Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet Micro Soft Robots (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Current drug delivery methods often struggle with targeting hard-to-reach areas within the body, such as the brain. Traditional approaches, including endoscopic and surgical methods, are invasive, carry considerable risks, and face significant accessibility challenges. Systemic-based targeted drug delivery methods, like chemotherapeutics and targeted gene therapies, frequently fail to accurately reach and penetrate the desired tissues. There is a pressing need for innovative and effective techniques that enhance the precision and therapeutic efficacy of drug delivery, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and reducing risks. This project seeks to develop micro-scale magnetic and shape-memory soft robots for diagnostic and treatment applications within the brain's vascular system. These soft robots, measuring between 20 to 100µm, will be fabricated through additive manufacturing (AM) using a shape memory (SM) polymer embedded with magnetic nanoparticles (MP). This composition enables remote-controlled movement and actuation via external magnetic fields.  Designed to deliver therapeutic molecules, these robots will allow for the precise release of substances such as drugs directly at the target site, significantly enhancing their effectiveness. Testing will be conducted using microfluidic in vitro models. In the near future, drug delivery to hard-to-reach regions could be as straightforward as performing a minor intravenous injection and spending a few minutes in a device similar to an X-ray machine.  The knowledge and experience gained from this project will be crucial for the fellow to establishing a new research group, further enhancing the capabilities of soft robots for additional medical applications like blood clot retrieval and biopsy, thereby driving continuous innovation in healthcare technology.

Mots clés : soft robots, micro scale, two photon polymerisation, direct ink writing, magnetisation, remote control

Participants :
- École supérieure Sainte-Anne de Pise (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 396991.08 €
- Institut de technologie du Massachusetts (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet UNICALS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

According to the current consensus cosmological model, dark matter and dark energy make up most of the energy density of the universe. However, their physical nature is still unknown and understanding them presents a grand challenge. Moreover, there are unresolved tensions between observations from the late-time and the early-time universe. Intriguingly, all weak lensing analyses favour a smoother matter distribution than Planck's Cosmic Microwave Background observations. In order to assess if this discrepancy is due to unaccounted systematics or new physics, it is essential to analyse the existing weak lensing datasets with a unified pipeline. This effort is especially required as we approach the next generation of dark energy surveys —including ESA's Euclid mission, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope— since they will provide unprecedented high-quality data that will increase the statistical power by orders of magnitude. In this project, we will combine for the first time the final data sets from the current generation of dark energy surveys (DES, KiDS and HSC) to obtain competitive cosmological constraints from the joint analysis of galaxy clustering and weak lensing. For this purpose, we will develop a novel unified modelling and inference pipeline to fully exploit the statistical power of the different surveys in an optimal way. The methodology developed and employed in this project will be crucial to shed light on the existing tensions with Planck and the nature of dark energy with ESA's Euclid mission, the Rubin Observatory and the other upcoming dark energy surveys.

Mots clés : cosmological parameters, galaxy clustering, weak gravitational lensing, sky surveys

Participants :
- Université de la Ruhr à Bochum (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet HIPPOX (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Bone regeneration is a challenging clinical problem. Each year, millions of patients worldwide experience bone fracture: one every two-to-three seconds. Over 10-15% of these fractures suffer from impaired healing. Especially the elderly population is disproportionately affected being associated with permanent impairment and increased mortality. Two critical events early in fracture repair determine the outcome of the healing process: lack of oxygen caused by blood vessel rupture and mechanical instability. Thus, the progenitor cells that will eventually form cartilage and bone to heal the fracture must simultaneously adapt to both hypoxic and mechanical microenvironments to ensure full tissue restoration. Cellular hypoxia-induced signaling and mechanotransduction are therefore critical to bone healing, but how crosstalk between these pathways impacts fracture repair is unknown. The project aims to define new cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate crosstalk between hypoxia and mechanical signaling during fracture repair and target this crosstalk in an innovative regenerative therapy to accelerate fracture repair. Improvement in therapeutic strategies and rehabilitation will have a global impact and are already included in European health care efforts to ensure health throughout the life course, and to reduce hospitalization time and mortality in the (elderly) population. The project will be conducted in the McKay Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, United States (PENN), the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Italy (POLIMI, secondment) and the Centre for Translational Bone, Joint and Soft Tissue Research, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany (TUD).

Mots clés : bone regeneration mechanobiology hypoxia 3d printing microphysiological systems hif signaling hippo signaling

Participants :
- Université technologique de Dresde (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 194259.44 €
- Université de Pennsylvanie (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet READ-seq (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Changes in mechanical properties of cells are key in a range of processes, including cell migration and development, and are frequently altered in disease states such as cancers. Yet, despite their key role, the gene regulatory networks underlying these processes are currently largely unresolved. Thus, the central aim of my proposed project is to gain a detailed understanding of how cellular mechanical properties are controlled, by developing microfluidic technology to simultaneously measure the mechanical phenotype and transcriptome of single cells in high throughput. The advent of single cell sequencing methods has been transformational for our understanding of biology, and multimodal approaches such as those combining genome and transcriptome measurements of the same cell, are likely to be even more so. The physical dimension, however, remains largely unexplored, and its exploitation offers the prospect of revealing how the biochemical composition of cells relates to their physical properties. I will thus apply my PhD experience to develop a microfluidic platform that combines physical and biochemical cell analysis, using real-time deformability cytometry and droplet-based single cell RNA sequencing. By matching the transcriptomic profile of each cell with its brightfield image, which yields their mechanical and morphological features, I will identify genes involved in the regulation of mechanical properties and their generality across cell types. In addition to elucidating fundamental regulators of cell mechanics, this technology will allow the investigation of their interplay with gene expression during both physiological and pathological cell state changes.

Mots clés : cell mechanics, microfluidics

Participants :
- École polytechnique fédérale de Zurich (Suisse) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 173847.36 €
- Université de Washington (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet BacStar (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Conventional cancer therapies have many limitations that could potentially be overcome using engineered tumour targeting bacteria as cancer therapeutics. These bacteria have been shown to selectively grow in tumours where they can produce and deliver therapeutic biomolecules (proteins) extracellularly in the tumour microenvironment. However, the delivery of these biomolecules into the cytoplasm of targeted tumour cells remains a challenge, limiting the clinical translation of these therapies. BacStar aims to address delivery challenges by designing multi-part, multifunctional proteins that transport themselves from the interior of the bacterium into the cytoplasm of cancer cells where they can exert therapeutic action. These proteins will integrate protein motifs for transport (using novel cell penetrating peptides) and anticancer activity, which will be assembled using recently developed computational protein design workflows. A modular design-build-test synthetic biology approach will facilitate measurability and experimental throughput. Novel proteins will be tested in vitro and in vivo with high-throughput methods available at host labs. This interdisciplinary approach is enabled by leveraging cutting-edge expertise and technologies in computational protein design from the Bhardwaj and Baker Lab at the Institute for Protein Design, UW (USA) and in bacterial cancer therapy available at the Tangney Lab, UCC (Ireland). An international intersectoral placement at Prokarium (UK) will support the clinical translation of outputs from this project and build my expertise in translational research, which will inform the commercialisation route of this and future projects. My long-term career aim is to develop bacteria-delivered protein therapeutics. BacStar is a significant career opportunity to transition to independence with the active support of world leaders in their fields and gaining industry R&D experience which is key for the advance of these biotherapeutics.

Mots clés : protein design, cancer, bacteria

Participants :
- Aurealis oy (Finlande) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- University College Cork (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 328494.96 €
- Université de Washington (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet L.I.A.N.A.S. (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The overarching objective of the L.I.A.N.A.S. project is to provide the first in-depth analysis of the colonial and post-colonial relationship between Italy and the African landscape, namely the practice of big-game hunting and safaris as means of subjugating, and manipulating the colonial territory and nature. The exploitation of nature for propagandistic and economic purposes was a central aspect of the imperial rhetoric of European colonial powers. Nonetheless, a comprehensive examination of the ecological impact of Italian colonialism is still missing. The analysis will focus not only on the period of formal occupation of Italy's African colonies (1882-1941) but also on the subsequent phase, extending until the early 1970s, highlighting the long-term legacies in the ways of relating to African nature. Focusing on a repertoire of cultural products such as books, documentary films, and natural history collections dedicated to big game hunting trophies from Italy's Horn of Africa colonies (Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia), the project aims to 1) reconstruct the tropes and discourses surrounding African animals created during the Fascist period, 2) highlight the long-term legacies of this way of viewing African nature in cultural products and museum displays, and 3) deconstruct these practices and engage the public as an integral part of the decolonization initiative. The three-year project will bring Dr. Falcucci to the University of Houston, the University of Florence, and, during a secondment, to the Natural History Museum of Addis Ababa. Falcucci, who has international experience in Italy, France, Belgium, the UK, and Spain, is confident that the Action will profoundly impact her career. She will acquire knowledge in the field of Environmental Studies from a global perspective and new Public History skills, disseminating results among specialists and a wider audience, enabling her to become a leading scholar in the field of Cultural History and Colonial History.

Mots clés : italian colonialism post colonial studies environmental humanities animal studies colonial heritage history of collections natural history museums italian east africa safari culture

Participants :
- Addis Ababa University (Éthiopie) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Florence (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 396991.08 €
- University of Houston System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet UPtoREPAVE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Every day about 4 millions of kilometres of asphalt pavements along the European road network allow the transportation of more than 70% of total passengers and goods. The continuous maintenance and expansion of the road infrastructures are key factors for the socio-economic growth and welfare of the European countries. Nonetheless, existing pavements represent a source of valuable materials (i.e. recycled aggregates and bitumen) that, adequately exploited, would allow the maintenance and new construction of roads in a circular economy perspective. The general, yet necessary, impetus of applying the green transition of industrial sectors also pervades the paving industry. Thus, it is urgent to make this sector less dependent on non-renewable resources, as well as less energy-demanding, to face environmental concerns. UPtoREPAVE proposes the development of innovative road binders, formulated with bio-based wastes that can be used with reclaimed asphalt pavement for the production of highly recycled low-energy paving materials. The developed materials will contribute to the gradual transition of the sector towards its complete restructuring in a carbon neutral vision. Sustainable paving materials produced at low temperatures (low GHGs) will be targeted, while fully exploit advantages and compensate drawbacks given by: the use of each selected material, their combination and their interaction with the recycled aggregates. The fellow will be supervised by renowned experts from the University of Texas at Austin, Delft University of Technology and University of Bologna, working on innovative pavements and sustainable materials. The multidisciplinary project will let the fellow acquire cutting-edge expertise and skills (including soft ones), improving her background on the chemo-mechanical analysis of road materials. The envisaged challenge of producing greener materials for a cleaner industry will be spread beyond the project duration in the academic and industrial fields.

Mots clés : paving materials recycling chemistry of composites bio binders recycled aggregates low energy production chemo mechanical analysis

Participants :
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Bologne (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 288859.2 €
- Université du Texas (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet PLASMOSTEMFATE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The overarching goal of PLASMOSTEMFATE is to enable facile, inexpensive, and scalable fabrication of thermoplasmonic-microfluidic NSC culture platforms, posing transformational impacts in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, addressing UNESCO sustainable development goal 3 (good health and wellbeing) and Mission Cancer of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. Thermoplasmonic gold nanoparticles can generate localized heat in response to biologically transparent near-IR light and their size- and shape-related properties can be leveraged to non-invasively monitor and direct the lineage commitment of neural stem cells (NSCs). This action will deploy and develop unconventional in situ nanoparticle synthesis to form shape-controlled thermoplasmonic nanoparticles directly inside microfluidic devices. The proposed platforms will significantly advance the controlled implementation of micro- and nano- structures as tools for manipulating NSC behaviors, by systematically applying both controlled fluid flows and plasmonic enhanced heating to modulate the cell microenvironment. The action will be hosted by Prof. Luis Liz-Marzán at CIC biomaGUNE, with Prof. Stephanie Seidlits’ group at the University of Texas at Austin as a secondment. This multidisciplinary action relies on collected expertise in plasmonics, bottom-up nanoparticle synthesis, microfluidics, and NSC biology. My strong background in in situ synthesis, thermoplasmonic nanoparticle characterization, and microfluidics offer synergies with the host and secondment for generating new research lines and strengthening collaborations between the two institutions. Ultimately, this action will expand my scientific network internationally, enable me to hone my skills in the rational synthesis of plasmonic nanostructures and acquire knowledge in fundamental stem cell biology, improve my mentorship expertise, and lay the foundation for a successful career as an independent researcher at a top university or research center.

Mots clés : plasmonics, gold nanoparticles, in situ growth, neural stem cells, differentiation, microfluidics, plasmonic heating, confocal raman microscopy

Participants :
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 181152.96 €
- Université du Texas (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet GLIOBID (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and deadly type of primary brain tumour, carrying a dire prognosis with a median survival of 14.6 months for patients undergoing standard treatments. The causes of poor clinical prognosis are late diagnosis, diffuse infiltration, pseudo necrosis, high neovascularization and resistance to therapy. In principle, drugs can reach the tumors via the vascular system, but the tumor microenvironment plays the role of an antagonist to any efficient drug delivery whereby reducing treatment efficacy. Recent treatments combine chemotherapy with drugs which aim at re-normalising the tumor microenvironment by releasing the mechanical pressure and/or by reducing the angiogenesis. However, there are yet no imaging biomarkers clinically available which can disentangle the different effects of the therapy on the components of the TME. This hinders patient management in particular dosage. GLIOBID project aim at disentangling the therapy impact on tissue integrity and pressure from the modulation of tumour vasculature by quantifying tissue rheology with magnetic resonance Elastography (MRE). This imaging breakthrough will allow to assess the effect of treatments on the main target – the tumor - and the pathways to reach it – the vessels and the tumour microenvironment - providing a unique guidance to tailor combined therapies based on component-specific biomarkers. GLIOBID will involve the main experts in the field of imaging and cancer biology, creating a highly multidisciplinary and eminently clinical environment. This together with the complementary expertise of researcher and hosting institutions will provide the best conditions for decrypting the complexity of the problem and find approaches translatable to the clinical routine. GLIOBID will potentially allow a paradigm shift from the current TREAT-THEN-OBSERVE approach to an OBSERVE-THUS-TREAT approach.

Mots clés : glioblastoma tumor microenvironment magnetic resonance elastography magnetic resonance imaging tumor pressure angiogenesis preclinical tumor model tumor treatments

Participants :
- Hôpital de l'Université d'Oslo (Norvège) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 284179.68 €
- Université Stanford (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €