Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : SPANUMBRA (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Entité participante : University of Trento — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2352796.0 €

Research in cognitive science has revealed that the temporal, spatial, and numerical features of a stimulus can interact with one another. An example is the tendency to map increasing numerical magnitudes with a left-to-right orientation. Numerical-spatial associations (NSA) are pervasive in human behaviour and have relevance to health (e.g., dyscalculia is thought to be related to improper understanding of the so-called «mental number line»). NSA have been shown to occur in human newborns and in non-human animals for non-symbolic numerousness. SPANUMBRA aims to investigate NSA in different animal models (domestic chicks, mice and zebrafish) and in human neonates and infants to provide a comprehensive and comparative perspective on the developmental, neural and genetic origins of this phenomenon. The project will be guided by a new hypothesis that links the direction of NSA to a differential role of the two sides of the brain to the perceived value (valence) of changes in magnitudes. The role of the experience (WP1) in the development of NSA will be investigated making use of early exposure to light in chicks’ embryos to modulate brain asymmetry, and controlled-rearing experiments in which newly-hatched chicks will be exposed to correlated and anti-correlated discrete and continuous magnitudes. Development of NSA will be also studied in human neonates and infants (WP2) before, during, and after the exposure to culture-specific NSA associations (numbers organized in spatially oriented layouts) to investigate the role of culture in shaping/reinforcing NSA. The study of the neural basis of the NSA (WP3) will combine neurobiological techniques (immediate early gene expression in chicks and zebrafish), and non-invasive methods (EEG and fNIRS in human neonates). The genetic bases of NSA (WP4) will be investigated using transgenic lines of zebrafish and mice, in order to understand the role of some genes implicated in the development of lateralization and in dyscalculia.

Mots-clés : space number association,mental number line,numerical cognition,quantity discrimination,comparative cognition,cognitive ethology,neural bases of numerical cognition
Projet ERC : HEMs-DAM (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : University of Copenhagen — Pays : Danemark — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UCPH
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1339600.0 €

Research in quantum information technologies is receiving increasing attention worldwide, and huge efforts are put into the realization of the first reliable building blocks for quantum computation. The main challenge the field is facing today is unquestionably related to the loss of information due to quantum state decoherence. As indicated by our recent experiments, the perennial problem of decoherence might be solved by fully epitaxial semiconductor-superconductor growth techniques of high quality topological superconducting materials. Moreover, quantum systems based around design principles such as gate-controlled semiconductor-superconductor materials that can hold topologically‐motivated symmetry protection, might enable simpler forms of control and less dependence on available control technology. While research has made a lot of progress in the growth of semiconductor heterostructures and associated interfaces, the synthesis of semiconductor – metal/superconductor interfaces are comparably both uncontrolled and very poorly understood. As the device performance and potential applicability of nanostructured crystals largely depend on the quality of the involved interfaces, progress in synthesis of high quality interfaces will likely dictate the advancement and development not only of future quantum electronics but also play a key role in nanostructured device applications in general. The core of this proposal concerns the material synthesis of epitaxially grown semiconductor - metal/superconductor materials for advanced topological quantum electronics. The ambition will be to build an innovative environment that links between material and quantum sciences - with an overall emphasis on developing disorder-free hybrid semiconductor-superconductor crystals for novel quantum state detection and manipulation. This also includes an emphasis on developing high quality Josephson junctions - the key control point and crucial element in gatable superconductivity.

Mots-clés : superconductivity,topological materials,quantum information
Projet ERC : NUAGE (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing
Entité participante : Max Planck Society — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : MPG
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2500000.0 €

Research over the last few decades has revealed that animal life span is malleable and regulated by conserved metabolic signaling pathways, including reduced insulin/IGF signaling, mTOR, mitochondrial function, dietary restriction, and signals from the reproductive system. Whether these various pathways converge on common processes, however, has remained elusive. We recently discovered the nucleolus to be a crucial focal point of regulation in all these pathways. The nucleolus is a subnuclear organelle dedicated to rRNA production and ribogenesis, but also controls assembly of other ribonucleoprotein complexes including spliceosomes, signal recognition particle, small RNA processing, stress granules, and responds to growth and stress signaling. Remarkably we found that small nucleoli are a cellular hallmark of longevity in diverse species, and a correlate of metabolic health in humans. At the molecular level, long-lived animals show reduced levels of the nucleolar ribosomal RNA methylase, fibrillarin (FIB-1), and knockdown of C. elegans FIB-1 reduces nucleolar size, extends life span, and enhances innate immunity. Conversely, knockout of NCL-1/TRIM2 expands nucleolar size, suppresses life extension of major longevity pathways, and renders animals pathogen sensitive, revealing key regulators of nucleolargenesis, immunity and longevity. Here I propose to (Aim 1) clarify the mechanism of action of NCL-1, FIB-1 and interacting molecules (2) perform novel genetic screens for nucleolargenesis in C. elegans (3) uncover global transcriptomic and proteomic changes induced by NCL-1 and FIB-1 and survey several candidate nucleolar processes in regulating longevity and immunity (4) probe NCL-1/TRIM2 regulation of longevity in the short-lived killifish, Notobranchius furzeri, and develop nucleolar biomarkers of metabolic health in humans. These groundbreaking studies should illuminate how conserved signaling pathways work through the nucleolus to regulate health and life span.

Mots-clés : caenorhabditis elegans,nucleolus
Projet ERC : MemMOFs (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : University of Manchester — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 147963.75 €

Research undertaken on ERC Advanced Grant 226593 (COORDSPACE) has delivered a new exciting range of metal organic frameworks (MOFs). These substances show ultra-high porosity and this makes them ideal for many high value commercial applications, including gas separations. Of specific interest is NOTT-300, a unique, porous solid with exceptional, selective, CO2 and SO2 uptake properties and remarkable acetylene vs ethylene, ethylene vs ethane, and CO2 vs CH4 separation abilities. We now target the incorporation of NOTT-300 into gas separation media to impart these systems with the extraordinary properties of NOTT-300 to fulfil an urgent unmet need within a range of industries. This project will develop and deliver a market-ready mixed matrix membrane (MMM) incorporating NOTT-300

Mots-clés : membranes,gas separation,metal organic frameworks,polymer materials
Projet ERC : MOCHA (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Entité participante : University of Bath — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1721338.4 €

Responding to climate change requires profound changes to individual behaviour. However, much of our behaviour is habitual, which is resistant to change. Habits are cued by stable contexts (i.e., same time, place and/or social group), so when these change, habits are disrupted, providing an opportunity to intervene to foster pro-environmental behaviour. ‘Moments of change’ are when individual life circumstances shift within a short time frame, and include biographical and exogenous changes (e.g., becoming a parent, travel disruption). The relationship between moments of change and environmental impact is complex, with heterogeneity between individuals, cultures and behaviours. The aim of this proposal is to examine how ambitious lifestyle change might be achieved through understanding and harnessing ‘moments of change’ in life circumstances. This project integrates insights from several fields (developmental and environmental psychology, sociology, science & technology studies) to bring a much-needed focus on the temporal and socio-technical dimensions of pro-environmental behaviour (change). There are two objectives for the research: (a) To explore and track moments of pro-environmental behaviour change across cultures and life-course; and (b) To examine the efficacy of behavioural interventions targeted to moments of change. Three work packages address these objectives through an ambitious programme of cross-cultural research using secondary and big data analyses, longitudinal qualitative interviews and panel surveys to explore moments of change, and experimental studies to test behaviour change interventions targeted at moments of change (e.g., starting university, retiring, relocating). This project promises a step-change in understanding the dynamics of pro-environmental change across the life course and cultures, and the development of robust habit-disrupting interventions to foster lifestyle change.

Mots-clés : behaviour change
Projet ERC : TransposonsReprogram (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Entité participante : University of London — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : U. London
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 999137.0 €

Retrotransposons (RTNs) are ancient viruses that have stably integrated themselves into mammalian genomes and they now occupy around half of the human or mouse genome. These mobile genetic elements that have coevolved with us drive evolution by creating new genes and plasticity of genomes. Exciting data including ours has shown that even RTNs that are no longer active retain enhancer, promoter or repressor sequences that regulate developmental genes, through largely uncharacterized transcription factors. We have employed CRISPR/Cas9 gene disruption to determine that Zfp37 and Zfp819 bind to and regulate RTNs in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Identification of these zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) now allows us to ask new questions about how RTNs have been co-opted to orchestrate gene circuits in vitro and in vivo. Both these factors have already been implicated to play a role in reprogramming or genome integrity. We hypothesize that RTNs have been co-opted to remodel the genome by acting as structural platforms that recruit transcription factors like Zfp37 and Zfp819. We will test this hypothesis assessing the role of RTNs and these two ZFPs in three dynamic contexts where the genome is remodelled. These are in ESC differentiation to neurons, in reprogramming and in early mouse development, three scenarios where RTNs have been documented to become expressed and serve an unknown function. This work will exploit mouse development to unravel the mechanism of how RTNs remodel the genome. It will help us to understand how ZFPs can be engaged to reprogram cells and in stem-cell therapies, and will explain more broadly how RTNs, which dominate our genomes, control cell fate.

Mots-clés : retrotransposons,gene regulation,reprogramming,embryonic stem cells,neural differentiation,early mouse development,epigenetics,novel zinc finger transcription factors
Projet ERC : POLTDES (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
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 : 2482250.0 €

Reversible coupling of excitons and photons in a microcavity leads to the formation of mixed light-matter quasiparticles, called cavity-polaritons. Weakly interacting polaritons constitute a rich system for studying nonequilibrium condensation and superfluidity. While exciton-polaritons have been studied mostly in intrinsic semiconductors with no free electrons, two-dimensional modulation-doped semiconductors with strong interactions between electrons have played a central role in unravelling many-body physics using transport. In this project, we combine these two fields of research and explore the complex interplay between cavity-polaritons and strongly correlated states of two dimensional electrons embedded inside microcavities. Our principal objective is the realization of polariton mediated superconductivity of electrons in gallium arsenide. Besides demonstrating a new mechanism for Cooper-pair formation, such an observation could revolutionize the search for systems that exhibit topological order. In a reciprocal approach, we will exploit the many-body nature of optical excitations in a two-dimensional electron gas to enhance polariton-polariton interactions. This will allow us to reach the polariton blockade regime, paving the way for realization of nonequilibrium strongly interacting polaritons. In parallel, we will explore cavity-magneto-polariton excitations out of fractional quantum Hall ground states: the objective in this part is to use the strong filling factor dependence of polariton splitting to realize nonlinear optical devices which derive their photon-photon interaction from light-absorption induced transition between compressible and incompressible ground states. Concurrently, we will study charged-exciton-polaritons in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides positioned inside a microcavity, where a large polariton Berry-curvature allows for the observation of valley Hall effect and could be used to realize topological polaritons.

Mots-clés : condensed matter physics using the techniques of quantum optics
Projet ERC : INSPIRE (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy
Entité participante : Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1923297.0 €

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a prototypic T cell- and B cell-driven inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects around 1% of the population worldwide and creates a severe burden for patients as well as substantial socioeconomic costs for society. Hallmarks of RA are a destructive inflammation of peripheral joints as well as the presence of autoantibodies such as anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). Although ACPA are considered to represent major drivers of RA pathology, they can be also found in otherwise healthy “individuals at risk” where they emerge decades before the eventual onset of RA. Factors and mechanisms that promote onset of tissue inflammation in such autoantibody-positive individuals still remain elusive. Due to this gap of knowledge, current therapies are primarily designed to suppress later stages of joint inflammation, rather than targeting the underlying processes of autoimmunity or the initial onset of inflammatory disease. RA patients thus still lack effective preventive or curative therapeutic concepts. Here we aim to exploit recent technical breakthroughs such as single-cell RNA- and ATAC-sequencing in conjunction with DNA bar-coded MHC dextramers and antigens, spatial transcriptomics and cutting-edge imaging to perform a comprehensive and in-depth spatiotemporal analysis of the molecular events underlying the initial onset of inflammatory disease in autoantibody-positive individuals. We will additionally profit from the access to a large and well-characterized cohort of ACPA-positive “individuals at risk” and ACPA-positive RA patients as well as from corresponding biomaterial. In combination with preclinical animal models of RA, we thereby seek to delineate the sequences of events that promote the early transition from autoimmunity to inflammation. The obtained data will yield key insights into basic mechanisms of inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as RA and provide the basis for novel treatment concepts.
Projet ERC : TRANSFR-Q (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering
Entité participante : Universidad de Málaga — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UMA
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

Ripening is the critical step for the development of flavour quality in fruit. This character has significantly declined in many fleshy fruits over recent decades, primarily due to the focus of current breeding programs on agronomic traits such as production, firmness, and postharvest shelf life. This strategy has caused a tunnelling effect on genetic variability in many crops. This is particularly significant in strawberry, where current cultivars are derived from a narrow germplasm stock. A notable feature of strawberry fruit is that undergoes a non-climacteric ripening program independent of the hormone ethylene, in contrast to well studied climacteric fruits such as tomato, where ethylene plays a central role. Therefore, improving fruit flavour in present strawberry varieties requires two important breakthroughs: 1) a precise understanding of non-climacteric fruit ripening regulation that will allow the targeting of relevant quality genes, and 2) the identification of unexploited allelic variants from wild germplasm to be introgressed through the generation of novel breeding lines. The first objective will be achieved by (i) focusing on the sequenced, diploid Fragaria vesca, a wild relative of the cultivated strawberry that will serve as a model, (ii) identifying key transcription factors (TFs) regulating fruit ripening by generating a stage- and tissue-specific gene expression map, (iii) using a candidate gene approach and reverse genetics based on gene silencing and TILLING to verify the role of these TFs, and (iv) defining the gene regulatory networks controlling the ripening process via integration of transcriptomic, metabolomic and ChIP-Seq data obtained from the stably silenced and/or TILLED lines. Finally, TRANSFR-Q plans to use this knowledge, combined with the identification of novel alleles from a core collection of Fragaria germplasm, to transfer flavour quality characters into current strawberry cultivars.

Mots-clés : plant,strawberry,fragaria vesca,fruit ripening,fruit quality,transcription factor,gene regulatory network,rna seq,chip seq,metabolomics,tilling,natural variation
Projet ERC : TRUST (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Entité participante : Liverpool John Moores University — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : LJMU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1989291.0 €

Risk research represents an important challenge for the resilience and sustainability of container supply chains (CSCs). Its foci are being expanded from classical safety, through security to climate adaptation. Addressing such risks simultaneously requires integration across disciplines and research methodologies. The research community currently lacks a critical understanding of non-classical CSC risks arising from climate change, security threats (e.g. cyber-attacks), and emerging technologies (e.g. autonomous ships) in the digital industrial era. Through ground-breaking and interdisciplinary research, TRUST aims to address the key research question regarding which kinds of risk schemes can harness science and technology most effectively to achieve long-term resilient and sustainable CSC systems. The findings will shift the traditional risk management practice paradigm and deliver a novel programme that will enable the quantification, integration and communication of risk information from different areas and facilitate the movement of risk culture from a reactive single-dimensional scheme towards a proactive multi-dimensional regime. The programme divides into three integrated domains: 1) exploring and quantifying climate risks to rationalise adaptation planning; 2) forecasting security risks to address the most commanding threats in CSCs; and 3) advancing holistic safety approaches for CSCs involving new techniques and environments (e.g. Arctic shipping). The combination of objective (from historical accidents) and subjective (from stakeholders’ perceptions) risk data will inform the exploitation of the advances in new safety and security risk models to enhance climate risk and adaptation studies in a complementary way. The work will address the significant methodological issues associated with resilience and sustainability sciences and advance the state-of-the-art to a point where robust CSCs can be developed and realised, even under deep uncertainty.

Mots-clés : risk analysis,uncertainty methods,resilience,sustainability,container transportation