Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet DVD-E (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Obesity is one of the most common and costly chronic disorder worldwide, and is a causal or a strong risk factor for several comorbidities, as type 2 diabetes (T2D), which is now reaching epidemic proportions. To monitor multifactorial disorders such as obesity and T2D, clinical evidences from more than one energetic biomarker are crucial. Current multiplexed systems present limited multiplicity capacities because they combine individual tests spatially separated from the others requiring complex and bulky instruments (e.g. HPLC), so they are difficult to operate out of the laboratory. Other described tests also cannot be adapted to monitor chronic disorders because they present at least one of the following critical limitations: (1) they are semi-quantitative (e.g. lateral flow test) so cannot perform the analyte monitoring to the required level of precision, (2) restricted to a single analyte which does not address the accepted criteria that an obesity management requires clinical evidence from multiple biomarkers and/or (3) cannot integrate the microfluidic processing required for blood analysis.  To overcome current limitations, a novel multiplexed medical device is proposed here to enable for the very first time the fully control and management of chronic disorders as obesity and T2D. This will combine optics, electrochemistry, microfluidics and optoelectronics to monitor the most appropriate energy biomarkers (succinate as novel metabolite, in addition to lactate, ketones, pyruvate and glycaemia) in a friendly and decentralised way. No one has previously proposed a useful multiplexed approach as this, allowing the opportunity of the control of a particular energy biomarker such as succinate, which will facilitate current chronic disorders management. Thus, this novel cost-effective and portable multiplexed medical device, with unique and unprecedented attributes, will play a role key in the accurate management of chronic disorders.

Mots clés : lab on a disc load point of care poc obesity and associated complications management dvd readable optoelectrochemical load multiplex analysis of glucose, lactate, succinate and acetate

Participants :
- KTH Institut royal de technologie (Suède) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Stockholm (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 278409.6 €
- Biobee technologies, s.l. (Espagne) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- CERCA Institution (Espagne) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Conseil supérieur de la recherche scientifique (Espagne) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet Nuclei Balance (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

A hot topic at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the production of anti-nuclei. In ultra high-energy collisions at the LHC, nuclei with very low binding energies are not expected to survive the dense and hot final state environment. This project aims to investigate the nuclei and anti-nuclei production in relativistic hadronic collisions at the LHC to test the microscopic mechanism of their production, which is still under debate. In particular, this project would focus on the first experimental measurement of how quantum numbers (in particular baryon number) of produced deuterons are balanced by other hadrons in proton-proton (pp) collisions. One can in this way experimentally test the coalescence hypothesis of nuclei production, directly by measuring if the proton in the deuteron is balanced by an antiproton exactly the same way as for a free proton. If this is the case, then it indicates that the proton in the deuteron is formed in the same way as a free proton. The idea to perform these measurements is presented in this proposal for the first time and has never been performed before. The same measurements can also be compared with the predictions from the famous PYTHIA8 model whose development and maintenance are centered around the Lund University Theory group. The balance is expected to depend on transverse momentum and could depend on multiplicity as this controls the number of final state interactions. To make the highest precision differential measurements, the analysis will use 13.6 TeV pp collision datasets to be taken in Run 3 (2022-2025) with the recently upgraded ALICE detector that can handle rates that are 10-100 times larger than before the upgrade. The ability to perform the measurements takes advantage of the expertise of the fellow and the supervisor who both have a long association with ALICE collaboration at the LHC and has the necessary expertise and network to carry out the measurements.

Mots clés : relativistic hadronic collisions, nuclei and anti nuclei production, deuteron production, coalescence, balance of quantum numbers, large hadron collider

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 222727.68 €
Projet BornThisWay (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Mounting an appropriate and effective immune response is critical to protect an organism from infection. In vertebrates, the adaptive immune system (AIS) plays a central role in immunity, and evidence is accumulating that its development is governed by intricate crosstalk between host immune genes and gut bacteria (GB). This implies that specific synergisms exist between bacterial taxa and AIS, mainly encoded by the highly polymorphic Major Histocompatibility Complex genes (MHCs), to promote optimal immunity. However, the specific associations between GB and MHCs in defence against parasites and their potential effects across generations are poorly resolved in one of the largest vertebrate classes: the birds. BornThisWay will close major gaps in our current understanding of immune consequences of GB-MHC crosstalk in wild birds using two ideal study populations. The action will capitalise on my and my host’s (Prof. Helena Westerdahl) extensive backgrounds in avian gut microbiomes and avian adaptive immunity, respectively. BornThisWay will i) establish how GB and MHC act in concert to defend against avian malaria parasites, ii) determine if synergistically optimal protection is transferred across generations, and iii) test immune consequences of GB-MHC crosstalk disruptions. BornThisWay will add a new dimension to host-pathogen interactions in wild birds, generate novel fundamental insights into the adaptive significance of GB-MHC crosstalk, and provide transformative insights of conceptual and empirical value to transgenerational immunity in vertebrates.

Mots clés : birds, gut microbiomes, malaria infections, mhcs, transgenerational immune priming

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 206887.68 €
Projet networkAD (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has far-reaching societal and economic consequences, emphasizing the urgent need for effective treatment solutions. However, to date, over 99% of AD clinical trials have failed. Inadequate patient stratification is a key contributing factor due to the enormous clinical and pathological heterogeneity in AD. AD is characterized by the aggregation of pathogenic proteins, with tau aggregates being a key player. Tau-related pathological processes lead to synaptic dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and eventually dementia. It is thus of paramount importance to decipher the mechanisms of tau deposition and spread. Emerging evidence suggests that tau tangles accumulate along specific macroscale brain networks, lending support to the hypothesis of tau spreading through communicating neurons. Network-based spreading models have provided insights along this line. I aim to contribute to a leap in network-based modelling of tau spread, by developing a novel patient-specific network model, coupled with a diffusion framework to study tau spread. The model will be individualised, in contrast to previously used group-averaged designs, and will be hybrid, in two respects. First, the model will integrate global functional and structural connectivity. Second, it will integrate data on regional vulnerability of brain tissue for generating tau based on gene expression profiles from an atlas. Results will provide mechanistic insights into spread of tau. The model and its subtypes will then be used to define an optimal sample stratification scheme, to enhance patient selection in clinical trial designs. Importantly, designs and analysis methods developed as part of this action will be released as a unified open-source software package to allow replication, expansion, and increased impact. Altogether, this proposal will provide novel scientific outcomes and will provide me with critical training in scientific and transferable skills that will largely advance my career.

Mots clés : tau pet imaging, network based modelling, graph signal processing, brain graphs, multi modal mri, sample stratification

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 222727.68 €
Projet SPINFRAG (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The fragmentation process is one of the most intriguing and poorly understood phenomenon of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). It belongs to the non-perturbative domain of QCD and is usually described by process-independent fragmentation functions (FFs). Traditionally, non-perturbative effects in the fragmentation process related to the quark-spin degree of freedom have been neglected and only recently their importance has been brought to light by the discovery of the Collins effect in transversely polarized quark jets. Such effect, described by a new spin-dependent FF, is a polarimeter for the transverse polarization of the quark initiating the jet and is presently used to access the partonic structure of nucleons. This project is dedicated to the study of the spin-dependence of the fragmentation process in the framework of the recent string+3P0 model, an extension of the Lund Model reproducing the Collins effect and other effects observed in fragmentation, to the development of the model, and to its implementation in the PYTHIA8 event generator for the simulation of the electron-positron annihilation process in hadrons. The end goal is the introduction of spin-effects in the polarized fragmentation of arbitrary string configurations originated from the parton showering process. The implementation of the string+3P0 model in the PYTHIA8 generator will be achieved by extending the StringSpinner package, which will be used for the phenomenological description of the spin-dependent observables measured in electron-positron annihilation. The proposed project will bring to new insights on the spin-dependence of the fragmentation process and to a practical open access MC event generator program acting as a theoretical laboratory for the study of this process. On a longer term, the project is expected to lay the foundation for the systematic introduction of spin effects in the PYTHIA8 generator for other collision processes as well.

Mots clés : polarized fragmentation, monte carlo event generator, qcd, spin correlations, string fragmentation

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 206887.68 €
Projet ADetect (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The overall objective of ADetect is to improve early diagnostics and prognostics of Alzheimer's disease in primary care by utilising novel plasma biomarkers and digital cognitive tests. Misdiagnosis of AD can reach >50% in primary care, which has important consequences both at the personal and societal level. Misdiagnosis, however, can be reduced by measuring AD-related pathology. The novel plasma biomarkers may be a cost-effective alternative given their low invasiveness and costs. However, they have not been validated in primary care yet, where much more diverse groups of people are managed. Further, the addition of brief cognitive digital tests that do not require involvement of a specialist may further improve the diagnostic accuracy. Based on the most cost-effective biomarkers, collected in unique prospective study performed in primary care, we will develop algorithms for diagnosis and prognosis of AD in a diverse population, and share them in the form of open and freely available apps. The algorithms will be validated against current standard of truth biomarkers and enhanced to give personalized risk assessments based on patient’s characteristics. Finally, we will investigate whether prospective use of these algorithms will improve treatment, management and care of patients. The development of easy-to-use tools, built on novel cognitive tests and plasma biomarkers, has huge potential to increase the diagnostic accuracy in primary care. A more accurate and timely diagnosis will lead to earlier initiation of currently available AD treatments. Further, when disease-modifying treatments become globally available, there will be an immense pressure on the healthcare system to identify eligible patients. Given the high prevalence of AD, its identification will primarily take place in primary care. With the easy-available proposed biomarkers, we have a great opportunity to develop the necessary tools for primary care to undertake this important task

Mots clés : alzheimer s disease diagnosis prognosis primary care plasma biomarkers digital cognitive tests algorithms personalised medicine patients management screening tests

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 206887.68 €
Projet Null-ution (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Towards a better future with less pollution, better life quality for humans, animals and plants and more sustainable high-value chemicals under a modular biological system. Microorganisms (Clostridium sp.) will be the driving force, and carbon dioxide (CO2) will be the fuel required to grow and produce the high-value chemicals. The modularity will allow the same organism to act as a multi-product factory, based on the benefit and requirements. We aim to select the Clostridium sp. based on their ability to capture CO2. Enzymes involved in CO2 metabolism will be subjected to improvement; either the same enzymes will be mutated or substituted by a better biocatalyst from the natural inventory. Once satisfactory CO2 utilization/organism growth levels are achieved, designed constructs targeting specific pathways will be transformed into the recombinant organism to validate their modularity. We have selected bioplastic and butanol as the target model products. Consequently, new genes will be assembled into a single plasmid and subsequently transformed into the microorganism. The product levels and efficiency of the new system will be evaluated.

Mots clés : utilizing synthetic biology and systems biology to create an adaptive microorganism capable of using carbon dioxide and producing industrially relevant high value chemicals

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 222727.68 €
Projet simSpas (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Joint hyper-resistance to movement affects 85% of children with cerebral palsy (CP), the most common cause of physical disability in children. Joint hyper-resistance is an important treatment target in CP. Yet, its contribution to gait and balance impairments is poorly understood because it has been hard to associate clinical test outcomes to gait and balance deficits. Here, we will test a novel hypothesis about the mechanisms underlying joint hyper-resistance. We hypothesize that the neural component of joint hyper-resistance results from movement history-dependent muscle mechanics and its interaction with background muscle activity and hyperactive reflexes. The movement history-dependent muscle force response to stretch, which drives spindle firing and reflex activity, might explain why it has been so hard to relate clinical test outcomes to functional impairments. Indeed, movement history might be very different when walking than when relaxing during a clinical test. However, it is unfeasible to measure muscle and spindle responses to stretch non-invasively. Hence, we will use computer simulations to test whether the proposed mechanism can explain the response to stretch in clinical tests, during perturbed standing balance, and during walking. This requires two extensions to existing simulation frameworks. First, we will integrate more mechanistic muscle models in whole body simulations of movement as the commonly used phenomenological Hill models do not accurately capture the response to stretch. Second, we will account for uncertainty due to sensorimotor noise when simulating whole body movement as such uncertainty might trigger muscle stretch and maladaptive responses. I will build on my own and the host’s experience to realize these computationally challenging modeling developments. This project might improve the diagnosis and treatment of joint hyper-resistance in CP and has thereby the potential to improve the quality of life of many individuals with CP.

Mots clés : neuromusculoskeletal modelling, predictive simulations, stochastic optimal control, joint hyper resistance, muscle mechanics, reactive balance, walking, cerebral palsy

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191760.0 €
Projet EUROSICK (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

In the face of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the unity of the European Union, at least at the beginning of the crisis, started to crumble. By closing their borders and introducing a travel ban for the Schengen Area, European countries have retreated into national fortresses. These initial policies and the recent vaccine-related management of the pandemic shows the role nationalism plays in the context of public health responses to emergencies, including evacuations and quarantines, travel and socio-cultural constraints. While many scholars have started to document the impact of these measures on citizens, human rights, migrants, and so on, almost no attention has been paid 1) to examine and to compare configurations of different European national identities that were generated in the course of the management of the pandemic, and 2) to a sociohistorical perspective to investigate the possible links between those nationalistic and war-related discourse and the exclusionary and inefficient policies and practices that surge in Europe and beyond. Eurosick will innovatively conjoin the sociology of migration and nationalism with research on historical disasters to fill this gap. It will do so, benefitting from my expertise in the analysis of discourse-practice nexus, and through an examination of media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related policy documents in three European countries (Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland); and in three points in time: before the outbreak in Europe, at the time of the outbreak, and at the beginning of 2021 following the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination programmes. The analysis will be carried out using critical discourse analysis, an interdisciplinary approach used to study oral and textual discourses, which views language as a social practice. These learned lessons will impact the capacity of Europe to tackle the future crises in a more collective and efficient way.

Mots clés : nationalisms, history of disasters, social theroy

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 95880.0 €
Projet SEA2Learn (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Smart Sensors are key components for the upcoming Green and Digital European era. Recently, novel emerging electronics components – such as high energy-efficient many-core application processors featuring a power consumption of few tens of mWs – have enabled high-accurate on-device inference capabilities, i.e. Deep Learning inference, to extract high-level information from sensor data. However, this technology improvement is not sufficient to ensure robust solutions suitable for consumer and industrial applications. The main issue comes from the wide variety in real-world test conditions and, consequently, the lack at design-time of representative (labelled) sensor data, needed to train DL inference networks. For this reason, the currently used “train-once-and-deploy-everywhere” design process for edge intelligence has proved to be weak, even after an endless cyclic procedure involving data collection, model training and in-field testing. This limitation is addressed by the SEA2Learn project by developing energy-efficient and real-time mechanisms to adapt the inference capabilities of resource-constrained smart sensors based on the stimulus from the surrounding environment. The proposed strategy, which is unprecedent in this domain, aims at placing in the same training loop multiple smart sensor nodes that interact with a Learning Agent. The latter will leverage a new class of lightweight methods belonging to the Continual Learning (CL) domain operating on unlabelled multi-sensor data. Thanks to the envisioned SEA2Learn framework, the embedded intelligence can adapt over time based on real-world data, making the design process more robust and 10-100x faster than today. To realize this vision, the fellow’s expertise in HW/SW design for embedded machine learning will be complemented by the Continual Learning knowledge of the hosting research group at KU Leuven and enriched by a tight collaboration with an SME that manufactures IoT platforms for edge computing.

Mots clés : continual learning, smart sensor, edge computing, adaptive systems, ultra low power

Participants :
- Greenwaves technologies (France) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175920.0 €