Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : UseFool (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Study of the Human Past
Entité participante : Université de Bologne — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1943208.0 €

The UseFool project studies the knowledge and manipulation of nature applied to entertainment and fraud, as described in the Arabic technical literature dealing with the practice of charlatans and performers along the streets and in the markets. At the core of UseFool’s textual corpus are four Arabic handbooks composed between the 6th/12th and the 9th/15th century, combined with other sources, such as the handbooks for the inspector of the market that focus on artisanal impostures. The project will reconstruct the refined technical notions mastered by marginal social groups, showing how the lightly dismissed ‘popular knowledge’ was actually a form of ‘street science’. The project’s goal is to write a new chapter in the cultural, social, and material history of knowledge looking through the lens of Arabic technical literature. UseFool proposes a new interdisciplinary approach to its sources: this begins from a philological and textual analysis that focuses on their technical contents, expands to the reconstruction of the material dimension of the procedures through hands-on replication, and completes its all-round approach with the re-enactment of the performative and theatrical dimension entailed in the different forms of deception. In this way, UseFool will assess the interaction between the narrative component and actual practice in this textual tradition. The project will also map the sources of this technical literature on deception, in order to reconstruct lines of transmission in a long time span and across different cultures. The project reflects on the roots of the handbooks on entertainment and fraud in the antique and late antique heritage, with the aim of providing a searchable and organized structure to the lore of natural properties. UseFool also expands its horizon to the close relationship between the Arabic and the Latin Mediaeval technical sources, with the aim of deepening our understanding of their transmission in a longue durée perspective.

Mots-clés : history of knowledge arabo islamic material and artisanal culture arabic technical literature sleight of hand fraud replication and re enactment
Projet ERC : XPACE (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Fundamental Constituents of Matter
Entité participante : Ist-id associacao do instituto superior tecnico para a investigacao e o desenvolvimento — Pays : Portugal — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : IST ID
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1799990.0 €

Astrophysical shocks are among the most powerful particle accelerators in the Universe. Generated by violent interactions of supersonic, and often relativistic, plasma flows with the ambient medium, shock waves involve a complex and highly nonlinear interplay between the dynamics of flows, magnetic fields, and accelerated particles through mechanisms not yet fully understood. “What is the origin of cosmic rays?”, “What controls particle injection and the acceleration efficiency in collisionless shocks?”, “How is the physics of relativistic shocks modified by electron-positron pair production?”, “Can these mechanisms be studied in the laboratory?” These are long-standing scientific questions, closely tied to extreme plasma physics processes, and where the interplay between micro-instabilities and the global dynamics is critical. Advances in high-power lasers and particle beams are just now opening unique opportunities to probe the microphysics of shocks and particle acceleration in controlled laboratory experiments for the first time. Together with the fast-paced developments in fully-kinetic plasma simulations, computational power, and astronomical observations, the time is ripe to deploy a research program focused on particle acceleration in shocks that can transform our ability to address these questions. In the ERC grant XPACE, we aim to use first-principles massively parallel simulations and laboratory experiments to study the microphysics of non-relativistic and relativistic shocks, and to use data-driven techniques to develop multi-scale models that bridge the gap between the microphysics and the global dynamics. This project will build comprehensive models of the plasma processes that shape magnetic field amplification, particle acceleration, and radiation emission in shocks, with the goal of solving central questions in extreme plasma phenomena, opening new avenues between theory, computation, laboratory experiments, and astrophysical observations.

Mots-clés : plasma physics particle acceleration in shocks physics of collisionless shocks magnetic field amplification plasma micro instabilities laboratory astrophysics high power lasers particle in cell high performance computing machine learning
Projet ERC : INTERACT (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Human Mind and Its Compl exity
Entité participante : Université technologique de Dresde — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TU Dresden
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2000000.0 €

The quality and number of social interactions are among the best predictors of long-term health. So how do good social interactions arise? Social neuroscience has focused on a number of affective and cognitive functions as potential “building blocks” of social interaction. However, utilizing mainly simplistic and passive paradigms, we still fail at describing how actual, live social interactions emerge – and why they so often go awry, especially in people with mental disorders. Here, the concept of “building blocks” may have become an impediment to progress. Recent evidence suggests that in more complex experimental tasks, socio-affective and -cognitive processes are not simply stacked up, but are dynamically working together, just as the underlying neural networks seem to engage in lively interplay. INTERACT’s main objective is to understand how adaptive social interactions emerge, based on elucidating the interactions of networks and processes. INTERACT will take a major leap forward with a systematic and mechanistic, yet fully socially-interactive approach. Across six work packages, INTERACT will move from the comprehensive investigation of behavioral and neural interaction patterns of social affect and cognition in controlled lab settings to completely free social interactions in people’s everyday lives. Combining a novel experimental approach with dual neuroimaging (hyperscanning) and multisite neurostimulation, neuroeconomics, and multi-agent ecological ambulatory assessment, INTERACT will shift from a modular to a complex systems study of actual social interaction. It also provides steps towards specific and targeted interventions in people with social interaction difficulties. INTERACT aspires to bridge the gap between basic and applied research, developing an interdisciplinary model of social interactions that expands our knowledge and applies it to real-world settings.

Mots-clés : social neuroscience empathy theory of mind perspective taking prosocial behavior functional magnetic resonance imaging fmri ecological momentary assessment ema second person neuroscience transcranial magnetic stimulation tms mental training
Projet ERC : HiddenBio (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed Matter Physics
Entité participante : Université de Fribourg-en-Brisgau — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 877978.75 €

The ability to infer information about hidden degrees of freedom from time series would revolutionize experiments on single molecules, mesoscale assemblies, and tissues, as well as financial and climate systems. Hidden dynamics are often essential, as they reflect the approaching of a critical transition or describe its mechanism, e.g. the folding of a protein or RNA, or an abrupt shift in climate. With the project proposed here I plan to push our quantitative understanding of experiments, ranging from single-molecule spectroscopy to observations of migrating cells and developing tissues, to a new level, by exploiting how the properties of a high-dimensional landscape and current imprint onto the time ordering of projected states along individual trajectories. I will introduce functionals of projected paths that are easily inferred from data, and analyze their statistics and measure concentration by combining the theory of functionals of stochastic paths, concentration inequalities, and semiclassical analysis, and apply these to single-molecule force spectroscopy and plasmon ruler experiments, cell tracking, and Molecular Dynamics simulations. A distinctive characteristic of the project is the focus on non-asymptotic measure concentration, i.e. on “occurs with high probability” results that will be addressed for the first time in the context of non-equilibrium physics. Providing a new framework for interpreting experiments—using the information readily encoded in the data but inaccessible to existing approaches—the project will generate new knowledge that will resolve the long-standing debate about intermediates in DNA, RNA and protein folding, controversies about non converging dynamics of folded proteins, and shed new light on the operation of nanomachines and self-assembly far from equilibrium, as well as cell movements during tissue regeneration. It will lead to a paradigm-shift in soft matter and biophysics and may reshape actuarial and climate science.

Mots-clés : brownian functionals,occupation time,empirical density and current,large deviations in physics
Projet ERC : TOPOMORPH (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed Matter Physics
Entité participante : Donostia International Physics Center — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : DIPC
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1196917.75 €

Discovering new phases of matter in materials with superior properties is a central goal of condensed matter physics. Topological phases are a remarkable example: their robust and universal properties are key to groundbreaking technologies, notably robust quantum computation based on topological superconductors. However, our methodology to discover and classify topological materials relies heavily on crystal symmetry, thereby overlooking the largest, most affordable and scalable pool of materials - amorphous materials. Amorphous matter can outperform crystals, and is ubiquitous in technology: e.g. amorphous bismuth superconducts below 6K, a temperature 10,000 times larger than crystal bismuth, and amorphous silicon makes large-area solar cells affordable. This raises the fundamental question of whether we have overlooked new topological phases intrinsic to amorphous matter in materials with properties unparalleled by crystals. It is also unknown if any amorphous superconductor is topological. The core objective of this project is to harvest the superior properties of the vast pool of amorphous solids to find fundamentally distinct topological phases with high technological potential, via three specific goals: 1. Establish a predictive methodology to unlock the vast pool of amorphous matter to discover new topological materials. 2. Use this methodology to define unaccounted for amorphous topological phases with superior capabilities and no crystal analogues. 3. Use the above to predict the first amorphous topological superconductors. These goals will establish amorphous topological matter as a radically new direction to solve the challenge of finding novel platforms for topological superconductivity, where robust quantum computers can be based. This project will establish the necessary and currently absent theoretical background, guaranteeing a long-term impact on how we understand and discover new phases of matter with superior properties.

Mots-clés : topological insulators,topological metals,topological superconductivity,amorphous solids
Projet ERC : BladderWatch (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université Koç — Pays : Turquie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Millions of people worldwide suffer from lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD), which costs billions of dollars in medical expenses due to a lack of reliable continuous monitoring options. A vital measure of the course of LUTD is bladder volume, but measuring it accurately is difficult because of anatomical constraints in the pelvic region and body. The monitoring techniques used today employ tethered solutions and personnel with training. BladderWatch offers a wireless, compact, and conformal ultrasonic wearable device that is intended to close this gap by providing constant monitoring of bladder volume. BladderWatch provides continuous monitoring throughout daily life without the need for trained personnel and the potential for continuous monitoring, in contrast to existing methods that are limited in scope and necessitate hospitalization. With a flexible, gel-free form factor, high accuracy, and low power consumption, its design puts the comfort and safety of the patient first. By enabling early problem detection, enhancing patient outcomes, decreasing hospital readmissions, and eventually improving quality of life, this cutting-edge technology seeks to completely transform the management of LUTD. BladderWatch aims to overcome this major unmet clinical need in the management of LUTD by drawing on our earlier research in developing wearable ultrasound for implant monitoring and preliminary results. This project has the potential to translate to the real world, improve personalized care, and make the healthcare system more effective.
Projet ERC : LessToxCites (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
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 : 150000.0 €

Pest control is a central component of agriculture. However, insecticides and agriculture can have an impact on ecosystems. Regulations have been taken in Europe to ban some insecticides, based on the possible threat they pose to pollinators. There is an urgent, unmet need for species-specific insecticides that are safe for non-target organisms. In the proposed proof-of-concept project, we aim at demonstrating that peptides specifically designed against neurotransmitter receptors can be potent at pest species without affecting beneficial species. During the previous ERC-StG project, we developed tools to obtain pure mammalian neurotransmitter receptors. We have adapted those tools for insect receptors, which are the most important insecticide targets. We here propose to use insect receptors for the selection of species-specific peptides. The peptide libraries will be designed by computational-guided mutagenesis and screened by yeast display. Within the project, we aim to secure a solid IP position on the technology platform we will build, in order to maximise the likelihood of success for a commercial endeavour. We will explore the market opportunity and regulatory pathway for subsequent product development, in order to define a business model and implement early commercialisation steps.
Projet ERC : KidneyGenRx (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Sheba Medical Center — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a significant global health burden, affecting approximately 10% of the adult population worldwide. It is estimated that 10-20% of advanced CKD cases are caused by genetic kidney diseases, with renal cystic ciliopathies being the most common genetic contributors. In the Israeli Druze population, we have identified a novel homozygous mutation in the WDR19 gene as the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), particularly leading to renal failure in young adults. Currently, kidney failure caused by renal cystic ciliopathies can only be treated through renal replacement therapies, such as dialysis or transplantation, as no specific therapeutic interventions are available. This project aims to establish proof of concept that RNA editing can serve as a viable therapeutic strategy for genetically driven kidney failure. By employing Site-Directed RNA Editing (SDRE) through the action of Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes, we aim to correct the pathogenic WDR19 mutation (c.878G>A) at the RNA level. Our efforts will focus on optimizing guide RNA (gRNA) design and improving delivery mechanisms to maximize editing efficiency and therapeutic outcomes. The efficacy of this approach will be evaluated by its ability to rescue the disease phenotype in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived kidney organoids and further validated in murine models. If successful, this proof-of-concept project could pave the way for RNA editing-based therapies as a transformative treatment for genetic kidney diseases.
Projet ERC : optimizeDBS (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université Louis-et-Maximilien de Munich — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : LMU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used to treat neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. To date, DBS devices have been implanted in more than 300,000 patients worldwide. However, the efficacy of DBS therapy varies across patients, leaving a substantial number of patients without significant symptom alleviation. Optimizing therapeutic outcomes is highly desirable for the patients’ well-being as well as to reduce socio-economic burden of untreated disorders. One of the major impeding obstacles is the difficulty to precisely localize DBS targets in individual patient brains. Despite research into alternatives, the need for optimizing target localization for DBS remains unmet. The recent discovery of a hitherto unreported neural oscillation, enabled by my previous ERC Starting Grant DirectThalamus, is a promising solution to these challenges. The novel oscillation is spatially confined to the proximity of established DBS targets and could thus be used as a functional marker to improve localization and reduce non-responder rates. Funding from the ERC Proof of Concept aims to support essential preclinical steps towards establishing a functional marker of DBS targets that is associated with superior clinical outcomes. Those include optimization of detection algorithms, exploration of alternative access routes to deep brain electrophysiology and evaluation of the functional marker in larger cohorts. The goal of the project is to finalize preclinical work and prepare the implementation and funding of a clinical trial with the goal to realize the approach in clinical routines. By integrating cutting-edge neuroscience with medicine and fostering collaboration among researchers, clinicians and medical device specialists, the project aims to optimize therapy effectiveness, advance DBS technologies and pave the way for the next generation neuromodulation: personalized DBS treatment.
Projet ERC : ManuscriptAI (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : TNO
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 50721.0 €

Data on our cultural heritage hold enormous potential for Europe’s economic growth, for the construction of a more inclusive narrative of its past, and for the future collective identity of its citizens. The biggest obstacle to unlocking that potential is the current lack of integration and interoperability among the countless datasets describing the holdings of European heritage institutions. ManuscriptAI will help remove that obstacle for the data on Europe’s medieval written heritage, manuscripts. Premodern handwritten books are a pivotal category of our heritage, yet they are currently underrepresented in large research infrastructures and their catalog data locked in digital silos. ManuscriptAI will employ machine learning algorithms to construct a model capable of facilitating the automatic integration of distinct data sources describing medieval manuscripts, under a predefined set of machine-understandable vocabulary terms. The model will be made accessible through a human engagement interface and tested during a pilot in a real-world setting. The project will fill two important desiderata: (1) a user-friendly AI-tool to allow heritage professionals to convert their metadata on manuscripts to Linked Open Data, and (2) a dedicated ontology for the description of medieval manuscripts to complete CIDOC-CRM extensions for the cultural heritage domain. The project, building on the achievements of the ERC-2018-stg PASSIM, is supported by a strong consortium of domain experts, heritage professionals and institutes, and (inter)national research infrastructures. ManuscriptAI will advance the EU’s agenda for digital heritage. The tool will help democratise datafication, making Linked Open Data accessible to small heritage institutions and actively involving them in its development. This integration tool for data on medieval manuscripts will be a huge step forward for the digital preservation and usability of Europe’s unique handwritten heritage.
Projet ERC : RaPPIC (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université Louis-et-Maximilien de Munich — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : LMU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Photonic integrated circuits enable trapping of photons, the fundamental particles of light, in a waveguide on a chip to allow their manipulation, similar to electrons in classical integrated circuits. While photonic circuits offer superior performance in speed and energy efficiency, their application in computing has so far been limited by their programmability. Electronic integrated circuits are based on transistors that until recently have become both smaller and more energy-efficient according to Moore's law. Photonic circuits on the other hand are controlled through phase modulators that typically rely on the same materials used in the electronic industry but suffer from fundamental limitations, which so far have hindered the implementation of dedicated scalable photonic computing hardware. We propose to explore an innovative and efficient phase modulation technology utilizing the novel material platform of atomically thin semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides that promises to outperform conventional technologies in all key performance metrics, including energy consumption, modulation efficiency and optical losses. One promising integrated photonics platform to host these novel devices is represented by laser-written waveguides that allow for a rapid design cycle, thereby drastically reducing timescales provided by conventional semiconductor foundries. This ERC Proof of Concept project aims at leveraging atomically thin semiconductors to implement programmable photonic integrated circuitry.