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

One of the big open challenges in contemporary particle physics is the quest for the three-dimensional structure of the proton, a principal building block of all visible matter. According to the theory of Quantum Chromodynamics, which is well-established since the mid-seventies, the proton is a composite particle built from elementary point-like particles known as quarks and gluons, or collectively 'partons'. A simple picture in which these quarks and gluons are quasi-free and move alongside their parent proton, is often very successful in describing experiments at particle colliders. However, this so-called 'collinear' framework is challenged in many experiments that are sensitive to the internal motion of the partons or to the spin degrees of freedom. Moreover, being strictly one-dimensional, it cannot account for some of the proton's main properties such as its spin, a long-standing and still unresolved problem known as the proton spin puzzle. Hence, in order to formulate an answer to such fundamental questions, it is necessary to explore the full three-dimensional structure of the proton. This structure needs to be extracted from experimental data, and can be encoded into so-called transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions (TMDs). In this research project, I will study polarized TMDs, which are nowadays still very poorly known but are key to solve the aforementioned puzzles. For my study, I will capitalize on a new approach to TMD phenomenology, the Parton Branching method, as well as recent data from COMPASS at CERN, HERMES at DESY, and Hall A at JLab. This project is extremely timely, since the study of TMDs is a driving force behind several proposed new experiments in the US and in Europe, such as the recently approved Electron-Ion Collider.

Mots clés : spin physics, hadron physics

Participants :
- University of Antwerp (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 178320.0 €
Projet CaraSlug (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

One of the challenges identified under Horizon 2020 is the building of a sustainable agri-food industry. Agricultural pests such as slugs are major contributors to financial losses in the farming sector and the use of pesticides, which is currently the mainstay of control, is an unsustainable management option due to their toxicity to non-target species and consumers but also because of their cost and variable efficacy. Biocontrol poses a more sustainable approach to pest control, but the only commercially available agent against slugs is the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita which is ineffective against a number of key pest species, has a short shell life and is not permitted in countries outside of Europe (e.g. USA). CaraSlug aims to assess the potential of native carabid species as biocontrol agents against slug pests in Oregon and Ireland. For the first time, high-throughput sequencing and real-time PCR will be used in combination to analyse the gut contents of carabids collected over one year from vulnerable crops. Carabid species which are found to feed extensively on slugs and are abundant in crops at times when major slug damage occurs will be selected for feeding trials in the laboratory to further understand their feeding behaviour and biocontrol potential. By comparing the abundance of both pest and predator species and by determining the availability of alternative prey in differently managed crops e.g. with and without beetle banks over a year, management systems which provide optimum conditions for malacophagous carabid species will be identified. This project is interdisciplinary, combining ‘classic’ ecology and environmental management approaches with the latest advances in molecular biology and both the experienced researcher and the hosts will benefit greatly from the combined team’s expertise. By directly involving farmers in our research, this project will also form an important link between academia and the community.

Mots clés : pest slugs, carabids, molecular gut content analysis, beetle bank, alternative invertebrate prey, feeding trials

Participants :
- Oregon University System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- National University of Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 248063.4 €
Projet fetISC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

One of the challenges in regenerative medicine is to generate adult intestinal stem cells (ISCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) in vitro in defined conditions. This will be important in order to establish intestinal cell transplantation therapies and a platform for neonatal disease modelling. These issues constitute the main goal of the proposal. The current protocols to direct intestinal differentiation from hiPSC impede their suitability for human transplantation purposes either because they require mice as tissue culture incubators (teratoma formation), long exposure to calf serum, or generate cells with fetal properties. The immature fetal intestine is distinct from its mature counterpart most notably by its absence of differentiated secretory lineages. Moreover the precise location and developmental stage from which ISCs are specified in fetal intestine as well as the mechanisms that govern the progression towards an adult epithelium remain to be elucidated. In order to generate adult ISCs from pluripotent sources it is instrumental to decipher the molecular mechanisms driving ISC maturation under physiological conditions. The project will be initiated with the fine mapping of ISC origin in the fetal epithelium using cell tracing techniques. Then I will characterize how fetal ISCs acquire adult properties at the molecular level. In the host laboratory we hypothesize that differentially expressed transcription factors are responsible for the unique characteristics of fetal and adult ISCs. Recently, using gene expression profiling comparing fetal and adult intestinal cells I have identified specific endodermal transcription factors overexpressed in the immature structures. I expect through the modulation of such factors to trigger the intestinal maturation. To ensure the transferability of the results into clinics I will combine studies with murine models and cells from human fetal and adult intestines.

Mots clés : tissue maturation, fetal intestine, intestinal stem cells, intestinal cell transplantation

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €
Projet PBStressERMCSs (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

One of the first responses to eukaryotic cellular stress is the formation of cytoplasmic granules like processing bodies (PBs) and stress granules (SGs). PBs are membrane-less structures that are dynamic in their assembly/disassembly and composition depending on the type of stress that they encounter. While glucose starvation is the main stress applied to study PB formation and dynamics, much less is known about PBs under other stresses, especially endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial/lysosomal stresses. We propose to study the formation, content and dynamics of PBs under ER and mitochondrial/lysosomal stresses, together with their turnover (autophagy/dissolution) during stress recovery. I plan to use pharmacological and acute genetic interventions to induce stresses. PBs will be purified according to the established protocol in the laboratory, which enables subsequent Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis for proteins and RNA-sequencing for the RNA content. Probing stress response further, we will also perform total RNA-sequencing and Ribosome-profiling. The fate of specific sets of mRNAs will be determined by FISH-IF and RNA decay analysis, thereby identifying the signals effectuating PB localization and fate (storage or decay) during ER and mitochondrial/lysosomal stress. The study will be extended to check conservation of PB stress response in mammalian cells. The proposed research will provide a holistic view on the pathways that are up- or down-regulated during ER and mitochondrial/lysosomal stress, the identification of common pathways between the different stresses and PB -mRNA and protein- turnover. This project will be of high impact in the fields of cancer, cell, and neuro biology.

Mots clés : rna decay, endoplasmic reticulum membrane contact sites  er mcss, processing bodies, organellar stress response, autophagy

Participants :
- University of Basel (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet L6b (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

One of the fundamental challenges in neuroscience research is to understand how diverse sensory inputs leading to the specific behavioral outcome and what are the networks underlie eliciting such behaviors. This question may only be answered when measurements of structural and functional properties of individual neurons are integrated into a coherent framework, which would then allow numerically simulate (in silico) different networks to predict possible behavioral outcomes. The ‘building block’ for a network model relies on anatomical and physiological data such as neuron input, neuron output, and physiological properties collected from animal experiments. The input can be determined by reconstructing dendrites, functional properties of the neuron can be estimated by obtaining electrophysiological measurements, and output can be determined by reconstructing by their 3D axon branching pattern. Current proposed project work will address some of the building blocks such as projection targets of single neurons upon a specific behavioral expression and their presynaptic partners that are responsible for eliciting such behaviors. Specifically, I will investigate the electrophysiological properties and anatomical connectivity of L6 neurons (L6b) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using state-of-the-art techniques and tools such as modified rabies virus labeling and neuron tracing, DREADD technology and optogenetics in a transgenic mouse line that selectively expresses Cre-recombinase in a subpopulation of layer 6b neurons. Exploring mPFC neural circuits may not only provide more in-depth insight on to its involvement in cognitive behaviors but also in a variety of psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). The outcome of this study will establish the functional role of L6b of the mouse medial prefrontal cortex to its specific involvement in eliciting specific behavioral outcomes.

Mots clés : layer 6, medial prefrontal cortex, dreadd

Participants :
- University of Oxford (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet IMFDforHIC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

One of the fundamental questions in the field of high-energy physics is what are the properties of strongly interacting matter at high temperature or density, when one expects a transition from hadronic degrees of freedom to deconfined matter, quark-gluon plasma (QGP), where the degrees of freedom are quarks and gluons. Experimentally such matter can be studied in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, and there are currently two major collider experiments, the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, performing such studies. Currently, there are strong indications that a small droplet of nearly thermalized QGP is indeed formed in these collisions. Extracting the properties of the matter from experimental data is, however, challenging, and requires a good understanding of the dynamical evolution of the system. With the present computational techniques it is not possible to solve the evolution directly from the theory of strong interactions, QCD, but phenomenological models are needed to describe the evolution, and determine how the properties of the matter are reflected in the experimental observables. In order to reliably extract the properties of the formed matter, it is essential that the models describe simultaneously as many experimental observables as possible. Furthermore, it is important that the validity of the theoretical models and uncertainties associated with the used approximations and input parameters are properly addressed. The main goals of the proposed research are: (i) reduce and quantify the uncertainties in the modeling of the spacetime evolution of the system formed in the collisions, and (ii) find constraints for the unknown properties of strongly interacting matter from the currently available experimental data.

Mots clés : quark gluon plasma, relativistic fluid dynamics

Participants :
- Goethe University Frankfurt (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet BIOSTISYM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

One of the greatest challenges in the EU and worldwide is the reduction of negative environmental impact of modern agriculture. One often overlooked aspect here is the negative impact of intensive chemical inputs on the key ecophysiological features of terrestrial plants, symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic microorganisms. The use of environmentally friendly products such as plant biostimulants generated from waste products may hold the key to new sustainable crop production systems. Aim of this project is the development of a new biostimulant based on feather protein hydrolyzate, a waste product that would otherwise be disposed with the negative impact on the environment, which can enhance plant growth and/or stress resistance, and act in synergy with symbiotic microbes and/or promote their growth/functioning. Synergistic effects of tested biostimulant and the symbiotic microbes on the growth promotion of wheat will be studied at the level of plant biometric parameters, biomass yield, nutrients and photosynthetic apparatus. The indirect plant mediated effects of biostimulant foliar treatments on root colonization by symbiotic microbes, their functional enzymatic activities and community structure will be determined. This project will enable the Researcher to acquire professional maturity in the sector of plant-microbe interactions related to biostimulants’ research. The involvement of the private sector by a secondment will facilitate the commercial exploitation of the results. The new biostimulant product, which contributes to synergistic or growth promoting action of certain mycorrhizal fungi, would be the complete novelty on the market with biostimulants. The project will increase the awareness of the society on the necessity of development of eco-friendly agricultural products for sustainable crop management, and on the need of biostimulants’ regulation by EU laws.

Mots clés : plant biostimulant, feather protein hydrolyzate, symbiosis, mycorrhiza, endophytes, synergism, plant growth promotion

Participants :
- Czech Academy of Sciences (Rép. Tchèque) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 142720.8 €
Projet HALO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

One of the greatest challenges of the 21st century is to meet the world’s future food security and sustainability needs despite the rapid and large declines in suitable resources needed for the agricultural expansion required in the foreseeable future. As a result, interest in saline resources has escalated over the years but, notwithstanding great efforts from the scientific and breeding community, success in the development of salt tolerant crops remains elusive. For major breakthrough in crop breeding for salt tolerance, there is an urgent need to look at new options to find previously unexplored traits and mechanisms. With a multi-disciplinary approach and state-of-the-art biophysical and molecular techniques used in plant molecular biology, ion transport biology, halophyte ecophysiology and electrophysiology, the project will reveal the fine print of one of the most interesting mechanisms evolved by plants to deal with excess salts and thrive in these otherwise hostile environments. Given that dicotyledonous halophytes use sodium as a cheap osmoticum, the main objective of the project is to unravel the complementary morphological, physiological and anatomical characteristics that enable them to deal with cytotoxic sodium. The project will focus on four distinct halophytic species (facultative vs. obligate and with vs. without salt bladders): Atriplex nummularia, Chenopodium quinoa, Salicornia dolichostachya and Beta vulgaris ssp. marittima. By understanding how these different halophytes orchestrate efficient vacuolar Na sequestration with greater cytosolic K retention and bladder cell-based desalination, this project is expected to led the way to uncharted pathways to pinpoint key biological mechanisms that could improve tolerance in traditional salt sensitive crops. Public engagement activities and contact with the scientific and agricultural community will ensure a rapid transfer of knowledge and improve the likelihood of developing new salt tolerant crops.

Mots clés : salinity, halophytes

Participants :
- University of Florence (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 268518.6 €
- University of Tasmania (Australie) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet AFOREST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

One of the greatest challenges of the 21st century is to mitigate global climate changes caused by increasing emissions of greenhouse gases. Since soils constitute a larger carbon (C) pool than the vegetation and atmosphere together an important strategy could be to sequester more C in soils. Plant-soil interactions play an important role for ecosystem services such as C sequestration and N retention in soil and such interactions receive increasing attention among scientists and policymakers. Novel techniques such as next generation sequencing methods in combination with analysis of C stock patterns under different tree species present an opportunity to highlight complex processes and mechanisms which underlie C and N fluxes in soil. The proposed research is designed to (1) explore litter-mediated effects of common European tree species on C and N turnover in soil, (2) characterize effects of tree species on community structure and composition of soil biota, (3) evaluate the impact of common European tree species on metabolic diversity and structure and composition of functional genes related to C and N turnover: and finally, (4) to synthesize the role of soil biota for C and N turnover in soils. The research will be carried out within a unique common garden experiment with monoculture stands of six common European tree species; the broadleaves beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.), lime (Tilia cordata L.), sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and the conifer Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The proposed Marie-Curie fellowship is promising to highlight impacts of common European trees on complex interactions among soil microbiota and soil fauna and highlights their role for C and N stocks and fluxes. Results obtained from this research will contribute to bridge gaps in ecological theory in term of ecosystem functions and services.

Mots clés : next generation sequencing, metagenomiscs, common garden, c and n fluxes, tree species

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 200194.8 €
Projet MetaDryNet (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

One of the greatest challenges of the 21st century is to understand and mitigate the effects of climate change on earth ecosystems. Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of hydrological droughts worldwide. In rivers, drying (i.e. the loss of surface water) is a severe disturbance that alters biodiversity and ecosystem functions such as organic matter (OM) decomposition with often negative consequences for ecosystem services (e.g. water purification) and human activities (e.g. water consumption). River networks are an aquatic continuum in a terrestrial matrix in which OM is transported, and organisms disperse laterally: from terrestrial to aquatic environment, vertically: from the riverbed surface to the subsurface and longitudinally: along the network. Drying, modifies OM transport and dispersal by cutting the water continuum, potentially altering an entire river network´s OM decomposition dynamics, and hence carbon cycling and CO2 emissions. Although, much is known about the effect of drying at local scales, very little is known about its effects at the entire river network scale. Only studies done at an appropriate large scale can adequately inform and help to develop an adaptive management that minimizes drying impacts on river ecosystems and human activities. By combining meta-analysis, network-scale field experiments and modelling, MetaDryNet will explore the effects of drying on OM transport and decomposer organism dispersal to determine how drying affects OM decomposition and CO2 emissions in river networks. Using new technologies, novel ecological theories and complex modelling approaches this research is highly innovative and will allow to improve our understanding of how resources and biodiversity are linked in space and time in drying river networks. This project will contribute to advance ecological theories but also offer guidance for river management and conservation under global changes.

Mots clés : meta ecosystem, meta community, river network, organic matter decomposition, climate change, drying, drought, invertebrates, microorganisms

Participants :
- Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 184707.84 €