Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : APOGEE (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1996848.0 €

Single-photon sources (SPSs) are systems capable of emitting photons one by one. These sources are of major importance for quantum-information science and applications. SPSs experiments generally rely on the optical excitation of two level systems of atomic-scale dimensions (single-molecules, vacancies in diamond…). Many fundamental questions related to the nature of these sources and the impact of their environment remain to be explored: Can SPSs be addressed with atomic-scale spatial accuracy? How do the nanometer-scale distance or the orientation between two (or more) SPSs affect their emission properties? Does coherence emerge from the proximity between the sources? Do these structures still behave as SPSs or do they lead to the emission of correlated photons? How can we then control the degree of entanglement between the sources? Can we remotely excite the emission of these sources by using molecular chains as charge-carrying wires? Can we couple SPSs embodied in one or two-dimensional arrays? How does mechanical stress or localised plasmons affect the properties of an electrically-driven SPS? Answering these questions requires probing, manipulating and exciting SPSs with an atomic-scale precision. This is beyond what is attainable with an all-optical method. Since they can be confined to atomic-scale pathways we propose to use electrons rather than photons to excite the SPSs. This unconventional approach provides a direct access to the atomic-scale physics of SPSs and is relevant for the implementation of these sources in hybrid devices combining electronic and photonic components. To this end, a scanning probe microscope will be developed that provides simultaneous spatial, chemical, spectral, and temporal resolutions. Single-molecules and defects in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides are SPSs that will be studied in the project, and which are respectively of interest for fundamental and more applied issues.
Projet ERC : SLEEPCONTROL (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Entité participante : Philipps University of Marburg — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 246884.28 €

Sleep is essential for human and animal life and is broadly conserved. The nervous system induces sleep through the activation of sleep-active sleep-promoting neurons but the key mechanisms of sleep control remain to be elucidated. Recent work from my lab showed that the C. elegans nervous system contains a single sleep-active sleep-promoting neuron, called RIS, which is GABAergic and peptidergic as is its vertebrate counterpart. C. elegans shows sleep behavior and allows the easy combination of behavioral assays with functional neural imaging and genetics. Here I propose to study the single neuron RIS as a highly simplified model of a sleep-active neuron. This is a unique and novel approach to sleep research and my expertise on sleep behavior in C. elegans puts me into a pole position to study sleep. I will elucidate the molecular mechanism of activation of sleep-active neurons, analyze the mechanism of homeostasis of sleep-active neurons, and determine the molecular mechanisms by which sleep-active neurons induce sleep in the nervous system. I will combine transcriptional profiling of sleep-active neurons with physiological assays such as functional neural imaging, genetic screening, optogenetics, and functional molecular analysis of mutants. Using the highly simplified C. elegans model, I will boost sleep research and gain mechanistic insight into the regulation of sleep behavior through sleep-active neurons. This will be the first time that sleep-active neurons have been dissected in this way and I expect to identify novel conserved molecular and circuitry mechanisms. This work should provide the basis for understanding the more complex systems that control sleep in vertebrates and for understanding human sleep disorders.

Mots-clés : c  elegans,calcium imaging
Projet ERC : SleepBalance (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Entité participante : University of Tübingen — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2449593.75 €

Sleep supports the formation of long-term memory, a function described as an active systems consolidation process. Concurrently, a long tradition of theorizing exists that sleep serves to forget unimportant memory. Paradoxically, the crucial behavioral demonstration that sleep induces forgetting is currently entirely missing. I hypothesize that memory processing during sleep is balanced: Sleep consolidates abstracted schema-like memory and this process is coupled to active forgetting of episodic detail. This twofold function of sleep is most prominently expressed, with a time delay, after learning large amounts of information exhausting the limited capacities of memory processing during sleep. It is particularly pronounced during development when due to a lack of preexisting knowledge, the brain faces conditions of permanent information overload. I will combine human and rodent studies to test the behavioral predictions of this hypothesis and to characterize the underlying neural mechanisms. Adopting the active systems consolidation framework, I target the following aims: 1) to provide direct behavioral evidence that with high information load, sleep compared to wakefulness induces forgetting of episodic detail in favor of consolidating abstracted schema-like memory. 2) to clarify how memory abstraction and forgetting are linked to slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep, their characteristic EEG oscillations, and underlying forming and pruning of synapses. Specifically, I hypothesize that spindles support memory abstraction whereas slow oscillations, hippocampal ripples and REM theta concurrently contribute to both memory abstraction and forgetting. 3) to demonstrate enhanced sleep-dependent memory abstraction and forgetting during early development. This project by providing first-time systematic evidence that and how sleep transforms memory to induce forgetting, will greatly advance our understanding of sleep’s memory function and its multiple applications.

Mots-clés : memory,sleep
Projet ERC : RegRNA (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Entité participante : Hebrew University of Jerusalem — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : HUJI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2278125.0 €

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are major regulators of gene expression in bacteria, exerting their regulation in trans by base pairing with target RNAs. Traditionally, sRNAs were considered post-transcriptional regulators, mainly regulating translation by blocking or exposing the ribosome binding site. However, accumulating evidence suggest that sRNAs can exploit the base pairing to manipulate their targets in different ways, assisting or interfering with various molecular processes involving the target RNA. Currently there are a few examples of these alternative regulation modes, but their extent and implications in the cellular circuitry have not been assessed. Here we propose to take advantage of the power of RNA-seq-based technologies to develop innovative approaches to address these challenges transcriptome-wide. These approaches will enable us to map the regulatory mechanism a sRNA employs per target through its effect on a certain molecular process. For feasibility we propose studying three processes: RNA cleavage by RNase E, pre-mature Rho-dependent transcription termination, and transcription elongation pausing. Finding targets regulated by sRNA manipulation of the two latter processes would be especially intriguing, as it would suggest that sRNAs can function as gene-specific transcription regulators (alluded to by our preliminary results). As a basis of our research we will use the network of ~2400 sRNA-target pairs in Escherichia coli, deciphered by RIL-seq (a method we recently developed for global in vivo detection of sRNA targets). Revealing the regulatory mechanism(s) employed per target will shed light on the principles underlying the integration of distinct sRNA regulation modes in specific regulatory circuits and cellular contexts, with direct implications to synthetic biology and pathogenic bacteria. Our study may change the way sRNAs are perceived, from post-transcriptional to versatile regulators that apply different regulation modes to different targets.

Mots-clés : gene expression regulation,small rnas
Projet ERC : MiCARF (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : University of Warwick — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 149930.0 €

Small scale continuous synthesis in catalytic flow reactors is recognized as one of the major technologies that would enable and even boost process intensification and it would allow to develop substantially cleaner, safer and more energy efficient chemical processes. The leading fine chemicals companies are already implementing restructuring programs targeted at the reduction of large scale chemical manufacturing and eliminations of large chemical plants. The scalability of the catalytic flow reactors remains a challenge due to (i) technical difficulties to coat a large number of parallel channels with a catalytic coating in a reproducible way and (ii) to equally distribute multiphase flow over a large number of channels. These problems have been addressed and solved in the related ERC project. In this PoC project, I will combine these two concepts to develop a multichannel capillary catalytic reactor which would be able to increase production rate up to a kg/day scale. A “plug-and-play” platform for small-scale distributed synthesis of fine chemicals will be constructed and the commercial potential of the new reactor concept will be explored. The market analysis will examine the market drivers, market gaps, market share between different market segments across the world. Potential industrial partners will be selected such as contract research manufacturing, licensees and potential customers. The outcome of this PoC project will be an exclusive licence of the patent application to a contract research manufacturing company that has the expertise and resources to further develop and commercialise the reactor prototype towards a fully-licensed industrial apparatus. The performance of the apparatus will be evaluated by an end user company. By commercialising the device, this project will facilitate small-scale production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals via environmentally benign catalytic routes.

Mots-clés : fine chemicals synthesis,flow reactor,catalytic coatings
Projet ERC : SmartEater (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : University of Salzburg — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : PLUS
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 61250.0 €

Smartphones are ubiquitous in all age groups and socioeconomic levels and digitalization of various life domains is in full progress. While there are several areas where skepticism is justified, the personal health domain still holds high promises, particularly when applied in specific settings. The proposed mHealth app SmartEater provides intelligent mobile logging of stress, and eating behavior as a basis for intervention and follow-up care in clinics treating eating disorders and obesity. Current apps require frequent and cumbersome entries, resulting in low user adherence and poor data quality. Evidence for their usefulness is often missing. Further, therapeutic content is not personalized. In SmartEater, users repeatedly enter data on experienced craving for foods and stress. SmartEater then ‘learns’ from the user through sophisticated machine learning algorithms: data from smartphone usage patterns (e.g. screen-on time, calls, messages, internet traffic) and sensor data (e.g. movement, background noise) are combined to substitute for manual user input, thereby progressively reducing user burden. Temporal pattern analysis of individual time-series allows prediction of stress and craving bouts into the near future. Such predictions allows the app to respond to upcoming eating 'crises’ e.g. overeating/binge eating and launch situation-appropriate tips that have been developed individually for the user during in-patient treatment. SmartEater will be routed in psychological models of eating behavior and rigorously tested in the described population to evaluate efficacy. Due to the sensitive nature of such data, SmartEater enforces strict privacy protection. Targeted markets include health insurances which profit from improved patient health and successful transfer into daily life after professional treatment as well as clinics with an eating/weight disorder focus in German speaking coutries.

Mots-clés : smartphone app,prediction,stress,eating,ehealth,mhealth,machine learning,eating disorders,obesity
Projet ERC : MABSTER (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Entité participante : Technical University of Denmark — Pays : Danemark — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : DTU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

Snakebite envenoming is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) that each year affects 2.5 million victims and kills >100,000, unless they are treated with antivenom. Conventional antivenoms, derived from immunized animals, inflict serum sickness and anaphylaxis in patients, and are costly to manufacture. Monoclonal human antibodies with special toxin-binding properties that are sensitive towards regulation by their microenvironment (e.g. pH), which may be discovered using phage display selection, may solve this issue, providing significant societal impact by enabling the development of cost-effective antivenoms to victims in low and middle-income countries. In this project, phage display selection, high-density peptide microarray technology, and antibody engineering techniques will in three scientific objectives be harnessed in the pursuit of developing novel methodologies for discovery of therapeutic human monoclonal antibodies that are recyclable (can neutralize more than one snake toxin per antibody), broadly cross-reactive (can neutralize different types of snake toxins), and that are both broadly cross-reactive and recyclable at the same time. This will open up for entirely new ways of designing biotherapeutics against complex indications, such snakebite envenoming, but also cancer, infectious, and parasitic diseases, where the targets can be elusive due to hyper-mutability. The ERC Starting Grant offers a unique opportunity to consolidate me as an international key scientific researcher in this field of antibody discovery and NTDs. I have already independently led a research group in this area for 2 years, I have in-depth experience with toxin-targeted antibody discovery (my dr.tech dissertation similar to the German “habilitation” will be submitted during fall 2018), and I am already involved in high level policy in the field of snakebite envenoming via my role as a scientific advisor for the World Health Organization.

Mots-clés : phage display technology,antibody engineering,snakebite envenoming,recombinant antivenom,monoclonal antibodies,toxin neutralization,antibody discovery
Projet ERC : SoWe (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ETH Zurich
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 149921.0 €

SoWe represents a unique opportunity for the commercialisation of a unique stretchable electronic system that enables the design and manufacturing of large-area, high performance electronic skins. Prof. Lacour and her team, as part of the ERC project ESKIN, build upon a breakthrough innovation - an intrinsically stretchable metallization compatible with standard circuit fabrication and components assembly. These stretchable circuit boards will unlock the form-factor of existing planar and rigid circuitry and contribute to materialize the "Internet of Things”. SoWe may be integrated and mounted on the human body, robotic surfaces or passive objects. Our technology enables active surfaces to conform to and improve the perceptive sense of objects, and facilitate network connectivity. Similar to human skin, SoWe will encode sensory information such as contact, applied pressure or movement and transmit the information. Our innovation provides an enormous untapped potential and can transform human - machine interactions. No alternative technology combining design simplicity with high electromechanical performance is available today on the market. In SoWe we aim to 1) establish proof of concept of a new class of stretchable electronic skin, enabled by biphasic solid-liquid thin metallic conductors at industrial scale and to 2) show the potential commercialization purposes. Our stretchable metallization is unique and can be batch fabricated on a wafer scale. To date, all manufacturing processes have been optimized at lab scale. Moreover, we will show the commercialization purpose by defining the exact business strategy, model and positioning – and partnering with key enablers (business-related and/or technological) for commercial success. During this project, we will gain technical and commercial proof of concept, which will provide us with the necessary information regarding potential commercialization routes.

Mots-clés : mechanical sensors,elastomer,skin,thin film devices
Projet ERC : EVILTONGUE (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Entité participante : Hungarian Academy of Sciences — Pays : Hongrie — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : MTA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 777580.39 €

Social norms in general, and norms of cooperation in particular, are the cement of all human societies. For the difficult problems of the maintenance and enforcement of social norms and of cooperation, humans have developed surprisingly complex solutions. Reputation mechanisms and gossip are certainly among the compound informal solutions. According to common wisdom, gossip channels mainly negative and often fictitious information. If it is so, how can dishonest gossip and the resulting biased reputations legitimize social order and promote cooperation? This is the main puzzle we tackle in the proposed project exploiting a wide scale of instruments. We use analytical modeling and agent-based simulation to derive hypotheses. We test simple hypotheses in small group experiments. We develop new methodological tools to appropriately analyze the triadic nature of gossip embedded in network flows of information. We utilize dynamic network datasets from primary and secondary school classes, and we gather qualitative and quantitative information from organizations to test conditional hypotheses about the role that gossip plays in reputation and cooperation in different developmental and social contexts of life. In addition, we apply new communication technologies currently under development to explore the hidden world of gossip and the dynamics of reputations in dormitories and organizations. With the insights gained, we can overcome common stereotypes about gossip and highlight how gossip is related to credible reputational signals, cooperation, and social order. Expected results will help us to outline the conditions that can promote cooperativeness in work groups, and they will help to construct successful prevention strategies of social exclusion and other potentially harmful consequences of the evil tongue.

Mots-clés : evolution of cooperation,reputation,gossip,social networks,signaling,honesty,agent based models,experiments,schools,organisations
Projet ERC : COLSOC (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Social World and Its Diversity
Entité participante : University of Bremen — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1448750.0 €

Social protection has been one of the most popular instruments for promoting human development across the globe. However, the great majority of the global population is not or only partly covered by social protection. Especially in developing countries it is often the very poorest who do not receive essential social benefits. This is highly problematic since inclusive social protection is assumed to be a key factor for national productivity, global economic growth and domestic stability. Social protection in many developing countries can be traced back to colonial times. Surprisingly, the influence of colonialism has been a blind spot for existing theories and empirical studies of comparative social policy. In this project it is argued that the colonial legacy in terms of the imperial strategy of the colonial power, the characteristics of the colonized society and the interplay between the two is crucial in explaining early and contemporary social protection. Hence, the main objective of this project is to systematically understand how colonialism has shaped the remarkable differences in social protection and its postcolonial outcomes. Given the paucity of our information and understanding of social protection in former colonies, an interactive dataset on the characteristics, origins and outcomes of social protection will be developed including comprehensive data on former British and French colonies from the beginning of the 20th century until today. The dataset will be backed by insights derived from four case studies elucidating the causal mechanisms between the colonial legacy and early and contemporary social protection. The proposed project breaks new ground by improving our understanding of why social protection in some developing countries has led to more inclusive societies while reinforcing existing inequalities in others. Such an understanding is a prerequisite in informing the contemporary struggle against poverty and social inequality.