Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : STEMGUARD (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Immunity, Infection and I mmunotherapy
Entité participante : Institut Curie — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1230000.0 €

Stem cells guard tissue integrity by renewing the pool of differentiated cells, and must therefore be shielded from threats such as transposable elements or viruses. In that line, stem cells can largely resist viral infections, but they do so without deploying the antiviral pathways at play in differentiated cells. So, what guards the guardians? I recently discovered a stem cell-specific immune pathway, driven by a protein termed aviD (antiviral Dicer), which mounts an antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) response and thwarts RNA virus infection. This illustrates that stem cells implement specific defence mechanisms that are poorly understood, or unknown. My proposal aims at bridging the current knowledge gap in stem cell immunity. We will do so by investigating the role of the aviD pathway in vivo using an aviD knock-out mouse, as well as by unravelling the molecular regulation of the pathway (Aim 1). Stem cell’s demise can additionally be provoked by the expression of transposable elements (TEs). Converging evidence suggests that aviD and the RNAi pathway may play a second defensive role in shielding uninfected stem cells from TE expression, which we will explore in Aim 2. Because cancer is characterised by a stemness transcriptional program, aviD may similarly control TEs in tumour cells. We will study aviD expression in various tumour models and assess its role in controlling TEs. This is of special interest because awakening TE expression in cancer is being leveraged by new therapeutic approaches in multiple malignancies. Similarly, we will explore if inhibiting aviD and the RNAi pathway could have an antitumour effect (Aim 2). Finally, I hypothesize that stem cells are protected by additional, unknown antiviral pathways, which we aim to identify and characterise using new genome-scale approaches (Aim 3). Overall, this proposal aims at unveiling new biology in stem cell immunity as well as developing clinical applications in the field of antitumour therapy.

Mots-clés : stem cells,avid,antiviral immunity,transposable elements,tumour immunity
Projet ERC : OviChip (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems E ngineering
Entité participante : Université de Maastricht — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2318530.0 €

Despite being viewed as a simple transport conduit, the oviduct can determine a successful pregnancy and has a life-long impact on our health and wellbeing. Also called the fallopian tube, our understanding of tubal function remains limited, owing to the ethical limitations of human studies and the poor translations of animal studies to people. The objective of the OviChip project is to create the first full-scale 3D in vitro model of the oviduct that can address our knowledge gap. The oviduct selects healthy sperm and hosts the first embryonic cell divisions, setting the stage for fetal development and health in our adult life. Epigenetic factors can trigger genetic defects in these first moments that lead to unsuccessful pregnancies or ailments such as Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and schizophrenia. When oviduct function is compromised, such as through a Chlamydia Trachomatis infection, infertility can arise. A common recourse for prospective parents is in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, IVF success rates have plateaued at 30% for the past decade and concerns have emerged about the epigenetic impact IVF has on a child’s health. Therefore, to improve embryo viability and IVF outcomes or to avoid IVF by addressing tubal pathologies, our knowledge gap about oviduct function must be addressed. The OviChip project will develop biofabrication technologies to create a 3D model that respects the structural and biological elements of the oviduct from a meso to micron scale. The anticipated outcomes include: 1) the validation of new biofabrication approaches; 2) a better understanding of Chlamydia-associated tubal pathologies; 3) insight into the oviduct microenvironment with respect to sperm selection and epigenetic factors affecting embryogenesis. The OviChip will strive for unprecedented biomimicry and functional readout, setting new standards for tissue engineering. Most importantly, this will provide a unique avenue to fundamental answers that impact patients.

Mots-clés : 3d cell culture,tissue engineering,in vitro model,biofabrication,oviduct,reproduction,infertility
Projet ERC : AUTOMATHIC (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and Processes Engineering
Entité participante : Université de Maastricht — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

In silico models aim to capture and elucidate the complex and emergent interactions of biological systems, with the goal of expediting research and potential clinical translation. For example, ordinary differential equation (ODE) models of toxin and drug transport are being developed to bring safer therapies to chronic kidney disease patients. Despite recent progress, these cutting-edge ODEs only model transport in steady state and remain limited regarding the amount and complexity of dynamic transport mechanisms as it is often not clear which kinetic relation is most suitable. This limitation is due to the manual and labor-intensive approaches to construct the ODEs, which critically hinder their application in quantitative toxicity assessment in key industrial settings like drug development. In AUTOMATHIC, I will leverage and combine my expertise in mathematical modeling and machine learning to develop an integrated framework for automated ODE structure identification, parameter estimation and model evaluation, focusing on cell transport and signaling, which is the timely leap forward needed to create large dynamic models and transform the field. I will test and illustrate the capabilities of the developed framework by exploring the dynamics and regulation of proximal tubule (PT) toxin and drug transport. I will use the dynamic PT model to define novel therapeutic regimens that minimize toxin accumulation in combination with a state-of-the-art in vitro set-up to measure the essential time series data required for model calibration and validation. The anticipated outcomes of AUTOMATHIC are: 1) a next-generation, integrated framework for automated model structure identification and parameter estimation that will become the new standard for the creation and interrogation of large dynamic models of cell transport and signaling; 2) crucial knowledge about PT transport and metabolism; 3) a dynamic PT model to optimize nephrotoxicity protocols, drug dosing and screening.

Mots-clés : computational modelling automated model identification ordinary differential equations proximal tubule drug toxin interaction
Projet ERC : CHAINLAW (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Entité participante : Université de Maastricht — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

CHAINLAW will develop a novel conceptual and normative legal language for Global Value Chains (GVCs). GVCs are the interconnected trade structures that underlie the production of commodities and offering of services. While GVCs have been intensively theorised in the social sciences, they are largely unknown as legal categories. This is highly problematic when the law is starting to legislate or decide cases about supply-chain responsibility.  The core aim of CHAINLAW is to provide the concepts necessary for law to be able to develop appropriate and effective legislation for GVCs and appropriate approaches to supply-chain liability. It will do so by a combination of theoretical, doctrinal, empirical, technical, and normative analysis on the law of GVCs. To that end, CHAINLAW is ground-breaking by employing, first, a novel theoretical framework based on institutional theory that that sets up a threefold typology of GVCs allowing their qualifications as part of the company, contracts, and as a network simultaneously. CHAINLAW engages, secondly, in a multi-disciplinary descriptive analysis that traces this institutional understanding within various regulatory layers that govern GVCs that include formal law, private and technological regulation in GVCs. It proposes an analysis of the law on GVCs that integrates (i) legal doctrinal analysis of company and contract law and the legal debate on networks, (ii) socio-legal research on private regulatory documents that are set up by companies, contracting parties and within the GVC network, and (iii) socio-technical analysis of supply-chain technologies, as used by companies, commercial parties, and in networked processes. Third, CHAINLAW uses these insights to develop a strategy for how the law can responsively govern GVCs, in private law including liability and public law intervention. Such responsive law needs to integrate the different institutional dimensions of GVCs and address the various regulatory layers in GVCs.

Mots-clés : global supply chains,legal sociology,globalization and law,legal pluralism,institutions of private law
Projet ERC : RESILIENCE (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Prevention,  Diagnosis and T reatment of Human Diseases
Entité participante : Université de Maastricht — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

Common colloquial phrases like ‘gut feeling’ or ‘butterflies in my belly’ are not just idioms but reflect on the unique communication between gut and brain. The principal interface for this interaction is the autonomic nervous system — a largely subconscious system that manages bodily functions through a delicate balance between its two branches: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The vagus nerve is the main component of the latter. Diminished vagal tone resulting in increased sensitivity to pain is characteristic for many chronic pain disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). People with IBS have frequent and often severe abdominal pain. While its etiology remains poorly understood, IBS is now assumed to be caused by a malfunctioning of the gut–brain axis, often manifesting in sympathetico–vagal disbalance. However, no established therapies currently target this neurological disturbance. I hypothesize that restoring the sympathico–vagal disbalance through autonomic neuromodulation can be an important novel therapeutic target in IBS. To achieve this, I will use transcutaneous electrical vagus nerve stimulation via the auricular nerve. I will also develop a novel multimodal ‘vagal-autonomic neurosignature’ through combining actively and passively recorded biometrics and high-power field neuroimaging. This profile will allow identification of patients who could benefit from the new treatment approach. Simultaneously, I will investigate mechanisms of action in a comprehensive manner, using experimental models and tools I have previously developed. My project is foreseen to fundamentally change the therapeutic landscape of IBS and other pain disorders by providing high-quality clinical and mechanistic evidence for the efficacy of vagal neuromodulation. Identifying a neurological signature of patients that likely benefit from this approach would represent a major break-through in individualizing therapeutic efforts in IBS.

Mots-clés : irritable bowel syndrome,gut brain axis,vagus nerve,visceral pain,neuroimaging,multi modal biomarker
Projet ERC : TectoVision (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth System Science
Entité participante : GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : GFZ
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 490066.25 €

Tectonic ground observations from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) increasingly show that plate motions are non-steady. In some instances, these non-steady motions have been suspected as precursory motions to large earthquakes. However, the full spectral behaviour of transient plate motions, across minutes to decades, and kilometres to continental distances, is not well understood. Here, I propose a multi-pronged approach to study how faults and plates worldwide are moving in response to the geodynamical (interior) and geophysical fluid loading/tidal (exterior) boundary conditions. The major questions to address are: How transient is tectonic deformation over the minutes to decades timescale? What are the physical processes controlling the transient plate motions? To what extent are transient plate motions indicative of earthquake imminence? We will reveal the extent of non-linear tectonic motions by developing GNSS processing algorithms and applying these to data from the thousands of tectonic GNSS stations worldwide. With machine learning, numerical modelling, and laboratory experimentation, we will determine to what extent faults are modulated by variable regional tectonics and loading. We will develop kinematic and laboratory modelling strategies to better understand transient tectonic boundary conditions such as transient slab-pull at subduction zones. While analysis will span continental and global scales, we will also investigate the kinematics of faults and fault networks with dense GNSS observations at a higher resolution, using GNSS and seismic data from north-central Chile as well as from laboratory-scale analog modelling to track fault failure in unprecedented detail. In Greece, a world-class example of a seismically hazardous zone of fault-network complexity, we will set up a world’s first low-cost tectonic GNSS network to understand how microplate motions interact with the larger wavelength tectonic boundary conditions of the region.

Mots-clés : tectonic transients,gnss transients,plate boundary processes
Projet ERC : MEMPOP (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Texts and Concepts
Entité participante : Institute of Ethnology — Pays : Rép. Tchèque — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : EÚ AV ČR
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1492268.0 €

Political polarisation with rising support for populist movements is one of the most pressing global issues that we are facing worldwide. Yet, it is usually Central and Eastern Europe that are singled out for examples of unprecedented resurgences of populism, illiberal nationalism, and increasingly authoritarian forms of government. However, considering how divergent the so-called populist regimes of Central and Eastern Europe are, as well as the types of mnemonic populism they employ, ‘populism’ has become a label that is as empty as it is fashionable. To scrutinise the notion of Central and Eastern European populism and provide a novel perspective on this phenomenon, the project proposes a radical shift from the two units of analysis that are taken for granted in populism studies: the temporal unit that presumes Central and Eastern European populism is a post-socialist consequence; and the geographical unit that essentialises contemporary nation-states of Central and Eastern Europe. By adopting a bottom-up approach and investigating the everyday mnemonic practices and populist sentiments of ordinary people living in the transnational borderland periphery, namely, Burgenland, Galicia, Istria, and Silesia, this pioneering study moves away from the elite, top-down investigation of populism as well as the tendency to treat the state as the primary unit of analysis. Instead, it shifts the centre of focus to the post-imperial transnational borderlands where, in fact, both antagonistic memories and support for populist movements are arguably the strongest.

Mots-clés : collective memory,populism,transnational borderlands,political anthropology,ethnography,central and eastern europe
Projet ERC : EXTGROW (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Individuals, Markets and Organisations
Entité participante : London School of Economics and Political Science — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : LSE
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499740.0 €

The burden of local and global externalities from growth - such as pollution, congestion and climate change - falls mainly on the poorest across and within countries. EXTGROW will break new ground by offering novel insights into the magnitude and distribution of key externalities in low income countries, and the design of policies that balance the dual imperatives of shielding vulnerable populations and continued growth. It is distinctive in five ways: (1) georeferenced data from innovative sources; (2) frontier spatial equilibrium modelling and econometric methods; (3) aggregate effects of externalities at scale; (4) informing transport, trade and social protection policy design; (5) focus on inequality.  The proposed research comprises six projects across two themes which consider respectively the management of local and global externalities. The first theme considers how local externalities alter assessments of the aggregate and distributional impacts of trade facilitation, which is key for the design of transport and trade policies. The first project will examine how traffic pollution in Pakistan influences estimates of the gains from road building. The second assesses whether banning trade in waste products improves welfare when externalities from disposal are heterogeneous across space. The third estimates the impacts of public transit in Tanzania for alleviating congestion costs across income groups. The second theme studies how vulnerable populations respond to the global externalities from climate change and how policy can support these adaptive adjustments. The fourth project will draw on the rollout of a big-push anti-poverty program in Bangladesh to understand whether it can shield beneficiaries from climate shocks. The fifth studies how targeting of public adaptation investments in Pakistan should respond to firms’ private adaptation. The sixth will test whether sovereign natural disaster insurance in the Philippines induces moral hazard in adaptation.

Mots-clés : environment
Projet ERC : IMD (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Individuals, Markets and Organisations
Entité participante : Fundacja adeptow i milosnikow ekonomii — Pays : Pologne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1191561.0 €

Policymakers often introduce rules constraining transactions in individual markets—such as rent control—or even choose to distribute scarce resources by circumventing markets completely, as is frequently the case for health care or transit. Yet, traditional economic intuition opposes these sorts of policies because—unlike well-functioning markets—they introduce allocative inefficiency.  In this project, I will explore the optimal design of marketplaces in the presence of underlying inequalities between participants, developing a theory of Inequality-aware Market Design (IMD). My approach is to deploy a mechanism-design framework that identifies the optimal way to structure the market. In the baseline framework, the designer maximizes a welfare function whose welfare weights reflect her redistributive preferences induced by the inequalities between participants. Market participants may have private information both about their willingness to trade and their welfare weights.  Research will focus on testing the validity and scope of the main hypothesis: When inequalities are sufficiently pronounced and can be detected based on agents’ behavior in the market, it becomes optimal to sacrifice allocative efficiency to achieve a more desirable split of surplus. For example, optimal market designs may involve inefficient rationing.  Inequality-aware Market Design provides a novel way to address the growing problem of inequality in market-design settings. The redistributive objective distinguishes this theory from the traditional mechanism-design literature that has focused predominantly on efficiency and revenue as design goals; the focus on optimal allocation rules in a single marketplace complements the public-finance approach to redistribution through the tax system. IMD provides policy guidance by explaining whether and how policymakers concerned about inequality should resort to distortionary market interventions.
Projet ERC : MADPART (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Individuals, Markets and Organisations
Entité participante : École polytechnique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : X
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1479414.0 €

Market Design combines theoretical and empirical methods to design, analyze, and enhance real-world assignment markets. Many of these markets involve limited or no monetary transfers: civil servants (e.g., teachers), daycare placement for children, organ allocation for patients and so on. These markets often interact with external opportunities or themselves over time. For example, a patient in need of a kidney may have multiple treatment options, families must choose from various childcare alternatives, or public school teachers may request multiple transfers throughout their careers. However, we have a limited knowledge about how these multiple opportunities interact with the assignment procedure. Incorporating such options into the design of these markets is challenging due to data limitations as well as the complexity of the models. The MADPART project aims to address these challenges by understanding and improving the design of assignment markets in the presence of outside options. It has two primary objectives: 1) Investigating how outside options discourage market participation and undermine policy objectives, specifically exploring how participation-blind procedures contribute to these losses. 2) Identifying novel and innovative designs that enhance the functioning of these markets. This will be achieved through the combination of advanced theoretical models and cutting-edge empirical methods. The project will leverage unique and novel datasets from four assignment markets: the allocation of public school teachers to schools, children to public daycares, kidneys to patients, and social housing allocation. These markets exhibit dynamic interactions with external options. The outcomes of the project will give a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of assignment markets and potentially lead to significant policy innovations.

Mots-clés : market design,matching,participation,dynamics