Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : STRAIN2EXTREME (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : Tel Aviv University — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TAU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1766875.0 €

Inherent stability of layered 2D materials supports a remarkably large strain along the plane of these 1-atom-thick crystals. For example, graphene and MoS2 can stretch, in principle, by 20% - ten times more than the typical intrinsic breakdown strain of 3D crystals. Such extreme deformations of the interatomic distance can drive exciting structural phase transitions, support fascinating electronic orders, and pro-foundly impact the electronic or optical response. Individually, however, pulling these ultimately thin materials to reliably approach their intrinsic limit poses great challenge. Cracks, defects, and out-of-plane motion all motivate early rupture, that prevented ap-plicable demonstration of extreme strains so far. STRAIN2EXTREME, instead, relies on recent advances in Van-der-Waals (VdW) structures; Sandwiched between thin impermeable layers the mechanical stability is reinforced, while suppressing unwanted chemistry and contamination at these "all-surface" materials. Notably, the minute amount of defects, dangling bonds, and disorder, do not pin-down the strain to relax locally to the rigid substrate as in com-mon interfaces. It results in a nearly frictionless sliding between the weakly interacting layers. Based on this finding, I set forward an entirely new approach to pull the structures while supporting them on a “super-lubricant” substrate. This support allows us to gradually narrow the shape into sub-micrometre constrictions, and "focus" a moderate pulling force to induce extreme local strains reliably. Moreover, we directly control the gradient of the strain in space by the precise shape. Remarkably, fixed strain gradients, can induce uniform “pseudo-vector-potentials” of extreme strength. Using the unique mechanics and outstanding lubricity of VdW structure, I intend to realize highly ballistic time-reversal-protected transport, demonstrate a new "pseudo-Hall" effect, and explore crystal-induced electromagnetic fields in moire' super-lattices.

Mots-clés : layered 2d materials,electro mechanical coupling,strain,graphene,gauge fields,spin hall effect,van der waals structures,super lubricity,superconductivity,pseudomagnetic fields,strain engineering
Projet ERC : peLabDisk (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Proof of concept 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 : 150000.0 €

Innovative and effective biological therapies exist to treat non-communicable inflammatory skin diseases (ncISD). However, diagnostic guidance when and how to use them is imprecise; no substantial innovation was made for decades. Due to this lack of innovation, high socio-economic costs are caused by ineffective unguided treatment – a waste of resources. Existing ERC research aims at establishing individualised medicine in ncISD (IMCIS, grant agreement 676858). First success is a biomarker to distinguish psoriasis from eczema. Due to disease heterogeneity, these two ncISD cannot be distinguished in 10% of all cases with current gold standard diagnostics. Treating patients with the wrong therapy as a consequence of mis-diagnosis is inefficient and might even be harmful. This PoC proposal follows the path of IMCIS and closes the gap between ERC research and a prototype device of a point-of-care microfluidic testing device to distinguish psoriasis and eczema based on their molecular signature (peLabDisk). The proposal is feasible, as there is a high level of expertise created by joint forces of researchers of the Technical University of Munich and Hahn-Schickard providing extensive competence in the development, construction and manufacturing of microfluidic cartridges for medical applications. The project plan consists of well-defined work packages and milestones. Furthermore, success of the individual work packages is supervised by experienced experts (TUM Entrepeneurship). This PoC proposal is not the end – there is a clear roadmap and a detailed strategy for the post-PoC phase including potential end-user network and supported foundation of a spin-off company. peLabDisk represents the first approach of molecular diagnostics in the field that is easy-to-handle, robust and valid, as well as economic. It is superior to current gold standard diagnostics. Furthermore, peLabDisk is a use-case for point-of-care molecular diagnostics in complex inflammatory diseases.

Mots-clés : non communicable inflammatory skin diseases,psoriasis,eczema,lab on a chip,molecular diagnostics,microfluidics,point of care
Projet ERC : P450RESIST (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering
Entité participante : University of Exeter — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1949494.5 €

Insect resistance to synthetic insecticides and the anti-herbivore defence chemicals produced by many plants is an ongoing challenge to sustainable pest management while also an exceptional model system to study adaptive evolution. The cytochrome P450s are a superfamily of enzymes that are ubiquitous in nature, and one of the most important enzyme families used by insects to defend themselves against natural and synthetic xenobiotics. Insects have been shown to evolve resistance through quantitative changes in P450 expression or via qualitative changes in P450s that alter metabolic activity. Despite their importance in conferring resistance the variety of regulatory changes that modulate P450 expression in resistant insects and their relative frequency/impact is not fully understood. Furthermore, although qualitative changes in insect P450s associated with resistance are relatively rare they represent a unique opportunity to characterise insecticide/toxin binding and identify the critical structure/function determinants of the P450/insect toxin interaction. In this project I will exploit cutting-edge advances in genomics, epigenetics and transgenics to study the insect P450 resistome in three main workpackages: WP-1: Will identify the molecular drivers of quantitative changes to insect P450s. WP-2: Will explore the role of qualitative changes in insect P450s in mediating resistance and identify structure/function determinants of insecticide metabolism. WP-3: Will exploit the knowledge gained in WP1/2 and from previous research to deliver a ‘P450 toolkit’ consisting of in vitro and in vivo screening tools, with which to identify resistance breaking chemistry, and high-throughput diagnostics for use in resistance management. In summary this project will provide novel insights into this important enzyme family and provide tools that can be used to develop new products and strategies that slow, prevent, or overcome resistance and so ensure sustainable crop protection

Mots-clés : insect resistance to xenobiotics,insecticide resistance,detoxification enzymes,rapid adaptation
Projet ERC : DAMOC (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : IBEC;IBEC-CERCA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499554.0 €

Insulin secretion and insulin action are critical for normal glucose homeostasis. Defects in both of these processes lead to type 2 diabetes (T2D). Unravelling the mechanisms that lead to T2D is fundamental in the search of new molecular drugs to prevent and control this disease. Organ-on-a-chip devices offer new approaches for T2D disease modelling and drug discovery by providing biologically relevant models of tissues and organs in vitro integrated with biosensors. As such, organ-on-a-chip devices have the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry by enabling reliable and high predictive in vitro testing of drug candidates. The capability to miniaturize biosensor systems and advanced tissue fabrication procedures have enabled researchers to create multiple tissues on a chip with a high degree of control over experimental variables for high-content screening applications. The goal of this project is the fabrication of a biomimetic multi organ-on-a-chip integrated device composed of skeletal muscle and pancreatic islets for studying metabolism glucose diseases and for drug screening applications. Engineered muscle tissues and pancreatic islets are integrated with the technology to detect the glucose consumption, contraction induced glucose metabolism, insulin secretion and protein biomarker secretion of cells. We aim to design a novel therapeutic tool to test drugs with a multi organ-on-a-chip device. Such finding would improve drug test approaches and would provide for new therapies to prevent the loss of beta cell mass associated with T2D and defects in the glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.

Mots-clés : tissue engineering,muscle cell differentiation,electric stimulation,nanotechnology,lab on chip
Projet ERC : KryptonInt (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Entité participante : Universidad Complutense de Madrid — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UCM
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499516.0 €

Integrons are genetic platforms that enhance bacterial evolvability through the acquisition and stockpiling of new genes encoded in mobile elements named cassettes. They are found in the chromosomes of environmental bacteria but some have acquired mobility through their association to transposons and conjugative plasmids. These mobile integrons (MI) caused the unexpected rise of multidrug resistance that is now a major threat to modern medicine, and are good proof of the adaptive power of integrons. Class 1 integrons are the most relevant MI and the major experimental model. Yet little is known about the hundreds of sedentary chromosomal integrons (SCI) that have driven bacterial evolution for eons. The paradigm of SCI is the superintegron (SI), an extremely large integron located in the chromosome of Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of Cholera disease. Despite its role in the adaptability of one of the deadliest pathogens in history, the SI is poorly characterized because it is only functional in its native genetic background, yet its presence interferes with, and precludes all studies performed in V. cholerae. I propose to solve this paradoxical situation by deleting the SI, an ambitious project not only for its size (126 Kb) but because it is highly stabilized by 17 toxin-antitoxin systems. To do so, I have developed SeqDelTA, a novel method that is already giving excellent preliminary results. I will then use V. cholerae∆SI to study fundamental aspects of SCIs, yet out of reach. I will elucidate the functions encoded in SI cassettes to understand the role and adaptive value of integrons in nature; I will also unravel the genesis of cassettes: how a gene is exapted from its genetic context to become a mobile module; and I will explore the circulation of antibiotic resistance cassettes among humans, animals, food, and the environment with a novel biosynthetic tool (the I3C). KryptonInt will open and explore the historically inaccessible field of study of SCIs.

Mots-clés : phenomics,integron,antibiotic resistance
Projet ERC : BERNGEN (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : University of Manchester — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Interactions with end users of resist technologies suggest there is a market opportunity to develop resists that are tailored for specific applications - which we are calling Bespoke Resists. End users also require careful validation of performance of such bespoke resists. During BERNGEN we will examine possible workflows to achieve such bespoke resists in a manner suitable to supply to a wide range of end users.

Mots-clés : resist materials,nano fabrication,supramolecular chemistry,lithography
Projet ERC : ATRONICS (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : Norwegian University of Science and Technology — Pays : Norvège — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : NTNU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1845338.0 €

Interfaces in oxide materials offer amazing opportunities for fundamental and applied research, giving a new dimension to functional properties, such as magnetism, multiferroicity and superconductivity. Ferroelectric domain walls recently emerged as a new type of interface, where the dynamic characteristics of ferroelectricity introduce the element of spatial mobility, allowing for the real-time adjustment of position, density and orientation of the walls. This mobility adds an additional degree of flexibility that enables domain walls to take an active role in future devices and hold great potential as functional 2D systems for electronics. Up to now, application concepts rely on injecting and deleting domain walls in micrometer-size devices to control electric conductivity. While this approach achieves a step beyond conventional interfaces by utilizing the wall mobility, it does not break the mould of classical device architectures. Completely new strategies are required to functionalize the versatile electronic properties and atomic-scale feature size of ferroelectric domain walls. ATRONICS will establish a new conceptual approach for developing domain-wall-based technology. At the length scale of only a few atoms, we will use individual walls in improper ferroelectrics to emulate key electronic components such as diodes, transistors and logic gates. Crucially, as the functionality of the components is intrinsic to the domain walls, the walls themselves are the devices, instead of the previous approach of writing and erasing domain walls within a much larger classical device architecture. Beyond demonstrating individual devices, we will integrate multiple domain-wall devices, and develop quasi-2D circuitry and networks with a higher order of complexity then is currently achievable. ATRONICS will represent a major advancement in 2D functional materials for future technologies and play an essential role in the transition from nano- to atomic-scale electronics.

Mots-clés : functional oxides,ferroelectrics,domain wall nanoelectronics
Projet ERC : ProblemShifting (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Entité participante : Utrecht University — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1495000.0 €

International environmental treaties (e.g., Paris Agreement) are designed to solve specific environmental problems. Yet their potentially negative impact on environmental issues other than their own is rarely studied. Until now global governance theories have assumed that environmental treaties are inherently ‘green’, and hence, any adverse consequences are conveniently set aside as unintended or inevitable. But is that true? Here I question, do environmental treaties ever pursue their objectives by merely shifting problems to others? If so, when and why? Does such buck-passing create any systemic risk beyond those directly affected? And what might be appropriate responses to ensure our efforts add up to a net positive impact? Environmental problem-shifting, or protecting one part of the environment by damaging another, is a major dilemma arising in global governance. Yet the issue remains under-investigated, requiring an urgent scientific inquiry. PROBLEMSHIFTING will thus examine the causes and consequences of, and provide solutions to, environmental problem-shifting between international environmental treaty regimes. By drawing on my interdisciplinary and multi-method expertise in 'earth system' law and governance, I will (1) identify and explain conditions under which problem-shifting occurs; (2) assess and predict systemic effects of problem-shifting; and (3) offer solutions for optimizing the currently fragmented governance system. The project aims to advance the theoretical debate on the architecture of global governance and its overall effectiveness. The scientific breakthrough will be enabled through methodologically innovative combinations of qualitative and quantitative methods, including process tracing, comparative case studies, network analysis, system dynamics modelling, and multi-stakeholder workshops. Building on the theoretical and empirical foundations, I promise unique insights and valuable advice to markedly improve global governance decisions.

Mots-clés : global governance,multilateral environmental agreements,international treaty regimes,fragmentation,complexity,polycentricity,problem shifting,regime interaction,systemic risk,overall effectiveness,earth system governance
Projet ERC : State Silence (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
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 : 1499763.0 €

International law is the law between States. It is identified by observing the behaviour of States and deriving rules from their behaviour. But, what happens when States do nothing? Can States be bound by their own silence? Can international law develop through the silence of States? Can States be responsible for doing nothing? What happens when States do not appear before international courts and tribunals? These questions are immensely significant for States, international courts and tribunals, domestic courts, and individuals, who are all interested in knowing what the obligations of States are and how they can be enforced within and outside international courts and tribunals. Yet, there are major gaps in our understanding of the meaning of State silence and its legal effects. This project is the first comprehensive study of the silence of States in international law. It will explore and analyze whether the silence of States can bind them, and if so, under which circumstances; the role of State inaction for the responsibility of States; and the effect of State inaction in the field of international dispute settlement, focusing particularly on the proceedings before international courts and tribunals. It aims (a) to make a major contribution to knowledge on the meaning of silence by providing a comprehensive taxonomy of the ‘silences’ of States and on the legal effects of different ‘silences’; and (b) to critically analyse whether a change in the law may be called for. The project will conduct research in wide-ranging and geographically representative State practice available in the six official languages of the United Nations, international jurisprudence and literature. It will also employ empirical analysis of the reasoning of government officials’ and international judges in order to assess the advantages and disadvantages of States silence, in the form of non-appearance, in international judicial procedures.

Mots-clés : silence of states,inaction,sources of international law,responsibility of states,dispute,waiver,non appearance before international courts and tribunals
Projet ERC : SPRINT (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Entité participante : Leiden University — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 31175.0 €

Intonation, the modulation of voice pitch, is essential for communication as it conveys information that helps listeners make inferences about the pragmatic intent of the speaker. Despite increased understanding of intonation’s importance, there is little agreement even about essential aspects of its structure and meaning. This is in large part because research has focused either on the form of intonation, often taking a reductive approach to meaning, or has concentrated on meaning but without full scrutiny of form. Crucially, most research has eschewed the study of intonational variability, seeing it as a problem, rather than a natural facet of speech production that needs to be understood and accounted for. Examining all three aspects in tandem is critical for understanding how intonation is structured and functions in communication: considering meaning in the study of intonational form (i.e. phonetics and phonology) can help delimit intonational categories and uncover the limits of within-category variability; in turn, a robust understanding of form will lead to insights into intonational pragmatics. The present proposal will take exactly this integrative approach, based on the PI’s recent research, to examine intonational phenomena attested in English and Greek that have vexed researchers for some time (uptalk, high accents, question tunes). Two varieties per language will be studied, Standard Southern British, Bristol English, Standard Athenian, and Corfiot Greek. Their systematic differences with respect to the phenomena under investigation will allow me to examine cross-linguistic differences, and dialectal variation and its role in communication. The investigation will involve phonetic and pragmatic analysis and modelling, followed by series of behavioural and neurophysiological experiments. Together, these methods will shed light onto the realization, structure and function of intonation, and lead to a robust model of intonational phonology and pragmatics.

Mots-clés : intonation,prosody,communication,english,greek