Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet IDCLOTHING (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Culture is central to nation building, but clothing, fashion and aesthetic perceptions are often overlooked in this context. Taking "Eretz Israel" (the "Land of Israel") as a case study, this project argues that investigating these cultural practices brings to the fore the agency of migrant groups and adds a personal dimension to the history of nation building. Focusing on the period from the 1880s when large-scale migration began, until the foundation of the Israeli state in 1948, it investigates how Eastern European and German Jewish immigrants expressed social, cultural and political belonging through clothing and to what extent they were able to enforce their ideologies in the course of nation building. It asks to what extent the immigrants influenced each other in developing a specific mode of dress, and how they referenced the socio-cultural and political practices of countries of origin, as well as the clothing of Arab people and the Ottoman and British occupying authorities. With an unprecedented focus on gender and visual materials, the project examines how clothing became fashion and to what extent a consensual mode of dress emerged within a heterogeneous migrant society. Drawing from archival collections of 15 archives in Israel, Poland and England, and 6 Israeli, German, American and Russian databases, the project analyses private and public photographs and posters, and contextualises them against an assessment of written material and oral history interviews. Through highly interdisciplinary training, the project develops a new methodology that integrates approaches from fashion history and visual culture into the history of nation building to shed light on the processes of negotiation and power struggles on the micro level of a community. In times of mass migration, economic exploitation and global mobility the project contributes to an understanding of aesthetic perceptions, dress and beauty ideals as an expression of power, integration and exclusion.

Mots clés : clothing, fashion, nation building, national identity, land of israel, eretz israel, zionism, migration

Participants :
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israël) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 170509.2 €
Projet GLANCE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Current annual global estimates of premature deaths from poor air quality are estimated in the range of 2.6-4.4 million, and 2050 projections are expected to double against 2010 levels. In Europe, annual economic burdens are estimated at around 750 bn €. Climate change will further exacerbate air pollution burdens; therefore, a better understanding of the economic impacts on human societies has become an area of intense investigation. European research efforts are being carried out within the MACC project series, which started in 2005. The outcome of this work has been to establish a European capacity for Earth Observation, known as Copernicus. In MACC, key pollutant concentrations are computed at the European scale and globally by employing chemically-driven advanced transport models. The proposed work in GLANCE would develop a novel integrated assessment model for calculating the health impacts and damage costs of air pollution at different physical scales. It would combine MACC (assimilated Earth Observations, an ensemble of chemical transport models and state of the art ECWMF weather forecasting) with downscaling based on in-situ network measurements. The strengthening of modelled projections through integration with empirical evidence would, therefore, reduce errors and uncertainties in the health impact projections. In addition, GLANCE would yield improved data accuracy at high time resolution. This project is a multidisciplinary approach which would bring together leading experts from natural sciences and socioeconomic fields. The fellow would benefit from learning new and multidisciplinary skills, collaborating in international networks, and publishing novel results in high impact journals. Moreover, GLANCE would benefit the European community by contributing a novel approach to assess air quality at the local and regional levels, thus benefiting to long running EU commitments, while exploring new pathways for exploiting earth observational data.

Mots clés : air pollution, health impact, particulate matter, cost assessment, system model

Participants :
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 158121.6 €
Projet STROMAMECH (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Current chemotherapeutic agents are potent enough to kill cancer cells. Nonetheless, failure of standard chemotherapies for many cancer types (e.g., pancreatic and breast cancers) is primarily attributed to these agents never reaching cancer cells in amounts sufficient for complete cure. In solid tumours, blood vessels are often compressed, drastically reducing perfusion, thus resulting in insufficient drug delivery. Vessel compression is a consequence of mechanical stresses accumulated within the tumour during progression. Alleviation of these stresses has the potential to reopen compressed vessels and improve tumour perfusion. Here, the applicant proposes to test the hypothesis that judicious depletion of stromal cells, namely the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), has the potential to alleviate stress levels in highly desmoplastic and hypoperfused tumours and, thus, enhance chemotherapy. To explore this hypothesis, a combination of cutting-edge computational and experimental techniques will be employed. Specifically, a structure-based biomechanical model will be developed to analyse the contribution of CAFs to the generation and transmission of forces within a tumour. Subsequently, in vivo studies will be performed in mice to validate model predictions and identify the degree of CAF depletion that optimizes the efficacy of treatment. Successful completion of the proposed research will reveal the role of CAFs on the biomechanical behaviour of tumours and contribute to developing a therapeutic strategy for treatment of hypovascular tumours. Therefore, the proposal negotiates a subject of considerable importance for European society and beyond. Furthermore, the proposed research and training will establish a bidirectional transfer of skills where the applicant’s expertise in cell mechanics will be complemented by the Host’s in cancer biophysics, thus enhancing the applicant’s scientific potential and professional maturity, and promoting European research.

Mots clés : biomechanics, cancer treatment, drug delivery, mathematical modeling, animal studies

Participants :
- University of Cyprus (Chypre) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 151648.8 €
Projet SAMURAI (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Current healthcare systems are facing major challenges due to the recent global pandemic. The human-human interaction has become hazardous as infection rates rise and healthcare workers are finding increased difficulty in managing the overwhelming number of patients and necessary resources for treatment are constrained. The use of robotic intermediaries for diagnosis and treatment may solve these challenges. The demand for automated medical systems is increasing which can facilitate telemedicine and distribution of individual treatment and care from the limited number of experts simultaneously to multiple patients. Current robotic medical systems are bulky and expensive, limiting use especially for low income counties. Here, soft robotic systems offer several advantages over their conventional and rigid counterparts. They are compliant and can mimic the excellent dexterity of bio-organisms. They can be fabricated by Additive Manufacturing Technology in automated fabrication and thus reduce the cost of the (soft) medical systems. SAMURAI will develop innovative soft microrobotic devices fully 3D printed using additive manufacturing techniques. By using microactuators based on electroactive polymers and ionogels as the movement generating "limbs", soft microrobots will be fabricated that can move both in ambient condition and liquid media, resulting in amphibious devices. New 3D printing protocols will be developed and optimized for fabricating the microrobot. Various biomimicking designs of the microrobot will be evaluated. Finally, autonomous operation will be investigated by embedding the soft microrobot with a microchip. The miniaturization of the robotic devices in SAMURAI will pave the way to a future of medical robots traversing the complex micro-channels present in the body. SAMURAI will effectively re-establish the researcher’s career by high quality training and knowledge transfer and offering new networks and skills in applied sciences.

Mots clés : additive manufacturing, soft robotics, microdevices, electroactive polymers, microactuators, amphibious capability, telemedicine, biomimicking, robotic medical tools, conducting polymers

Participants :
- Linköping University (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191852.16 €
Projet Helping in Cyanopica (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Current literature on the evolution of cooperation agrees that kin selection cannot explain the benefits accrued by cooperators in many systems. One main gap is the type of direct benefits that helpers obtain in cooperative breeding systems and how they are ESS provided that natural selection favours defectors over cooperators in unstructured populations. Recent advances show that "social viscosity" can maintain benefits for cooperators. Thus, the study of social-network structure can potentially explain why cooperation persists. This type of approach can only be tackled after a long-term study at individual level. I have monitored a population of cooperative breeding Azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cooki) for more than 20 years. I have pedigree data, their reproductive behaviour in helper and breeder roles, and lifetime reproductive success for many birds. Yet, the reason why helpers contribute to rearing other birds' offspring has remained elusive. Here I will use network approach to previous data plus new monitoring of breeding groups to study: the role of kinship, by using pedigree and genetic analyses; the structure of social networks based on cooperative relationships, to see whether interactions can explain the maintenance of cooperative behaviour from the point of view of reciprocity and generalized reciprocity predictions; potential paternity sharing between breeders and helpers; and the relative roles of different benefits in lifetime inclusive fitness. I will implement the project within the team of Dr. Rita Covas, who has solid experience in the study of cooperative breeding. I present an innovative but realistic workplan to test original questions with new methodologies that are expected to lead to strong publications. The collaboration proposed means the reinforcement of the contribution of Mediterranean biology into ERA, the re-integration of a woman to scientific activity, and the collaboration between women heading research lines in Europe.

Mots clés : cooperative breeding, altruism, helpers at the nest, reciprocity, bird behaviour, evolution, inclusive fitness, social networks

Participants :
- University of Porto (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160635.6 €
Projet HarmonizATforms (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Current medical tests for antithrombin deficiency generally measure the overall activity, being blind for the actual proteoforms of AT that contribute to the test. To ensure accurate test results, a traceability chain needs to be in place, which requires the accurate definition of the exact analyte to be measured. I hypothesize that an in-depth understanding of the pathological molecular proteoforms of antithrombin (AT) will allow for the identification of clinically relevant proteoforms and enable test harmonization, resulting in a test with a well-defined clinical outcome that are actionable by clinicians. Mass spectrometry (MS) is an emerging technique in the field of clinical chemistry, which is well suited for the detection of proteoform characteristics and outperforms testing methods based on immunoassays. Therefore my aims are 1. To develop a mass spectrometry based test for the quantification of individual characteristics of molecular proteoforms of AT. 2. Analytically validate the developed method according to clinical chemistry procedures, and 3. Assess the role of MS based test for the standardization of AT tests. I am a passionate scientist with a strong background in the development of MS-based tests for proteins. I plan to perform the project in collaboration with my supervisor, who has large experience in medical test development and the ECAT foundation, who is specialized in proficiency testing of AT and test harmonization. This project will allow me to obtain skills and experience to oversee and develop a clinical test from biomarker discover to test evaluation and implementation, specifically in the niche of thrombosis and haemostasis, as well as the transferable skills required to eventually establish my own independent research group.

Mots clés : thrombosis and homeostasis, antithrombin, quantitative clinical chemistrthrombosis and homeostasis, quantitative clinical chemistry proteomics, relative quantitation, proteoforms, test harmonisation

Participants :
- Leiden University Medical Center (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187572.48 €
Projet FreezingBioprotector (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Current methods used by growers to prevent or reduce freezing damage include mainly physical approaches, which have several limitations in terms of cost, efficacy and environmental impact. The use of natural plant beneficial bacteria is a promising approach against freezing damage. With the aim of developing new microbial-based products for freezing protection of apple, the goal of this project is to taxonomically and functionally characterise the bacterial communities associated with the anthosphere of a wild cold-adapted rosaceous plant (Dryas octopetala) and to assess their freezing protection abilities on apple. To achieve these goals, we will use the combination of high-throughput sequencing and rapid throughput screening of bacterial isolates with interdisciplinary approaches of molecular biology, bioinformatics, microbiology and plant physiology. In particular, bacterial taxa associated with D. octopetala flowers under freezing stress tolerance will be identified and targeted isolation methods will be used to recover psychrophilic bacteria. Screening of bacterial isolates will be carried out to examine their ice-active traits (ice recrystallization inhibition and ice shaping) and environmental stress tolerance (drought, starving and UV). Efficacy tests of the isolates for their freezing protection abilities on apple will be performed, followed by feasibility checking of industrial production of the best candidates. The scientific outcomes of this project will contribute in the development of a microbial product for freezing protection of fruit crops that will be further developed for the EU market, which agrees with the promotion of sustainable biological methods. FreezingBioprotector will be fundamental to my professional career development by broadening my expertise in microbial ecology and crop protection, as well as transferable skills on teamwork, leadership, analytical thinking and project management that will be essential for my future research career.

Mots clés : microbial ecology, cold adaptation, rosaceae, flower, dryas octopetala, malus domestica, freezing, stress, psychrophilic bacteria, antifreeze proteins, ice active traits, ice nucleation active bacteria

Participants :
- University of Trento (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet New GeneSS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Current structural steel design codes are based on traditional limit state criteria, in which uncertainties are accounted for through partial coefficients when checking members and connections. However, within the frame of resilient and sustainable cities, it is necessary to choose optimised and sustainable construction materials such as stainless steel, as well as to accurately predict the behaviour and failure of structures by means of system-based design approaches. One method that fits these criteria is the Direct Design Method (DDM). Its applications span from the optimized design of new structures to the safety assessment of existing ones (for reutilization or evaluation after possible damage due to time-degradation or intentioned harm). The DDM directly evaluates the system’s strength from finite element analysis without requiring member and connection checks, thus leading to the design of safer, lighter, more economic and potentially faster designs. More importantly, failure modes of the structure are apparent, making it possible to consider the consequences of failure in design and achieve a consistent system reliability. However, there is a need for research to develop system resistance factors based on rigorous system reliability considerations for the DDM, specially for stainless steel. This research project will develop the bases for the system-based New Generation Design Methods for stainless steel structures, and this fellowship will provide a most adequate training in structural reliability for the development of the pioneering DDM for stainless steel structures and the corresponding design recommendations for their inclusion in the Next Generation European Standards. It will be an international and inter-sectorial effort to provide designers with powerful tools that can encourage innovation in design, in addition to enhancing the transfer of knowledge and strengthen research ties not only between Australia and the EU, but also with the industry.

Mots clés : steel structures, structural reliability, stainless steel, design methods, design standards, structural engineering

Participants :
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 269939.52 €
- University of Sydney (Australie) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet DhostHunt (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Currently, General Relativity (GR) and the standard model of particles physics are severely challenged by their inability to explain the late-time accelerated expansion of the Universe, known as the “dark energy” problem. The most promising scenarios aiming to explain it are the so--called scalar-tensor theories, corresponding to extensions of GR where gravity is enhanced through a new gravitational force mediated by a scalar field. The quest for phenomenological imprints of new scalar gravitational forces has been a central effort in cosmology and astrophysics over the last decade. My goal is to introduce helioseismology as a test of unprecedented accuracy in the search for new gravitational forces in Nature. The focus will be on the most general scalar-field extensions of GR, known as “DHOST” scalar-tensor theories. The unique ability of solar pulsations to probe the finest details of gravity in the solar interior, combined with the extreme accuracy of helioseismic observations, promises an orders-of-magnitude improvement of previous constraints. I will formulate the theoretical framework for adiabatic stellar pulsations in this context, and with sophisticated numerical techniques, I will model the associated solar pulsation eigenspectrum. A systematic statistical analysis will be devised to confront the predictions against observations making use of powerful helioseismic inversions, and derive the tightest constraints on the most general scalar-tensor theories up to date. The cosmological implications will be predicted, in accordance with ESA’s upcoming Euclid satellite mission. The project will introduce a genuinely novel, interdisciplinary line of research that will strongly impact a broad spectrum of cosmology and astrophysics. The new constraints will be pivotal for our understanding of scalar-gravity interactions in Nature, and are expected to guide the future modelling of dark energy, and scalar field theories in general.

Mots clés : helioseismology, scalar tensor theories, dark energy, solar physics, cosmology

Participants :
- Aarhus University (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 207312.0 €
Projet DNAProteinCrossRep (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

DNA damage can cause mutations and genome instability and is therefore the underlying cause of many pathologies including neurodegeneration and cancer. To maintain genome integrity, cells are equipped with sophisticated pathways for efficient repair of the broad spectrum of lesions that frequently arise in cellular DNA. By now, most DNA repair pathways are well understood. However, dedicated mechanisms for the repair of DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) have only been discovered very recently and are still poorly described. This is mainly due to a lack of approaches for specifically generating DPCs. My host lab has established a cell-based system that facilitates, for the first time, the induction of genome-wide yet defined DPCs. With this system at hand, I propose a project to identify and characterise cellular responses to DPCs in both human cells and in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). I will utilize the newly established system in a CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-wide screen to identify new DPC repair factors, and subsequently characterise their roles in promoting genome stability. I will strengthen the physiological relevance of my findings by studying orthologues of selected factors in C. elegans, in order to gain insights into their tissue specificity and roles in development and organismal fitness. By combining the host lab’s strong standing within the DNA repair field and formidable know-how in the area of cell-based studies of DNA damage repair pathways with my expertise in DNA damage research in C. elegans, I will be in a unique position to critically advance our knowlegde about DPC repair. Considering that DPCs are generated by many anti-cancer drugs, it is particularly important to illuminate the underlying repair mechanisms to improve current treatment strategies. This timely and interdisciplinary project will greatly enhance my scientific and transferrable skills required to realize my long-term goal of becoming an independent group leader.

Mots clés : dna protein crosslinks  dpcs, dna damage signalling, dna repair

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €