Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : SPEEDER (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : Chalmers University of Technology — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 55000.0 €

In this project we develop a new approach, using the conducting polymer poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) to apply electrical fields (EFs) for guidance of cells. EFs are recognised as important guidance cues in the development and life cycle of human tissues. However, better tools are urgently needed to support experiments and applications. By developing supercapacitive PEDOT electrodes, able to support an ionic flow over extended time frames, we here target the most widely studied clinical application for EF stimulation, accelerated wound healing. Our technology facilitates the transfer from petri dish to device by offering an alternative driving process to metals. In addition, we establish a strategy where electrodes can be recharged in situ, by using intermediate periods of current flow in the reverse direction and below the threshold for triggering a biological response. Ionic flow driven by PEDOT electrodes can, in contrast to metals, be reversed with any small ion present in the electrolyte. The project will be driven in several steps: after proving the principle in scratch assays in vitro, we will proceed to three dimensional culture systems. The versatility of our concept will allow more complex wound healing models to be studied including human ex-vivo models. We will employ microfluidics to make high-throughput screening possible, thereby efficiently mapping EF parameters and especially the effects of sub-threshold stimulation. The ultimate goal at the end of the project is to transfer technology in the form of a polymer based wound-dressing for accelerating repair, the SPEEDER. In summary, we present a new concept which greatly facilitates EF stimulation in vitro and shows great promise for clinical use. Studies will better reproduce the biological situation, provide data essential for understanding this important effect, and point the way for how it can best be exploited for future applications.

Mots-clés : conducting polymers,pedot,electromigration,wound healing,tissue engineering
Projet ERC : NEQuM (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Fundamental constituents of matter
Entité participante : Institute of Science and Technology Austria — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ISTA
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1498420.0 €

In this project we propose to build the theory of non-ergodic quantum matter – isolated quantum systems that avoid thermal equilibrium. To this end, we will study the established non-ergodic phases, search for new phases, and seek to understand their common properties and dynamics. Recently non-ergodic systems that avoid the fate of thermal equilibrium were realized experimentally in quantum simulators. Specific examples include many-body localized phases, glassy and kinetically constrained models, and systems with weak ergodicity breaking. Freedom from the laws of equilibrium statistical mechanics opens up a host of possible unexpected behaviors prohibited in equilibrium. The ability of non-ergodic systems to stay quantum on longer timescales has potential for practical applications. This calls for the development of a general theory of non-ergodic quantum systems. In order to develop such theory, in this project we will seek to address the questions: What are the possible ways to avoid attaining thermal equilibrium? What are the universal properties of such non-ergodic systems? What is the nature of their long time dynamics and their steady state? How can we put their properties to use? The PI will leverage his expertise in studies of many-body localization to lead a coherent research program aimed at (i) describing universal properties of highly-excited eigenstates and their entanglement; (ii) developing new methods to simulate non-ergodic dynamics and reveal its experimental signatures; and (iii) using such quantum phases for many-body state preparation and optimal control. The theory delivered by this project will ultimately provide useful insights into quantum thermalization, thus establishing the first steps towards a general theory of non-equilibrium quantum systems. On the practical side, such theory will guide the experimental search for non-ergodic phases, and open the door to their application in more efficient quantum information storage and processing.

Mots-clés : quantum thermalization,many body localization,entanglement,tensor networks,quantum quenches,quantum dynamics,quantum many body state preparation,quantum optimal control,quantum scars,level statistics,quantum glasses,kinetically constrained models,density matrix renormalization group
Projet ERC : ViDaR (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ETH Zurich
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

In this project we will build ViDaR, an interface for integrating R with ViDa. R is among the leading data analytics environments (the leading open-source), and is heavily used by data and domain scientists and data analysts in their daily routine. ViDa, developed by an ERC grant, is the state-of-the-art query engine for raw data. It relies on data virtualization, i.e., abstracting data out of its form and manipulating it regardless of the way it is stored or structured, to enable efficient, scalable, querying and manipulation of data in-situ, at their raw format and shape. Integration of ViDa with R will have a positive impact on both systems. For ViDa, it will provide capabilities for data exploration, visualization, mining and analytics, as well as powerful libraries for numerical and statistical computing, thereby substantially growing its user base. For R, it will increase its scale and performance, and reduce the time and effort spent by data scientists on tedious data management tasks. The resulting solution will serve as a proof-of-concept of ViDa’s performance, capabilities, and flexibility for integration with any third-party software that needs to manage vast amounts of raw data.

Mots-clés : data management,data analytics,raw data,vida
Projet ERC : SNABO (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Aalto University — Pays : Finlande — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 149838.0 €

In this project, we develop a microwave nanobolometer invented in the ERC Starting Grant ”Single-Photon Microwave Devices: era of quantum optics outside cavities (SINGLEOUT)” into a proof of concept and carry out a market analysis and partnering with the relevant industrial players in the field. For a successful proof of concept, a self-calibrating function will be implemented into the nanobolometer, providing us with an extremely sensitive and easy-to-use detector for microwave radiation. The new device will be designed, fabricated, and measured. Due to the lack of spectrum analysers operating at cryogenic temperatures, our self-calibrating nanobolometer will provide a must-to-have piece of equipment for R&D facilities working on cryoelectronics and quantum technology. Thus licensing agreements with companies working on cryostats and cryosystems will be pursued. The key performance indicators of our nanobolometer such as detection bandwidth, dynamics range, and sensitivity will be compared with the existing room-temperature technology and a potential market share for our nanobolometer will be mapped. Especially, the opportunities for commercial systems already utilizing cryogenic components such as superconducting filters at cellular phone base stations will be investigated. During this ERC PoC project, also other business opportunities will be studied and possibilities for founding a spin-out company will be actively sought for.

Mots-clés : condensed matter physics,bolometer,microwave,spectrum analyser,superconductor,cryoelectronics
Projet ERC : CollectiveDynamics (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Cellular, Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Entité participante : European Molecular Biology Laboratory — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : EMBL
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2153310.0 €

In this proposal, we study collective signaling oscillations during embryonic patterning. Signaling oscillations during vertebrate embryo segmentation are governed by a molecular oscillatory machinery referred to as segmentation clock (Palmeirim et al., 1997). The segmentation clock is linked to periodic activity of the Notch, Wnt and Fgf pathway in presomitic mesoderm (PSM) cells (period~2 hours in mouse embryos). Importantly, PSM cells display complex, collective synchronization and, as a result, wave-like activity patterns (phase waves) sweep periodically along the embryonic axis. We have previously shown that phase waves are an emergent and collective phenomenon in PSM cells (Tsiairis and Aulehla, 2016). Conceptually, this proposal builds on our previous discovery that the relative timing between Wnt/Notch oscillations is critical for proper mesoderm patterning (Sonnen et al., 2018). What are the principles underlying the emergence of collective synchronization and how do PSM cells decode relative timing of signalling oscillations? As outlined in this proposal, we are now in a unique position to address these fundamental questions in novel ways. Importantly, we have established an entrainment strategy that enables, for the first time, precise experimental control of oscillation dynamics (Sonnen et al., 2018). Our strategy is to further expand the entrainment approach, including the future use of optogenetics, and also combine it with our expertise in quantitative, multi-scale analysis of signalling dynamics and functional, genetic perturbations. A central aim of this ERC proposal is to build on discoveries made in versatile in vitro assays that we developed and to address their significance in vivo. To this end, we propose a novel line of research using the medaka fish model. We will entrain and challenge collective synchronization in vivo to address how signalling oscillations are integrated with growth dynamics to yield robust embryonic patterning.
Projet ERC : REMINISCENCE (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
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 : 1999705.0 €

In wave imaging, we aim at characterizing an unknown environment by actively probing it and then recording the waves reflected by the medium. It is, for example, the principle of ultrasound imaging, optical coherence tomography for light or reflection seismology in geophysics. However, wave propagation from the sensors to the focal plane is often degraded by the heterogeneities of the medium itself. They can induce wave-front distortions (aberrations) and multiple scattering events that can strongly degrade the resolution and the contrast of the image. Aberration and multiple scattering thus constitute the most fundamental limits for imaging in all domains of wave physics. However, the emergence of large-scale sensors array and recent advances in data science pave the way towards a next revolution in wave imaging. In that context, I want to develop a universal matrix approach of wave imaging in heterogeneous media. Such a formalism is actually the perfect tool to capture the input-output correlations of the wave-field with a large network of sensors. This matrix approach will allow to overcome aberrations over large imaging volumes, thus breaking the field-of-view limitations of conventional adaptive focusing methods. It will also lead to the following paradigm shift in wave imaging: Whereas multiple scattering is generally seen as a nightmare for imaging, the matrix approach will take advantage of it for ultra-deep imaging. Besides direct imaging applications, this project will also provide a high-resolution tomography of the wave velocity and a promising characterization tool based on multiple scattering quantification. Based on all these advances, the ultimate goal of this project will be to develop an information theory of wave imaging. Throughout this project, I will apply all these concepts both in optics (for in-depth imaging of biological tissues), ultrasound imaging (for medical diagnosis) and seismology (for monitoring of volcanoes and fault zones).

Mots-clés : wave propagation,complex media,aberrations,multiple scattering,matrix formalism,information theory,ultrasound imaging,optical coherence tomography,seismology
Projet ERC : KIDSNGROUPS (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Individuals, Markets and Organisations
Entité participante : University of Würzburg — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 592600.55 €

In-group favouritism and out-group discrimination are ubiquitous phenomena, threatening social cohesion in diverse societies. Notwithstanding growing urgency, we lack a systematic understanding of the causes and consequences of in-group out-group biases, or to put it more broadly, of social cohesion. KIDSNGROUPS will open frontiers to advance our knowledge on social cohesion by focusing on the early life cycle, and thus the most formative years in people’s life. Its main objective is to break ground regarding the causal origins of in-group out-group preferences. For this purpose, it will study the role of the family (vertical socialization) and other socialization processes like imitation and learning (horizontal socialization) in shaping children’s in-group out-group preferences. Moreover, it will shed novel light on the economic relevance of social cohesion. To the extent that in-group favouritism and out-group discrimination prevent children from helping each other, they may hamper children’s welfare, and thus the future of diverse societies. Striving to provide a comprehensive picture of the origins and the impact of social cohesion, KIDSNGROUPS will draw upon methods from the frontier of various research fields. In particular, it will propose an innovative combination of i) experimental methods to study in- and out-group phenomena, ii) administrative records to get access to large-scale, non-selected samples and hands on high quality measures of children’s human capital, and iii) state-of-the-art econometric techniques to infer causality. In so doing, KIDSNGROUPS will open up new avenues for any science interested in people’s behaviour. In summary, KIDSNGROUPS will not only advance in a creative and significant manner an active research area, it will also impact public policy by generating essential insights on one of the most urgent topics on Europe’s political agenda.

Mots-clés : diverse society,early childhood,in group favouritism,out group discrimination,vertical and horizontal socialization
Projet ERC : KIDSNGROUPS (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Individuals, Markets and Organisations
Entité participante : University of Konstanz — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1407391.45 €

In-group favouritism and out-group discrimination are ubiquitous phenomena, threatening social cohesion in diverse societies. Notwithstanding growing urgency, we lack a systematic understanding of the causes and consequences of in-group out-group biases, or to put it more broadly, of social cohesion. KIDSNGROUPS will open frontiers to advance our knowledge on social cohesion by focusing on the early life cycle, and thus the most formative years in people’s life. Its main objective is to break ground regarding the causal origins of in-group out-group preferences. For this purpose, it will study the role of the family (vertical socialization) and other socialization processes like imitation and learning (horizontal socialization) in shaping children’s in-group out-group preferences. Moreover, it will shed novel light on the economic relevance of social cohesion. To the extent that in-group favouritism and out-group discrimination prevent children from helping each other, they may hamper children’s welfare, and thus the future of diverse societies. Striving to provide a comprehensive picture of the origins and the impact of social cohesion, KIDSNGROUPS will draw upon methods from the frontier of various research fields. In particular, it will propose an innovative combination of i) experimental methods to study in- and out-group phenomena, ii) administrative records to get access to large-scale, non-selected samples and hands on high quality measures of children’s human capital, and iii) state-of-the-art econometric techniques to infer causality. In so doing, KIDSNGROUPS will open up new avenues for any science interested in people’s behaviour. In summary, KIDSNGROUPS will not only advance in a creative and significant manner an active research area, it will also impact public policy by generating essential insights on one of the most urgent topics on Europe’s political agenda.

Mots-clés : diverse society,early childhood,in group favouritism,out group discrimination,vertical and horizontal socialization
Projet ERC : NCI-CAD (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy
Entité participante : University of Würzburg — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2499340.0 €

Incidences of sexually transmitted diseases (STI) have increased during the past decades with a concomitant rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent cause of bacterial STIs. These infections often remain asymptomatic and are consequently not diagnosed and treated, resulting in the subsequent development of severe chronic pathologies and an enormous economic burden for health systems. The reason for the asymptomatic nature of chlamydial infection is currently unknown. My laboratory made the intriguing observation that exposure of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), a major subset of innate immune cells and cause of inflammation and tissue damage, to C. trachomatis causes PMNs to become unresponsive to a broad range of stimuli, including Chlamydia themselves. We identified a chlamydial secreted protease (CPAF) to be the bacterial effector responsible for preventing the activation of the non-stimulated PMNs. Chlamydia not only survive PMN exposure but can also surprisingly exploit the PMN itself as host cell for replication. Unexpectedly, the chlamydial secreted deubiquitinase Cdu1 is required for intracellular adaptation of Chlamydia, indicating that PMNs may posses antibacterial cell-autonomous defence strategies based on the host ubiquitin system. It remains completely unclear how PMNs are converted to host cells for obligate intracellular bacteria. This proposal therefore aims to comprehensively investigate the mechanism of PMN reprogramming from a short-lived major immune effector cells to a host cell for Chlamydia replication and development. PMN paralysis offers an unexpected explanation for the asymptomatic nature of these infections. Furthermore, chlamydial factors involved in PMN reprogramming provide prime targets to rearm the patient’s immune response to effectively resolve Chlamydia infections.

Mots-clés : chlamydia trachomatis infection,neutrophil,asymptomatic infection,infection model,metabolism,metabolic reprogramming,cell autonomous defence
Projet ERC : MIMICH (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Entité participante : Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : MFT
Type d'entité : Organismes publics (hors enseignement & recherche)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 224206.25 €

Increasing numbers of older, obese women with poor cardiometabolic health (dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, hypertension) are embarking on pregnancy. One in six of these high-risk pregnancies are complicated by an indicated preterm birth due to fetal growth restriction (FGR) or fetal overgrowth and/or maternal complications including gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. The cumulative cost of neonatal care, childhood and adult disease in individuals born preterm has been estimated at £1-3 billion pa in the UK. Older age, obesity, dyslipidaemia and hypertension are major risk factors for placental disease leading to FGR and pre-eclampsia. Conversely, hyperglycaemia is associated with fetal overgrowth and is therefore treated with hypoglycaemic agents such as metformin during pregnancy. In women with hyperglycaemia and concurrent risk factors for placental disease, the impact of metformin on placental function, fetal growth, and postnatal outcomes is not known. To address this evidence gap, I will perform an RCT which will incorporate a novel method of tracking fetal growth and investigate the impact of metformin on maternal and infant metabolic health at 12 months. The impact of metformin on gene expression and placental function will be assessed in placentas from women exposed (or not) to metformin. In the wider group of women with poor cardiometabolic health, I will map maternal disease biomarkers and fetal growth to molecular placental disease subtypes who have developed a range of pregnancy complications. The goals of this work are to improve pregnancy outcomes in women with poor cardiometabolic health by, (1) producing evidence to personalise the prescription of metformin (2) refining current diagnostic criteria to better reflect placental disease molecular subtypes, (3) understanding the associations between cardiometabolic health and placental disease such that drugs to treat hyperglycaemia, hypertension, dyslipidaemia can be tested in the right women.

Mots-clés : pregnancy,metabolic syndrome,metformin,obesity,hypertension,pre eclampsia,diabetes,fetal,growth restriction,placenta