Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : HEATforecast (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth system science
Entité participante : University of Lausanne — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UNIL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 756125.0 €

In summer 2018, a devastating heat wave affected the entire Northern Hemisphere. Climate change projections indicate that the severity and frequency of such heat waves will further increase over the next decades. At the same time, models remain unable to predict heat waves at lead times of a few weeks – a crucial planning timescale. The poor prediction skill at timescales of weeks to months is to a large extent due to an incomplete understanding of the underlying physical drivers of heat waves. In particular, the atmospheric fluid dynamics responsible for heat waves and their prediction are not sufficiently understood and tend to be biased in models. The seasonal cycle further modulates the drivers and predictability of heat waves. Climate change projections disagree on the changes in atmospheric dynamics responsible for heat waves. The proposed research takes an unconventional path to address these open questions by building a process-based hierarchy of prediction systems ranging from a dry dynamical core to a prediction system using full physics. This hierarchy approach is novel for prediction systems. By systematically adding processes to the model, the relative contribution of atmospheric dynamics and surface drivers for heat waves and their predictability can be estimated throughout the seasonal cycle and for the projected changes in heat waves with climate change. While solving a fundamental question in atmospheric fluid dynamics, the proposed research aims to significantly extend the warning horizon and thereby minimize the societal consequences for future heat waves, which are expected to increase in frequency but so far remain unpredictable. This project combines the experience and strengths of the PI in atmospheric dynamics, predictability, and their application in a timely manner by increasing the connections between the dynamics and predictability communities that will benefit the study of atmospheric fluid dynamics and predictability beyond heat waves.

Mots-clés : heat wave,atmospheric dynamics,jet stream,simplified model,model hierarchy,teleconnection
Projet ERC : DA QC (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Software Competence Center Hagenberg (Austria) — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : SCCH
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 50000.0 €

In the 1970s, researchers started to utilize quantum mechanics to address questions in computer science and information theory— establishing new research directions such as quantum computing. Now, more than four decades later, we are at the dawn of a new "computing age" in which quantum computers indeed will find its way into practical application. However, while impressive accomplishments can be observed in the physical realization of quantum computers, the development of automated tools and methods that provide assistance in the design and realization of applications for those devices is at risk of not being able to keep up with this development anymore—leaving a situation where we might have powerful quantum computers but hardly any proper means to actually use them. This project aims to provide a solution for this upcoming design gap by developing efficient and practical relevant methods for corresponding simulation, synthesis, and verification tasks. While the current state of the art severely suffers from the interdisciplinarity of quantum computing (leading to the consideration of inappropriate models, inconsistent interpretations, or "wrong" problem formulations), this project will build a bridge between the design automation community and the quantum computing community. This will allow to fully exploit the potential of design automation which is hardly utilized in quantum computing yet. Since quantum computers are reaching feasibility, the methods developed within this project will be highly demanded. Preliminary investigations conducted in preparation of this proposal already showed the potential of such an endeavor and raised significant attention in the quantum computing community and its "big players". The project plans to continue these developments on a larger scale—eventually providing the foundation for design automation methods that accomplish for quantum computing what the design automation community realized for classical electronic circuits.

Mots-clés : design automation,quantum computing,quantum circuit simulation,compilation,synthesis,verification,equivalence checking,decision diagrams,data structures,reasoning engines,search algorithms
Projet ERC : DA QC (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Software Competence Center Hagenberg (Austria) — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : SCCH
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 0.0 €

In the 1970s, researchers started to utilize quantum mechanics to address questions in computer science and information theory— establishing new research directions such as quantum computing. Now, more than four decades later, we are at the dawn of a new "computing age" in which quantum computers indeed will find its way into practical application. However, while impressive accomplishments can be observed in the physical realization of quantum computers, the development of automated tools and methods that provide assistance in the design and realization of applications for those devices is at risk of not being able to keep up with this development anymore—leaving a situation where we might have powerful quantum computers but hardly any proper means to actually use them. This project aims to provide a solution for this upcoming design gap by developing efficient and practical relevant methods for corresponding simulation, synthesis, and verification tasks. While the current state of the art severely suffers from the interdisciplinarity of quantum computing (leading to the consideration of inappropriate models, inconsistent interpretations, or "wrong" problem formulations), this project will build a bridge between the design automation community and the quantum computing community. This will allow to fully exploit the potential of design automation which is hardly utilized in quantum computing yet. Since quantum computers are reaching feasibility, the methods developed within this project will be highly demanded. Preliminary investigations conducted in preparation of this proposal already showed the potential of such an endeavor and raised significant attention in the quantum computing community and its "big players". The project plans to continue these developments on a larger scale—eventually providing the foundation for design automation methods that accomplish for quantum computing what the design automation community realized for classical electronic circuits.

Mots-clés : design automation,quantum computing,quantum circuit simulation,compilation,synthesis,verification,equivalence checking,decision diagrams,data structures,reasoning engines,search algorithms
Projet ERC : AquaLub (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering
Entité participante : University of Leeds — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

In the AquaLub project, we will translate an innovative aqueous lubricant technology, developed in the context of the ERC project LubSat, towards commercial applications. The technological focus is on an electrostatically-driven macromolecular self-assembly of naturally occurring proteins. Commercial aqueous lubricants market is significantly growing ($22 billion by 2025) with broad range of personal care and institutional care applications to enhance hydration and alleviate dryness-related pathologies of oral, ocular, vaginal, rectal and/or urethral tissues. In this context, hydrophilic polymers are the standard materials that provide sub-optimal lubrication properties significantly impairing the quality of life. Taking inspiration from highly sophisticated bio-lubricant saliva, engineered by nature, we propose a novel technology exploiting the self-assembly of proteins to design a porous mesh that acts as a nano-reservoir of water to provide the fluid film lubrication whilst the hydrophobic attachment of the proteins to the surface provide the boundary lubrication. These dual-benefits have not been achieved by any commercial solutions to date. This technology allows for substantial improvements on enhancing lubrication and sustaining hydration of biological soft surfaces, over existing commercially-available approaches. In this project, working through 4 work-packages, we will validate the techno-commercial feasibility of the aqueous lubricant formulation in various formats for chosen sectors and generate connections with key industrial players based on initial contacts established so far. Key activities in the proposed project will ensure demonstration of the up-scaling feasibility and validation of performance, market research and filing IP, which will allow us to build strategic alliances with selected industrial partners, explore licensing of the IP to these partners, and build a robust business case to take forward the commercialization of this technology.

Mots-clés : lubrication,self assembly,hydration,dry mouth,aqueous lubricant,proteins,electrostatics,xerostomia,mucin
Projet ERC : HERCULES (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : Munster Technological University — Pays : Irlande — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : MTU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

In the HERCULES project, we will improve the refractive index detection limit by 3 orders of magnitude relative to the state of the art, by implementing an on-chip optical heterodyne measurement using one of the brand-new semiconductor lasers developed during the DANCER starting grant. The detection limit (DL) is the key measure of the performance of a RI sensor and determines the smallest change in refractive index that a sensor can detect. The DL is a function of the RI sensitivity, which is the magnitude in shift of the resonant wavelength versus the change in RI of the sample, and of the sensor resolution, which characterizes the smallest possible spectral shift that can be accurately measured. The laser uses a resonant mirror comprised of a 1D photonic crystal cavity. Approximately 40% of the mode supported by the 1D PhC exists in the cladding material (in this case, the air or water of the sample) meaning the lasing wavelength is strongly affected by the sample’s refractive index. The linewidth of the laser is on the order of Megahertz which is three orders of magnitude smaller than that of silicon ring resonators typically used for RI sensing.

Mots-clés : refractive index sensor,photonic crystal,laser,optical heterodyne
Projet ERC : NeuroStemCircuit (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Entité participante : University of Basel — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2499833.0 €

In the adult mammalian brain, neural stem cells (NSCs) residing in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ), give rise to new olfactory bulb neurons and glia throughout life. Adult V-SVZ NSC are highly heterogeneous. Stem cells co-exist in quiescent and activated states and reside in regionally-distinct V-SVZ domains and produce different subtypes of olfactory bulb neurons and glia. However, whether this heterogeneity is due to intrinsic fate commitment or whether it is dynamically responsive to external changes is still debated. Moreover, the mechanisms that modulate the balance between activation and dormancy are largely unknown. It is emerging that physiological states modulate V-SVZ cell behaviour and impact adult neurogenesis. We propose to investigate whether physiologically distinct states result in the recruitment of regionally distinct pools of adult V-SVZ neural stem cells. In Aim 1, we will map the domains of stem cell activation and cell types generated in different states in male and female mice. In Aim 2, we will perform large-scale single cell sequencing to decode stem cell heterogeneity and develop novel fate mapping strategies to selectively target different stem cell populations. We will also define the connectivity of different populations of interneuron subtypes. In Aim 3, we will define how the choroid plexus and long- range innervation differentially affect V-SVZ stem cell recruitment in different states using approaches to manipulate neural circuit activity. Together these experiments will provide a conceptual breakthrough into illuminating the logic of adult neural stem cell heterogeneity, and how regionally distinct adult neural stem cells integrate long-range signals from remote brain areas to respond to signals for on-demand neurogenesis or gliogenesis.

Mots-clés : adult neural stem cell,adult neurogenesis,neural circuit,hypothalamus,choroid plexus,stem cell heterogeneity,single cell profiling,fate mapping
Projet ERC : Cosmoglobe (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : University of Oslo — Pays : Norvège — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UiO
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1999382.0 €

In the aftermath of the high-precision Planck and BICEP2 experiments, cosmology has undergone a critical transition. Before 2014, most breakthroughs came as direct results of improved detector technology and increased noise sensitivity. After 2014, the main source of uncertainty will be due to astrophysical foregrounds, typically in the form of dust or synchrotron emission from the Milky Way. Indeed, this holds as true for the study of reionization and the cosmic dawn as it does for the hunt for inflationary gravitational waves. To break through this obscuring veil, it is of utmost importance to optimally exploit every piece of available information, merging the world's best observational data with the world's most advanced theoretical models. A first step toward this ultimate goal was recently published as the Planck 2015 Astrophysical Baseline Model, an effort led and conducted by myself. Here I propose to build Cosmoglobe, a comprehensive model of the radio, microwave and sub-mm sky, covering 100 MHz to 10 THz in both intensity and polarization, extending existing models by three orders of magnitude in frequency and a factor of five in angular resolution. I will leverage a recent algorithmic breakthrough in multi-resolution component separation to jointly analyze some of the world's best data sets, including C-BASS, COMAP, PASIPHAE, Planck, SPIDER, WMAP and many more. This will result in the best cosmological (CMB, SZ, CIB etc.) and astrophysical (thermal and spinning dust, synchrotron and free-free emission etc.) component maps published to date. I will then use this model to derive the world's strongest limits on, and potentially detect, inflationary gravity waves using SPIDER observations; forecast, optimize and analyze observations from the leading next-generation CMB experiments, including LiteBIRD and S4; and derive the first 3D large-scale structure maps from CO intensity mapping from COMAP, potentially opening up a new window on the cosmic dawn.
Projet ERC : TiMaScan (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Entité participante : Universidad de Salamanca — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : USAL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 267500.0 €

In the ageing European population, cancer has become the most common cause of death. Consequently, screening programs aim at early detection of cancer, while scanning/imaging technologies, serum assays and regular biopsies aim at monitoring of treatment effectiveness to improve cure rates and increase quality-of-life, thereby also attempting to reduce health care costs. However, in many cases the screening and monitoring methods do not provide sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Consequently novel diagnostic techniques are required. Completely Novel Concept: Sensitive intra-tissue total body scanning is continuously performed by our immune cells, particularly by monocytes and macrophages. Tissue macrophages (TiMas) continuously phagocytize and digest apoptotic cells and tissue debris. In cancer, many more TiMas are present to keep the involved tissue debris-free. When TiMas have fulfilled their local tissue-cleaning task, they can migrate via lymph vessels to lymph nodes and potentially recirculate to the blood stream, where they can be detected by flow cytometry and evaluated for the contents of their phagolysosomes. With State-of-the-Art technologies, this high-risk project aims to unravel phagocytosis of cancer cells, their digestion into tissue-specific and/or cancer-specific protein fragments, the migration/recirculation of TiMas to blood, and the detection of intra-phagosomal protein fragments in blood TiMas by antibodies. Building on this information, flowcytometric scanning of blood TiMas (TiMaScan) will be developed into a novel tool for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring in oncology, focusing on colon, lung, breast and prostate cancer. TiMaScan diagnostics will be minimally-invasive (~1ml of blood), rapid, accurate, broadly available and cost-effective, only requiring a flowcytometer. The TiMaScan Concept might also be applicable for early diagnosis and disease monitoring in other medical fields, such as neurodegenerative and infectious diseases.

Mots-clés : oncology,cancer screening,treatment monitoring,flow cytometry
Projet ERC : PentaBrain (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions
Entité participante : Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : CEA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 63000.0 €

In the brain, Cys-loop receptors mediate fast neurotransmission. They function as allosteric signal transducers across the plasma membrane: upon binding of one or more neurotransmitter molecules to an extracellular site, the receptors undergo complex conformational transitions that result in transient opening of an intrinsic ion channel. The Cys-loop family comprises receptors activated by serotonin, acetylcholine, glycine and GABA. Mammalian receptors are also the targets of a legion of psycho-active and therapeutic compounds (including nicotine, benzodiazepines, anti-emetics, general anaesthetics). Our structural knowledge is currently limited to invertebrate homologues. Atomic structures mammalian receptors are therefore acutely missing in order to understand their physiological role in molecular terms, and to be able to develop new drugs targeting them. The project proposes to decipher the operation mechanism, the pharmacology and conformational transitions of mammalian Cys-loop receptors. Starting with a solid body of preliminary results, we will obtain new high-resolution structures, taking advantage of antibody-based crystallization chaperones. We will try and record for the first time a ‘molecular movie’ of the gating conformational transition in cristallo. On the way, we will also investigate the potential of antibody-based modulators of Cys-loop receptors for biomedical applications. The applicant has solved in the past the structures of a bacterial Cys-loop receptor and of the mouse serotonin receptor. The proposed research will take place at the CNRS in Grenoble, France, in a very favourable environment for structural biology.
Projet ERC : CancerFingerPrints (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : University of Cyprus — Pays : Chypre — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UCY
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

In the fight against cancer, it is well recognized that tumors are highly heterogeneous and they might differ considerably not only between tumors types but also among tumors of the same type or even for the same tumor during progression. As a result, the efficacy of standard cancer chemotherapies varies, and while some patients respond to a particular treatment, other patients do not gain any benefit and in many cases, the condition of the patient deteriorates due to adverse effects. Consequently, crucial in cancer therapy is the prediction of a patient’s response to treatment. Failure of standard therapies has led to the introduction of a new era of personalized, patient-specific treatments, which are based on the identification of biomarkers that characterize the state of a particular tumor. Many solid tumors (e.g., breast cancers and sarcomas) stiffen as they grow in a host’s normal tissue. Stiffening is caused by an increase in the structural components of the tumor. As tumor tissue becomes stiffer, mechanical forces are generated within the tumor, that cause the compression of intratumoral blood vessels, resulting in compromised vessel functionality, which leads to poor drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes. Recently, it has been demonstrated that “stress-alleviation” strategy, which uses anti-fibrotic agents to promote tumor softening, improves uniform delivery of drugs and enhances therapy. Here, we propose the use of state-of-the-art Atomic Force Microscopy-AFM techniques for the development of a NanoMechanical biomarker, which will quantify the mechanical FingerPrints of Cancer. This biomarker will aim to: (i)predict the patient’s response to treatment with chemotherapy and (ii)monitor treatment outcomes, in the case of strategies that target tumor mechanical properties (e.g., stress-alleviation therapy). Furthermore, we propose to develop an AFM-based software product to be used as a commercial tool for the measurement of the NanoMechanical biomarker.

Mots-clés : atomic force microscopy,tumor mechanics,cancer treatment prediction,biomechanics,cancer pathophysiology