Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices through Novel Processing Paradigms (AMPRO)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1497798.0
EU funding (EUR): 1497798.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

I propose a structured multidisciplinary research programme that seeks to combine advanced materials, such as metal oxides and organics, with novel fabrication methods to develop devices for application in: (1) large area electronics, (2) integrated nanoelectronics and (3) sensors. At the heart of this programme lies the development of novel oxide semiconductors. These will be synthesised from solution using precursors. Chemical doping via physical blending will be explored for the tuning of the electronic properties of these compounds. This simple approach will enable the rapid development of a library of materials far beyond those accessible by traditional methods. Oxides will then be combined with inorganic/organic dielectrics to demonstrate low power transistors. Ultimate target for application area (1) is the development of transistors with hole/electron mobilities exceeding 20/200 cm^2/Vs respectively. For application area (2) I will combine the precursor formulations with advanced scanning thermochemical nanolithography. A heated atomic force microscope tip will be used for the local chemical conversion of the precursor to oxide with sub-50 nm resolution. This will enable patterning of nanostructures with desirable shape and size. Sequential patterning of semi/conductive layers combined with SAM dielectrics would enable fabrication of nano-sized devices and circuits. For application area (3), research effort will focus on novel hybrid phototransistors. Use of different light absorbing organic dyes functionalised onto the oxide channel will be explored as a mean for developing high sensitivity phototransistors and full colour sensing arrays. Organic dyes will also be combined with nano-sized transistors to demonstrate integrated nano-scale optoelectronics. The unique combination of bottom-up and top-down strategies adopted in this project will lead to the development of novel high performance devices with a host of existing and new applications.

Keywords: thin-film transistor,oxide semiconductors,self-assembling dielectrics,organic semiconductors
Chatting with Neurons: A novel approach to the study of neurophysiologic responses of neuronal tissue in vitro, combining nanotechnology, tissue engineering, microfluidics and neuroelectrophysiology (MESOTAS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Products and process engineering
Countries involved: Netherlands,Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2016-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1260000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1260000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Laboratory-on-a-Chip technology was introduced in this field. To avoid the complexity of an animal model and to reduce the number of animals for pre-clinical research cell culture models are important. Here, the combination of microfluidics, tissue engineering and neuroelectrophysiology on MEA-chips is suggested. Because neuronal tissue on chip may act differently from the neurons in their natural environment, the first objective is to follow a systems engineering approach to realize a platform technology, which allows us to reliably co-culture cells in a 3D interconnected configuration, providing an artificially vascularized system on a MEA. For on-line monitoring of the culturing conditions, we will implement micro-total analysis systems (TAS) technology proposing microchip capillary electrophoresis, potentially coupled to mass spectrometry, to correlate electrophysiology with neurochemistry. Previously, it has been demonstrated that physical and chemical micro- and nanostructures influence cell guidance, viability and cell differentiation, so far, unfortunately without a unifying theory to explain the involved mechanisms. Therefore, our second objective is to further our understanding with respect to the influence of nanocues, implementing microfluidic programming to activate porous nanostructures on MEA and investigate cellular signaling and pathway reactions related to the cell’s adhesion mechanism. Combining the first and the second objective will allow us to work towards clinical questions of neurodynamic diseases as epilepsy, characterized by intermittent abnormal synchronization of different neuronal populations. We hypothesize that for these disorders, 3D cell co-culture models will resemble the natural neural networks more closely than 2D, which may subsequently serve as a model to study novel therapeutic procedures, for instance selective neurostimulation. Thus, we propose, as our third objective, nanostimulation of neuronal subsystem.

Keywords: microfluidics,biomaterials,micro-total analysis system
Physical principles in host-pathogen interactions (PPHPI)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Genetics,Genomics,Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101109, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1343230.0
EU funding (EUR): 1343230.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In recent breakthrough publications, I developed quantitative models of accurate chemo-sensing in biological cells, as well as obtained important insights into how cells engulf and eat other cells and particles. The novelty of these works is the merging of the natural sciences of physics and biology for discovering general, overarching principles in biology. Now I propose to bring my research to a new level by tackling host-pathogen interactions, irrespective of established disciplinary boundaries. While individual signalling pathways are often well characterised in different cell types, an integrative view is largely missing. For instance, the chemical environments of pathogens are generally uncharacterised such as occurring in complex bacterial communities in an host organism. Furthermore, the strategies of how our immune cells sense and hunt their bacterial prey remain unknown. Specifically, how do they sense minute chemical signatures left by bacteria? Once an immune cell encounters a bacterium, what are the determinants of successful engulfment and destruction of the pathogen? To address these questions, I will investigate how bacteria perceive their environment with cell-surface receptors, including what chemical stimuli and gradients their sensory systems have adapted to by evolution. I will identify the strategies of cells for achieving highly accurate sensing, and study the dependence of engulfment on bacterial cell shape, stiffness, and ligand density. Answering these questions is of fundamental importance since it would identify how infections arise, spread and are cleared, with pharmaceutical applications in near sight. To conduct this research, the ERC Starting Grant would allow me, by assembling a cutting-edge and creative research team, to consolidate my research interests into one major stream for maximal impact. I would finally establish myself as an independent researcher, who delivers predictive and quantitative biology in Europe.

Keywords: chemotaxis,phagocytosis,cell mechanics,biological physics
Mechanisms of polyploidy-mediated postzygotic reproductive isolation (TRIPLOID BLOCK)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Cellular and Developmental Biology
Countries involved: Sweden
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101109, 2011)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2016-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1447596.0
EU funding (EUR): 1447596.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Polyploidization is a widespread phenomenon among plants and is considered a major speciation mechanism. Before becoming evolutionary successful, newly formed polyploids often have to overcome fertility bottlenecks, because mating with partners of lower ploidy causes incompatibilities in the endosperm leading to the formation of mainly non-viable progeny. This reproductive barrier is called the triploid block. Nevertheless, the most frequent route to polyploid formation is probably through unreduced gametes, suggesting that the triploid block can be overcome. Recent work from our laboratory uncovered a genetic pathway leading to unreduced gamete formation at high frequency and revealed that the triploid block is mainly caused by malfunction of Polycomb group (PcG) proteins. PcG proteins are evolutionary conserved proteins, which assemble into multimeric complexes with chromatin-modifying enzymatic activity, implicating epigenetic regulatory mechanisms as an important element of speciation. Here, I propose to unravel the underlying molecular mechanism(s) of the triploid block by identifying the responsible genes causing endosperm failure upon deregulation and their mechanism of regulation in response to interploidy crosses. I also plan to investigate whether genes that contribute to the triploid block are as well responsible for establishing interspecies incompatibilities within the Arabidopsis genus. This project will combine genetics, genomics and epigenomics and will make extensive use of knowledge and tools that we have been established in my laboratory over the recent years, making it likely that the proposed objectives can be achieved. The results of this project will be of interest to a broad scientific community, including biologists with a strong interest in epigenetic mechanisms as well as ecologists interested to understand mechanisms of plant speciation.

Keywords: plant speciation,polyploid formation
Volumetric Scanning Microwave Microscopy Analytical and Research Tool for Nanotechnology (V-SMMART NANO)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: France,Austria,United Kingdom,Italy,Spain,Germany
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2011-SME-5, 2011)
Start date: 2012-03-01
End date: 2015-02-28
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4559668.2
EU funding (EUR): 3099933.0
Participants: 8
Project status: CLOSED

This project will produce a new tool, the Volumetric Scanning Microwave Microscope (VSMM), for non-destructive 3D nanoscale structural characterisation. Full development of this new tool will take place ready for commercial exploitation within the project duration. The consortium, comprising three SMEs, a Large Company, an RTD Performer and two Research Institutions, will develop and commercialise the VSMM. The VSMM will probe the local reflection and transmission microwave spectroscopy of key materials properties, measuring complex permittivity, conductivity, resistivity, and magnetic response, and hence structural and chemical material constitution with 3D nanoscale resolution. Workpackages will address the technical development of the tool and demonstrate its ability to characterise the 3D structure in situ at the nanoscale with application to relevant real life systems including nanoparticle drug uptake in biological cells, domain structure in ferroelectric devices and trap mechanisms in solar cells. Integrated into this process is ease of use through dedicated work-flows and intuitive real time visualisation for results optimisation and processing. Methods for calibration and provision of traceability are incorporated into the project from the start: this will ensure that VSMM measurements will be quantitatively meaningful and optimised for accuracy and will ensure the most efficient route to commercialisation and uptake of the VSMM. The project aims to produce significant impact for European SMEs, they will benefit both from the market for SPM probe tips and ancillary equipment (e.g. calibration kits) for the VSMM and as end-users. Finally, the fact that the VSMM will utilise SPM cantilever-probe technology will ensure that it is readily compatible with a full range of other SPM-based tools – opening up its future role in integrated multi-physical materials characterisation at the nanoscale.

Keywords: 3d tomography,nanoscale imaging,non-distructive imaging,scanning microwave microscopy
Resorbable Ceramic Biocomposites for Orthopaedic and Maxillofacial Applications (RESTORATION)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Materials
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Sweden,Spain,Portugal,United Kingdom,Italy,United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2011-SME-5, 2011)
Start date: 2012-04-01
End date: 2016-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4939141.3
EU funding (EUR): 3828359.0
Participants: 12
Project status: CLOSED

Ceramic composite materials have for many years been considered to show great promise in the repair of musculoskeletal defects. The materials can mimic the structure of bone, and devices made from the materials can be structured to closely match the mechanical requirements of implant sites. In addition, wide ranges of bioactivity are possible, from inert to fully resorbable. Bioceramics have most commonly been used to date in dentistry, and in some orthopaedic applications, e.g. as an injectable paste for vertebroplasty, or as a coating material for metal orthopaedic implants. However, advances in cellular medicine bring great opportunity for significant growth in the bioceramics industry – bioceramics and bioceramic composites offer levels of bioactivity which far exceed those available from metal implants, together with combinations of strength and modulus which exceed anything which can be offered by bioactive polymers on their own. Working in tandem with cells, proteins and other biologically active agents (both from the host and introduced) bioceramic composites have the potential to revolutionise many treatments and therapies, giving new, highly effective early stage clinical interventions for conditions where no approach has existed to date. In order to deliver on the potential shown by bioceramic composites the combination of mechanical design, materials, processing, clinical delivery and subsequent biological interaction all have to be understood in an integrated and systematic way. This proposal will address this underlying research and technological challenge in order to develop new bioceramic products for five SME partner companies.

Keywords: ceramics,bioceramic composites,biomedical engineering,bioengineering,materials sceince,engineering,medical devices,materials processing
Nanoscale Defect Detection, Cleaning and Repair for Large Area Substrates (NANOMEND)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Finland,Finland,Germany,Germany,Netherlands,Netherlands,Switzerland,United Kingdom,Austria,United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2011-LARGE-5, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2015-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 10357516.73
EU funding (EUR): 7250000.0
Participants: 15
Project status: CLOSED

NanoMend will pioneer efforts to develop better, more integrated process inspection, cleaning, repair and control systems for nano-scale thin films on large area foils, and will do so in two exemplar vertical supply chains for functionalized polymer-coated paper products and for low cost flexible photovoltaics (PV). The aim is to demonstrate beyond state-of-the-art in-line detection, cleaning and repair of micro and nano-scale defects. The NanoMend strategy to develop novel optical inspection methods has three strands: 1.Enhance the effective lateral resolution and the vertical resolution of high speed optical inspection systems currently used to scan large area foils. 2. Develop high precision optical interferometric sensors with significantly higher spatial range and scan speed than existing laboratory interferometers. 3.Build and test prototype optical interferometers that can detect defects which have a spatial size below the diffraction limit (down to approximately 10nm) by utilizing a priori knowledge of the geometry of the defects and inverse modeling approaches. The NanoMend strategy for cleaning is to decrease defect density and enhance yield by using directional cleaning methods optimized for i) continuous operation to remove sub-micron defects from large area foils prior to barrier deposition, and ii) local removal of particles generated during fabrication of PV modules. Local repair techniques will be investigated in particular for interconnection defects detected near the end of PV module manufacture where the value of the work to be recovered is very high. NanoMend solutions proposed for inspection, cleaning and repair will be integrated into a) production of large-area photovoltaic panels for use in building-integrated systems with demonstrable long life (15-20 years) and b) production of polymer-coated papers used in fibre-based packaging solutions.

Keywords: roll-to-roll,high speed inspection,high precision detection & repair,long life photovoltaics,plastic-coated polymers,fibre packaging
Role of the transcription factor Nfix in muscle regeneration and muscular dystrophies (REGENERATIONFIX)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health
Countries involved: Italy
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101109, 2011)
Start date: 2012-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1386945.0
EU funding (EUR): 1386945.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

I will study the role of the transcription factor Nfix, in post-natal skeletal muscle growth and regeneration, and in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophies. I have recently demonstrated the role of the transcription factor Nuclear Factor IX, Nfix, in driving the transcriptional switch from embryonic to fetal myogenesis, characterized by a switch from slow to fast twitching and more mature fibers. Current data show that Nfix is also strongly expressed in satellite cells (SCs), the muscle adult stem cells responsible for post-natal muscle growth and regeneration. Therefore, I will investigate: 1. The gene expression profile of the muscle specific Nfix null SCs in vitro in comparison with wt SCs. 2. The ability of Nfix deficient SCs to repair muscle damage in comparison with wt SCs. Moreover, I will study the possible use of Nfix in muscular dystrophies. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by primary wasting of skeletal muscle and currently lack a therapy. Among the different approaches, many efforts are directed to induce hypertrophy in dystrophic to counteract progressive degeneration. This is achieved by enhancing regeneration at the expense of the satellite cell pool. Interestingly, fast muscle fibers are preferentially affected in different muscular dystrophies. As Nfix regulates slow myosin expression, I propose that a slower twitching muscle may escape muscle degeneration in a dystrophic mouse model. In this perspective, the possible interference of Nfix with the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy will be studied by crossing muscle-specific Nfix null mice alpha sarcoglycan null mice ( a model for Limb Girdle 2D muscular dystrophy) (Aim 3). The results of this study will have important implications for the understanding of the mechanisms regulating post-natal muscle growth and regeneration and potentially as a novel therapy for muscular dystrophy.

Keywords: skeletal muscle growth and regeneration,nfix,muscular dystrophies
DEVELOPMENT OF INJECTION AND BLOW EXTRUSION MOLDED BIODEGRADABLE AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL PACKAGES BY NANOTECHNOLOGY: IMPROVEMENT OF STRUCTURAL AND BARRIER PROPERTIES, SMART FEATURES AND SUSTAINABILITY (DIBBIOPACK)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Italy,Spain,Germany,Belgium,Netherlands,France,United Kingdom,Ireland,Spain,Slovenia,North Macedonia,Romania,Greece,Spain,Ireland,Spain,Spain
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2011-LARGE-5, 2011)
Start date: 2012-03-01
End date: 2016-02-29
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 7745570.31
EU funding (EUR): 5702632.0
Participants: 22
Project status: CLOSED

The project aims on the one hand the development of new biobased materials specially adapted to the development of a wide range of containers or packages (films made by extrusion laminating, trays or lids developed by injection moulding and bottles performed through extrusion blow moulding technologies) and the improvement of thermal, mechanical and barrier properties of these packages through nanotechnology and innovative coatings. On the other hand, the project aims the operational integration of different intelligent technologies or smart devices to provide to the packaging value chain more information about the products and the processes, increase safety and quality of products through supply chain and improve the shelf-life of the packaged products. In both cases, the application of more flexible alternative processes and more environmentally sustainable and efficient technologies will be considered. The project includes the design, development, optimization and manufacturing of multifunctional smart packages, assuring compliance of environmental requirements through LCA and LCC analysis, managing nanotechnology risk through the whole packaging value chain, and finally, end user evaluation in different sectors as cosmetic, pharmaceutic and food industry. The project results and the high impact reached through a wide range of technologies utilized will boost the European Packaging Industry to a higher level.

Keywords: injection,blow extrusion moulding,film extrusion,nanoclay,nanocellulose,smart antimicrobial,rfid,oxygen detector,sustainable processes,heat resistance,barrier,plasma,antitampering