Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Biological control of broomrapes (BIOBROOM)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-15
End date: 2010-10-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 166563.13
EU funding (EUR): 166563.13
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Parasitic weeds from the genus Orobanche considerably damage crop plants due to withdrawal of water, minerals and carbohydrates. The growth of the hosts is retarded and yield losses range from 5 to 100%. The proposed project is dealing with tritrophic aspects of the host-plant selection by the oligophagous fly Phytomyza orobanchia, a natural enemy of Orobanche species. The novel aspect and the main objective of the project is isolation and identification of Orobanche volatiles and Orobanche-induced host plant volatiles that attract P. orobanchia to its host, Orobanche spp. In order to address this problem, we will collect headspace volatiles of vegetative as well as flowering Orobanche spp. alone, of its hosts and of the combination of host and Orobanche. The headspace samples will be analysed using GC-MS and used for the identification of insect-behaviour-effecting compounds using GC-EAG analyses and flight tunnel experiments. The effectiveness of selected volatiles will be tested in field experiments. The results of this work are expected to improve the efficacy of biological control of Orobanche spp. e.g. through positive effects of selected kairomones on the efficacy of P. orobanchia; increased attraction to its host, mass trapping and redistribution and attraction of flies to use them as vectors of disease into the Orobanche population. The host institution will be Wageningen University (Wageningen, The Netherlands). The total duration of the proposed project will be 24 months through 2008-2010. The project will help, through the fellow, to join multidisciplinary knowledge in the research field. The training and new skills obtained will make the applicant more competitive, will enable him to extent his knowledge and will give the researcher the boost he needs to reach professional independence.

Keywords: plant biochemistry,entomology,plant pests,orobanche spp.,phytomyza orobanchia,diptera,agromyzidae,chemical ecology,plant volatiles,host-plant selection,tritrophic interactions,gc-ms
Regulatory roles of calcium-dependent protein kinases in the Plasmodium life cycle (PLASMODIUM CDPKS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-01
End date: 2010-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168823.92
EU funding (EUR): 168823.92
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of the proposed project is a characterization of a set of unique and understudied kinases that have essential functions in Apicomplexan life cycle control. These kinases, which interestingly are only found in plants and protists and not in animals or fungi, are calcium-dependent and are thought to allow for a translation of intra- or extracellular Ca2+ signals into an appropriate cellular response. The specific objectives of this proposal are (1) functional studies of two Plasmodium calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPK1 and CDPK5) to elucidate their regulatory role in the Plasmodium life cycle, and (2) to validate these proteins as essential signaling molecules that can serve as drug targets in an attempt to effectively treat Plasmodium infection/malaria. Our proposed studies involve the construction of transgenic parasites that express epitope-tagged copies of CDPK1 and CDPK5, as well as state-of-the-art conditional knock-out and chemical genetics approaches to investigate the biological function of these proteins. In addition, a collaboration with the biophysics laboratory of Professor Jane Endicott at the University of Oxford is proposed, to produce crystallized protein for structural analysis.

Keywords: parasitology,malaria,plasmodium,calcium-dependent kinases
Strategic Analysis of Flow Networks (STRATEGIC FLOWS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-12-01
End date: 2010-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150702.27
EU funding (EUR): 150702.27
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Thanks to the decreased cost of transportation and communication, the world became a densely connected network. This is particularly true for economics. Regional developments affect the rest of the world. Similarly, global trends influence all regions. International trade connects world markets to the extent that the world prices are determined by a global process. The price of petrol is influenced by the Chinese economy, Middle East politics and the weather in the North Sea. The market for natural gas presents an even more complex example. There exists no world price for natural gas and the local prices are determined by the structure of the pipelines. Each country affects the price through its connections. This is also the case for commonly shared natural resources like fisheries, fresh water sources etc. A structural analysis is required to understand the patterns of interaction and to quantify the influence that countries or markets have on each other. The study of interconnected units, Graph Theory, is a well established branch of mathematics. It provides us with tools and techniques of structural analysis. We will use it to examine the networks formed by the suppliers and demanders in international markets. We will determine which links are crucial for connecting the network. We will quantify and measure network concepts like centrality, connectivity, denseness, etc. The economic units that form a network act strategically. Each economic agent takes into account the effect its actions will have on others. This makes our analysis even more interesting. The network structure influences agents’ decisions and plays a strategic role. We will make use of Game Theory to analyse strategic behavior. We will determine what is the best strategy for an economic unit in the network. We will explore how multiple units can improve their position through connections and/or cooperation.

Keywords: networks of flows,resources management,game theory,graph theory
Vector Control for Visceral and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (VCVCL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-07
End date: 2010-10-06
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 167689.9
EU funding (EUR): 167689.9
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) & cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are parasitic diseases transmitted to humans by the bite of infected insects (sand flies). VL is fatal if not treated and CL may cause facial disfigurement both are more likely to affect children under 15 years old in European as well as S. Mediterranean countries. Precise figures are not available but reports suggest that between 36,000 & 65,000 cases may occur in endemic Mediterranean (including European) countries annually. The proportion of VL cases varies from 3 to over 40% depending on the country. The EU and WHO recognise the significance of the health problem and have called for research to develop innovative tools to control sand flies as vaccines are not available. This project addresses the concerns of the EU and WHO by developing an alternative vector control strategy that targets the insects responsible for transmitting VL and CL, leading to reduced disease transmission. This project will determine through lab and field based behavioural and chemical studies if sex pheromones are present in Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. papatasi (vectors of VL & CL) and determine if they have practical applications. This approach is also being used by the Keele research group, funded by the Wellcome Trust, to develop sex pheromone based strategies for controlling the S. American vector of VL, Lutzomyia longipalpis. The success of the project depends of the complimentary skills of the MC IIF and the research group at Keele University. The MC IIF has significant skills in maintaining colonies, handling and understanding the insects behaviour. The Keele group has significant ability to isolate, identify and synthesize insect sex pheromones and to translate the results of bench research into practical outcomes. This research will lead to a new, environmentally benign, method of controlling sand flies that transmit VL and CL in European and other countries leading to a reduction in disease transmission.

Keywords: behavioural biology,entomology
Search for the sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with the Pierre Auger Observatory: from Auger South data to seamless integration of trigger and aperture for Auger North for full-sky coverage (AUGERCRSOURCE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-01
End date: 2010-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 141386.06
EU funding (EUR): 141386.06
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The key to identifying the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays lies in the detection of anisotropies in the distribution of arrival directions. This proposal regards the study of anisotropies with the Pierre Auger Observatory, an international project with significant European contribution, consisting of two matching cosmic ray detectors, one in each hemisphere, for full sky coverage. The Southern Auger Observatory in Argentina is taking data and approaching completion in 2008 with an instrumented area of 3000 km2; the design and R&D phase for the Northern Auger Observatory to be built in Colorado, USA, with an area of 10000 km2, is in progress. The present proposal provides a bridge between the two parts of the Auger project through the study of the exposure for searching the sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. On one aspect of the work, the proponent will conduct analysis of anisotropies, at small and large scales, with the data available from the Southern Observatory. These analysis will start from the study of the trigger, aperture and stability of the detector. Then, based on this, the proponent will work on the project of a new trigger for the Northern Observatory to realize a seamless exposure with respect to the Southern Observatory. Such a proposal will allow the applicant, an experienced researcher in the field of cosmic ray data analysis, to diversify her skills by applying them to a novel detector, and to acquire new competences from the experience of data processing of the Auger group at the host institution. This group also has an important role in the design of the electronics for the Northern Observatory and in the layout of the Auger North proposal. The group’s recognized expertise in the project of instrumentation for astroparticle physics and strong involvement in physics organization will allow the proponent to widen her competences both from the technical and managerial point of view

Keywords: physical sciences,astroparticle physics,cosmic ray physics and instrumentation,cosmic rays sources and origin,extensive air showers
Novel Antimicrobials from Endophytes of Northern Medicinal Plants (TEJAM)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Finland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-04-01
End date: 2010-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 173641.24
EU funding (EUR): 173641.24
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Antibacterial resistance is spreading globally at an alarming rate and continues to increase. New potent antimicrobials are therefore continually needed. In recent years, new antibacterial compounds have mainly been additions to the existing classes of drugs and truly new structures have rarely been developed. The derivatives of existing drugs however raise bacterial resistance much faster than completely new compounds. Pharmaceutical industry has little interest in developing new structures due to high investment and low profit expectancy. To overcome the chronic problem of antibiotic resistance, totally new compounds and approaches are required, involving collaboration of researchers from various disciplines, as well as high societal investments. The TEJAM project involves the highly experienced Fellow, Dr. M.V. Tejesvi (University of Mysore, India) and Departments of Biology and Chemistry at the University of Oulu, Finland. Both participants (Fellow and Host Institution) have a similar history of screening for bioactive compounds from endophytes, internal plant microbes. The project aims at i) discovery of totally new antimicrobial, as well as antioxidant and antihypertensive compounds from one of the richest untapped natural sources, endophytes, ii) development of new methods for efficient drug discovery from endophytes and iii) increased international collaboration in the area of discovery of novel bioactive compounds. During the TEJAM project, new high-throughput methods will be tested and used for screening and developing new leads for the pharmaceutical industry. TEJAM is utilizing and optimizing state-of-the-art methods, such as HT robotic screening and metagenomics, on the endophyte research. The project is closely linked to two consortia focused on research of new antimicrobials and will potentially strengthen the basis for business and pharmaceutical industry in Europe.

Keywords: antimicrobial,natural products,endophytic fungi,bioactive compound (bc),drug discovery
Magnetic mechanisms at the nanoscale studied by themal probe: nanocaloriometry and heat released. (NANOCAL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-01
End date: 2010-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162509.69
EU funding (EUR): 162509.69
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The continuous reduction of particle size in materials science has opened up new possibilities of producing materials at small length scales. The potential applications derived from the new properties of these materials span along multiple disciplines. In particular, magnetism at the nanoscale is the basis for new spintronic physics and devices. Whereas the production of nanoparticles, nanoclusters or multilayers of magnetic materials is widely spread, the understanding of phase transitions, specifically magnetic interactions (exchange bias, exchange spring) or magnetization reversal at the nanoscale remain a scientific challenge. In this project we propose to study nanomagnetic materials through their thermal properties or signatures in order to extract specific properties which cannot be deduced from regular magnetic characterization (magnetization, susceptibility measurement) more commonly encountered in the magnetism community. Calorimetry is an important tool to obtain information about magnetic phase transitions in bulk materials. Recently, highly sensitive sensors have been developed allowing measurements with a high resolution on ng samples. The development of suitable thermal sensor relies on a common principle, the use of a suspended membrane to isolate the core of the device from the heat sink. At low temperatures the calorimetric method giving the best results in terms of sensitivity is ac calorimetry. The group of Bourgeois has recently reach unprecedented sensitivities in the attojoule range. In the present project we will take benefit of this achievement to study the thermodynamic signatures in magnetic nanoparticles and in bilayer coupled films through magnetic exchange. The present approach will provide new insights in the understanding of the appearance of phase transitions at the nanometer scale (not yet understood) or in the magnetization reversal mechanism in exchange bias bilayer: the two major goals of our project.

Keywords: experimental physics,nanosystems,nanocalorimetry,electronic,magnetic and superconductive properties,exchange bias,phase transitions,microsystems,instrumentation technology.
Novel Photodissociable Ruthenium-Based Anticancer Drugs (PHOTORUACD)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-07-01
End date: 2010-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 178307.05
EU funding (EUR): 178307.05
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The discovery of cisplatin, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), as an anticancer drug is a landmark of modern inorganic medicinal chemistry. Platinum drugs are the best-selling antitumor drugs in the world and they are effective in treating a variety of cancers. During the last decade, the search for new anticancer compounds has been widened to other transition metals. Ruthenium complexes in particular have shown considerable promise because of their rich synthetic chemistry, the range of oxidation states, the common octahedral geometry, and finally also because of their rich photochemistry. The fundamental goal of this project is to investigate the possibility of developing new types of hybrid ruthenium-based chemotherapeutic drugs that can be activated by irradiation with low-energy light. When irradiated these molecules form reactive aqua species and, at the same time, release biologically active ligands. The ligands can interfere with the cell cycle at a number of targets, while the metal-containing aqua species inhibit mitosis by binding to DNA. The proposed approach can lead to development of milder, more specific, and tunable drugs which can decrease the negative side-effects of chemotherapy. Inorganic and organic synthetic methodologies, advanced spectroscopic and analytical techniques will be used together with biochemical and medical methods to pursue the objectives of the project. The multi- and interdisciplinary nature of the research will prompt the applicant to acquire practical and theoretical skills on chemical biology and medical chemistry, to improve his independent thinking and leadership qualities, enhancing his scientific competencies and helping the applicant to attain an independent position.

Keywords: bioinorganic,medicinal inorganic,metallodrugs,coordination chemistry,metal complexes,ruthenium complexes,anticancer,transition metals,photoactivation
The AdS/CFT correspondence : a window on Cosmological Singularities (ADS-CFTSINGULARITIES)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-13
End date: 2011-09-30
Duration (months): 33.0
Total project cost (EUR): 216121.65
EU funding (EUR): 216121.65
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The concept of symmetry has always been a powerful guide in the formulation of fundamental interactions. It will certainly be crucial in one of the main challenges of contemporary physics : reconcile General Relativity and quantum mechanics. In this context, the understanding of the fate of cosmological singularities and of the very nature of spacetime is puzzling. It has been shown that gravitational theories are naturally related to hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebras in the BKL limit, i.e. in the vicinity of cosmological singularities. More precisely, the asymptotic dynamics of the fields is equivalent to that of a free massless particle interrupted by collisions against infinite potential walls. The set of walls determine a « billiard plane » which is, for particular theories, identifiable with the fundamental Weyl chamber of some Kac-Moody algebras. To analyse further this connection, coset actions explicitly invariant under these Kac-Moody algebras have been constructed and compared with (super)gravity theories. Partial results enforce this gravity/coset correspondence. To make further progress, an approach able to deal with quantum effects will certainly be enlightening. A window to a quantum description of singularities is opened by the celebrated AdS/CFT conjecture which is a realisation of the holographic principle in string theory. Our purpose is to analyse the cosmological singularities via the AdS/CFT correspondence and to search for the Kac-Moody algebraic structure in the dual picture. In this perspective we will generalise the known big bang/big crunch solutions with AdS boundary conditions and investigate their CFT dual. Next, to recover the Kac-Moody algebras in the dual approach, we will establish a dictionary between the ''Billiard description" and "CFT quantities". This will bring new tools to understand the very meaning of resolving singularities and a path towards the idenfication of the symmetries of quantum gravity.

Keywords: gravitation,quantum field theory,cosmology,group theory,singularities,quantum gravity,infinite dimensional lie algebras