Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : PAMinMICE (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie — Pays : Belgique — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : VIB
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The immune system's balance in fighting infections or cancer while avoiding autoimmune reactions is regulated by co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory immune checkpoints (ICs). ICs are major drug targets in immunotherapy, with antibodies (Abs) blocking inhibitory ICs to fight cancer, and Abs blocking stimulatory ICs in clinical trials for autoimmune diseases. Surprisingly, but likely fuelled by the worldwide focus on IC inhibitors, the field largely ignored that ICs are genuine transmembrane receptors that transmit signals upon binding of an extracellular ligand. This leaves unexplored modes of therapeutic intervention that we uncover in my granted ERC-2023-ADG by validating allosteric Nanobodies (Nbs) that bind and stabilize ICs, to agonize their activity as first-in-class allosteric modulators, thus tipping the immune homeostasis balance opposite to IC inhibitors for treating autoimmunity. Recently, we discovered the first-ever positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of an IC and characterized several PAMs of the human PD-1•PD-L1 complex that agonize PD-L1 binding to PD-1 (affinity) and stimulate IC signalling (efficacy) in a spatio-temporal-selective and pathway-selective manner. Building on these exceptional proof of concept data, I’m founding our next integrated drug discovery company focussing on allosteric immunotherapies as a new mode of therapeutic intervention. With PAMinMICE, I will perform pioneering experiments in animal models and test positive allosteric modulation of the PD-1•PD-L1 interaction in double-humanized PD-1•PD-L1 knock-in mice as a new mode of therapeutic intervention for diverse autoimmune diseases: psoriasis, colitis, atopic dermatitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis. This study may provide the first preclinical evidence supporting the use of allosteric modulators targeting inhibitory ICs for treating such disorders, with the goals of (i) benefiting patients, (ii) strengthening our IP portfolio, and (iii) positioning us for successful fundraising toward the spin-off.
Projet ERC : GALOMOD (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie — Pays : Belgique — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : VIB
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The recent advent of therapeutic Aβ-antibodies has validated amyloid plaques as drug targets in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). They remain expensive, prone to side effects, and clinical benefit is limited. The field needs a safe and cheap drug, preferably a small compound that can be taken orally, and in a preventative way before brain damage has occurred. Despite strong theoretical potential, further clinical development of gamma-secretase allosteric modulators (GAM), is currently hampered by the lack of strong experimental evidence that they are safe and can effectively prevent AD. In this POC we will exploit findings of our ERC grant Cellphase-AD to generate such evidence. We developed an innovative xenotransplantation model beyond the classical mouse models, as it shows not only amyloid plaques, but also the induction of neuro-inflammation, real Tau-pathology, granulovacuolar neurodegeneration, and secretion of Tau biomarkers in the blood, all characteristic of AD (PMID37708272). We will treat this model in collaboration with a contractor with a newly developed compound to demonstrate that this GAM can prevent in a safe and effective way this AD pathology. Using an innovative unbiased ʏ-secretase assay we will provide direct evidence that this GAM, in contrast to the previously failed gamma-secretase inhibitor Semagacestat, maintains normal processing and signalling and does not show mechanistic driven side effects. The experiments aim to support the concept that GAM can be developed as preventative medication in both sporadic and familial AD and to bring the compound forward to clinical trialing.
Projet ERC : PLANeT (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : CRAG
Type d'entité : Autres
Financement ERC de l'entité : 30000.0 €

Agricultural ecosystems are severely pressed by global warming. Elevated temperature consequence of climate change is causing dramatic crop and economic losses while threaten the healthy and sustainable living standards of most European citizens. Predictions on increased ambient temperatures between 1.5-4ºC pose on danger food security globally for the coming years. In the context of European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant (IDRICA-683163), our lab found that vascular Brassinosteroid receptors can confer resistance to several abiotic stresses without penalizing plant growth, disclosing a yet unexplored innovation potential (EU patent application P6100130EP; 2021). These findings were initially obtained in the model Arabidopsis and the emerging hypothesis has been now tested in Brassinosteroid mutants of cereal Sorghum. We found that hypocotyl and mesocotyl growth on selected mutants is compromised upon elevated temperatures in both Arabidopsis and Sorghum respectively, supporting conserved mechanisms across species. These findings enable a novel HighThroughPut (HTP) screening capacity for compounds/biologicals to overcome the most damaging impacts of warming in crops. Upon initial HTP screening, this proposal aims to enter into a valorization path towards lead generation through a computationally-assisted screening cascade to identify cost-effective Lead compounds that can improve crop yield at elevated temperatures. Overall, PLANeT takes the opportunity for transferring proprietary knowhow into value to market-creating innovation in the Agricultural industry.
Projet ERC : PhoSTer THz (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de technologie de Darmstadt — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Scientific and commercial utilization of the Terahertz spectrum (100 GHz -10 THz) is often hindered by the lack of affordable characterization tools for developing systems towards maturity. This proposal aims for the prototype development of such tools, namely affordable spectrum analyzers (SA), in order to boost component development in the Terahertz domain (100 GHz-10 THz), particularly electronic and opto-electronic components. These are employed in 6G hardware, spectroscopy including bio-medical trace gas detection, security, non-destructive testing and quality control. To date's most employed systems are electronic frequency-extended microwave SAs. Whilst very powerful, they have a few draw backs: 1.) it is very challenging to develop electronic systems for higher THz frequencies. The highest commercial frequency extension to date goes to 1.5 THz. 2.) the higher the frequency, the exponentially more expensive are the frequency extenders. 3.) The extender modules are bound to specific waveguide bands. Spectra larger than 50% of the center frequency can only be obtained by employing several extender bands. In PhoSTer THz, we will implement a photonic spectrum analyzer system as opposed to electronic ones, with the following advantages: 1.) Spectral coverage from microwaves to several Terahertz with a single system without the need of exchanging bands. 2.) Accessing frequencies yet not accessible with commercial electronic systems 3.) Inexpensive solution: a single photonic system costs less than the electronic base unit (i.e. without extenders) PhoSTer THz emerged from the ERC grant Pho-T-Lyze (GA 713780) where the first versions of photonic spectrum analyzers were developed. In PhoSTer THz, we will bring the first prototypes close to market entry together with powerful commercial partners from the photonics industry. We will further aim to attract the interest of electronic spectrum analyzer manufacturers.
Projet ERC : TeraScan (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Conseil national de la recherche — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNR
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

‘TeraScan’ aims to increase the technology readiness level of the state-of-the-art, ultrafast single layer graphene (SLG) detectors operating at terahertz (THz) frequencies, devised under the ERC consolidator grant ‘SPRINT’, and develop a hyperspectral imaging demonstrator suitable to the translation of this technology to industrial end-users. The focus is on providing a compact, hyperspectral (HS) SLG camera which is low-cost (<40k€), fast (individual pixel response time < 10 ns), with low power consumption (<20W) and scalable, operating at room temperature, with NEP < 100 pW/√Hz, (frequency independent) suitable for real-time detection, in particular at operating frequencies > 2.5 THz, far exceeding the performances of commercial THz cameras. Once integrated with multiwavelength high-power quantum cascade lasers, the resulting far-field hyperspectral imaging system is plan to exceed by orders of magnitude the cost reduction, speed and resolution performances of commercial time-domain spectroscopy systems.  Specific objectives are to manufacture a compact, portable and user-friendly THz SLG camera, integrate it, on a portable optical bench, with THz QCLs, validate its core technology with commercial end-users and at trade-shows and evaluate opportunities by identifying novel end-user applications, with a detailed market, IPR and regulatory compliance study. By the end of this programme, I plan to identify a solid exploitation route by directly cooperating with THz instrument producers and with targeted commercial end-users.  Endorsing a solid commercial exploitation route, TeraScan prospects new directions and long-term impacts, in a frontier frequency domain, on many interdisciplinary fields crossing engineering, biology, medicine, cultural heritage and quantum communications.
Projet ERC : MICROTECH (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Conseil national de la recherche — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNR
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

This PoC proposal is dedicated to the development of a new soft matter technology for paper preservation. Building on the recent ERC grant of the PI, MIMIC, that was mainly a theoretical and numerical effort on “Modelling microgels” in close synergy with experiments, MICROTECH proposes to exploit this fascinating class of soft colloids in a new application for cultural heritage. Microgels are colloidal-scale polymer networks, whose properties intrinsically depend on those of the constituent polymers. While most studies deal with thermoresponsive ones, here we propose to use gellan gum, a widely used biopolymer, since gellan gum hydrogels have been previously used to treat paper artifacts. We recently showed the use of gellan gum microgels is more advantageous with respect to hydrogels both in terms of efficacy and of application time. The proposed technology is ground-breaking because it will significantly reduce the economic costs of the treatment, it is environmentally friendly and also versatile. Indeed, we will functionalize the gellan macromolecule in order to optimize the specific interactions with the different nature of the surfaces to be treated. The main objectives of the interdisciplinary MICROTECH project will be to optimize the preparation, the functionalization and the long-time conservation of the microgels; to validate the technology on real samples, thanks to the collaborations with interested companies, who already expressed their Letters of Support; to perform a pre-commercialization study in terms of IPR and market analysis; to create of network of potential partners and users; finally, to deliver a ready-to-use microgel formulation and a business plan. Therefore, at the completion of the project, we expect that the technology will be available to potential end users.
Projet ERC : MagDock (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Italian Institute of Technology — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

This project is focused on the design, the production, the characterization, and the proposal for future commercialization of 3D modular co-culture systems, specifically designed to recapitulate the physio-pathological microenvironment of brain tumor. The key technology at the base of the proposed project is the design of magnetic microscaffolds and their fabrication through two-photon polymerization (2pp), a disruptive mesoscale manufacturing technique that enables low-cost obtainment of microstructures with nanometric resolution, characterized by unprecedented levels of accuracy and reproducibility. A microtubular structure scaffolding endothelial cells and connected to a fluidic system will be exploited to mimic the blood-brain barrier: this biohybrid device will be the base for the assembly of ferromagnetic “microcages” hosting glioblastoma cells, and will be provided with docking systems for superparamagnetic “microcages” carrying undifferentiated and differentiated neuronal progenitor cells. This approach represents a disruptive innovation with respect to other 3D models available in the literature, as it will allow a faithful recapitulation of the complex glioblastoma microenvironment through a platform that can be very easily handled in any laboratory. High-throughput screenings of brain drugs and in vitro testing of the efficacy of different anticancer therapies are envisaged upon successful accomplishment of the project, leading to a pioneering generation of flexible multi-cellular platforms easily adaptable to the mimicry of different pathological conditions.
Projet ERC : RONIN (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Italian Institute of Technology — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

RONIN aims to develop a training toolkit, embedded in a robot-assisted training setup, for supporting adolescents with developmental disabilities (DDs) in achieving independent adult life. DDs hinder access to formal education for about 4 million children in Europe, which, in consequence, compromises their independence later in life. This poses a huge challenge for the affected individuals, their families, and for society. One of the major issues that impedes achieving independence by individuals with disabilities is insufficient support, focused on training social and cognitive skills crucial for leading independent adult life. RONIN proposes a solution which uses the Embodied Learning approach (via “role-plays” with the robot) and targets skills necessary for attaining independent adult life: independence in (i) self-care; (ii) interaction with others; and (iii) facing stressful situations, such as exams or job interviews. RONIN’s training toolkit includes: the training protocol scripts and objects used in interaction, encoded robot behaviours, and graphical user interface (GUI) for the therapists. Involving a robot in the training has the advantage that users can benefit from a robot mediator which offers a non-intimidating, more predictable and reduced in complexity interaction with less social pressure, compared to interaction with another human. For the therapists, the robot removes the burden of repetitive and lengthy “role-plays”, allowing the therapists to focus on monitoring progress of the training. The work plan of RONIN consists in designing the training protocol scripts and objects, encoding the robot behaviours, developing the GUI, integrating all components in the setup, and testing the efficacy of the training protocols with clinical populations. Should the training prove efficacious, it will revolutionise the way support is offered to adolescents with DD, their families and therapists, and will open a pathway to exploitation.
Projet ERC : LBFAST (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Italian Institute of Technology — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The intricate dynamics of fluid interfaces, disordered liquid-liquid emulsions, and soft microfluidic droplet crystals, collectively known as soft glass materials (SGM), pose challenges to non-equilibrium thermodynamics and hold profound implications for engineering applications such as combustion, materials design, and food processing. Advances in SGM modeling within the ERC COPMAT project offer opportunities for innovative mesoscale materials in fields like tissue engineering, photonics, and catalysis.  The Lightweight Lattice Boltzmann (LB) scheme, which relies on hydrodynamic moments, models SGM by preventing droplet coalescence including near-contact interactions (NCI) due to surfactants. Integrated into LBcuda, an open-source software optimized for GPUs, it efficiently simulates complex flows while saving electrical energy, in line with the goals of the European Green Deal.  The LBFAST project aims to optimize LBcuda's implementation for HPC clusters powered by GPUs, achieving processing rates of several hundred GLUPS while using only 50% of computational resources, resulting in a 75% reduction in energy costs compared to standard LB methods. This enhancement enables accelerated production rates for industrial applications and aligns with the criteria of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, benefiting users addressing energy and environmental challenges in the next exascale computing generation.

Mots-clés : computational fluid dynamics,lattice boltzmann method,high performance computing
Projet ERC : AptALS (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Italian Institute of Technology — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The AptALS project aims to develop a highly sensitive and scalable RNA aptamer-based kit for detecting TDP-43 aggregates, a key biomarker in ALS. The kit consists of 3 main components: (i) biotinylated RNA aptamers that selectively bind aggregated TDP-43, (ii) a detection system (fluorescence or chemiluminescence) to quantify binding events, and (iii) a modular assay format compatible with ELISA-like workflows, allowing seamless integration into clinical laboratories. By leveraging our patented aptamers, we will validate their performance in a standardized detection assay, ensuring clinical robustness. Unlike conventional antibody-based methods, RNA aptamers offer superior specificity and adaptability, enabling non-invasive, early-stage ALS detection. This innovation fills a critical gap in ALS diagnostics, replacing invasive lumbar punctures and costly neuroimaging with a cost-effective, scalable alternative. The AptALS project will focus on three key objectives: (i) assay validation, (ii) optimization of detection methods (fluorescence vs. chemiluminescence), and (iii) benchmarking with ALS patient samples. The project is led by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in biophysics, molecular biology, and computational modeling, supported by IIT’s state-of-the-art genomics, proteomics, and microscopy facilities to ensure technical rigor and scalability. Beyond its scientific impact, AptALS delivers significant societal and economic benefits. Early ALS detection can enable timely intervention, improve patient care, and reduce healthcare costs. The diagnostic kit is designed for B2B distribution, targeting hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies for clinical trials and patient stratification. Positioned at the forefront of neurodegenerative disease diagnostics, AptALS is poised for strong commercial adoption, bridging the gap between research and real-world clinical application, fostering innovation, and advancing ALS care.
Projet ERC : SPINTOP (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de Göteborg — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

There exists a class of important computational problems that conventional computers are unable to address with reasonable efficiency. Such Combinatorial Optimization (CO) problems are pervasive in a wide range of critically important sectors of society, e.g. in business operations, manufacturing, and research, including man-power scheduling, vehicle routing, IC circuit layout, protein folding and DNA sequencing, efficient big-data clustering, election modelling, network diagnosis, modelling molecular dynamics, discovery of new medicines/chemicals/materials, and so forth. At present, the CO market size is of the order of €1B and is expected to exhibit a 56% market growth rate with a 2030 market size forecast at €50B. Since conventional computers are ineffective in handling large CO problems, dedicated hardware – both quantum and quantum-inspired – are intensely researched and developed world-wide. A quantum-inspired alternative – so-called Ising Machines – has been developed over the last 20 years by D-wave in superconducting technology and is commercially available. However, being a superconducting technology, it suffers from operation at 20 mK requiring 25 kW of cooling power, little hope for much miniaturization of the complete system (today about 30 m3), and extreme cost (~10 M$ per system). Clearly, there is a need for a fast, scalable, energy-efficient, and affordable Ising Machine in dedicated hardware, without any of the severe drawbacks of the D-wave technology. This is the problem that SPINTOP wants to address. SPINTOP will deliver fast, scalable, energy-efficient and affordable Ising Machines based on networks of spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) pioneered by the applicant (JÅ) in his ongoing ERC Adv. Grant TOPSPIN. The proposed technology has tremendous breakthrough innovation potential and will aid in solving societal challenges related to almost all UN Sustainable Development Goals.