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

Transnational criminal networks utilise Information Communication Technology (ICT) to commit ‘old’ and ‘new’ types of crime. ICT assists in transnational crime (i.e., hacking) and also as a way to exchange information or plan new crimes. Empirical research has provided ample evidence that social and familial networks play a crucial role in the formation and growth (recruitment) of criminal networks. However, ICT now makes it possible for organised crime to form networks without the restrictions of geographic proximity and with the growth in the online gambling sector estimated at 13 billion Euros per annum in the EU worth approximately 15 percent of EU gambling market such sums of revenue attracts unwanted attention from organised cybercriminals. This proposal will therefore examine online gambling and extortion networks. The reason(s) for this is that gambling – illegal and legal – has often attracted organised crime, and empirical evidence regarding online gambling and extortion in EU is limited. The objectives of this research are: establish tools and technique that facilitate management of internal/external cyber-threats to online gambling sector validate tools and techniques that will facilitate the management of internal/external cyber-threats to online gambling sector set standards of information management set standards of dissemination and flows of information to cybersecurity centres from online gambling sector in EU This is to be achieved by: interviews with key individuals (systems managers at online sites and law enforcement) analyse data for information flows and breaking down volume of information into accessible data for internal and external use. analyse current decision making processes/systems and processing information analyse exchange of data to improve and implement best practice available in cybersecurity across EU online gambling sites

Mots clés : gambling, organised crime, criminal networks

Participants :
- University of Wolverhampton (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 146591.1 €
Projet P-MaleReg (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic parasites infecting the genomes of most organisms, so abundantly as to be a major determinant of genome size in eukaryotes. They can be harmful, as their ability to mobilise makes them highly mutagenic and a threat to host genome integrity. Hence, organisms have evolved several TE repression mechanisms, especially in the germline, where new mutations can be transmitted to progeny. TEs challenge these silencing strategies by invading new genomes through horizontal transfer, but hosts appear to rapidly adapt to these new TEs. The classic example is the invasion of the Drosophila melanogaster genome by the P-element: TE repression in this system evolved so quickly that the P-element and its repressors (recently discovered to be due to a small RNA pathway) appeared almost simultaneously. The selective pressure may have been intense: crosses between D. melanogaster males containing P-elements and females devoid of it lead to frequent F1 sterility and other aberrant traits. This phenomenon, associated with uncontrolled P-element mobilization, is named “hybrid dysgenesis”. Due in part to its rapidity, little is known about the early stages of TE repression evolution. In this work, we propose to take advantage of a rare opportunity to study the adaptation to a TE invasion in real time. Less than a decade ago, the P-element invaded the genome of D. simulans, a sister species of the genetic model. We aim to disentangle the molecular mechanisms involved in the establishment of P-element silencing in D. simulans. In particular, we will study the effects of dysgenesis and repression in males, which have been largely neglected to date. As a result, their role in the rapid spread of the P-element remains elusive. This work will contribute to deciphering how TE silencing is established during novel TE invasions, a crucial part of understanding the dynamics between TEs and their hosts.

Mots clés : drosophila, transposable elements, evolutionary genetics, host parasite coevolution

Participants :
- University of Liverpool (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet NEUROTARGET (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the number one cause of disability in children and young adults. Despite well-known mechanisms of secondary brain damage after TBI, effective treatments have not been yet established. Consequently, novel strategies to develop therapeutics which have translational potential are urgently required. One of the major obstacles when trying to treat the brain is the inability of drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, it is of great importance to develop novel strategies of drug delivery to targeted locations across the intact BBB. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (PLGA NP) are safe and biodegradable drug carriers. When coated with poloxamer188, they are able to cross the BBB. However, the exact mechanisms of penetration, as well as their route to target cells in the brain are currently unknown. To investigate this, the applicant will combine three cutting-edge technologies: novel extra-bright PLGA NP, in vivo two-photon microscopy and whole body clearing (uDISCO). These techniques in combination allow 3D visualization at the sub-cellular level of how PLGA NP distribute throughout the body, cross the BBB and release their cargo in vivo. These NP will subsequently be used as carriers to deliver multiple neuroprotective compounds with synergistic action into the brain. This technique allows high specificity and potency of therapeutic compounds, while minimizing the risk of side effects. Ultimately, objective of this approach is to create an optimal novel nano-platform for brain-targeted drug-delivery and based on this, to provide an innovative treatment of TBI that has the potential for clinical translation. Furthermore, the project will enable the applicant to gain extensive knowledge in advanced in vivo microscopy and TBI models, techniques that are well established in the host laboratory, thereby giving him the opportunity to become a leader in this novel field of research running his own research unit in the future

Mots clés : traumatic brain injury, polymeric nanoparticles, brain targeted drug delivery, bio imaging, neuro nanomedicine

Participants :
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 171460.8 €
Projet INBID (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major health problem in Europe. Repetitive mild TBI (rmTBI) is a particularly dangerous form, due to its prevalence and limited overt clinical signs. This is concerning as rmTBI can lead to cumulative injury and is an established risk factor for dementia. Repetitive mTBI has been referred to as a ‘hidden epidemic’, but little is known about the pathological mechanisms. The project aims to address a major clinical need by identifying and validating new targets for the treatment of rmTBI. Microglia are critical components of neuroinflammation and are promising targets for intervention. It is now understood that nutrition and the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) contained within the diet can have profound effects on brain inflammation. Furthermore, specialised pro-resolving mediators derived from PUFAs have shown promise as interventions for disease. We hypothesise that the microglia-mediated inflammatory response to mTBI can be affected by manipulating PUFA levels to reduce the harmful, cumulative effects of a second mTBI. We will use a clinically relevant model of rmTBI in mice and investigate the resolution of inflammation during the period between injuries. These studies will be the first to integrate multiple parameters of microglia-mediated inflammation, combining transcriptomic and lipidomic profiling with unbiased network analysis to describe the resolution of inflammation in mTBI. Finally, by targeting of the most important network parameters, we will attempt to speed up the resolution of inflammation and so reduce the impact of rmTBI. The joined expertise of the applicant (neuroinflammation and microglia), the host lab (nutrition, lipids, behavior), and the secondment lab (transcriptomics and microglia) will guarantee the success of the project, validate new targets for the treatment of rmTBI, further the applicant's promising scientific career and bring new tools and approaches to the host laboratory.

Mots clés : mild traumatic brain injury, resolution of inflammation, microglia, polyunsaturated fatty acids, lipids

Participants :
- Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet CessOmics (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, inhabit the human intestinal tract. This community, known as the gut microbiome and virome, profoundly impacts essential biological functions such as metabolism, immunity and behavior, and provides biological adaptations that we did not evolve on our own. While our microbial partners and their viruses have co-speciated with humans over millions of years, most of our knowledge comes from microbiome studies conducted on urban industrialized populations, while viruses have so far been the forgotten siblings of the microbiome family. How much has this gastrointestinal community diverged from its ancestral state? What was the impact of population migrations, and other critical historical transitions into our gut microbiome and virome? Archaeological materials such as mummified tissues, coprolites and dental calculus have the potential to shed light on our shared evolutionary journey, but not at the scale and resolution of historical cesspits, the focus of CessOmics. Cesspits are common, well-preserved features in archaeological sites that preserve everything from microfossils to the eggs of gut parasites. However, they have historically been overlooked as rich sources of molecular information. By analyzing the faecal lipids, bacterial and viral DNA from these historical cesspits, CessOmics will dive deep into the complex microbiome and virome preserved in cesspit sediments to illuminate the migrations and interactions of communities, examining their evolving gut microbiome and virome. By combining multiple molecular records that encompass the bacterial and viral fractions, we stand on the edge of a potential breakthrough in our ability to explore the evolution of the human gut community.

Mots clés : microbiome, virome, phages, cesspits, lipids, impact, industrialization, globalization

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 219312.0 €
Projet META2 (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBC) metastasize to the bone, resulting in progressive bone destruction and severe complications for the patient. TNBC colonize the bone already much earlier, but they often stay dormant for several years and remain undetectable. Recent studies showed that at this early stage, TNBC cells are in close proximity to bone-forming cells (osteoblasts), and this interaction promotes TNBC survival and proliferation. Interestingly, recent findings also indicate that the metabolism of tumor cells not only drives primary tumor growth, but also determines which cells will metastasize to lung or liver, indicating metabolic interactions of TNBC with their microenvironment. This concept may also apply to TNBC in bone, but insight in the metabolism of TNBC colonizing the bone is lacking. I hypothesize that to survive and thrive in the bone TNBC cells rely on a specific profile that is complementary in nutrient needs to osteoblasts. Accordingly, preliminary results of the lab showed that targeting glutamine pathway impaired bone metastasis formation. Thus, my objective is to characterize the metabolism of TNBC in bone at early time points and to validate that targeting this metabolism will limit or prevent bone metastasis. I will first perform metabolite dosage and transcriptomics on TNBC recovered at early stages of preclinical (mouse) models of bone metastasis. In parallel, I will decipher metabolic interactions in vitro between osteoblasts and TNBC using metabolomics. These two complimentary approaches will deliver fundamental insights into metabolic adaptations of TNBC during bone metastasis, and identification of the most interesting enzymes to target. I will then validate these targets through functional studies in preclinical models and analysis of expression levels in patient tumor samples. This better understanding of the metabolism of TNBC in the bone is essential for the development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets.

Mots clés : bone, metastasis, metabolism, breast cancer

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 178320.0 €
Projet AFRI-SKYFOR (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Tropical montane forests (TMF) are biodiversity rich and unique ecosystems which provide water to tens of millions of people, among other services such as firewood, medicinal plants, hazard prevention, climate modulation and carbon sequestration. However, TMF remains understudied and over-exploited, particularly in Africa. Predicted climatic changes and trends in population growth will negatively affect the ecological functioning and ecosystem service delivery of these already fragile ecosystems. Therefore, there is an urgent need to better understand these ecosystems and use that information to inform management. AFRI-SKYFOR, focused on TMF in Africa, will provide new information key for understanding and improving the management of these ecosystems. I will combine data on multiple ecosystem services (e.g. water, medicinal plants, carbon), ecosystem threat, environmental and socio-economic data, modelling and novel state-of-the-art methodologies (such as socio-ecological ecosystem modelling using Bayesian statistics) from the fields of ecology, conservation science and ecosystem valuation to (1) identify and prioritize the ecosystem services generated by African TMF; (2) assess current and future threat presence and severity to these ecosystems; (3) create a model of the socio-ecological functioning of African TMF and simulate potential future scenarios; and (4) develop management recommendations for future sustainability. AFRI-SKYFOR is a highly interdisciplinary project which will generate information of wide relevance for the sustainable use of natural resources in African mountains. The high scientific quality and applicability proposed will benefit the EU not only by generating new knowledge and publications in high-profile scientific journals which will contribute to the enhancement of EU scientific excellence, but also by contributing to EU commitments within International treaties such as the Aichi Biodiversity targets and the Sustainable Development Goals

Mots clés : ecosystem services, montane forests, sustainability, conservation, africa

Participants :
- University of York (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 251857.8 €
- Colorado State University System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet Truth in PTS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Truth plays an important role in our everyday discourse. However, the philosophical study of truth has proven challenging. The semantics of truth is complicated both by questions of the nature of truth and by the paradoxes naïve theories generate. Traditional views about truth hold that a statement is true if it corresponds to reality. These views require positing a correspondence relation between reality on the one hand and language on the other; spelling out the details of such an account has fallen prey to vicious circle arguments and other accusations of triviality. Deflationism about truth, in contrast, assumes that the meaning of “true” can be explained with reference only to its linguistic and logical role. As such, it is natural to try and clarify the content of deflationism by offering an inferentialist explanation of deflationism. Proof-theoretic semantics brings precision to inferentialism. Hence, if the truth predicate can be given a proof-theoretic semantics, we will finally be able to state precisely what deflationism amounts to. The main objective of this project is to assess to what extent proof-theoretic semantics is compatible with the deflationist conception of truth and to deploy proof-theoretic semantics in elucidating what it means for truth to be a metaphysically light notion. This is important because it has been argued that no proof-theoretic semantics can be given to truth. However, the argument is based on a naïve, classical, inflationary notion of truth. Deflationism opens up a non-classical, non- naïve approach to truth. There is no research on whether proof-theoretic semantics is compatible with this approach to truth. This project will provide a proof-theoretic semantics for deflationary truth, focusing on intuitionistic and intermediate logics, and thereby give strong support to deflationism and clarify its implications and contents.

Mots clés : proof theoretic semantics, formal theories of truth

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

Tuberisation in potato is a major photoperiodic developmental programme in which stolons form starch-rich tubers. The earliness of tuberisation dictates the time to crop maturity and so is a crucial factor in potato agronomy. Exploitation of the naturally occurring variation in tuberisation onset provides a route to breeding improved varieties for different latitudes, harvest times and markets. Recent focus in this field has been on the regulation of a FLOWERING LOCUS T orthologue termed StSP6A, a positive regulator of tuberisation. These studies have facilitated development of tuberisation models. However, data from JHI and other literature suggest that these models are incomplete. Now work at JHI has identified a new player, a TFL-1 orthologue that appears to act as a negative regulator of tuberisation. The aims of POTENT are: to determine the binding partners and detailed expression pattern of TFL-1 in the stolon to develop a refined model of tuber initiation; to use a transcriptomic approach applied to TFL-1 transgenic lines to unravel tuber life cycle processes; to investigate the role of TFL-1 in tolerance to abiotic stress; to determine the combinations of StCDF1 and TFL-1 alleles possessed by potato varieties from different maturity classes, that impact on tuber initiation. The project will serve a training vehicle for the experienced researcher (ER) to enhance her portfolio of research skills, to restart her career and so increase her ability to innovate in this area of food security. The ER will add an extra dimension to current research activities in the host organisation by sharing her current expertise. Working with secondment partner Agrico UK, the outcomes will be of commercial and societal interest and a raft of measures will be taken to protect IPR and disseminate results to wide audiences. The project will leave the ER well-qualified to achieve professional maturity and will have a legacy of collaboration and new research avenues to be explored.

Mots clés : potato, crop yield, abiotic stress, plant breeding

Participants :
- James Hutton Institute (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 337400.64 €
Projet TNFaLysMyr (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFa) is an important cytokine implicated in many autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, in which TNFa-blocking antibody drugs have become first line treatment. Nevertheless, clinical responses are variable. To improve and expand therapeutic strategies, a better understanding of TNFa and the many other cytokines secreted from cells is crucial. It was recently shown that TNFa is myristoylated on a lysine residue (KMyr), a unique modification that suggests an important but yet unexplored role for KMyr in cytokine biology. I will investigate the impact of KMyr on TNFa signalling, and its wider role in secretion and signalling of other cytokines, using a unique multi-disciplinary approach combining state-of-the-art chemical biology tools with molecular cell biology and proteomics. The role of KMyr in TNFa trafficking, secretion and signalling will be identified using human macrophage cell lines that produce mutant TNFa proteins with the relevant lysine residue substituted or deleted. KMyr proteins will be identified through a powerful approach that introduces a small chemical tag into the myristate in cells; this tag can be selectively functionalized to allow sensitive fluorescence imaging of KMyr within living cells, and purification for identification by mass spectrometry. The global scope of KMyr in the proteome will be analyzed in parallel, with emphasis on other secreted cytokines such as IL1alpha, which may be controlled too via KMyr. Regulation of TNF KMyr will be explored by identifying KMyr transferases and demyristoylases using chemical photo-affinity tools that can bind proteins interacting with KMyr, yielding putative targets for future first line therapies.

Mots clés : chemical biology, chemical proteomics, tnfalpha  tumour necrosis factor alpha, cytokine, lipidation, myristoylation, signalling, inflammation

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