Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : VAREG (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Mathematics
Entité participante : University of Pisa — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UniPi
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1330325.0 €

The focus of this project is the regularity theory of free boundary problems. This is a fascinating topic, which combines methods from Analysis and Geometry, and has numerous applications to a large variety of problems in Physics, Engineering and Economy, which involve partial differential equations on domains whose boundary is free, that is, it is not a priori known. Typical examples are the Stefan problem, describing the evolution of a block of melting ice, and the American stock options. Since the shape of the boundary is free, it is a deep and usually extremely difficult question to study its fine structure. The regularity theory is precisely the art of deducing the local structure of the free boundary just by looking at a global energy-minimization property of the state function. In this project I aim to develop new techniques to study the regularity of the free boundaries and to give a precise description of the structure of the free boundaries around singular points. I will introduce a new variational method for the analysis of the free boundaries, aiming to solve several major open questions related to the classical one-phase, two-phase and the vectorial Bernoulli problems, the obstacle and thin-obstacle problems, which are the most important models both from a theoretical and applicative point of view. The techniques that I will develop in this project will have an impact on several domains, including the minimal surfaces, harmonic maps, free discontinuity problems, parabolic and non-local free boundary problems.

Mots-clés : free boundary,regularity,singularities,one phase,alt caffarelli,two phase,alt caffarelli friedman,obstacle problem,thin obstacle problem,epiperimetric inequality,monotonicity formulas,shape optimization
Projet ERC : SCANS (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Entité participante : Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : VU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1998655.0 €

The forming of social bonds is an evolutionary imperative, and a rich target for empirical research. Social scientists have scrutinized the structure of the elaborate social networks that characterize today’s society. Neuroscientists have elucidated the brain mechanisms underlying our ability to navigate this social world. Yet, these research lines have been largely separated. This proposal aims to integrate social network research and social brain research, focusing on adolescence as the most dynamic phase shaping the interplay between social networks and the social brain. Social development in adolescents is clearly driven by maturation of specific social-cognitive functions; yet these functions are manifest in, and moulded by, interpersonal relationships within social networks. I aim to clarify how changes in the social brain relate to changes in social network position and structure during adolescent development. This can be achieved by using the quantitative tools of social network analysis in conjunction with the experimental approach of social neuroscience. I plan to investigate a cohort of approximately 1000 adolescents nested in 50 classes in a longitudinal design with 6 measurements over 3 years; fMRI investigating task-related functional activation and connectivity is conducted yearly in a subsample of 100. The neural and behavioural correlates of social cognition are investigated using experimental tasks tapping i) understanding others and ii) interacting with others; social behaviour is charted through ecological momentary assessment techniques; social networks are mapped using surveys and digital information acquired routinely via mobile phones (mobile sensing). This approach clarifies how during a crucial developmental phase the social brain shapes the social environment, and vice versa, the social environment influences maturation of the social brain.

Mots-clés : social cognition,functional neuroimaging,social network analysis
Projet ERC : 3D-BioMat (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : Ifremer
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 208650.0 €

The fundamental 3D-BioMat project aims at providing a biomineralization model to explain the formation of microscopic calcareous single-crystals produced by living organisms. Although these crystals present a wide variety of shapes, associated to various organic materials, the observation of a nanoscale granular structure common to almost all calcareous crystallizing organisms, associated to an extended crystalline coherence, underlies a generic biomineralization and assembly process. A key to building realistic scenarios of biomineralization is to reveal the crystalline architecture, at the mesoscale, (i. e., over a few granules), which none of the existing nano-characterization tools is able to provide. 3D-BioMat is based on the recognized PI’s expertise in the field of synchrotron coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy. It will extend the PI’s disruptive pioneering microscopy formalism, towards an innovative high-throughput approach able at giving access to the 3D mesoscale image of the crystalline properties (crystal-line coherence, crystal plane tilts and strains) with the required flexibility, nanoscale resolution, and non-invasiveness. This achievement will be used to timely reveal the generics of the mesoscale crystalline structure through the pioneering explorations of a vast variety of crystalline biominerals produced by the famous Pinctada mar-garitifera oyster shell, and thereby build a realistic biomineralization scenario. The inferred biomineralization pathways, including both physico-chemical pathways and biological controls, will ultimately be validated by comparing the mesoscale structures produced by biomimetic samples with the biogenic ones. Beyond deciphering one of the most intriguing questions of material nanosciences, 3D-BioMat may contribute to new climate models, pave the way for new routes in material synthesis and supply answers to the pearl-culture calcification problems.

Mots-clés : coherent x ray microscopy,biominerals,biomineralization
Projet ERC : COMPLEXORDER (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : University of Oxford — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 3362635.0 €

The fundamental objective of the research described in this proposal is to lay the foundations for understanding how structural complexity can give rise to materials properties inaccessible to structurally-simple states. The long-term vision is a paradigm shift in the way we as chemists design materials—the “Complexity Revolution”—where we move to thinking beyond the unit cell and harness unconventional order to generate emergent states with entirely novel behaviour. The key methodologies of the project are (i) exploitation of the rich structural information accessible using 3D-PDF / diffuse scattering techniques, (ii) exploration of the phase behaviour of unconventional ordered states using computational methods, and (iii) experimental/computational studies of a broad range of materials in which complexity arises from a large variety of different phenemona. In this way, the project will establish how we might controllably introduce complexity into materials by varying chemical composition and synthesis, how we might then characterise these complex states, and how we might exploit this complexity when designing next-generation materials with unprecedented electronic, catalytic, photonic, information storage, dielectric, topological, and magnetic properties.

Mots-clés : diffuse scattering,disorder,local structure
Projet ERC : DEEP FIELD (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : National University of Ireland — Pays : Irlande — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : NUI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2000000.0 €

The future of surgery will be image-guided. But how will the surgeon navigate instruments beyond the camera's field of view without using harmful x-rays? The potential of magnetic tracking to navigate surgical instruments without x-rays has long been appreciated but current technology lacks sufficient accuracy, speed, robustness and immunity to magnetic field distortion to change the clinical paradigm. DEEP FIELD will break thorough the scientific frontier in surgical navigation to make magnetic tracking the new gold standard in surgical instrument navigation. The results of DEEP FIELD will significantly reduce or eliminate the use of real-time radiation sources such as x-ray and CT in many procedures while also enabling more accurate surgery, advanced image fusion and significantly improved patient outcomes. For this vision to become reality, DEEP FIELD will create ground-breaking magnetic field transmitter designs} with new magnetic field shaping and distortion rejection techniques (WP1) to provide faster (2.5X) and more accurate (8X) tracking than the current state of the art (NDI Aurora Tabletop transmitter). The project will develop new and ambitiously complex magnetic sensors, including the first on-chip sensor suitable for system-in-package (SiP) fusion with other sensor types. DEEP FIELD will also eliminate the wired connection to magnetic sensors which fail regularly in current clinical use (WP2). DEEP FIELD will demonstrate entirely novel algorithms for surgical instrument tracking using sensor fusion and machine learning approaches (WP3) to compensate for magnetic field distortion, a major shortcoming of current technology. An ambitious plan to integrate and test all three WPs in realistic pre-clinical settings (WP4) is included where DEEP FIELD designs will provide the scientific foundation for the future of intra-operative instrument tracking in cardiovascular navigation, endoscopy and robotic surgery without reliance on harmful radiation.

Mots-clés : magnetics,tracking,navigation,surgery,medicine,imaging,magnetic field,sensor,machine learning,wireless
Projet ERC : AEROSOL (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : University of Leeds — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 939898.9 €

The gas and dust in the interstellar medium (ISM) drive the chemical evolution of galaxies, the formation of stars and planets, and the synthesis of complex prebiotic molecules. The prime birth places for this interstellar material are the winds of evolved (super)giant stars. These winds are unique chemical laboratories, in which a large variety of gas and dust species radially expand away from the star. Recent progress on the observations of these winds has been impressive thanks to Herschel and ALMA. The next challenge is to unravel the wealth of chemical information contained in these data. This is an ambitious task since (1) a plethora of physical and chemical processes interact in a complex way, (2) laboratory data to interpret these interactions are lacking, and (3) theoretical tools to analyse the data do not meet current needs. To boost the knowledge of the physics and chemistry characterizing these winds, I propose a world-leading multi-disciplinary project combining (1) high-quality data, (2) novel theoretical wind models, and (3) targeted laboratory experiments. The aim is to pinpoint the dominant chemical pathways, unravel the transition from gas-phase to dust species, elucidate the role of clumps on the overall wind structure, and study the reciprocal effect between various dynamical and chemical phenomena. Now is the right time for this ambitious project thanks to the availability of (1) high-quality multi-wavelength data, including ALMA and Herschel data of the PI, (2) supercomputers enabling a homogeneous analysis of the data using sophisticated theoretical wind models, and (3) novel laboratory equipment to measure the gas-phase reaction rates of key species. This project will have far-reaching impact on (1) the field of evolved stars, (2) the understanding of the chemical lifecycle of the ISM, (3) chemical studies of dynamically more complex systems, such as exoplanets, protostars, supernovae etc., and (4) it will guide new instrument development.

Mots-clés : astrochemistry,evolved stars,infrared submm observations,theoretical models,laboratory experiments
Projet ERC : GUTPEPTIDES (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : University of Vienna — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Univie
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1487396.0 €

The gastrointestinal epithelium is a major physical barrier that protects us from diverse and potentially immunogenic or toxic content. A compromised epithelium results in increased permeability to such content, thus leading to inflammation, immune response, pain, and diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. A therapeutic strategy that controls inflammation and restores the barrier represents an innovative approach for the prevention and treatment of such diseases. This proposal focuses on how gut peptides regulate epithelial protection and repair, and explores novel therapeutic opportunities by targeting gut receptors that become accessible once the epithelium is compromised. We propose to tackle the overall aim of improving gastrointestinal wound healing via three complementary objectives: (I) to investigate the therapeutic potential of the oxytocin receptor during gastrointestinal inflammation, (II) to elucidate the mechanism of trefoil factor peptide-induced gastrointestinal wound healing, and (III) to discover and characterise novel ligands suitable for epithelial repair. To achieve these objectives, we employ a multidisciplinary approach that includes state-of-the-art peptide synthesis, scaffold grafting, pharmacology, gut stability and wound healing assays, and inflammatory mouse models. We will develop probes to study the mechanisms of action at a molecular level that is not possible with current tools, and explore the biological diversity of venoms for novel therapeutic leads. This project will significantly advance our understanding of epithelial protection/repair and reveal drug targets that treat the source of the problems rather than the symptoms. This project has the potential to change the way we think about treating gut disorders and how to develop peptide therapeutics, and it will pave the way towards the intriguing and longer-term goal of modulating the central nervous system via the gut-brain axis.

Mots-clés : peptide synthesis,trefoil factor peptides,venom peptide drug discovery,oxytocin receptor,native chemical ligation,gastrointestinal wound healing
Projet ERC : NEUMACS (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Entité participante : KU Leuven — Pays : Belgique — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : KUL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2500000.0 €

The gastrointestinal tract has the vital task to digest and absorb ingested food, a complex process requiring coordinated integration of motility, secretion, vascularization and absorption. Thereto the gastrointestinal tract is equipped with its own nervous system, the enteric nervous system (ENS), capable of controlling gut function independently of input from brain or spinal cord. Reduction in number or dysfunction of the neurons within the gut wall, also referred to as enteric neuropathy, significantly impacts on gut function, resulting in stasis of luminal contents and malabsorption, chronic pain, vomiting, bloating and severe constipation. Enteric neuropathies are common in prevalent disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and ageing, all major contributors to the health burden. Despite the continuous global increase in incidence of these disorders, the insight in the mechanisms leading to the reduction or dysfunction of enteric neurons is limited and most importantly, adequate treatment is lacking. Recently, we collected evidence that survival of enteric neurons is guaranteed by a unique subpopulation of resident macrophages closely associated to the ENS and expressing a typical neuroprotective / -supportive transcriptome. In line, depletion of these neuron-associated macrophages (NA-MF) results in apoptosis and a reduction in number of enteric neurons leading to severely impaired gastrointestinal motility. We pose the provocative hypothesis that enteric neuropathy results from impaired support to the ENS by NA-MF, leading to neural distress and apoptosis. Using state-of-the-art methods, we will first characterize in depth the NA-MF population to subsequently unravel the mechanisms leading to failure of NA-MF to support and protect the ENS in animal models and in patients. These ground-breaking insights will allow us to identify therapeutic targets for the treatment of enteric neuropathies, representing an exponentially growing health problem of the 21st century.

Mots-clés : enteric neuropathy,resident macrophages,enteric nervous system,diabetes,ageing,obesity,transcriptome
Projet ERC : INCYPRO (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : VU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The general awareness towards a sustainable life style is growing in society. This translates into a growing market for services and products that involve environment-friendly chemistry and material loops. Biotechnology will be one the key drivers when aiming for a circular economy, as it facilitates green chemistry and efficient recycling processes. A central component of most biotechnological processes are biocatalytic proteins (so-called enzymes). However, enzymes are intrinsically vulnerable to elevated temperatures and unnatural microenvironments hampering their wide-spread use in production processes and consumer products. The stabilization of enzymes via small-molecular crosslinkers (INCYPRO), developed in the Grossmann lab, increases the robustness of enzymes towards conditions required for biotechnological applications. INCYPRO has the potential to improve current biotechnological processes and to allow completely new applications. As the method allows straight-forward and broad application, it is suitable for further valorization. In the proposed project, we will develop INCYPRO from its current method state into an innovative and valuable technology (Aim 1). We will further strengthen the intellectual property position (Aim 2) and develop a market valorization strategy (Aim 3). Our commercialization efforts are supported by experts from the private sector and the science-business interface.

Mots-clés : protein engineering,biotechnology,green chemistry,biocatalysis
Projet ERC : BlockchainGov (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1436999.3 €

The general malaise of liberal democracies—characterized by a gradual erosion of trust in traditional institutions (such as banks) and new intermediaries (e.g. social media)—has spurred the development of new blockchain-based applications (like Bitcoin) that allegedly obviate the need for trust. Often described as a “trustless” technology, blockchain’s potential for disintermediation has been touted as a catalyst of innovation that could displace existing power structures. But is it shifting power away from former centers of power only to create new ones, or can it lead to an actual new organisation of power? BlockchainGov is an interdisciplinary project that will study the impact of blockchain technology on new and existing governance structures, and its consequences for legitimacy and trust. First, it will investigate the governance of existing blockchain systems, and analyse the power dynamics at play within these systems. Second, it will examine the legitimacy and long-term sustainability of existing attempts at distributed governance, through the lenses of legal and political theory. Third, it will explore the potential of blockchain technology to support new models of distributed governance providing an architecture for decentralized and participatory decision-making with attributes of transparency and accountability. Last, it will experiment with these new models at different levels of governance, from the community level to the global governance level. The project will open a new field of scholarship on “distributed governance” that uniquely combines the disciplines of computer science, political science and law. It will provide key empirical and theoretical contributions to science, with important policy implications to the broader questions of global governance. Bringing this project to life requires a funding scheme compatible with a high-risk/high-gain vision to finance a fully dedicated and highly motivated research team with multidisciplinary skills.

Mots-clés : blockchain technology,internet governance,commons governance,legal theory