Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : STAGING-ABJECTION (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Cultures and cultural production
Entité participante : Kadir Has University — Pays : Turquie — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : KHAS
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1429460.0 €

Nation-building processes comprise not only of creating a collectivity but also of defining its borders through abjection. This research will analyse how theatre has served the processes of national abjection, and how abjected minorities have used theatre to negotiate the politics of belonging in Turkey and its diasporas. Employing a rigorous transdisciplinary theoretical and methodological framework, the project will study the key role theatre has played in the constitution of “the Turkish nation” and its Others. Staging National Abjection covers the period from the rise of European-style theatre in the Ottoman Empire in the mid-nineteenth century to contemporary productions. Using both mainstream and alternative archives and ethnographic research methods, the project will investigate topics of vital importance that have received limited academic attention: theatre productions involving Armenians after the Genocide; negotiation of sexuality and national identity in queer dramas; Islamic theatre in Turkey and its European diasporas; Sephardic Jewish theatre in Turkey and diasporic productions in Israel and Europe; and Alevi theatre in Turkey and Europe. These case studies will bring different perspectives to the issue of national abjection, and provide insights into the political economy of contemporary Turkish theatre responding to pressures of a conservative neoliberal government. Using the case of Turkey as a vantage point, this project will ask critical questions of broader theoretical significance about the role of theatre in regulating the politics of belonging in the nation-state, and about the relationship between artistic performance and the everyday performance of citizenship. This research will illustrate the political tensions that define Turkey and its growing diasporas, advance our understanding of diasporic and refugee theatre in Europe, and provide ground-breaking insights into cultural politics in post-Imperial contexts and illiberal democracies.

Mots-clés : theatre,turkey,performance,nation building,nationalism
Projet ERC : TransfoPneumo (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions
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 : 1896501.26 €

Natural genetic transformation, first discovered in Streptococcus pneumoniae by Griffith in 1928, is observed in many Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This process promotes genome plasticity and adaptability. In particular, it enables many human pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus or Neisseria gonorrhoeae to acquire resistance to antibiotics and/or to escape vaccines. For natural transformation to occur, bacteria must develop a highly regulated physiological state called competence, during which a multiprotein machinery, designated as the transformasome, is specifically expressed. The transformasome drives the uptake of extracellular DNA and its subsequent integration into the bacterial genome. This intricate system can be divided into three functional entities: the transformation pilus, the DNA entry pore and the recombination apparatus. The architecture and function of the transformasome remains largely elusive. We propose to dissect the structure and function of this system in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. We will combine four complementary approaches to attain our goal: (1) Molecular biology and biochemical studies in vitro (2) Structural biology on purified proteins or protein complexes using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (3) Structure-function studies in vitro and in vivo (4) Structural biology in situ using cryo-tomography. Overall, we believe this ambitious project will provide major insights to understand the molecular basis of bacterial transformation, a fundamental process in bacterial physiology. In addition, this project may provide new strategies to reduce pneumococcal adaptation during infection.

Mots-clés : membrane protein complexes
Projet ERC : RESIDE (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy
Entité participante : Karolinska Institutet — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : KI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1498972.0 €

Natural killer (NK) cells contribute to tumor and antiviral immunity, regulate immune homeostasis, and impact on pregnancy success. These functions are in many instances performed in peripheral organs. Recent pioneering research in mouse models has revealed the existence and self-maintenance of tissue-resident (TR) NK cells. Although similar mechanisms are assumed to occur in humans, this has never been formally demonstrated and with our diverse infection history and active microbiota the human setting is considerably more complex. Me and my group have recently identified and characterized presumed TR NK cells in human liver and uterus. Here, we seek to challenge the prevailing concept from the mouse of how TR is formed, regulated, and maintained by taking advantage of world-unique surgical procedures for addressing lymphocyte tissue-residency, such as uterus transplantation and a novel liver surgery creating a human parabiosis situation, combined with single-cell technologies. In these settings, we will determine the detailed characteristics of subsets of NK cells permanently residing in tissues. With the different time windows as well as tissue sites presented by the clinical procedures, we will also assess kinetics of NK cell tissue repopulation. Furthermore, we aim to provide mechanistic insight into NK cell recirculation patterns by studying tissue-draining lymph fluid. Finally, we will study functional regulation of NK cell tissue-residency based on data from targeted single-cell RNAseq across multiple human tissues. The relevance of suspected and novel factors in regulating TR NK cells will be studied in a 3D microvasculature model combined with siRNA-based silencing of candidate genes. TR immune cells are poised to instantly deliver immune responses upon tumor and pathogen challenges while also being drivers of inflammation and autoimmunity in peripheral organs. Thus, this proposal has the potential to provide ground-breaking new knowledge in these areas.

Mots-clés : natural killer cells,tissue immunology,human immunology,tissue residency
Projet ERC : BALANCED LETHALS (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Entité participante : Leiden University — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499869.0 €

Natural selection is supposed to keep lethal alleles (dysfunctional or deleted copies of crucial genes) in check. Yet, in a balanced lethal system the frequency of lethal alleles is inflated. Because two forms of a chromosome carry distinct lethal alleles that are reciprocally compensated for by functional genes on the alternate chromosome form, both chromosome forms – and in effect their linked lethal alleles – are required for survival. The inability of natural selection to purge balanced lethal systems appears to defy evolutionary theory. How do balanced lethal systems originate and persist in nature? I suspect the answer to this pressing but neglected research question can be found in the context of supergenes in a balanced polymorphism – a current, hot topic in evolutionary biology. Chromosome rearrangements can lock distinct beneficial sets of alleles (i.e. supergenes) on two chromosome forms by suppressing recombination. Now, balancing selection would favour possession of both supergenes. However, as a consequence of suppressed recombination, unique lethal alleles could become fixed on each supergene, with natural selection powerless to prevent collapse of the arrangement into a balanced lethal system. I aim to explain the evolution of balanced lethal systems in nature. As empirical example I will use chromosome 1 syndrome, a balanced lethal system observed in newts of the genus Triturus. My research team will: Reconstruct the genomic architecture of this balanced lethal system at its point of origin [PI project]; Conduct comparative genomics with related, unaffected species [PhD project]; Determine gene order of the two supergenes involved [Postdoc project I]; and Model the conditions under which this balanced lethal system could theoretically have evolved [Postdoc project II]. Solving the paradox of chromosome 1 syndrome will allow us to understand balanced lethal systems in general and address the challenges they pose to evolutionary theory.

Mots-clés : balanced polymorphism,linkage map,genomics,phylogeny,supergene
Projet ERC : CLIMAHAL (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth system science
Entité participante : Spanish National Research Council — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CSIC
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1979112.0 €

Naturally-emitted very short-lived halogens (VSLH) have a profound impact on the chemistry and composition of the atmosphere, destroying greenhouse gases and altering aerosol production, which together can change the Earth´s radiative balance. Therefore, natural halogens possess leverage to influence climate, although their contribution to climate change is not well established and most climate models have yet to consider their effects. Also, there is increasing evidence that natural halogens i) impact on the air quality of coastal cities, ii) accelerates the atmospheric deposition of mercury (a toxic heavy metal) and iii) that their natural ocean and ice emissions are controlled by biological and photochemical mechanisms that may respond to climate changes. Motivated by the above, this project aims to quantify the so far unrecognized natural halogen-climate feedbacks and the impact of these feedbacks on global atmospheric oxidizing capacity (AOC) and radiative forcing (RF) across pre-industrial, present and future climates. Answering these questions is essential to predict if these climate-mediated feedbacks can reduce or amplify future climate change. To this end we will develop a multidisciplinary research approach using laboratory and field observations and models interactively that will allow us to peel apart the detailed physical processes behind the contribution of natural halogens to global climate change. Furthermore, the work plan also involves examining past-future climate impacts of natural halogens within a holistic Earth System model, where we will develop the multidirectional halogen interactions in the land-ocean-ice-biosphere-atmosphere coupled system. This will provide a breakthrough in our understanding of the importance of these natural processes for the composition and oxidation capacity of the Earth´s atmosphere and climate, both in the presence and absence of human influence.

Mots-clés : chemistry climate interactions,oxidation capacity of the atmosphere,climate
Projet ERC : STEREOPOL (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : University of Birmingham — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1621878.84 €

Nature has evolved the ability to create large and complex molecules in which the 3-dimensional orientation of the atoms is critical to their performance. The essential nature of stereochemistry to the structure, and hence performance, of biopolymers makes it reasonable to expect such aspects of synthetic materials to be equally important. This area has however received little study, which is partially a consequence of the significant challenges of creating large macromolecules with well-defined stereochemistry at each repeat unit. This proposal is inspired by nature, to design polymers with exquisite structural control in which the behaviour and properties of the resultant materials will be dependent on their stereochemistry. Specifically, it will address the limitations in synthetic methodology for creating complex, functional stereocontrolled polymers and demonstrate the true potential of harnessing polymer materials with controlled stereochemistry. We will achieve this by focussing on the development of new methodologies for stereocontrolled ring-opening polymerisation of cyclic esters such that we will be able to readily access stereoregular, functional polymers, including achieving unique sequence controlled materials. While one focus will be on utilising renewable resources and green polymer synthesis methodologies, we will also take the first steps to demonstrating the utility of these novel materials by investigating the effects of stereochemistry on the bulk properties of materials as well as its ability to drive crystallisation-driven self-assembly and stereo-responsive nanoparticle behaviour for delivery applications. Achieving these goals promises to take polymers into the 3rd dimension and lead to significant technological breakthroughs in nanotechnology, medicine and sustainable materials among other areas of key future technological importance.

Mots-clés : stereocontrolled ring opening polymerisation,sequence controlled polymers,crystallisation driven self assembly
Projet ERC : 100 Archaic Genomes (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Entité participante : Max Planck Society — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : MPG
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2350000.0 €

Neandertals and Denisovans, an Asian group distantly related to Neandertals, are the closest evolutionary relatives of present-day humans. They are thus of direct relevance for understanding the origin of modern humans and how modern humans differ from their closest relatives. We will generate genome-wide data from a large number of Neandertal and Denisovan individuals from across their geographical and temporal range as well as from other extinct hominin groups which we may discover. This will be possible by automating highly sensitive approaches to ancient DNA extraction and DNA libraries construction that we have developed so that they can be applied to many specimens from many sites in order to identify those that contain retrievable DNA. Whenever possible we will sequence whole genomes and in other cases use DNA capture methods to generate high-quality data from representative parts of the genome. This will allow us to study the population history of Neandertals and Denisovans, elucidate how many times and where these extinct hominins contributed genes to present-day people, and the extent to which modern humans and archaic groups contributed genetically to Neandertals and Denisovans. By retrieving DNA from specimens that go back to the Middle Pleistocene we will furthermore shed light on the early history and origins of Neandertals and Denisovans.

Mots-clés : genomics,ancient dna,neandertal,denisovan,population genetics
Projet ERC : NZINATECH (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : Universidad Publica de Navarra — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499625.0 €

Near-zero-index (NZI) media is a family of photonic nanostructures (continuous media and/or metamaterials) characterized by a near-zero refractive index. As the refractive index approaches zero, spatial and temporal variations of the electromagnetic field decouple, giving rise of a regime of qualitatively different light-matter interactions. Therefore, NZI nanostructures exhibit a unique optical response, where a concept as basic as the geometry plays an essentially different role. Examples of the exotic wave phenomena include transmission through deformed waveguides, cavities whose resonant frequency does not depend on the geometry of their external boundary, nonradiating modes in three-dimensional open cavities, violation of effective medium theories, anomalous dispersion, nonperturbative nonlinear optics, to name a few. These unconventional effects have a high potential for technological innovation. However, the crucial challenge of transforming these basic phenomena into practical devices has not yet been addressed. In NZINATECH, we will address this challenge pushing forward the basic theoretical research on NZI media to the stage of NZI nanophotonic technologies. To this end, we have outlined an ambitious research plan that includes the experimental demonstration of NZI devices in different material platforms, including polar dielectrics, doped semiconductors and silicon photonics. This multidisciplinary research plan will combine the fields of NZI media, metamaterials, quantum optics, electron-beam spectroscopy, thermal emission and silicon photonics. Our results will also open new areas of research for NZI media, including nontrivial interactions of NZI optical modes with free-electrons and small quantum systems. Finally, by examining fundamental questions in limiting cases (i.e., extreme constitutive parameters) we will provide a better understanding of the quantum theory of light-matter interactions.

Mots-clés : near zero index media,metamaterials,nanophotonics
Projet ERC : AMPLIPORE (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : TU Dresden — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TUD
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2363125.0 €

Negative gas adsorption (NGA) is a new, counterintuitive and paradoxical phenomenon, for the first time reported by my group in 2016: Normal solid materials with significant outer or inner surface area always take up gas when the pressure in the surrounding reservoir is increased (adsorption). NGA networks instead react at a certain point in the opposite direction: They release gas upon external pressure increase, leading to an overall pressure amplification in a closed system. Comparable phenomena have never been reported before. What is so exciting about NGA? We have a unique material in hand, that counteracts to an external force by force amplification. So far NGA has solely been observed in one of our new coordination polymers, featuring a colossal selfcompression associated with a mesopore-to-micropore transformation. Gas pressure amplifying materials could lead to important innovations in gas releasing rescue systems, pneumatic control systems (production, transportation), micropumps, microfluidic devices, pneumatic actuators, and artificial lungs. A fundamental understanding of the physical mechanisms, structures, and thermodynamic boundary conditions is an essential prerequisite for any industrial application of this counterintuitive phenomenon. Combining strong synthetic methodologies with advanced analytical techniques, AMPLIPORE will elucidate the characteristic molecular and mesoscopic materials signatures as well as thermodynamic boundary conditions of NGA phenomena. We will elaborate a generic NGA-materials concept to tailor the pressure amplification and explore temperature and pressure ranges at which NGA can be applied. Developing tailormade instrumentation for kinetic investigations of NGA will give fundamental insights into the intrinsic and macroscopic dynamics of crystal-to-crystal transformations for applications in micropneumatic systems.

Mots-clés : porous materials,metal organic frameworks,coordination networks,adsorption,x ray diffraction,stimuli responsive materials
Projet ERC : SCHISTO_PERSIST (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Entité participante : University of Glasgow — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1490270.0 €

Neglected tropical diseases affect over 1.4 billion people and cause a greater disease burden than HIV/AIDS. Despite extensive mass drug administration (MDA) schistosomiasis remains a major public health issue, with a socio-economic impact second only to malaria amongst parasites. I will evaluate novel strategies and new technologies to monitor the impact of MDA programmes, to identify threats to MDA effectiveness, and enhance control of schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically I will address five ambitious questions: 1. What is the best way to monitor schistosome infections and drug efficacy? 2. Has drug resistance been selected for? 3. What is the potential for drug resistance to spread? 4. What other factors drive transmission? 5. What other factors affect parasite clearance? These aims are feasible through innovative interdisciplinary methods including a) state-of-the-art DNA-chip diagnostics, b) novel application of genetic analysis to differentiate surviving worms from juveniles, c) use of drug screening technology to measure in vitro drug susceptibility, providing the first quantifiable in vitro phenotype without using mammals, d) combination of molecular techniques with mathematical models to elucidate the potential spread of phenotypes and e) an unparalleled interdisciplinary approach deducing host effects in non-clearers. These methods and technologies have not previously been used to assess MDA effectiveness for any helminth infection. My pioneering research will enable a comparative assessment of how transmission is affected by untreated adults and pre-school children, individuals with heavy infections, coinfections, and drug coverage. This will elucidate optimal strategies to reduce transmission hotspots. My results will improve monitoring protocols and inform policy makers on how best to treat schistosomiasis. I will fill a critical global health knowledge gap, with findings transferable across a range of MDA controlled diseases.

Mots-clés : schistosomiasis,drug resistance,mass drug administration