Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet GuardSym (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Agriculture is facing constant pressure to increase food production to fulfill human population demands. This has been accomplished by the use of intensive agricultural techniques. The increase of global temperatures together with intensive techniques like worldwide movements of plant material, use of monocultures, and abuse on insecticides have modified the trophic chains in agricultural systems. As a consequence, there is an unprecedented increase in emergent plant viral diseases in the last decades. Most of these viruses require an insect vector for their transmission. Unfortunately, some vector insects have been favored by intensive agriculture. Indeed, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci has become a worldwide supervector and is the cause of the global emergence of begomoviruses and criniviruses. This whitefly has developed resistance to many insecticides and developing new control techniques is a must. Recently, a population modification strategy has been applied to mosquitoes, displacing natural populations and replacing them with virus-resistant ones that are no longer able to transmit human diseases. This success has been achieved using Wolbachia, a bacterial symbiont present in many insects, that can confer virus-resistance phenotypes to its host. Interestingly, B. tabaci presents a rich bacterial symbiotic community, including Wolbachia, that can be naturally manipulated through hybridization. This offers the unique opportunity to unravel the multitrophic interactions that occur between B. tabaci, its symbionts, the vectored virus, and the plant. Using integrative frameworks to study the insect and the plant physiology, the virus transmission, the symbionts dynamics, and the cross-talks between them (their transcriptomes) can lead to the discovery of new symbiotic virus-resistant phenotypes in B. tabaci. If this is achieved, it will be a keystone to develop further population modification strategies to spread symbionts conferred virus-resistances.


Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet IDCP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Aiming at enabling covalent polymers with intrinsically dynamic abilities, this proposal will focus on the dynamic chemistry of poly(1,2-dithiolanes) to explore their fundamentals and applications. The motivation of the research will rest on uncovering several fundamental questions and principles for the design of poly(1,2-dithiolane), including i) exploring the space of structure-property relationship, ii) realizing precision polymerization by supramolecular confinement, and iii) creating dynamic matter with biomimetic architectures and functions. The research approaches and strategies have been demonstrated in this proposal with detailed backgrounds, methods, and mechanisms. The two ways of knowledge will be launched by this action because of the favorable complementarity of the researcher and the host. The researcher bears a strong background of supramolecular chemistry and polymer chemistry, which is recognized by many renowned international awards and fellowships. The host lab is renowned for stereochemistry, photochemistry, and organic chemistry, which has built a great experimental platform as well as scientific prestige, including the winning of Nobel Prize for chemistry. This proposal also formulates a series of actions and plans to enhance the future career prospect of the researcher after the fellowship. The aspects of exploitation, dissemination, and communication are also involved in this proposal. Detailed work plans with effectiveness and training diversities are formulated, ensuring the action of this proposal with good balance among research, personal training, and career development. The project risks are reasonably evaluated and analyzed with sufficient protection of contingency plan. The high coherence and continuity of the proposed projects enable this proposal to be completed in the period of this action.

Mots clés : supramolecular chemistry, dynamic chemistry, chirality amplification, self assembly, stimuli responsive, material

Participants :
- University of Groningen (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187572.48 €
Projet FluMToGaC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Air pollution is both, an environmental and a social problem as it affects human health, ecosystems and play a key role in global warming. More than 80% of people are exposed to air quality levels that exceed safe limits, being responsible for many premature deaths. European commission estimated to several billion euros the health-related cost due to air pollution. Some of the most important molecules accused by Europe, and so need to be reduce from atmosphere, are nitrogen oxides, sulphure oxide, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. In order to capture them from air, a convenient method is to use porous materials. Metal-Organic-Framework, a relatively new class of porous material, built up from polytopic linker and inorganic node or clusters, already demonstrated excellent performance for gas capture. The tunability, at molecular level of these materials makes them serious candidates for separation applications. Recently, the applicant was part of the team who designed a fluorinated MOF with a suitable pore and aperture size for selectively capturing propylene from propane , or capture CO2 from air at ppm level. This very robust material is opening the path of fluorinated hybrid material for toxic gas separation and capture. This project aim to design, synthesis and characterize new single and mixed metal fluorinated MOFs in order to evaluated their capabilities for harmful gas capture.

Mots clés : metal organic framework, fluorine, adsorption, separation, toxic gas

Participants :
- University of Crete (Grèce) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 152653.2 €
Projet ELASTIC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Al-bearing stishovite is considered to be the main H2O-bearing silicate phase present in recycled subducted oceanic crust (i.e. eclogite) at uppermost lower mantle conditions, equivalent to >660 km mantle depths, and pressures above 23 GPa, where it can form 25% of the bulk. The incorporation of Al into stishovite leads to significant changes to its phase diagram and its ability to take up H2O. For instance, it halves the pressure required for its rutile- to CaCl2-type transformation, which exhibits significant elastic softening and may be seismically observable. We currently lack any information on the influence of Fe and Ti on the elastic properties and post-stishovite transitions of Al-and/or H2O-bearing stishovite - even though we know that these defects and solid-solutions are important features of other silicate phases in the mantle; e.g. Ca(Si,Ti)O3 perovskite. We propose a comprehensive synthesis programme, combined with on-line elastic measurements by ultrasonic interferometry and x-ray diffraction to determine the effects of defect type and concentration on the density, phase diagram and elastic response of this important suite of stishovites. This work, based at ID06LVP, The European Synchrotron, will be supplemented by examination by microscopic and spectroscopic methods at the forefront of microbeam techniques. Understanding elastic properties of Fe-, Al-, Ti-, and H2O -bearing eclogitic stishovite will allow improvements in fundamental models used to predict and determine the observability of seismic discontinuities and velocity anomalies caused by the subduction of eclogitic material through the Earth’s mantle, particularly in the upper part of the lower mantle. This study will also help to better assess the effects of incorporation of minor amounts of FeO, Fe2O3, Al2O3 and H2O in stishovite on the lower mantle’s density.

Mots clés : earth s mantle, high pressure and temperature, multianvil, volatiles, ultrasonic interferometry, in situ, synchrotron, moessbauer spectroscopy, fe al ti h2o stishovite, post stishovite transition

Participants :
- European synchrotron radiation facility (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 295061.76 €
Projet LATE-STAGE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Aliphatic amines are central to the function of many biologically active molecules as evidenced by their prevalence in a large number of pharmaceutical agents. The groups appended to these nitrogen atoms are crucial in determining the physical properties of the amine and are linked to how well it interacts with a biological target. Despite the apparent simplicity of the aliphatic amine motif, the number of general methods that allow their late-stage functionalization directly on the bioactive compound is surprisingly limited, and so the development of directed catalytic methods remains an important challenge. Metal catalysed C–H activation represents a versatile tool for late-stage functionalization. It mostly relies on directing functional groups to functionalize C–H bonds. Recently, Professor Gaunt at the University of Cambridge has uncovered a new C–H activation mode that enables the conversion of hindered amines into β-lactams and aziridines. The first objective of this proposal aims to directly apply the transformations developed by Gaunt, e.g. carbonylation, aziridination and acetoxylation reactions, to a precise class of drugs that contain the secondary amine motif as central function, i.e. β-adrenergic drugs. The use of the oxidative Pd(II)/(IV) catalytic cycle will then allow the development of a novel fluorination. The second objective relies on a new methodological concept, which seeks to merge palladium catalysis with radical chemistry, opening a route to develop novel perfluoroalkylation, amination and methylation reactions via a new Pd (II)/(III)/(IV) catalytic cycle. Finally, the third aim will be to apply all the methods developed to four important anticancer drugs, in collaboration with the new AstraZeneca oncology unit in Cambridge, to prepare novel analogues for biological testing.

Mots clés : late stage, c h activation, palladium catalysis, radical chemistry

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

All cells in our body share the same genetic information. Cellular identity is determined by epigenetic mechanisms, which control gene expression. Replicating cells should accurately replicate their DNA sequence and copy their epigenetic profile to maintain their identity. DNA replication entails the disruption of the chromatin organization ahead of the replication fork and its restoration behind it. When cells change their identity in either normal development or abnormal processes as cancer, they undergo epigenetic reconfiguration, which defines their new identity. Recent works have revealed a time gap between DNA replication and epigenetic state restoration of many chromatin regulation layers. I hypothesize that the time until chromatin restoration post DNA replication provides a ‘window of opportunity’ for transcription factors and chromatin regulators to bind otherwise inaccessible areas and to facilitate chromatin reconfiguration and that pluripotent cells have specialized chromatin replication proteins, which preserve their high epigenetic plasticity. To test this hypothesis, I will join the lab of Prof. Anja Groth, a leading expert in the mechanisms controlling chromatin replication. Together with my expertise in stem cells and reprogramming, I will address this question with two sequential steps. I will use a cutting edge, quantitative proteomics method in which nascent DNA is affinity purified and its associated proteins are analyzed by mass-spectrometry (NCC-SILAC). I will use this discovery tool to define the proteins dynamically associated with nascent chromatin in pluripotent cells and cells that undergo cell fate transitions. I will then investigate proteins predicted to effect chromatin restoration/reconfiguration to dissect their functional role. This work has the potential to reveal a mechanistic link between DNA replication and cell fate decision and thus significantly contribute to the fields of development, stem cells, and cancer.

Mots clés : chromatin replication, nascent dna

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 219312.0 €
Projet NonEnzymatic (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

All of life’s molecules, including genetic polymers, are built up and broken down by interwoven chemical processes collectively known as metabolism. But how did life’s chemical pathways emerge before there were genetically encoded enzymes to act as catalysts? Why does biochemistry use the reactions and pathways that it does and not others? One compelling answer to these questions is that precursors to core metabolic pathways emerged as the result of spontaneous chemical processes. Indeed, recent work from the supervisor’s lab and others has shown that much of life’s core metabolic chemistry, such as the Krebs cycle, can occur without enzymes, catalyzed by minerals and metals, to produce biochemistry’s universal building blocks. But how did these networks of pre-enzymatic chemical reactions branch out to become the biosynthetic pathways we know today? This project aims to understand the emergence of life’s anabolic pathways for the synthesis of sugars (gluconeogenesis) and fats (the fatty acid cycle), by chemically recreating them in the lab. To achieve these goals, special attention is paid to the pre-organizing and catalytic effect of mineral surfaces. The researcher will bring existing skills in homogeneous catalysis and organic chemistry, and gain new skills in analytical chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis and the chemistry of complex systems.

Mots clés : metabolism, non enzymatic chemistry, sugars, prebiotic chemistry, minerals

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

Allosteric regulation of enzyme catalysis is widespread in nature and presents challenges and opportunities in synthetic biology. The enzyme ATP-phosphoribosyltransferase (ATPPRT) catalyses the first step in histidine biosynthesis, and is subject to complex allosteric inhibition by histidine. The short form of the enzyme, HisGS, is found in complex with a regulatory protein, HisZ. Such regulatory protein has a dual function: it allosterically enhances catalysis by HisGS, and it binds histidine and therefore mediates allosteric inhibition. The scientific aim of "DEAllAct" is to explore the design of a computational framework by combining state-of-the-art EVB/MM computational simulations and biophysical experimental studies to discover specific mutations at the protein-protein interface between HisGS and HisZ, that directly impact the transmission mechanism of the allosteric regulation. The fellow, Marina Corbella will carry out the project in Uppsala University under the supervision of Prof. Lynn Kamerlin who has extensive experience in computational chemistry and enzyme evolution. The first goal of "DEAllAct" is to elucidate the molecular details of the catalytic process of HisGS in the absence/presence of the regulatory protein HisZ via molecular dynamics simulations. Based on the information extracted from these simulations, a novel simulation tool will be developed to predict residues of key importance for binding interactions between the enzyme and the regulatory protein. Finally, the fellow will undergo a secondment at the University of St Andrews to test the hypothesis experimentally by introducing gain-of-function mutations on HisGS at the protein-protein interface to mimic the allosteric activation. Altogether, "DEAllAct" will provide the fellow with a highly competitive multidisciplinary profile by complementing her previous acquired expertise, putting her in a strong position to initiate her career as an independent and innovative research leader.

Mots clés : enzymes, allostery

Participants :
- Uppsala University (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 203852.16 €
Projet BAP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Almost all critical functions in the cell rely on specific protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Understanding interactions is therefore a crucial step in the investigation of biological systems and in drug design. Despite all the research efforts that have been devoted to unravel principles of PPIs in the past decades, we still lack a thorough understanding of the energetics of proteins association, which is limiting our ability to consistently predict protein complexes, engineer high-affinity interactions and design new drugs. An improved understanding of protein binding affinity holds the key for resolving some of the most important problems in molecular biology, with wide implications in related fields. In this project I propose a novel approach to reliably predict the binding affinity by adding the so-far neglected dynamical dimension to the problem. Unlike traditional methods like empirical energy-based scoring, I will assess the conservation of interface contacts in protein complexes during dynamics trajectories. By correlating such properties to experimental binding affinities, a new predictor will be developed. Preliminary results on limited set of complexes already indicate that this approach has a great potential, outperforming any predictor proposed to date. Moreover, I will expand this novel approach and assess its applicability to other critical research fields related to biomolecular interactions, such as docking and proteins and interactions engineering. This project will allow me to reinforce and further expand my skills and expertise, create new collaborations and reinforce my position as researcher in Europe, which will enable me to reach full independency in the future.

Mots clés : protein protein interactions, binding affinity, protein dynamics

Participants :
- Utrecht University (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165598.8 €
Projet ACElab (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Alpine Community Economies Lab (ACElab) uses participatory design methods to support alpine communities in addressing cross-cutting concerns of sustainable socio-economic development outlined in the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region and the Alpine Convention. Via a gender-sensitive community-based research space, I will engage a diversity of civic actors and policy makers in the collaborative investigation of (trans)local economies (e.g. forestry, tourism, crafts) sustaining their valley district. Together we will envision developments that have both people and the environment at their core. To do so, I mobilise my expertise in design-led civic participation and feminist economic geography and my Host and Secondment institutions’ expertise in regional development and participatory governance. Together we will prototype, test and refine a multifaceted community economies toolkit to be released via open-access. ACElab will enhance my expertise in leading participatory research projects with a gender-sensitive approach that work across the public and private sector. Through collaborations with the Host, the Secondment institution and the partnering policy makers (from local to European level), I will gain significant skills in research governance, public engagement and impact creation. I will gain expertise on alpine regional development and build research networks for follow-on grants. Thus, the fellowship will support my intended career of leading a participatory research lab in the alpine region. Beyond myself, ACElab offers significant value in the context of Horizon 2020 by addressing areas of special focus (e.g. economic growth & innovation, inclusive & reflective societies) and key objectives (e.g. build an effective research and innovation system, increase the economic potential of strategic areas) in collaboration with policy makers. Its value is significant for the Host as it premiers a community-based research lab and working with design-led methods.

Mots clés : participatory design, community based research lab, feminist economic geography, co produced regional development, gender sensitive methods

Participants :
- European Academy of Bolzano (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 180277.2 €
Projet Immunometabolomics (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Although cancer immunotherapy has achieved significant breakthroughs in recent years that has positioned it as the most promising approach to treat cancer, its overall efficacy remains limited in the majority of patients. Nutrition-deprived conditions at tumor microenvironment poses significant metabolic challenges to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes which may contribute to failure of anti-tumor activity. The main objective of the Immunometabolomics project is to understand metabolism in CD8+ T cells, during active effector T cell development and exhaustion, using approaches that go beyond current research which have been mostly focused on glucose/energy metabolism thus disregarding the relevance of anabolic and redox reactions that are crucial in correct cellular function and proliferation. Open-ended metabolomics and metabolic flux analysis studies, in combination with genetic, nutrition and pharmacological manipulations will be employed to study areas of metabolism that have not been previously extensively studied in CD8+ T cells including 1C metabolism. The characterization of metabolism in CD8+ T cells will be gradually performed in models of higher complexity and physiological and clinical relevance from in vitro, to in vivo in genetically engineered mouse models of lung cancer and finally in lung cancer patients. Through understanding CD8+ T cell metabolism, and its modulation in cancer within tumor microenvironment, we aim to develop a basic science foundation for increasing immunotherapy efficiency in cancer through the use of complementary nutritional and/or metabolism-targeted pharmacological approaches.

Mots clés : immunotherapy, cd8  t cells, 1c metabolism

Participants :
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 257191.2 €
- Princeton University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €