Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : BLOODCELLSCROSSTALK (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering
Entité participante : Miguel Hernandez University — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UMH
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1823250.0 €

Fish are the phylogenetically oldest vertebrate group with an immune system with clear similarities to the immune system of mammals. However, it is an actual matter of fact that the current knowledge of the fish immune system seems to lack the key piece to complete the puzzle. In 1953 Nelson described a new role of human red blood cells (RBCs) which would go beyond the simple transport of O2 to the tissues. This new role, involved in the defence against microbes, described the antibody and complement-dependent binding of microbial immune complexes to RBCs. Regardless of the importance of this finding in the field of microbial infection, this phenomenon has been poorly evaluated. Just recently, a set of biological processes relevant to immunity have been described in the RBCs of a diverse group of organisms, which include: pathogen recognition, pathogen binding and clearance and cytokines production. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that nucleated erythrocytes from fish and avian species develop specific responses to different pathogen associated molecular patterns and produce soluble factors that modulate leukocyte activity. In the light of these pieces of evidences, and in an attempt to improve the knowledge of the immune mechanism(s) responsible for fish protection against viral infections, we raised the question: could nucleated fish erythrocytes be the key mediators of the antiviral responses? To answer this question we decided to focus our project on the evaluation of the crosstalk between red and white blood cells in the scenario of fish viral infections and prophylaxis. For that a working model composed of the rainbow trout and the viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) was chosen, being the objectives of the project to evaluate: i) the implication trout RBCs (tRBCs) in the clearance of VHSV, and ii) the involvement of tRBCs in the blood transportation of the glycoprotein G of VHSV (GVHSV), the antigen encoded by the DNA vaccine.

Mots-clés : erythrocytes,virology,vaccines,leukocytes,innate immunity,adaptive immunity,aquaculture
Projet ERC : FlexNanoOLED (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Fondation Jean-Marie Lehn — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CIRFC
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 80000.0 €

FlexNanoOLED aims at expanding the groundbreaking research developed within the ERC project SUPRAFUNCTION into a radically new and unprecedented technology to enable the fabrication of flexible ITO-free multi-coloured nanoscale engineered organic LEDs. In a recent breakthrough, we have developed a novel device architecture for optoelectronics which relies on a nanomesh scaffold and demonstrated its full potential by realising supramolecular nanowire photovoltaic devices with performances surpassing those of standard organic photodetectors. The nanomesh technology can be exploited to other devices in strategic S&T areas. In particular, it offers an effective solution to satisfy the demand for large-area flexible lighting and full-colour active-matrix display for printed e-wallpapers, rollable screens and luminous advertisement boards. In this PoC, we will use our nanomesh scaffold to fabricate polychromatic high-performing OLEDs supported on plastic substrates. Ink-jet printing will permit the selective integration of different colours into pre-designed patterns to realise >300 cm2 sized customised images with a pixel resolution of 50 μm. OLED represented a $4.9 billion industry in 2012; it now requires novel solutions for being implemented on flexible supports. Towards the FlexNanoOLED technology commercialisation, we will define the exact exploitation strategy, including IPR positioning, market survey, business model and fundraising once the device key performance indicators will be optimised. This will also include partnering with key enablers (business-related and/or technological) for commercial success. Within FlexNanoOLED, we will gain technical and commercial proof of concept, to develop the prototype and ultimately bringing this unprecedented OLED technology closer to the market, with the overall goal of increasing the share of Europe in the field of OLEDs, a technological realm that Europe has pioneered yet has lost the dominance of since a decade.

Mots-clés : oleds,large area flexible optoelectronics,recyclability,ink jet printing,full colour active matrix display,nanomesh scaffold,ito replacement
Projet ERC : MolMap (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions
Entité participante : Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : LMU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1310000.0 €

Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool for exploring biomolecules in cells and tissues, especially with the advent of super-resolution techniques. To better understand key processes such as cell differentiation and disease progression, it is crucial to investigate the abundance, localization and mutual interactions of crucial cellular components such as nucleic acids and proteins. Unraveling their complex interplay in whole signaling networks is necessary to investigate cellular responses to stimuli. However, currently available characterization techniques are either limited by low multiplexing capability (e.g. fluorescence microscopy) or lack localization information (e.g. mass spectrometry). Despite the immense biological and clinical relevance of understanding network-wide changes, the lack of a technological platform to image, identify and quantify a multitude of key protein networks at high spatial resolution in tissues impedes our understanding of the molecular basis of health and disease. I aim to solve this pressing issue and revolutionize fluorescence microscopy using tools from DNA Nanotechnology with transformative potential to positively answer the question: Can we localize and identify each protein or nucleic acid molecule in a complex tissue microenvironment? The approach is based on my recently developed DNA- and Exchange-PAINT techniques. To push the envelope of what’s technically possible I will first build a lattice light-sheet microscope for deep tissue high throughput DNA-PAINT imaging. Second, I will develop novel nanobody- and aptamer-based labeling approaches in combination with molecular barcoding and automated multiplexed image acquisition and processing. With these disruptive and transformative tools, I will investigate whole signaling cascades at once in single cells and whole tissues, thus enabling quantitative imaging transcriptomics and proteomics with highest spatial resolution.

Mots-clés : super resolution microscopy,single molecule imaging,dna nanotechnology,quantitative microscopy
Projet ERC : FluoroCycle (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : Imperial College London — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2000000.0 €

Fluorine containing molecules and materials improve our quality of life. For example, fluorinated gases are used as refrigerants in the automotive sector, while fluorine containing polymers such as Teflon® are common in households. Fluorine is also important for drug discovery and agrochemicals. For all its advantages, the fluorochemicals industry is unsustainable. Nearly all fluorine containing molecules on our planet are synthetic and single use. At the end of their lifetime they are either destroyed or end up contaminating the environment. Environmental contamination has been extremely damaging. Fluorinated molecules have contributed to ozone depletion (chlorofluorocarbons - CFCs), global warming (hydrofluorocarbons - HFCs) and water contamination (polyfluorinated alkyl substances - PFAS). If we are to continue to depend on fluorine containing molecules and materials, then we must find ways to reuse and recycle fluorine containing molecules at the end of their lifetime, we must stop our reliance on unsustainable natural sources of inorganic fluoride, and we must prevent unnecessary contamination of our planet with synthetic fluorine containing molecules. My objective is to develop new catalytic approaches for the recycling of fluorine containing molecules. My long-term vision is to establish new methods in which fluorine containing molecules such as HFOs, HFCs and PFAS can be used as a source of fluorine atoms and fluorine containing groups. I will pioneer new catalytic reactions that involve the exchange of fluorine atoms between two organic molecules and shuttle equivalents of HF and F2 from one organic fragment to another. These methods represent an important step forward to closed-loop recycling in the fluorochemicals industry. The new methods will be showcased in the production of fluorinated electrolytes from HFOs, new materials from HFCs and new fragments for drug-discovery from the recycling of PFAS, including Teflon®.

Mots-clés : fluorine chemistry,organometallic chemistry,main group chemistry
Projet ERC : SUPERFOAM (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Entité participante : University of Münster — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : WWU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1147569.96 €

Foams are of enormous importance as we find them in many technological relevant applications and food products. Foams as hierarchical materials are dominated by the arrangement and distri-bution of gas bubbles on a macroscopic scale, as well as by thickness and composition of lamella on a mesoscopic scale. Liquid-gas interfaces are, however, the building block of foam with over-whelming importance as their molecular properties easily dominate hierarchical elements on larger length scales. In order to formulate foam with specific properties, its structure must be controlled at the molecular level of a liquid-gas interface. Here, the molecular composition, molecular order and interactions such as electrostatics dominate, and thus must be addressed with molecular level probes that can provide access to both interfacial solvent and solute molecules. Specifically, mo-lecular structures of aqueous interfaces can be modified by adding different mixtures of surface active molecules such as proteins, surfactants and polyelectrolytes, and by adjusting electrolyte properties. This is achieved by varying pH, introducing ions at different ionic strengths as well as by changing viscosities. Such model systems will be characterized with nonlinear optical spectroscopy amongst other surface sensitive probes. The gained information will be used to deduce properties of structures on larger length scales such as lamella, bubbles in a bulk liquid - as a precursor of foam - and finally macroscopic foam. For each length scale, experiments will be performed to gain access to molecular buildings blocks at liquid-gas interfaces and their effects on other hierarchical elements. These experiments thus provide essential information on foam stability and bubble coalescence, they can be used to verify structure-property relationships and to advance our understanding of foam on a molecular basis.
Projet ERC : SENSOILS (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering
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 : 261875.01 €

Food production is predicated on the application of nitrogen fertilisers, which can contribute significantly to the production of greenhouse gasses and eutrophication of agroecosystems. The use of nitrogen fertilisers must, therefore, be optimised. The recent development of transparent soils in my group gives great scope to unravel the processes involved in the reactive transport of nutrients in soil and their interaction with the soil biota. My team will combine principles of optics, chemical engineering, the physics, chemistry, and biology of soils, and plant biology to image and characterise nitrogen movement in soil at the micro-scale. We will develop a new generation of transparent soil analogues that measure the biological and chemical status of soils. This will enable, for the first time, to characterise transport at the surface of soil particles and to elucidate the role of root–particle–particle contacts, exudation and microbial transformation on the bioavailability of nitrate and ammonium. The legacy of the research will be knowledge, concepts, model soil systems and imaging approaches to understand and predict nutrient bioavailability in soil with an emphasis on nitrification as a model for nitrogen movement in soil. Transparent soils and imaging technologies will be patented and could pave the way for 3D chemical sensors, and have application in crop breeding and precision phenotyping. Understanding of nutrient movements in soil will lead to substantial progress in the development of more efficient fertilisers. New model soil systems could be used to better understand the spread of soil-borne diseases, the bio-remediation of contaminated soils and the mechanisms underlying soil biodiversity and activity.

Mots-clés : nitrification,rhizosphere,soil,root,imaging,barley,model
Projet ERC : EASY (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies — Pays : Irlande — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : DIAS
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1853090.0 €

For a number of reasons, in particular their proximity and the abundant range of diagnostics to determine their characteristics, outflows from young stellar objects (YSOs) offer us the best opportunity of discovering how astrophysical jets are generated and the nature of the link between outflows and their accretion disks. Models predict that the jet is initially launched from within 0.1 to a few au of the star and focused on scales at most ten times larger. Thus, even for the nearest star formation region, we need high spatial resolution to image the “central engine” and test current models. With these ideas in mind, and the availability of a whole new set of observational and computational resources, it is proposed to investigate the origin of YSO jets, and the jet/accretion zone link, using a number of highly novel approaches to test magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) models including: (a) Near-infrared interferometry to determine the spatial distribution and kinematics of the outflow as it is launched as a way of discriminating between competing models, (b) A multi-epoch study of the strength and configuration of the magnetic field of the parent star to see whether model values and geometries agree with observations and the nature of its variability, (c) Examining, through high spatial resolution radio observations, how the ionized component of these jets are collimated very close to the source and how shocks in the flow can give rise to low energy cosmic rays, (d) Use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and, in particular, the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) to investigate with high spatial resolution atomic jets from protostars that are still acquiring most of their mass. In addition, we will study how accretion is affected by metallicity by studying young solar-like stars in the low metallicity Magellanic Clouds. In all cases the required observational campaigns have been approved.

Mots-clés : jets,accretion disks,interferometry,spectro polarimetry,james webb space telescope  jwst,mid infrared instrument  miri,gravity,spirou,lofar,e merlin
Projet ERC : Reprogram-Diabetes (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Entité participante : Karolinska Institutet — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : KI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1999968.0 €

For almost a century we have been able to control diabetes with insulin injections, yet we still have no cure for this prevalent disease. One possible way to cure diabetes is by increasing the number of insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas. Here, I propose to uncover factors and mechanisms that can increase β-cell numbers through cellular reprogramming. To do so, we will use two complementary discovery approaches—and transition between zebrafish, mouse and human analyses—to perform functional studies with high translational value. First, we will use a novel drug discovery approach in transgenic zebrafish to identify and characterize small molecules that can promote the reprogramming of various pancreatic cell types to β-cells. Second, we will use single-cell RNA-sequencing to identify genetic signatures of cellular reprogramming to β-cells in humans, and then dissect the function of the identified genes by overexpressing or mutating them in transgenic zebrafish. We will also use lineage-tracing to determine the number and origin of the β-cells the small molecules and genes induce. Once we identify promising hits in zebrafish, we will treat diabetic mice with small molecules or secreted proteins (targeting the signalling pathways regulated by the hits) and evaluate their effects on glucose control and β-cell mass. We will also test their effects on cellular reprogramming in mice, as indicated by changes in the relative proportion of each hormonal cell type, in the generation of bihormonal cells (insulin+ glucagon+ or insulin+ somatostatin+), and in the number of lineage-traced β-cells. Further, we will determine whether these small molecules or secreted proteins induce reprogramming to β-cells in human islets. By coupling whole-organism screens with mechanistic and translational studies, we will identify factors and pathways that can enhance cellular reprogramming to β-cells and could thus form the basis of a cure for diabetes.
Projet ERC : c-TSD-p (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Entité participante : University of Kassel — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1938768.12 €

For bonds to be broken and new bonds to be formed, chemical reactants have to come close to each other and evolve through transient intermediate configurations known as the transition state. Transition state dynamics is closely related to reaction mechanisms and of fundamental importance in chemistry. Much work has been done to unravel these dynamics, which often involve major structural rearrangement of atoms. However, there are a lot of open questions since to date none of the applied spectroscopic techniques has directly delivered the time-dependent transition state structure. I propose to develop a novel probe that images, one molecule at a time, the full three-dimensional atomic configuration of individual transition states as they evolve: Reaction precursors are prepared using molecular ions and small (ionic) clusters with defined initial structure and tunable internal temperature. Starting from these well-defined initial configurations, chemical dynamics will be initiated by a femtosecond laser pulse. Timed Coulomb Explosion Imaging, induced by extremely short intense laser or X-ray pulses together with full coincidence momentum imaging of all fragments is then applied as a probe. The latter yields the evolving transition state structure by mapping the position of all atoms as a function of time-delay between the two pulses. I argue that the progress in laser technology in recent years was imperative to make such a scheme feasible now, since it allows measurements at high repetition rate, which is absolutely crucial. I propose work packages of increasing complexity to study ground state chemical reactions in the presence of solvent molecules and under the influence of a control pulse. The structural information obtained from Coulomb Explosion Imaging gives direct insight into how reaction mechanisms change under such conditions. I anticipate that light will be shed on some of the long-standing open questions surrounding transition state dynamics.

Mots-clés : chemical reaction dynamics,ultrafast chemical dynamics,molecular physics
Projet ERC : Integrating Turkish (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Cultures and cultural production
Entité participante : Bath Spa University — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 159462.0 €

For composers in Turkey today, the urge to integrate the beauties of Turkey’s rich musical heritage into contemporary concert music has become almost an imperative. But differences in tuning, texture, and between oral and notated orientations to performance have presented seemingly intractable obstacles. This project systematises practical processes essential for the creation of a new, East-West strand of contemporary music and opera. It initiates cutting-edge research workshops in Istanbul, Holland and the UK to: 1. Train top-level traditional instrumentalists and singers in Turkey effectively to perform a new repertoire; 2. Train top professional Western singers in non-Western techniques and nuances of vocal production; 3. Develop approaches for modelling such music's impacts on Turkish and Western musicians’ adaptive processes in rehearsal and performance, and diverse audiences’ perceptions of such music; 4. Create an ensemble interface (including newly designed instruments) to increase capacity for merging sounds beyond levels now achievable; 5. Produce groundbreaking studies on timbre to provide new insights into how sound is produced; 6. Establish a new template for mapping Eastern and Western tuning systems onto one another. This research, together with an orchestration manual for Turkish sounds will comprise the core of a published (CUP) team-authored e-book, Integrating Turkish Instruments and Voices into Contemporary Music (ITI), with included audio and visual examples linked as an online resource. Looking further, this project’s multi-modal, transdisciplinary approach also suggests a model for probing how the ‘free play’ of the imagination (Kant) possible within processes of art and its creation can provide metaphors towards understanding one of the most urgent and compelling issues of our time: how to transcend cultural barriers (real or imagined) that exist today.

Mots-clés : music,workshops,turkish,transcultural,opera,performance,ethnography,ethnomusicology,musicology,music theory,timbre,tuning,interdisciplinary modalities