Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet Za-AV (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

DNA/RNA molecules adopting the Z-conformation have been known to possess immunogenic properties. However, their biological role and importance has been a topic of debate for many years. The discovery of Z-DNA/RNA binding domains (Zα domains) in varied proteins that are involved in the innate immune response, such as the interferon induced form of the RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 (p150), Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1), the fish kinase PKZ and the pox-virus inhibitor of interferon response E3L, indicates important roles of Z-DNA/RNA in immunity and self/non-self-discrimination. Such Zα domain-containing proteins recognize Z-DNA/RNA in a conformation-specific manner. Recent studies have implicated these domains in viral recognition. Given these important emerging roles for the Zα domains, it is pivotal to understand the physiologically-relevant nucleic acid substrate for them. In this proposal, we propose to deduce the physiologically relevant substrates for Zα domains from ADAR1 p150 and ZBP1 employing next-generation RNA-seq methodologies. Knowledge on the biochemical and structural aspects of substrate specificity and substrate recognition by these domains would yield important insights into the specific roles these proteins play in the physiological context and would propel efforts at designing effective and specific small-molecule inhibitors against these proteins. Utilizing next-generation virtual ligand screening approaches and high-throughput experimental screening, efforts would be undertaken to discover potential binders/inhibitors of these domains. Small-molecule inhibitors of this domain have potential applications in anti-viral treatments especially against viruses such as influenza and human immunodeficiency virus that have huge human and economic impact as well as in the treatment of autoinflammatory disorders.

Mots clés : z dna, z  domain, cooperativity, antiviral, influenza, autoimmune disorders, innate immunity

Participants :
- Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160635.6 €
Projet EarlyVertEvo (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Debate over the origin of vertebrate bodyplan has occupied biologists and palaeontologists alike for centuries but discussions around this topic have been hindered because living vertebrates are unrepresentative of the ancestral lineages in which the bodyplan was established. Major transitions in early vertebrate evolution have been correlated with a long-term ecological trend from suspension feeding towards increasingly active lifestyles. However, most previous morpho-functional interpretations largely rely on speculation and these ecological explanations of evolutionary events have generally been regarded as untestable as theories. The recent emergence of new virtual techniques in palaeobiology provides for the first time the opportunity to perform rigorous computational and physical examination to test these hypotheses. In this context, the overall aim of my research programme is the joint application of an array of state-of-the-art techniques in palaeobiology to fossil stem-gnathostomes in order to elucidate the ecological scenarios in which the major groups of vertebrates emerged and to shed light onto the underlying selective forces that drove the main evolutionary transitions of the group. For this, the whole morphological diversity and disparity of early vertebrates will be analysed from a functional, temporal and phylogenetic perspective, using Geometric Morphometrics, scanning surface-based technologies, non-destructive X-ray computed tomography, Computational Fluid Dynamic simulations, physical hydrodynamic experiments and several methods for macroevolutionary analysis. This research programme will allow me to establish myself as a world-class independent interdisciplinary researcher by providing a portfolio of high profile publications in international peer-reviewed journals, a world-class suite of interdisciplinary skills, and a world class research programme that will allow me to establish myself as an authority in the field.

Mots clés : early vertebrates, macroevolution, geometric morphometrics, computational fluid dynamics, virtual palaeontology

Participants :
- University of Bristol (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet EFTA DEVELOPMENT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Debates over the type and degree of integration pursued by European states currently dominate the European Union (EU). As the gulf between proponents and critics of the ‘Community method’ grows more acute, as the EU environment increasingly revolves around interstate relations, and as scenarios of EU ‘disintegration’ are entertained at various levels, attention has focused on historical precedents of intergovernmental models of cooperation in the hope of foreseeing the EU’s future development. Such debates have aroused notable interest in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the principal ‘other’ in postwar European politics. Yet very little is known about how and why EFTA developed in the way it did, its institutional and policy-making structure or the implications of these aspects for the present-day EU. The current state-of-the-art suffers two particular limitations: (i) it concentrates on very short time periods and (ii) it presents a highly state-centric realist account of EFTA’s history. This project fills this gap by undertaking a detailed historical study of EFTA’s development. It aims to (i) examine EFTA’s growth over a sustained period (1958–92) and (ii) account for this evolution as a product of interplay between actors at the national, transnational and institutional levels. Methodologically, the project deploys an innovative interdisciplinary approach that embeds historical research in the multi-level governance concept borrowed from political science. Empirically, the project draws on EFTA’s hitherto underexplored archives in Geneva and the national collections of its various member states. Historiographically, it promises new insights into EFTA history and reconnects the organisation’s and its members’ historical narrative to studies of European integration that generally focus more on the denser pre-history of the EU. In so doing, the project adds significantly to both research in the European Research Area and the priorities of Horizon 2020.

Mots clés : european free trade association, european integration, multi level governance, institutional history, transnationalism, network analysis, sovereignty, intergovernmentalism

Participants :
- University of Turku (Finlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 179325.6 €
Projet TFs-HSCs (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Deciphering the TF network regulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) would be important in treating acute myeloid leukemic (AML) patients; a rapidly progressing hematopoietic malignancy with poor prognosis and survival rate. Hematopoiesis is the process of generating all the mature blood cells from HSCs. Its regulation is, even until now, not fully understood and studied in all its levels. HCSs and hematopoietic differentiation are the key elements that are regulated by the cellular environment (extracellular/intracellular signals) funnelled into transcription factors (TFs). Notably, the human genome contains ~22000 genes estimating to encode 1391 TFs. I have already identified 420 TFs expressed in HSCs. Until now 20-30 TFs have been well-characterized in hematopoiesis, and my aim is to identify the role of the uncharacterized TFs required for hematopoiesis. First I will identify which of the 420 TFs have an effect in HSCs in vitro (WP1). Then I will test in vivo, if the TFs identified in vitro will affect hematopoiesis (WP2). Finally, I will investigate the functional properties of the selected TFs and unravel their role in chromatin organization and regulation of hematopoiesis (WP3). For all this, I will use novel state of the art methods like CRISPR/Cas9 and T2C. The accomplishment of my aims will provide new insights into how TFs regulate the generation/proliferation of HSCs. The proposal builds on my experience in data analysis, transcriptional regulation, chromatin architecture and the unique resources available at BRIC. Prof Helin, a world leading expert in hematopoiesis and cancer, and his lab have extensive experience on genetic screenings and molecular biology ensuring a successful outcome. Through this project, I aim to broaden/strengthen my expertise by acquiring the necessary technical/transferable skills assisting my future career progression to an independent researcher in the fields of molecular biology, chromatin architecture and hematopoiesis.

Mots clés : hematopoiesis, transcription factors, crispr, cas9 screening

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €
Projet DECON (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Deconstruction as Critical Method in Political Theory ‘Deconstruction as Critical Method in Political Theory’ (DECON) explores the critical potential of deconstruction for three important - but contested - concepts in political theory: democracy, sovereignty and universality, and systematises deconstruction as a methodological and theoretical framework for political theory. This is done through methodological and conceptual development within deconstruction and through critical conversation with other approaches in political theory. The overall objective of DECON is to develop deconstruction as a systematic approach within political theory. The proposed research is highly relevant for current academic and political debates about the challenges to liberal democracy from populism, the representative character of contemporary democratic institutions, and the possibility for social critique in the face of post-truth politics. My wager is that deconstruction can provide a novel and productive perspective on these debates – but, in order to do so, it is necessary to develop deconstruction in a more systematic fashion so that it can enter into critical conversation with other, more mainstream approaches in political theory. I pursue this project in the political theory research group in the Department of Political Science and in the Centre for Anthropological, Political and Social Theory (CAPS) at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), where I will be part of an international research environment focusing on critique and critical theory in the social sciences. The expected impact of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action consists of two journal articles and a book manuscript as well as organisation of workshops and a reading group, seminar and conference presentations, and public dissemination activities. This is in addition to essential training n dissemination for non-academic audiences and in research and administrative leadership.

Mots clés : critical theory, critique, deconstruction, democracy, jacques derrida, sovereignty, universality

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €
Projet ICON-SE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Deep water dynamic causes different types of currents which produce complex deposits called in general terms as contourites. These deposits have a high interest in palaeoenvironment, palaeoceanography and hydrocarbon exploration being considered as a hot topic with scientific and economic implications. In spite of numerous studies they are still poorly understood and there are some controversial points about their recognition. Deep-water currents are associated to notable changes in environmental parameters influenced by ocean/atmosphere dynamic and palaeoclimatic variations. In this sense, the study of contourites provides information to interpret palaeoenvironmental changes and associated processes. Moreover, contourites have an economic importance, associated to hydrocarbon exploration, in relation to reservoir quality, store and seal rock distribution. Bioturbation was firstly considered as a diagnostic criterion as contourites and mixed systems have significant macrobenthic trace-makers activity. During the last years, ichnological analysis has suffered a huge development being one of the most used proxies in sedimentary basin to interpret palaeoenvironmental conditions and ocean/atmosphere dynamic. Moreover, analysis of bioturbation is also interesting for hydrocarbon exploration as trace fossils can modify porosity and permeability of sediments affecting the potential reservoir quality. Therefore, considering the scarcity of ichnological studies in contourites, but evidencing the importance of bioturbation as a potential diagnostic criterion, the influence in porosity and permeability values and its economic interest, the present proposal will be focused, for the first time, on the detailed ichnological analysis of these deposits, with two main objectives: firstly, to characterize ichnological content of contourite deposits; and secondly, to determine the influence of trace fossils in hydrocarbon exploration and its economic implications.

Mots clés : ichnology, contourites, sediment cores, palaeoenvironment, hydrocarbon exploration

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet DADA2GT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Deficiency of adenosine deaminase type 2 (DADA2) caused by loss-of-function mutations in the ADDeficiency of adenosine deaminase type 2 (DADA2) caused by loss-of-function mutations in the ADA2 gene is a Primary immunodeficiency (PID) diseases characterized by vasculopathy, stroke, intracranial haemorrhages, systemic inflammation, immunodeficiency, and cytopenia. Without proper treatment, DADA2 patients are at high risk of severe disability or death. Targeted pharmacological therapies are not available, and generic immunosuppressive drugs are commonly used with unsatisfactory effectiveness. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has proven effective in patients with severe manifestations, but morbidity and mortality are high and hardly acceptable in less severe cases. Thus, safer and targeted therapeutic options for these patients need to be rapidly developed. Based on the observation that HSCT can be successful, it is reasonable to presume that strategies based on ADA2 correction in autologous haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) may provide new targeted therapeutic approaches for DADA2. The main goal of this project is to establish gene therapy as a new therapeutic option for DADA2. We propose: i) to develop a pre-clinical approach of gene addition mediated by lentiviral vectors targeting ADA2 expression in patient HSPCs; ii) to exploit gene-editing technologies to prove their efficiency for correction of ADA2 mutations. Gene correction efficacy will be assessed as ADA2 expression and activity in vitro in HSPCs and iPSCs isolated from patients, and in mice humanized with patients’ HSPCs. Collectively, this proof-of-concept study will provide new and robust pre-clinical data for the application of lentiviral-mediated HSPC gene therapy in DADA2. This innovative research project is built upon the world-class research expertise developed by the researcher and the host institution in the areas of PIDs, autoinflammatory disorders, and genome engineering.

Mots clés : primary immunodeficiencies, adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency, inflammation, personalised medicine

Participants :
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet ID-earlyMCI (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Dementia is an umbrella term for age-related brain disease, of which Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common. Around 5-7% of adults over 60 years suffer dementia worldwide, with approx. 8.7 m people in the EU. A frequent precursor of AD is amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a clinical condition characterised by declines in memory skills. By predicting aMCI progression, health-care services will have new opportunities to deliver early interventions that could delay AD onset. This will ultimately promote functional independence in vulnerable adults and meet the societal challenge Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing of Horizon 2020. Clinical outcomes of aMCI patients are influenced by the severity of cognitive (dys-) function. However, these deficits may occur at an advanced stage of neurodegeneration. This fellowship aims to identify a predictive model of cognitive function based on brain activity measured with electro-encephalography (EEG). Previous studies suggest that the capacity to learn a new task (practice effects) can help classify a person into healthy, aMCI or AD. Also, cross-sectional studies using EEG have found differences between normal controls, aMCI and AD patients during rest and cognitive tasks. The behavioural and EEG evidence combined shows the potential of using behavioural practice and EEG measures to predict cognitive function. This potential will be investigated and exploited in this fellowship via advanced machine learning methods on a large EEG data sample. This fellowship will take place in BrainWaveBank (BWB), an innovative company developing the largest database of EEG data in older adults along with cutting-edge analytics. This fellowship will allow the researcher to apply her experience on neural engineering and expand her knowledge and expertise to machine learning and clinical neuroscience in BWB. This will build the researcher’s independence and build prospects for a career in the medical technology sector.

Mots clés : amci, dementia, machine learning, prediction, cognitive function, longitudinal designs, behavioural practice, disease progression, home based

Participants :
- BrainWaveBank (United Kingdom) (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 184590.72 €
Projet DemocInChange (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

DemocInChange understands the current challenges to EU integration as an opportunity to rethink the interface of civil society organisations (CSOs) and EU institutions as a basis for supranational participatory democracy. It does so by focusing on CSOs that aim to improve citizenship rights and participation for groups often marginalized in the policy-making process, more precisely by studying the effects of internal EU administrative reorganisation on the participation of CSOs in EU decision- and policy-making. DemocInChange impacts on the future of European integration by contributing to President Juncker's political priority "A Union of Democratic Change", making European societies more innovative, inclusive and reflective. It provides a better understanding of the linkages between equality CSOs and EU institutions, the impact of the Commission on CSOs networks and their lobbying options. DemocInChange pursues three objectives: 1) innovative interdisciplinary state-of-the-art research assessing how the EU can improve its decision-making, 2) excellent training equipping with innovative and future-oriented skills and a sustainable network allowing jobs in academia, policy think tanks or CSOs, 3) mutual learning between academics, policy makers, civil society and students by innovative ICT tools. The objectives will be achieved by a comprehensive training program providing excellent training-through-research, one academic secondment educating in innovative analytical software and elearning, and one non-academic secondment to the European Parliament Think Tank. The three organizations provide fertile ground for disseminating research results to a variety of academic and non-academic audiences in short time. DemocInChange supports the Horizon 2020 goal of becoming the leading knowledge-based economy by bridging divisions between academia, civil society and EU institutions, and by creating a communicative and interactive elearning space.

Mots clés : participatory democracy, civil society, gender equality, institutional change, anti discrimination, policy making in the european union, democratic deficit

Participants :
- University of Antwerp (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172800.0 €
Projet ElectroMAD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Demographic analyses predict that one third of the 10 millions Belgian population in 2050 will be above 60 years of age. Since aging is the major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), this increase in the proportion of seniors is closely linked to the increased prevalence of AD. With the advent of promising symptomatic treatment, it is critical to diagnose AD at its earliest stages, that is, before behavioral consequences of cognitive deficits. A systematic assessment of the cognitive state of older adults might be a promising strategy to uncover, as early as possible, individuals at higher risk of pathological aging. However, this approach raises an important issue: attentional, comprehension, decisional or motivational processes are likely to affect behavioral performance in conventional neuropsychological tests used for the diagnostic, both in AD or typical elderly individuals. The aim of this project is to develop implicit measures of memory encoding for the early diagnosis of AD that are not contaminated by non-mnesic factors. We will use an entirely novel paradigm in electroencephalography: the Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation (FPVS), which relies on the exact synchronization of the human brain to a visual stimulus repeated at a periodic rate. We will apply the FPVS approach to identify early deficits in visual memory encoding/storage in aged individuals. This will be achieved by comparing electrophysiological measures of healthy elderly with and without neuropsychological deficits, and MCI/AD patients. We will perform longitudinal assessments of implicit measures of visual discrimination and memory encoding, to evaluate the test-retest reliability of implicit measures and to examine the sensibility of implicit measures to predict the risk of evolution from MCI to AD. Implicit measures of memory encoding will be correlated with neuroimaging data and biomarkers of AD.

Mots clés : alzheimer s disease, electrophysiology, marker, memory, cognition

Participants :
- Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 160800.0 €