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

The formation of carbon-carbon bonds in an asymmetric fashion is a very useful process in synthetic chemistry, since it generates single enantiomers of chiral molecules at the same time as the molecular framework is being assembled. In this context, two strategies for the generation of single enantiomer compounds using enantioselective catalysis have been widely emabraced: on the one hand, the use of prochiral substrates, and on the other hand, the use of racemic substrates in enantiomer resolution processes, which limits the yields up to 50%. An efficient variation of this second strategy is to couple enantiomer differentiation with interconversion of enantiomers. However, these dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformations (DYKAT) have been limited to the use of stabilized nucleophiles. Very recently, the group of Fletcher reported that alkylzirconium reagents can be employed as non-stabilized nucleophiles in combination with a copper-based catalytic system for this class of processes. Subsequently, the same group demonstrated that arylboronic acids are also suitable substrates in rhodium-catalyzed DYKATs. The project presented in this application aims to expand the scope of this powerful transformation by using vinyl- and heteroarylboronic acids as non-stabilized nucleophiles in the rhodium-catalyzed DYKAT. Moreover, a thorough study of the reaction mechanism will be conducted, as well as the investigation on alternative procedures for this process (catalytic systems, nature of the substrates, etc) that might result in useful applications for organic synthesis.

Mots clés : dynamic asymmetry, homogeneous catalysis, cross coupling, rhodium, mechanisms

Participants :
- University of Oxford (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet CA1 layers (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The formation of episodic (unique event) memories is based on the interaction between the hippocampus and the cortical regions that receive its output. The major hippocampal output cells are pyramidal cells (PCs) in area CA1. In rodents, populations of CA1 PCs are known to represent a wide range of aspects associated with an episodic memory: Some cells participate in the formation of a map-like representation of space, while others additionally or exclusively encode items within the environment, represent meaningful locations, or participate in the representation of emotional and behavioural contexts. It is not known so far how heterogeneous CA1 firing patterns are organized and affect memory formation. While CA1 PCs have been traditionally considered a homogeneous cell population, we now have clear evidence for the presence of at least two distinct CA1 PC cell types that differ in their local and long-range connectivity, in their morphology, their molecular makeup and their basic firing patterns. This strongly argues for a functional specialization within the CA1 area. However, a link between the heterogeneous representation of mnemonic information and the presence of anatomically distinct PC types remains to be established. In this proposal I aim to determine whether heterogeneous response properties of CA1 PCs are based on computations in distinct anatomical microcircuits in deep and superficial layers by combining optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques with in vivo recordings in behaving mice. Furthermore, I will seek to obtain detailed knowledge about the functional connectivity between different CA1 PC populations and their target areas. Knowledge about the function of individual CA1 microcircuits and their anatomical connections is the prerequisite to subsequently develop an independent research plan aiming to determine how intra-hippocampal processing affects memory formation in their downstream targets.

Mots clés : hippocampus, place cells, optogenetics, in vivo recordings, functional microcircuits, deep and superficial ca1 layers, spatial memory, episodic memory

Participants :
- University Hospital Heidelberg (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet EPIC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The formation of specific protein complexes are key events in life-and-death decisions made by cells. Inappropriate decisions underpin a plethora of disease conditions from degenerative diseases to cancer while the role of the complexes in these processes make them important therapeutic targets. Our ability to develop small molecules to target death-inducing protein complexes has been hampered by an inability to measure complex formation in cells in real-time and by the absence of robust high-throughput assays for the discovery of new lead molecules that target these complexes. The proposed network (EPIC) will address both of these problems by developing new approaches to measure necrosome and apoptosome formation in real-time as well as new high-throughput and high-content screening assays using Fluorescence resonance transfer and split-luciferase technologies. EPIC will conform with the H2020 work programme by integrating research activity, novel reagents and expertise across Europe and world through the mobility, knowledge transfer and training of experienced and early stage researchers from within and without the EU. EPIC will realise the potential of researchers through the development of new skill-sets, the transfer new skills between academia and industry, and the development of career opportunities for EU ESRs and ERs. A key part of this activity is the mobility of non-EU researchers and the inward transfer of essential knowledge from outside the EU to benefit EU-based research. Establishment of EPIC through RISE will generate lead molecules with demonstrable utility and knowledge that will underpin applications to national funding agencies to sustain the communal effort beyond the life of the RISE award. It will also generate intellectual property that will enable the network to approach biotech and pharma to form academia-industry partnerships that will further develop small molecule leads as therapeutics.

Mots clés : apoptosome, necroptosome, necroptosis, high throughput, screening

Participants :
- Tarbiat Modares University (Iran) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- National University of Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 405000.0 €
- Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 27000.0 €
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (Belgique) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 67500.0 €
- Protoqsar 2000 sl (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 81000.0 €
- University of Gothenburg (Suède) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 27000.0 €
Projet SHINE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The full control over the nanoscale behavior of light holds incredible potential for the realization of various next-generation technologies with dramatic impact on society, offering revolutionary solutions for cleaner energy resources, faster optical communication systems, data storage and computing, and a more sustainable future (UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals number 7 and 9). Strong-coupling light-matter interaction has been the subject of extensive fundamental physics research, while chemists have so far contributed only marginally to its development. Progress in nanosynthesis and nanofabrication have created the perfect environment for the chemistry community to step in and guide the field towards a new class of photonic materials operating in the strong-coupling regime. This proposal will capitalize on my diverse and multidisciplinary training in the fields of chemistry, plasmonics, nano-optics, and materials science for the realization of complex plasmonic architectures coupled with various emitters to establish strong-coupling interactions. I will explore the use of light to modify the energy landscape of these chemical systems, and control their emission and reactivity. I will investigate the fundamental aspects of light-matter interactions (e.g. anisotropy, delocalization, and chirality) and its application for the realization of new plasmonic chemistry at the nanoscale. The expertise of the NANOPTO group and the top facilities available at the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona and the proposed secondments at UCT Prague and LMU will be instrumental for my career development and constitute an important asset for my personal progression as a scientist. I will acquire new skills for the fabrication and characterization of macroscopic-scale plasmonic devices and extend my scientific network, and improve my mentoring expertise, with the final goal of securing seed funding for a stable group leader position.

Mots clés : light matter interaction, strong coupling, rabi splitting, plasmonics, polaritonic chemistry, chemical soft lithography, colloidal chemistry

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet PCFENCM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The functional evaluation of cancer mutations has been largely restricted to the protein-coding genome, due to our lack of (i) whole-genome sequence data for cancer genomes, and (ii) knowledge about the function of the non-coding genome. However, more recently the function of the non-coding genome has been largely annotated by the ENCODE project, where large consortia are profiling thousands of tumor and matched non-neoplastic tissue samples at the genomic, proteomic and epigenomic levels. Previous studies have shown that (i) over 90% of the disease-associated loci identified with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) lie within the non-coding genome, and (ii) non-coding mutations are frequent in cancer. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated the role of genetic variation in the non-coding genome in cancer development and progression, and therefore, the landscape of non-coding mutations in cancer remains uncharted territory. Moreover, there are no studies yet relating variation or mutations within the non-coding genome to the sensitivity to drugs, and this is hence the purpose of the work described here. Using genome-wide sequence, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and eQTL data from (i) over 2,000 whole cancer genomes, (ii) over 10,000 tumor and matched non-neoplastic tissue samples spanning 25 tumor types, and (iii) the ENCODE project, I aim to build a comprehensive map of non-coding mutations across the most prevalent cancer types. Subsequently, this map will be integrated with pharmacological profiles of small molecules in predictive models, thus allowing to identify genetic variants and mutations associated to drug efficacy and resistance across cancers. This work will help unravel the impact of non-coding mutations on genome regulation and gene expression, to disambiguate the contributions of somatic mutations and inherited genetic polymorphisms to cancer susceptibility, and to relate mutations in the non-coding genome to drug efficacy.

Mots clés : cancer, cancer mutations, cancer drivers, chemogenomics

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 251857.8 €
- Harvard University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet Spor-oikos (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The functioning of forested headwater streams relies on microbially-mediated processes ensured mainly by aquatic hyphomycetes. They are pivotal systems for human and other biotic communities as they provide water, carbon, and nutrients. The scientific objectives of the Spor-oïkos project are to experimentally investigate: i) the chemical cues inducing aquatic hyphomycetes' sporulation, and ii) the functional role of aquatic hyphomycete spores in headwater food webs, both being blind spots in freshwater ecology. By applying a food quality approach and merging different scientific disciplines and theories (molecular biology, biochemical and elemental theories), this project will unveil a potential hidden pathway of nutrient and carbon (C) flow, offering new insights on the microbial contribution to large scale C fluxes. The biochemical theory studies the ecological role of essential molecules, mainly essential fatty acids and sterols. It is applied to investigate the efficiency of C transfer in trophic interactions. The elemental theory studies how the ratios of elements in organisms (e.g. C, Phosphorus and Nitrogen) shape their ecology and nutrient and energy fluxes in ecosystems. Both theories have successfully been applied to better understand the trophic interactions, and nutrient cycling in terrestrial and aquatic systems. In the last case, these theories have particularly been used to study the producer-consumer interaction in lakes, and it is just recently that they are being applied in detritus-based systems such as headwater streams. This work programme will be articulate by four experiments that have carefully been designed to progressively understand the overlooked importance of fungal spores in stream food webs, and the unknown effects of global changes (mainly eutrophication). Scientists from two high-level laboratories from two European countries will offer their expertise to train the researcher and hence open up the best possibilities for his career.

Mots clés : aquatic hyphomycete spores, forested headwater streams, chemical cues inducing sporulation, climate changes, food quality, lipid profiling, nutrient vs  biochemical limitation, trophic interactions

Participants :
- University of Coimbra (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 160635.6 €
Projet REvolTURN (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The fundamental weakness of nation state and EU efforts to effectively manage migration to Europe lies in ensuring the return of foreigners who pass or avoid border controls but are then neither granted asylum nor a residence permit. Many Member States thereby increasingly rely on public policies for the so-called ‘voluntary return’ of irregular migrants and (refused) asylum seekers. Very little is known about how these approaches work in practice and whether they meet stated policy goals and discharge state obligations regarding migrants’ human rights. The project REvolTURN addresses this research gap through a close and comparative analysis of ‘voluntary return’ policies in Austria and the UK, including their adoption, implementation and immediate outcome. It examines 1) how voluntariness of return is constructed and framed in law, policy and public discourse, 2) which notions of voluntariness are crucial for policy implementation, and 3) what impact this has on migrants’ own decision-making about their return. My innovative and interdisciplinary mixed-method approach combines comparative policy and discourse analysis, detailed institutional ethnography through observation and in-depth interviews and a survey among potential returnees. REvolTURN addresses a key priority of the Horizon 2020 work programme for 2016-17: to better manage migration, and will also contribute to recent scholarship regarding the in/effectiveness of migration policies and the agency of migrants holding no or highly precarious statuses. The project has three main objectives: 1) to better understand the role and functioning of voluntariness in the context of state-managed migratory return; 2) to develop a framework for assessing and comparing these roles and functions, including their effectiveness; and 3) to thereby contribute to evidence-based and workable policy solutions that increase the number of genuinely voluntary returns without undermining the very logic underlying this approach.

Mots clés : migrant return, voluntariness, deportation, asylum seekers, policy effectiveness, migrant agency

Participants :
- University of Vienna (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 166156.8 €
Projet VacCan (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The fungal pathogen Candida albicans is the most pathogenic of the Candida species and causes millions of superficial mucosal infections and approximately 200,000 deaths per annum due to invasive and disseminated disease in susceptible patient populations. Fungal infections in immunocompromised patients have an unacceptably high mortality rate of approximately 40%, and the yearly healthcare expenditure for the treatment of fungal diseases is estimated to be $15 billion. The clinical treatment of fungal diseases is hampered by poor and time-consuming diagnostics, a limited repertoire of anti-fungal drugs, and increasing levels of resistance to anti-fungal prophylaxis. Crucially, there are currently no licensed vaccines against fungal pathogen. Recent attempts to formulate vaccines have involved delivering simple mixtures of peptide/protein components of the target fungi with adjuvants (without controlled chemical conjugation), and without specific synthetic control have met with limited success. This project will develop new vaccine candidates to Candida albicans, the leading cause of fungal infection in humans worldwide. Unlike previous efforts, a multi-valent approach will be employed, chemically coupling three proteins expressed by Candida albicans. This synthetic approach will ensure the concurrent delivery of multiple protein antigens to overcome barriers faced by previous attempts at developing vaccines. Specifically, the project will focus on the synthesis of multi-valent systems by conjugating proteins to the surface of either: i) dendrimeric scaffolds (3D nanoscale covalent structures) or ii) liposomes (3D nanoscale self-assembled structures). This multidisciplinary proposal will use cutting-edge methodologies to address an unmet clinical need in fungal immunology that will deliver exceptional value through innovative vaccine research against fungal pathogens that are an escalating threat to global health.

Mots clés : candida albicans, candidalysin, multi valent vaccine, evaluation in vivo, fungal infections, immune response, liposomes, self assembled structures, protein dendron, chemical biology

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet POST-DIGITAL (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Doctoral Networks
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The future economic growth in Europe requires engineers and researchers capable to design, develop and implement new information technologies to support explosive data-driven transformation of economy, public and government activities. Current information, computing and processing technologies strongly rely on the classical digital approaches and architectures developed by von Neumann. It is well understood nowadays that brain- or nature-inspired (neuromorphic) technologies can offer substantial advantage in terms of processing capabilities and power efficiency. The development of analog hardware platforms will allow us to achieve significantly higher bandwidth efficiency, faster processing and higher adaptability through integration of self-learning systems. European Training Network on Post-Digital Computing - POSTDIGITAL is an interdisciplinary training network comprising internationally leading teams from academia, research centres and industry, including IBM, Thales and three highly reputed SMEs. POST-DIGITAL will provide a unique training opportunity to a cohort of 15 early stage researchers (ESRs) in the inter-disciplinary fields of emerging disruptive neuromorphic computational technologies and their applications. The strong industrial presence in the network will bridge the gap between early stage innovation and utilization, providing ESRs with the experience of practical applications and solutions beyond traditional digital methods. POST-DIGITAL has the ambition and the vision to create a new generation of scientific and industrial leaders that will greatly contribute to strengthening Europe’s human resources and industry competitiveness in future digital and post digital economy and technology.

Mots clés : analog computing paradigms, non algorithmic computing, novel electronic and photonic technologies, reservoir computing

Participants :
- Vlc photonics sl (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 250904.88 €
- IBM Research - Zurich (Suisse) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 281276.64 €
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgique) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 512640.0 €
- Université Marie et Louis Pasteur (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 274802.04 €
- Thales group (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 274802.04 €
- LightOn (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 274802.04 €
- Aston University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 606345.12 €
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 501809.76 €
- IMEC (Belgique) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 512640.0 €
- University of Groningen (Pays-Bas) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 531239.76 €