Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : DUST (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth System Science
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2297288.58 €

Astrophysical observations of young stellar objects and their disks, as well as studies of the components of primitive meteorites, concur to demonstrate that many of the mineralogical, chemical and isotopic characteristics of the first planetesimals to form in the protosolar nebula (PSN) were established during the first few hundreds of thousands of years of the solar system. However, the chemical and physical processes that transformed the dust and gas of the parent molecular cloud into the dust that formed the bodies of the solar system remain largely unknown. This is exemplified by the fact that all the rocks that are known in the Solar system exhibit, from the micrometer to the bulk scales, isotopic compositions for the major element oxygen that cannot result from the “classical” evaporation, condensation, melting crystallization processes observed in terrestrial rocks and in experiments. The aim of the DUST proposal is to make decisive advances in our understanding of the origin of dust in the PSN by discovering, from experiments in plasmas simulating the PSN, the gas-solid reactions that produced the oxygen isotope anomalies in solids and transferred them to all the precursors of primitive meteorites. This work will be complemented by the development of a new analytical technique to explore the mineralogical and chemical composition of hundreds of thousands of sub-micrometer-sized grains in the matrix of the most primitive chondrites, in search of preserved PSN dust. In addition, systematic isotopic studies of silicon in this matrix will be developed to better constrain the extent of kinetic processes during the so-called condensation sequence of the hot PSN gas. Finally, a condensation code including, for the first time, the various isotopic fractionations and the non-equilibrium effects due to variations in condensation rates, will be developed and used to predict the expected relationships between the mineralogy and isotopic composition of condensed dust.

Mots-clés : oxygen isotopes,condensation,primitive meteorites,protosolar nebula,isotopic anomalies
Projet ERC : GeoMorpho (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and R egeneration
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2921360.0 €

During development, cell movements and shape changes give rise to complex 3D forms. What underlies the fidelity of morphogenesis? To date, much emphasis has been placed on understanding how genes and local mechanics drive cell shape changes and tissue scale morphogenesis. However, the roles of the geometric properties of a tissue and its physical boundaries, their size, dimensionality, curvature and overall shape have recently emerged as important yet overlooked features of morphogenesis. This interdisciplinary project will unravel how geometry and geometric feedbacks constrain lower scale cell mechanics and how they contribute to tissue morphogenesis. We will study the interplay between geometry and active mechanochemical processes in two systems where physical boundaries constrain and guide morphogenesis. In Drosophila embryos, polarized tissue flow and a wave of tissue invagination depend on interactions with the surrounding egg envelope called the vitelline membrane. This envelope imposes tissue curvature, forms a rigid adhesive substrate, and confines the diffusion of molecules within the extra-embryonic fluid. Likewise, formation of the wing during metamorphosis in the pupa is associated with a dramatic expansion of the tissue surface within a rigid pupal sac forcing a complex tissue packing without compromising flatness in adulthood. The mechanics of tissue flow and expansion are unknown. How flows within these constraints give rise to folding needs to be characterized. These two systems share key similarities: their dynamics depend on the flow, expansion and folding of tissue layers, and 3D deformations are driven by internal active stresses and external constraints from rigid boundaries. In both cases we will dissect the mechanochemical active processes driving cell and tissue deformations and address how geometrical constraints impact cell and tissue mechanics. This project will thus reveal how tissue shape affects the processes from which shape emerges.

Mots-clés : tissue mechanics,tissue geometry,drosophila morphogenesis
Projet ERC : TESorOVA (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and R egeneration
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2495021.0 €

Sex determination is the process that allows the bipotential gonad to develop into a testis or an ovary, thus initiating the sex fate of the individual. In mammals, the supporting cells are the first to adopt a sexual identity and then direct the differentiation of the other gonadal cell types. Despite their key role, we still do not know how these important cells acquire their identity. To address this question, we will use spatial transcriptomics and lineage tracing analysis in combination with mouse models deficient for the RSPO1/WNT/ß-catenin signaling pathway as a we found that absence of Rspo1 impairs supporting cell differentiation. Ovarian determinants are still unknown in most vertebrates, but we have recently identified that an isoform of WT1 is the ovarian determinant, in mice. We will use genetic engineering in chicken and zebrafish to test whether this conserved isoform has a similar function in other sex determination systems. Notably, WT1 also interacts with WTAP, a factor involved in m6A methylation of RNA, a mechanism that regulates sex determination in drosophila. Our preliminary results suggest that m6A methylation plays a key role in the sex differentiation of supporting cells. To address how this mechanism regulates sex determination, we will determine the kinetics of RNA methylation during gonadal development followed by a functional analysis using mouse models deficient in Wtap and Mettl3, the catalytic unit of m6A methylation. Using transcriptomic analysis of methylated RNA, we will determine how the male and female programs are affected by lack of m6A methylation. We will then use genetic engineering to prevent methylation of critical genes to demonstrate the role of this mechanism in regulating sex determination in mice. This work will reveal unexplored aspects of sexual differentiation and lay the foundations for new diagnoses and better medical management for the 50% of patients affected by idiopathic differences in sex development.

Mots-clés : sex determination,ovarian determinant,gonadal development
Projet ERC : ReGroStaFT (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Mathematics
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1974119.5 €

This proposed project aims to develop rigorous renormalization group arguments, based on ideas from analysis and probability, and to apply them to problems in statistical physics, probability, and fluid mechanics. The emphasis is on physical phenomena which exhibit behavior across a large range of length scales, often with erratic and irregular behavior on small scales and possibly diverging correlation lengths. The idea is to gradually coarse-grain the system using ideas from the quantitative theory of stochastic homogenization, to obtain a macroscopic description which is simpler and thus more tractable, but also accurately describes the behavior of the system. Models that display anomalous diffusion, intermittent and/or multifractal behavior are of particular interest, examples of which can be found in simplified models of turbulent fluids and Euclidean field theory.

Mots-clés : renormalization group,stochastic homogenization,euclidean field theory
Projet ERC : SMART (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Entité participante : UK Research and Innovation — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : UKRI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 860625.0 €

Across the animal kingdom, closely-related species can differ in their learning ability, as can different individuals of the same species, but the underlying causes of these differences are poorly understood. Differences in learning could be due to different structural and functional properties of learning circuits which in turn result from different patterns of gene expression. However, identifying homologous learning circuit neurons in different species for comparing their synaptic connectivity, cellular-resolution functional properties and transcriptomes is challenging in larger brains.  We have identified a strain of Drosophila melanogaster larvae that learns faster (after fewer training trials) than others and a closely related Drosophilid species that learns faster than the D. melanogaster strains. We will use this tractable genetic model system to compare learning circuits in faster/better and slower/worselearner strains and species, in particular, their synaptic resolution connectomes; cellular-resolution activity maps; and transcriptomes. We will then screen the differentially expressed genes to identify those that improve learning and determine the way in which they affect connectivity and functional properties of learning circuits.  This project will reveal the architectural features of learning circuits that enhance learning and memory, as well as the molecules that can transform slow/worse- into fast/better-learners and their mechanisms of action. Uncovering the underlying structural, functional and genetic causes of variability in learning will not only have a major impact on neuroscience but could also potentially inspire the development of better architectures and algorithms for artificial intelligence and provide new avenues for treating learning and memory deficits.

Mots-clés : connectomics functional imaging of neural activity transcriptomics learning enhancing learning drosophila larva mushroom body comparison of structure and function across strains and distinct drosophilid species
Projet ERC : CITRON (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and Communication Engineering
Entité participante : Université Paris-Saclay — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 511742.69 €

Electron and Ion beams have become indispensable tools in surface and materials science. Many applications rely on extreme miniaturization, like in nanostructuring and doping, which imposes to control the energy, the number and the locations of electrons or ions at the nanometric level. The CITRON project aims at achieving breakthroughs in focused ion and electron beams, exploiting monochromaticity in the low-energy domain (eV-keV) to reach such a fine level of control of the sources of charged particles. In contrast with standard tools, the proposed developments rely on the ionization of a neutral atomic species and on the simultaneous production, detection and control of both the ion and the electron. Such a detection in coincidence yields correlated information on both particles that can be used to improve the beam properties, like the deterministic knowledge of the creation of the charged particles, and the correction of their trajectories in real time. Using this novel technique, which I have recently demonstrated the feasibility with my group, I propose to develop three innovative prototypes: • 1) A focused ion beam using feedback control with unprecedented focused properties. I will used it to realize semiconductor circuit-editing at the (sub-)nm scale. • 2) A deterministic source of (potentially) any type of ion for controlled implantation at the nm level. I will use it for on-demand doping of quantum devices. • 3) A high-resolution electron-energy-loss microscope with precise knowledge of the electron energy and the position on the sample. I will use it to realize both imaging and vibrational spectroscopy for surface analysis. The synergy between the three prototypes is based on atomic beam laser excitation to create a monoenergetic beam of charged particles, with energy and position controlled by correlation between oppositely charged particles. All will require dedicated optical columns designs and fast time and position sensitive detectors.

Mots-clés : microscopy,photoionization,correlation,coincidence,feedback control,time and position sensitive detectors,rydberg atoms,surface science,circuit edit,vibrational spectroscopy,focused ion beam,implantation,electron microscope
Projet ERC : EDISON (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : CIBERNED
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 41028.0 €

This project aims to the development of communication at the nanoscale and to advance in the understanding of how abiotic micro/nanoparticles can communicate between them and how micro/nanoparticles can communicate with living systems. In this context, an approach for establishing communication at the nanometric level is to mimic how nature communicates. Chemical or molecular communication, based on transmitting and receiving information by means of molecules (chemical messengers) is one of the communication forms used by living organisms. Moreover, many swarm systems found in nature communicate by modifying the environment using a concept called stigmergy. The advantages of nanoparticles that communicate each to another are immediately obvious; they constitute the basis of a dynamically interacting network eventually resulting in certain autonomy of the system. If we would be able to raise the bases for communication between micro/nanoparticles and between micro/nanoparticles and cells, the potential future applications in the biomedical field, environmental research and industry technology are almost unlimited. The project will establish firm handholds for the use of nanoparticles able to communicate from one to another and with cells in different applications. The project will trace, optimise and adapt all single steps from the idea to its implementation into applicable final systems with the aim of targeting issues that are difficult to address with conventional single particles. The project is divided into three WPs. The first work package (WP1) will create the basic elements for chemical communication. In a more complex situation, WP2 will use the tools of WP1 to develop systems able to establish communication between nanoparticles and living systems. Finally, WP3 will generate nano-systems integrating gated nanoparticles and up-to-date electronics to develop new communication structures.
Projet ERC : QPRESSE (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed Matter Physics
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 : 161941.25 €

Materials under high pressure exhibit exciting topics such as the superconductivity (SC) of hydrogen-rich molecular compounds (super-hydrides) in the long standing search of room-temperature SC. While pressures above 100 GPa can be routinely created in a diamond anvil cell (DAC), the tiny sample volume almost precludes the use of non-optical detection schemes to probe the sample properties. The project idea is to integrate nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in the DAC and use the optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of the NV electronic spin to image the Meissner effect. The project relies on our first results where we engineered NV centers on the tip of a diamond anvil and adapted quantum sensing methods to detect pressure-induced magnetic and SC transitions under tens of GPa. By controlling the stress distribution to achieve hydrostatic conditions that preserve the NV symmetry, we have extended this method above 100 GPa, reaching the pressure range of existence of SC in super-hydrides. These materials need to be synthetized at high pressure by laser heating which induces strong inhomogeneities with micron scale. We will use of widefield NV magnetometry to locally image the Meissner effect and the flux trapping in the SC grains whereas the conventional measurements average over the entire DAC geometry and therefore discard all local information. By operating NV sensing on a synchrotron beamline, we will determine the crystal structure of the super-hydrides after the synthesis in the DAC. We will finally couple the spatial detection with noise spectroscopy to measure the temporal current fluctuations in the SC. These methods will be implemented in parallel on Hg-doped cuprates as testbed systems. In a complementary task we will investigate the implementation of NV-based microscale nuclear magnetic resonance in the DAC. Our goal will be to exploit the sensitivity of a dense ensemble of NV centers to detect the chemical shift of the nuclear spins in the sample.

Mots-clés : superconductivity,high pressure,diamond,nv center,quantum sensing
Projet ERC : HYMOTOX (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems E ngineering
Entité participante : Université d'Exeter — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2485038.0 €

Hymenoptera (sawflies, wasps, ants, and bees) are an environmentally and economically important order of insects that carry out vital ecosystem services in their role as parasitoids, predators, and pollinators. However, while performing this function, hymenopteran species may come into contact with potentially harmful xenobiotics in the environment such as pesticides. We have recently demonstrated that the impact of pesticides on the health of managed bee species is profoundly influenced by the capacity of a small group of cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) to convert these compounds to less toxic forms. However, for the vast majority of the >150,000 hymenopteran species the role of these enzymes as determinants of insecticide sensitivity remains unknown. The overarching objective of the HYMOTOX project is to address this critical knowledge gap by exploiting the natural diversity within the Hymenoptera, in combination with new advances in genomics, synthetic biology and protein modelling, to understand how variation in these biotransformation enzymes across an entire order of insects impacts sensitivity to pesticides. Our analyses will establish the extent to which insecticide-detoxifying P450s are shared across hymenopteran diversity, identify critical structural and functional determinants of P450-mediated insecticide metabolism, and develop a framework for predicting hymenopteran sensitivity to insecticides based on genomic information.  The project will progress beyond the state of the art by providing: i) a step-change advance in our understanding of the molecular determinants of insecticide sensitivity in the Hymenoptera, ii) a new paradigm for pesticide risk assessment that moves beyond the use of data derived from a few managed model species, iii) powerful knowledge, tools and resources that can be used to predict and avoid negative pesticide-insect interactions and in the development of next-generation insecticides that are safe to beneficial insects.

Mots-clés : beneficial insects,p450 enzymes,insecticides
Projet ERC : RE_LOCATE (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative B iology : from Genes and Genomes to S ystems
Entité participante : Antoni van Leeuwenhoekziekenhuis — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : AVL
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2493875.0 €

In mammalian genomes, the enhancers (E) that control a promoter (P) are often scattered over tens to hundreds of kb, and frequently interdigitate with Es that control other nearby Ps. How such apparently haphazard linear arrangements can result in specific gene regulation is a major puzzle. Three main constraints are thought to be involved. First, biochemical compatibility of Es and Ps may ensure that not all Ps respond equally strongly to a given E. Second, chromatin loops may either facilitate or curb particular E-P interactions. Third, Es and Ps are controlled by the local landscape of chromatin modifications. Much is still to be learned about these constraints and their interplay. To unravel the logic of this linear arrangement of Ps and Es, it is necessary to systematically alter the positions of Es, Ps, and elements that control looping. So far, no efficient method has been available for this purpose. We propose to develop and apply RElocate, a scalable, broadly applicable technology to transplant selected DNA elements to hundreds of alternative positions within a ~2 Mb region, and track the functional consequences. We will employ RElocate in combination with a high-throughput combinatorial reporter assay to systematically study how biochemical compatibility may dictate how Es "choose" and activate the correct target P(s). Furthermore, we will adapt RElocate to precisely map how loop extrusion shapes E-P interactions, by insertion of hundreds of unidirectional “road blocks” throughout a locus. Finally, we will use the method to fine-map the repressive/activating chromatin landscape of selected regions at high resolution, and elucidate how Es and Ps may respond differently when inserted throughout this landscape. This work will reveal how the ordering and spacing of regulatory elements along the genome contributes to optimal gene regulation, and will yield a powerful perturbation tool with many applications in genome biology and human genetics.

Mots-clés : regulatory elements method development enhancer promoter interactions linear genome organization chromatin looping large scale perturbations