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

The microbiota-host crosstalk is crucial for several processes in the gut and its dysregulation is a hallmark of diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Despite its key relevance for a holistic understanding of human (patho)physiology, how this crosstalk affects the cellular and molecular programs in the intestine remains is yet to be fully understood, mainly due to a lack of suitable technologies and models. It is known that one of the ways that the gut microbiota interacts with the host is via metabolite production. Among these, octadecanoids, lipid mediators from 18-carbon (18-C) polyunsaturated fatty acids, are poorly studied in the context of the gut despite their high abundance and diversity. Studies on this topic have only focused on inflammation, neglecting the mucosal healing response, highly relevant for IBD outcome and CRC tumorigenesis. In GUTMATES, I will use a new zebrafish model of intestinal damage/regeneration- and organoid-based screening platforms, together with murine colitis models, spatial transcriptomics, metabolomics, metagenomics, and clinical readouts to visualize the effect of microbial octadecanoids in intestinal regeneration. This project will provide the first large-scale exploration of how these metabolites modulate the mucosal healing process in vivo, as well as giving a multi-omic atlas of the impact of selected 18-C compounds in the mouse colon during regeneration. My ultimate aim with GUTMATES is to have a comprehensive view of the mucosal healing landscape given by gut microbial octadecanoids, to eventually find compounds or microbes that can be exploited for regeneration-based therapies in IBD and biomarkers for CRC.

Mots clés : intestinal regeneration, gut microbial metabolites, lipid mediators, zebrafish, organoids, inflammatory bowel diseases

Participants :
- Institut Karolinska (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 236340.0 €
Projet cdiGMPBP (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Nucleotide signaling plays an important role in the adjustment of microbial physiology and metabolism. These signaling systems are involved in the regulation of all physiological processes including biofilm formation, virulence, environmental survival, and phage defense. One of the most prominent nucleotide-based second messenger molecules is the ubiquitous second messenger cyclic di-GMP. Cyclic di‐GMP synthesizing and hydrolyzing proteins, GGDEF and EAL domain proteins, respectively, are widely present across bacterial phyla, numerous within genomes, and highly conserved throughout the phylogenetic tree. However, there is still limited understanding of c-di-GMP binding receptors, since they are diverse, not necessarily characterized by common signature binding motifs, and still require experimentation to be identified.  Having established a novel screen for cyclic di-GMP binding proteins based on alterations in thermal stability (PISA), this project aims to identify and characterize novel c-di-GMP binding receptors of the gastrointestinal pathogen Salmonella typhimurium as a model organism. Candidate c-di-GMP binding proteins will be verified by alternative approaches. Verified receptors will be assessed using microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and genetic engineering approaches. While new cyclic di-GMP binding proteins will be predominantly characterized in Salmonella typhimurium, novel and improved screens for cyclic di-GMP binding proteins based on mass-spectrometry-based DRaCALA and isolation of cellular nanomachines like ribosomes will be developed and partially investigated as research resources. Successful conduction of this post-doctoral project will expand the number of c-di-GMP receptors, discover novel underlying mechanisms of regulation by c-di-GMP, and thus significantly improve our understanding of the multilayer regulation of microbial pathways that contribute to the exceptional adaptation and evolution of bacteria.

Mots clés : cyclic di gmp, c di gmp binding proteins, receptors, salmonella typhimurium, mass spectrometry, bacterial physiology, biofilm formation

Participants :
- Institut Karolinska (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 236340.0 €
Projet RelSpinHydro (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

This proposal establishes connections between fluid dynamics, quantum field theory, and mathematical physics to develop new tools to better characterise out-of-equilibrium properties of relativistic quantum many-body systems. My work is instrumental to understand the emergence of novel fluid-like behaviours which are not apparent in the fundamental laws. The focus of my research is the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), an exotic phase of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) where quarks and gluons are not confined inside of nucleons. The QGP is formed in relativistic heavy-ion collisions performed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). A huge surprise was the discovery that the QGP behaves as a relativistic liquid with very special properties, namely, it flows with the lowest specific viscosity of any known liquid, and it is by far the system with the largest vorticity ever observed. Such large vorticity triggers particle polarisation, which is a phenomenon resembling the magnetisation displayed by a ferromagnet that is spinning around an axis. This effect shows the interplay between a macroscopic quantity, the fluid rotation, and a microscopic quantity, which is inherently of quantum nature: the spin of the particles. The recent observation of polarisation phenomena of hadrons emitted from the rotating QGP in heavy-ion collisions calls for a new formulation of relativistic fluids where spin degrees of freedom are crucial to the dynamics -- this is called relativistic spin hydrodynamics. Despite fluid dynamics being an old subject, the formulation of the full causal and stable theory of relativistic spin hydrodynamics which can be used for theoretical predictions is yet to be developed.  Expected outcomes from this proposal include: * the formulation of causal and stable theories of relativistic spin hydrodynamics, * their extensions to the far-from-equilibrium regime, * applications to QGP physics.

Mots clés : relativistic hydrodynamics, heavy ion collisions, quark gluon plasma

Participants :
- Organisation européenne pour la recherche nucléaire (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 210789.12 €
Projet RAD TORCH (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Reliable and precise Standard Model predictions are becoming increasingly important in searches for new physics as the gap closes between experiment and theory. At CERN I will perform the first physical-quark-mass calculation of resonant form factors, including B → K*. This will allow future analyses of the LHCb data set to give significantly stronger probes of flavour non-universality and pave the way to discover new physics from the current 2.5σ tension in the R(K*) ratio of branching fractions observed at LHCb.  Access to those form factors can be gained by studying rare decay processes like B→K* ℓ+ ℓ− . These processes, which involve neutral-current b→s quark transitions, are forbidden at tree level in the Standard Model. The resonant final state poses a particular challenge on the lattice due to its Euclidean formalism, which requires a careful study of the finite volume spectrum which can be related to pion-kaon asymptotic scattering states. The computational strategy is the distillation technique, which projects computationally expensive propagators into a subspace to be re-used efficiently. I have written high-performance-computing (HPC) code for distillation as part of the lattice QCD softwares Grid and Hadrons. This is free, open-source and runs in data production on various computing architectures, including GPU-based ones.  The other main challenge of the computation of B → K* form factors is the treatment of the heavy-quark on the lattice. My work on B-meson mixing has demonstrated the viability of using a fully relativistic action for the heavy quark with fully controlled systematic errors. The combination of the careful treatment of the resonant effects and the innovative approach to incorporate the heavy quark will be essential to advance the precision physics goals in the B-sector, as well as provide the platform to study other related processes like Kγ → Kπ from QCD.

Mots clés : lattice qcd, resonances, spectroscopy, b physics

Participants :
- Organisation européenne pour la recherche nucléaire (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 210789.12 €
Projet HyNNet NISQ (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The objective of HyNNet NISQ is to develop tools based on hybrid quantum-classical algorithms for the characterization and measurement of quantum states prepared on near-term quantum computers.  Currently available quantum devices can perform computations that are challenging for classical computers. However, applications of quantum computers in science and economy require a further development of quantum hardware and algorithms. One of the major challenges is the measurement and characterization of quantum states produced as an output of quantum algorithms. Standard diagnostic techniques have become limited due to the quickly increasing system size and complexity of quantum devices. Here I will integrate adaptive quantum algorithms with classical artificial neutral networks to design hybrid quantum-classical neural networks. Employing machine learning techniques, I will train the hybrid neural networks to identify underlying characteristics of quantum states.  I will develop characterization and measurement tools required for the simulation of condensed matter physics and quantum chemistry on near-term quantum computers. First, I will investigate how to design and train hybrid neural networks to recognize quantum phases of matter, focusing on strongly correlated systems and topological order. Second, I will study how to exploit hybrid neural networks to reconstruct the full quantum state describing all properties of a quantum system. I will use this technique to efficiently measure quantities required for condensed matter physics and quantum chemistry simulations. The hybrid neural networks developed here can be readily realized on near-term quantum computers. Therefore, they will provide key tools for the development of quantum algorithms and next-generation quantum hardware.  I (Dr. Petr Zapletal) will carry out the proposed research with the input and advice from Prof. Christoph Bruder (University of Basel) and Prof. Michael J. Hartmann (FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg).

Mots clés : nisq computers, quantum phase recognition, quantum measurements, quantum state tomography, variational quantum algorithms, quantum machine learning, neural networks

Participants :
- Université Friedrich-Alexander d'Erlangen-Nuremberg (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 218666.88 €
- Université de Bâle (Suisse) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet FolLyway2HIT (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the second most common B cell neoplasm, characterized by the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation, resulting in deregulated BCL2 oncoprotein (BCL2tx+). In situ follicular neoplasia (ISFN) represents an early precursor lesion, histologically identified as BCL2+/CD10+ Germinal Centers (GC), that might progress into FL. Spatial and temporal genomic analysis in FL revealed that its transformation into aggressive high-grade MYC/BCL2 Double-Hit lymphoma (DHL) arises predominantly from a common precursor that clonally diverges upon the acquisition of genetic hits through iterative GC transitions. Expansion of FL B cells requires the presence of a functional B cell- receptor (BCR), which can be expressed in either unswitched (immunoglobulin M (IgM) or switched (IgG/IgA) isotype. Preliminary data from the hosting laboratory showed an isotype-dependent regulation of Ig levels in FL and MYC/BCL2 DHLs prompting the hypothesis that specific IgH classes may differentially impact pre-tumoral FL lesions, shaping the transforming trajectory of ISFN cells, overt FL cells and finally giving rise to DHL. Using state-of-the-art technologies, including single-cell and spatially-resolved transcriptomics and genetics analyses, I will define IgH-class dependent transcriptional changes in the transition from ISFN to FL and, eventually, DHL and the influence of specific isotype to shape intra and inter tumor heterogeneity and tumor mutational landscape. Finally, I propose to determine whether the immunoregulatory activity of tumor-infiltrating immune/stromal cells is influenced by the expression of defined Ig-isotypes in lymphoma cells. Overall, this action will establish previously uncharacterized roles for distinct IgH classes to determine transforming trajectories promoting the transformation of BCL2tx+ GC B cells into first FL, and later DHL, providing novel clinically relevant biomarkers predicting patient outcome and tumor evolution.

Mots clés : in situ follicular neoplasia, follicular lymphoma, double hit lymphoma, spatial transcriptomics, immunoglobulin classes, b cell antigen receptor signaling

Participants :
- IFOM (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet SPADE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Demographic expertise has become a crucial perspective in debates around the development of modern welfare states. Since the 1960s, many reforms answer to demographic changes (e.g. ageing societies); and demographic calculations are now regularly used for the technical construction of social protection policies. In public debates, demographic statistics also serve as an objectifying rhetoric, legitimising welfare state reforms as necessary or inescapable. However, demography is not a black box: what exactly is counted in demographic assessments (age, sex, fertility, migration) varies a lot, between national contexts and historically over recent decades. This project examines from a historical and comparative perspective how demography became a core element of modern welfare state policies since the 1960s. By analysing three fields of the welfare state (old-age pensions programs, health care and family policies) in three representative European countries (France, Italy and Switzerland), SPADE aims to identify which actors and which institutions contributed to making the problem of the demographic sustainability of social protection systems a political priority, and which solutions were envisaged. The project thus broadens the historiography of the welfare states, traditionally marked by approaches from social and political history, with novel perspectives from the history of science. By combining transnational and comparative approaches and by looking at the origins of the discourse about the so-called “welfare state crisis”, SPADE cast a new light on the transformations that the welfare state as a whole has undergone since the 1970s.

Mots clés : demographic thinking, welfare state crisis, ageing, family policies, social security

Participants :
- Université de Padoue (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 297164.16 €
- Université de Bâle (Suisse) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet CONstrainCONverge (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Is evolution predictable? In CONstrainCONverge, I aim to understand evolutionary mechanisms governing predictability in adaptive evolution, by asking why some genes are more likely reused by adaptation than others. Despite a rich theoretical background, systematic analysis of the mechanisms underlying convergence is lacking in complex multicellular organisms. That limits application of convergent evolutionary concepts in repeated evolution of socio-economically relevant traits such as resistance to pathogens, pesticides or pollution. To fill in this gap, I will study genetic constraints of convergent adaptation towards stressful alpine environments in plant model genus Arabidopsis. Eight independently evolved populations of alpine Arabidopsis provide a unique model of environmental adaptation, allowing to leverage an unprecedented range of genetic and experimental resources to address fundamental evolutionary questions. During my PhD I characterized this system from a population genomic point of view, preparing a ground for experimental genetic validations. In the outgoing phase, I will bring this experience to the host lab of Prof. Peichel at the University of Bern (UBERN), an expert in the evolutionary genetics of convergence in fishes. Systematic training in the host lab and three international research visits will broaden my bioinformatics and experimental skills. I will learn new multidisciplinary approaches bridging the fields of evolutionary genomics and molecular genetics through the combination of transcriptomics, statistical genomics, and functional experiments. I will return to Charles University (CU) to share the newly gained skills with local researchers and gain further training in functional genetics and transferable skills under the supervision of Prof. Lafon Placette, aiming to improve my teaching and leadership skills and establish my own research group in evolutionary genetics, a virtually non-existent field in Czech research environment.

Mots clés : adaptation, convergence, population genomics, gene regulatory networks, pleiotropy, fitness, arabidopsis

Participants :
- Université Charles de Prague (Rép. Tchèque) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 309768.48 €
- Université de Berne (Suisse) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet Droscreeneuro (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Ensuring a healthy lifespan in an increasingly ageing society represents a priority and a challenge for research and innovation. Particularly, irreversible neurodegenerative conditions are becoming hallmarks in the elderly, imposing a severe socioeconomic burden and ultimately threatening quality of life. Promoting adult neurogenesis has the potential to rejuvenate neural circuits restoring cognitive functions. High-throughput models of adult neurogenesis can expedite the identification of mechanisms and compounds for the development of neuro-regenerative therapies. I have evidence for physiologic and drug-induced adult neurogenesis in the genetically conserved and highly tractable model Drosophila melanogaster. Here, I aim to i) characterize adult neurogenesis across Drosophila’s lifespan; ii) identify drugs promoting neurogenesis in ageing in vivo, using the Drosophila olfactory circuit as an experimental platform; iii) test primary drug hits for their potential to promote neurogenesis on hiPSC-NSC in vitro (Host: UGOE, DE; Secondments: MPI-CE, DE; Weizmann, IL; DZNE, DE). Next, during a Non-academic placement in a translational drug discovery company, I aim to profile prioritized hits promoting neuronal regeneration (LDC, DE). My unique background in chemical engineering and biosciences will be pivotal to successfully complete this project. By leveraging state-of-the-art tools and support from experts in the field, Droscreeneuro represents an innovative, ambitious, and translationally-relevant approach towards the development of regenerative therapies aimed at counteracting age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Dissemination of results between specialized and general audiences will make science open to all. Ultimately, exposure to high-quality training in the academic and non-academic sectors will substantially enhance my skills and career perspectives, to conduct research in academia and industry to promote society's wellbeing.

Mots clés : in vivo drug screening, adult neuronal regeneration, nervous system rejuvenation, learning and memory, sensory systems, drosophila, hipsc, nsc, transcriptomics, drug profilling, industry

Participants :
- Brainqr therapeutics gmbh (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- University Medical Center Göttingen (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Göttingen (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 237109.2 €
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet PhaSeAD (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) are a major global health concern, affecting millions and placing significant economic burdens on healthcare systems. Despite advancements in understanding AD pathogenesis, effective treatments remain elusive. PhaSeAD (Phase separation in Alzheimer's disease and Phase-separated c-Abl dynamics) aims to explore the role of the c-Abl protein kinase in AD pathogenesis, focusing on its interaction with liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Objectives include understanding c-Abl phosphorylation specificity using NMR spectroscopy to study its interaction with substrates Tau and PSD-95, providing insights into c-Abl's substrate specificity and phosphorylation selectivity. Additionally, we will explore c-Abl function within LLPS droplets using biochemical assays like ITC and kinase assays to assess its activity inside and outside LLPS droplets. Fluorescence microscopy techniques like FRAP and FCS will visualize and quantify c-Abl dynamics within LLPS droplets and its interaction with other LLPS components. Furthermore, we will investigate the role of c-Abl and LLPS in regulating cytoskeletal dynamics, crucial for neuronal function and disrupted in AD. High-resolution microscopy techniques, including super-resolution and electron microscopy, will visualize and quantify the impact of c-Abl and LLPS on cytoskeletal assembly and organization. Live-cell imaging techniques will assess their impact on neuronal morphology and function. Expected outcomes include a comprehensive understanding of c-Abl's behavior within LLPS droplets, its impact on Tau and PSD-95 phosphorylation, and its regulatory role in cytoskeletal homeostasis. These findings will enhance our understanding of c-Abl's involvement in AD pathogenesis and may lead to novel therapeutic targets for developing effective treatments for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Mots clés : protein kinase, structural dynamics, liquid liquid phase separation, cytoskeleton homeostasis

Participants :
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 217965.12 €