination processes with the final intention of modulating their expression as a therapeutic tool to promote neurorepair in multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic neurological disease of the central nervous system characterised by primary demyelination. All current disease-modifying therapies are unable to induce neurorepair and to prevent the progressive accumulation of disability from neuronal damage. miRNAs are one epigenetic mechanism involved in the genes-environment interaction that produces the pathology and symptoms in MS. My thesis project consists of describing miRNAs profiles in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of MS patients to exploit their potential role as clinical biomarkers. This project will combine these human miRNA data with robust experimental models in order to identify miRNAs involved in the damage and endogenous repair associated with MS. I will employ ex vivo models to study the biological role of miRNAs during these processes and how their manipulation might enhance neurorepair. The use of hydrogel-scaffolds in combination with miRNA modulators to enhance remyelination will be studied and preclinical MS in vivo models will be used to assess their therapeutic potential. I will work at the “microRNA Inflammation Group” in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) under mentorship of Dr Claire McCoy, a leader of MS research in Ireland. Two secondments have been planned in the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). This fellowship will enable me to upskill in research techniques and expand my transferable skills and competences for a career path for academia or industry in miRNA therapeutics area. This will enhance and contribute to Europe’s competitiveness in R&I supporting European policy objectives as promoting excellence in education and skills development.

Mots clés : multiple sclerosis, mirnas, neurorepair

Participants :
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 184590.72 €
Projet LANDS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

I intend to travel to the University of Oxford and the lab of Dr. Moritz Riede and build a second generation version of the Large Area Nanoparticle Deposition System (LANDS) that I have designed and built during my PhD studies at Stanford University in the USA. This will be a flexible, particle-agnostic system that will be capable of depositing uniform films of nano- and micro-particles from solution. It is designed to emphasize scalability, high throughput and large area film uniformity and will be compatible with low-temperature flexible plastic and foil substrates and the devices built on them. Once complete, I will initially use the LANDS to deposit nanostructured thin films of metal nanowires to form transparent conductive electrodes for photovoltaic applications. I will continue to develop and explore the use of such metal nanowire films as replacements for industry standard transparent conductive oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) especially in flexible devices.

Mots clés : transparent electrodes, large area deposition, flexible substrates

Participants :
- University of Oxford (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet TAULEPGAMMA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

I propose a measurement of the lepton flavour violating (LFV) tau -> lepton + gamma decay, where the lepton is a muon or an electron. This will be carried out at the University of Pisa (Italy) under the supervision of Prof. Francesco Forti. Although highly successful, the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics does not completely describe all the phenomena we observe, such as the recent discovery of neutrino oscillations which violate lepton flavour conservation in the neutral sector. Many scenarios have been advanced to extend the SM into a bigger picture; several of these models predict LFV to occur in the charged sector as well at measurable rates. I will exploit the unprecedented data sample provided by the Belle II experiment at SuperKEKB to measure the tau -> lepton + gamma decay rate with a sensitivity of at least a factor of four greater than any previous measurement. In order to achieve this result I will develop an advanced physics analysis, making full use of the characteristics of the state-of-the-art Belle II detector and incorporating modern techniques such as machine learning. I will use my experience in physics analysis, preparatory studies and detector performance measurements to make this possible. The impact of a measurement of such sensitivity would be tremendous. A discovery of charged LFV would constitute an enormous breakthrough which would spark a new era of particle physics; a non-observation would instead place strong constraints on possible extensions of the SM and inform physics studies for the coming decade.

Mots clés : tau physics, lepton flavour violation, physics beyond the standard model

Participants :
- University of Pisa (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet DynamicBrainStates (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

I propose a new model and estimation method that will allow Neuroscientists to detect, track, and predict temporal changes in dynamical brain networks non-invasively. These changes underpin shifts in brain (cognitive) states which are currently inaccessible using standard Neuroimaging techniques. The method combines recent advances in dynamical systems theory and Bayesian inference to integrate Electroencephalography (EEG) and Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DWMRI) data in an efficient way. I will provide a proof of concept that the method can be used as a tool for early diagnosis of brain dysfunction. Given the current emphasis on reducing the social and economic impact of neurodegeneration and aging across the EU, I focus on using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to induce small changes in two exemplars of distributed networks that simulate semantic and motor neurodegeneration as a demonstration of what this method can detect. The proposed approach has the potential to change strategies for screening and early diagnosis of neurodegenerative conditions. It will lead to new clinical applications that will significantly impact the study of the aging brain and mental health, as well as the analysis of a wide variety of normal brain function, such as social behaviour, decision-making, or resting-state.

Mots clés : dynamic brain networks, effective connectivity, anatomical connectivity

Participants :
- Maastricht University (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 177598.8 €
Projet BOOMCHEMBAGS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

I propose an ambitious multidisciplinary strategy to address the challenge of targeting KRAS-mutated cancers through the combination of a novel bioorthogonal strategy to assemble bioactive agents and ‘targeted protein degradation’ (TPD). TPD is an innovative strategy to degrade targeted proteins by hijacking the natural Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) employing heterobifunctional molecules called Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras or PROTACs. These compounds have demonstrated the ability to drive the destruction of well-known harmful proteins. However, their therapeutic implementation has been severely limited by the large size and lipophilicity of these molecules, and by concerns of systemic toxicities. Here, we propose these issues could be circumvented by that the use of PROTACs against KRAS that are assembled from two drug-like fragments via bioorthogonal copper-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) mediated by Cu nanoparticles (Cu NPs) located in the tumour anatomical area. Furthermore, to avoid the Cu NPs loss of catalytic performance caused by their interaction with the biological milieu, we propose to protect them in sachets made out of a dialysis membrane to avoid biofouling and at the same time, facilitate the entry of precursors of bioactive PROTACs. This highly innovative project has the potential to create far-reaching tools for cancer therapy, and in doing so, promoting European Scientific Excellence. By completing this multidisciplinary work, the applicant will be in an excellence position for create cross-disciplinary collaborations with research groups and industry across Europe and to becoming himself as an independent researcher

Mots clés : copper nanoparticles, proteolysis targeting chimeras, kras protein degradation

Participants :
- University of Edinburgh (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet Nu Flavour (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

I propose utilizing model-independent formalisms, e.g. effective field theories (EFT) and simplified models, to study Beyond-the-Standard Model (BSM) flavour physics and associated neutrino phenomenology. The proposal will consist of two parts, (a) and (b). In (a) I will apply the highly novel all-orders formalism of the Geometric SMEFT (GeoSMEFT) to define and extract neutrino masses and mixings from available datasets, thereby ascertaining the extent to which BSM physics may already be effecting present measurements, and also any implied constraints on candidate ultraviolet (UV) flavour theories. In (b) I will study the phenomenology of Simplified Models of Flavourful Leptoquarks (SMFL) and/or other simplified models invariant under residual family symmetries (RFS), which encode symmetry-breaking effects in UV flavour theories and which can account for potential B-decay anomalies at the LHC, in atmospheric neutrino cascades detectable at IceCube. Proposals (a) and (b) will be executed in four Work Packages (WP) with the following titles: WP1: A derivation of mass and mixing quantities within the GeoSMEFT for both Majorana and Dirac neutrino paradigms, including the associated renormalization group flow (RGE) and matching to lower-energy EFTs. WP2: A phenomenological GeoSMEFT extraction of neutrino mass and mixing parameters from available datasets. WP3: An extension of the RFS formalism embedded in SMFL to account for RD(*) anomalies in addition to, and independently from, the presently addressed RK(*) anomalies. WP4: The development of the cascade atmospheric neutrino formalism in the presence of flavoured BSM states, and in particular SMFL, and the subsequent calculation of associated conventional and prompt neutrino fluxes at IceCube. WP1-WP4 will yield innovative techniques for studying BSM flavour and neutrino physics in a model-independent manner, and new phenomenological results of interest to the broader high-energy particle physics community.

Mots clés : beyond the standard model physics, effective field theories, simplified models, flavour physics, neutrino physics

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet BEHOMO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

I will carry out a research program to understand how cosmological structures evolve and how the corresponding observables are modified in an inhomogeneous universe. This project will place the field of inhomogeneous cosmologies into the era of precision cosmology. Indeed, it is very difficult to obtain the evolution of structures when the background is inhomogeneous and it has not been possible to fully constrain inhomogeneous cosmologies because of this lack of understanding. As I will argue, the most promising approach is via Numerical Cosmology. This justifies why this fellowship will be carried out at the Astronomical Observatory of Trieste under the supervision of Stefano Borgani, one of the world experts in Numerical Cosmology. The scientific motivation behind this effort is that cosmology is undergoing a crisis, facing, at the same time, unexplained components (dark matter and dark energy) and a >4sigma tension between local and global determinations of the Hubble constant. It is then imperative to test basic assumptions in cosmology, such as large-scale homogeneity and isotropy. These are indeed among the objectives of many major space- and earth-based international collaborations (Euclid, LSST, SKA), which will produce detailed maps of a good fraction of the observable universe. Only after carrying out these tests can one hope to discover the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Mots clés : inhomogeneous cosmological models, numerical simulations, cosmological principle, copernican principle

Participants :
- National Institute for Astrophysics (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 137604.96 €
Projet PRETREAT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : TERMINATED

Cardiovascular disease (VD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Europe and worldwide. The objective of the PRETREAT consortium is to generate a joint SME/academic European preclinical platform for providing services for detection of VD and drug development. This platform will combine the use of urinary and/or blood peptidomics in humans and in preclinical animal models of VD, together with bioinformatics and systems biology, in order to better detect, stratify and decipher the molecular mechanisms of VD, develop new animal models with high similarity to human disease, and provide new tools for obtaining information on novel drug targets. PRETREAT builds on the FP7 project Sysvasc (systems biology to identify molecular targets for vascular disease treatment, 2014-2018) and the combined expertise of the PRETREAT partners in clinical proteomics, proteomics, animal models and system medicine as the pillars to implement this platform. The work will be carried out in an extensive exchange program totaling 27 secondments. Main objectives during the secondments include establishment of the link between urinary markers and the pathophysiology of VD, identification of additional animal VD models with similarity to human VD, development of “humanized” body fluid readouts in VD models, establishment of a VD protein-centric database in order to automatically link urinary peptides to in situ changes and provide information on drug targets, and provide proof-of-concept of the utility of the proposed platform. These secondments will in parallel serve to keep information flowing within the project, increase individual research efficiency and create a multi-disciplinary working chain, train personnel, and prepare the sustainability of the results after the project. To complete training, 3 monthly webinars and four workshops are planned.

Mots clés : biomarkers, preclinical and clinical platform, translational animal models, protein centric molecular maps, prediction

Participants :
- Mosaiques Diagnostics and Therapeutics (Germany) (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 148500.0 €
- Hybridstat predictive analytics oe (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 54000.0 €
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 94500.0 €
- Emergentec biodevelopment gmbh (Autriche) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 90000.0 €
Projet INF-CVD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and illness globally. Preventive therapies can avoid or delay the occurrence of cardiovascular events, provided that one can identify individuals at risk and intervene before problems manifest. Recent scientific developments have established that inflammation has a prominent role in the development of cardiovascular diseases; but routine screening of inflammatory markers to assess cardiovascular risk in the general population is currently unfeasible. It is known however that certain diseases cause high and chronic inflammation, and patients affected by these conditions may be at increased risk of cardiovascular events. Yet, studies so far have been limited by the relatively modest absolute numbers of patients affected, so that for many of these conditions evidence is insufficient to guide clinical decisions. The aim of this research proposal is to investigate the associations between a range of chronic inflammatory conditions and different types of cardiovascular disorders, by using one of the largest longitudinal healthcare datasets available for research purposes in the world. The study design leverages the potential of ‘big data’ to explore complex disease associations through a unique combination of skills – my own knowledge of epidemiology and experience with the studied data set; my host supervisor’s expertise in statistical models best suited for the analysis of longitudinal data; and interdisciplinary clinical expertise through an international network of collaborations. A better understanding of cardiovascular risks associated with chronic inflammatory conditions may help guidelines and clinicians to focus on patients for which screening and treatments are more likely to have an effect, and improve the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Differences between conditions may further point towards biological functions underlying these complications and inform the design of future research.

Mots clés : cardiology, inflammation, epidemiology

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 178320.0 €
Projet INTRICARE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Doctoral Networks - Joint Doctorates
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the major challenges of contemporary society, being responsible for a staggering 47% of deaths in Europe. Vascular calcification in particular requires immediate attention as it is strongly associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and is recognised as an important independent risk factor for cardiovascular death. Recent reports demonstrate that especially punctuated and spotty calcifications (microcalcifications) in the plaque are life-threatening. Microcalcifications are particularly prominent in the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque that is at high risk of rupture, a cardinal event that can cause thrombosis, infarct, cardiac arrest, stroke and death. In fact, 20% of European deaths are directly attributable to thrombotic rupture of a vulnerable plaque; a clear indication that current treatments and preventive measures are insufficient. Recent findings suggest a link between vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype mediated calcification and inflammation, which could underlie the plaque destabilising effects of microcalcification. However, a comprehensive view on what causes microcalcification and its impact on plaque stability remains elusive and there is an urgent need to translate experimental findings into adequate diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic solutions. INTRICARE is shaped to address the urgent unmet medical needs concerning calcification-induced vulnerable plaques and is guided by the academic and industrial demand for a new generation of entrepreneurial scientists that have the skills, expertise and knowhow to expedite our understanding of vascular calcification and translation thereof into concrete, effective clinical solutions. The INTRICARE ESRs harbour ongoing vitamin K-supplementation trials that will be pivotal in the identification of selective biomarkers for microcalcification and subsequent development of strategies for prevention or amelioration of vulnerable plaque formation.

Mots clés : vascular calcification, microcalcification, vascular remodelling, vulnerable plaque formation

Participants :
- Karolinska Institutet (Suède) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 1054637.28 €
- Universitätsklinikum Aachen (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 1246082.4 €
- Maastricht University (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 1532245.68 €