Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Unraveling and targeting mitochondrial biogenesis in CD8+ T cells to improve memory formation and vaccine efficacy (MITOCHONDRIA)

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: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-06-01
End date: 2018-02-28
Duration (months): 45.0
Total project cost (EUR): 93750.0
EU funding (EUR): 93750.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Immunological memory is the basis of vaccination. This has been the subject of intense study, but the underlying cellular mechanisms regulating the generation and persistence of long-lived memory T cells (TM) remain largely undefined. Recently, it was shown that CD8+ T cell responses following bacterial infection could be manipulated by modulating cellular metabolism. Since then immunometabolism has emerged as one of the main frontiers in science, and my research is leading in this field. I recently demonstrated that the promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in CD8+ T cells during an immune response is crucial for their development into long-lived TM cells. An important regulator of MB and FAO is the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC-1) family, and my preliminary data suggest that PGC-1 has a role in TM development. My proposal focuses on the novel concept that cellular metabolism and MB regulate CD8+ TM cell development. Importantly, this concept offers possibilities for pharmacological manipulation of TM formation. My objectives are (1) to determine the role of PGC-1 in mitochondrial metabolism during CD8+ TM development and (2) to investigate whether agents that promote MB enhance vaccine efficacy. For objective 1 I will generate CD8+ TM cells in vitro, and determine whether PGC-1 deficient CD8+ T cells have a defect in functional TM cell formation due to impaired mitochondrial metabolism. In addition, I will determine whether PGC-1 deficient CD8+ T cells will form functional TM cells in vivo. For objective 2 I will test whether MB-inducing drugs can improve TM cell development and function, both in vitro and in vivo. My project will provide insight into the mechanism of MB and TM development, and can lead to the development of novel vaccine strategies that could apply to a variety of diseases.

Keywords: cd8+ t cells,memory formation,metabolism,mitochondria,pgc-1
Examining the Boundaries of Embodiment (EXAMBOUNDEMBOD)

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: Portugal
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2018-07-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The proposed research program is designed to investigate the embodied mechanisms that ground cognition, in first (L1) and second (L2) language. We suggest that different languages shape our thinking, perceiving and feeling of the world. More importantly, they are grounded differently. We argue that whereas L1 is embodied, this is not the case for L2, or at least not to the same degree. The proposed experiments are designed to systematically compare L1/L2 related differences in performance as well as psychophysiological indicators in a number of paradigms presented to early (EB) and late (LB) bilinguals. To our knowledge these are among the first studies on embodiment with bilingual samples. The suggestion that L1 and L2 are unlikely to be equally embodied will be investigated in a study designed to furnish a direct examination of how L1 and L2 are somatically grounded (a neglected feature of both the embodied literature as well as bilingualism research). Studies 2 to 4 investigate how embodied simulation may drive specific phenomena such language congruence effects, modality switching costs and false memories in L1 and L2. Studies 5 & 6 will provide a more ecologically valid indication of how affective and interpersonal states are manifested in spontaneous linguistic representations when using L1 and L2. Our findings are likely to advance our understanding of a number of central issues pertinent to the emerging field of embodiment and may lend additional support to the assumptions that cognition and language are grounded on bodily states. Second, this research will identify the constraints of such assumptions in an increasingly multilingual and multicultural world where the daily use of a second language for professional, recreational and interpersonal purposes is often required. This is likely to inform research and policies designed to address the current challenges posed by participating in two or more linguistic communities.

Keywords: embdiment,sensorymotor processes,affective states,modalities,language,memory,cognition
All-optical approach to the study of neuronal coding principles in sensory perception. (S1PERCEP)

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

The brain processes information through coordinated neuronal activity. This project proposal is aimed at unraveling the coding principles for sensory input by leveraging on three recent technological advances: two-photon imaging, optogenetics and holographic two-photon stimulation. These provide crucial advantages over existing methodology: (i), the use of two-photon imaging allows recording of neuronal activity with single-cell resolution from hundreds of neurons simultaneously; (ii) optogenetic tools permit one select cell type to be both observed and manipulated concurrently in order to probe its specific function in the circuit; and (iii) holographic two-photon stimulation enables the simultaneous manipulation of large numbers of neurons in three-dimensional optical patterns. The neuronal coding strategies used in somatosensory processing in the neocortex can be studied by combining these techniques. The project will address the long-standing question of whether primary sensory input is encoded by the overall amplitude (rate code) or the precise timing (temporal code) of neuronal activity. Specifically, we will measure neuronal activity evoked by a somatosensory discrimination task in head-fixed, awake, behaving mice using expressed fluorescent calcium ion sensors. We will then employ genetically encoded, light-sensitive ion channels to selectively activate sets of identified neurons. By recording the effect of these manipulations on neuronal activity and task performance, we will determine to what extent rate and temporal codes are necessary and sufficient to represent primary sensory input. Taken together, these experiments will allow us to quantify the relative importance of rate vs temporal codes in somatosensory perception. Although we will conduct our experiments in the rodent somatosensory cortex, the all-optical approach outlined here is likely to become central for the study of other sensory modalities and cortical function in general.

Keywords: somatosensation,cortical processing,behaviour,two-photon microscopy,optogenetics,holographic optical stimulation
The Politics of Emotion: Challenging Emotional Regimes in Europe across the Iron Curtain from the 1960s to the 1980s. (POLEMOTIONS)

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: 2014-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 75000.0
EU funding (EUR): 75000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This research project will reinvestigate oppositional and countercultural (youth-)movements in Europe from the 1960s to the 1980s, in particular new leftist and post-Marxist groups, new social movements such as squatting, leftwing gay activism and feminism, and the ‘alternative milieu’ in the broadest sense. More specifically, the project examines the ‘politics of emotions’ of these movements and their wider societal and political impact. It analyzes how activists developed a critique of modern, urban capitalism that focused on the emotions capitalist society allegedly produced and prevented. In a way, they thus analyzed what one might call with William Reddy the emotional regime of capitalism. However, by the very act of formulating this critique, they also participated in the creation of this emotional regime. At the same time, their critique allowed them to develop new emotional practices that would break with the emotional regime they abhorred. The research project analyzes both the theoretical critique and the emotional practices of the New Left. It thereby links a history of emotions, the body and the political. Focusing on emotional politics, the project will develop a new paradigm regarding how to conceptualize the transformations of European societies across the Iron Curtain since the 1960s by arguing that new emotional cultures emerged in these decades, to which the alternative left greatly contributed. The project will propose an original interpretation of why especially members of the younger generation rebelled against two seemingly very different socio-political systems, democratic capitalism in the West and state-communism in the East, on similar grounds: a desire for (different) feelings. The project thus seeks to link protest movements of the 1970s in East and West to the peaceful revolutions of 1989. The project is transnational in its scope and will cover case studies in both Western and Eastern Europe across the Iron Curtain.

Keywords: history of emotions,protest movements,transnational history,contentious politics,new left,iron curtain,peaceful revolution of 1989
The role of visuospatial working memory in quantities representation and arithmetic: Neuroanatomical and behavioral evidence from typical and a-typical development. (VISUOQUANT)

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: Israel
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-08-01
End date: 2019-01-21
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Over the last two decades a link between visuospatial working memory (VSWM) and arithmetic skills was postulated. During the basic stage of acquiring arithmetical understanding, children use a mental model for arithmetic that requires VSWM. Furthermore, it was suggested that numbers are represented on a mental number line, which also involves VSWM. These representations are believed to be the foundation blocks of mathematical processing. Interestingly, not only a cognitive link can be found between VSWM and math but also a common neuroanatomical basis. Specifically, in addition to its central role in number processing, the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) in the posterior parietal cortex, supports VSWM. Here, I propose to investigate the role of VSWM in typical and a-typical development of numerical cognition. In typically developing children I will test the influence of VSWM on the development of quantity representations on the mental number line and on high level arithmetic (strategy selection). Next, I will examine what are the neuro-cognitive mechanisms related to VSWM that underlie numerical processing, by testing college students during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. In a-typical development I will study the role of VSWM in the etiology of developmental dyscalculia (DD) by testing the effect VSWM, on college students that suffer from DD. I will examine improvement in neuro-cognitive mechanism as a result of training using fMRI and behavioral parameters. The results from the present proposal will potentially affect multiple fields of study such as education and cognition. I hope that the results of the present study will give a new perspective on the building blocks of school arithmetic, offer effective intervention in the remediation of DD, and will provide schools with new practical tools and a theoretical perspective on arithmetic.

Keywords: the role of visuospatial working memory in quantities representation and arithmetic: neuroanatomical and behavioral evidence from typical and a-typical development.
In-Situ Observation and Control of Microstructure and Surface Defect Evolution during Magnesium Sheet Forming (MAGNESIUMDIC)

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: Türkiye
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

In recent years, the demand for sheet metal parts of lightweight aluminum and magnesium alloys have considerably increased in the automobile, aviation and mobile electronics sectors. The weight savings offered by these lightweight parts are expected to increase the fuel efficiency in aviation and automotive applications and the mobility of the consumer electronics. However, magnesium and aluminum sheets are more susceptible to defect formation during forming (pressing, stamping, deep drawing, piercing, etc.) operations compared to conventional steels. Microstructure induced defects must be precisely controlled in the automotive and aerospace panels and electronic cases where mechanical properties, physical features and surface quality are very critical. Indeed, innovation in lightweight metals and forming processes are identified as one of the priority areas in the NPM theme of FP7. This project aims to observe the in-situ formation and evolution of the surface defects during magnesium sheet forming through a novel test mechanism involving high-resolution photography and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. At the end of the project, the mechanisms of the defect formation will be determined and the processing conditions for defect suppression will be established. These results will contribute to the widespread use of lightweight metal sheets in applications where surface properties and quality are critical. Moreover, the testing mechanism developed in this project will have applications in European manufacturing industry and interdisciplinary research, which will help researcher to reintegrate with the European Research Area.

Keywords: sheet forming,deformation,digital image correlation,thermo-mechanical processing,lightweight alloys
Novel dynamic self-assembling system: from hierarchical and biomimetic morphogenesis to functional materials (BIOMORPH)

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: 2014-04-01
End date: 2018-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

There is great need for radically new paradigms that significantly push forward the complexity, multiscale control, and functionality of novel materials. Molecular self-assembling strategies are continuously being explored for developing ever more precise and organized materials. The development of adaptive materials that can be morphed into complex shapes of hierarchical structure through bottom-up mechanisms that mimic those found in tissue development is a fascinating possibility. This proposal (BIOMORPH) aims to develop a novel dynamic self-assembling material fabrication platform that combines the benefits of molecular self-assembly, bioengineering, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering. The system integrates simple peptide and protein building-blocks with multiple cells types to create complex hierarchical, biomimetic, hybrid structures that exhibit remarkable properties such as self-healing and the capacity to undergo morphogenesis. The work would represent a major step-change by developing a dynamic strategy based on emerging physico-chemical mechanisms that generate and dissipate stresses, and maintain a controlled non-equilibrium state that together is reminiscent of elements found in tissue morphogenesis. The work is divided in four work packages that expand from building block design and synthesis to biomechanical and in vitro assessment of the generated materials. The proposed fabrication platform may find applications in a variety of tissue engineering applications. However, as a first stage, the work proposes to grow tubes and tubular networks that recreate vascular tissue.

Keywords: dynamic self-assembly,biomaterials,biomimetics,material morphogenesis,nanofabrication,hierarchical materials,hybrid materials
Advanced Resonant Nano Electromechanical SystemS (HARNESS)

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: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-01-01
End date: 2017-06-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 87500.0
EU funding (EUR): 87500.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Resonant nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) have been showing outstanding performance as mass, force, charge and magnetic sensors. However, their predicted ultimate limits of detection are far from being achieved. It is the main purpose of this project to study and analyze the different sources of dissipation and frequency instability that determine the final performance of NEMS devices, to convey specificity to NEMS-based mass sensors and to broaden current fields of applications. This will be tackled using piezoelectric (PZE) transduction due to its high linearity and non-dissipative nature. Three work packages will be pursued, one covering each one of the objectives mentioned above. Devices will be analyzed in vacuum, air and interacting with liquid; and the intent is to optimize the performance in each environment separately and demonstrate the feasibility for commercial applications of some of the fabricated devices.

Keywords: nems,mems,resonators,frequency noise,gas sensors,chromatographs,stiffness detection,hollow resonators,cell stiffness
Sensory Feedback for Improved Prosthesis Control (SENSPRO)

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: Türkiye
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-04-01
End date: 2018-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Functional substitution of a lost limb is necessary for persons with an amputation to perform daily life explorations and manipulations in their environment. In the case of a hand loss, affective reasons gain importance as amputees often indicate the desire to feel the warmth of a loved one’s touch. These considerations provide two key characteristics of successful prosthetics: (1) intuitive control of prostheses and (2) providing physiologically appropriate feedback to the user. Although there has been significant progress on the prosthesis control and sensory feedback, the ability to supply physiologically appropriate proprioceptive feedback remains elusive. This project seeks for sensory feedback for improved prosthesis control. First, relative contributions of feedback modalities (vision, proprioception and artificial proprioception) on coordinated manipulations will be investigated. Then, based on these results, new sensory feedback systems will be developed for persons with an upper-limb amputation.

Keywords: prosthesis,sensory feedback,haptics,robotics,psychophysical evaluation
System-wide analysis of intrinsic protein properties affecting proteome homeostasis upon abiotic stress in green algae (STRESS-PROTEOSTASIS)

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: 2018-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Abiotic environmental stresses such as extreme temperatures represent serious threats to plants and are a main reason for significant agricultural crop losses every year. Hence, an understanding of the molecular consequences of stress exposure and the underlying principles of plant stress responses are fundamental questions in biology and provide the basis for the genetic engineering of stress resistant crop plants. In particular, high temperature stress leads to an increase in protein unfolding, misfolding, and aggregation and thus challenges proteome homeostasis (proteostasis). As a response, cells increase the expression of molecular chaperones to maintain proteostasis by counteracting protein misfolding and aggregation. The overall goal of this study is to globally identify properties of fragile proteins in plant proteomes challenged by heat-shock exposure. We will use the unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Nannochloropsis sp. as model organisms to monitor protein misfolding and aggregation under physiological conditions, mild stress and severe temperature stress. We will apply quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics to reveal physicochemical properties characteristic for proteins prone to misfolding and aggregation. By this, we will further identify proteins that have a high dependence on protection by molecular chaperones. Based on this system-wide analysis individual proteins will be engineered with the goal to optimize their conformational stability for improved stress tolerance.

Keywords: heat stress,proteome stress,misfolding,aggregation,molecular chaperones,stress response,quantitative proteomics,green algae,biotechnology,heat tolerance