Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : isitFlutter (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : OvGU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 7500.0 €

We have been developing a new diagnosis tool for cardiac arrhythmia. Our clients are expert cardiologists. They can use our Mobile App with a Smartphone or Tablet, easily and cost-efficiently. The App records the beeps of a heart rate monitor or takes a picture of the printout of an electrocardiogram (ECG), communicates with a server, and displays the result of the calculations as decision support for the medical expert. Depending on the diagnosis of the medical expert either a long-term treatment with drugs or an operation follows. The correct diagnosis and proper treatment implies an increased life quality and a reduction of unnecessary drug side effects (for patients); avoidance of legal disputes and higher success rates (for doctors); reduced costs (for health insurance companies); and an increase in the number of profitable procedures (for providers of ablation technology). Alas, the misdiagnosis rate of expert cardiologists and of competing diagnosis tools so far is high. Studies report success rates of 50%. We showed in a peer-reviewed study that our success rate is almost 90%. We have received preliminary feedback from cardiologists in hospitals that our prototype works well and that they want to use it in their daily work. The diagnosis is a daily task for cardiologists in Europe, with an estimated number of one million diagnoses per year. We have unique selling points and market entry barriers for competitors: our approach is based a) on a deep understanding of electrophysiological processes and the integration of the team into clinical practice and b) on sophisticated mathematical algorithms that are not easy to reimplement and further enhanced in the ERC Consolidator Grant MODEST and c) on a comfortable IPR situation (granted patent). With isitFlutter we want to perform a multi-center test and adapt our product accordingly, evaluate competition and IPR, and extend our contacts with future customers, investors, and players in the market.

Mots-clés : atrial fibrillation,atrial flutter,supra ventricular tachycardia,automatic diagnosis,algorithm,app development
Projet ERC : Immune-senescence (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing
Entité participante : Institute of Oncology Research — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : IOR
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2000000.0 €

We have previously demonstrated that cellular senescence opposes tumorigenesis thereby opening up new potential opportunities for cancer treatment. Senescence and tumor immunity in cancer are tightly interconnected. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells promote the clearance of senescent tumor cells thereby contributing to the tumor suppressive function of senescence. Moreover, T lymphocytes can drive senescence in cancers by secreting different cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. We have also recently reported that GR1+ myeloid cells antagonize treatment-induced senescence (TIS) and that compounds that block the tumor recruitment of GR1+ cells enhance TIS. Major objective of this proposal is to characterize the immune landscape of different prostate cancer mouse models in order to develop novel treatment modalities that combine pro-senescence compounds with immunotherapy. Using proteomics and bioinformatics approaches, we will assess how the genetic background of prostate tumors, shapes the tumor microenvironment and immune response during TIS. Next, we will define the mechanisms that regulate the recruitment and activation of myeloid derived suppressive cells, macrophages and B-lymphocytes in Pten deficient prostate tumors by focusing on a novel class of secreted factors identified in these tumors. We will also assess in vivo whether the secretome of tumor cells can transmit senescence to TILs and compounds that interfere with the secretome can prevent immunosenescence. Finally, we will develop monoclonal antibodies directed towards senescent tumors cells that we will use as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. These antibodies will be used as biomarkers to detect senescent tumor cells in prostate cancers and will be tested in pre-clinical trials to assess whether they improve tumor clearance during TIS. Our findings will form the basis for future clinical trials in prostate cancer patients.

Mots-clés : cancer immunology
Projet ERC : WHOLE SUN (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Synergy grants)
Entité participante : University of St Andrews — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 315085.0 €

We live around an active magnetic star, our Sun, that has a direct impact on our technological society through its variability and eruptive behaviour. Despite decades of intense research, fundamental questions such as How does the Sun work? Why does it possess a magnetic cycle and a dynamic hot atmosphere and how they are interrelated? remain mostly unanswered. In the Whole Sun project, we aim at tackling these key questions as a coherent whole for the first time. For too many years, the Sun has been split into internal and external solar physics topics lacking a global integrated view of its complex plasma dynamics. For instance, dynamo simulations seeking to answer the origin of the magnetic field and of its cyclic behaviour neglect surface physics and the existence of sunspots and likewise surface models often assume the magnetic field as a given input without the detailed knowledge of the nonlinear interplay between convection, rotation and magnetic fields in the Sun’s outer envelope. The time has come to gather European world leading solar/stellar physicists to build a deeper understanding of our star and to extend it to its twins. To do so many bottlenecks must be addressed: highly disparate spatial and temporal scales, physical interfaces of all solar layers, complex microphysics and global effects, strong dynamics and how parameters such as star’s metallicity, mass and rotation influence the outcome. By gathering physicists from each side of the solar surface we aim at tackling these challenging, beyond the state-of-the-art problems, by developing a deep theoretical understanding of our star and of its analogues and by building the most advanced multi-resolution solar code in order to jointly address global/macrophysics and local/microphysics aspects of the solar dynamics. The advent of Exa-scale computers makes such a challenge within our reach as do modern analysis methods to interpret observations and 4-D data cube that the project will produce or access.

Mots-clés : solar physics,dynamo,magnetohydrodynamics  mhd,plasma physics,solar activity,solar stellar connection
Projet ERC : FunKeyGut (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
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 : 1498279.0 €

We live in an intimate symbiosis with our gut microbiota, which provides us services such as vitamin production, breakdown of dietary compounds, and immune training. Sequencing-based approaches that have been applied to catalogue the gut microbiota have revealed intriguing discoveries associating the microbiome with diet and disease. The next outstanding challenge is to unravel the many activities and interactions that define gut microbiota function. The gut microbiota is a diverse community of cooperating and competing microbes. These interactions form a network that links organisms with each other and their environment. Interactions in such a “functional network” are based partially, though not exclusively, on food webs. Certain “keystone species”, such as Rumonicoccus bromii, are thought to play a major role in these networks. Though some evidence exists for the presence of keystone species, their identity and activity remains largely unknown. As keystone species are vital to networks they are ideal targets for manipulating the gut microbiota to improve metabolic health and protect against enteropathogen infection. Given the complexity of the gut microbiota, networks can only be elucidated directly in the native community. This project aims to identify functional networks and keystone species in the human gut using novel approaches that are uniquely and ideally suited for studying microbial activity in complex communities. Using state-of-the-art methods such as stable isotope labeling, Raman microspectroscopy, and secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) we will illuminate functional networks in situ. This will allow us to identify what factors shape gut microbiota activity, reveal important food webs, and ultimately use network knowledge to target the microbiota with prebiotic/probiotic treatments rationally designed to promote health.
Projet ERC : SMART-POM (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : University of Glasgow — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2464532.0 €

We outline a 5 year programme that introduces a new platform for the preparation, understanding, and exploitation of precisely defined nano-molecules / materials based upon the assembly of molecular metal oxide precursors (polyoxometalates) under non-equilibrium conditions with well-defined physical properties using automated intelligent feedback. We will elucidate the mechanism of assembly of these gigantic molecules and devise a set of rules similar to the magic numbers found in gold nanoclusters, using these to break the 10 nm size barrier for a single molecule. Targeted properties include photochemical and electrochemical sensors, bistable molecules, doped traditional oxides with polyoxometalates, and new catalysts including water oxidation via a Universal Building Block (UBB) approach that links properties of the building blocks with emergent properties of the resulting clusters and materials for the first time. The new approach includes the conversion of batch to flow synthesis not only for automation, but to understand fundamental mechanistic aspects, and to use artificial intelligence algorithms to help move through the myriad of possible combinations (without needing to synthesise every possible molecule). The SMART-POM approach is therefore not merely automation of one-pot chemistry, but an entirely new paradigm building on our recent developments and will allow us to move through a vast combinatorial space effectively only locating areas of novelty via feedback control. This feedback will be used to discover, design, and develop complex, adaptive and functional metal oxide-based materials based upon sensory feedback from the physical properties measurements. Thus SMART-POM will open up a whole new synthetic space, give mechanistic understanding, and allow the discovery of molecules with potential real-world applications. Finally, we will aim to extend the SMART-POM paradigm to other areas of chemistry which will benefit from the search for novelty.

Mots-clés : molecular metal oxides,polyoxometalates
Projet ERC : LEGOTOP (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : Weizmann Institute of Science — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1532163.0 €

We present a novel constructive approach for realizations of topological states of matter. Our approach starts with well-understood building blocks, and proceeds towards coupling them to create the desired states. This approach promises both a guide for a tunable experimental realization of states which have not been observed so far, and a theoretical tool for deeper understanding of different topological states, their dualities and inter-relations. We will apply the constructive approach in two different directions. In the first direction our goal will be the construction of topological superconductors. Our tool will be Josephson junctions in which superconductors are coupled by two- and three-dimensional electronic non-superconducting systems. Two dimensional examples include transition metal dichalcogenides, Quantum Hall states, Quantum Anomalous Hall states, and the (111) bi-layer state, which may be viewed as a fractionalized electron-hole condensate. Three dimensional examples include Weyl semi-metals and weak topological insulators. In the second direction our goal is the construction of fractionalized spin liquid states. Our building block will be a Majorana-Cooper box, which is a superconducting quantum dot coupled to semi-conducting wires that host Majorana zero modes. We will consider arrays of such boxes. The ratio of the box's charging energy to inter-box tunnel-coupling determines whether the array is superconducting or insulating. We will aim to use insulating arrays for realizing fractionalized and non-abelian spin liquids, study the transition to the superconducting state, and search for possible relations between the topological properties on both sides of the transition. A deeper comprehension and a feasible path for realization of these states would have a profound effect on the field of topological matter and will open novel avenues for universal topological quantum computers.

Mots-clés : topological superconductivity,fractionalized states of matter,non abelian statistics,topological quantum computation  majorana fermion
Projet ERC : HEALIGRAFT (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : University of Glasgow — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 149973.0 €

We propose a system that allows a safer delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP2) for bone tissue engineering and have planned a veterinary trial in relevant conditions. We have teamed up with a team of veterinary surgeons and several industry and clinical partners for the appraisal of the proposal from a translational standpoint. rhBMP2 is a powerful growth factor (GF) essential in tissue morphogenesis and used to promote bone growth in clinical applications. Current clinical delivery has encountered serious complications associated with the high doses used. We have developed a system that allows the effective presentation of GFs in combination with the integrin binding domain of fibronectin (FN), promoting simultaneous and co-localised signalling between GF receptors and integrins. We have shown the ability of Poly(ethyl acrylate) PEA to organize FN and sequester rhBMP2 in synergy with the integrin binding region to direct stem cell differentiation. This technology enhances bone regeneration and vascularisation with lower rhBMP-2 doses. With this understanding we have engineered systems to regenerate a bone critical size defect in a murine model. Results were comparable to the higher doses used in the clinic, which makes the systems safe, effective and more competitive than current commercial products. The pathway to human applications requires strong financial commitments. We will explore the veterinary application of our technology and also, because of the conditions treated, as a demonstration towards application in humans. Overall, we will develop a safe and versatile bone system for clinical use in joint arthodesis and non- union bone defects, and we will set a route towards commercialization.

Mots-clés : bone graft,chips,bmp 2,fibronectin,stem cells,plasma coating,veterinary
Projet ERC : [LC]2 (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : University of Edinburgh — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1358083.65 €

We propose an unprecedented class of soft, self-assembled and self-motile micro-machines. The combined qualities of active fluids and colloidal liquid crystals can be leveraged to design intrinsically out-of- equilibrium hierarchal structures, or ‘Living’ Colloidal Liquid Crystals [LC]2. The study of colloidal interactions and self-assembly in active nematics has yet to be considered and constitutes an unexplored and inter-disciplinary application of the emerging sciences of active matter and colloidal liquid crystals. Activity will endow dynamical multi-scale colloidal structures with autonomous functionality, including self-motility, self-revolution and dynamical self-transformations, which are exactly the characteristics one would desire for a first generation of autonomous components of micro-biomechanical systems and soft micro-machines. As hybrids between biological active fluids and man-made materials, [LC]2 structures represent an early foray into ‘living’ metamaterials, in which active self-assembly of simple components produces a rich diversity of behaviours and the potential for autonomously tunable material properties, mimicking biological complexity. In particular, we hypothesize self-assembled [LC]2 dimer turbines, colloidal flagella and ant-like group retrieval. These systems represent a fundamentally innovative concept that we propose to drive nanotechnology into a new future of soft materials that biomimetically self-assemble and autonomously enact functions. It is our multiscale coarse-grained simulations and expertise in flowing active nematic fluids that generates the opportunity for this unique line of research.

Mots-clés : active matter,colloids,liquid crystals,self assembled materials,biomaterials
Projet ERC : WATER (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : Stockholm University — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2486951.0 €

We propose to address some of the most important outstanding questions for a microscopic understanding of water: What is the structure and dynamics of the hydrogen-bonding network that give rise to all the unique properties of water? How is the structure and dynamics affected by temperature, pressure and by perturbation through interaction with solutes and interfaces? Here we point to the opportunity to exploit the completely new avenues that the novel x-ray free-electron lasers open up for probing both structure and dynamics of water from hot temperatures down to the deeply supercooled regime where the anomalous properties become extreme. We plan to further develop fast cooling and ultrafast x-ray probing allowing access to below the homogeneous ice nucleation limit, to probe equilibrium dynamics through probe-probe techniques based on x-ray correlation spectroscopy, to access low-energy vibrational mode dynamics through THz pump and x-ray scattering probe and to transfer x-ray spectroscopies into the time domain. We will address one of the currently most debated issues related to a potential liquid-liquid transition and 2nd critical point in liquid water. The goal is to determine experimentally if water, as hypothesized in certain models, can really exist as two liquids, if there is reversible phase transition between the hypothesized liquids, evaluate if these hypothesized liquids can equilibrate on a time scale faster then the rate of ice nucleation and if there exists a critical point that can explain the fluctuations related to the diverging response functions. We will continue to critically investigate our proposed hypothesis that water at ambient temperature encompasses fluctuations around two local structures and that the dominating structure is a strongly distorted hydrogen bonded environment. We will investigate if these concepts can be used to describe the observed perturbations of water structure by solutes and interfaces.

Mots-clés : liquids,x ray interactions with matter,aqueous systems,water
Projet ERC : SETWATER (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ETH Zurich
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

We propose to alter the surface topography and morphology of titanium substrates for phase change heat transfer enhancements using the electrochemical techniques developed in an ERC consolidator grant. The alteration efforts will result in enhanced heat transfer efficiency. The modified titanium substrate will be used to fabricate a thermally enhanced heat exchange device, which will then be used to construct a novel thermal water separation system based on a multi-effect ‘hybrid’ distillation concept for fresh water recovery from seawater or industrial wastewater feed. This system is applicable for desalination and wastewater treatment. The goal of the project is to provide technology demonstrators for such a system, which is expected to have a disruptive high efficiency compared to existing systems.

Mots-clés : nanostructuring,surface modification,electrochemistry,water purification,desalination,heat transfer
Projet ERC : METADESIGN (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : University of Milan — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UNIMI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 149752.5 €

We propose to commercialize a software for the automatic design of responsive metamaterials structures for additive manufacturing. During the course of the ERC AdG SIZEFFECTS project, the PI studied the effect of disorder on the mechanics of materials using discrete elements models (DEM), allowing for an efficient simulation of large disordered structures, including metamaterials. The METADESIGN project exploits DEM methodologies and optimization algorithms developed throughout the SIZEFFECTS project to solve the general problem of efficient and automatic design of responsive metamaterials machines. The algorithms put forward by the METADESIGN project is able to produce generic elementary metamaterial actuators with a broad set of possible movements and efficiencies. We propose a commercialization strategy that aims at deploying the software on the cloud allowing for flexible on demand services. Industrial partners and target costumers will be searched in the automotive, robotics and manufacturing industries.

Mots-clés : metamaterials,additive manufacturing,3d printing,elasticity,computational methods