Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet Glial Patterning (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Glia far out number neurons in the brain and their defects are now known to be associated with many neurological diseases. Glial specification and physiological function are very well studied however, remarkably little is known about they way in which glia are positioned or shaped in order to perform their critical support functions. The goal of the present study is to broaden the field of glial development by using new techniques to ask previously unattainable questions. This central goal of this research project is carried out through an in-depth morphological, genetic and transcritpomic analyses of differentiating Müller Glia in the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) eye. Results from these studies will provide and the first extensive profiling of a differentiating glial population. Furthermore, the extensive data that will be generated in this proposal will provide a basis for many future studies on glial biology for both in the host laboratory and for the experienced researcher during his career development. Ultimately, these and future studies will provide a foundation for identifying the molecular networks that underlie glial patterning in the brain that will no doubt be informative in the study of glial related neurological disease.

Mots clés : transcriptomics, reverse genetics, crispr

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet MAtChinG (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common and aggressive forms of brain tumour, affecting 2-3 per 100,000 adults per year, and with a usual survival time of 14-18 months after diagnosis with only a 10% of the patients living up to 5 years after it. Because of its location, early detection of the tumour and surgical removal may be complicated. Furthermore, its fast growth rate and migration capacity makes it extremely aggressive. Aditionally the presence of glioma cancer stem cells contribute to radio- and chemioresistance of GBM. Because of all this, a deeper understanding about its genetical, biochemical and microenviromental nature is needed. In order to gain more insight into the formation and development of glioma, in this proposed project we hypothesize that the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK) and the mechanically activated ion channel Piezo1 constitute an axis that promotes the onset and progression of glioma. HnRNPK is a multifunctional protein that influences transcription, translation and RNA stability amongst other function, and it exerts its function depending on its phosphorylation state, which is modulated by kinases such as ERK, JNK or PKC. Piezo1 is a stretch-activated cation channel, that activated upon mechanical cues allowing the influx of calcium in the cell and activation of multiple cascades, such as ERK or PKC pathways, as well as in apoptosis and migration. Both hnRNPK and Piezo1 are upregulated in gliomas and preliminary data suggests a relation in their regulation. Here, we proposed that there is a regulation between Piezo1 and hnRNPK, and that this axis promotes the onset of gliomas cancer stem cells and contributes to its aggressiveness. With this project, we aim to investigate how this axis could contribute to the formation and aggressiveness of gliomas, and how its modulation can contribute to its control, therefore turning Piezo1 and hnRNPK into a new promising target for glioma treatment.

Mots clés : mechanotransduction, piezo1, glioma, glioblastoma multiforme, cancer, hnrnp k, nanoparticles, nasal delivery

Participants :
- Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet OncoViroMRI (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of brain tumor found in adults and is fatal in all cases. A very promising therapeutic approach for GBM is the use of oncolytic viruses (OVs) that selectively infect, replicate in, and destroy tumor cells, while sparing the surrounding normal cells. Nevertheless, to achieve successful oncolytic virotherapy, frequent non-invasive monitoring of the process must be performed. This is crucial for gaining a better understanding of the interactions between the virus and its tumor-host and predicting a therapeutic response. Thus, the development of a non-invasive method, capable of accurately quantifying the location and extent of the viral spread in the tumor is highly required and is of great importance. Accordingly, the main research goal of this action is to develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)- based method for accurate, quantitative, and rapid imaging of OVs delivery, and spread in clinically relevant tumor models. The devised interdisciplinary methodology includes: genetically modifying the therapeutic virus to be detectable in MRI; developing machine learning methods to increase the speed, specificity, and sensitivity in image-monitoring the virus; and evaluating the established methods using mice models of brain tumor therapy. The allocated training and research environment is optimal for achieving the proposal goals: an outgoing phase at Harvard Medical School, a secondment at a leading clinical MRI company (Insightec), enhancing translation potential, and a return phase at a leading university (Technion), ensuring the transport of knowledge back to the EU. The envisioned technology could be expanded to various additional clinical conditions, and its dissemination could improve patient care. The unique skill set to be acquired by the experienced researcher, would allow claiming a distinct niche of knowledge, increasing competency to a tenure-track position, and a research career in the EU.

Mots clés : cancer therapy image monitoring, oncolytic virotherapy, biomedical engineering, algorithm development, chemical exchange saturation transfer  cest  mri, mice imaging, clinical translation

Participants :
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (Israël) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Tel Aviv University (Israël) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 269998.08 €
Projet GlimS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Gliomas are the most frequent primary brain tumours in adults (70%) with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) being the most frequent and most malignant sub-type (about 50%). Their growth is characterised by infiltration of surrounding healthy tissue, rapid proliferation, and the formation of a necrotic core. GBM growth often creates biomechanical forces that cause compression and displacement of the surrounding brain tissue. This mass-effect is of direct clinical importance; it correlates to functional loss and pressure-induced brain herniation is the leading cause of death for 73% of patients, however this is not used to inform treament. Overall long term prognosis for GBM remains poor, with median overall-survival below 1.5 years and 5-y survival rates below 3%. We hypothesize that biomechanical Glioma “phenotypes” can be distinguished by mathematical models that estimate the forces that produce tissue displacement. Forces building up as a result of tumour growth might alter the behaviour of cancer cells and can reduce blood perfusion by compressing intra-tumoral blood vessels thus affecting drug delivery. We therefore expect that biomechanical factors may have direct implications not only on the biophysical level, but also for clinical decision making, affecting treatment response and outcome. This project seeks to understand the role of biomechanics in the formation of different GBM phenotypes, and to identify “biomechanical markers” that can be used to inform clinical decision making for individual patients. A mathematical model of tumour growth and biomechanical tumour/healthy tissue interaction will be developed and characterised in a multi-step validation procedure. This model will be tested with clinical data and may allow for characterisation of the biomechanical fingerprint of individual patients. Its impact on treatment outcomes will be investigated in in silico studies with clinical data.

Mots clés : cancer, brain, glioma, biomechanics, in silico oncology, reaction diffusion model

Participants :
- Beckman research institute of the city of hope (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Autres, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Bern (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 247840.2 €
Projet GLOMAG (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Global Maghreb: Transnational Recognition and Knowledge of a Postcolonial Literature offers a groundbreaking approach to the study of Postcolonial literatures and, more generally, literary history, by (1) promoting a genuinely interdisciplinary approach that spans both literary studies and the social sciences (i.e., sociology, history); (2) reframing the “national literature” used in literary studies with a transnational (and multilingual) perspective; and (3) questioning the Postcolonial in the context of Globalization. The objective is to understand the impact of transnational circulation of texts and writers on literary recognition, as well as to historicize the transnationally produced knowledge of these literatures. The research is focused on North-African countries that gained independence from France in the 1950s/1960s (i.e., Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and examines them in an international landscape (ie., French, Arabic, English). The work is divided into three case studies. (1) “Transnational intermediation of Maghreb literature” develops a macro understanding of the circulation of texts, using a bibliographical database and interviews with translators and other intermediaries of the transnational circulation. (2) “Female Maghreb Writers in the USA and France” compares the literary/political reception of female writers and their work in the two countries. (3) “Transnational creation of a national literature” historicizes the nationalization of “Tunisian literature” and the exclusion of writers for political (European writers after independence), religious (Jewish writers), ethnic (Black writers) or linguistic (Francophone) reasons, and highlights the ongoing struggles on this literature’s “identity.” The dual objectives of Recognition and Knowledge are inherently political. As such, GLOMAG is an original and effective means to combat (1) global cultural hierarchies, and (2) prejudices regarding so-called “identities” (especially those concerning Muslims).

Mots clés : transnational, postcolonial, globalization, multilingual, translation, north africa, france, national, literature, sociology of literature, gender, statistics, interviews, french, arabic, english

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 183709.92 €
- Columbia University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet GlobalKnoT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Global challenges require global policy solutions. The Global Programme to Prevent Son Preference and Gender-biased Sex Selection (2017-2019) and the Joint Programme on the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (2018-2021), both co-funded by the European Union (EU) and carried out by the United Nations (UN), are representative of a range of new initiatives that seek to share knowledge and enact policy change across different jurisdictions. Despite the promise of such global programmes, however, the challenges involved in working across different cultures and policy regimes may prevent them from fully achieving their goals. Very little is known about how knowledge is transferred through these programmes and how it translates into concrete policy. GlobalKnoT assesses knowledge transfer in the Global Programmes on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and Gender-biased Sex Selection (GBSS) to inform academics, practitioners and the public about their functioning and efficacy in providing solutions to global public challenges. By applying the Actor-Network Theory to global policy studies and drawing from policy files, participant observation during international conferences, and expert interviews with UN, WHO and EU officials and policy makers, this project provides a detailed map of the actors and networks involved in global policy. It informs us how knowledge diffusion can be optimized to accelerate change towards eliminating two pervasive forms of gender discrimination and advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mots clés : global social policy, global programmes, comparative policy analysis, knowledge transfer, policy transfer, sdg 5, harmful practices, gender biased sex selection, female genital mutilation, cutting

Participants :
- Central European University (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 239956.8 €
- Central European University (Hongrie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Toronto (Canada) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet NITROKARST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Global change leads modifications in climate on Arctic regions, where temperatures have risen faster than in any other region on Earth. Those regions store vast amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) in permafrost soils, covering ~25% of terrestrial surface. When they thaw, it leads to rapid release of nutrients and greenhouse gases (GHG). So far, many studies have addressed the importance of permafrost thaw in the carbon cycle. However, little attention has been paid to the nitrogen (N) cycle, despite nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful GHG, an ozone-depleting agent and may create an unaccounted permafrost-climate feedback. Permafrost with low ice content suffers a gradual top-down thawing process during seasonal freeze-thaw period. However, thaw of ice-rich permafrost results in thermokarst processes, which occur abruptly and lead to ground surface collapse. Its widespread occurrence affects large areas (~40% of the northern permafrost region) contributing to develop ecosystems like ponds and lakes. In such ecosystems, the presence of anaerobic environments enhances microbial activity. As Arctic warms, permafrost thaw and thermokarst processes will increase, releasing soluble N into the environment and enhancing microbial decomposition of SOM. Hence, mineralization, nitrification and denitrification rates are expected to increase, and thus, N2O emissions to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the impact of permafrost thaw on N cycling remains understudied, and almost unknown in thermokarst systems. NITROKARST will explore the underlying mechanisms of the N cycle in thermokarst systems, looking at how microbial pathways promote N transformation and how thawing controls the operation of these processes. N cycling will be studied along a thermokarst transect by combining isotope tracing, metagenomics and microcosm incubations. This multidisciplinary approach will increase our knowledge about the importance of thermokarst-affected permafrost soils in the global N cycle.

Mots clés : nitrogen cycle, nitrous oxide, permafrost thaw, thermokarst, microbial metabolism, metagenomics

Participants :
- University of Vienna (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 174167.04 €
Projet DENOCS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Global climate changes affect coral reefs worldwide and these valuable marine biodiversity hotspots are increasingly experiencing a symbiotic dysfunction known as coral bleaching, where the global bleaching events in 2016 are the most significant to date. The underlying physiological mechanisms inducing the bleaching response remain unclear. It is known that cellular oxidative stress and reactive species such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are involved, but the sources and sinks of these compounds, their interplay and spatio-temporal dynamics have not been investigated in corals, partly due to lack of suitable experimental tools. The DENOCS projects will apply a suite of novel quantitative assessment techniques to investigate the dynamics and impact sites of NO and H2O2 in intact corals, coral tissue culture, and isolated photosymbionts when subjected to experimental treatments mimicking global change-induced environmental stress scenarios. This will encompass expert training of Dr. Schrameyer in the use of novel microsensors for NO and H2O2 in combination with advanced bioimaging of the oxidative and nitrosative stress response in corals, variable chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and cellular 14C-fixation assays to assess symbiont photosynthesis. Prospective outcomes of DENOCS include a better understanding of oxidative and nitrosative stress responses in corals, quantification of threshold concentrations and impact sites of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and how these are involved in the coral bleaching response. The project DENOCS will promote EU’s research and innovation excellence through its interdisciplinary measurement approach and international collaboration, and will enable the restart of a promising career of Dr. Schrameyer after a maternity break.

Mots clés : coral symbiosis, photosynthesis, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, oxidative stress, stress response, global change, signaling, coral bleaching, microenvironmental, microanalytical techniques

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €
Projet MANMAX (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Global fisheries catch ~100 million tonnes annually and this is set to increase. This harvest is driving extinctions and altering marine ecosystems. Fisheries targeting forage fish (small, schooling fish) have the capacity to alter prey availability for marine predators, but whether this is the case or not is hotly debated. Progress in understanding this issue has been hampered by a lack of experiments and studies across marine predator age--classes. Without these elements we cannot understand fully the ecological impacts of forage fisheries, so cannot sustainably manage these vital stocks. By collecting fisheries, fish, and seabird data across key age- classes, and combining and combining novel experimental manipulations (time-area fisheries closures and dispersal experiments) with state--of--the--art statistical modelling, this project will establish the true impact of forage fish extraction on predator populations. Crucially, fisheries effects will be expressed as biologically--meaningful impacts on the components of demography, allowing for intuitive comparisons of the relative merit of MPAs vs stock--based catch limits designed to conserve threatened marine predators. The results will be fed directly into policy in South Africa, will inform the sustainable management of the fisheries that catch one third of all global landings and have important implications for efforts to support healthy marine ecosystems, a central tenet of the Common Fisheries Policy. The current skill set of the experienced researcher, along with newly acquired skills gained under world-class supervisors at the host organisations, will make this timely research possible. The project will facilitate new collaborations, cement a long-term relationship between the host institutions and allow the experienced researcher to meet his career goal of undertaking research that contributes to EU and global policy on sustainable fisheries.

Mots clés : benguela ecosystem, fishing closures, forage fish, marine protected areas, seabird fisheries interactions, fisheries management, predator prey interactions, juvenile dispersal, marine conservation

Participants :
- University of Exeter (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 233163.84 €
- University of Cape Town (Afrique du Sud) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet EVOMA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Global ocean change (GOC, including warming and acidification) poses one of the largest threats to marine fisheries and aquaculture. Yet, there are still few predictive consequences, due to the limited understanding of species’ in situ responses. Recent studies suggest that spatial differences in environmental conditions influence physiological tolerances of marine populations. This project tests the hypothesis that environmental variability of multiple stressors (temperature, pH, salinity) enhances physiological hardiness of sensitive early life-stages of an economically valuable mollusk, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. The project implements a novel, three-pronged, multidisciplinary approach using (1) population comparisons to assess performance of mussels from sites of low and high environmental variability, (2) mild stress exposures to test for enhanced physiological performance in the field, and (3) larval cultures to assess proteomic responses to temporal variability of multiple stressors and carryover effects to juveniles. This project includes collection of oceanographic time-series data at field sites (including at an aquaculture farm), with state-of-the-art pH sensors, to identify frequency of stress events and inform experimental design. This still rare approach, using in situ data with laboratory studies, improves environmental realism in GOC studies. The project addresses a crucial gap in the current understanding of coastal environmental variability and multiple stressors and has direct application to aquaculture practices. By combining the researcher’s and host’s expertise on marine physiology related to GOC pressures, this project will advance innovations in the field of GOC biology, state-of-the-art pH sensor technology transfer, and applied proteomics, and will thus become an important step forward in the career of a Researcher dedicated to GOC biology, and strengthen European expertise in these fields.

Mots clés : stress hardening, adaptive capacity, carryover effects, larval development, durafet ph sensors

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 158121.6 €