Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : PANDEMIC (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems E ngineering
Entité participante : Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Société Max Planck
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499999.0 €

PANDEMIC is an ambitious high-risk/high-gain program to deliver an innovative pathogen-guided strategy for crop disease resistance. The wheat blast pandemic is a clear and present danger to global food security. It is caused by the blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, which, after emerging in Brazil only ~35 years ago, has spread over the last 5 years to Southeast Asia and Africa. We discovered that all isolates of the pandemic wheat blast fungus belong to a single, asexual clonal lineage. These pandemic isolates carry a supernumerary mini-chromosome (mChr) of ~2 Mb, which encodes 19 secreted effector (virulence) proteins and renders the pandemic lineage highly virulent. We propose that this mChr is the Achilles’ heel of the pandemic fungus. In PANDEMIC, my team and I will target the mChr virulence properties by gene editing and engineering of disease resistance genes that target mChr-encoded effectors. The central hypothesis of this project is, that detailed knowledge about the biophysical properties of pathogen effector-host target interactions can guide bioengineering of non-transgenic disease resistance in wheat. To achieve our goal, we will employ a multi-disciplinary approach combining genetics, structural biology, and gene editing. Specifically, we will pursue the following objectives:  1. GENETICS. Determine the mChr-encoded effectors conferring high virulence on the pandemic wheat blast fungus. 2. BIOPHYSICS. Define the biophysical properties of effector-host target interactions.   3. IMMUNITY. Apply CRISPR/Cas gene editing to deliver innovative, non-transgenic solutions for blast disease management.  At the completion of this project, my team and I will generate a detailed understanding of the biophysical properties of mChr-encoded effector-target protein complexes and deliver novel traits and non-transgenic solutions for developing resistance against the pandemic wheat blast fungus.
Projet ERC : CONDEVO (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Molecules of Life: B iological  Mechanisms , Structures  and Functions
Entité participante : Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Société Max Planck
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1494150.0 €

Cells organize billions of protein molecules into membrane-bound and membrane-less compartments, called biomolecular condensates. Previous research on condensates focused on identifying their components, material properties, and function in homeostasis and disease. In contrast to our relatively precise understanding of membrane-bound compartments, we lack a comprehensive picture of the mechanisms that target proteins into condensates and how condensates emerged during evolution. I hypothesize that localization into condensate is encoded in protein sequences, and that functional condensates are under selection pressure and therefore conserved. I propose a comprehensive research program including both theoretical and experimental approaches to reveal how and when protein condensates emerged during evolution. I propose to: 1. Map proteomes of condensates across the tree of life, 2. Reconstruct the history of condensates, 3. Follow trajectories of condensate evolution. Specifically, I will: 1. Investigate what conserved sequence features drive localization to condensates by developing computational tools to predict the proteome of specific condensates across the tree of life; and by testing partitioning of proteins into condensates experimentally. 2. Reconstruct the evolutionary history of the protein components of conserved condensates, and thereby trace their evolutionary origin. Analogous to protein families, we will define condensate families based on shared properties of their proteins and function by developing similarity metrics. We will reconstruct the phylogeny of condensate families and compare to organism and organelle evolution. 3. Perform directed evolution of ancestral non-condensate-forming proteins towards condensate partitioning and follow their mutational trajectories. Building on our already developed tools and the new algorithms proposed here combined with experiments, we will be able to map the molecular history of condensates on the Tree of Life.

Mots-clés : molecular evolution,biomolecular condensates,protein localization,phylogenetics,motif evolution,machine learning,directed evolution
Projet ERC : FastE-Chiral (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Materials Engineering
Entité participante : Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Société Max Planck
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2159604.0 €

Chiral light, with a rotating electromagnetic field, is revolutionizing optoelectronics, quantum optics, and spintronics. This unique light delivers either 'left' or 'right' optical information based on its polarization, similar to how alternating electrical signals transfer sound and images. Despite centuries since the discovery of chiral light, achieving electrical modulation of its handedness in light-emitting devices remains a significant challenge. Traditional methods of switching chiral emission handedness, e.g., inverting material stereochemistry or mechanically rotating optical filters, encounter practical limitations: complicated fabrication and slow switching speeds. However, electrical modulation of light handedness simplifies manufacturing processes, and enable in-situ controllability. This allows for not only the switching of handedness but also capability to do so at high frequencies. My approach departs from prior research. Instead of focusing on emitters, I will investigate the largely overlooked molecular environment of these emitters—the host materials. These materials account for ~90% of host-emitter blends and significantly influence the transport properties of organic light-emitting devices, but their role has been surprisingly neglected in previous research. My objective is to create a chiral environment for emitters using chiral host materials, thereby manipulating electron behavior. Such transport behavior will ‘polarize’ the entire recombination processes, making the chiral emission handedness dependent on current flows. Integrating these materials into a new chiral organic light-emitting transistor, the goal is to achieve ultra-fast handedness switching of highly polarized chiral emission within a single device. Despite notable challenges, creating such light sources offers direct chiral light generation and rapid control over its handedness, potentially revolutionizing future optical communication, imaging, and display technologies.

Mots-clés : chiral materials,organic semiconductor,circularly polarized luminescence,organic light emitting devices
Projet ERC : ERODERS (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Environmental B iology, Ecology  and E volution
Entité participante : Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Société Max Planck
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

Marine algae fixing CO2 into organic matter is central to the global carbon cycle. While the food chain and marine bacteria consume roughly half of the fixed carbon, a harder-to-degrade fraction remains in the ocean, naturally sequestering CO2 and lessening climate change effects. This remaining fraction is mainly derived from algal complex glycans that provide structural support, defense against microbial pathogens, and can be a carbon source for the algae microbiome. The specialized bacteria feeding on complex glycans are integral to the algae microbiome, yet, have been historically dismissed. ERODERS focuses on the unidentified mechanisms supporting the interactions between bacteria feeding on complex fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCPS) and the (host) algae that produce them. I propose that specialized bacteria have co-evolved with algae and have a key role in unlocking glycans that maintain the algae microbiome and simultaneously modify the structure of glycans that participate in carbon sequestration processes. Bacteria belonging to the Verrucomicrobiota and Planctomycetota phyla are the only groups living on algae that carry the enzymes to consume FCSPs. Using a combination of cutting-edge approaches (multi-omic, visualization, and physiologic examination), we will expand into the unknown diversity and population structure of FCSP degrading bacteria on micro and macroalgae. To tease apart the effects on algae health, we will incubate the model brown algae Ectocarpus with FCSP-degrading bacteria under laboratory conditions and examine both the response of incubated bacteria and the impact on the algae growth and its microbiome. This proposal presents a unique opportunity to unveil the microbial diversity and mechanisms that link bacteria to the metabolism of complex glycans involved in carbon sequestration processes and the evolutionary significance shaping the relationship between bacteria hosts with implications from marine to gut ecosystems

Mots-clés : carbon sequestration,algae,host microbe interactions,microbiomes,multi omics
Projet ERC : QuantXS (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences
Entité participante : Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Société Max Planck
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1401103.0 €

Elementary processes in nature, chemical synthesis, and functional materials critically rely on photochemical transformations. Monitoring these events on the most fundamental level and recording movies of individual molecular motions has been a long-standing dream of chemists and physicists. To this end, time-resolved spectroscopy uses carefully timed sequences of short laser pulses to concatenate stroboscopic frames of information, in analogy to a video camera. This has recently been pushed to the X-ray domain, where ultrabright femto- and attosecond laser pulses enable scientists to monitor nuclear and electronic motions in real-time. However, key features remain elusive due to their intrinsic weakness and the high complexity of their coupled dynamics. My primary goal is to tackle this challenge and develop methods capable of monitoring fundamental molecular photochemistry with unprecedented precision. QuantXS is a theoretical program that puts forward the completely novel concept of quantum-controlled X-ray spectroscopy. I specifically propose to implement pulse shaping techniques at the pump, amplification, and probe stage of time-resolved X-ray measurements. This will tailor the spectroscopic pulse sequence for maximum specificity to so far unmeasured signatures of elementary molecular events. To achieve this, I will implement a bottom-up approach starting with the quantum dynamical simulation of a photochemical ring opening and its transient X-ray signals. I will then use optimal control theory to shape light pulses that (i) maximize the observable absorption, emission, and energy redistribution of existing, weak signatures and bring them above the detection threshold, and (ii) explore entirely new parameter regimes for time-resolved X-ray spectroscopy to generate conceptually new signals. By demonstrating these applications, QuantXS will push ultrafast X-ray sciences to new frontiers in its endeavor to measure the fundamental properties of matter.

Mots-clés : x ray spectroscopy,molecular dynamics
Projet ERC : DOR CODE (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and R egeneration
Entité participante : Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Société Max Planck
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1488750.0 €

Decades of work established the importance of dormant cells in reproduction and regeneration, however, a central unsolved question is how the cell propagates transcriptional memory and cellular identity through dormancy. Current approaches tend to characterize dormancy as a binary on-off switch. In contrast, a highly coordinated and precisely timed set of events are needed to successfully transition cells into dormancy, to maintain dormancy, and to exit it. In DOR-CODE, I will leverage the latest gene editing and genome profiling tools on an inducible and reversible embryonic dormancy model that I spearheaded (Bulut-Karslioglu et al, 2016, van der Weijden et al, 2022) to discover the genomic basis of dormancy. My mission is to reveal the temporal regulatory code of dormancy - ‘DOR-CODE’ - without which cellular identity cannot be propagated through time.  Recent work by us and others has started to reveal the epigenomic landscape of dormancy: a highly repressed state with elevated DNA and histone methylation and decreased transcriptional output. Cellular strategies to counteract this overall repressive state at regulatory sites at the correct times are key for the retention of developmental potential. Here, I will identify DNA and histone demethylation strategies to propagate transcriptional memory at key regulatory elements (Objectives 1&2) and connect locus-specific regulation (Objectives 1&2) to genome macro-organization (Objective 3). By building direct links between anabolic growth and genome regulation, I will demonstrate how timely gene reactivation is ensured to enable exit from dormancy. The conceptual leap and mechanistic insights resulting from DOR-CODE will (1) enhance our knowledge of embryonic dormancy and lay the foundation for better in vitro embryo preservation, (2) bring a fresh perspective to related systems such as regeneration, longevity, and cancer dormancy, and (3) fuel the research in my lab for decades to come.

Mots-clés : dormancy
Projet ERC : PRD (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Entité participante : Université Ben Gourion du Néguev — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : BGU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1276980.0 €

This project addresses the question of how people incorporate increasingly prevalent nonelectoral political acts into individual-level repertoires of participation; and how well represented these different types of political participators are. At a time of growing concern about unequal representation in democracies, two conflicting global trends over the last several decades highlight the importance of these questions: a clear decline in voter turnout, especially among lower status groups; and evidence of increased nonelectoral participation, especially among higher status groups. To assess how these trends in political participation affect patterns of representation, PRD’s theoretical framework integrates new approaches for investigating the links between individuals’ participation repertoires (i.e., how individuals combine voting, protest, online activism) and objective and subjective representational outcomes.  PRD’s work packages employ a multi-method approach: “Political acts and political participators” (WP1) analyzes separate surveys and a harmonized dataset and includes methodological innovations using new techniques for identifying participation repertoires. “Participation-representation connection” (WP2) investigates the connections between the political acts and political participators analyzed in WP1 and representational outcomes, and integrates these findings with qualitative fieldwork with activists who focus on unequal representation. Finally, “Mobilizing and organizing low-status groups” (WP3) conducts novel experimental studies using Twitter panel data and field experiments to identify interventions with the potential to produce more equal representational outcomes in the future. By combining an original theoretical framework and methodological innovations, PRD will conduct a uniquely comprehensive empirical investigation of participation repertoires, with a focus on mechanisms that can reduce inequalities in participation and representation.

Mots-clés : political participation,political behavior,unequal representation,digital media,public opinion,responsiveness,congruence,political attitudes,political efficacy,comparative analysis,data harmonization,latent class analysis,latent variable analysis,experimental design,twitter panel
Projet ERC : dSHologQI (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Fundamental Constituents of Matter
Entité participante : Université Ben Gourion du Néguev — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : BGU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

New approaches to de Sitter (dS) space holography open a promising avenue for quantum gravity in dS space. Simultaneously, newly developed quantum information tools allow us to study those proposals and their properties. It is the objective of this project to study holography in dS space using quantum information tools.  I would like to use quantum information to find an alternative description of dS space in terms of an exact quantum mechanical model. For this, I will explore different recent approaches to dS space holography including the idea of defining a holographic theory on the stretched cosmological horizon and the use of holographic flow geometries. I will use novel measures from the world of quantum information – entanglement, complexity, out of time ordered correlation functions, chaos and thermalization and compare their behavior to numerical results for possible candidates of a quantum mechanical dual theory. This detailed study will allow me to identify a precise quantum mechanical dual for dS space.  The project will have a major impact on the way we understand quantum gravity in dS space, bringing holography from the theoretical realm where gravity lives in a box to a real-world applicable scenario. It is further expected that extending holographic quantum information beyond anti-de Sitter (AdS) space to a larger class of theories will draw new and important lessons for quantum information and quantum computation.  It is the perfect time to conduct this line of research. While dS space holography has been a long-time endeavour in theoretical physics, progress in low-dimensional holography and quantum information makes it now possible to address it from a novel and concrete point of view. I have been a pioneer in applying quantum information tools in AdS space and have worked on the new approaches to dS holography. I therefore believe that I am the right person to carry out this promising line of research.

Mots-clés : holography,quantum information,de sitter space,quantum gravity,complexity,entanglement entropy
Projet ERC : ChiParNet (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Soci al World and Its Interactions
Entité participante : Université Johann Wolfgang Goethe de Francfort-sur-le-Main — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1496538.0 €

As our social worlds remain divided by categories such as ethnicity, religion, and social class, attenuating social boundaries is paramount to creating equal opportunities and building cohesive societies. Segregated networks mark boundaries from childhood on and persist through adolescence and beyond. Research stresses parents’ influence on children’s contacts, but it largely neglects that children also influence their parents’ contacts. If we do not account for the interplay of children’s and parents’ networks, we may draw wrong conclusions about how segregation emerges and under which conditions it persists or diminishes. Since younger generations are more diverse, we must understand whether children adopt their parents’ network structures or whether diversity in children’s social lives also diversifies the social worlds of their parents. My project aims to advance our knowledge of mutual intergenerational boundary-making by developing and testing a theory of how child–parent networks co-evolve over time in educational settings with varying degrees of diversity. I propose to collect an innovative panel dataset of children’s and parents’ networks for multiple cohorts from kindergarten to secondary school. These unique data will allow me to rigorously examine how the interplay of children’s and parents’ networks affects boundaries in each other’s social worlds and how this varies by children’s age and diversity in educational settings. By showing how children and parents shape each other’s social worlds, the project will provide decisive new insights into the (bi)directionality and conditions of the intergenerational reproduction of social boundaries. This will change our understanding of segregation and break new ground in the interdisciplinary fields of intergroup relations, family studies, and network science. The results of the project will create a firm scientific basis on which policymakers can develop measures to reduce boundaries between future generations.