Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet RECORDER (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) which include acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke are the main causes of premature deaths in the EU and in Asian countries including India. Researchers have identified and reported that biomarkers can provide advance information about cardiac dysfunction which leads to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke. However technologies for sensitive and accurate detection of CVD biomarkers are not available. The nature of the CVD also demands efficient simultaneous detection of these biomarkers that the current approaches are incapable of. RECORDER aims to develop a novel biophotonic sensor methodology and technology concept for unambiguous detection of multiple biomarkers, which give confidence in the early diagnosis of CVD that in the longer term can be developed for point of care (POC) applications. The underpinning sensor principle in RECORDER is based on measureable fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from rare earth (RE) doped nanoparticles under infrared laser (wavelengths >900 nm) excitation known as upconversion fluorescence to acceptor nanoparticle with specific absorptions in the presence of very small concentrations (1-0.01ng/mL) of biomarkers. The investigation of parameters including sensitivity, specificity and speed of detection of CVD biomarkers such as cardiac troponin (mainly, cTnI), heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA2) and myoglobin (Mb) based on upconversion and upconversion fluorescence energy transfer (UC-FRET) to overcome large noise in signal due to autofluorescence if excited with ultraviolet or visible wavelengths as in conventional FRET, will be a highly novel approach. UC-FRET applied to detect CVD biomarkers in this project will lead to a novel platform technology that will revolutionize biomarker analysis in a cost effective manner for better patient management in hospitals, primary health care and in the long term at POC.

Mots clés : materials for sensors, nanomaterials, medical engineering and technology, diagnostic tools, biosensors, cardiovascular

Participants :
- University of Leeds (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet PHOTO-CY-APPs (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Carotenoids evolved in cyanobacteria as components of membranes providing a structural role and likely influencing permeability to oxygen. Then they became complexed with proteins that enabled a great diversification in their functions to include both 1O2 quenching and light harvesting in photoprotection. Photo-cy-apps is an ambitious project with the purpose of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the role of OCP and the new HCPs and CTDHs on photoprotection in marine cyanobacteria, with their potential application. The ecological importance of these microorganisms reinforces the relevance of this project, since the putative protecting role of OCP in a major subset of marine picocyanobacteria could be a key factor for their abundance, particularly in regions close to the surface of the ocean, subjected to high irradiances. This project brings two research laboratories together with different and complementary expertise, the Kerfeld lab at the Plant Research Laboratory (PRL) at Michigan State University (MSU and LBNL) in the USA with the expertise in bioinformatics, biophysics and structural biology, and the Garcia-Fernandez lab at the University of Cordoba (UCO) in Spain with the expertise in physiological studies in marine cyanobacteria, to determine the role of these car-binding proteins in marine photoprotection and provide the foundation for the Fellow for her independent career after this interdisciplinary training-through research.

Mots clés : marine cyanobacteria, carotenoids, photoprotection, orange carotenoid protein, helical carotenoid protein, phycobilisome, optogenetics

Participants :
- University of Córdoba (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 239191.2 €
- Michigan State University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet VICAT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cataracts is a common ocular pathology involving an increase in the amount of intraocular light scattering. This causes vision impairment by blurring retinal images and reducing their contrast. The current treatment for this pathology is cataract surgery, which is an invasive procedure with possible side effects, such as corneal edema, infection or retinal detachment among others. In this work, we propose a non-invasive approach to improve vision through the cataractous lenses based on the manipulation of the light wavefront incident on the eye, that in the final end will be integrated into head mounted devices. The goal of this project is to develop a solid scientific frame for this technique to work, together with an initial working device. In our approach we propose the use of the natural fluorescence of the retina as feedback for the wavefront optimization algorithm, which allows the optimization of the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the eye. The optical memory effect of the cataracts will be characterized and used in the strategy to project images onto the retina with the maximal optimized PSF. A compact device capable of measuring and correcting vision will be developed in the final steps, preparing the ground for clinical tests, commercialization of the device and its integration with head mounted devices for practical vision correction through cataracts.

Mots clés : scattering, wavefront shaping, cataracts

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

Catchments are under pressure from impacts on demand and supply and within these constraints water resource managers are challenged to meet multiple and often competing values. The ecosystem services (ES) approach has attracted policy interest as it connects natural capital and the ES flows it supports with human wellbeing. There exists a policy window to translate detailed case study assessment into workable solutions for catchment management in times of change in Europe and beyond. ES research to protect and foster sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems and the multiple ES they supply fits within the Horizon 2020 programme on Societal Challenges. The U.K. is emerging as a world leader in applying the ES approach to inform and improve natural capital planning and management in land and water resources management practice. The proposed interdisciplinary research would align with these initiatives to examine pragmatic planning solutions adopted in U.K. Water Framework Directive River Basin Districts. The objective of ‘Catchments under Pressure: ES Solutions’ (CuPESS) is to understand how catchment managers are using the ES approach to provide local, adaptive and integrative management solutions in flood prone catchments and what are the opportunities and barriers to wider adoption. This Individual Fellowship will provide opportunity for knowledge exchange, with the fellow returning to Europe and bringing her research expertise on the the ES approach and its use in water resources management in the U.S. and Australia. It will also allow the fellow to build on this research experience in an interdisciplinary research environment, to learn from a new context which will contribute to greater understanding of land-water interconnections, ES innovations and implementation strategies that work in practice. Lessons generated will be of wider relevance for flood risk management in other northern European countries and beyond.

Mots clés : ecosystem services approach, water planning, water management, comparative analysis, interdisciplinary research

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

Cell culture of primary and stem cells is basic for cell therapy approaches to treat degenerative, genetic, and immunological diseases. To enable mass production of cells utilized for these therapies, it is essential that the technologies used to manufacture, expand and differentiate cells are safe, robust, reliable and cost-effective. However, current stem cell culture technologies are often not sufficient for safe clinical application. This is mainly due to the quality of coatings mimicking biological conditions and surrounding of cells. Hence, motivation for this project is to produce a functional, chemically-defined coating for optimal stem cell culture. To realize this, a layer-by-layer technology for reproducible 2D biomatrix coatings will be established, accompanied by the development of a kinetic model and analytical methods for quality assessment. The achieved knowledge will be transferred to 3D cell culture and validation experiments with mesenchymal stromal cells will be conducted to confirm that the produced 2D and 3D biomatrices support cell growth. This project provides essential basic research to realize medical and regulatory needs with high exploitation potential. denovoMATRIX will implement this highly interdisciplinary and intersectoral project in an industrial as well as an academic context covering biological, chemical and physical aspects. The fellow, being chemist with expertise in colloidal and nanoscience, will receive a unique mix of specific research and transferable skills in the field of biomaterials and their application for-stem cell culture, underlined by a training plan to address the research objectives. Realization of the two-way knowledge transfer will result in strong benefits for both: new knowledge and a basis for a new class of products for the host, and diversification of professional competences and continuation of the fellow’s career perspective as a leading multidisciplinary researcher.

Mots clés : peptides, glycosaminoglycans, layer by layer, noncovalent coating, microcarrier, cell therapy application, model development, 3d culture, bioreactor, cell culture, stem cells, chemically defined

Participants :
- Denovomatrix gmbh (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 162806.4 €
Projet IMPACT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Cell death is inherently connected to the existence of multicellular organisms. Our body loses billions of cells a day due to thermal, mechanical or chemical damage in a cell death process with loss of plasma membrane integrity and pro-inflammatory properties known as necrosis. Organisms face necrosis frequently, thus, there must be specific pathways to remove the large amount of cellular debris left behind. In this way, it is no surprise that improper removal of cellular debris, such as DNA, is associated to inflammatory diseases as lupus erythematosus, acute liver injury, atherosclerosis and severe trauma. Removal of necrotic debris is thought to be mediated by phagocytes, although reports showing it are scarce. Neutrophils, a subset of phagocytes, are good candidates for debris removal since they are abundant and quickly recruited to necrotic sites. The means used by neutrophils to identify, internalize and degrade necrotic DNA are currently unknown, thus, the main objective of my project is to understand how neutrophils phagocytose and eliminate necrotic DNA debris. Neutrophils express the DNA-sensing receptor TLR9, which is not a phagocytic receptor. However, they also express very high levels of beta2 integrins such as CD11b/CD18, which act as adhesion molecule and as complement receptor (CR3). The release of necrotic DNA promotes complement activation in vivo through several pathways, therefore, my hypothesis is that neutrophils use beta2 integrins to bind and phagocytose complement-coated necrotic DNA. To assess the role of beta2 integrins, TLR9 and complement in phagocytosis of necrotic DNA by neutrophils, I will combine a novel in vitro method (DNA deposit in coverslip) with an in vivo approach (confocal intravital microscopy). I will also develop novel peptides for DNA labelling and modulation of phagocytosis, which I will use in both models. The findings of this project will directly favor the development of novel therapies for inflammatory diseases.

Mots clés : neutrophil, phagocytosis, necrotic debris, integrins, complement receptor, liver, necrosis, inflammation, intravital microscopy

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 178320.0 €
Projet ChromoDrive (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cell division is a process essential for life. There are two types of cell division: meiosis and mitosis. Meiosis is a type of cell division specific to germ cells, allowing the formation of fertilisation-competent sperm and eggs. Mitosis allows a single-celled fertilised egg to develop into a mature organism, and also allows tissues to be renewed. During each cell division, the cell must divide two copies of the genome equally between two daughter cells. Errors that occur during this process in oocytes can lead to spontaneous abortion and birth defects, whilst errors occurring in somatic cells can lead to genetic instability, a hallmark of cancer. It is therefore essential to understand how this fundamental process occurs. The phase of cell division during which the chromosomes are physically separated is called anaphase. Although anaphase has been studied for more than a century, the mechanisms that underlie the poleward movement of chromosomes in mammals are still unclear. Several studies have suggested candidate proteins that may power their movement, but there were no conclusive results due to the technically challenging nature of this research. The main challenge is that one must efficiently inactivate the candidate protein(s) only at the onset of anaphase so as to avoid disrupting the previous phases of cell division, which could confound the results. Methods to rapidly inactivate proteins targets have only recently become available. Here, we propose to use these techniques to study the mechanism(s) underlying poleward chromosome movement during anaphase in both meiosis (mouse oocytes) and mitosis (non-transformed mammalian somatic cells). In both cases, we will validate the results using a combination of loss-of-function and optogenetics tools, high-resolution live-cell microscopy, and laser microsurgery. This work will shed light on a fundamental biological process with obvious clinical implications for diseases such as cancer and reproductive disorders.

Mots clés : mitosis, meiosis, anaphase, microtubules, molecular motors, chromosomes, kinetochores, cell division, cell cycle

Participants :
- University of Porto (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 148635.6 €
Projet RegADyn (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Cell migration is a critical process for embryogenesis, immune cell function and wound healing as well as cancer progression. Most normal cells migrate by protruding the plasma membrane forward through actin polymerization. The formation of a protrusion requires activation of the small GTPase Rac1 that in turn activates the WAVE complex, which induces branched actin networks through the Arp2/3 complex. For efficient cell migration, membrane protrusion at the leading edge must be sustained. Conversely, cells need to retract membrane protrusion to stop cell migration or turn. The tight control of protrusion lifetime and directional persistence is thus critical to fine tune cell migration. At the molecular level, persistence is controlled by positive and negative feedback loops. However, only few of these feedback loops have been identified and almost none has been characterized, in particular in vivo. In a joint effort with two other labs, proteomic screens were used to identify proteins that interact with the WAVE complex and whose interaction is modulated by branched actin. Based on different selection criteria such as their role in actin dynamics in vitro, conservation in fish, and absence of in vivo data, I selected three candidates. I will unravel their in vivo function at different scales, from embryonic development, to cell migration, to membrane protrusion and cytoskeleton dynamics. Actin feedback loops regulating cell migration will be specifically dissected. To do so, I will take advantage of two complementary and well characterized cellular models: endodermal cells and prechordal plate cells. Endodermal cells perform a random walk, while prechordal plate cells exhibit a directed collective migration. This project, which relies on validated unbiased screens and well established cellular models and approaches, will provide new insights in our understanding of actin dynamics regulation and mechanisms that fine tune cell migration.

Mots clés : cell migration, actin cytoskeleton, zebrafish, feedback

Participants :
- École polytechnique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 295061.76 €
Projet OSS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cell signaling is a complex system that coordinates cell actions in response to environmental inputs. Signaling pathways are often seen and investigated as on/off networks, but the reality of the intensities and spatio-temporal organization of these networks has been poorly integrated with the dynamics of cellular outputs in response to specific environmental inputs. In the OSS project we aim to approach this general problem by focusing on a specific cellular function, cell invasion (the hosts area of expertise). We propose to 1) use the formation of invadosomes, characteristic acto-adhesive structures important for cell invasion as a specific cellular function, to address these fundamental questions 2) and target the pleiotropic tyrosine kinase Src that has the ability to induce cell invasion globally by acting on cell adhesion, migration, contractility and invadosome dynamics independently of any environmental regulation, to investigate how a biological signal can be dynamically encoded into specific multifarious cellular outputs. Our hypothesis is that specific spatio-temporal patterns of Src activation could be the basis of its pleiotropicity. Thus, the first step of the OSS project will be to use Src biosensors to observe different patterns of Src activation and correlate them with the dynamics of Src-dependent cellular outputs (such as induction of invadosomes). Secondly, we will directly control spatio-temporal Src activity in live cells using optogenetics, a powerful and innovative approach that will allow us to mimic the observed patterns of Src activation and to create new patterns in order to explore dynamic equilibrium between Src signaling and its specific cellular outputs. This project is at the cross-road of signaling theory in biology, cell biology of acto-adhesive structures and biotechnology fields. The goal of the OSS project is to actively manipulate signals in space and time with the ultimate aim to control dynamic process of cell invasion.

Mots clés : dynamic cell signalling, cell invasion, invadosomes, src kinase, optogenetics, mechanotransduction

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet mRNA-DEG-RIBOSOME (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Cell tightly regulate mRNA processing, localisation and stability to ensure accurate gene expression in diverse cellular states and conditions. Most of these mRNA regulation steps have traditionally been thought to primarily happen before translation. However, recent discoveries highlight the role of nascent polypeptides on translating ribosomes in the active regulation of mRNAs. As the nascent protein emerges from the ribosome, it marks the identity of the encoding mRNA by its unique amino acid sequence. This allows cotranslational engagement by specific polypeptide recognition factors on the ribosome, providing them access to the associated mRNA. A striking example for such regulation is the negative feedback loop in the expression of tubulins known as “tubulin autoregulation”. In this case, tubulin mRNA is degraded cotranslationally when cells sense excess free tubulin, which is critical during mitosis to ensure faithful chromosome segregation. Recently, the first specific factor in this pathway has been identified: TTC5 recognises the N-terminus of nascent tubulin emerging from the translating ribosome and triggers degradation of the associated mRNA. However, the events leading to tubulin mRNA decay downstream of TTC5 remain elusive. In mRNA-DEG-RIBOSOME I will use tubulin autoregulation as a model system to study how the nascent chain on translating ribosomes directs mRNA degradation. Specifically, I aim to: (1) identify factors acting downstream of TTC5 required for tubulin mRNA degradation using cutting-edge mass spectrometry and genetic screening methods; (2) understand the mechanistic role of each factor in TTC5-directed mRNA degradation by using a powerful in vitro reconstitution approach; and (3) expand the understanding of nascent chain-dependent mRNA degradation by investigating related feedback systems. Thus, my work will to provide a conceptual framework for how cells have evolved to exploit nascent polypeptide recognition to direct mRNA fate.

Mots clés : mrna degradation, nucleases, ribosome associated quality control, gene expression control, tubulin regulation

Participants :
- UK Research and Innovation (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 212933.76 €