Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Post-ingestive effects on mesolimbic circuitry (POST-INGEST MESOLIMB)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-10-01
End date: 2018-09-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Recent decades have seen a rapid rise in the prevalence of obesity across the globe. This rise can be attributed, at least in part, to overconsumption of so-called junk foods, which are highly palatable and densely caloric. These foods, in particular, drive activity in the brain's mesolimbic circuitry. The mesolimbic system - primarily comprising dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens cells that they project to - responds to environmental stimuli, especially rewarding stimuli, to generate appropriate behaviour. These circuits are heavily implicated in drug addiction and, accordingly, obesity is increasingly being conceptualized along similar lines as other addictions, e.g. as involving dysfuncyion of reward processing. With respect to food responses, what is currently unclear is how the post-ingestive consequences associated with food, i.e. their caloric and nutritional content, interacts with the sensory qualities to drive mesolimbic activity and associated behaviours. In this proposal, I will use a behavioural model known as flavour-nutrient conditioning to explore the precise role for post-ingestive signals in motivated behaviour. This form of conditioning uses direct infusion of nutrients into the stomach to vary the caloric load associated with different taste/food stimuli. In Aim 1, real-time dopamine measurements will be made with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry while rats respond and/or receive rewards that have previously been conditioned with either intragastric nutrient (CS+) or intragastric water (CS-). In Aim 2, ex vivo tissue slices will be taken from rats at various times after the induction of flavour-nutrient conditioning so that the cellular correlates of this process can be determined using whole cell electrophysiology. Obtaining this grant will help me transition back into the European system after spending over 6 years as a postdoc in the US and will be an important step towards establishing my own laboratory.

Keywords: dopamine,nucleus accumbens,ventral tegmental area,post-ingestive,flavour-nutrient conditioning,motivated behaviour,reward,medium spiny neurons,voltammetry,electrophysiology,optogenetics
Use of EGF-R antagonists for the treatment of chronic infections and tumor growth (EGF-R FOR IMMUNITY)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2018-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

FoxP3 expressing regulatory T-cells play an important role in the induction of peripheral tolerance and the prevention of auto-immune responses. How the functionality of regulatory T-cells is regulated at the site of inflammation remains poorly understood. We just recently discovered that the functionality of regulatory T-cells is regulated via the EGF-R that is expressed by activated regulatory T-cells. In in vitro suppression assays the presence of the EGF-like growth factor Amphiregulin significantly enhanced the suppressive capacity of regulatory T-cells and, in vivo, Amphiregulin-induced signals enabled regulatory T-cells to induce tolerance against innocuous antigens. This effect was blocked upon application of EGF-R antagonists (Zaiss et al. 2013). Based on these findings, the objectives of this proposal are: 1.a) To determine the role of regulatory T-cells during tumor therapy; in specific during induced lymphopenia in the context of adoptive cell transfer (ACT) based tumor therapy. 1.b) To determine whether EGF-R inhibitors can suppress regulatory T-cell function such that they enhance the efficacy of ACT based tumor therapy? 2) To determine whether smallpox viruses use their virus-encoded EGF-like growth factors to enhance regulatory T-cell function, and thus as an immune escape mechanism? This will answer the question whether interference with regulatory T-cell function explains for the immune-stimulatory effect of EGF-R inhibitor treatment, during vaccinia virus infections. 3) To determine whether we can develop an EGF-R inhibitor that selectively targets regulatory T-cells, and thus keeps all other functions of the EGF-R, for example in tissue homeostasis, intact? Taken together, this proposed project tests a novel therapeutic approach by which we expect to have hit a so far unrecognized, therapeutic “Achilles’ heel” of Tregs, i.e. via the regulation of Treg functionality by EGF-R ligands.

Keywords: immune regulation,tumor immuno-therapy,viral immune escape mechanisms
Multidimensional analysis of signaling during normal hematopoietic differentiation and stress-induced regeneration (BLOODY SIGNALS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2015-03-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Hematopoieic stem cells (HSCs) are characterized by their ability to self-renew and differentiate into cells of all hematopoietic lineages. During steady-state, HSCs are mostly quiescent and responsible for normal hematopoietic differentiation. In cases of stress such as infection or injury, HSCs need to be activated and repair the hematopoeitic system in a regenerative response that involves synchronous and hierarchical replacement of the hematopoietic lineages. Multiple signaling pathways constantly specify a complex network of stimuli that HSCs need to decode and act on. Rapid recovery after injury is crucial for patients receiving myeloablative treatments, or suffering from a hematologic malignancy. It is therefore important to understand how signaling pathways control HSC responses during normal hematopoietic differentiation and stress induced regeneration. Our goal is to use zebrafish genetics and genome-wide techniques to understand how signaling pathways synergize and integrate with the internal hematopoietic program and control normal hematopoietic differentiation and stress-induced regeneration. Ultimately our approach may reveal new players of hematopoietic regeneration that can be exploited therapeutically.

Keywords: hematopoietic stem cells,stress-induced regeneration,hematopoietic differentiation,signaling,zebrafish,ifn,tnf,wnt,bmp.
Translational Regulation of Gene Expression by the Nascent Polypeptide Chain (TRANSARREST)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2018-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Following initiation of protein synthesis, the nascent polypeptide must journey through the exit tunnel of the ribosome. Although this has typically been deemed a passive process, it is established that certain peptide sequences interact with rRNA components and ribosomal proteins lining the walls of the tunnel to bring protein synthesis to a complete halt. In many cases, translational arrest is dependent upon the presence of a small cofactor – such as an amino acid or an antibiotic – acting in concert with the specific peptide being synthesized. In order to gain a deeper insight into the process of nascent chain-mediated translational arrest, I propose to focus on two complementary objectives: First, I will obtain high-resolution structures of ribosome nascent chain (RNC) complexes by X-ray crystallography in order to understand the mechanistic aspects of this process. Current strategies for preparing RNC complexes rely on cell-free expression systems and produce samples of varying quality and unknown stoichiometry. Here, I propose to prepare peptidyl-tRNAs by attaching chemically synthesized peptides onto tRNAs expressed in vivo, using small RNA enzymes known as a flexizymes. Peptidyl-tRNAs obtained in this manner will be added to the ribosome in trans to obtain RNC complexes, thereby sidestepping some of the problems that result from ribosomal peptide synthesis in cis. Second I will explore the functional diversity of nascent chain-mediated arrest by developing an in vitro selection/evolution method that will enable the identification of cis-regulatory nascent peptides capable of inhibiting the ribosome with the help of small molecules. By integrating the structure and sequence data obtained from our studies, we will develop a predictive algorithm for identifying regulatory peptide sequences within genomic data and we will begin to assess the biological extent and distribution of nascent chain-mediated events in a systematic manner.

Keywords: ribosome,antibiotics,translational arrest,nascent peptide,translation,protein synthesis,regulation of gene expression,crystallography,structural biology,in vitro selection,flexizyme
Sparse Regression Codes (SPARC)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2018-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Modern communication networks are constantly growing in size, speed and sophistication. Applications such as streaming multimedia and cloud computing consume ever-increasing amounts of bandwidth in wireless networks and the Internet. New kinds of networks are being built for sensing, communication and coordination in applications as diverse as transportation, security, power grids, and infrastructure monitoring. All these applications demand a high degree of reliability and energy efficiency, in addition to having low delay tolerance. To meet these demands in the face of rapidly growing data volume, it is critical to have fast, rate-optimal codes for data transmission and compression. The project aims to develop low-complexity, rate-optimal codes using the framework of high-dimensional sparse regression. Using the sparse regression methodology, we will construct codes whose rates approach the optimal information-theoretic limits with low-complexity coding algorithms for a large class of communication and compression problems. This class includes Gaussian channels and sources, which are important in practice. First, the codes will be designed for the basic problems of point-to-point communication and lossy compression. The codes will then serve as building blocks which can be combined to implement coding schemes for various network settings involving distributed communication and compression. The final goal, therefore, is to develop a library of low-complexity, rate-optimal codes for a variety of network models such as multi-access, broadcast, and interference channels.

Keywords: information theory,communications,coding,networks,statistical inference
cmos-compatible nonlinear integrated Mid-IR frequency COMBs (MIRCOMB)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2018-04-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

MIRCOMB for « nonlinear integrated Mid-IR frequency COMB » is aiming at creating novel integrated nonlinear sources on CMOS for applications in the mid infrared (mid-IR, wavelength range between 2 and 10 um). The mid-IR wavelength domain is of great interest for a huge range of applications that affect almost every aspects of our society, from highly sensitive biological and chemical sensors, homeland security applications, industrial and environmental monitoring, defence, astronomy... The reason is that most chemical and biological compounds have unique fingerprints in this range that can be exploited in detection schemes with unprecedented reliability, sensitivity and precision. The surge in interest in the mid-IR has been recently driven by breakthroughs in novel sources in this wavelength range. QCLs generating light between 4 μm and 250 μm are commercially available but remain extremely bulky. The availability of integrated components for the mid-infrared remains actually extremely limited. Devices operating in the mid-IR are largely restricted to stand-alone and narrow-band sources and simple passive optical light guiding, typically based on highly multimoded fiber in chalcogenide glass, silver halide fibers, and hollow core fibers. However, over the past three years, there have been calls for the migration of techniques developed by the near-IR community to the mid-IR. In particular, Soref and Jalali have pointed out that group IV materials like silicon and Ge are ideal candidates for applications far beyond the window of telecom applications – right up to 5 μm and 10 μm respectively. This project addresses this vision and will benefit many sectors and priority areas listed by this P2N call. More specifically MIRCOMB will target highly innovative i) supercontinuum and ii) frequency-COMB sources on a compact SiGe-based chip-scale platform.

Keywords: mid-infrared,integrated optics,nonlinear optics,silicon photonics,nanophotonics,sources,sensors,optofluidics
Three dimentional architectures of dynamic interactions of 26S proteasome (PROTEAMICS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2017-08-29
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 75000.0
EU funding (EUR): 75000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

To understand how molecular machines execute their function, a multidisciplinary approach combining structural biology with biochemical and computational studies is required. In this project, I will couple these three methodologies to understand the dynamic interactions and regulatory mechanisms of the 26S proteasome by cryo-EM single particle analysis. Recent work from our lab and others resulted in a pseudo-atomic structure of the 26S proteasome. At the same time, cryo-EM technology has been revolutionized by automated data acquisition schemes and new electron detectors, which empower us to explore dynamic structures at high resolution. Thus, now we can not only “watch” conformational changes in macromolecules as they perform their function, but also structurally analyze their transient interactions. In the case of the 26S proteasome, binding of both proteasome interacting proteins (PIPs) and ubiquitylated substrates is crucial for proteasome assembly and function, but how these interactions occur remains poorly understood. The major goals of this proposal will be to 1) understand the functional and structural interactions of the proteasome and various PIPs, and 2) how the proteasome recognizes different ubiquitylated substrates through different ubiquitin receptors. These results will contribute not only to the general understanding of proteasome regulation, but also to deciphering the code of ubiquitin signaling employed in various cellular pathways, thus impacting different areas of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology. Furthermore, this will be the first systematic exploration of a structural “interactome”, which may pave the way for further studies on other macromolecules. Finally, given the role of the proteasome in numerous human diseases, a detailed knowledge of the molecular mechanisms for its regulation can also have significant biomedical relevance and may lead the development of novel, more specific drugs targeting the 26S proteasome.

Keywords: cryo-em,26s proteasome,interactome,ubiquitin
An integrated ecosystems approach to the design of safer nanomaterials for a nano-enabled society (ECOFRIENDLYNANO)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-14
End date: 2018-05-13
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Nanotechnology is a rapidly evolving enabling technology with the potential to revolutionise modern life. However, an increasing body of scientific evidence would suggest that some materials in their nano-form may induce harmful biological or environmental effects through a variety of potential mechanisms, not all of which are fully understood or quantified as yet. A key confounding factor is that nanomaterials (NMs), unlike conventional chemicals, are highly affected by their surroundings, transforming chemically, agglomerating, and/or acquiring an evolving coating of environmental or biological macromolecules, which provides them with an “environmental” identity that is derived from their initial “synthetic” identity. Factoring this context-dependence into assessment of the fate, behaviour and impacts of NMs is essential to move forward in terms of ensuring the safe implementation of nanotechnologies, and to facilitate the widespread application of NMs in environmental applications and for the improvement of ecosystems services, i.e. the processes by which the environment produces resources utilised by humans such as clean air, water, food and materials. The aim of the EcofriendlyNano proposal is to resolve a key bottleneck in the commercial application of NMs, by re-framing the entire approach to safety-by-design as a value chain issue focussing on recovery and recycling of NMs, and understanding where additional value-add can be obtained via boosting ecosystems services such as soil, water and food quality. The overall goal is reduce considerably the currently regulatory uncertainty regarding NMs, which is more costly to industry than increased regulatory testing due to the difficult of evaluating (quantifying the cost of) uncertainty and the cost associated with loss of time in bringing a product to market.

Keywords: nanosafety,nanoregulation,bionanointeractions,corona,interface,environmental interactions,ecotoxicology,ecosystems services,safe-by-design nanomaterials,benign-by-design,value chain
Superior Performing Buildings (SuPerB) through colaborative Building Life Cycle Performance Opitimisation (SUPERB)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Ireland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2018-04-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This resubmitted Career Integration Grant (CIG) proposal is for a researcher that has been in the USA for 3 1/2 years. The overarching objective of this novel proposal is to create a methodology and implementation environment that fosters collaborative stakeholder interaction for the purposes of optimised Building Life Cycle (BLC) performance analysis, in a physical and virtual environment called Performance Framework Platform (PFP). The grant will enable the researcher to commence work at University College Dublin, Ireland, in a research area of that can have a major societal impact as buildings account for approximately 40 % of EU CO2 emissions and the majority of buildings (approximately 190 million in the EU) consume 20-30% of energy unnecessarily. This proposal also aligns with current EU objectives through the Europe 2020 strategy which demands a 20% increase in energy efficiency and specifically promotes a “Digital Agenda through high innovation and skills that leverages networking, interoperable data exchange and information technology. A key limitation during building operation is a discrepancy between design/retrofit design intent and actual operation. During operation, individual buildings should compare measured performance against an ideal predicted equivalent; that is only available through a virtual building representation in a simulation model. Furthermore, recent advances in interoperable Semantic Web technologies provide innovative ways of dealing with simulation measured data from sensors and other traditionally disconnected data sets including human resources or room scheduling databases. This CIG will significantly enhance the researcher’s long term integration into Europe by building on skills acquired at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Stanford University to deliver outstanding research with associated deliverables and to disseminate the outputs to undergraduate and postgraduate students and the public.

Keywords: optimum building performance,interoperable data models,semantic web,building life cycle,industry foundation classes,holistic environmental and energy management,controls,hvac