Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet VALIDATIO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The main objectives of VALIDATIO are to first characterize the chemical reactions of Lead-Lithium, water, and non-condensable gases, under conditions similar to those expected for the European water cooled lead lithium (WCLL) breeding blanket (BB) under accident conditions and the creation of an experimental database for SIMMER code validation by performing series of experiments at the existing experimental facility LIFUS5/Mod3 (Brasimone, Italy) (this part of the work is very challenging since reaction characteristics of Lead-Lithium, water and non-condensable is highly sensitive to thermo-dynamic conditions of the environment (pressure, temperature, velocity etc.)) and based on obtained experimental data perform the verification and validation of SIMMER code, modification in code for irregularities found in the validation process and perform the safety analysis of WCLL-BB.The problem is very challenging since the available experimental data for code validation is extremely limited. Only very little useful information is available in the literature; therefore, a dedicated experimental campaign is always highly advantageous for code validation and verification under the accident scenario. This issue is also complicated since the interaction of fluids results in multi-component, multi-phase flow, which is very hard to model. I intend to perform a series of experiments on Lead-Lithium, water, and non-condensable chemical interaction (which I will design to accommodate for all the possible sample conditions that may encounter under WCLL-BB under different accident conditions) at the experimental facility, LIFUS5/Mod3 to obtain the database and to experimentally characterize the process. The obtained database will be utilized for the validation, verification, and modification of the SIMMER code to improve the numerical modeling capability of the code to simulate such accident scenarios.

Mots clés : fusion reactor technology, code validation, lead lithium, water, and non condensable gas chemical interaction numerical modeling, experimental database creation, safety analysis of european wcll bb

Participants :
- University of Pisa (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet GENMETASTEM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The major causes of cancer deaths are relapse and resistance to current therapies associated with the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and metastatic growth in distant organs. CSCs have the ability to self-renew and differentiate in non-CSCs. In breast cancer, acquisition of stemness properties has been closely related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process in cancer invasion and metastasis triggered via Rho-ROCK mediated actomyosin contractility. Interestingly, in melanoma, transition from elongated-mesenchymal to amoeboid mode of movement (MAT) driven by Rho-ROCK signalling has been associated with increased stemness. Furthermore, preliminary data from host lab shows that actomyosin cytoskeletal regulates glutamine metabolism in both melanoma and breast cancer cells. Metabolic cues participate in stem cell self-renewal regulation, suggesting that, in very contractile cells, the regulation of EMT, metastatic spread and tumour initiation might be functionally linked to stemness via metabolic clues. Nevertheless, how very contractile cells regulate genes involved in all these processes remains unexplored. As increasing contractility via EMT in carcinoma cells or via MAT in melanoma cells correlates with increasing stemness, we hypothesize a molecular link between the pathways regulating both migration and stemness abilities, which will be maintained across tumour types (from carcinoma to melanoma). The main goal of this proposal is to understand how tumour cells can acquire stem cell traits to successfully metastasize and how this can be regulated by the actomyosin cytoskeletal by using an interdisciplinary approach that combines state-of-the-art techniques in molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, in vivo imaging and animal models. This will allow to identify key important genes regulating both stemness traits and metastatic spread with the ultimate goal of unravelling novel drug targets and prognostic markers of distant relapse.


Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet COcOAB (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The massive reorganization of the occipital regions as a consequence of lack of vision represents one of the most remarkable examples of the plastic potentialities of the human brain. Despite the large amount of neuroimaging evidence proving the involvement of occipital areas of blind individuals in non‐visual input processing, the functional role of this sensory reorganized region is still matter of intense debate. In COcOAB, we will use an underexploited neuroimaging technique in this field, magnetoencephalography (MEG), in order to study the oscillatory profile of ensembles of occipital neurons and their brain‐wide functional interaction patterns in blind individuals. This will allow us to gather unprecedented information about the functional relevance of non‐visual activity in the occipital cortex of blind individuals. Moreover, COcOAB will assess the impact of age onset and duration of visual deprivation on the occipital oscillatory activity, thus providing insights into the relationship between blindness and sensitive periods of maturation in the visual system. The groundbreaking potentials of COcOAB reside in the application of the MEG technique to the study of two experimental domains — sensory illusions and stimulation at threshold — that has been so far neglected in the field of sensory deprivation. COcOAB represents a unique testing ground to address how specific regions support perception in a mechanistic fashion in visually deprived individuals, thus challenging the current knowledge on the functionality of these reorganized regions via a highly innovative approach.

Mots clés : crossmodal plasticity, blindness, multisensory integration, magnetoencephalography

Participants :
- University of Trento (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 168277.2 €
Projet Metabolic cost of walking (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The mechanisms underlying metabolic cost of walking are unclear. This is important not only because they provide fundamental insight in human movement, but they are also essential to reduce increased cost of walking in the elderly and impaired. To understand these mechanisms, it is required to know the link between energetics at the human level and the energetics at the muscle level. Whereas the energetics at the human level is experimentally accessible, that at the muscle level is not. Current estimations greatly overestimate actual metabolic cost and hence there is no basis understanding metabolic cost of walking. In this project I will first ever directly measure oxygen consumption of dynamically contracting muscle fibres. These experiments will be conceptually linked to in vivo experiments measuring oxygen consumption during isolated movements as well as during walking. Using these data and state-of-the art optimization techniques applied to detailed neuro-musculoskeletal models I will link energetics at the muscle level to that of a walking human and provide insight in the mechanisms underlying the metabolic cost of walking. This grant would allow the applicant to return fully to a EU research environment and would have a very significant and direct impact on my career perspective.

Mots clés : human motor control, energetics of human locomotion, biomechanics, physiology, energetics

Participants :
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 177598.8 €
Projet LEAF-OF-LIFE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The methyl erythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway in the chloroplast synthesizes isoprenoids (a class of hydrocarbons) by almost exclusively utilising carbon and energy supplied by photosynthesis in plant leaves. Volatile isoprenoids (antioxidant hydrocarbons), isoprenoid-type cytokinins (plant ‘youth’ hormone), carotenoids (photoprotective pigments), and abscisic acid (plant ‘stress’ hormone) are some of the active isoprenoid end-products of the MEP pathway that play a role in leaf senescence. We aim to quantify and model age-specific relationships between photosynthesis and MEP pathway during natural and abiotic-stress induced leaf senescence in three different plant systems: wheat (a crop), poplar (a plantation tree) and Arabidopsis (the model species for genomics). By combining leaf age-specific chloroplast energy balance estimation through photosynthesis modelling, quantification of carbon demands of isoprenoid biosynthesis using stable isotope tracing and advanced real-time analytical techniques, monitoring plastome and chloroplast integrity, and whole-epigenome sequencing, LEAF-OF-LIFE will (i) develop a versatile quantitative method for predicting leaf senescence trajectories based on the relationship between photosynthesis and isoprenoid biosynthesis during senescence and (ii) identify novel gene cascades involved in epigenomic regulation of the MEP pathway during natural and abiotic stress-induced leaf senescence. A thorough understanding of leaf age-specific changes in energy and carbon demands of isoprenoid biosynthesis will provide a strong mechanistic basis to phenology models of autumn senescence in deciduous trees. Discovery of novel gene regulatory cascades involved in age-specific changes in isoprenoid biosynthesis will be spearheading new research intended to target MEP pathway so as to alter leaf life span (delay stress-induced leaf senescence) in major global crops and plantations.

Mots clés : methyl erythritol phosphate  mep  pathway, leaf senescence, age specific epigenomics, photosynthesis, chloroplast energy balance modelling, isoprenoids, metabolic trade offs

Participants :
- National Research Council (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 180277.2 €
Projet CRESCENDO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Cofund Doctoral programme
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The microbiome is the community of microorganisms inhabiting an ecosystem along with all their genes and it plays a fundamental role in influencing the metabolic fluxes on the biosphere. Microbiome activity is essential for the life on our planet and the well-being of organisms, and research is attracting interest and investment from the industry worldwide. CRESCENDO Doctoral Programme will recruit 10 international Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) who will be involved in research and training in the Microbiome field, leading to a worldwide appreciated PhD degree valuable in terms of ESR career perspectives. UNINA applies for the MSCA-COFUND-DP through its recently established Task Force on Microbiome Studies (www.tfm.unina.it), that combines facilities and experience of more than 150 Academic scientists from 14 different UNINA Departments in the areas of Biology, Medicine, Food and Agricultural Sciences, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Engineering and Social Sciences, thus representing an ideal trans-disciplinary environment to support training and research in the microbiome field. The Programme will benefit of the participation of 21 Partner Organizations (POs) including leading international companies that are stakeholders of the microbiome research and excellent non-academic research centres. Indeed, all ESRs will spend secondment periods abroad and at least 6 months in a non-academic PO, in full integration with their Microbiome-related activities. The POs will have a key role in achieving an international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral (3-i) dimension of the DP. CRESCENDO would represent at this stage the only MSCA-COFUND project for a doctoral programme in Microbiome Science, developing trans-disciplinary Microbiome scientists with intersectoral and international experience and with a multidisciplinary scientific and technical background.

Mots clés : microbiome, health, environment, microbiology

Participants :
- University of Naples Federico II (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 813600.0 €
Projet MIGRATE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The microstructure evolution of metallic alloys undergoing thermomechanical loads involves strain hardening, dynamic recovery, recrystallisation and grain growth. Predicting such phenomena is crucial for the control and optimisation of the mechanical properties of final components. Phase field approaches are used to simulate the change in grain morphology, growth and coalescence induced by grain boundary and stored energies due to prior viscoplastic deformation. On the other hand, continuum crystal viscoplasticity theory is well-established for finite element simulations of the deformation of polycrystalline aggregates. Currently, phase field and crystal plasticity models are used separately or successively: the field of stored elastoplastic energy computed from the crystal plasticity model serves as the initial energy distribution in the phase field simulation of subsequent grain morphology evolution. The objective of the project is to strongly couple both approaches so as to simulate dynamic grain morphology evolution during deformation processes. Each theory, i.e. the phase field model and the continuum crystal plasticity approach, possesses an evolution equation for the crystal lattice orientation. An essential driving force for lattice rotation evolution is the orientation gradient, the lattice curvature, which is the primary constitutive variable of the Cosserat continuum theory. The Cosserat theory offers a unique way of reconciling both approaches. The results of finite element simulations based on this new theory will be compared to experimental results, namely lattice orientation maps and strain field measurements, available for aluminium and copper polycrystals. The proposed model is the missing link between the physical description of grain boundary motion and macroscopic recrystallisation models. Such a paradigm has not yet been proposed and will open new ways for the understanding of elementary recrystallisation mechanisms in polycrystals.

Mots clés : crystal plasticity, grain boundary migration, recrystallization, phase field approach, polycrystalline aggregates, finite element

Participants :
- École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173076.0 €
Projet MDR (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The mitochondrial antiviral signalling (MAVS) adaptor protein is a central signalling hub for host cells to mount an antiviral response following RNA virus infections, which is initiated by the cytosolic receptors that trigger the type-I interferon (INFs) path through the MAVS. Recently, it has been shown that the RNA helicase DDX3 is a novel atypical member of the viral cytosolic receptor pool and it is required to activate the MAVS during the antiviral response. In fact, DDX3 is crucial in the translation initiation of the HIV-1 RNA and it is identified as viral RNA sensor able to induce the antiviral immunity in dendritic cells (DCs). DDX3 binds to viral RNAs lacking the poly(A) tails, also known as abortive transcripts, and then associates with the MAVS to trigger the production of type I IFN. Currently, it is unknown how the complex partners MAVS-DDX3-vRNA (MDR) interact for assembly and what is the MDR mechanism of action at molecular level. The proposed research will be focused on the structural and functional characterization of the MDR complex by biophysical and cellular biology techniques. Notably, silencing DDX3 or MAVS expression suppress DC activation in response to HIV-1 infection, an event that in physiological condition is at the front line of host defence against the HIV-1. Therefore, the central role in triggering antiviral immune response makes MDR a strategic pharmacological target. However, addressing this task requires the MDR structure elucidation in order to exploit its molecular features to create a new generation of adjuvants in anti-retroviral therapy. This research provides an understanding of how cellular protein sensors interact with retroviral RNA to trigger the native immune response and induce expression of antiviral proteins.

Mots clés : molecular immunology

Participants :
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187572.48 €
Projet COMNACTSS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The motivation for the COMNACTSS project comes from recent evidence that the selective solvation of ions in liquid mixtures has a dramatic influence on the interaction between colloids. Selective solvation introduces a new energy scale that is comparable with or often exceeds the thermal energy and this energy can be utilized for the dispersion of uncharged nano-particles, offering a polymer-and-surfactant-free pathway to nano-particle stabilization. The combination of a large energy-scale and chemical specificity offers a new handle for inducing liquid structuring and controlling flow at interfaces in confined and heterogeneous environments. I therefore propose to study theoretically, and by using molecular simulations, selective solvation in micro- and nano-fluidics. The research objectives are (i) gaining fundamental understanding of the dynamics of salt-containing mixtures in micro- and nano-fluidic channels and using it to investigate the transport of macromolecules through such channels. The use of salty mixtures will enable to greatly increase the transport of ions and macromolecules through pores, and the ability to control this transport, a key issue in science and technology. (ii) To uncover novel liquid-liquid interface destabilization mechanisms. The COMNACTSS project will advance the field of nanofluidics by introducing a new research paradigm which will enable new fundamental insights into the molecular organization and dynamics of complex fluids, with excellent potential to produce applications.

Mots clés : nanofluidics, microfluidics, electrokinetics, ion specific effects, liquid mixtures, selective solvation, nanopores

Participants :
- Utrecht University (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 177598.8 €
Projet SHINE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The multiple and plural crisis that began in 2008 has had a profound impact on people's well-being and happiness, reaching far beyond the loss of jobs and income, and affecting citizens' satisfaction with their lives. Countries worst hit by the global financial crisis, such as Greece and Cyprus, saw their happiness levels, as well as their average life satisfaction levels, fall sharply. They also saw a rise in suicides and depression rates. Despite the vast number of studies that focus on the current social and economic situation in Cyprus and Greece, little is known about the impact of the crisis on students’ well-being, happiness and life satisfaction levels, and about how students themselves experience this impact. This proposed research project, which will be carried out (if funded by the EU) at the European University of Cyprus under the supervision of Prof Marios Vryonides, will use a comparative and an intersectional approach to explore the impact of the crisis on students’ well-being in Cyprus and Greece, in order to understand patterns of inequality that affect happiness attainment in children. Moreover, it will raise important questions about the possible role of education in the promotion of students’ well-being in said contexts. Through an in-depth look at students’ lives in Cyprus and Greece, this project will provide new ways for exploring the practices and discourses through which well-being and happiness are constituted. It will give secondary school students the opportunity to discuss their experiences and share insights into the impact of the crisis on their society, on education and especially on their own everyday lives, and to share their thoughts and views on the role which education could play in tackling this impact. It will also seize the opportunity to explore policy developments in this field, situate them within the European context, and strengthen the body of relevant literature.

Mots clés : socio economic crisis, well being, happiness, intersectionality, comparative approach

Participants :
- European University Cyprus (Chypre) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 157941.12 €
Projet NanoHeat (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The nanoparticle (NP) lies at the very heart of nanotechnology. The wide range of current and potential uses of NPs, which include medicine, manufacturing, environment, and energy, has stimulated an international research effort focusing on NP synthesis and design. Despite extensive research into NPs, many breakthroughs and advances are the result of trial and error, since the mathematical framework which could provide a theoretical understanding often does not exist. This is partly because classical theories of heat transfer and phase change, which are relevant to the design and use of NPs, breakdown on the nanoscale. The focus of the proposed research is, therefore, to develop and analyse novel mathematical models describing nanoscale heat transfer and phase change. Exact, approximate, and numerical solutions will be obtained in order to gain practical insights into NP evolution. To ensure the models and results are realistic and of use to nanoscience researchers, the work will be carried out in collaboration with members of the Inorganic Nanoparticles Group of the Catalan Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and the Statistical Physics Group at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. The project, which is truly multi-disciplinary, will bridge the gap between mathematics and nanotechnology.


Participants :
- CERCA Institution (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 158121.6 €