Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet AROSYN (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Reflexive clitics and their role in the argument structure of verbal predicates have posed significant questions for Romance and other languages. This project aims to further investigate the morpho-syntax of reflexive/SE-clitics in Romance and its consequences for argument structure, by studying SE-structures in a cluster of Aromanian varieties spoken in North-Western Greece. Aromanian is a highly endangered and heavily understudied Eastern Romance variety which is closely related to Romanian, Megleno-Romanian, and Istro-Romanian, but which has also been in close contact with Greek. Aromanian has SE-clitics which behave differently from SE-clitics in other Romance languages (including Romanian) in significant ways. One of the aims of this project is to compare the Aromanian SE-structures to those reported for Eastern Romance (with an emphasis on Daco-Romance), and Romance more generally, and to identify the grammatical features responsible for such variation. This project involves extensive fieldwork on a fairly uncharted dialect, based on solid theoretical assumptions, and it differs from previous research in that it follows a micro-parametric approach to dialectal syntax within a small set of closely related varieties.

Mots clés : aromanian, romance linguistics, morpho syntax, reflexive clitics, unaccusativity, argument structure, romanian, fieldwork, dialectology, theoretical linguistics, cultural heritage

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet ChondroCONNECT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Regenerative medicine strategies using engineered scaffolds have shown promise to regenerate cartilage in degenerative conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis, OA). However, it is clear further cues are required to control repair in situ. Small interfering (si)RNA can control protein expression but current cell delivery methods require endosome escape, limiting efficacy. Cell delivery of small molecules through connexons (Cx) bypasses the endosome and can be achieved by gap junction formation between cells and engineered Cx-containing proteoliposomes (Cx-PL). The most abundant connexin (Cx43) in cartilage cells (chondrocytes) is also a promising OA therapeutic target. It is highly upregulated in OA and is linked to inflammation, senescence, metabolic shifts and gene regulation. However, many questions remain on its mechanistic role in the disease. This project focuses on Cx43 as a therapeutic target and a delivery mechanism and aims to i) Investigate Cx43 roles in response to OA-associated proinflammatory and mechanical stimuli ii) Develop a Cx-PL delivery platform to knockdown Cx43 and restore healthy metabolism in OA. To study this I will assess chondrocyte responses to proinflammatory and mechanical signalling while controlling Cx43 expression and activity in culture. Using untargeted metabolomics, I will identify key responsive metabolic pathways and perform in vitro screens of the effects of supplementing these to promote healthy phenotypes. Finally, I will encapsulate Cx43-siRNA and a selected bioactive metabolite in Cx43-PLs, incorporate these into a collagen I-hyaluronic acid scaffold and test this delivery platform in vitro. This fellowship conducted with Prof. O’Brien at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland will enable me to build on my existing skills in two emerging fields- siRNA therapy and PL-delivery, while the exceptional training environment at RCSI will allow me to refine complementary skills that will expedite my research independence.


Participants :
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196590.72 €
Projet FAB (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Regulating services (pest regulation and pollination) are considered to be the major ecosystem services (ES) delivered by biodiversity to agriculture worldwide. Unfortunately the expansion of modern, chemical-intensive agriculture has caused widespread declines in the abundance and diversity of beneficial arthropods (e.g. bees, natural enemies of pests) and the valuable ES they provide. Increasing plant biodiversity to enhance pollinators and natural enemies in agro-ecosystems is a promising management technique to foster ES delivery. However, the translation of increased species diversity and abundance into enhanced ES provision and thus crop yield cannot be depended upon. Furthermore, ES are currently studied in isolation and potential antagonisms between ES poorly understood. With recent research suggesting that management methods for one ES may be detrimental to the other, it is imperative that these ES are no longer studied in isolation to better understand potential antagonisms / synergies. The FAB (Functional Agricultural Biodiversity) Project will, for the first time, study the effects of plant biodiversity on the delivery of these two vital ES collectively. Performed in collaboration with ECOBIO and the company Yves Rocher, the project will utilise cereal and flower fields in NW France to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of key ES-provider species and how this translates into increased ES provision (pollination and pest regulation for the farmer). Ultimately, the research aims to find solutions for the removal of barriers that prevent or limit the delivery of pest regulation and pollination by FAB and ES management strategies and enhance yield for the farmers. A 6 months secondment to Yves Rocher will offer me unique insight into industry, learning the constraints of production and necessity to develop a marketing image, further strengthening my reputation within my field and developing future collaborative relationships.

Mots clés : optimisation of ecosystem services, agriculture, pollination, pest control, crop yield, landscape management, integrated pest management, functional diversity, conservation biological control

Participants :
- Université de Rennes (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet IMSTREV (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintenance of immune homeostasis and peripheral tolerance. The unique challenge to discriminate between pathogens and commensals requires the dynamic adaptation of Tregs to the microenvironment, particularly in the intestinal mucosa. Accordingly, although Tregs are primarily generated in the thymus, they can be also generated in the periphery, and gut-draining mesenteric lymph nodes (mLN) were shown to display a higher Treg-inducing capacity compared to skin-draining peripheral LNs (pLN). Our previous data suggest that these site-specific functional differences of LNs can be attributed to fibroblastic reticular stromal cells (FRCs), and the high Treg-inducing capacity of mLN can be imprinted in LN stromal cells by commensal microbiota. To decipher the molecular details of these site-specific immune-modulatory differences we generated immortalized FRCs, and preliminary data suggest that soluble factors secreted by mLN-derived FRCs mediate the high Treg-inducing capacity of mLN. The present proposal aims to identify molecules secreted from mLN-FRCs that modulate the differentiation of naïve T cells into Tregs. Special emphasis will be laid on the novel field of intercellular communication by extracellular vesicles (EVs), and both RNA-Seq and mass spectrometry approaches will be applied to identify the critical factors on a molecular level. To formally proof the functional importance of the newly identified candidate molecules, immortalized FRCs will be genome-edited using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and tested for their Treg-inducing capacity. Gaining insight into the cellular-subcellular interactions and major molecular mechanisms of peripheral tolerance and Treg generation anticipates promising tools for future vaccine development and therapeutic applications to treat chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Mots clés : fibroblastic reticular cells, extracellular vesicles, tolerance, lymph node, regulatory t cells

Participants :
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 171460.8 €
Projet MMPCURSRT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Rehearsal is a key construct in models of immediate memory and refers to the overt or covert repetition of items to counteract forgetting. A long-standing assumption is that children younger than 7 years do not engage in rehearsal, as such children tend not to show key ‘experimental effects’ thought to be signatures of rehearsal. However, given a growing debate in the adult experimental literature on the interpretation of these effects, and more recent concerns in the developmental literature about how one should understand changes in their magnitude, the questions of when rehearsal develops, and the role that it plays in supporting serial recall in children become open once again. These are theoretically and educationally important questions that cannot be addressed with the methods currently being used, and so the proposed project adopts a novel combination of three particularly informative approaches to properly address these issues. These methods from different traditions of memory research are: self-paced presentation times to index the pauses that participants insert into a task to allow rehearsal, rehearse aloud protocols that capture the participants’ rehearsal behaviour by making this overt, and trial-by-trial self-reports of strategy use. In total, 210 children between the age of 6 and 10 years will participate in three inter-linked experiments using these methods, with the relevant covariates of short-term memory capacity, working memory capacity, and articulation speed also being measured. A major strength of the proposal is that state-of-the-art multi-level modelling of the data will allow for modelling of both participant and task effects on trial level strategy use, avoiding the problems inherent in traditional analyses. This multi-method design coupled with multi-level modelling will give unparalleled insight into the validity of different methods of strategy assessment and into the key issue of children’s strategic behaviour in memory tasks.

Mots clés : short term memory, working memory, rehearsal, verbal strategy use, children, validity of self reports

Participants :
- University of Bristol (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet BREASTCANCERSTEM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Relapse and metastasis in cancer are driven by cancer stem cells (CSC) which self-renew, give rise to tumor cell heterogeneity and are more resistant to chemotherapy. The RANK signalling pathway is implicated in a number of cancers and notably in breast carcinogenesis and metastasis. Inhibition of this pathway reduces CSCs decreasing both recurrenceRelapse and metastasis in cancer are driven by cancer stem cells (CSC) which self-renew, give rise to tumor cell heterogeneity and are more resistant to chemotherapy. The RANK signalling pathway is implicated in a number of cancers and notably in breast carcinogenesis and metastasis. Inhibition of this pathway reduces CSCs decreasing both recurrence and metastasis. RANKL inhibitors are used in breast cancer clinical trials and studies focused on RANK signalling in carcinogenesis are needed to identify patients who would benefit from treatment. RANK mediates many of its effects on cell survival, migration and chemoresistance via the PI3K/AKT pathway, activation of which confers enhanced proliferation, survival, metastatic potential and resistance to therapy in cancer. AKT is a central node in PI3K signalling and AKT isoforms play important and differential roles in carcinogenesis. RANK is also regulated by CD44, a marker of stemness and a key player in cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, survival, stem cell maintenance and chemoresistance. CD44 alternative splicing plays a pivotal role in cancer development in breast and other tissues. However, the role of CD44 and AKT isoforms in cancer is not clearly defined. In this MSCA project, I will investigate the role of the CD44-RANK-AKT crosstalk in tumorigenesis and identify CD44 and AKT isoforms regulating cancer stemness, metastasis and resistance to therapy. I hypothesize that the interplay between CD44, RANK and AKT regulates cancer stemness and the metastatic potential of breast tumor cells, and specific CD44 and AKT isoforms have vital roles in this process.

Mots clés : breast cancer, cancer stem cells, metastasis, stemness, cscs, rank, cd44

Participants :
- Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet NeMESIS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Reliable, real-time detection systems for in-vivo, continuous monitoring of biological and chemical processes consist a crucial aspect in personalised healthcare. Nevertheless, even nowadays, the medical practice still lacks of systems providing a rapid, reliable and ultra-sensitive sensing in a continuous way. Meanwhile, inflammatory markers consist a pivotal tool in clinical practice since they may be indicators of specific diseases, along with signalising the response of a patient to a specific medical treatment. Nanotechnology-based devices exhibiting memristive electrical properties show great potential for delivering highly scalable, resilient, power efficient and reconfigurable electronic systems. In addition, when those particular nanodevices are subjected to appropriate surface treatments and implemented in the role of bio-inspired sensors, they can bring solutions and introduce novelty to the bio-sensing field regarding highly sensitive and robust detection of biomarkers, while expanding and broadening the research field and applications involving memristive phenomena. In the framework of this fellowship, a flexible, low-cost miniaturised minimally invasive sensing platform will be developed, implementing memristive nanoscale devices as intelligent bio-interfaces, allowing reliable, continuous and real-time monitoring of inflammatory markers. This scheme will be accomplished by the fabrication of a memristor-based sensing platform conjugated with a sensing membrane and an accordingly designed binding assay. Validation of the sensing platform for continuous monitoring will be followed by the integration on flexible substrates for in vivo measurements and integration with readout circuitry enabling the sensing data readout and the wireless transmission to a tablet or smartphone. Finally, the sensing platform will be applied for in-vivo, real-time monitoring, for the detection of inflammatory markers and for indicating the response to an applied treatment.

Mots clés : memristors, continuous monitoring, inflammatory markers, nanoscale devices, in vivo bio detection

Participants :
- University of Southampton (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet ACCEPT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Removal precancerous polyps (so-called adenomas) during colonoscopy reduces colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. We have recently developed artificial intelligence (AI) systems which optimise colonoscopy quality by aiming at increasing the detection of adenomas. However, it is unknown if this benefit of AI translates into improved cancer prevention. To establish the role of AI in colorectal cancer prevention, we here propose a three-step research portfolio targeting individuals in the national colorectal cancer screening programmes in Norway and Poland. 1) A 1-year observational study to clarify the superiority of AI in adenoma detection in the average-risk population. 2) A cost-effectiveness analysis for cancer prevention, using real-world data obtained from the part 1 study. 3) Establishment of an infrastructure for long-term (10 years) follow-up of 40,000 individuals to quantify the effect of AI on colorectal cancer incidence. We use propensity score matching to balance the background characteristics of the two comparing arms; AI-assisted colonoscopy and standard colonoscopy. Participants are followed through national cancer registries for ten years after cancer screening. Our project is the first of its kind and made possible by the unique collaboration of world-class environments in clinical epidemiology and medical device assessment with world-leading AI developers. The project will enable evidence-based implementation of AI technologies into nationwide cancer screening programmes in Europe and the world. The project’s achievement will be maximised through detailed plans for training, monitoring, management, exploitation, dissemination, and communication. While adding essential competence to the host institution, this project will increase the applicant’s skill, especially in epidemiologic aspects, helping him obtain an independent academic position in translational research of AI for medicine.

Mots clés : cancer prevention, endoscopy

Participants :
- University of Oslo (Norvège) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 214158.72 €
Projet COMBGEOREP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Representation theory is the study of complex algebraic structures such as groups and rings via their actions on simpler algebraic structures, such as vector spaces. The naturality of this idea of studying complex problems by ‘linearisation’ means that representation theory has strong interactions with many areas of mathematics. This project lies in the area of representation theory of algebras and homological algebra. The overall goal is to develop homological and geometric methods to study representations of algebras creating links with combinatorics, group representation theory, algebraic and symplectic geometry. The principal research objectives are: 1) Use the geometry of Riemann surfaces to study skewed-gentle algebras and their tau-tilting theory. 2) Develop cluster-theoretic techniques in negative Calabi-Yau (CY) triangulated categories by: a) constructing negative CY cluster categories; b) developing the theory of simple-minded systems in stable module categories. The geometry of surfaces provides equivalences between derived categories of gentle algebras and Fukaya categories in symplectic and algebraic geometry. The extension of these methods to skewed-gentle algebras should significantly broaden the scope of this interaction between algebra and geometry. The theory of negative CY categories is considerably underdeveloped despite their occurrence in important contexts such as stable module categories in group representation theory. Cluster theory provides powerful combinatorial methods for positive CY categories which initial work by Coelho Simões suggests is amenable to development in the negative CY setting. The project will be carried out by Raquel Coelho Simões under the supervision of Jan Grabowski at Lancaster University. It will serve to establish Coelho Simões as a research leader in her field through work in a highly active research area at an institution sitting in a broad network of universities with major strength in the field.

Mots clés : calabi yau triangulated category, stable module category, skewed gentle algebra, riemann surface, geometric model, cochain dg algebra, cluster category, simple minded system, mutation

Participants :
- Lancaster University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet Tac1-Ovulation (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Reproductive health is deteriorating worldwide, via as yet unknown mechanisms. The most common cause of in/subfertility in women is ovulatory dysfunction; anovulation being associated to conditions as polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothalamic amenorrhea and premature ovarian insufficiency. Hence, better understanding of the mechanisms controlling ovulation is mandatory for improved management of reproductive disorders. While hypothalamic GnRH neurons are the major output pathway for the brain control of ovulation, upstream Kiss1 neurons, particularly in the rostral hypothalamic area in rodents, have been suggested to be crucial for the timed activation of GnRH neurons and generation of the preovulatory surge of gonadotropins that drives ovulation. However, the major regulators of this Kiss1/GnRH pathway remains ill defined. Substance P (SP, encoded by Tac1), a member of the tachykinin (TAC) family that acts via the receptor, NK1R (encoded by Tacr1), has been shown to centrally regulate gonadotropin release, and, according to our preliminary data, might modulate the pre-ovulatory surge in mice. Yet, the patho-physiological relevance of SP/NK1R signaling in ovulatory control needs to be defined. Here, we will apply functional genomics and virogenetic approaches to assess the roles and mechanisms of action of SP/NK1R signaling in the control of ovulation, with special attention to its actions in Kiss1 and GnRH neurons. To this end, we will apply (i) virogenetic-driven Tacr1 silencing in Kiss1 and GnRH neurons; (ii) tracing techniques to map Tac1 neuronal projections to Kiss1 and GnRH neurons; and (ii) chemo-genetic manipulation of Tac1 neurons, via excitatory and inhibitory DREADDs, coupled to monitoring of gonadotropin secretion and ovulation. Our project, which is based on our solid preliminary data, will expand our understanding of the mechanisms controlling ovulation and female fertility, helping to define novel strategies for reproductive control in the future.

Mots clés : health sciences, ovulation, neuroendocrinology, reproduction, kiss1, hypothalamus

Participants :
- University of Córdoba (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet DNASURF (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : MSCA other
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Request for financial support to cover the additional costs that researchers/staff members with disabilities face due to the increased costs of their mobility and/or to ensure necessary assistance by third persons or for adapting their work environment.


Participants :
- Newcastle University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 22500.0 €
Projet DARE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : MSCA other
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Request of financial support to cover the additional costs that researchers/staff members with disabilities face due to the increased costs of their mobility and/or to ensure necessary assistance by third persons or for adapting their work environment

Mots clés : disability access needs

Participants :
- University of Leeds (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 6188.0 €