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

The application of an external electric field has proven to be a very effective way of controlling combustion. Laboratory test cases have shown that this technology is capable of controlling many aspects of premixed and non-premixed combustion in small burners as well as in industrial-scale systems. However, the fundamental aspects of this interaction between a reacting flow and an electric field remain mostly unknown and this prevents the application of this technology in industrial applications. The complexity of the required models and the large computational cost associated with the simulation of the electric response of a flame to an electric field have so far limited the numerical analysis of this type fo flows to one-dimensional and two-dimensional configurations taking into account only laminar flames. Considering that most of the industrial burners are operated in the turbulent regime, it appears necessary to shed light on the behavior of electrified flames at high Reynolds number. In this context, the present project proposes to study the behavior of a turbulent reacting mixing layer impinged by an external electric field using a detailed description of the reacting and transport phenomena involved in this flow. The calculation of this complex configuration will be allowed by the use of the parallel computing paradigm proposed with the "Regent" programming language recently developed at Stanford University. The result of these calculations will allow me to extensively define the modification induced by the imposed electric field on the thermochemical fields produced in the turbulent reacting layer as well as the impact of the electric force on the statistical properties of the turbulence. Moreover, the database obtained with these calculations will be used as a benchmark solution for the development and validation of a reduced-order model necessary for the calculation of electrified reacting flows in industrial applications.

Mots clés : ionic wind, turbulent combustion, turbulent mixing layer, diffusion flames, sub breakdown electric fields, chemi ionization

Participants :
- Centre européen de recherche et de formation avancée en calcul scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet AraMyco (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is one of the most ancient, abundant, and ecologically important mutualisms on Earth. Yet, despite its crucial role in land ecosystems, molecular mechanisms leading to its formation are just beginning to be unraveled. However, approximately 18% of all land plants, including important crop species, do not form a symbiosis with AM fungi (AMF) and can even be antagonized by them. These non-mycorrhizal plants include several major crops as well as many important weeds. Until now, molecular interactions between AMF and non-host plants have been poorly understood, possibly due to the absence of a suitable model system. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the non-host model plant Arabidopsis thaliana becomes heavily infected by AMF when exposed to mycorrhizal networks that are established by neighboring host plants, resulting in a strong reduction of growth of the non-host plant. However, arbuscules, the most characteristic structure in the AM symbiosis, have not been found in this interaction. These results point to a different interaction between A. thaliana and AMF compared to a functional symbiosis AMF host plant. Here we propose to utilize the well-established Arabidopsis model system to investigate the molecular mechanisms that explain the biological basis of AM fungal incompatibility through a multidisciplinary approach. We will test whether growth suppression previously observed in AMF-infected Arabidopsis is caused by nutrient limitation or by a costly activation of plant defenses. In addition we aim to identify gene regulatory networks that are activated in the three (fully sequenced) partners of the mycorrhizal network Medicago truncatula-Rhizophagus irregularis-Arabidopsis. This will allow us to study in detail key AM fungal genes and molecular processes that are responsible for symbiosis in host plants and for incompatibility in non-host plants, thereby providing novel tools to design new crop protection strategies

Mots clés : arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, host interaction, non host intaeraction, plant defense response, biological control

Participants :
- Utrecht University (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 177598.8 €
Projet HAPTIFEEL (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The assessment of the quality of a musical instrument, both from a physical and a perceptual point of view, has been the object of much research in the past and in more recent years. These studies have tried to associate peculiarities in the instrument's mechanical behavior (i.e. its vibrations) to its sound properties, and to how these are perceived by a performer or audience. A key aspect in the interaction with a musical instrument that is increasingly being investigated, is the haptic feedback which results from the mechanical interaction between performer and instrument. Haptic perception is an umbrella term that encompasses both the tactile and proprioceptive sense, and it is known to be a crucial element in expert music performance. Even though haptic perception plays such a critical role in musical interaction, relatively little effort has been invested so far into characterizing the haptic behavior of a musical instrument and into how this affects musicians' perception. With HAPTIFEEL, we aim at developing a methodological framework to characterize the haptic behavior of several traditional musical instruments as perceived by a player. Our methodology will be based on several perceptually-informed physical measurements together with user-based studies which will make use of tactile-augmented digital musical interfaces.

Mots clés : haptics, tactile, proprioceptive, feedback, multimodal, multisensory, perception, digital instruments, actuators

Participants :
- University of Padua (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 84138.6 €
Projet GAiNS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The association of microbes at the root-soil interface is an ancient adaptation integral for nutrient acquisition. Most land plants, including trees and crops, associate with mutualistic fungi called mycorrhizae. Legumes have adapted specialized root structures termed nodules for association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia). While there are differences among the species that beneficially associate with plants, there is a large overlap in the key players regulating both symbioses. One important regulator is gibberellin or gibberellic acid (GA), a plant hormone that has diverse and important functions in plant growth and development. While GA inhibits infection events, there is conflicting evidence for the role of GA as an important positive and negative regulator of nodule organogenesis. Here, I propose to determine the mechanism of GA regulation in symbiosis in the model plants Medicago truncatula and barley (Hordeum vulgare). My approach combines the use of a state-of-the-art GA biosensor to characterize and model GA fluctuations in symbiosis in combination with transcriptomic and genetic approaches to characterize GA-signaling response in M. truncatula and H. vulgare. Upon completion of this project, we will gain an understanding of the dynamics of GA signaling in symbiosis and define downstream GA targets that are of special interest for engineering enhanced symbiosis in cereal species.

Mots clés : nodulation, symbiosis

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet SCouT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The availability of many interesting datasets consisting of count time series has motivated a steadily increasing research activity towards the development of appropriate statistical models. Nowadays, a variety of time series models constructed on the basis of the integer-valued property of count data is available. However, their practical usefulness is often limited because of difficulties to implement efficient estimation procedures. These difficulties grow significantly when higher-order autoregressive and moving average terms are included in the model or when multivariate time series data are considered. The SCouT project aims to enhance the flexibility of time series models for counts and facilitate their application to data characterized by complex dependence structures. To this end, the SCouT project proposes an innovative methodological approach that integrates two powerful statistical tools, that is sparsity techniques and composite likelihood methods. The project will provide a unified framework for simultaneous order selection and estimation of autoregressive and moving average terms in count time series models, reducing considerably the computational burden of traditional model selection approaches and improving the predictive performance of the fitted model. The potential of the suggested methodology will be further highlighted by investigating its extensions to spatial and spatio-temporal data that are usually characterized by complex dependence structures. Such data are often met in the field of temporal and spatial analysis of public health surveillance data that will be the main application field of the project. The simultaneous order selection and estimation procedure established by the SCouT project will offer great support to statistical methods for public health surveillance and significantly contribute to the achievement of the effective and timely detection of disease outbreaks.

Mots clés : composite likelihood, count time series, public health surveillance, sparse penalty

Participants :
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 168277.2 €
Projet DeciphGYG (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The biosynthesis of glycogen - glycogenesis - represents a key glucose (and hence energy) storage process across a wide range of organisms. Human glycogenin 1 (hGYG1) is one of the two primary enzymes that initiates the biosynthesis of glycogen, our energy reservoir. It polymerizes a maltosaccharide chain covalently attached to an enzyme residue, Y195, via a stepwise glycosylation reaction. In the reaction cycle, a dynamic conformational switch between ground and active states induced by one of the enzyme substrates, the sugar donor UDP-glucose, was predicted by structural studies, including a stretch of a critical loop containing Y195, the acceptor arm, and a major movement of a 32-residue lid covering the active site. The T83M mutation, which causes glycogen storage disease (GSD) type XV, makes the enzyme catalytically inactive. The scientific aim of DeciphGYG is to design a new protocol combining a series of both computational techniques (MD, QM/MM MetaD, HREX and BE-MetaD) and experimental results (NMR and crystallography) to unveil the mechanisms of glycogen biosynthesis, including both the glycosylation reaction as well as its coupling with the conformational changes induced by binding of the UDP-glucose donor and acceptor substrates. The experienced researcher (ER), Qinghua Liao will carry out the project in the University of Barcelona under the supervision of Prof. Carme Rovira, who has extensive experience in computational modeling of carbohydrate-active enzymes. Our goal will be shaping the understanding of hGYG1 action fully on glycogen biosynthesis, facilitating drug design against GSD type XV. Moreover, the new protocol will be transferable to other enzymes of interest in glycobiology. Altogether, the DeciphGYG project will allow the ER with a highly competitive multidisciplinary profile by complementing his previous acquired skills, placing him at a strong position to start his career as an independent and innovative principal investigator.

Mots clés : glycosyltransferase, glycogenin, lid motions

Participants :
- University of Barcelona (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet AlgaeCeuticals (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The biotechnology of microalgae has gained considerable importance in recent decades, as they represent a largely untapped reservoir of novel and valuable bioactive compounds. The biological and chemical diversity of the microalgae, has been the source of unique bioactive molecules with the potential for industrial development as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutritional supplements. The proposed project will combine both basic and applied research in the fields of –omics technologies, biochemistry, applied and enzyme biotechnology in order to exploit microalgae resources for the development: 1) Natural UV sunscreens, based on algae mycosporine-like aminoacids, 2) Algae-based nutraceuticals as functional foods and food supplements, 3) Algae-derived proteases with applications in cosmetic (skin repair enzymes) and food industry. The implementation of the project will offer to the involved academic and SMSs the opportunity to translate scientific research into well defined knowledge-based ‘green’ products and analytical tools. Apart from scientific objectives, the project will enhance the European’s capacity in the field of Blue Growth and Marine Biotechnology by exchanging interdisciplinary knowledge, developing and disseminating joint research activities, thus strengthening the intersectoral links between academia and industry for sustainable growth.

Mots clés : microalgae, novel products, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, enzymomics, cosmecuticals, neutracuticals, species identification and authentication, authentication of products

Participants :
- Igv greenfood ggmbh (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Eparella gmbh (Autriche) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 40500.0 €
- Fondazione Edmund Mach (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 162000.0 €
- Bionos biotech sl (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 180000.0 €
- Asociacion empresarial de investigacion centro tecnologico nacional de la conserva (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 171000.0 €
- Agricultural University of Athens (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 139500.0 €
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (Grèce) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 135000.0 €
- Particula group drustvo s ogranicenom odgovornoscu za istrazivanje razvoj i proizvodnju (Croatie) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 130500.0 €
- Fresh formula private limited cosmetics manufacturing company (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 171000.0 €
Projet BoneImaging (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The bone mineralization process is crucial in maintaining the mechanical integrity of bone, from the time of its development to its constant remodeling throughout life. The process of pathologic mineralization and bone remodeling and how cells control these processes, is very poorly understood in vivo. By characterizing unique animal models of bone pathologies, spanning both lack and increase of bone, this project will elucidate the process of cell-regulated mineralization during endochondral ossification, the mineralization process that occurs during growth of long bones, and also during adult remodeling. We will also investigate how a defect in mineralization affects the mineral content, composition and organization of the collagen fibrils and mineral in pathological bones. We will first map healthy (wildtype) mineralization, focusing on the cell regulated mineralization, mineral composition and structure in bone and calcified cartilage. We will then investigate how the cell regulated mineralization alters in hypomineralized bone models, which have been reported as abnormalities of skeletal development. Finally, we will study the bone remodeling in under and over producing bones in leukemia and parathyroid hormone (PTH) treated animal models. To address these problems, this work will combine multiscale, state of the art imaging and analysis techniques from dynamic live animal imaging (cellular level) to spatially resolved nanoscale (mineral and collagen fibrils) analytical techniques to characterize the processes by which bone mineralizes, remodels and also any alterations in these processes between healthy and pathologic tissues. Insight into skeletal cellular mineralization mechanisms in pathologic tissues could guide tissue engineering approaches for restoring bone and help to identify targeted treatments.

Mots clés : bone mineralization, bone pathology, analytical electron microscopy, intravital microscopy, cryo, electron microscopy

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

The brain is our most precious organ. Not only does it orchestrate vital body functions but it also stores memories and experiences, ultimately defining the core of our human nature. Brain malignancies are particularly disheartening because they disrupt our ability to perform as individuals and hinder our social interactions. Glioblastomas (GBs) represent the most frequent and lethal form of primary brain tumors, with a median survival of 14.6 months and 15,000 newly diagnosed patients per year in Europe and the US. Current therapies invariably fail, likely due to the extreme genetic heterogeneity of GB and the presence of a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, I propose to exploit an innate immunity checkpoint to simultaneously target cancer cells and their supporting TME. Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) is a central component of the RNA sensing pathway. It edits endogenous self dsRNAs, which would otherwise be recognized as foreign and trigger an aberrant innate immune response. Sensing of foreign nucleic acids results in interferon production which leads to cell-growth arrest, inflammation and immune cell infiltration through the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). ADAR1 has recently emerged as a promising immuno-oncology target, with evidence pointing towards ADAR1 loss representing a novel vulnerability of ISG-expressing cancer cells. Despite expressing ISGs, GB tumors have not been evaluated for sensitivity to ADAR1 inhibition to date. I will therefore combine genetic and pharmacologic approaches to inhibit ADAR1 in patient-derived cancer cell lines and pre-clinical mouse models of GB. My aims are: i) to understand the molecular outcomes of ADAR1 inhibition in GB cancer cells; ii) to functionally characterize the TME of GBs upon ADAR1 inhibition; iii) to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ADAR1 inhibition alone and in combination with standard of care therapy and TME-targeted immunotherapies.

Mots clés : glioblastoma, tumor microenvironment, innate immunity, nucleic acid sensing, interferon response, adar1

Participants :
- University of Lausanne (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet MITOPOMPE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The central role of ATP production by oxidative-phosphorylation, together with calcium buffering and apoptosis, makes mitochondria an organelle interacting with many processes within the cell. Neuronal and muscular tissues require high amounts of ATP to perform their everyday function, therefore are heavily dependent on mitochondrial function. Neuromuscular synapses are of particular importance since synaptic transmission is a highly regulated process which requires active and functionally competent mitochondria. Accordingly, mitochondrial involvement is becoming increasingly evident in is Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) along with neurological pathology. Over the past several years Dr. Mingozzi’s group has built extensive expertise in Pompe Disease (PD), an LSD which is caused by mutations in the enzyme acid α-glucosidase (GAA). Muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, respiratory failure, central nervous system and more specifically motor-neuron defects are observed depending on the severity of the disease. Little is known about the role of mitochondria in the pathophysiology of PD and interventions aimed at addressing mitochondrial defects in PD is currently missing. The aim of this proposal is to characterize the mitochondrial dysfunction in the Gaa KO mouse model of PD. This to assess potential rescue of such phenotypes by AAV-based GAA gene therapy complemented with therapeutic interventions targeted to treat and boost mitochondrial function by fighting against oxidative stress. Two mitochondrial treatment approaches; (i) pharmaceutical antioxidants, e.g. mitoQ or mtGSH and (ii) AAV based approaches; AAV-Nrf2 and AAV-mitoCatalase will be tested. Combined therapies with the AAV-GAA treatment will aim to reach full rescue of the muscle and brain pathology and functional reversal of mitochondrial defects. Transcriptomic changes will also be analyzed by RNA sequencing to investigate cellular signaling changes which will potentially point to novel therapeutic avenues.

Mots clés : gene therapy, pompe disease, rare disease, glycogenosis, mitochondria, oxidative stress

Participants :
- Généthon (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 173076.0 €