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

Beyond the paradigm of the central dogma of biology lie a number of recently discovered elements that are nonetheless central to cellular function. Eukaryotic genomes express an unexpectedly wide variety of functional long transcripts that do not encode major proteins, called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), whose functions are still poorly understood. More recent work has uncovered the prevalence of small open reading frames (smORFs) encoded within both mRNA and lncRNAs, only a few of which have evidence of active translation and function. The work in this proposal focuses on these relatively uncharacterized layers of biological regulation, and aims to harness the power of insect developmental genetics and the exquisite knowledge of axial patterning in embryos to probe the function of small peptides/lncRNA. Developmental gene networks in insects with varied modes of development have been studied in detail, allowing insights into how such networks have evolved. I will use a combination of state-of-the-art comparative genomics and transcriptome analysis, molecular genetics, biochemistry, and ribosome profiling to identify transcripts encoding putative small peptides with conserved features across insects, which represent novel components of developmental networks. This will be accompanied by genetic studies illuminating their functional interactions within developmental networks, including embryonic expression and loss of function phenotypes. Our approach to studying small peptides includes creation of innovative functional assays needed in the field, and is relevant to understanding the function of small peptides in all animals.

Mots clés : small peptides, lincrna, development, insects, comparative genomics, embryonic patterning, genetics

Participants :
- Weizmann Institute of Science (Israël) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 182509.2 €
Projet BiHyOMat (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

BiHyOMat is an ambitious research project at the interface of chemistry, physics and biology, with the aim to produce high-end optoelectronic materials. To this end, the project will take advantage of the co-crystallization of toroidal proteins and photosensitizers into monodimensional self-assemblies by means of electrostatic interactions, being a field where the hosting group is playing a pioneer role. By means of pH, temperature and electrolyte control, different proteins and dyes will be conjugated to a wide variety of materials with different stabilities and optical properties. Peroxiredoxin, an ubiquitous protein with a wide selection of isoelectric points has been selected as protein scaffold of the columnar stacks, along with a selection of charged phthalocyanines and porphyrins playing a dual role as molecular glue and photoactive moieties. The latter group will be obtained through collaborations, commercial sources or synthesized by the candidate.The resulting materials will be thoroughly characterized by a broad selection of techniques, including cryo-TEM, SAXS and time-resolved spectroscopy. Additionally, the spectroscopic properties arising from the anisotropic array of dyes into this well-defined structure will be thoroughly explored. Furthermore, the resulting tubular arrays will be conjugated supramolecularly with magnetic nanoparticles, endowing them with magnetoresponsive behaviour. Finally, the tubular aggregates, presenting a well-defined inner pore, will be employed as nanoreactors to synthesize finely tuned rod-like nanoparticles, taking advantage of the hollow structure of the stacks.

Mots clés : biohybrid materials

Participants :
- Aalto University (Finlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191325.6 €
Projet PROBAE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Biodiversity is the essential foundation that supports prosperous human societies. Yet, current rates of human-driven changes in climate and habitats define the Anthropocene as one of the most catastrophic times for species on our planet. Reversing declines in pollinator insects, a necessary component of healthy and productive ecosystems, is a priority in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and Pollinators Initiative. Yet, several gaps remain in our understanding of the ecology and distributions of these taxa, particularly in relation to future climatic conditions. PROBAE (PROtect Butterflies Across Europe through climate refugia) defines a novel framework to identify areas of conservation priority for pollinator insects across Europe, focussing on butterflies and climate change refugia, i.e., areas that will increase the likelihood of species’ persistence in future climatic conditions. I will use extensive spatio-temporal data on the distribution of European butterflies and novel modelling approaches to: (i) identify high-resolution hotspots of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity by integrating expert maps and monitoring data; (ii) assess if forests can increase the persistence of threatened butterflies in the face of climate change; (iii) determine which areas should be prioritized to protect climate change refugia across the EU. PROBAE synthesizes concepts from population ecology, biogeography, biodiversity science, and conservation planning. By developing this innovative project, I will train skills that will allow me to establish as an independent researcher (e.g., Bayesian hierarchical modelling, conservation biogeography, analysis of big data), while networking with leading experts in the fields of landscape ecology, macroecology, and global change biology. The outcomes of PROBAE will inform actions related to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and contribute broadly to the Horizon 2020 objective of achieving a climate resilient future.

Mots clés : spatial distribution models, conservation planning, climate change refugia, landscape ecology, butterfly conservation, climate change

Participants :
- University of Lausanne (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet HIVOL (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play important roles in biosphere-atmosphere interactions. However, it remains unexplored how climate warming and concomitant increase in insect herbivory interact to influence emissions of BVOCs from arctic plants. This greatly limits the current understanding of the complex abiotic and biotic processes controlling BVOC emissions in arctic ecosystems, and hampers the development of appropriate BVOC emission models. Here, I propose a project that will assess 1) how climate warming influences insect herbivory on dominant woody plants in the Arctic, 2) how insect herbivory, both alone and in conjunction with warming, influences plant BVOC emissions, and 3) how to integrate herbivory effects into the existing emission model to estimate these effects at the landscape scale. The project takes an interdisciplinary approach involving insect science, environmental science, chemical ecology and ecosystem modeling, and it combines my research experience on biotic control of BVOC emissions and the expertise that the host has on the bidirectional exchange of BVOCs between the ecosystems and the atmosphere in the Arctic. This forms a strong basis for making the project a success. The importance of biotic control of BVOC emissions in the Arctic is unknown and this project will generate pioneer results that are awaited in the scientific community. The outputs of this project will lead to important scientific breakthroughs and improve our comprehension of the factors driving BVOC emissions as well as the ecological and atmospheric functioning of BVOCs in the rapidly changing Arctic. The project will also lead to novel collaborations due to the strong complementarity between my own research and the research of the host and collaborators. The expected high-quality publications, practice training and interdisciplinary collaborations will be valuable assets that support my career development towards full independence.

Mots clés : arctic, climate warming, insect herbivore, plant insect interaction, volatile organic compound

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €
Projet PinkSIES (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Biological invasions threaten global biodiversity and cause billions of Euros of damage to the European economy annually. The recent invasion of northern Europe by Pacific pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum), has attracted much attention. Introduced into rivers of the White Sea by the USSR in the 1950s/1970s, a sudden dramatic increase in occurrence was observed around the North Atlantic in 2017. Negative impacts on native Atlantic salmon stocks are expected, including competition for food at sea, with economic implications for member states. The aim of this project is to determine the impact of pink salmon on native salmonids both at sea and in recently invaded rivers by determination of the distribution of pink salmon feeding grounds in the North Atlantic, assessment of competition with Atlantic salmon at sea, determination of field metabolic rates (hence thermal sensitivity) of both salmon species, prediction of future marine distributions, and evaluation of the ecological role of pink salmon fry in recently-invaded rivers. To achieve these aims, stable isotopes of material from pink salmon (otoliths, scale and muscle tissues) will be analysed, along with gut contents of juveniles and predators. Whilst stable isotopes have been used to study the distribution of salmon in the oceans, this is the first time that the approach will be used to assess the impact of an invasive fish species on native species at sea, as well as application of a novel otolith derived isotope proxy to establish their sensitivity to global warming. There is little research on the ecology of pink salmon fry in invaded rivers. The proposed fellowship is a holistic study of this invading species: the results will expand our knowledge of the environmental biology of this invasive species in Europe and provide a scientific basis for decision-makers responsible for protecting the wild Atlantic salmon stocks.

Mots clés : invasive alien species, salmon, anadromous fish, stable isotopes, marine distribution

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet BH-STRING-HOLO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : TERMINATED

Black holes are among the most fascinating and enigmatic objects in our universe. The internal structure of black holes is of significant interest for quantum gravity, for astrophysical phenomena, and for the study of quantum entanglement in systems with many degrees of freedom. The Black Hole Information Paradox, which sharply demonstrates the incompatibility of Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity, is a primary motivation for this proposal. The proposed research will also yield insight into fundamental aspects of quantum gravity such as singularity resolution and the emergence of spacetime. The research described in this proposal studies black hole microstates in String Theory, supergravity and holography. The ultimate goal of this line of research is a complete characterization of the internal structure of black holes. The objectives of this proposal are: 1) To establish the microscopic description of several classes of black hole microstate supergravity solutions, through holographic studies; 2) To construct and study supergravity solutions describing microstates of non-extremal black holes, in particular solving for solutions that display new topological structures; 3) To investigate the observability of black hole horizon-scale structure at experiments such as LIGO, through interdisciplinary work to build models of string-theoretic black hole internal structure and predictions for experiment that can be tested in the near future and beyond. These objectives will be achieved by combining the applicant’s knowledge and recent results on black hole microstate solutions with the expertise of different members of the host research group in the areas of holography, supergravity solutions and gravitational wave experiments. Through this research, the applicant will develop new technical, interdisciplinary, research leadership and management skills, significantly enhancing his career potential.

Mots clés : string theory, black holes, holography, conformal field theory, supergravity

Participants :
- University of Southampton (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet CaTPoP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Both popular and children’s literature have increasingly been understood as important elements of the pre-modern history of print. Exciting research is being undertaken in both fields. Yet systematic research on the crossover between these two forms of cultural production has not been undertaken. The extent, diversity and significance of children’s popular print remains largely unknown. CaTPoP will be the first project to methodically examine European children’s popular print, 1700-1900. An ambitious programme of fieldwork will provide the first overview of cheap, ephemeral print that was either produced specifically for children and young people, or that was used predominantly by them. The aim is to establish the extent to which popular print reached young people, and to give a full account of the different forms that were produced with children as a target audience. These will include educational books (eg. ABCs, almanacs, catechisms...), and more imaginative, and attractively illustrated works, including penny prints, ballads, chapbooks and romances. Despite linguistic, cultural and confessional differences, it is clear that some formats and titles appeared across Europe, and CaTPoP will take a transnational approach, tracing geographical (and temporal) continuities, and fractures. The aim is to assess whether a shared print culture existed for children across Europe. CaTPoP will not only advance scholarly understandings (print history; children’s literature), but will support the curation of cultural heritage. Secondments in different countries and sectors (a museum, a library, a university) will raise awareness and expertise among professionals, and support the communication of findings to a general audience, both online and through events and a touring exhibition. CaTPoP will enhance the principal researcher’s skills, as well as the host venues’ capabilities. It aims to recover a significant part of print culture that has been for too long overlooked.

Mots clés : children s literature and culture

Participants :
- Newcastle University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet TrawledSeas (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Bottom trawling is one of the most common fishing practices worldwide. It involves towing of nets along the seafloor to harvest benthic and demersal living resources for human consumption or industrial uses. The widespread and intensive use of these fishing activities on the continental margin has raised concerns in the European Union about the sustainability of this practice. The impacts of bottom trawling on the seafloor have been extensively investigated in shallow environments. However, very few studies have addressed the effect of continued trawling activities at depths beyond the shelf break. The main objective of TrawledSeas is to characterise the impact of bottom trawling, in terms of extent, rates and volume change, on the morphology of different geological and climatic deep (>200 m) seafloor settings. The project is based on an interdisciplinary approach that combines the quantitative analysis of high-resolution multibeam data with geophysical and sedimentological information, in situ observations and satellite-based vessel tracks. These data will be provided by leading research groups or derived from European and global databases of open geospatial data. A main component of the methodology consists of the development of a new automated marine landscape mapping technique to quantify the morphological signature of bottom trawling at fine and mesoscale, which will be conducted at the University of Malta and complemented at the Geological Survey of Norway. The collaborative nature of TrawledSeas will reinforce the researcher’s interdisciplinary background and international network. The project will also contribute to the researcher’s career development by providing technical skills on geomorphometry and research expertise on different geological settings, which will provide her with the high scientific profile necessary to develop innovative and integrative projects and to apply for national and European funding calls such as an ERC grant and Horizon 2020.

Mots clés : bottom trawling, geomorphology, seascape

Participants :
- University of Malta (Malte) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 160049.28 €
Projet LongPlaNet (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Brain plasticity is well studied in the developing and early life, but how experiences can reshape the brain during adulthood is still poorly understood. Non-invasive medical imaging techniques point to the existence of broad functional readjustments in adult brain networks. However, a good understanding of the biological underpinnings of this phenomenon is lacking. Deciphering the nature of adult brain structural readjustments may lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying many psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and potentially lead to therapeutic alternatives for these highly prevalent diseases in a globally aging population. LongPlaNet seeks to study the dynamics of long-range projections in the adult brain. To reach this goal I will use an array of cutting-edge techniques allowing me to study WHOLE BRAIN CONNECTIVITY at a CELLULAR RESOLUTION in the context of ADULT BEHAVING MICE. I will start from a preliminary list I generated of candidate brain regions undergoing plastic readjustments following long-term sensory deprivation in the mouse. I will quantify using 3D whole brain imaging by light-sheet microscopy the structural changes of connectivity between these regions. I will then use RNA-seq and bioinformatic tools to find markers of neuronal plasticity. Finally, I will track by in vivo calcium imaging with two-photon microscopy the evolution of the receptor fields of neurons affected by plastic remodeling. The present action will pioneer the intersection of molecular, structural and functional characterization of a well known but poorly understood phenomenon of adult reorganization of neuronal networks.

Mots clés : microscopy, plasticity, somatosensory, axonal dynamics, tissue clearing

Participants :
- Institut du cerveau (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet SPeNTa-Brain (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Brain tumours are the most common solid tumours in children, accounting for about 25% of all primary paediatric tumours. The situation is particularly critical for the deadliest brain tumour: glioma, being the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. The main bottleneck for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) pathologies, including brain tumours (at early stages), as well as brain metastases, lies in the difficulty to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). In this proposal, I aim to overcome such limitation with the use of super-selective targeted and fully biodegradable polypeptide-based polymersomes, carrying relevant drug combinations for the treatment of paediatric glioma. I propose a step-wise and bottom-up approach to synthesise biodegradable polymersomes from amphiphilic block-polypeptides obtained via the scalable and reproducible methodology of Ring Opening Polymerisation (ROP) of N-Carboxyanhydrides (NCAs). The polypeptide amphiphiles are expected to self-assemble in aqueous solutions yielding nanometric vesicles. These synthetic vesicles will be functionalised with selected BBB receptor ligands in order to approach the super-selectivity concept aiming for active targeting and transcytosis to the brain acting as the so-called “Trojan Horses”. Finally, the super-selective nanovesicles will be loaded with synergistic and clinically relevant combination therapy using anticancer agents and immuno-modulators in order to approach paediatric glioma treatment. I will join for the first time, the use of fully biodegradable polymersomes based on polypeptides, super-selective binding strategies for BBB crossing and the use of chemotherapy+ immunotherapy. Overall, I will develop an innovative therapy, capable of reaching the brain in a non-invasive way, being able to diffuse and target the brain tumour, overcome chemo-resistance and activate the immune system to fight these tumours, being the future end-users, children with incurable cancers.

Mots clés : polypeptide amphiphiles, ring opening polymerisation, biodegradable polymersomes, self assembly, super selective targeting, brain delivery, paediatric glioma treatment, combination therapy

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €