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

The capability to image the microscopic features of a sample with an imaging system with much coarser resolution opens tantalizing opportunities to all applications of x-ray imaging. First and foremost, it can reveal features that are currently inaccessible: coupled with e.g. a widely available x-ray microscope with a resolution of a few microns, it can reveal information on nanoscale details. However, one can also envisage a use of the same capability to maintain a given, required level of resolution while using much larger pixels, which could allow lower dose in medical imaging, faster scans in industrial or security inspections, cheaper imaging system or any combination of the above. The method to image the Ultra-Small Angle X-ray Scattering (USAXS) distribution developed by the Experienced Researcher (ER) of this application enables exactly this tantalizing feature. It was developed as an additional, advanced feature of phase-based “dark field” imaging methods enabled by e.g. grating interferometry (GI), and was the subject of two recent Phys. Rev. Letters. GI is a phenomenal new phase imaging approach but has limitations in terms of transferability to systems that could be used clinically or by industry. Since real-world implementations of his method are the ER’s key objective, he has identified in edge illumination (EI) phase contrast imaging, developed by the supervisor of this project, the tool that would enable the development of a prototype making the ER’s USAXS imaging method widely available. This project will develop this prototype and test it on significant samples in medicine, material science and industrial and security scanning in direct collaboration with the end users. It will complement the ER’s skills on the development of benchtop imaging systems and significantly enlarge the range of his interdisciplinary skills and collaborations. At the same time, it will enrich the host group by providing access to a new imaging method with huge potential.

Mots clés : x ray imaging, ultra small angle x ray scattering, edge illumination, medical diagnostics

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet 4f-Mag (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The capacity of investigate and tailor the materials properties down to nanoscale created new perspectives for the development of functional devices using single atoms or molecules. Concerning magnetism, the stabilization of magnetic remanence in single atoms represents the ultimate limit on the size reduction of storage devices. After recent advances in this field, lanthanides have emerged as promising candidates for atomic magnets. However, the high diffusion of single standing atoms hinder the development of real-world applications. The next step to further advance towards practical devices is the coordination of these atoms in networks preserving their outstanding magnetic properties. This project will explore the high versatility of molecular linkers to coordinate lanthanides atoms. The combination of state-of-art surface science techniques as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), non-contact atomic force microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) allows a complete investigation of their fundamental properties. It will be possible to unveil the structural, electronic, chemical and magnetic properties of lanthanides networks prepared on different surfaces. The 4f-Mag project aims to find out suitable combinations of surface and molecular linkers to design regular networks of lanthanides maintaining their functionality as single atom magnets and enhancing their remarkable magnetic properties.


Participants :
- Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet MGCODE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The origin of the accelerated expansion of the Universe remains elusive. The so-called Dark Energy might be a manifestation of modified gravity at very large scales. While near-future observatories will improve the current bounds on such a possibility, they will not likely be conclusive as to its nature. An opportunity arises from the study of modifications of gravity at shorter scales, specifically around compact objects like black holes and neutron stars, recently made possible through gravitational-wave observations.  This project aims to dramatically improve the constraints on cosmological modifications of gravity by means of an interdisciplinary approach involving tools from High Energy Physics, and both astrophysical gravitational-wave and cosmological observations. Modified gravity dynamics at different scales can be described in a model-independent way as Effective Field Theories according to symmetry principles. Strong constraints will come from a combined theoretical and phenomenological study within this framework. Both analytical and numerical tools will be developed and employed to qualitatively and quantitatively compute the expected signatures on gravitational-wave astrophysics, allowing to hold these models against observations. The constraints will then be translated to the cosmological modifications of gravity, drawing novel conclusions as to which theories can consistently explain Dark Energy while satisfying bounds across a large range of scales.  Ultimately, this project will foster the collaboration among the High Energy Physics, Cosmology and Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics communities, enabling a much faster and efficient progress in the field of modified gravity in general. This includes a more focused use of the available computational resources for time-consuming resource-intensive tasks.  The multifaceted training and support received during the action and the competences acquired are aimed at the career development of the fellow.

Mots clés : modified gravity, effective field theory, black holes, gravitational waves

Participants :
- FZU  Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Rép. Tchèque) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 150438.72 €
Projet UnfearHD (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

A common characteristic in many neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is the presence of disordered proteins that form toxic aggregates. In Huntington’s disease (HD), expanded polyQ tracts on Huntingtin (Htt) lead to the formation of aggregates, which affects many cellular functions, eventually resulting in cell death. Heat Shock Response (HSR) is a protective mechanism that facilitates (among other functions) the clearance of protein aggregates. Paradoxically, HSR becomes impaired in HD. The fact that early Htt aggregates, prior to becoming severely aggregated or toxic, fail to trigger HSR indicates that this impairment likely occurs early in the HD pathogenesis. The molecular mechanism underlining the HSR impairment in HD remains elusive. The aim of UnFearHD is to unravel the mechanism that links Htt aggregation with HSR impairment in early stages of HD. Several lines of evidence indicate that disordered proteins, having the ability to phase separate, may directly regulate translation and transcription, as shown for biomolecular condensates. Our hypothesis is that aggregation-prone Htt alters the early HD proteome composition in a way that impacts the HSR, by directly interacting with RNA and DNA. To explore our hypothesis, we will employ C. elegans strains engineered for inducible Htt expression and combine unbiased omics to a) directly interrogate the Htt interactions with RNAs and DNAs, using a UV-based crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP) and b) understand the consequences of such interactions at proteome level, using a bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT). The UnfearHD project will enable the establishment, for the first time, of a direct association between Htt aggregation and HSR impairment, which is detrimental for HD progression. The findings will stretch beyond the scope of UnfearHD as the combination of protein aggregation and HSR impairment is detrimental for other NDs but also seems to constitutes a universal mechanism of ageing.

Mots clés : c elegans, huntingtin, chemical biology, protein aggregation

Participants :
- Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (Grèce) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 169326.72 €
Projet ATRACTIVE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Structural dynamics define the transition from one protein state to another and are modulated by interactions with partners-ligands and/or chemical modifications. They are important to control protein biological activity, govern protein evolution and their alteration can lead to diseases or death. The long-term objective of ATRACTIVE is to understand protein structural dynamics, their regulation and how such dynamics diversify a conserved structural core to evolve in computing distinct functions. For this, we will focus on human serum transferrin (hTF), which shares an ancient and conserved bilobed structural core composed of two domains from the type-II periplasmic binding protein domain family. This core is fundamental for maintaining iron-homeostasis in human cells conferring nutritional immunity. The same core is harbored by proteins ubiquitous throughout the tree of life that diversified yielding transcription factors, enzymes or transport related/signaling proteins. Bacterial pathogens to acquire iron from available sources, have evolved membrane receptors for capturing iron-loaded-hTF, transferrin binding proteins A and B (TbpA/TbpB). This interaction is essential for the pathogenicity of many critical human pathogens, such as Neisseria sp (gonorrhoeae, meningitidis). Our aim is to investigate the structural dynamics modulated by iron binding and release and how such are affected by the receptors in the presence or absence of drugs, following a three-pronged approach: a) Determine the structural dynamics of hTF upon iron binding in the two bilobed structures and uncover the allostery between them, b) Map the structural changes triggered by hTF-TbpA-TbpB interactions that underlie the iron release mechanism, c) Identify drugs that compromise the hTF-TbpA interaction. To do so, cutting-edge multi-disciplinary tools will be adopted: a. smFRET, b. HDX-MS, c. Molecular-dynamic simulations, d. In vitro binding assays and ITC.

Mots clés : structural dynamics, smfret, hdx ms, protein evolution and function, bilobed structural core, human serum transferrin, iron homeostasis

Participants :
- Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (Grèce) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 153486.72 €
Projet SCHOOLAGEES (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The number of refugees seeking asylum in Europe has increased significantly in recent years, giving rise to questions about the efficacy of the measures put in place to facilitate their integration in the receiving countries. Schools occupy a pivotal position in the process of refugee integration, representing the initial social environment in which school-aged refugees are integrated following their arrival. The introduction of a framework of S-connections (School-Spare time-Society) in the SCHOOLAGEES project addresses a critical research question that has been overlooked in previous studies: namely, how does children’s engagement in educational settings in the host country facilitate their parents’ social integration? The research will adopt a policy-oriented socio-anthropological approach and employ an innovative methodology of qualitative content analysis of social media groups of parents. This will enable an exploration of the informal patterns and hidden mechanisms through which parents are involved in socialisation processes in the school context and interact with other parents. The research will demonstrate the significance of the informal school network and illustrate its capacity to assist educational institutions in advancing the social integration of school-aged refugees and their families. The objective is to establish a comparative framework of good practices implemented in Estonia and Italy, with a view to disseminating it to relevant stakeholders and to other countries that may benefit from its insights. This objective will be achieved through the implementation of research initiatives with specific focus on groups of Ukrainian refugees in Estonia and Palestinians in Italy.

Mots clés : educational settings, comparative analysis, informal networks

Participants :
- Université de Tallinn (Estonie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 205745.52 €
Projet Sus-Bio-plastics (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The objective of Sus-Bio-plastics is to develop new biotechnological waste-to-value chains for the most promising (based on market share value) bioplastics by implementing innovative microbially mediated practices. To achieve this aim, the project is structured under 3 innovation pillars, regarding 2 processes and 1 tool for integrating sustainability in waste management of bioplastics (1 non-biodegradable (bio-PE) and 3 biodegradable (PLA, PHB and TPS)). Microalgal-bacterial or bacterial communities will be exploited as a biotechnological tool to formulate a stable metapopulation capable of degrading bioplastics. In case mechanical recycling is considered as the best end-of-life option, a bioclean-up process of the weathered layer of the bioplastics PLA and bio-PE will be developed. This process will serve as a pretreatment stage prior to mechanical recycling which will yield near virgin pellets holding the capacity to enter the recycling stream. In case organic recycling is the best end-of-life option, a new bio-recycling route will be developed to treat waste biodegradable bioplastics (PHB and TPS) and produce high-value compounds. The mutualistic interplay between microalgal and bacterial species will be capitalized towards bioplastics upcycling and minimization of CO2 releases, constituting a highly novel approach which has not been previously explored.

Mots clés : bioplastics, microalgae, recycling

Participants :
- Institut de technologie de Chypre (Chypre) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 164328.0 €
Projet ENDOMICS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Endothermy, the ability to maintain a stable internal body temperature, is a key evolutionary steppingstone that allows animals to thrive in diverse environments, sustain high activity levels, and achieve greater reproductive success despite increased energy demands. This thermoregulatory strategy has led to complex behaviors and evolutionary innovations, enabling endothermic animals, like birds and mammals, to dominate ecosystems throughout time. However, the origins of endothermy remain hotly debated. The ENDOMICS project aims to contribute to this debate by exploring the evolution of endothermy through advanced metabolomics and proteomics analyses of endolymph across various species. Endolymph, a fluid in the inner ear that monitors head movements and allows hearing, appears to vary in viscosity between taxa, detrimentally impacting ear biomechanics. By studying the proteins and metabolites in endolymph, we can understand the factors behind these variations. For instance, birds seem to have adapted to higher body temperatures by altering the chemical composition of endolymph, increasing its viscosity. We hypothesize this change to be linked to augmented presence of proteins/metabolites, known to increase biofluids’ viscosity, offering a cornerstone piece of information for understanding the onset and evolution of endothermy. ENDOMICS trailblazes the study of variation in the composition of endolymph across taxa. Our findings will clarify the fossil record, providing a deeper understanding of extinct species' biology by estimating their physicochemical properties from living counterparts. The study's results also have broad implications, including informing climate change adaptation, advancing treatments for hearing/balance disorders, and fostering innovation in synthetic biology, particularly with synthetic endolymph. As the global population ages, this research will be increasingly important in addressing the growing incidence of hearing impairments.

Mots clés : tetrapod paleontology vestibular system physiology thermo motility index tmi endothermy evolution dinosaur bird lineage endolymph proteomics and metabolomics

Participants :
- Université de Lisbonne (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 207183.12 €
Projet RYLTAZ (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with stable open-shell ground-states are needed for state-of-the-art applications, e.g., organic spintronics, electronics, energy storage etc. Herein, we propose rylenediimides (naphthalenediimide; NDI / perylenediimide; PDI) as promising PAH scaffolds for building multifaceted Blatter-type (di)radical conjugates that are typically inherently stable but also readily prepared. The introduction of [e]-ring fusion of the triazinyl moiety (Blatter-type) promotes planarization and rigidity of the rylenediimide core to allow spin delocalization, which electronically stabilizes the rylenediimides-(bis)triazinyl conjugates: DFT calculations support the high spin delocalization across the N−C−N−N tetrad (triazinyl) unit and the π backbone (NDI/PDIs). Three rylenediimide-mono(triazinyl) and two rylenediimide-bis(triazinyl) conjugates will be prepared and studied. The latter were selected from DFT computational studies of eleven possible NDI/PDI-bistriazinyl conjugates owing to low singlet-triplet energy gaps (< –1 kcal/mol) that indicate potential singlet biradical behavior. The triplet states of these conjugates could be accessible by heat or light which will open up the opportunity of having desirable switchable materials. The selected five rylenediimide-(bis)triazinyl conjugates will be synthesized via our previously optimized straightforward synthetic protocols. After standard characterization, magnetic and spintronic properties (conductivity and film forming properties) will be investigated. Single crystal X-ray crystallography, EPR and SQUID studies will validate spin states, singlet-triplet energy gaps, and solid-state magnetic properties. The project will advance the field of organic electronics.

Mots clés : 1 stable organic radical,  2 singlet diradical biradical,  3 low singlet triplet energy gap,  4 rylenediimide,  5 naphthalenediimide ndi ,  6 perylenediimide pdi ,  7 heterocyclic chemistry

Participants :
- Université de Chypre (Chypre) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 164328.0 €
Projet PRONACORE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the EU and worldwide. Chemotherapy has high risks and severe side effects due to the poor bioavailability of anticancer drugs. The inefficiency of current formulation vehicles necessitates better carrier systems. Proteins, as non-toxic, biodegradable natural polymers capable of self-assembly, seem especially promising as nanocarriers to encapsulate anticancer agents. Plasma-derived protein excipients are expensive and increase the risk of infection. The use of plant proteins, however, is limited by their immunogenicity.  The main ambition of PRONACORE is to develop new, safe and sustainable, glycan-coated protein(oid) nanocarriers with reduced immunogenicity for the oral, subcutaneous, and intravenous delivery of poorly soluble anticancer agents. By a top-down approach, core-shell type corn protein hydrolysate-pectin nanocarriers will be developed, demonstrating also a high-value route for the valorisation of sugar beet pectin. In parallel, we apply a bottom-up approach to design and synthesize glycosylated proteinoid nanocarriers, tailored to the cargo compound by the careful selection of building blocks assisted by molecular dynamics tools. IP protection will be sought for the methods invented. The feasibility of the developed nanocarriers for parenteral delivery will be determined. Our study on self-assembly and the factors determining the immunogenicity of protein(oid) nanocarriers will be made widely available to the scientific community, end-users, and the public.  The concept builds on Researcher’s previous experience, incorporates new elements, and creates the opportunity to initiate further research and innovation. He intends to remain active in this field beyond the scope of the MSCA fellowship to set up his own research group at the host, securing funding from national and EU grants and building a consortium for the development of sustainable soft materials for food, cosmetics, pharma-, and nutraceutical applications.


Participants :
- Centre de recherche ensciences naturelles (Hongrie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 157622.4 €