Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : IniReg (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Cellular, Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Entité participante : Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : KNAW
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1307544.21 €

Injury poses a key threat to all multicellular organisms. However, while some animals can fully restore lost body parts, others can only prevent further damage by mere wound healing. Which molecular mechanisms determine whether regeneration is induced or not is an unsettled fundamental question. I will use whole body regeneration, one of the most fascinating biological processes, as an experimental paradigm to identify the mechanisms of regeneration initiation. As a model organism I will employ planarians, flatworms with extraordinary plasticity that regenerate every piece of their body within a few days. I will mechanistically dissect how these animals rapidly induce an efficient regeneration program in response to tissue loss and define the key switches that determine whether a wound regenerates. Combining the astonishing regenerative abilities of planarians with new technologies I will first comprehensively describe the molecular changes occurring during the amputation response. Second, with a powerful novel assay developed in my lab - dormant fragments - that allows for the first time the separation of wounding from tissue loss in a single planarian, I will analyze the dynamics of the earliest regenerative events. Third, I will functionally characterize the regeneration-initiating signals and their target pathways combining in vivo RNAi and phenotypic assays. Fourth, with a regeneration-deficient planarian species, I will test whether the identified key regulators act as network nodes that can be utilized to rescue regeneration. Importantly, using vertebrate paradigms, such as the regenerating zebrafish fin, I will investigate conserved roles of these network nodes and validate general principles of regeneration initiation. This project will not only uncover conserved mechanisms of regeneration initiation but will also identify the switches that must be levered to induce regeneration in non-regenerating animals.

Mots-clés : tissue regeneration,animal models
Projet ERC : ILC_REACTIVITY (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy
Entité participante : Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Inserm
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1899375.0 €

Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are a newly described family of hematopoietic cells that lack antigen-specific receptors but can be activated to promptly produce large amounts of cytokines (including interleukin (IL)-5, -13, -17A, -22, TNF-α and interferon-γ) and thereby contribute to the immediate, first-line immune defense against viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. ILCs include the previously described natural killer (NK) cells and have a similar 'natural' effector function which is immediately available during immune responses and prior to that of adaptive immunity. Three groups of ILC (ILC1, ILC2, ILC3) have been described that share biological activities of T helper (Th)1, Th2 and Th17/22 subsets and CTL. ILCs are active during both fetal and adult life and play important roles in the homeostasis of mucosal and non-mucosal tissues. Nevertheless, how ILCs are integrated into ongoing immune responses remains unclear and this knowledge is a prerequisite for harnessing the clinical potential of these immune effector cells. This proposal will investigate critical checkpoints that can regulate ILC reactivity for immune responses in humans and mice. The four proposed objectives will be addressed using a combination of cutting-edge technologies including innovative mouse models that can report on ILC biology in vivo, single cell transcriptional and functional analysis of diverse circulating and tissue human and mouse ILC subsets, ‘digital’ pathogen-dependent ILC activation approaches and computational analysis of large immunological datasets from healthy, normal human individuals. Collectively, these complementary studies will shed new light on the biological determinants which condition ILC reactivity in humans and mice. Understanding how the threshold of ILC responsiveness is set prior to and during immune responses will have important implications for disease intervention.
Projet ERC : SOFT-PHOTOCONVERSION (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Entité participante : University of Limerick — Pays : Irlande — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499043.75 €

Innovations in solar energy conversion are required to meet humanity’s growing energy demand, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. All solar energy conversion devices harvest light and then separate photoproducts, minimising recombination. Normally charge separation takes place at the surface of nanostructured electrodes, often covered with photosensitiser molecules such as in dye-sensitised solar cells; DSSCs. However, the use solid state architectures made from inorganic materials leads to high processing costs, occasionally the use of toxic materials and an inability to generate a large and significant source of energy due to manufacturing limitations. An alternative is to effect charge separation at electrically polarised soft (immiscible water-oil) interfaces capable of driving charge transfer reactions and easily “dye-sensitised”. Photoproducts can be separated on either side of the soft interface based on their hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, minimising recombination. SOFT-PHOTOCONVERSION will explore if photoconversion efficiencies at soft interfaces can be improved to become competitive with current photoelectrochemical systems, such as DSSCs. To achieve this goal innovative soft interface functionalisation strategies will be designed. To implement these strategies an integrated platform technology consisting of (photo)electrochemical, spectroscopic, microscopic and surface tension measurement techniques will be developed. This multi-disciplinary approach will allow precise monitoring of morphological changes in photoactive films that enhance activity in terms of optimal kinetics of photoinduced charge transfer. An unprecedented level of electrochemical control over photosensitiser assembly at soft interfaces will be attained, generating photoactive films with unique photophysical properties. Fundamental insights gained may potentially facilitate the emergence of new class of solar conversion devices non-reliant on solid state architectures.

Mots-clés : soft interfaces
Projet ERC : LaunTeNaBio (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering
Entité participante : Biovecblok srl — Pays : Italie — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 15625.0 €

Insect-Borne Diseases (IBDs) affecting animals and plants are an increasing problem burdening the economy and the social conditions of many countries. The growing concern is that climatic changes, globalization and increase in travel and trade have fostered the spread of insect populations in new geographic areas and with them many IBDs. It is now established that Europe must face an increasing risk of vector-borne outbreaks. Mosquito-borne infections affect millions of people all over the world every year, with severe implications for public health and a devastating economic impact in endemic countries. Phytophagous insects transmit diseases to plants of agronomic importance, seriously damaging food production and heavily compromising the well-being of local populations, especially in countries whose economy is mainly based on agriculture. Solving or alleviating IBDs is a global challenge, but effective and safe tools are not yet available. The main approach is based on the use of insecticides to reduce or eliminate the insect-vector populations, but this approach has dual limitations of undesired effects on the environment and insect development of resistance to these substances. Effective strategies are needed to overcome these drawbacks, contributing to solutions in a practical and forward-looking way. Two main aspects for an innovative control strategy are the reduction of costs for anti-IBDs campaigns, and the attraction of potential users to promote technology transfer and implementation. The proof of concept proposed by LaunTeNaBio is the realization of a Launch Test of Natural Biocides starting from an innovative product containing symbiotic yeasts (KysBio) to prevent IBDs of health or agricultural significance. LaunTeNaBio intends to accomplish the objective by supporting a rising spinoff by the marketing of KYsBio through businesses.

Mots-clés : natural biocides,insect borne diseases,symbiotic control,killer yeasts
Projet ERC : MECH-EVO-INSECT (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Entité participante : University of Cologne — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 676354.81 €

Insects are extremely efficient feeders that impact on the world's ecosystems and our agriculture with their feeding capabilities. Insects evolved diverse mouthpart types during ~400 million years of evolution which allowed them to conquer many food recourses. How this feeding system evolved, in particular the transition from one mouthpart type to the other, is unclear. My idea represents the first extensive assessment of insect head mechanics applying latest semi-automatic workflows and engineering approaches to unravel the factors driving insect mouthpart evolution and performance. Specifically, I will study the mechanical evolution from early biting-chewing to piercing-sucking mouthparts and head types, considering recent as well as fossil species. In contrast to earlier studies, I aim to quantify mechanical evolution for the whole head which has never been attempted before for insects. This will be done using engineering software to simulate insect feeding, followed by 3D shape analysis and finally evolutionary modelling using algorithms based on likelihood models of evolutionary processes. The project is therefore positioned at the interconnection between experimental biology, engineering and biological simulation. The results will impact our understanding of insect evolution, with the project identifying which mechanical factors made insects such extraordinarily successful feeders, and why their mouthparts evolved into so many different types. To achieve an integrative understanding, my idea will furthermore take into account ecological, evolutionary and life history factors. Understanding the mechanical head evolution has never been tried before in a systematic way at this scale. However, my project idea also delivers results for industry: Since modern engineering methods are used, the results can be readily exported to the industry for the design of lighter robot arms with better lifting capabilities, thus advancing robotic techniques.

Mots-clés : insects,morphology,evolution,functional morphology,finite element analysis,multibody dynamics analysis,statistical shape modelling
Projet ERC : MECH-EVO-INSECT (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Entité participante : University of Bonn — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 823536.19 €

Insects are extremely efficient feeders that impact on the world's ecosystems and our agriculture with their feeding capabilities. Insects evolved diverse mouthpart types during ~400 million years of evolution which allowed them to conquer many food recourses. How this feeding system evolved, in particular the transition from one mouthpart type to the other, is unclear. My idea represents the first extensive assessment of insect head mechanics applying latest semi-automatic workflows and engineering approaches to unravel the factors driving insect mouthpart evolution and performance. Specifically, I will study the mechanical evolution from early biting-chewing to piercing-sucking mouthparts and head types, considering recent as well as fossil species. In contrast to earlier studies, I aim to quantify mechanical evolution for the whole head which has never been attempted before for insects. This will be done using engineering software to simulate insect feeding, followed by 3D shape analysis and finally evolutionary modelling using algorithms based on likelihood models of evolutionary processes. The project is therefore positioned at the interconnection between experimental biology, engineering and biological simulation. The results will impact our understanding of insect evolution, with the project identifying which mechanical factors made insects such extraordinarily successful feeders, and why their mouthparts evolved into so many different types. To achieve an integrative understanding, my idea will furthermore take into account ecological, evolutionary and life history factors. Understanding the mechanical head evolution has never been tried before in a systematic way at this scale. However, my project idea also delivers results for industry: Since modern engineering methods are used, the results can be readily exported to the industry for the design of lighter robot arms with better lifting capabilities, thus advancing robotic techniques.

Mots-clés : insects,morphology,evolution,functional morphology,finite element analysis,multibody dynamics analysis,statistical shape modelling
Projet ERC : Synth (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : KU Leuven — Pays : Belgique — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : KUL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2458656.0 €

Inspired by recent successes towards automating highly complex jobs like programming and scientific experimentation, the ultimate goal of this project is to automate the task of the data scientist when developing intelligent systems, which is to extract knowledge from data in the form of models. More specifically, this project wants to develop the foundations of a theory and methodology for automatically synthesising inductive data models. An inductive data model (IDM) consists of 1) a data model (DM) that specifies an adequate data structure for the dataset (just like a database), and 2) a set of inductive models (IMs), that is, a set of patterns and models that have been discovered in the data. While the DM can be used to retrieve information about the dataset and to answer questions about specific data points, the IMs can be used to make predictions, propose values for missing data, find inconsistencies and redundancies, etc. The task addressed in this project is to automatically synthesise such IMs from past data and to use these to support the user when making decisions. It will be assumed that the data set consists of a set of tables, that the end-user interacts with the IDM via a visual interface, and the data scientist via a unifying IDM language offering a number of core IMs and learning algorithms. The key challenges to be tackled in SYNTH are: 1) the synthesis system must ”learn the learning task”, that is, it should identify the right learning tasks and learn appropriate IMs for each of these; 2) the system may need to restructure the data set before IM synthesis can start; and 3) a unifying IDM language for a set of core patterns and models must be developed. The approach will be implemented in open source software and evaluated on two challenging application areas: rostering and sports analytics.

Mots-clés : data mining,artificial intelligence,intelligent data analysis,relational learning,data science,probabilistic programming,machine learning,graphical models,constraints,automating data science
Projet ERC : QIP (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Dutch Research Council — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : NWO
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

Integer programming (IP), i.e. linear optimization with integrality constraints on variables, is one of the most successful methods for solving large scale optimization problems in practice. While many of the base IP problems such as the traveling salesman problem (TSP) or satisfiability (SAT) are NP-Complete, IPs with tens of thousands of variables are routinely solved in just a few hours by current state of the art IP solvers. The main goal of this proposal is to develop a quantitative theory capable of explaining when and how well different IP solver techniques will work on a wide range of instances. Here we will study many of the principal tools used to solve IPs including branch & bound, the simplex method, cutting planes and rounding heuristics. Our first direction of study will be to develop parametrized classes of instances, inspired by the structure of realistic models, on which branch & bound and the simplex method are provably efficient. The second research direction will be to develop alternatives to ad hoc rounding heuristics and cutting plane selection strategies with provable guarantees and provide their applications to important classes of IPs. Lastly, we will explore the power and limitations of IP techniques in the context of algorithm design by comparing them to powerful techniques in theoretical computer science and analyzing their worst-case performance for solving general integer programs. While the main thrust of this proposal is theoretical, it will be complimented by an experimental component performed in collaboration with well-known experts in computational IP, both to gain valuable insights on the structure of real-world instances and to validate the effectiveness newly suggested approaches. The proposed research is designed to make breakthroughs in our quantitative understanding of IP techniques, many of which have long resisted theoretical analysis.
Projet ERC : PoInt (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Synergy grants)
Entité participante : Technical University of Munich — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TUM
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 4846135.0 €

Integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix is a prerequisite for the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. A hallmark of integrins is that ligand binding requires an “integrin activation” step affecting the shape of the entire molecule is induced by the integrin tail- and actomyosin-binding adaptor proteins talin and kindlin. In a second step, integrins cluster and assemble a gigantic signaling hub, where they integrate biochemical and biophysical signals to achieve their functional output. Due to the lack of combined expertise and suitable technologies, the key steps of integrin activation are still largely unknown and the underlying physical principles still need to be identified. We propose a multifaceted approach combining quantitative single molecule measurements, reconstitution of minimal and cellular adhesion complexes as well as development of multicellular structures and organoids. We propose four aims. In our first aim we will unravel how forces are propagated through the talin-integrin tail bonds and how force-induced integrin shape changes affect signaling. In the second aim we will use novel force spectrometers to determine energy landscapes and the high-resolution structure of fibronectin-integrin complexes. In our third aim we will use in vitro model membranes to test how integrin tail-binding adaptors, cortical F-actin and specific domains of integrins induce integrin clustering. With our fourth aim we will unravel how integrins integrate chemical and biophysical signals during organ development. Using the proposed synergistic approach, we will decipher fundamental principles of cell adhesion biology. Furthermore, our research will result in a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms regulating adhesion signaling that will allow us to develop strategies to curb adhesion functions without completely blocking integrins, thus limiting the enormous side effects of current interventions.

Mots-clés : cell junctions,cell adhesion,cell communication and the extracellular matrix
Projet ERC : PoInt (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Synergy grants)
Entité participante : Max Planck Society — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : CO-PI
Acronyme de l'entité : MPG
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2371065.0 €

Integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix is a prerequisite for the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. A hallmark of integrins is that ligand binding requires an “integrin activation” step affecting the shape of the entire molecule is induced by the integrin tail- and actomyosin-binding adaptor proteins talin and kindlin. In a second step, integrins cluster and assemble a gigantic signaling hub, where they integrate biochemical and biophysical signals to achieve their functional output. Due to the lack of combined expertise and suitable technologies, the key steps of integrin activation are still largely unknown and the underlying physical principles still need to be identified. We propose a multifaceted approach combining quantitative single molecule measurements, reconstitution of minimal and cellular adhesion complexes as well as development of multicellular structures and organoids. We propose four aims. In our first aim we will unravel how forces are propagated through the talin-integrin tail bonds and how force-induced integrin shape changes affect signaling. In the second aim we will use novel force spectrometers to determine energy landscapes and the high-resolution structure of fibronectin-integrin complexes. In our third aim we will use in vitro model membranes to test how integrin tail-binding adaptors, cortical F-actin and specific domains of integrins induce integrin clustering. With our fourth aim we will unravel how integrins integrate chemical and biophysical signals during organ development. Using the proposed synergistic approach, we will decipher fundamental principles of cell adhesion biology. Furthermore, our research will result in a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms regulating adhesion signaling that will allow us to develop strategies to curb adhesion functions without completely blocking integrins, thus limiting the enormous side effects of current interventions.

Mots-clés : cell junctions,cell adhesion,cell communication and the extracellular matrix