Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : ChemBioAP (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions
Entité participante : Max Planck Society — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : MPG
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 85449.11 €

The interest on autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved process in eukaryotes, has enormously increased in the last years, since autophagy is involved in many diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Autophagosome formation is the key process in autophagy. Despite extensive work, the model of autophagosome formation is not yet well established. Some important questions on autophagosome biogenesis remain to be elusive, such as where the bona fide marker protein of autophagosome, LC3, is lipidated, how lipidated LC3 functions in autophagosome formation, and how the proteins for LC3 lipidation and delipidation are involved in autophagosome formation. Although genetic approaches have been useful to identify genes involved in autophagy, they are chronic and thereby the dynamics of phenotypic change cannot be followed, making them not suited for study highly dynamic process such as autophagosome formation. Herein, I propose to develop and use novel chemical probes to address these issues. First, I plan to prepare semi-synthetic caged LC3 proteins and apply them to monitor dynamics of autophagosome formation in the cell in order to address those questions on autophagosome formation. The semi-synthetic LC3 proteins are expected to confer a temporal control and to realize manipulation of protein structure, which renders such studies possible. Second, I intend to develop a versatile approach targeting specific endogenous proteins using a reversible chemically induced dimerization (CID) system, termed as “knock on and off” strategy. I plan to use this approach to elucidate the function of two distinct PI3K complexes in autophagosome formation. On one hand, the establishment of novel approaches will open up a new avenue for studying biological processes. On the other hand, the use of the tool will reveal the mechanism of autophagy.

Mots-clés : chemical biology,autophagy,chemical protein synthesis,cell imaging
Projet ERC : ChemBioAP (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions
Entité participante : Umeå University — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1414550.89 €

The interest on autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved process in eukaryotes, has enormously increased in the last years, since autophagy is involved in many diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Autophagosome formation is the key process in autophagy. Despite extensive work, the model of autophagosome formation is not yet well established. Some important questions on autophagosome biogenesis remain to be elusive, such as where the bona fide marker protein of autophagosome, LC3, is lipidated, how lipidated LC3 functions in autophagosome formation, and how the proteins for LC3 lipidation and delipidation are involved in autophagosome formation. Although genetic approaches have been useful to identify genes involved in autophagy, they are chronic and thereby the dynamics of phenotypic change cannot be followed, making them not suited for study highly dynamic process such as autophagosome formation. Herein, I propose to develop and use novel chemical probes to address these issues. First, I plan to prepare semi-synthetic caged LC3 proteins and apply them to monitor dynamics of autophagosome formation in the cell in order to address those questions on autophagosome formation. The semi-synthetic LC3 proteins are expected to confer a temporal control and to realize manipulation of protein structure, which renders such studies possible. Second, I intend to develop a versatile approach targeting specific endogenous proteins using a reversible chemically induced dimerization (CID) system, termed as “knock on and off” strategy. I plan to use this approach to elucidate the function of two distinct PI3K complexes in autophagosome formation. On one hand, the establishment of novel approaches will open up a new avenue for studying biological processes. On the other hand, the use of the tool will reveal the mechanism of autophagy.

Mots-clés : chemical biology,autophagy,chemical protein synthesis,cell imaging
Projet ERC : TopInSy (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : University of Birmingham — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 0.0 €

The interplay of symmetry and topology can give rise to fascinating new forms of matter. Prime examples are topological insulators and topological superconductors with Majorana fermions, discoveries which resulted from a breakthrough extension of noninteracting band theory to include symmetry and topology. This proposal aims to go beyond this noninteracting paradigm and explore systems where strong interactions, symmetry, and topology conspire to give rise to new strongly correlated phases of matter. The broad scientific goals are to theoretically obtain (i) tangible microscopic models and (ii) predictions on the clearest experimental signatures of these novel symmetry protected topological phases (SPTs). The project will consider both fermionic and bosonic systems, where in the latter case even the most direct analogues of topological insulators require strong interactions, as mere band theory is inapplicable due to the absence of Pauli exclusion. We will examine systems with various interactions and symmetries (e.g., time-reversal, particle number conservation, spin-rotation, inversion and other crystalline symmetries), aiming to deliver results with ramifications in all three dimensionalities. Characteristic aspects of our approach include, for microscopics, the emphasis on well controlled analytical methods to expose physically transparent links to phenomenology; and, for experimental signatures, exploring and utilising novel strong correlations emerging in hybrids formed of SPTs and their probes, which would be absent in either of the probed systems or the probes alone. Accomplishing our research objectives will fill a major scientific gap by bridging the findings of recent abstract mathematical classifications of possible SPTs, and the tremendous experimental progress both in the solid-state and with ultracold atoms on topological systems that may already provide the fundamental building blocks for physical realisations.

Mots-clés : topological phases,topological insulators,majorana fermions,quantum hall systems,symmetry protected topological phases,quantum magnets,ultracold atomic gases
Projet ERC : ENTRAPMENT (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy
Entité participante : University of London — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : U. London
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2744407.0 €

The intracellular bacterium Shigella flexneri is an exceptional model pathogen to address key issues in biology, including how bacteria can move inside host cells and escape the immune system. The cytoskeleton has recently emerged to occupy a central role in innate immunity by promoting bacterial sensing and executing antibacterial functions. I discovered that host cells employ septins, a poorly understood component of the cytoskeleton, to restrict the actin-based motility of Shigella and target them for destruction by autophagy, an important mechanism of innate immune defence. However, the processes underlying septin cage assembly, and the breadth of roles for septins in bacterial infection control, remain to be established. I developed zebrafish (Danio rerio) infection models to study the cell biology of Shigella infection in vivo, and to discover new roles for septins in host defence against bacterial infection. This approach has enabled a cutting edge platform for in vivo studies both at the single cell and whole animal level, and provides unprecedented opportunities to follow cytoskeleton dynamics and innate immunity at a resolution that cannot be achieved using any other animal model. I will now exploit the novelty of septin biology, and its direct link to host defence, as the foundation for this research programme. Using Shigella I will: (1) Discover new roles for the cytoskeleton in host defence against bacterial infection, and (2) Investigate the role of septin-mediated host defence mechanisms in vivo using zebrafish models of infection. The results generated from this research programme will provide fundamental advances in understanding septin biology and cellular immunity. They could also suggest the development of new strategies aimed at combating infectious diseases, and possibly other human diseases in which septins have been implicated including neoplasia and neurodegenerative conditions.

Mots-clés : autophagy,cytoskeleton,septins,shigella,zebrafish
Projet ERC : ChipNano (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : UiT The Arctic University of Norway — Pays : Norvège — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UiT
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 110000.0 €

The invention of optical nanoscopy is about to revolutionize several disciplines and it was awarded with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014. It is widely believed that a majority of existing optical microscopes will be replaced by an optical nanoscope. Unfortunately, the potential of the such a revolution and its widespread adoption are severely obstructed due to limitations of present day nanoscopy solution, i.e. system complexity, high cost and low throughput. In my ERC project, I have developed compact photonic chip-based optical nanoscopy, that can increase the throughput of convention optical nanoscopy by a factor of 100 times. The sample is placed on top of a photonic chip, capable of both holding and illuminating the sample, enabling to acquire super-resolved images. Photonic-chips can be retrofitted to an existing standard optical microscope converting it to high-resolution nanoscope. By way of analogy, moving from current super-resolution microscopy to chip-based nanoscopy will be as transformational as the move from main-frame computers to mobile phones. This is indeed a disruptive technology enabling widespread penetration of affordable chip-based optical nanoscopes. In ChipNano, the overall aim here is to bring the technology closer to the market by making the invention more commercially viable by a) co-operating and possibly setting-up business contract with the industrial partners on chip-production b) obtaining user feedback from key opinion leaders in Europe; c) consolidating business case to attract long-term venture funding in close cooperation with a university spin-off.

Mots-clés : optical microscopy,optical nanoscopy,integrated optics,lab on a chip,optical waveguide,bio imaging,super resolution microscopy
Projet ERC : TOCINA (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : Eindhoven University of Technology — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TU/e
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2500000.0 €

The key challenge in quantum computation is decoherence - the collapse of a quantum state due to local perturbations. In this proposal we address this challenge by developing a new nanomaterials system, which forms the core of a future topological quantum computer. In a topological quantum bit, information is encoded in Majorana modes, which are topologically protected by a local symmetry and therefore have long coherence times. In this project we develop a new state of matter -topological crystalline insulator nanowires- in which the topology is defined by the band inversion and the crystal symmetry of the material. Therefore, these topological states should be exceptionally robust. Further, we integrate strong superconductors on these nanowires. These two features together should increase the energy scales of the system compared to current state-of-the-art devices, and therefore lead to stable and electrically-isolated Majorana states. In this project we develop new crystal growth strategies, which enable to grow out-of-thermodynamic equilibrium structures. We will be the first to employ Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) to precisely tune the SnTe nanowire growth conditions. We use the directionality offered by MBE to shadow-grow superconductors on one nanowire facet. The in-situ ultra-high-vacuum growth of hybrid semiconductor/superconductor devices will result in unprecedented device quality. Due to the increased energy scales, experiments, which have been unattainable so far, come within reach. We use this new materials platform to demonstrate entanglement of two Majorana modes at the ends of a nanowire. This quantum teleportation is a groundbreaking experiment and is the key of a topological quantum computer.

Mots-clés : nanowire,semiconductor,superconductor
Projet ERC : MechanoSignaling (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : Eindhoven University of Technology — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TU/e
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1498526.0 €

The key challenge in regenerative medicine is to re-establish a physiological tissue organization as this is conditional for proper tissue functionality. In the cardiovascular field, tissue engineering of blood vessels and heart valves requires the development of a tri-laminar structure. Previous attempts to establish this organization have been mainly trial-and-error based. Therefore, to force breakthroughs and accelerate clinical translation, computational modeling is critical to understand and predict the process of neo-tissue regeneration starting from non-living biodegradable materials (i.e. scaffolds). The main drivers of regeneration are (1) hemodynamic loads that trigger mechanically-driven tissue growth and remodeling, and (2) signaling interactions between cells that control the emergence of global tissue organization (e.g. layering of vessels and valves). While the first aspect currently receives vast attention, the modeling of cell signaling in the context of tissue engineering remains an unexplored area. In this project, I aim to obtain a mechanistic understanding of how a critical pathway in the cardiovascular system, i.e. the Notch signaling pathway, drives the emergence of global tissue organization while interacting with mechanical cues. I will adopt a unique, multi-disciplinary approach, where quantitative in vitro experiments will be performed to inform novel multi-scale computational models of Notch signaling and its consequences on regeneration. I will leverage these models to understand and predict in vivo regeneration of engineered cardiovascular tissues starting from various initial conditions. If successful, this project will have a tremendous impact on the development of rational guidelines for ensuring functional tissue regeneration, which represents a breakthrough towards creating cardiovascular replacements that are superior to current treatment options. Moreover, it enables me to start my own independent research group in this field.

Mots-clés : computational mechanobiology,growth,remodeling,regenerative medicine,cardiovascular development
Projet ERC : SPACING (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : University of Santiago de Compostela — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : USC
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1498866.0 €

The key challenge of SPACING is to develop a beyond state-of-the-art technology to self-assemble pre-designed 3D ligand configurations with sub-nanometer precision (nanopatterning) onto colloidal nanoparticles (NPs). The proposed aqueous-based technology is aimed to develop artificial NP´s libraries with a pre-designed discrete number of ligands in any desired spatial arrangement (i.e., inspired by nature such as virus capsids), which so far has not been feasible by any method (in solution or otherwise). Within this project we will design and develop a versatile, reusable and user-friendly DNA origami-based tool (nanoprinters) for printing ligands onto NPs; the multifunctionality and robustness of the nanoprinters required for such purpose will involve a first stage concerning the fabrication of libraries of NPs (different size and shape), for which we will design and assemble the corresponding libraries of DNA-origamis having pre-designed voids (shape, size, 3D ligand “stamps”). In a second stage, as a proof of concept inspired by previous knowledge on specific receptor-mediated endocytotic pathways and virus-cell interactions, we will use the nanoprinters to fabricate a discrete number of NPs with specific ligand configurations (ligand ID, number, density and 3D arrangement). The trafficking behavior of these bio-inspired NPs within cells and tissue models, will serve us to correlate their potential escape from endosome (thereby avoiding lysosomal degradation as viruses do). While the overall mission behind this project is to build the foundation for a technological implementation of artificial NPs with pre-designed 3D ligand configurations, and their potential to escape lysosomal degradation as viruses do, the proposed demonstrations will contribute to advance future developments in nanomedicine (this approach would be easily extended to any nanocarrier), and other applications in which precision is important (e.g.,formation of metamaterials by NPs self-assembly)

Mots-clés : colloidal chemistry,surface engineering,nanoparticles,nanobiointeractions,dna origami
Projet ERC : Dynamic Nano (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : Max Planck Society — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : MPG
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499700.0 €

The key component of nanoplasmonics is metals. When metal nanoparticles are placed in close proximity, the possibility of shaping and controlling near-field and far-field optical properties expands enormously. Near-field coupling between metal nanoparticles is extremely sensitive to nanometer conformational changes. Such strong dependence on conformation provides unique opportunities in manipulating optical response on the nanoscale. Simultaneously, it also raises significant challenges in realization of dynamic plasmonic systems, which can exhibit immediate conformational changes upon a regulated physical or chemical control input. Also importantly, plasmonic nanostructures can serve as an efficient far-field to near-field transformer, converting optical radiation into strong localized electromagnetic fields. This unprecedented ability enables probing local dynamic changes on the nanoscale that are extremely crucial in nanocatalysis and phase transitions of nanomaterials, where many unanswered questions abound. In my proposal, I would like to develop a new generation of dynamic nanoplasmonic building blocks for biology, chemistry, and materials science. These plasmonic building blocks either can exhibit dynamic structural changes themselves or can be integrated with functional materials, where dynamic events take place. I will utilize both bottom-up and top-down nanotechniques to advance the perspective of plasmonics towards synthetic plasmonic machinery as well as on-chip dynamic plasmonic devices with both tailored optical response and active functionality. With such plasmonic building blocks, long-standing questions in protein dynamics, chiral sensing, dynamic light matter interaction, gas-phase catalysis, and phase transitions on the nanoscale will be addressed. My proposed methods will allow for unprecedented resolution on optically disseminating dynamic behavior and revolutionary multidisciplinary experiments that were not possible to perform before.

Mots-clés : nanoplasmonics,metal nanoparticles,nanolithography,structural dna technology,optical properties,plasmonic resonances
Projet ERC : FATHERCHILD (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Social World and Its Diversity
Entité participante : Erasmus University Rotterdam — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : EUR
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1261246.0 €

The key objective of my FATHERCHILD project is to provide novel insights into the questions whether, why, and in what ways, fathers influence their children’s social, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive outcomes. More specifically, this project investigates how inequalities in child outcomes develop through fathers’ parenting practices across childhood and adolescence, and how context may buffer or strengthen fathers’ role in this development of inequalities. The idea underlying the proposed research is that much can be learned about fathers’ role in child outcomes by linking sociological stratification questions to developmental psychology research on father involvement. The relevance of the current project is apparent: inequality is rising all across Europe, people are increasingly relying on their families to get by, and father involvement has become more polarized according to fathers’ socioeconomic position over the decades. The project aims to be innovative in four ways. Firstly, the application of new observation methods and state-of-the-art analytical techniques allows me to tap, more closely than hitherto, into the mechanisms underlying fathers’ influence on child outcomes. Second, unlike previous studies, this project will not limit its focus to the father-child dyad. The use of multi-actor data enables me to assess the relative importance of fathers as transmitters of inequality in the context of the wider family. Thirdly, by expanding the focus beyond the early years of children’s lives, it is possible to obtain a comprehensive understanding of how and why fathers’ role in the transmission of inequality changes across childhood and adolescence. Finally, an important contribution of the project is its potential to compare fathers’ impact on child outcomes longitudinally across three countries, allowing me to investigate the extent to which and why there is cross-national variation in the development of inequalities through fathers’ parenting practices.

Mots-clés : father involvement,child development,family sociology