Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : FIRSTSTEPS (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The study of the human past
Entité participante : University of Bologna — Pays : Italie — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : UNIBO
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 722500.0 €

Despite recent discoveries in human evolution, the origin of our species, Homo sapiens, and the process through which it expanded and became established around the globe remain murky. Increasingly, it is viewed as a dynamic process of population expansions and contact among human lineages, occurring in concert with the Pleistocene climatic oscillations, which influence the probability of human survival as well as the availability of land bridges enabling expansions. Dispersals and population contact, therefore, may have been the norm in human evolution and may have played a greater role in shaping our species than previously recognised. In such a model, South-East Europe emerges as a likely area of sustained and / or repeated contact, making this region critical for testing hypotheses about European deep prehistory. Despite this crucial role, however, paleoanthropological research there remains in its infancy, with little existing data and no overarching interpretive framework. FIRSTSTEPS aims to fill this research gap by applying inter-disciplinary cutting edge investigation to recover new and connect existing evidence across sites, periods and regions. Key sites / finds from South-East Europe (Greece, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Croatia, Romania) and Italy — whose better documented record has yet to be connected to its counterparts to the East and will provide a crucial comparative perspective — will be included. In-depth analysis of important fossil / cultural assemblages from specific chrono-cultural periods ca. 200-30 ka, will be conducted to identify patterns of biological and cultural variation. In parallel, regional and supra-regional perspectives will be constructed beyond individual sites /countries. By addressing this crucial research gap FIRSTSTEPS will take paleoanthropological research in this important region to the next level and squarely place it on the paleolithic map of Europe.

Mots-clés : human evolution,dispersals,adaptation
Projet ERC : QuantSURG (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Entité participante : Intuitive surgical sarl — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 418827.85 €

Despite significant advances in medical imaging technologies, there currently exist no tools to effectively assist healthcare professionals during colorectal surgery. Surgeons mainly rely on their own senses, vision and touch to identify diseased tissue that should be removed or healthy tissue that should be avoided. In turn, surgery remains subjective and dependent on the experience of the surgeon, resulting in unacceptable failure, recurrence and morbidity rates, as well as in significant quality of care disparities across hospitals. The hypothesis underlying our study is that near-infrared light travels deeply into living tissues and interacts with endogenous molecular constituents, namely oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin, water and lipids, providing key information regarding tissue perfusion, oxygenation, hydration and metabolism. In turn, such information can be used to differentiate diseased from healthy tissue. We recently introduced a novel concept that enables the quantitative imaging of endogenous molecular information over large fields-of-view. Because this concept can be implemented in real-time, it is amenable to provide video-rate endogenous information during colorectal surgery. In this study, we propose to push the limits of this concept by developing ground-breaking theory & technology, and creating a novel surgical guidance device capable of real-time imaging of key endogenous information for colorectal surgery. Correlation between endogenous contrast measurements and histological tissue status will be investigated onto bowel ischemia and colorectal cancer animal models. Finally, a clinically-compatible imaging device will be fabricated and translated into a first-in-human study in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. If successful, this study has the potential to solve a longstanding clinical problem by providing real-time objective feedback during colorectal surgery.

Mots-clés : image guided surgery,endogenous molecular contrast,diffuse optical imaging,cancer margin,detection,ischemia imaging,colorectal surgery,clinical translation
Projet ERC : LEGO (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 53850.0 €

Despite significant progress in cancer therapy, current treatments are still controversial due to intolerable side effects. Targeted immunotherapy has recently emerged as an ideal alternative to improve treatment modalities for cancers patients. However, very limited approaches are available today and major issues remain to be addressed. The ERC grant offers a unique opportunity to propose a new paradigm for treating cancer. Through a ground-breaking interdisciplinary program, at the crossroad of supramolecular chemistry, synthetic chemistry, molecular engineering, biophysics, biochemistry, immunochemistry and glycoscience, it is my ambition to design, synthesize and study smart biomolecular structures with unprecedented combinations, complexity and immunological properties against cancers. To achieve this purpose, I will develop a “molecular LEGO” approach to construct synthetic molecules capable of redirecting endogenous antibodies present in the human bloodstream against tumors without preliminary immunization. Efficient tumoral killing by immune effectors will be provided by molecules combining innovative antibody and tumor binding modules that will be selected in vitro beforehand. To be successful, I will address fundamental questions that are still unresolved in chemical and biological sciences. The expected breakthroughs will represent a landmark achievement in these fields and will open promising horizons in cancer immunotherapy. Beyond this, it can be expected that our findings will pave the way to future development of synthetic molecules embedded with recognition, labeling, and/or therapeutic functions. They will thus find wider medicinal, diagnostic and even theranostic applications for which the development of more effective and selective biomolecular systems is of the utmost importance.

Mots-clés : immunochemistry,chemical ligation,bioorganic chemistry,combinatorial chemistry,multivalency,glycoscience
Projet ERC : BioMet (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : Technion – Israel Institute of Technology — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2499375.0 €

Despite that C–H functionalization represents a paradigm shift from the standard logic of organic synthesis, the selective activation of non-functionalized alkanes has puzzled chemists for centuries and is always referred to one of the remaining major challenges in chemical sciences. Alkanes are inert compounds representing the major constituents of natural gas and petroleum. Converting these cheap and widely available hydrocarbon feedstocks into added-value intermediates would tremendously affect the field of chemistry. For long saturated hydrocarbons, one must distinguish between non-equivalent but chemically very similar alkane substrate C−H bonds, and for functionalization at the terminus position, one must favor activation of the stronger, primary C−H bonds at the expense of weaker and numerous secondary C-H bonds. The goal of this work is to develop a general principle in organic synthesis for the preparation of a wide variety of more complex molecular architectures from saturated hydrocarbons. In our approach, the alkane will first be transformed into an alkene that will subsequently be engaged in a metal-catalyzed hydrometalation/migration sequence. The first step of the sequence, ideally represented by the removal of two hydrogen atoms, will be performed by the use of a mutated strain of Rhodococcus. The position and geometry of the formed double bond has no effect on the second step of the reaction as the metal-catalyzed hydrometalation/migration will isomerize the double bond along the carbon skeleton to selectively produce the primary organometallic species. Trapping the resulting organometallic derivatives with a large variety of electrophiles will provide the desired functionalized alkane. This work will lead to the invention of new, selective and efficient processes for the utilization of simple hydrocarbons and valorize the synthetic potential of raw hydrocarbon feedstock for the environmentally benign production of new compounds and new materials.

Mots-clés : h  activation,alkane,remote functionalization
Projet ERC : F-IMAGE (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth system science
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 168652.5 €

Despite the dramatic impact of earthquakes, the physics of their onset and the short-term behavior of fault are still poorly understood. Using existing high quality seismic observations, we propose to develop a novel functional imaging of the brittle crust to clarify not only structural properties but also the dynamics of faults. We will analyze spatio-temporal changes of elastic properties around fault zones to highlight the interplay between changes in the host rocks and fault slip. Imaging the damage structure around faults and its evolution requires new seismological methods. With novel methods to image the highly heterogeneous fault regions, we will provide multi-scale descriptions of fault zones, including their laterally variable thicknesses and depth dependence. In parallel we will image temporal changes of seismic velocities and scattering strength. External natural forcing terms (e.g. tides, seasonal hydrologic loadings) will be modeled to isolate the signals of tectonic origin. This will also allow us to monitor the evolving seismic susceptibility, i.e. a measure of the proximity to a critical state of failure. Improved earthquake detection techniques using ‘deep machine learning’ methods will facilitate tracking the evolution of rock damage. The imaging and monitoring will provide time-lapse images of elastic moduli, susceptibility and seismicity. The observed short-time changes of the materials will be included in slip initiation models coupling the weakening of both the friction and the damaged host rocks. Laboratory experiments will shed light on the transition of behavior from granular (shallow fault core) to cohesive (distant host rock) materials. Our initial data cover two well-studied fault regions of high earthquake probability (Southern California and the Marmara region, Turkey) and an area of induced seismicity (Groningen). The derived results and new versatile imaging and monitoring techniques can have fundamental social and economic impacts.

Mots-clés : seismology,earthquakes,time dependent imaging,faults,earthquake source mechanics
Projet ERC : SystGeneEdit (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Entité participante : European Molecular Biology Laboratory — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : EMBL
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2499995.0 €

Despite the ubiquity of genome sequence data, unravelling the contributions of genetic variation to phenotypic diversity remains one of the greatest challenges in genomics. This is partly due to our very limited knowledge of how multiple variations combine to create phenotypes. There is a clear need for a systematic, perturbation-based approach to study the phenotypic consequences of genetic variants in different genomic and environmental contexts. Previous efforts have primarily used loss-of-function or overexpression approaches, but it is known that subtle, naturally occurring variants have the most relevance for complex, quantitative traits. Our proposal aims to dissect these effects by systematically engineering and functionally profiling naturally occurring single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and small insertion/deletion polymorphisms (indels) in the S. cerevisiae species in three diverse genetic backgrounds. To generate such an unprecedented collection, we will apply a high-throughput CRISPR approach that allows rapid isolation of sequence-verified strains. DNA barcodes integrated into the genome of each strain will enable pooled, competitive growth, which will reveal how variants modulate fitness as a function of environment and genetic background. We will test our collection for pairwise and higher order interactions, assay their impact on cellular processes and dissect pleiotropic roles of highly connected genes. Our work will circumvent the key limitations in current high-throughput genome editing screens and enable the largest interrogation of the functional impact of genetic variation in different environmental and genetic contexts to date. The combined insights and tools generated by our work will aid in developing predictive models of the effects of genetic variation within specific environmental and biological contexts, providing guiding principles for understanding the consequences of human genetic variation.

Mots-clés : crispr,genome editing,complex traits,genetic variation,genetic interactions
Projet ERC : BIO-enMR (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Entité participante : Max Planck Society — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : MPG
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2443125.0 €

Detection of magnetic nuclei via magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR/EPR) or imaging (MRI) is one of the most important tools to achieve structural and functional information in natural sciences. Latest developments in this field are taking advantage of the larger (about three orders of magnitude) spin polarization of unpaired electrons in paramagnetic molecules to tremendously enhance the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance. However, most protocols still suffer from several bottlenecks and lack of general applicability to bio-macromolecules. This proposal aims at expanding electron-nuclear spin polarization transfer to develop new magnetic resonance tools: 1) EPR-based nuclear spin detection for structural information in the angstrom-to-nanometer scale and 2) hyperpolarized high-field NMR in the liquid state. Research in these two directions will take advantage from concerted investigations of polarization transfer mechanisms and their representative applications to biomolecular systems. Reaching this goal will permit new studies, not feasible with current techniques, for instance understanding the molecular mechanism of enzyme activation, subunits interactions and inhibition in ribonucleotide reductases, which are important targets of cancer drugs. Our laboratory possesses suited expertise and a state-of-the art combination of EPR and NMR instrumentation, by which these questions can be tackled in synergy. The research program encompasses a variety of investigations, from new experimental and instrumental designs up to short and long-term potential applications in biomolecules, for instance in the investigations of enzyme interactions with drugs, which are currently hampered by low sensitivity and resolution. A successful establishment, combined with current progress in magnetic resonance instrumentation, i.e. the age of magnetic resonance in GHz (NMR) and THz (EPR), will offer new opportunities for analytical and biophysical investigations.

Mots-clés : magnetic resonance,spectroscopy,dynamic nuclear polarization,ribonucleotide reductases
Projet ERC : SUPERSPEC (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : Stockholm University — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

Determining the origin of the elements is a fundamental quest in physics and astronomy. Most of the elements in the periodic table are believed to be produced by supernovae and kilonovae. However, this has for decades been little more than a prediction from theory. Now, with a dramatically changing observational situation and new modelling capabilities, it is within our reach to determine the nucleosynthesis production and structure in these transients. To really see what supernovae and kilonovae contain, we must study their spectra in the later so called nebular phase when the inner regions become visible. This project is aimed at establishing the first picture of the origin of elements by determining the yields from supernovae and kilonovae using such analysis. To do this, new spectral synthesis methods need to be developed considering the necessary microphysical (ejecta chemistry, r-process physics, time-dependent gas state) and macrophysical (3D radiation transport) processes to obtain sufficient accuracy. These tools will then be applied to the first 3D explosion simulations of these transients now becoming available. When applied to the growing library of data emerging from automated surveys and follow-up programs, as well to the recent first kilonova observations, this will provide a breakthrough in our understanding of these transients. This development will not only allow a determination of cosmic element production, but also allow tests of theories for stellar evolution, nucleosynthesis, and explosion processes. This will in turn have fundamental impact on several fields of astrophysics such as population synthesis, galactic chemical evolution modelling, and understanding of mass transfer in the progenitor systems. It has a strong connection to recent detections of stellar-mass black holes and merging neutron stars by gravitational waves.

Mots-clés : supernovae,nucleosynthesis,radiative transfer,massive stars,atomic physics,computational physics
Projet ERC : BRAIN MICRO SNOOPER (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Inserm
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499850.0 €

Developing brain implants is crucial to better decipher the neuronal information and intervene in a very thin way on neural networks using microstimulations. This project aims to address two major challenges: to achieve the realization of a highly mechanically stable implant, allowing long term connection between neurons and microelectrodes and to provide neural implants with a high temporal and spatial resolution. To do so, the present project will develop implants with structural and mechanical properties that resemble those of the natural brain environment. According to the literature, using electrodes and electric leads with a size of a few microns allows for a better neural tissue reconstruction around the implant. Also, the mechanical mismatch between the usually stiff implant material and the soft brain tissue affects the adhesion between tissue cells and electrodes. With the objective to implant a highly flexible free-floating microelectrode array in the brain tissue, we will develop a new method using micro-nanotechnology steps as well as a combination of polymers. Moreover, the literature and preliminary studies indicate that some surface chemistries and nanotopographies can promote neurite outgrowth while limiting glial cell proliferation. Implants will be nanostructured so as to help the neural tissue growth and to be provided with a highly adhesive property, which will ensure its stable contact with the brain neural tissue over time. Implants with different microelectrode configurations and number will be tested in vitro and in vivo for their biocompatibility and their ability to record and stimulate neurons with high stability. This project will produce high-performance generic implants that can be used for various fundamental studies and applications, including neural prostheses and brain machine interfaces.

Mots-clés : implants,brain,microelectrodes,flexible,micro and nanotechnologies,nanomaterials,biomaterials,biocompatibility,neurosciences
Projet ERC : CoSpaDD (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Cellular, Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Entité participante : Institut Pasteur — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1489147.0 €

Developing tissues have a remarkable plasticity illustrated by their capacity to regenerate and form normal organs despite strong perturbations. This requires the adjustment of single cell behaviour to their neighbours and to tissue scale parameters. The modulation of cell growth and proliferation was suggested to be driven by mechanical inputs, however the mechanisms adjusting cell death are not well known. Recently it was shown that epithelial cells could be eliminated by spontaneous live-cell delamination following an increase of cell density. Studying cell delamination in the midline region of the Drosophila pupal notum, we confirmed that local tissue crowding is necessary and sufficient to drive cell elimination and found that Caspase 3 activation precedes and is required for cell delamination. This suggested that a yet unknown pathway is responsible for crowding sensing and activation of caspase, which does not involve already known mechanical sensing pathways. Moreover, we showed that fast growing clones in the notum could induce neighbouring cell elimination through crowding-induced death. This suggested that crowding-induced death could promote tissue invasion by pretumoural cells. Here we will combine genetics, quantitative live imaging, statistics, laser perturbations and modelling to study crowding-induced death in Drosophila in order to: 1) find single cell deformations responsible for caspase activation 2) find new pathways responsible for density sensing and apoptosis induction 3) test their contribution to adult tissue homeostasis, morphogenesis and cell elimination coordination 4) study the role of crowding-induced death during competition between different cell types and tissue invasion 5) Explore theoretically the conditions required for efficient space competition between two cell populations. This project will provide essential information for the understanding of epithelial homeostasis, mechanotransduction and tissue invasion by tumoural cells

Mots-clés : mechanotransduction,morphogenesis,cell competition