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

Everyone makes mistakes during speech production. However, to facilitate communication, it is important to limit errors during production (e.g. selecting the wrong word but also disfluencies such as ‘ums’ and stuttering), and to identify errors while listening. This is achieved by applying monitoring mechanisms. Deficits in verbal monitoring mechanisms are linked to severe pathologies, such as stuttering, aphasia and hearing voices. Currently, there are a number of theories that explain part of the mechanisms of verbal monitoring. Despite its central role in language processing, astonishingly, no full account exists. Contemporary verbal monitoring models differ widely with respect to some fundamental properties, indicating significant knowledge gaps. This research project fills in these theoretical gaps by relating the functional brain connectome and structural brain connectome with behavioural measures. We exploit the individual variability of a large cohort of healthy adult individuals, by testing groups on the two extremes of performance on cognitive control tasks, and on two extremes of language production tasks. In four work packages, we investigate the neurobiological and behavioural underpinnings of verbal monitoring in healthy adults. The proposal clarifies 1) if a relationship exists between production competence and monitoring (as per production models of monitoring) and 2) if measures of cognitive control are related to verbal monitoring skills (as per conflict models of monitoring) and 3) the involvement of these processes verbal monitoring in perception. To reach this goal we relate the functional brain connectome and structural brain connectome with behavioural measures. The output of 1-3 is used to inform a new model of verbal monitoring. As a final step, the new model is validated by applying TMS to critical cortical components of the model. The proposed project will constitute major progress in our understanding of the verbal monitoring mechanism.

Mots clés : verbal monitoring, cognitive control, fmri

Participants :
- Radboud University Nijmegen (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187572.48 €
Projet EpiMIRgen (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Evidence is emerging that rapid, profound and persisting changes in gene expression regulation and post-transcriptional regulation underlies the epileptogenic process. The current proposal builds on preliminary data which demonstrates that rapid reduction of a microRNA; miR-124, causes increased expression and activity of NRSF, a master-regulator of epileptogenesis. The current proposal will build on this and investigate other gene networks regulated by miR-124 in neurons, by developing the first miR-124 KO mouse using CRISPR technology and a miR-124 overexpressing mouse. These transgenic mice will then be profiled at the epigenomic level using ATAC-Seq, the transcriptome level using HITS-CLIP and ribosomal profiling and the proteomic level using mass spec. This will be the first study to examine the pleiotropic role of miR-124 in mature neurons and identify gene networks regulated by this neuronally enriched miRNA. If miR-124 disruption causes aberrant activity of epigenetic modifiers including NRSF then we will test whether miR-124 restitution can restore correct gene expression networks and prevent or modify epileptogenesis in a mouse model of the disorder. Next we will determine whether data obtained in mouse models is translatable to the human form of the condition by obtaining and maintaining resected human epileptic hippocampus live in culture. We will ectopically introduce miR-124 and test the effect of miR-124 restitution on network activity and energetics using live-calcium imaging as well as the epigenomic and transcriptomic effects. Together this proposal represents the most in-depth analysis of miRNA function and will set the standard for future functional analyses of these molecules. Furthermore it has the potential to intervene in disease process and apply findings to a relevant human model providing a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of epilepsy.

Mots clés : epilepsy, microrna, mir 124, epileptogenesis, epigenetics, transcriptomics, calcium imaging

Participants :
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187866.0 €
Projet ECDCOP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Evolutionary computation (EC), as an efficient tool, has been widely applied to solve different kinds of stationary optimization problems. However, many real-world optimization problems are dynamic constrained optimization problems (DCOPs), where the objective function, constraints, decision variables, and environmental parameters may change over time. At present, very few attempts have been made to investigate this kind of optimization problems in the communities of optimization and EC. This project aims to fill this gap. In this project, we will concentrate on the design, analysis, and applications of EC for DCOPs, including the following five main aspects. Firstly, we will design a set of benchmark dynamic constrained optimization test environments which can resemble real-world scenarios. Secondly, we intend to design standardized performance indicators to evaluate EC methods for DCOPs. Thirdly, based on the standardized dynamic test and evaluation environments, we will design some novel and effective EC methods to solve DCOPs. Fourthly, we will present theoretical analysis of EC with different constraint-handling techniques for DCOPs, with the aim of establishing the theoretical foundation of this area. Finally, applying the developed EC methods to deal with DCOPs in rail networks is also one key aspect of this project. This project has great potentials to fundamentally change the way in which DCOPs are treated, both from a real-world point of view and from the point of view of advancing our theoretical understanding. The research results of this project will be of great interest to academia in many fields and of significant benefit to many industries that involve DCOPs.

Mots clés : evolutionary computation, constrained optimization, dynamic optimization, multi objective optimization

Participants :
- De Montfort University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet EvoNovo (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Evolutionary innovations are biological revolutions: new organs are critically associated with the emergence of new species and their exploitation of new niches. Despite their importance in the history of life, how morphological novelty arises and evolves is a long-standing question in Evolutionary Biology. In this proposal, I will address the genetic basis of the emergence of one of the most striking examples of a sexually dimorphic novel structure. Males of the mayfly species Cloeon dipterum develop, in addition to the compound eyes (shared by males and females), an extra pair of extremely large dorsal, turban-shaped eyes. To unveil the genetic forces that control the specification and development of this new visual system, I will combine a number of experimental approaches, including non-invasive imaging using X-Ray microtomography, gene expression analyses, genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics and genome editing to knit a gene regulatory network. This network will be mapped in time and space onto the developing structures and it will help finding which genetic changes trigger the development of the turbanate eye and how these changes operate. This research will represent one of the most detailed studies to understand what are the genetic causes underlying morphological novelties. In addition, establishing C. dipterum as a model will serve as a foundation for further investigations in an organism placed in a key position in the phylogeny of insects, creating a new scientific line for my future establishment as an independent researcher.

Mots clés : evo devo, morphological novelty, ephemeroptera, cloeon dipterum, turbanate eye, sexual dimorphism

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 158121.6 €
Projet MORE-or-LESS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Excellence in Science, Technology and Engineering (STEM) subjects are crucial to the development and wellbeing of both societies and individuals. Mathematics lies at the heart of all STEM subjects. Contrary to its importance, to date not much is known about advanced levels of mathematical development. This project aims to remedy this situation by providing an innovative study investigating strategies that both children and adults use to solve arithmetical problems and integrating competences derived from psychological and mathematical educational domains. Consequently, the outcomes of this research can easily be drawn into concrete implications: effective teaching of maths strategies, applicable both in the educational and in the clinical field, will not only help children and adults struggling with maths but will also facilitate the learning of maths among average or even excellent students. Specifically, the MORE-or-LESS project aims to analyse: the strategies used by both children and adults to solve complex mental addition and subtraction problems; the effects of problem features, such as the complexity of the operation (i.e., number of digits), or the presence/absence of carry/borrow procedures, and the type of representation (i.e., Arabic digits, number words, dot patterns); the specific role of working memory in mental calculation; and the psycho-physiological data related to arithmetical processing. The project fills an important gap because, so far, most research exploring the relationship between strategy selection, cognitive processes and mental arithmetic has focused on adults’ simple calculation. The project is highly innovative as it integrates different experimental methods: both behavioural and psycho-physiological data will be collected. Through this project the candidate will be trained in the application and analysis of eye movement tracking and event-related brain potential techniques both of which will equip her with new skills and knowledge.

Mots clés : math strategies, working memory, eye movements, event related brain potentials  erps

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet ExiLives (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

ExiLives focuses on currently exiled theatre artists from Turkey (Turkish and Kurdish) in European cities. It investigates the entanglement of artists' personal exilic life stories and the collective affects that theatre works based on these experiences can emanate. It sets out to develop a new interdisciplinary methodology utilizing ethnographic research and socio-aesthetic theatre analysis (informed by theatre and performance studies, cultural studies, political sociology, diaspora and exile studies). ExiLives will create a digital archive of artistic expressions in the theatre and performing arts that deal with the recent exodus of intellectuals, artists and authors from Turkey. It will also map out and discuss the differences between the local and national contexts of the respective artist residencies as well as the efficacy of existing support mechanisms, exchange programs and artist networks in different urban contexts. The theatre arts are discussed for their utility in understanding new political subjectivities and aesthetic practices emerging from the exilic situation. Representations of the exilic life are not regarded as mere reflections of a social reality. They are gauged as models for that reality, where the workings of aesthetics and performative affects aim to impact cultural debates of community, conviviality, social justice, peace, dignity, and free speech. Hence, the research will shed new light on how seemingly marginal artistic initiatives destabilize but also reimagine ways of being political, thereby constituting a conceptual basis for newly emerging political subjectivities in Europe. As a precarious theatre scholar who worked and researched in Turkey but left due to political pressures, the Experienced Researcher has first-hand experience with the implications of exilic life. He is part of the solidarity networks for academics and artists at risk from Turkey, from which he will emerge as a key expert in the field.

Mots clés : theatre studies, cultural studies, visual ethnography, exile studies, political sociology, migration

Participants :
- Freie Universität Berlin (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 174806.4 €
Projet AgedLGBT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Existing studies about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans* (LGBT*) people have shown that those aged over fifty years of age (hereafter LGBT* seniors), are more likely to be childless, single and to live alone than their heterosexual peers. Housing, either with or without care, is a principal area of concern to LGBT* seniors, yet few studies exist in Europe that have directly addressed this topic. AgedLGBT* will make a significant contribution to knowledge about LGBT* seniors and housing by comparing and synthesizing the work of research projects conducted in Germany and the UK. It therefore represents a unique and valuable opportunity to understand this issue on a broader, international scale and significantly adds to the value and usefulness of European social science about LGBT* ageing. AgedLGBT* will use the data of two nationally unique research projects of the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (D) and one conducted by the University of Surrey (UK) integrating these and adding to them across four interrelated work packages (WP): AgedLGBT* will compare and synthesize data from the research projects GLESA & GLEPA (D) and SAFE Housing (UK) to investigate similarities and variations about LGBT* seniors and housing (WP I). WP II comprises interviews with key experts, dealing with excluded minorities (such as LGBT* elders with lower income as well as trans* and intersexual seniors). A secondment at Stonewall Housing, UK, will support the realization of the interviews and strengthen the social work experience of the researcher. A social simulation model (WP III) for the cohorts of future LGBT* elders based on the analysis of data in WP I will provide new ways to hypothesize and understand the issue. Also the training in Agent-Based Modelling will be crucial for the researcher’s prospects. A symposium with experts (WP IV) and practitioners will be organised as a feedback platform with practical relevance and for looking beyond a LGBT* perspective.

Mots clés : aging, diversity, lgbt, social inequalities

Participants :
- University of Surrey (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet BUDDHISMAFRICA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Explorations of Buddhism in Africa are very few and have been so far conducted at the introductory level. Moreover, in the field of religious studies there is still a marked tendency to reduce the globalization of Buddhism to its worldwide missionary activities, and to neglect crucial factors such as the impact of deterritorialization and hybridization. BUDDHISMAFRICA aims to break new ground in this field of research by approaching these dynamics from an interdisciplinary perspective at the intersection of religious studies, sociology, anthropology, media studies, African studies, East Asian studies, gender studies, and global studies, as to provide for the first time a comprehensive and detailed analysis of East Asian Buddhism in South Africa, with a focus in the post-apartheid period (1994-present). BUDDHISMAFRICA has three research objectives, which will be pursued through ethnographic (participant observation, in-depth interviews) and archival research: 1) To analyze the trajectory of East Asian Buddhism in South Africa and its hybridization at the organizational/individual level. 2) To investigate the degree in which East Asian Buddhism has been able to reach out to black people, and to provide them with maps to navigate race and cultural identity. 3) To clarify the impact of informal spiritualities related to East Asian Buddhism on the South African religious context. BUDDHISMAFRICA will disseminate the research findings through peer-reviewed open-access publications (two articles and one monograph), an international workshop (and the publication of its proceedings), public talks for non-specialists, and project updates through the traditional/social media. Moreover, BUDDHISMAFRICA has put in place a detailed training program that is aimed, in collaboration with the supervisor/internal advisors and through the participation in dedicated workshops, to develop the applicant’s interdisciplinary, research management, teaching, and interview skills.


Participants :
- Cardiff University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet Turbo-MPMI-Discovery (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Extensive studies in the field of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (MPMI) show that pathogens inject virulence factors ("effectors") into host cells to manipulate host proteins and promote pathogen success. Recognition of effectors or their modified host proteins by plant intracellular receptors can activate immune responses. Identification of effector-host interactor (host target and intracellular receptor) pairs remains challenging. A more sensitive and specific approach to define effector-host interactor pairs would greatly accelerate discovery in plant-microbe interactions. Proximity labelling (PL) with biotin ("BioID") provides a novel method to detect proteins in the vicinity of a tagged protein. Taking advantage of the recently developed ("TurboID") allele that is highly active at ambient plant temperatures, the main goals of this project are to: 1) establish a sensitive and specific method (TurboID-based PL-MS) to identify effector-host interactor pairs; 2) use this method to identify host targets of 6 CCG effectors of oomycete Albugo candida that confer immune suppression to Arabidopsis; 3) isolate host target transcription factor TCP14-interacting effectors from pathogens from three taxonomic kingdoms, and to identify intracellular receptors CHS3 (Chilling sensitive 3)-interacting effectors. The method proposed here will break the bottleneck of defining effector-host interactor pairs and dramatically accelerate discovery in plant-microbe interactions. The identification of CCG effector targets will shed light on the strong immune suppression capacity of A. candida. My MSCA is a great opportunity for me to build on my previous international mobility from China to Canada and now to the UK, by undertaking advanced multidisciplinary ‘training-through-research’ at TSL. I shall benefit from broad technical and transferrable skills training alongside many dissemination opportunities to boost my professional visibility, leadership capacity and employability.

Mots clés : turboid, pathogen effectors, host targets, nlr id, plant microbe interactions, arabidopsis

Participants :
- Sainsbury Laboratory (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet MECHANOSITY (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanical properties have emerged as key promoters of processes such as cell migration and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer. Despite recent advances in the understanding of cellular ECM sensing machinery, mimicking tissue microenvironments in vitro is highly challenging, and most research has been focused on two dimensional (2D) elastic substrates. However, ECMs are not merely 2D elastic substrates, but rather viscoelastic three dimensional (3D) materials. Our objective is to understand how the viscoelastic properties of 3D ECMs regulate cell behaviour. We hypothesize that in viscoelastic materials, counter-intuitively, an increase in viscosity triggers force transduction and gene expression, due to an increase in the load of molecular clutches formed between the ECM and actin. To address the influence of viscoelasticity, Alberto Elosegui-Artola (the experienced researcher/ Applicant) will develop a set of hydrogels matching the viscoelastic properties of both healthy and malignant breast tissue. Then, traction force microscopy will be developed and combined with molecular biology techniques to determine the molecules involved in 3D viscoelasticity sensing. The dynamic behaviour of these molecules will be integrated in a 3D molecular clutch model with the aim to predict cellular migration and force transduction. Model predictions will be validated by performing experiments in 3D viscoelastic gradients on the migration of single cells and spheroids. Lastly, the relevance of the model will be tested by observing if impairing model-predicted force transduction elements prevents EMT transition in cell lines and mouse-derived breast healthy and tumour organoids. This project’s results are expected to reveal molecular interactions that could lead to new therapeutic targets in breast cancer, and also to provide translational opportunities in other disciplines including biomaterials and regenerative medicine.

Mots clés : mechanobiology, mechanotransduction, biomaterials, molecular clutch, extracellular matrix, focal adhesions, viscoelasticity, traction force microscopy

Participants :
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 239191.2 €
- Harvard University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €