Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet BraIn Action (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The goal of this project proposal is to investigate the neural mechanisms of motor control in relation to primary visual function in healthy adults. In particular, I will examine the role of primary visual cortex (V1) in action planning and execution by using a combination of neuroimaging, neurostimulation and behavioural techniques. Recent evidence shows an involvement of V1 in action planning when no online vision information is available, suggesting that the role of V1 goes well beyond the processing of visual information. Yet, V1 contribution in the production of movements and its functional connections with sensory motor areas during action planning and execution remains uncertain. I will use cutting-edge combinations of techniques spanning from functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to provide a comprehensive view of the neural circuits involved in planning and performing hand actions, such as grasping or moving an object. I will employ a paradigm in the MRI scanner that involves real actions towards real objects allowing generalization of these findings to everyday life situations. Despite the simplicity of hand actions, patients with disparate disorders that affect brain functions do not have the ability to perform volitional movements. The research in this proposal will develop a more comprehensive understanding of the action network’s function and structure in neurologically intact individuals. Ultimately, this work will aid brain lesion patients suffering from movement disorders and contribute to the development of assistive devices for paralysed patients.

Mots clés : action, perception, functional magnetic resonance imaging  fmri, transcranial magnetic stimulation  tms, brain function, cognitive neuroscience, sensorimotor control

Participants :
- University of Trento (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 168277.2 €
Projet TCELLTIGIT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The goal of this proposal is to obtain atomic resolution structures of TIGIT using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. TIGIT inhibits autoimmune responses, and anti-TIGIT antibodies can induce immune response in anti-viral and anti-tumor immunotherapies. No structures exist for the transmembrane (TM) domain of TIGIT, which is the portion of the signaling protein that transmits signals accross the membrane bilayer, and there are no structures of TIGIT bound to anti-TIGIT antibodies. High-resolution structures of full-length TIGIT and TM domain constructs will further our understanding of how TIGIT transmits signals across the cell membrane and modulates T cell activation. Structures of TIGIT TM constructs bound to PVR and anti-TIGIT antibodies will guide the design of anti-TIGIT drugs and antibodies for use in immunotherapy treatments. The candidate will carry out this structural work in the lab of Prof. Martin Caffrey, a world- renowned leader in the field of membrane protein X-ray crystallography.


Participants :
- Trinity College Dublin (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175866.0 €
Projet USHPP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The growing demand for clean energy, and serious nature of global warming are unquestionable. Moreover, the finite nature of fossil fuel reserves and the increasing pace of climate change mean that we must find and harness clean and sustainable energy sources. H2O2 can be one such energy source because it is one of the most potent fuels, generating more energy than any other fuel without generating any pollutant. Although the green hydrogen economy is projected as a solution to clean energy demand, it suffers from storage problems due to the low volumetric energy density in the gas phase. However, there is no storage issue associated with liquid form H2O2. Undoubtedly, the photochemical O2 reduction route has great potential for H2O2 production but the systematic requirements limit its commercialization. However, there is no photocatalyst reported so far, which oxidized the water to H2O2 without any assistance (without the use of a sacrificial agent, external bias, oxygen supply, etc.). This project USHPP (Unassisted photochemical water oxidation to solar hydrogen peroxide production) is designed to address all these problems by synthesizing a stable, shielded, and water oxidizing PC for commercially viable and eco-friendly H2O2 production route. Furthermore, the spontaneous reduction of H+ ions to H2 in conduction band in the proposed USHPP project will resolve the major problem of gases separation associated with photochemical H2 production in powder system (as there will be two separate phases: H2O2 in liquid (oxidative product), and H2 in the gas phase (reductive product)). Further, the success of this project also opens the possibility of simultaneous production of H2O2 via H2O oxidation at valence band, and O2 reduction at conduction band, which will increase the H2O2 production rate without utilizing any sacrificial agent. The best use of in-situ solar H2O2 production system in combination with biocatalysts will bring multidisciplinary aspect to USHPP.

Mots clés : green energy, simultaneous h2o2 and h2 generation, neutron scattering in catalysis and materials analysis, surface treatment, hybrid photocatalyst, photocatalyst designing, photo biochemical process

Participants :
- Cardiff University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet STARS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The growth of perovskite in the photovoltaic field is unprecedented. In only a very few years, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) raised from 3.8% (in 2009) to 23.3% (in 2018). However, before bringing PSCs to an industrial scale-up process, major issues need to be addressed, among one of the most concerns the lack of stability against IEC61646 accelerated aging protocol. Improving stability is at the heart of the STARS project. To achieve such an important goal, STARS combines two main approaches: (i) Development of 2D/3D mixed-dimensional perovskites via interfacial engineering and (ii) development of robust dopant-free hole transporting materials (HTM). Fellow’s knowledge of HTM synthesis and device processing will be highly beneficial for Prof. Hagfeldt (host) research activities which are mainly focused on the development of new materials and molecular engineering of interfaces to achieve stability. STARS is designed to expand/broaden fellow’s knowledge towards device aging, crystallography, and photophysics. STARS will add several new dimensions to fellow’s skill set and instill leadership qualities and management skills that will be extremely beneficial for his future career.

Mots clés : perovskite solar cells, 2d perovskites, hole transporting materials, stable perovskites, fused thiophenes, photovoltaics, ultrafast spectroscopy

Participants :
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet IVSTED (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The hippocampus is a deeply embedded region in the mammalian brain that has long been considered the archetypical center for memory formation. Hippocampal neurons process information by integrating a vast number of synaptic inputs via dendritic spines. These postsynaptic structures are highly dynamic and their plasticity is hypothesized to be important structural correlate of the memory trace. However, due to their nanometric size and high density, it is extremely challenging to study the function and regulation of dendritic spines under realistic experimental conditions. Indeed, conventional light microscopy fails to properly resolve them while electron microscopy only provides snapshots from fixed brain sections. Therefore, our view of spine dynamics remains very incomplete, limiting our understanding of the synaptic mechanisms underlying brain physiology and animal behavior. Leveraging recent advances in optical microscopy, adaptive optics and mouse brain surgery, this project seeks to establish a new paradigm based on correlating super-resolution imaging of dendritic spines in living mice with behavioral analyses of the capacity of mice to learn and remember things. To this end, I will (1) establish super-resolution imaging of spines in the deeply embedded hippocampus, (2) perform longitudinal imaging to determine spine morphology and turnover over the course of weeks in live animals and (3) investigate how spine plasticity correlates with memory performance in the same animal. This project builds on my expertise in biophysics and advanced microscopy and will offer me a unique opportunity to contribute to a dynamic research field at one of the top places for neuroscience in Europe. Going significantly beyond the state-of-the-art, this project will push the frontier in neuroimaging, shedding new light on the anatomical basis of memory formation and providing a framework to analyze in vivo the cellular mechanisms of memory impairment in neurodegenerative diseases.

Mots clés : sted microscopy, in vivo imaging, adaptive optics, dendritic spines, hippocampal rewiring, structural plasticity, learning and memory, chronic imaging

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet KINSELECT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The human brain consists of intricately connected neurons forming functional circuits encoding memory, emotions and cognition. A neuron’s polarized organisation into axons and dendrites underlies its ability to receive, process and transmit information. To establish and maintain such a highly complex organisation, cytoskeletal motor proteins transport basic building blocks to either axons or dendrites. Several members of the kinesin motor family are selectively moving into axons, presumably guided by the specific organisation of the neuronal microtubule cytoskeleton. However, how different aspects of microtubule network organisation, such as filament length, orientation and modifications, contribute to selective transport of these kinesins is poorly understood. Therefore the aim of this project is to determine the connection between neuronal microtubule organisation and polarized transport of different kinesins. We will map the three-dimensional microtubule network at nanoscale resolution (objective 1) and decipher the intracellular transport driven by kinesins with optogenetics (objective 2). The integrated and quantitative knowledge provided by this project will pave the way towards understanding polarized transport in health and neurodegenerative diseases.

Mots clés : neuron polarity, intracellular transport, kinesin, microtubules, super resolution microscopy and optogenetics

Participants :
- Utrecht University (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 177598.8 €
Projet PREDICTIVEMEMORY (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The human brain is constantly and automatically forming predictions (e.g., how a ball will bounce off soccer turf or what another person will say). In cognitive neuroimaging studies of Dr. Jääskeläinen (Experienced Researcher) and colleagues at Aalto University, Finland, it has become one of the most central research questions how the brain predicts complex dynamic events unfolding in naturalistic stimuli such as movies. Here, our main objective is that Dr. Jääskeläinen will acquire the specific expertise to address this question by working for one year in Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center of Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv, Israel, where there is unique empirical-theoretical expertise on predictive brain mechanisms. Work by the Director of Gonda Center, Prof. Moshe Bar (Supervisor), suggests that rapid derivation of analogies (“what does this object resemble”) from sensory inputs and associative linking of these to memory representations supports predictions (e.g., seeing a kettle predicts cooking rather than swimming activity). We hypothesize that distributed patterns of brain activity, generated by the associative process, underlie the memory representations that support predictions. To test this, experimental paradigms developed by Prof. Bar et al. will be combined with data analysis methods used by Dr. Jääskeläinen et al. In addition to ambitious science, the proposed fellowship has the following objectives: 1) significant deepening and diversification of Dr. Jääskeläinen’s cognitive neuroscience expertise at Gonda Center, 2) transfer of data analysis and cognitive neuroscience expertise of Dr. Jääskeläinen to Gonda Center, 3) networking of scientists between Bar-Ilan and Aalto for further collaboration, 4) opening up of a new important research area, and 5) catalyzing of Dr. Jääskeläinen’s scientific career. The fellowship also contributes to knowledge-based economy and society by building foundation for artificial intelligence and clinical research.

Mots clés : memory based predictions, functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography, distributed representations, multi voxel pattern analysis, phase synchrony, functional connectivity

Participants :
- Bar-Ilan University (Israël) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 91254.6 €
Projet EXOonRNA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The human genome is ubiquitously transcribed into far more RNA than is immediately needed. Consequently, RNA turnover becomes critical for keeping our cells healthy. The nuclear RNA exosome degrades the majority of short-lived RNA species within cell nuclei and is hereby the gatekeeper of an enormous RNA synthesis output. To perform this essential task, the exosome employs so-called ‘adaptor complexes’ (ExoACs), which contribute to target specificity. While the trimeric nuclear exosome targeting (NEXT) complex is specifically required for the degradation of short RNA transcripts, the poly(A) tail exosome targeting (PAXT) connection recruits the exosome to longer polyadenylated RNAs. Interestingly, and in contrast to NEXT, PAXT exhibits a rather complex nature. Besides the integral component RNA helicase MTR4 and the large scaffolding protein ZFC3H1, the proteins PABPN1, ZC3H3, and RBM26/27 participate in the RNA-targeting of PAXT. How assembly of all these proteins is achieved to commit a polyadenylated RNA for decay and how it is balanced with other nuclear RNA metabolic processes to avoid untimely decay of mRNA is unknown. Here, I will track the interaction of the RNA-binding components of NEXT and PAXT with newly synthesized RNA in human cells using a novel and cutting-edge temporally resolved CLIP (T-CLIP) methodology, which combines nascent RNA labeling using photoactivatable ribonucleoside analogue 4-thiouridine with the time course of UV crosslinking of protein-RNA complexes. Since the T-CLIP approach allows us to link ExoAC interaction profiles to RNA synthesis and turnover data, I will define the positioning and timing of ExoAC component interactions with nuclear RNA in real-time to understand how nuclear exosome identify and eliminate nonfunctional RNA. In achieving my aim, I will critically further our understanding of how the cells in our bodies manage to quality control their genetic information through the post-transcriptional control of RNA levels.

Mots clés : rna turnover, clip, nuclear exosome

Participants :
- Aarhus University (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 219312.0 €
Projet BRAINeSs (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The human gut hosts trillions of microbes collectively called the microbiota, which secretes metabolites that have been strictly linked to the regulation of physiological functions. Among them, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play a key role. Many pathologies are associated with microbiota alterations, including multiple sclerosis (MS), a brain autoimmune disease representing a major public health challenge in Western society. Although preliminary studies in mouse models showed that SCFAs have multiple actions, including immunomodulatory function and influencing the differentiation of stem cells, we still miss a comprehensive study that correlates mechanistically how changes in the microbiota, and, as a direct consequence, in SCFAs, favor autoimmunity in the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, in BRAINeSs, we propose to analyze the effect of SCFAs on different components of the CNS, to unravel the complexity of their action. Particularly, we will look at the impact of SCFAs on the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, immune cells, neural stem/precursor cells, mature neurons, and glial cells. BRAINeSs will allow us to broaden the analysis on the impact of SCFAs in MS through a multidisciplinary approach that spans from metabolomics to immunology, neuroscience, and bioinformatics, and takes advantage of cutting-edge methodologies, as single-cell RNA sequencing and human brain organoid culture. Our plan of research could be applied as a model for the study of other neuroinflammatory or neurodegenerative diseases and could lead to a new therapeutic perspective. I will gain new technical and soft skills through advanced training, necessary to reach full independence. BRAINeSs addresses the third UN development goal, “good health and wellbeing”, and strengthen the interest of the EU for microbiota and multiple sclerosis studies. BRAINeSs is compliant with the Work Program of H2020, which lean toward open-access science, and dissemination/public engagement activities.

Mots clés : multiple sclerosis, neural stem, progenitor cells, short chain fatty acids, host, microbiota crosstalk, neuroimmunology, autoimmunity, human brain organoid, neural and glial cells, scrnaseq, metabolomic

Participants :
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet HAND (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The human hand is an incredibly complex system with a huge spectrum of functionality. Hands are essential not only to interact with different objects daily, but also necessary for social interactions, such as communication and arts. The loss of a hand is a terrific traumatic experience regardless to any gender or ethnicity, usually followed by significant psychological and rehabilitation challenges. The interaction between engineering and science has, for a long time, made efforts to restore the functionality of a lost limb. Although enormous progress has been reached, there are still serious drawbacks in terms of functionality and reliability due to the conventional myoelectric human-machine interface (e.g., electromyography sensors placed on the skin of the residual limb) and to prostheses simply not up to the task. Unfortunately, this is reflected in a too high rejection rate of prosthetic devices. The current situation can change if efforts are spent on the development of more intelligent prosthetic hardware. This project has the mission to develop methods for creating prosthetic hands which are semi (or potentially even completely) autonomous from the conventional myoelectric human-machine interface. This will be achieved by observing in unprecedented detail the human grasping behaviours and exploiting modern sensor technology, efficient data processing units, and artificial intelligence algorithms. Semi-autonomous prosthetic hands can be a game changer, ultimately converting the conventional view of a prosthetic hand from a tool to a more complex device that interacts in an intelligent fashion with the user and any object.

Mots clés : autonomous prosthetic hand amputation proximity sensors sensorimotor

Participants :
- Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet ORFORCREA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The human mind is capable of creativity and innovation unparalleled by any other species. At the same time, human beings elaborate and preserve complex and highly-stable traditions, transmitting them over very long time spans by means of the spoken word and through a variety of technologies, such as writing. How does human cognition give rise to such complex manifestations as oral poetic performance, and how are they affected by the introduction of writing? ORFORCREA investigates the cognitive basis of creativity in verbal art, examining its interplay with both oral tradition and literacy. How can we approach as intricate a problem as verbal creativity with manageable, but at the same time ecologically valid and culturally situated data? While everyday human speech is extremely complex for analysis and has vast lexical and phraseological resources, the language material in oral traditions is typically organized in narrower terms, with idiomaticity enhanced because of poetic requirements, such as the constraints of the poetic line, rhyme patterns, plots, or themes, as well as form-meaning normativity (validity of a given expression within its poetic tradition). The cognitive study of phrasal and grammatical structures in oral poetic traditions is thus comparable to working in a ‘natural’ lab, where the linguistic material, selected throughout long diachronies and innumerable performances, ideally fits the purpose of examining the creative use of formulaic resources. Thus ORFORCREA targets the essential feature of oral poetic traditions, idiomaticity, seeking to produce insights about the formulaic nature of language in general

Mots clés : creativity, formulaic language, transitional poetic texts, cognitive poetics

Participants :
- University of Navarra (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 170121.6 €