Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : PLAMORF (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Synergy grants)
Entité participante : UK Research and Innovation — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UKRI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1591312.0 €

An essential consequence of multi-cellularity is the need for intercellular and tissue wide communication. As seen with animals, higher plants coordinate metabolic and developmental processes via signals transferred to different body parts. Plants use a dual vascular system consisting of phloem and xylem for long-distance transfer of metabolites and signalling molecules. In contrast to circular systems in animals, transport in flowering plants occurs in the phloem via the cytoplasm of connected cells devoid of nuclei. In addition to small molecules, a remarkably large number of so-called mobile micro RNAs (miRNAs), messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and phloem RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) were identified in the phloem and in chimeric plants. Mobile RNAs and RBPs move through plasmodesmata into and through the phloem to distinct tissues. Thus, mobile RNAs represent an additional class of signalling molecules, raising important questions in the field of intercellular signalling. This project combines the expertise of three research groups in the fields of cell biology/macromolecular transport, mathematical modelling/bioinformatics and phloem function/protein biochemistry. It addresses the questions: How are mobile miRNAs and mRNAs selected for transport? Is this process specific and regulated by RBPs and motifs? What determines their destination? And importantly, how are these signals processed in the destination cells? To address these questions, we will develop predictive models, using novel single cell transcriptomics pipelines to establish cell-type specific RNA transport and motifs (WP1), and studying the structure, affinity, and functions of phloem RBPs to gain insights in the RNA delivery mechanism (WP2). We will combine the advantages of the agronomically important plant oilseed rape to identify phloem RNAs and RBPs with the well-established A. thaliana model that allows us to identify and test cell-specific transported RNA signals and RBPs in a time-efficient manner.

Mots-clés : single cell transcriptomics,macromolecular signals,rna binding proteins,rna motifs,messenger rna transport,inter cellular communication,phloem,micro rna,chimeric plants
Projet ERC : LIGHTCODESWORDS (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Saarland University — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

An estimated 360 million people worldwide are living with disabling hearing impairment. This number is rising mainly due to a growing global population and longer life expectancies and increasing noise exposure. Unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of 750 billion international dollars. Interventions to prevent, identify and compensate or cure hearing loss are cost-effective and can bring great benefit to individuals. Currently available auditory prostheses based on mechanical or electrical energy are not sufficiently supplying the hearing impaired population. The main reasons are insufficient frequency specificity, feedback and discomfort due to occlusion effect and/or recurrent auditory canal inflammations. Light is a form of energy that can be very well focused, can be applied without the need of direct contact and may be the alternative energy for the stimulation of the hearing organ. With our LaserHearingAids Starting Grant we have developed a novel activation strategy of each individual frequency of the hearing spectrum using monochrome laser pulses. It has the advantage of a non-contact, very precise energy transfer in vibratory structures and shall be used to improve hearing and further auditory pathologies. In preparation for the prototype of the optoacoustic auditory prostheses we will continue testing the market, build up the started cooperation with industry partners and ask for ethical approvals for the first clinical studies. In parallel we will work on to coding speech and more complex sounds like e.g. music using the optoacoustic vibrations and improve loudness modulation within the biocompatibility margins. Our laser based coding strategy will revolutionize the auditory prostheses by replacing the speaker or the sound transducer with laser pulses. This new technique will improve patients’ quality of life and reduce the financial burden on the society due to work disability caused through these sensory deficits.

Mots-clés : laser,light,optoacoustic,hearing,auditory prostheses,words,speech understanding,sound transmission,ear function
Projet ERC : GenTime (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Social World and Its Diversity
Entité participante : University of Oxford — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1999739.0 €

An important part of sociological understanding of how welfare regimes are shaped by culture and history derives from Esping-Andersen’s 'three worlds' account. But these worlds, and later developments in this field, including the extension and application of the framework to gender roles, derive exclusively from Western models. What will emerge as we seek to develop a global perspective on other models of welfare regimes and how they handle gender inequalities? We will answer this question, using newly available data deriving from beyond the conventional Anglophone and European theatres: from China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to explore patterns emerging from other cultural and social traditions. GenTime will be a study of gender inequality in patterns of time use across East Asian and Western societies. We will investigate the development trajectories and provision of unpaid work in different welfare regimes, and the systematic differences between men and women in the amount of time they spend on daily activities and their daily life schedules. It will examine time use as an important parameter of public policies. We will establish if East Asian regimes represent a distinct typology. The project will shed new light on the gender division of labour and social inequality across different regime types. Furthermore, we will examine how the use of modern technology in care provision and domestic labour may shape the trends in gender inequality. We will investigate the impacts on gender differences in leisure time and enjoyment in daily activities. High quality cross-national and historical comparative time diary data and household panel data will be analysed to study gender inequality 1) at the household level on how couples divide their roles in work and family; 2) at the societal level on the role of welfare regimes in shaping the trends in domestic division of labour; and 3) from a life course perspective on the impacts of time use on later family outcomes.

Mots-clés : welfare regimes,time use,east asia
Projet ERC : ChildCogn (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Tampere University — Pays : Finlande — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 148708.75 €

An important responsibility of primary health care in most societies is to conduct regular check-ups of children’s physical, cognitive, and social development, and to identify problems at an early stage to arrange for appropriate support and special care. Whereas well-validated methods exist for monitoring physical growth (e.g., WHO growth standards), there is a lack of standardized methods for monitoring other key aspects of early development (e.g., cognitive development). The present project examines the possibilities to develop novel solutions for assessing children's cognitive function. The project activities are aimed at developing the concept of new types of cognitive assessment techniques, testing of a prototype, and surveying end-user experiences and potential markets for the prototype.

Mots-clés : cognitive development,assessment,health care
Projet ERC : mRNP-PackArt (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions
Entité participante : University of Giessen — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : JLU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1991387.5 €

An important step of gene expression is the formation of a messenger ribonucleoprotein particle (mRNP). The messenger RNA (mRNA) is synthesized by RNA polymerase II transcribing a protein-coding gene. The mRNA is processed, i.e. capped, spliced and polyadenylated, and packaged into an mRNP by binding of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). The RBPs bound to the mRNA are essential for the stability of the mRNP, control nuclear mRNA export and often determine cytoplasmic processes such as mRNA localization, translation and decay. Thus, the formation and composition of an mRNP is important for the posttranscriptional control of gene expression. Despite its essential nature, the mechanism of nuclear mRNP packaging and the architecture of an mRNP are still poorly understood due to the fact that mRNPs contain many different mRNAs. The overall goal of this proposal is to elucidate the mechanism of mRNP formation and the molecular structure of an mRNP. Specifically, in aim 1, we will determine and quantify the protein composition of a specific mRNP including different stages during its biogenesis, in aim 2, we will illuminate the molecular mechanism of mRNP packaging and in aim 3, we will elucidate the architecture of an mRNP by cross-linking mass spectrometry and electron microscopy. These aims will be achieved by combining novel RNP purification strategies and the powerful biochemistry of the model organism S. cerevisiae to purify a specific mRNP with recent advances in high-end mass spectrometry and electron microscopy. In summary, the expected results of this project will show the architecture of an mRNP in its dynamic nature. mRNP packaging will be understood for the first time on a mechanistic as well as structural level. Thus, the results of this project will break new ground in our understanding of this fundamental cellular process and will also provide insights into how defects in this process lead to disease.

Mots-clés : nuclear mrnp formation,mrna binding proteins,trex,tho1,nab2,npl3,thsc
Projet ERC : RELAX-MAX (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : CNRS Innovation — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 10000.0 €

Analytical methods are essential in many industries, such as chemistry, energy, pharmaceutical, and in health services. These methods usually fall into one of two categories: they either identify molecules and their structures or determine the properties of a fluid or a solid. This project will introduce a game-changing method to industry: high-resolution relaxometry in NMR, a label-free method, which combines both approaches as it identifies molecules and characterizes their individual properties within a complex fluid. The main goal of this project is to open a new market for high-resolution relaxometry instrumentation and methods in industry and health services. We have developed innovative hardware, methods, and software for applications of high-resolution relaxometry in biophysics during our ERC StG project. Introducing high-resolution relaxometry to industry will vastly expand what is currently a small budding market for academic users. This project will be carried out with our long-term partner, Bruker Biospin, the world leader in NMR instrumentation. Our strategy is to (1) identify competition and sectors of industry and high-potential end users that will benefit from this ground-breaking method; (2) improve the relaxometry hardware; (3) collaborate with target companies, including initiated work within the chemistry/energy and the pharmaceutical sectors, as well as a laboratory with links to health services; (4) demonstrate the potential of high-resolution relaxometry (e.g. better characterization of raw materials, enhanced processes, or new information for medical diagnostics). This strategy will lay the ground for the commercial deployment of high-resolution relaxometry in industry and health services. Overall, this project will have significant economic impact: new markets for instrumentation and enhanced competitiveness for end users, as well as society benefits in human health with the modernization of diagnostics towards personalized medicine.

Mots-clés : analytical tools,chemical and energy industries,pharmaceutical industry,medical diagnostics
Projet ERC : ComPAS (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The study of the human past
Entité participante : University of Cyprus — Pays : Chypre — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UCY
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1254300.0 €

Ancient ceramic vessels are not merely lumps of clay that were formed and fired to be utilised at some point in the past. They represent vigorous discourses among raw materials, technological knowhow and the societies that produced and used them. In addressing the complexities inherent in archaeological ceramics, we attain an indispensable insight into past communities and the antiquity of our own society. Special-function vessels used in the transhipment of goods, termed Maritime Transport Containers (MTCs), can shed light on the multi-level mechanisms involved in ancient seaborne commerce. In the temporal and geographical context of the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age eastern Mediterranean (LBA-EIA, ca. 1650-750 BC), the highly visible hallmarks of the flourishing trade between sophisticated states are three distinct MTC types: the Canaanite Jars, Egyptian Jars and Transport Stirrup Jars, produced in the Levant, Egypt and the Aegean respectively. Cyprus was a key player within interregional commercial strategies, and its archaeological contexts have yielded prolific amounts of MTCs; however, the lack of a systematic study of these assemblages undermines our understanding of LBA-EIA Mediterranean interconnections. The proposed project aspires to provide a holistic study of the Levantine, Egyptian and Aegean MTCs from the Cypriot contexts of the LBA-EIA periods, addressing their morphology, origin, contents, chronology, capacity, manufacture technology, marking strategies and depositional practices. The project implements an innovative methodology, integrating archaeological, scientific, and technologically advanced approaches to illuminate the production, circulation, and consumption of MTCs and their contents. Acknowledging MTCs as principal contributors to the study of interregional exchanges, the proposed research will elucidate the transformative character of ancient commerce, and will provide substantial insights on intercultural connectivity in the Mediterranean.

Mots-clés : late bronze age early iron age commerce in the mediterranean,late bronze age early iron age cyprus,mediterranean interconnections,potmarks and marking strategies,ceramic studies,maritime transport containers,canaanite jars
Projet ERC : VeCare (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : University of Lisbon — Pays : Portugal — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Angiogenesis is the mechanism of blood vessel formation from pre-existing ones and is vital for nutrient and oxygen delivery to all cells in the organism. However, dysregulation of angiogenesis is detrimental for the organism. Excessive or abnormal angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer and various retinopathies and favours tumour growth and metastasis, and vision loss, respectively. Excessive or abnormal angiogenesis is fuelled by hypoxia-driven expression of high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the main pro-angiogenic molecule that stimulates the formation of new blood vessels. Although VEGF-centric anti-angiogenic therapies do exist, their efficacy is limited by their specificity and numerous side effects, hampering greatly their potential clinical benefits. Therefore, there is an urgent need for improved anti-VEGF therapeutic strategies. The aim of this PoC project is to identify a novel class of anti-VEGF drugs. We designed an innovative and unique screening method to identify an unexplored mechanism to inhibit VEGF function in vivo, which has the prospect of reduced toxicity and, thus, enhanced clinical efficacy. This project will enable the creation of a start-up company to commercialize the newly identified class of drugs for subsequent clinical development to curb cancer and retinopathies. We aim at improving patient survival and well-being, and reducing the economic burden associated with these diseases.

Mots-clés : anti angiogenic therapy,cancer,vascular retinopathies,high content drug screening,vascular endothelial growth factor
Projet ERC : NeuSoSen (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Entité participante : Universitätsmedizin Göttingen — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UMG
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1476920.0 €

Animals often interact in groups. Animal groups constitute complex sensory environments which challenge the brain and engage complex neural computations. This behavioral context is therefore fruitful for understanding how sophisticated neural computations give rise to behavior. However, it is also technically difficult since many of the relevant sensory cues arise from the members of the group and are therefore hard to quantify or control. Consequently, we only incompletely understand how the brain drives complex social behaviors in naturalistic contexts. To uncover the neural computations underlying social behavior in groups, we are using Drosophila, which provides unprecedented experimental access to the nervous system via genetic tools. Drosophila gathers on rotten fruit to feed and mate. Courtship and aggression dominate social interactions and rely on the recognition of sex-specific chemical cues and the production of context-specific acoustic signals. How are these multi-modal cues integrated to control and switch between courtship and aggression? How is unstable and conflicting sensory information resolved to promote stable behavioral strategies? How does sensory processing adapt to socially crowded environments in order to efficiently target behavior at individual members of the group? These issues will be addressed by combining computational modeling and genetic tools. Using machine learning, we will quantify and model the fine structure of social interactions to identify the social cues that drive behavior. Closed-loop optogenetics and calcium imaging in behaving animals will allow us to test the models and to ultimately reveal how the brain integrates, selects and combines social cues to drive social interactions. This multi-disciplinary approach will uncover the computational principles and mechanisms by which sensory information is processed to drive behavior in the complex sensory environment of animal groups.

Mots-clés : drosophila,courtship,acoustic communication
Projet ERC : AnonymClassic (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Cultures and cultural production
Entité participante : Freie Universität Berlin — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : FU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2435113.0 €

AnonymClassic is the first ever comprehensive study of Kalila and Dimna (a book of wisdom in fable form), a text of premodern world literature. Its spread is comparable to that of the Bible, except that it passed from Hinduism and Buddhism via Islam to Christianity. Its Arabic version, produced in the 8th century, when this was the lingua franca of the Near East, became the source of all further translations up to the 19th century. The work’s multilingual history involving circa forty languages has never been systematically studied. The absence of available research has made world literature ignore it, while scholars of Arabic avoided it because of its widely diverging manuscripts, so that the actual shape of the Arabic key version is still in need of investigation. AnonymClassic tests a number of ‘high-risk’ propositions, including three key hypotheses: 1) The anonymous Arabic copyists of Kalila and Dimna are de facto co-authors, 2) their agency is comparable to that of the named medieval translators, and 3) the fluctuation of the Arabic versions is conditioned by the work’s fictional status. AnonymClassic’s methodology relies on a cross-lingual narratological analysis of the Arabic versions and all medieval translations (supported by a synoptic digital edition), which takes precisely the interventions at each stage of transmission (redaction, translation) as its subject. Considering the work’s paths of dissemination from India to Europe, AnonymClassic will challenge the prevalent Western theoretical lens on world literature conceived ‘from above’ with the view ‘from below,’ based on the attested cross-cultural network constituted by its versions. AnonymClassic will introduce a new paradigm of an East-Western literary continuum with Arabic as a cultural bridge. Against the current background of Europe’s diversifying and multicultural society, AnonymClassic purposes to integrate pre-modern Near Eastern literature and culture into our understanding of Global Culture.
Projet ERC : OceaNice (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth system science
Entité participante : Utrecht University — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

Antarctic ice sheets are destabilizing because Southern Ocean warming causes basal melt. It is unknown how these processes will develop during future climate warming, which creates an inability to project ice sheet melt and thus global sea level rise scenarios into the future. Studying past geologic episodes, during which atmospheric carbon dioxide levels (CO2) were similar to those projected for this century and beyond, is the only way to achieve mechanistic understanding of long-term ice sheet- and ocean dynamics in warm climates. Past ocean-induced ice sheet melt is not resolved because of a paucity of quantitative proxies for past ice-proximal oceanographic conditions: sea ice, upwelling of warm water and latitudinal temperature gradients. This hampers accurate projections of future ice sheet melt and sea level rise. OceaNice will provide an integral understanding of the role of oceanography in ice sheet behavior during past warm climates, as analogy to the future. I will quantify past sea ice, upwelling of warm water and latitudinal temperature gradients in three steps: 1. Calibrate newly developed dinoflagellate cyst and biomarker proxies for past oceanographic conditions to glacial-interglacial oceanographic changes. This yields quantitative tools for application further back in time. 2. Apply these to two past warm climate states, during which CO2 was comparable to that of the future under strong and moderate fossil fuel emission mitigation scenarios. 3. Interpolate between new reconstructions using high-resolution ocean circulation modelling for circum-Antarctic quantification of past oceanographic conditions, which will be implemented into new ice sheet model simulations. The groundbreaking new insights will deliver mechanistic understanding and quantitative estimates of ice-proximal oceanographic changes and consequent ice sheet melt during past warm climates, which will finally allow accurate future sea level rise projections given anticipated warming.