Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet PLIM-G4 (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

There has been increasing experimental evidence suggesting that tetra-stranded DNA structures (G-quadruplexes) play important biological roles in telomere function and maintenance, replication and transcription. The most direct evidence for their existence has come from immuno-staining in fixed cells as well as from recent deep sequencing studies. However, to date, we are still lacking tools that allows us to visualizing G-quadruplexes directly in live cells. While several small-molecule probes that fluoresce upon interaction with DNA have been reported, none of them have been successful at imaging G-quadruplexes in a cellular environment. This is mainly due to the fact that they rely on changes in intensity which are not possible to track properly in a cellular environment. Recently, the host lab reported a novel strategy to image G-quadruplexes in live cells. This approach makes use of the changes in emission lifetime (rather than intensity) of optical probes upon their interaction with different topologies of DNA. Since life-time is concentration independent, this approach can be successfully used to image G-quadruplexes in live cells. While this has proven to be a highly successful approach, it is still in its infancy since the probe developed so far has a number of limitations such as low brightness, relatively small lifetime range and low selectivity. Thus, this project aims to develop a new set of probes that address all these issues and use them to image the dynamics of G-quadruplexes in live cells in real time. I propose to develop platinum complexes (which 'switch-on' their phosphorescent upon interactions with DNA) with high affinity and selectivity for G-quadruplexes. To achieve this, novel approaches for automated synthesis and high-throughput analysis will be developed. The new probes will be used to carry out Phosphorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (PLIM) studies to give evidence for the first time of the dynamics of G-quadruplexes in live cells.

Mots clés : phosphorescence lifetime probes, click chemistry, high throughput synthesis, g quadruplex, phosphorescence lifetime microscopy

Participants :
- Imperial College London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet ScienceScovery (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : European Researchers' Night
Statut du projet : CLOSED

There is a growing awareness about the decisive role that research and innovation play in the resolution of many problems that European societies, such as Portugal, are facing. Investing more in research, innovation and entrepreneurship is at the heart of Europe 2020 and is a crucial part of Europe's response to the economic crisis. Coordinated by INOVA+, ScienceScovery offers a voyage of discovery within the Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3), an important and integrated approach to innovation and research. In a simple way, the audience (schools, families, citizens and researchers) will be invited to a day of constant interaction with researchers from academy and businesses and to find more about the Scientific Hub of the North of Portugal. This voyage will be possible thanks to ScienceScovery - a virtual metro network where participants choose what smart specialisation areas they wish to explore - and entails the audience is much more than just “a visitor” - every attendee will be an active participant involved in an open, informal, constructive and creative dialogue around the RIS3 priorities. Through activities that combine education and entertaining components, the audience will have a better understanding of the important role of researchers and of the relevant changes that are taking place in the research and innovation agendas. ScienceScovery aims to be a colourful and entertaining event, full of marvel and excitement that promises to engage the public at large in a game of discovery and wonder in the trails of science and research. During this voyage, "travellers" will have to stop at each station, interact with the researchers and develop the proposed activities (workshops, exhibitions, performances, seminars, etc.) in order to collect stamps for their passport! With an expected number of 40000 visitors this will be perfect venue for a night full of surprise and wonder filled with fantastic workshops, amazing performances and entertaining encounters.

Mots clés : smart specialisation strategy, discovery journey, bringing researchers and public at large closer, stimulating young people to embark on scientific careers, combining education and entertainment

Participants :
- Inova+ - innovation services, sa (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 178625.0 €
Projet OPEST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

There is a widely entertained, societal obligation on the part of scientific institutions to serve society with social impact and to engage citizens in research policy. This is also evidenced in recent policy documents (e.g. the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation defines tackling societal challenges through research as one of the main priorities for Europe in the next decade), and by procedures of research funding bodies that require plans for engaging society with the results of the funded research. As a result, universities and scientific institutions face an imperative to facilitate ‘pathways to impact’ for their research as this can be an important factor in determining funding beyond serving society. While research on resources for PE has mainly focused on scientists, little attention has been paid to the institutional context in which PE occurs. OPEST – Organisational Public Engagement with Science and Technology will examine how RIs are engaging society. We aim to assemble an international database of comparable data on the culture of PE at institutions and to develop PE indicators for assessing institutional PE. The study has been implemented in Portugal in 2014. This project will allow conducting the study in the UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the US. The project represents a breakthrough because of its novelty, type of data, scale and comparability. This is the first time that national studies and comparable data on institutional PE will be produced. The study will address the gap in the literature on organisational PE, provide evidence on which RIs can base workable systems to actively involve society, support policy makers in the development of policy actions to foster PE at national and international levels, and in the medium-term, contribute to engaging citizens in research and policy. Finally, the international collaboration and training that the project involves will help me reach a position of professional maturity.

Mots clés : public engagement with science and technology, public understanding of science, institutional communication, indicators

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

There is an increasing and urgent need in Europe and globally for effective and robust high temperature (HT) lubricant additives in critical industrial applications. Combining synergistically the exceptional oil solubility of organic polymers and the excellent tribological behaviour of MoS2 nanoparticles (NPs), polymer functionalized-MoS2 NPs with good dispersion stability will be designed and synthesized as candidates for HT lubricant additives. In addition, to suppress MoS2 oxidation under HT, which would cause high friction and wear, carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) will be covalently combined with MoS2 NPs to improve the retention of MoS2 on the frictional surfaces and prevent oxidation during rubbing. In this project, MoS2 NPs will be functionalized by two methods: 1) Immobilization of organic polymer on the surface of MoS2 NPs using non-covalent and covalent approaches. The organic polymers including oil-soluble poly-(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA), polyalkylene glycol (PEG), and hyperbranched poly(3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane) PEHO; 2) MoS2 NPs growing on the surface of organic polymer modified-CNMs with covalent bonds. The polymers connecting CNMs and MoS2 NPs are novel PEHO and PEG derivatives with lipoic acid (LA) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) terminals. The properties of the grafted polymers on MoS2 NPs and CNMs will be analyzed. The dispersion stability of surface functionalization MoS2 NPs will be assessed by SAXS/SANS, as well as cryo-TEM, SEM, DLS, and ξ- potential measurements. The surface force apparatus (SFA) will be used for mechanistic understanding of how such NPs mediate friction, with the macroscopic HT tribological properties of the NP dispersions investigated using tribometer. The correlation between the NP physicochemical properties and their efficacy in lubrication will be assessed. The wear mechanism of surface functionalized-MoS2 NPs as friction reduction and antiwear (AW) additives in lubricating oils will be explored by XPS and SEM-EDS.

Mots clés : nanofluids, high temperature lubricant oil additive, friction reducing and antiwear, surface forces

Participants :
- University of Bristol (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet FishMan (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

There is an urgent need to address the environmental effects of fishing in order to maintain healthy marine ecosystems that provide the services societies want and need. This problem is addressed in the new Common Fisheries Policy by encouraging the adoption of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, including as a matter of priority the reduction of unwanted catches. In line with this policy, the project aims to address the ecosystem effects of commercial trawling, including the unwanted catches problem, and generate knowledge that will contribute to the adoption of EAF. The project is structured in several inter-disciplinar activities, starting with gathering existing information on fishing effort, catches, benthic species and habitats from trawling grounds in the NW Mediterranean. The information will be analysed to assess the vulnerability of by-catch species to trawling, and the Good Environmental Status of benthic ecosystems. The novelty of the research approach will be increased by the adoption of a social-ecological framework. Interviews with the principal stakeholders will aim to assess their perception on the services provided by ecosystems from trawling grounds, and identify priority areas for fisheries and for conservation. The vulnerability, GES and ecosystem services valorisation will be used to propose scenarios of alternative fishing strategies that minimise the negative effects on ecosystems, while taking into account societal priorities. Then, size-spectra mathematical models will be explored to assess the ecosystem response to the different scenarios, aiming to identify the optimal management alternatives. The project structure will follow the principles of a participatory approach, by taking into account fishermen’ perceptions on potential management alternatives, which will allow exploring real-world scenarios.

Mots clés : trawl fisheries, unwanted catches, good environmental status, participatory approach, ecosystem, services, mediterranean sea

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 170121.6 €
Projet STRAVIR (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

There is increasing awareness that the recently identified cytokine IL-33 is playing a key role in multiple types of infections and pathologies. It has been recently demonstrated that IL-33 is crucial for mounting an efficient immune response against viral infections as it strongly enhances T cell responses with lack of IL-33 leading to failure in virus control. IL-33 production by stromal cells in lymph nodes (LN) and spleen is crucial for efficient viral clearance, however, the precise cellular source and signals involved in secretion of this nuclear alarmin during viral infection are unknown. In addition, it is poorly understood how this cytokine controls antiviral CD8 T cell function. To determine the cellular source of IL-33 during viral infections, we will assess IL-33 production by the different types of stromal cells present in lymph nodes and spleen during acute viral infection. The Luther lab has the expertise and state-of-the-art facilities to perform in situ characterization and in vivo analysis of stromal cell subsets present in these organs, allowing for the identification of the IL-33 producing population. Using IL-33GFP/+ mice will facilitate the identification of the cellular source of IL-33 during viral infections. Moreover, using in vitro cultures we will study the signals regulating IL-33 release as well as its role in T cells function. All together, the work described aims to increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying stromal IL-33 secretion and its effects on antiviral T cell responses and wishes to broaden our knowledge on the role of stroma cells regulating immune responses. Importantly, this work could have future implications for antiviral treatments, including the development of better strategies for antiviral treatments including vaccines or immunotherapy.

Mots clés : stroma, il 33, anti viral responses, secondary lymphoid organ

Participants :
- University of Lausanne (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175419.6 €
Projet PhenoConnectomics (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

There is much we don't know about how neurons connect in our brains, but we know that their connectivity is essential for brain function in health and disease. Many psychiatric diseases coincide with the miswiring of the brain: to understand these, we need to know how neurons connect in each condition. I will develop a new approach to map single-cell synaptic connectivity, and use it to study joint connectome & transcriptome changes in an established monogenic autism spectrum disorder (ASD) organoid model. Change in synaptic connectivity is a key feature of ASDs, such as Rett-syndrome, which is caused by a mutation of the epigenetic regulator, MECP2. To understand how Rett-syndrome manifests on both transcriptional and connectivity levels, I will compare healthy & MECP2-KO human cortical organoids. I will combine single-cell mRNA sequencing and transsynaptic viral tracing techniques with barcoding. I will subsequently develop the required computational analysis entailing multi-omics integration and network analysis, and use statistical reconstructions to study the global properties of the organoid connectome. In essence, the project aims at four advances: Technology: – Develop a connectome-by-sequencing assay to chart synaptic networks of thousands of neurons. Basic biology: – Find out how many, and what kind of connections do single neurons form? – Do ‘lonely’ neurons have a different transcriptome than highly connected ones? Concept: – Introduce single-cell connectomics as a phenotype (pheno-connectomics) to understand diseases, and find their earliest manifestation. Disease mechanism: – How genetic defects affect gene expression, and concurrently the connectome? – Are all cell types affected the same way?

Mots clés : connectomics, transsynaptic tracing, single cell multi omics, organoids, synapse, neural networks, autism spectrum disorders  asd

Participants :
- Austrian Academy of Sciences (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 174167.04 €
Projet NPMSSES (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Thermal energy storage is a useful method to adjust temporal mismatch between the demand and supply of solar energy systems, and latent thermal energy storage (LTES) using phase change material (PCM) has drawn increasing attentions for its high energy storage density and small temperature variation. Molten salt is a promising candidate for solar energy storage media at middle temperature range (140~300 oC). However, the low thermal conductivity of pure salt hampers the development of this technology. This proposal aims to introduce high conductive nanoparticles (NP) to improve the stability and thermo-physical properties of conventional PCMs for solar energy storage, termed as NPMSSES. Molten salts will be used as the matrix, and NPs (i.e., nickel, graphite platelet nanofibers and graphene) or expanded graphite (EG) will be introduced. It is a highly challenging yet exciting project that unites and advances the boundaries of three state-of-the-art disciplines: functional nanoparticles / nanocomposite, solar energy storage, and multiscale modelling. This work will address four main tasks: i) synthesis and characterization of NP-PCMs with good stability ii) identification thermo-physical properties of NP-PCMs under high temperature; iii) investigating their operational and heat transfer characteristics in a LTES system, including shell-tube and fluidized bed types, and iv) multiscale modeling thermo-physical properties of composite PCMs. My strong experience in experimentation with PCM and heat transfer and the vast knowledge on advanced nanomaterials synthesis and characterisation, and multiscale modelling of the host university will create the optimal environment to deliver the objectives of NPMSSES. The fellowship will be highly beneficial to establish myself as an independent researcher. It is expected that significant innovation should be made in the area of NP-PCM fabrication and mechanistic understanding of heat transfer mechanisms.

Mots clés : nanoparticles, molten salts, solar energy storage, heat transfer

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

This Fellowship aims to study the role of infants' motor and body representations in the development of action perception. Existing research indicates that infants' abilities to predict others' actions and imitate their goals may be precursors to social cognition - the ability to infer the mental states of others. Although the contribution of sensorimotor processes to infants' action perception is the subject of ongoing research, little existing research has explored the inherently embodied nature of sensorimotor action representations in light of the extensive physical and motor development during infancy. The objectives of the proposed research are to examine infants’ sensorimotor representations of the body, how these representations are affected by the development of new motor skills, and how inhibiting access to a mental representation of their own body affects infants’ perception of action. A novel contribution of the research will be the Fellow’s training in and application of magnetoencephalography (MEG) to infant action perception. This method is particularly relevant to the research, as MEG’s spatial resolution enables investigation of topographic neural activation. This will tell us if infant neural sensorimotor responses to observed action involve representations of the parts of the body used in the action. Established methods in developmental psychology (preferential looking, electroencephalography) will also be used, along with a new application of a posture manipulation paradigm to an infant population. The scientific outcome of this fellowship will be improved understanding of early social cognitive development via the incorporation of own-body representation into existing theories of developmental action perception. The impact of the outgoing phase will be to equip the Fellow with specialist technical skills in developmental research, particularly developmental MEG. These skills will be transferred to Europe in the return phase.

Mots clés : action perception, infancy

Participants :
- National University of Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 257561.28 €
- University of Washington (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet NinZA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

This Fellowship will bring an outstanding researcher from Sweden to the UK to gain new scientific and career skills to position him to become a leading independent academic in the interface of chemistry and biology for translational Nanomedicine. The fellow will design a new class of biomimetic zipper nano-architecture, combining an MRI-enabled SPION scaffold with a zip-unzip, temperature and pH-responsive multi-arm polymer to defuse drug resistant cell functions. These approach could greatly benefit the current investigation of new and alternate therapeutic procedures to overcome drug resistance. The fellow will gain advanced training in translational designs of drugs for recognition and treatment of drug resistant system, and in state of the art techniques for studying such system. Combined with the fellow's knowledge of nanoparticles in medicine, he will have a formidable skill set suited to designing nano-architectures for developing target-specific nano-drugs to push back frontiers in the battle against cancer. His excellent track record is in consistent with last two years performance with 4 publications (with cumulative IF>28) with leading publishers including Nature group, Wiley, Cell press etc., 1 cover page and cover story, one Keynote lecture and 2 international research competition awards (FEBS Young scientist forum and Nano Today, Elsevier ST award). A series of complementary career skills trainings will enhance the fellow's research management, leadership, presentation and teaching skills and make him an impressive and exciting candidate for an independent EU academic position.

Mots clés : durg resistance, molecular zipper, theranostic, drug delivery, off switchable system

Participants :
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €