Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet RandNET (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Large Networks is one of the key notions in contemporary science and technology. The availability of massive amounts of data and interaction between individuals of large populations of any kind, whether biological, social or computer units, places network analysis at the forefront of current scientific challenges. The mathematical foundations of large networks have now become the focus of research in the later decades from diverse perspectives. The project RandNET brings together leading researchers worldwide from the areas of combinatorics, probability theory, computer science and statistics with the aim of blending approaches from these areas in the rigorous mathematical foundations for analysing random networks. The whole project is driven by real applications in data science and learning on large networks. This is planned through an alliance between academic and industrial partners. A second goal of the project is to establish a wide platform of knowledge dissemination on the topic of randomness and learning in networks for use of specialists from all scientific disciplines.

Mots clés : networks  random graphs  machine learning  combinatorics  algorithms

Participants :
- TU Wien (Autriche) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 69000.0 €
- Pompeu Fabra University (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 50600.0 €
- Eindhoven University of Technology (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 82800.0 €
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 105800.0 €
- University of Chile (Chili) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Nokia networks france (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 55200.0 €
- École polytechnique (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of California System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Georgia tech research corporation (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- McGill University (Canada) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Brésil) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 101200.0 €
- Charles University (Rép. Tchèque) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 78200.0 €
- University of Oxford (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 119600.0 €
Projet PLANT-RNA-MET (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Modifications to mRNA, collectively known as the epitranscriptome, comprise a neglected layer of gene regulation. The most abundant internal modification of mRNA is methylation of adenosine (m6A). The aim of this proposal is to explain a recently discovered interplay between mRNA methylation, gene silencing and gene expression in plants. Specific expressed Arabidopsis genes contain transposons within them that bear localised silencing marks that include methylation of DNA and modifications to histone proteins. The antagonism between stretches of so-called heterochromatin that should be “silent”, in genes that must be expressed, appears to provide a novel means to tune gene expression. Crucially, the Arabidopsis immune response gene RPP7 is regulated in this way. Recent findings suggest a link between mRNA methylation and intragenic heterochromatin: (1) The RNA binding protein FPA co-purifies with Arabidopsis m6A writers. (2) RNA-Sequencing analysis of fpa mutants and m6A writer complex mutants reveals changes in transcription through intragenic heterochromatin. (3) RNA-Sequencing maps m6A to intragenic heterochromatin. To determine the role of mRNA methylation in analyzed interplay, the order of events will be resolved by parallel measurement of heterochromatin (H3K9me2, m5C) and m6A marks in mutants defective in factors that control these marks. The directness by which FPA and mRNA methylation influences these events will be examined by ChIP-Seq and iCLIP-Seq of FPA and m6A writer complex components. The epigenetic stability of disrupting intragenic heterochromatin will be determined in stable lines with inducible FPA and m6A writer expression. Overall, we will assess a new role of mRNA methylation in tuning expression of crucially important plant genes.

Mots clés : arabidopsis, epitranscriptome, transposons, transcription termination, heterochromatin

Participants :
- University of Dundee (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet REINFORMATION (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Molecular Communications (MC) is the nature’s way of networking at nanoscale, observed in almost all biological systems, including bacterial populations and nervous system. MC has been widely studied to enable the networks of artificial nanoscale devices promoting new high-impact applications such as intrabody continuous health monitoring with mobile nanosensor networks. At the core of the natural MC systems lies the ligand-receptor (LR) binding interactions, which provide the selectivity of information transfer. Likewise, LR interactions are essential for artificial MC systems to have a selective and reliable channel/receiver interface in the form of a biorecognition layer consisting of ligand receptors. Recent studies have revealed the dramatic impact of LR interactions on the overall MC performance in terms of channel bandwidth, molecular interference, receiver sensitivity and dynamic range, posing a multi-objective optimisation problem. The aim of REINFORMATION is to understand, optimise and engineer the LR interactions for high data-rate and reliable MC systems. To this end, the project will first deliver a realistic theoretical modelling and optimisation framework for MC accompanied by a microfluidic experimental test and validation platform with graphene aptasensor-based MC receivers. The framework will provide the first experimentally validated micro/nanoscale MC models, and enable the optimisation of binding affinity and kinetic rates of LR interactions from the MC perspective. The optimisation results will guide the rational design of new aptamer receptors for target information-carrying proteins, which will then be implemented on the experimental platform. The project will finally provide novel MC modulation and detection techniques, exploiting the LR interactions for high data-rate and reliable MC. Combining expertise in MC, nanotechnology, and computational biology, the project will remove a major barrier to the development of practical MC applications.

Mots clés : molecular communications, nanonetworks, nanoscale communications, biosensors, nanosensors, microfluidics, receiver, ligand receptor interactions, detection, modulation, internet of bio nano things

Participants :
- Koç University (Turquie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 145355.52 €
Projet MICROSCOPE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Molecular diffusion of organics within secondary organic aerosol (SOA), a main class of tropospheric particles, controls predictions of particle mass, size, mixing state, and cloud formation properties, thus SOA’s role for air quality, atmospheric chemistry and climate. Despite that, measurements of diffusion coefficients of organics in SOA at low, tropospheric relevant temperatures (T) are largely missing. The objectives of MICROSCOPE are to directly measure diffusion coefficients of organic molecules in SOA particles at T < 290 K, improve parametrizations used to estimate diffusion, test predictions of diffusivity in atmospheric models and assess the impacts on particle chemistry, by the combination of development of innovative instrumentation, experimental and modelling work. Measuring diffusion coefficients as a function of water activity (aw) and temperature, will be achieved by developing a new flow cell with simultaneous and in-situ T and aw-control for rectangular area fluorescence recovery after photobleaching measurements. The chemical composition of the SOA samples will be determined using high-resolution mass spectrometry, with the goal to improve existing parametrizations used to estimate the diffusion of organics in SOA and derive new ones that directly relate chemical composition to diffusion coefficients. The new T and aw-dependent parametrization will be used along with model output to verify if tropospheric mixing times of organics in SOA particles are < 1 h. Finally, the impact of diffusion of organics on SOA particle reactivity and chemistry will be determined through measuring the degradation rates of peroxides within SOA particles, using aerosol flow tube and X-ray microscopy experiments. By combining the expertise of two research groups in North America and Europe, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, and small and large-scale instrumentation, both the scientific as well as the training goals of this action will be reached.

Mots clés : secondary organic aerosol particles, diffusion coefficient, diffusion, aerosol particles, aerosol processes, mass transport, x ray microscopy, rfrap, soa chemistry, microscopy

Participants :
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 247606.08 €
- University of British Columbia (Canada) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet ProgNanoRobot (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Molecular machines are among the most complex of all functional molecules and lie at the heart of nearly every biological process. The controlled manipulation of molecular-level structures through programmable small-molecule robotics is a fabulous challenge that could lead us towards the dawn of an era of useful molecular nanotechnology. “ProgNanoRobot” project aims to design, construct and investigate the operation of artificial molecular nanorobots capable of transporting a molecule cargo in a programmable fashion. We will develop key methodologies needed to manipulate molecular fragments using a molecular robotic arm operating through the formation and cleavage of dynamic covalent bonds, building on a rotary switch in which the rotor and stator can be positioned with respect to each other. We will explore different component types to find the best programmable small-molecule robotic systems and develop a toolbox of robotic machine components. We will use them as the basis for molecular machines that can transport molecular cargoes of biological relevance over long distances and to select between different cargoes and move them between multiple sites on molecular platforms in either direction. Moreover, we will employ a chemical fuel that induces pH oscillations in the reaction medium to allow the autonomous operation of these systems, a key development to reach the full potential of molecular machines, which will enable them to work as effective molecular assembly lines. We envisage that the domain of this new generation of molecular robotics will be useful for the development of molecular-sized machines that can manipulate substrates to control sequence-specific oligomer construction and molecular manufacturing.

Mots clés : artificial molecular machines

Participants :
- University of Manchester (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet MolecularMAGNET (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Molecular magnets based molecular spintronics, in which properties of bulk magnetic materials and molecular quantum effects coexist, have received a lot of attention, with potential applications in molecular spin detection and manipulation for information storage and the realization of spin qubits for quantum computing. But, the field has been struggling with limited candidates, and there is a constant searching for new materials. Recently, nanographenes, including graphene molecules (GMs) and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have displayed great potential in the application of electronics. The combination of nanographene with spin-bearing centers has been proved to be an effective way to construct novel molecular magnetic materials. However, to achieve reliable structure-property correlations and desired functions, control of the nanographene structure at the atomic level is required. This goal can be realized through bottom-up syntheses starting with rationally designed molecular precursors. The primary objective of this project is using bottom-up synthetic approach to efficiently realize radical functionalized GMs and GNRs with defined structures, to systematically investigate the impact of their size and configuration on the behaviour of spin (multidisciplinary), and finally to reveal the intrinsic mechanism of spin-injection and interaction in molecular magnetic materials based on nanographenes (interdisciplinary). This project will create an excellent opportunity for me to build upon my own expertise in bottom-up synthesis of graphene molecules possessing atomically precise structures with the Prof. Bogani group’s experience in the research of magnetic and electronic properties of nanocarbon materials.

Mots clés : nanographene synthesis, radical spins, magnetic edge states, quantum spintronic devices

Participants :
- University of Oxford (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet COSMos (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Molecules made by nature, or natural products, inspire the majority of currently approved small molecules for use in medicine. With an increase in widespread antibiotic resistance and the perpetual search for anticancer drugs, new sources of natural products must be discovered. The marine environment is a proven, prolific source of novel bioactive molecules and much of the ocean remains chemically and genetically unexplored. The mesophotic zone is particularly neglected because of the technological difficulty of reaching this twilight zone of the ocean. Shallow water marine sponges have been well documented to have diverse microbial populations and impressive chemical repertoires. Mesophotic sponges, however, are relatively unstudied in terms of their natural product potential. This project aims to take a deep dive into the metagenomes of mesophotic sponges for their natural product potential. Hybrid sequencing and assembly of metagenomes of eight prioritized sponges will uncover new biosynthetic gene clusters for heterologous expression and chemical elucidation. This study will combine large data analyses, cutting edge molecular and synthetic biology approaches and bioinformatic techniques to survey the natural product potential of mesophotic sponges and discover new molecules with medicinal potential.

Mots clés : natural products, drug discovery, bioprospecting, heterologous expression, biosynthesis

Participants :
- Wageningen University & Research (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187572.48 €
Projet diFUME (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Monitoring CO2 emissions of urban areas has become a necessity for sustainable urban planning and climate change mitigation. The current urban inventories are based on top-down approaches that use fuel and electricity consumption statistics for determining CO2 emissions. Such approaches present consistency issues, neglect the biogenic components of the urban carbon cycle (i.e. vegetation, soil) and have restricted spatial and temporal resolution. The main goal of diFUME is to provide a robust methodology for mapping and monitoring the actual urban CO2 flux at optimum spatial and temporal scales, meaningful for urban design decisions. diFUME will develop, apply and evaluate independent models, capable to estimate all the different components of the urban carbon cycle (i.e. building emissions, traffic emissions, human metabolism, photosynthetic uptake, plant respiration, soil respiration). An innovative interdisciplinary methodology will be introduced, combining two cutting-edge technology tools, the Eddy Covariance (EC) and the latest advances in Earth Observation (EO). EC provides continuous in-situ measurements of CO2 flux at the local scale. Previous EC applications in urban areas have provided valuable insights on the holistic understanding of the urban CO2 flux according to the source/sink distribution in the highly heterogeneous urban environment. EO offers synoptic and continuous monitoring of large areas, capable of enhanced representation of the urban cover, morphology and function. Combined use of EO and EC can provide enhanced interpretation and modelling capabilities to achieve fine scale mapping and monitoring of urban CO2 flux. diFUME methodology will be developed and applied in the case study of Basel, exploiting the unique infrastructure and long-term urban EC measurements. diFUME methodology can be transferable to any city, providing an independent toolbox for consistent urban CO2 emission monitoring, supporting sustainable urban planning strategies.

Mots clés : urban climate, micrometeorology, boundary layer meteorology, turbulent fluxes, eddy covariance, carbon dioxide emissions, urban carbon dioxide flux

Participants :
- University of Basel (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet BioGraphING (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Monitoring the DNA and protein composition of cells is key to understanding most biological processes, including the molecular origins of specific diseases. To this end, the emerging field of molecular electronics offers unique opportunities for label-free single-biomolecule sensing. In particular, tunnelling current modulations caused by trapping an individual molecule in a nanoscopic gap between two electrodes can be used to discriminate species based on their electronic structure. The junction conductance is highly sensitive not only to the structure of the molecule, but also to the gap size, the voltage applied, the bonding arrangement inside the gap and the immediate molecular environment. Mechanically controlled break junctions (MCBJs) that allow the formation of closely-spaced electrodes with picometer resolution, can exert a degree of control over each of these parameters and therefore represent an ideal platform for in-situ studies at single-molecule level. In BioGraphING, I will develop the first graphene MCBJ, a unique device that will be both a model system for studying charge transport in molecular junctions at room temperature, and a sensing platform for biomolacular fingerprinting. Graphene’s atomic thinness, chemical inertness and strong in-plane bonds will lead to a device architecture with superior mechanical stability and measurement resolution. Given that a robust and reliable contact to single molecules is crucial for high junction conductance, various anchoring modes of the molecules to the graphene electrodes will be investigated (e.g. covalent bonding, π-π stacking). I will monitor the molecular conductance as a function of electrode distance and bias voltage in air, vacuum and in liquid. Combined with quantum transport simulations and statistical data analysis my final goal is to establish molecular fingerprints for amino acids and peptides with specific biological functions, an important challenge in single-molecule biophysics.


Participants :
- Delft University of Technology (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165598.8 €
Projet EBAP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Mood disorders (MDs) affect more than 300 million people. They are the third leading causes in 2017 of years lived with disability. Currently, pharmacotherapy represents the first-line option, but growing evidence suggests that although it is effective in the treatment of acute episodes, medication alone does not help many patients to achieve a functional recovery. However, despite it being established that psychotherapies are effective in treating MDs, there is still much to improve in our understanding, management, and treatment of MDs. Waiting for progress in personalized psychiatric treatment approaches that could lead to precise biological and psychosocial interventions, the treatment of MDs remained, to a large extent, “subjective clinical exercise.” Implementing evidence-based assessment (EBA) and treatment for MD is essential to reduce their burden at an individual, societal and public health levels. An efficient assessment process is essential because it leads to more accurate diagnosis, better treatment matching, increased patient engagement, and enhanced outcomes. When deciding how to conduct such EBA, the clinician has to consider the target content for the assessment, the function that the assessment could serve in the treatment context, and the different candidate assessments available. This project has three main goals: (1) to develop and evaluate (pilot study) an EBA approach to individual psychotherapy that is valid and easy enough to be administered routinely in real-world psychotherapeutic settings; (2) to roll out the EBA approach in real-world psychotherapeutic settings to investigate (randomised controlled clinical trial) how it affects psychotherapy process and outcome; (3) to disseminate/notify the project study results to both academic and clinical communities. By combining sophisticated models of therapeutic process (Contextual and Quadripartite Models) with EBA, we expect to show increases in rapport, fewer ruptures and premature treatment

Mots clés : evidenced based assessment, therapeutic relationship, psychotherapy, mood disorders

Participants :
- University of Pavia (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 263731.85 €
- University of North Carolina System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €