Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet Optoheart (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a key risk factor for sudden cardiac death, a leading global cause of mortality. Understanding how altered tissue architecture in MI influences cardiac electrical conduction is crucial to develop therapies which treat abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) clinically. Optical measurement of transmembrane voltage in cardiac muscle is a versatile, non-invasive tool to investigate myocardial conduction. However, the current techniques of wide-field and multiphoton imaging have individual limitations restricting their ability to study key features of conduction in a 3D framework. Furthermore, optogenetics cannot be easily implemented in imaging platforms due to spectral overlap with the activation of light-gated ion channels such as channelrhodopsin. Combining all 3 techniques will provide a platform to study electrical conduction within mammalian myocardium in a 3D context and will be capable of quantifying effects introduced by tissue heterogeneity such as vasculature and scar tissue. The proposed project combines development of novel imaging technology with applied cardio-(patho)-physiology to study cardiac conduction at tissue interfaces in intact hearts with an innovative correlative approach. A new all-optical platform will be developed to simultaneously measure and stimulate cardiac activity, with the capability for real-time stimulation using custom optical patterns. Conduction will be mapped experimentally across structurally distinct regions and depths in healthy and MI hearts. This data will be correlated with underlying cytoarchitecture in the same hearts by employing tissue clearing in combination with novel light-sheet microscopy for imaging of structurally intact whole organs. This work will realise a new platform to study conduction in 3D microstructural context and deliver proof-of-concept data to address key questions concerning electrical behaviour in healthy and diseased hearts.

Mots clés : microscopy, correlative imaging, optogenetics, cardiac electrophysiology, fluorescence, light sheet microscopy, tissue clearing, arrhythmia, cytoarchitecture, wide field, multiphoton microscopy

Participants :
- University of Glasgow (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet MYOMICRO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Myopia prevalence has increased dramatically in the last few decades. It has reached 30% among young population in Europe and U.S.A. and over 80% in Asia. However, refractive correction remains the only option for treatment. Myopia has been linked to the shifting balance between far- and near-vision activities and the resulting abnormal axial growth of the eye, but many key questions remain unanswered, which are critical for exploring new treatments. The goal of my research is to advance our understanding of myopic eyes and help to develop new treatments for myopia. As an important step, I propose to develop new innovative optical instruments with which we can characterize myopic eyes in unprecedented details to gain novel insights, and also to assess treatment effects objectively and comprehensively beyond conventional vision tests. Specifically, I aim to accomplish the following: (a) substantial advances in the understanding of physical changes underlying myopia, (b) quantitative assessment of optical, structural, and mechanical properties of the eye during myopia development, and (c) anatomical- and structural-level assessment of novel interventions to stop myopia progression. The applicant will lead this proposed project, termed MYOMICRO, as a collaborative project between the EU beneficiary (VioBio Lab, CSIC, Spain), and the partner organization (Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA). A short research stay (Visual Sciences group, University of Newcastle, Australia) in a secondary partner organization is included. The outcome of this project will enhance the EU leading position in vision care.

Mots clés : myopia, microscopy, second harmonic generation, brillouin, adaptive optics, sclera, cross linking, animal eye model

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 263732.16 €
- Harvard University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet NPF-PANDA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

NPF-PANDA aims for a multi-method assessment of cluster dynamics in urban environments during new particle formation. New particle formation by gas-to-particle conversion is frequently detected in the atmosphere, but, according to the current understanding, should not proceed in heavily polluted urban areas, where large amounts of primary aerosol particles are present acting as sink for both condensable vapours and newly formed clusters. However, it is nonetheless observed in Chinese megacities where it even can promote haze formation and hence impact urban air quality. It is under debate, whether this is linked to faster cluster growth or a less effective condensation sink than commonly assumed. NPF-PANDA will quantify urban cluster size-distributions below 3 nm with a multi-instrument approach and novel data analysis methods. This will lead to unprecedented high quality data of the cluster dynamics and solve the role of fast growth on the survival probability of newly formed clusters under high condensation sink. By combining measurements from urban Beijing with precisely tailored laboratory experiments at the CERN CLOUD chamber, the magnitude of the underlying microphysical growth processes like coagulation or condensation will be disentangled and the effects of different precursor gases can be tested. Cluster dynamics simulations will back-up the experimental findings and via a detailed comparison of measured and simulated size-distributions, this will reveal information on cluster stability and the cluster-stabilizing role of different bases. Altogether, the project will be an essential part in solving the “China-NPF-puzzle” and hence impact future air quality research and air pollution mitigation, which is also highly relevant for medium-polluted European cities.

Mots clés : aerosol dynamics, new particle formation, air pollution, cluster growth, megacity environments

Participants :
- University of Helsinki (Finlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 190680.96 €
Projet NanoLAPS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Nanocomposites made of metallic nanoparticles (e.g. Au, Ag, Cu) embedded in a transparent matrix may display unique optical properties due to plasmonic effects resulting from the interaction of light with particles of nanometric size. This original behavior can be exploited in a wide range of applications including chemical and bio-sensors with extremely high sensitivity, spectroscopy, solar energy harvesting, and nanophotonics. In this context, Nano-LAPS project aims at the deposition of high purity nanocomposite materials with well controlled plasmonic absorption peak in the visible or infra-red ranges. Objectives are based on the encouraging results of preliminary work realized on this subject at FhG, which establishes a solid starting point for this project. The chosen approach is based on a unique and original deposition method combining gas flow sputtering and Plasma-Enhanced CVD processes. This technology allows coating large area substrates, with the highest purity, for a wide choice of nanoparticles (Au, Ag, Cu, Al, W, and high performance conductive oxides) and matrices (SiOxCy, TiOxCy, plasma polymers). The host organization senior researchers and management have an established reputation in research on thin films and nanotechnology, and are highly qualified to lead and to support this project, providing the best conditions for its success. Besides, the researcher has proved his capacity in leading and structuring scientific works on thin films coatings and process design. His experience will complement that of the host organization with new and original topics likely to draw scientific attention and open up perspectives for this research work.

Mots clés : surface plasmon resonance, plasmonic coatings, nanocomposites, pecvd

Participants :
- Fraunhofer Society (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet Glyco-NPs (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Nanomedicine is currently the most studied and promising topics in the field of biomedical technology, which is focused on developing nanoparticles. The reason for this is that these materials present unique properties such as size, high ratio area/ volume, chemical reactivity, that offer potential solutions for many of the current challenges in diagnosis, therapy and vaccines on several diseases. However, the safe use of NPs in clinical applications is not established yet. At present, the NPs have limited stability in complex cell media, enhanced recognition by the immunological system and reduced targeting efficacy as a result of the protein corona formation. Studies in Dr. Monopoli´s laboratory at RSCI have demonstrated that glycosylation of the protein corona plays an important role in maintaining the colloidal stability of nanoparticles and influences nanoparticle-cell interactions. The proposed research programme will utilize the combination of interdisciplinary and intersectoral approaches (synthetic chemistry, physical chemistry, glycoprofiling and proteomics, an inter-sectoral secondment (CIC biomaGUNE, Prof Sergio Moya to learn fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and test the NP targeting efficacy) to synthetise a range of nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with synthetic and naturally occurring glycans (hence, Glyco-NPs) in order to: 1), increase the NPs' colloidal stability, 2) attenuate the unspecific protein interaction and 3) increase the NPs circulation half-life into the bloodstream. Together with my supervisor, we have designed a training plan that includes new research (glycoprofiling and bio-nanointeractions), and transferable (project management, leadership, innovation) skills.

Mots clés : nanoparticles, protein corona, glycans, colloidal stability, immune response, cellular uptake, biodistribution

Participants :
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196590.72 €
Projet Illuminate-AMR (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Nanophotonic chips hold great promise in imaging by providing molecular-level insights into biological processes occurring in live cells. By tuning their design, it becomes possible to selectively modify light at their surface such that they can be used to study the properties of biomolecules and cells at high resolution near the interface. On-chip decoupling of the excitation and emission light at multiple wavelengths is however a challenge in optical microscopy. The aim of this project is to substantially improve imaging of membrane processes in cells with biochips and then study population dynamics of multi-drug efflux pump activity in antimicrobial resistant bacteria by widefield nanoscopy. The objectives are (i) to develop and test a new nanophotonic biochip with which to visualize and track membrane bound proteins and their activity in single living bacterial cells under common light microscopes; (ii) to develop a direct assay for imaging the presence and activity of multi-drug efflux pumps in bacterial membranes at the single-cell level; and (iii) to implement and compare the biochip platform with modern single-molecule approaches. This imaging platform is based on encoding several precise periodicities to the surface of the biochip in order to diffraction-couple the light to traveling surface waves at multiple resonant wavelengths. This biochip will be a superior alternative to expensive TIRF microscopes that have a limited field of view, and will practically offer an improved evenness of illumination, smaller footprint, and a more accurate knowledge of penetration depth of the evanescent field. The biochip will be used to elucidate how phenotypic heterogeneity in multi-drug efflux pump activity contributes to bacterial survival and thus help improve current antibiotic treatment schemes. Such technology will result in immediate benefits for integrative cellular and molecular biology research communities, and thus has a strong potential for commercialization.

Mots clés : single cell microbiology, multi drug efflux, phenotypic heterogeneity, antimicrobial resistance

Participants :
- Federal Institute For Materials Research and Testing (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 174806.4 €
Projet SPENG (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Nanoscale piezoelectric (PZ) energy harvesters, or nanogenerators (NGs), are vital for next-generation autonomous devices as they can directly convert small-scale vibrations, such as blood flow and body movements, into electrical energy. Scavenging power from ubiquitous vibrations in this way offers an attractive route to supersede fixed power sources such as batteries that need constant replacing/recharging. In particular, epidermal or implantable PZ NGs could revolutionize wearable electronics and healthcare monitoring. The associated elastic environments require not only flexibility of the NG, but also stretchability in order for it to remain operational. Current NGs are rarely functional without being coupled to rigid or, at best, flexible substrates, due to the lack of proper methodology for fabrication of both stretchable electrodes as well as stretchable high performance PZ nanomaterials, that together make up PZ NGs. Thus, the Action aims to (i) develop micro/nano-patterned electrode fabrication techniques based on electronic printing on flexible/stretchable substrates, (ii) develop polymer-based PZ materials with tailored elastic properties to satisfy stretchability and flexibility criteria, marking a departure from traditional PZ materials that are ceramic in nature and hence stiff and brittle, and (iii) study the efficiency of the stretchable NGs developed, based on simulations and direct measurements of energy harvesting (EH) performance in elastic environments. The Action will address pressing EH challenges such as scalability and cost of fabrication of stretchable NGs, and enhancement of energy conversion efficiency over a wide range of deformation scenarios, with an aim to broaden the application of NGs to EH in biological and other extreme environments. The Action will be implemented in a multidisciplinary and innovative research environment at the University of Cambridge, with unique opportunities for the applicant to further his academic career.

Mots clés : piezoelectricity, nanogenerator, stretchable, energy harvesting, eletrocde

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet HOME-LANG (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

National identities are, broadly speaking, built on the historical correspondence between homeland and language. Still, this combination does not apply to Diaspora communities and notably to Jews, whose identity along centuries was rooted in a displaced homeland and spread over distinct languages. How should the bond between homeland and language among German-Jewish thinkers of the XX century be conceptualized? Specifically, what is the exact relationship between mother-tongue and father-land and which role does the gender dimension play in this conceptual pair? How did historical events, such as the Shoah and the foundation of the state of Israel, reshape this relationship? With the aim of examining the bond between language, identities and exile, the HOME-LANG (acronym of the project) will build on my expertise in Jewish contemporary philosophy on the one hand, and on the skills in archival methodologies developed at the University Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona (UPF) on the other. The results of the project will boost my scholarly profile at the international level; they will consolidate UPF as an interdisciplinary hub for cutting-edge research on Diaspora and Jewish studies; finally, they will foster communication between scholars, practitioners and general public at the core of contemporary debates on migration, multiculturalism and the construction of a shared European identity.

Mots clés : jewish contemporary philosophy, language, diapora, homeland, gender, shoa

Participants :
- Pompeu Fabra University (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet DEGASS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Natural gas recovered from shales is becoming an increasingly important energy source worldwide. The hydrofracturing technique used to obtain shale gas can cause unstable fault slip, giving rise to induced seismicity, but has recently been shown to also lead to stable, slow-slip fault behaviour. Successful, safe and publically accepted global implementation of shale gas recovery critically depends on understanding the conditions leading to the different types of fault slip. The principal objective of the proposed research is to determine the conditions and the microscale deformation mechanisms that lead to stable versus unstable fault slip of reactivated faults in clay- and quartz-rich gas shales. This objective will be achieved by a combination of experiments, microstructural analyses and microphysical modelling work, to be conducted primarily at the University of Liverpool (ULIV), UK, complemented by a secondment in the non-academic sector. This work builds upon my PhD and postdoctoral work that focussed on the slip-stability of similar clay-quartz materials, but from subduction zone megathrust settings. New techniques available at ULIV, together with the novel links with industry to be established in the research, will bring about a major advancement of my academic career. This fellowship will thus contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Horizon 2020 Work Programme. The main end-products of this study – the physical properties of gas shale, either measured or predicted with a microphysical model for gas shale deformation, can be implemented by shale gas companies to plan and monitor their hydrofracturing activities better. These results will also serve as a sound basis for public education. The outcomes of the study, i.e. a more fundamental understanding of, and microphysical basis for, phyllosilicate-quartz friction, will also be of importance for the broader community concerned with fault friction – notably subduction megathrust friction.

Mots clés : shale gas, hydrofracturing, induced seismicity, physical properties, friction, slip stability, microstructure, deformation mechanisms, microphysical model

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

Natural law and confessional cultures of slavery in Tranquebar, 1706-1800. To what extent were colonial experiences with slavery, specifically the experiences of a Christian mission community, articulated with reference to the European natural law tradition? In addressing this question, the project examines the discourses as well as the practices regarding colonial slavery and the slave trade in the Danish-English-Halle mission in Tranquebar in south-east India, from its beginning in 1706 until 1800. Throughout the period, German missionaries as well as Tamil and European individuals who came into contact with the mission community, or were members, dealt with issues of slavery and the slave trade in Danish Tranquebar. The challenge of the project lies in studying these instances and examining the references to the theory of natural law that come up in the source material, including norms protagonists claimed to be self-evident in their view. Consideration of these two aspects, i.e. the practices of slavery and their theorisation, depends on a rigorous analysis of the agency of the German missionaries, the Tamil population and the members of the Danish colonial trading company in Tranquebar. The former aspect generally pertains to the field of cultural history, the latter to legal and intellectual history. By combining both approaches, the key insight to be gained by the project lies in revealing how colonial cultural practice – specifically, confessional cultures - took up the European intellectual debate on natural law. The impact lies in a deeper understanding of the cultural entrenchment of societal values by highlighting reflections on practices of slavery in the Tranquebar colony and its Danish-English-Halle mission.

Mots clés : early modern history, natural law, legal history, confessional culture, slavery

Participants :
- Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 166320.0 €
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €