Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Visible-Light Active Metal Oxide Nano-catalysts for Sustainable Solar Hydrogen Production (SOLAROGENIX)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Switzerland,Poland,Spain,Finland,Italy,Germany
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2012-SMALL-6, 2012)
Start date: 2013-02-01
End date: 2016-01-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3906486.0
EU funding (EUR): 2755708.0
Participants: 9
Project status: CLOSED

The rising global interest in hydrogen as the fuel of future has prompted tremendous interest in the development of efficient hydrogen production technologies that may serve as economically viable solutions towards solar fuels. The project SOLARGENIX will investigate novel nanostructured photocatalysts starting from comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigations on visible-light active meta-oxides for photoelectrochemical splitting of water to target the environmental hydrogen production from saline water by sun illumination. For this purpose, efficient multi-functional photoactive nano-catalysts will be developed whereby underlying atomic understanding of elementary chemical reactions and electrochemical processes will guard the scope of the project. The development of efficient nano-catalysts will be mastered by novel material combinations and interfacial engineering in nano-hetrostructures. Furthermore the project will demonstrate the feasibility of this technology together with industrial partners to develop first module-sized demonstrators for testing under real operating conditions.

Keywords: solar hydrogen,nanocatalyst,phototelectrochemical
Structural Studies and Regulation of Intraflagellar Transport Complexes (CILITRANSPORT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111109, 2012)
Start date: 2012-09-01
End date: 2017-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1498650.0
EU funding (EUR): 1498650.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The cilium is an organelle that protrudes from the cell body and is responsible for the motility of unicellular organisms and of vertebrate cell types such as sperm cells. In addition, most vertebrate cells have primary non-motile cilia important for sensory reception and signalling. The assembly and function of cilia rely on intraflagellar transport (IFT), the bi-directional movement of macromolecules between the cell body and the cilium. As cilia do not contain ribosomes, IFT is required to move the approximately 600 different ciliary proteins from their site of synthesis in the cell body to their site of function in the cilium. IFT is powered by kinesin and dynein motors, which move cargoes along the microtubule-based axoneme of the cilium. The interaction between motors and cargoes is mediated by the IFT complex, a 1.6 MDa complex formed by 20 different proteins. Despite the importance of the IFT complex, very little is known about its architecture and how it is regulated. In this proposal, we want to address both aspects using a combination of structural and functional studies. The structural analysis of the IFT complex is daunting given its size and complexity. We are proceeding with the biochemical reconstitution of the core subcomplexes, which we plan to analyze using X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. To date, we have solved the X-ray structure of a dimeric complex between an IFT GTPase and its binding factor, and have reconstituted one of the two core complexes (the 8-subunit IFT-B complex) in amounts and purity suitable for structural studies. While these studies are progressing, we plan to use similar approaches to tackle the other core complex (IFT-A) and the plethora of ciliary GTPases, with the ambitious goal of understanding the architecture and regulation of the the entire IFT complex. This will shed light on the molecular basis of ciliogenesis and the pathological consequences of its disruption.

Keywords: cilium biology,intraflagellar transport
Polymer-Based Color Conversion Films for White Lighting Devices (WHITELIGHT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (ERC-2011-PoC, 2011)
Start date: 2012-09-01
End date: 2013-09-30
Duration (months): 13.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162700.0
EU funding (EUR): 148400.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Energy efficiency in lighting devices is an active area of technology, aiming to reduce the growing human energy demand. Governmental regulations in industrialized countries call for a complete ban of ‘incandescent’ electric light sources by 2020, to be replaced by more energy-efficient light sources such as devices based on light-emitting diodes (LED). At present, however, technology is needed that provides 'high quality' white light with a continuous emission spectrum at the required energy efficiency. In this context, the proposed project aims to develop polymer-based 'color conversion films'. These films are supposed to be combined with blue LED light sources in order to produce cost-effective, energy-efficient, novel lighting devices with high white light quality. For this purpose, the color conversion films will utilize a combination of two to four photochemically and thermally stable, polymer-substituted organic fluorescent dyes with complementary absorption and emission profiles. These dyes will be embedded into a polyisobutylene (PIB) matrix to protect them from 'photo-bleaching' in the presence of water or oxygen. We will investigate the use of 'encapsulation layers' to further increase the device life time, and the application of an 'optical out-coupling' layer to enhance its efficiency. The goal of the project is to address the remaining technological issues and provide a ‘proof of concept’ that multilayer films from the fluorescent dyes in PIB can be used to obtain inexpensive and durable color conversion films to ‘down-convert’ the emission from a blue LED light source into white light with a continuous emission spectrum. A prototype color conversion film will ultimately be prepared by depositing layers of materials onto a polymer support, including the active color conversion layer, optical in- and out-coupling layers to increase the efficiency of light emission, and encapsulation layers to further shield the color conversion layer.

Keywords: 239831
Bioactive Implantable Polymers based on UreidoPyrimidinone (BIP-UPY)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Materials
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Spain,Netherlands,Poland,Denmark,Belgium,Belgium,Spain
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2012-LARGE-6, 2012)
Start date: 2013-02-01
End date: 2017-01-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 5952938.65
EU funding (EUR): 4500852.0
Participants: 11
Project status: CLOSED

BIP-UPy addresses the need for biomedical implants which can be easily fine-tuned in their properties in regards to bioactivity, biodegradability, and mechanical performance, and thereby be optimized for their targeted clinical application. This project will develop a library comprising of a selection of synthetic polymers and specific bioactivities which can be used to provide the required properties for a targeted biomedical implant. The polymeric materials that will be addressed are supramolecular UPy-modified polymers for uses in urologic implants and embolic implants, benefitting large population groups: bio-degradable meshes with improved in-situ tissue regeneration in pelvic floor repair and endovascular embolic implants with a reduced aneurysm recurrence risk. A mix-and-match approach will be used to bioactivate these supramolecular base materials. The supramolecular nature of the materials allows for mild processing conditions. Main objective is to develop a methodology for obtaining implantable polymers with specifically designed bioactivity for in-situ Tissue Engineering, in which the medical implant is obtained in one step by co-processing of the peptide molecules with the neat polymeric material. Key deliverables are protocols for processable biocompatible UPy-based polymers synthesis and manufacturing scale-up; protocols for UPy-based polymers bioactivity tailoring; procedures for processing the UPy-based polymers preserving the bioactivity efficiency; sterilisation protocols for bioactive medical implants; bioactive implants prototypes with tailored bioactivities; material and implant biocompatibility and bioactivity tests data; new predictive in-vitro tests and drafts of regulatory docs. BIP-UPy consortium comprises 9 partners from 5 European countries: 3 RTD performing institutions and 2 Hospitals, 3 SMEs and 1 LE representing the strong industrial involvement. Forth SME (CHEMPILOTS-DK) has whithdrawn from project on 31/12/2014.

Keywords: polymer,polyester,degradable,supramolecular,bioactivity,peptide,pelvic floor,repair mesh,endovascular embolic implant,in-vitro methods
Spinning Disc Reaction Technology for Cost- and Resource Effective Chemicals Production (SPINOVATIVE)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2011-PoC, 2011)
Start date: 2012-05-01
End date: 2013-04-30
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 149470.0
EU funding (EUR): 149470.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cost and resource effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals production rely largely on the level of process control. However, the chemical industry is currently not able to grasp full control over the chemical reactions in these segments where batch reactors dominate, resulting in high production costs and a serious environmental burden due to the use of excessive amounts of raw material and significant downstream waste streams. There is thus a strong need for novel tools that allow for fine-tuned reaction conditions in chemical production. Micro management of pharmaceutical and fine chemical production can potentially lead to elevated profit margins and environment-friendlier operations. A company that can enable this shift will therefore be able to work with leading chemical firms and to win a strong market position. It is exactly this challenge that we face by translating our ERC research results towards a business proposition for the chemical industry. The ERC funded work of Prof. Schouten et al. has led to the development of a novel reactor type that facilitates optimal production conditions for a broad range of chemicals. The innovative power is advocated by research results that clearly show that the device creates the opportunity to downsize industrial separators and reactors by a factor of 10 to 100; that the reaction time is reduced up to 99%; that impurity levels are hugely lowered and that downstream purification results in much smaller waste streams. The patented technology thus addresses all the main issues related to batch reactors and forms a sound platform for commercialisation. The ERC Proof of Concept study will allow us to assess the options for marketing and to set up a concrete business plan for a spin-off company.

Keywords: 227010
Engineered nanomaterial mechanisms of interactions with living systems and the environment: a universal framework for safe nanotechnology (NANOMILE)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Germany,Ireland,France,European organisations area,Switzerland,Netherlands,United Kingdom,Germany,United States,Denmark,United Kingdom,Germany,Cyprus,Slovenia,United Kingdom,Germany,Germany,Germany,Germany,Sweden,Germany,Germany,United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2012-LARGE-6, 2012)
Start date: 2013-03-01
End date: 2017-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 12965197.01
EU funding (EUR): 9624979.0
Participants: 29
Project status: CLOSED

The NanoMILE project is conceived and led by an international elite of scientists from the EU and US with the aim to establish a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of nanomaterial interactions with living systems and the environment, and uniquely to do so across the entire life cycle of nanomaterials and in a wide range of target species. Identification of critical properties (physico-chemical descriptors) that confer the ability to induce harm in biological systems is key to allowing these features to be avoided in nanomaterial production (“safety by design”). Major shortfalls in the risk analysis process for nanomaterials are the fundamental lack of data on exposure levels and the environmental fate and transformation of nanomaterials, key issues that this proposal will address, including through the development of novel modelling approaches. A major deliverable of the project will be a framework for classification of nanomaterials according to their impacts, whether biological or environmental, by linking nanomaterial-biomolecule interactions across scales (sub-cellular to ecosystem) and establishing the specific biochemical mechanisms of interference (toxicity pathway).

Keywords: nanomaterials,toxicity,safety by design,nanoparticles,systems biology,ecotoxicology,human toxicology,qsar
Modelling the mechanisms of nanoparticle-lipid interactions and nanoparticle effects on cell membrane structure and function (MEMBRANENANOPART)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Ireland,Sweden,United Kingdom,Russian Federation
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2012-SMALL-6, 2012)
Start date: 2013-01-01
End date: 2015-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1281035.6
EU funding (EUR): 999810.0
Participants: 4
Project status: CLOSED

The central goal of our proposal is to develop physically justified models and computational tools to quantitatively describe and understand the molecular mechanisms of nanoparticle-cell membrane interactions, which we consider to be a crucial point in any predictive model of nanoparticle toxicity. We consider mechanisms of nanoparticle protein corona formation, the protective function of the membrane, nanoparticle uptake into the cell, and the effect of nanoparticles on the cell membrane. We plan to develop a consistent multiscale simulation scheme starting from nanoparticle-biomolecule interaction at the atomistic scale using molecular dynamics simulation, and then systematically constructing coarse-grained mesoscale models for simulating the structure and dynamics of the cell membrane perturbed by nanoparticles at the physiologically relevant time and length scales. We will develop and test a universal method for evaluating the rates of nanoparticle translocation through membranes and evaluate associated specific toxicity effects. Based on the information acquired from the simulations and analyzed together with available experimental data, the toxicological impact will be deduced. We will apply our approach to a range of common engineered nanoparticles, relating their physicochemical properties such as size and shape, surface charge, hydrophobicity (logP), and plasma protein binding affinity to the toxicological effects and develop a test suite allowing to make toxicity prediction on the basis of purely computational or limited in vitro screening tests.

Keywords: engineered nanoparticle,toxicity,cell membrane,molecular dynamics,mesoscale simulation,cytotoxicity,lipids
Unravelling paradoxes in regulatory T cell biology: the molecular basis for an mTOR-dependent oscillatory metabolic switch controlling immune tolerance and autoimmunity (MENTORINGTREGS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Immunity and infection
Countries involved: Italy
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111109, 2012)
Start date: 2013-05-01
End date: 2018-04-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Our group has been investigating how the nutrient/energy-sensing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-pathway affects the responsiveness of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). We have shown that Tregs have a high metabolic profile associated with the hyperactivation of the mTOR-pathway, which is responsible for the in vitro anergy of these cells. A transient mTOR inhibition with rapamycin, before T-cell-receptor (TCR)-stimulation, induced Tregs proliferation in the absence of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2). While a transient mTOR inhibition was necessary to allow Tregs to enter the cell cycle upon TCR-engagement, proliferating Tregs increased the levels of activation of mTOR to sustain their own expansion overtime. These data indicated that the metabolic state influences Tregs fate and the responsiveness to TCR stimulation in a dynamic/oscillatory fashion through the mTOR-pathway. The results also suggested a new mechanism of regulation between metabolism and immune tolerance in the Tregs in which mTOR could be activated under physiological conditions in response to changes of the energy status. In the current project, we intend to further dissect the relationship between mTOR oscillating activity and Tregs responsiveness. We aim to dissect the molecular and cellular events that govern the responsiveness of Tregs in vitro and in vivo, and address the associated apparent paradoxes: 1)Why Tregs have high proliferation in vivo but are hyporesponsive to TCR stimulation in vitro? 2)Why the current strategies to facilitate the in vitro expansion of hyporesponsive Tregs require high doses of IL-2 together with rapamycin, which is a strong inhibitor of cell growth and proliferation? The conclusion of the studies proposed in this application will unravel important questions on the biology of Tregs and will have significant implication for furthering the understanding of basic mechanisms governing immune tolerance and autoimmunity.

Keywords: immune tolerance,treg cells,metabolism,mtor,leptin,autoimmunity
Interplays between miRNAs and transcription factors in the determination and maintenance of cell identity (WHYMIR)

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: Switzerland
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111109, 2012)
Start date: 2012-11-01
End date: 2015-10-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 891759.0
EU funding (EUR): 891759.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

miRNAs are small RNAs that guide the RNA-induced silencing complex to mRNA targets, destabilizing them and inhibiting their translation. Much has been learned about their involvement in organism development and function, yet some striking puzzles remain. On the one hand it has been shown that miRNAs are essential for development, and the preferential targeting of transcription factors (TFs) by miRNAs suggests that miRNAs and TFs "coordinate" to regulate gene expression. Furthermore, studies in the past year concluded that, on their own or in combination with TFs, miRNAs can induce reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). On the other hand, high-throughput measurements of mRNA and protein level changes upon miRNA transfections suggest that miRNAs have largely a "fine-tuning" function. These small effects on individual genes must, however, confer a substantial selective advantage, because many target sites remain conserved over long evolutionary distances. Here I first propose to investigate the hypothesis that instead of primarily affecting the average levels of target genes, miRNAs reduce the cell-to-cell variation in gene expression, affecting precisely the steps that determine the intrinsic noise. I will then use miRNA-mediated reprogramming of somatic cells into iPSCs as a model system to directly investigate the "coordination" between miRNAs and TFs in determining cell identity and differentiation. Through determination of miRNA targets with Argonaute crosslinking and immunoprecipitation, mRNA sequencing and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation I attempt to retrace the regulatory interactions that lead from induction of a few miRNAs, through perturbation of TF activities, to the activation of "stemness" genes. Finally, following up on preliminary results obtained in my lab, I will investigate the function of miRNA targeting in the nucleus, that potentially couples transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation more directly.

Keywords: mirnas
Mitochondrial unfolded protein response and the role in ageing (MITOUPR)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Physiology, Pathophysiology and Endocrinology
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111109, 2012)
Start date: 2013-01-01
End date: 2017-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cells use sensor pathways compartmentalized in subcellular organelles to recognize stress conditions, including aberrant protein folding, and in response activate gene expression programs aimed at maintaining cell survival and restoring homeostasis. Fine-tuning of the protein-folding environment in organelles like mitochondria is important for adaptive homeostasis and may participate in development of human diseases and ageing. Work in cultured mammalian cells and more recently in Caenorhabditis elegans has highlighted the importance of mechanisms linking perturbations in the protein-folding environment in the mitochondrial matrix to the expression of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. This mitochondrial stress pathway is named mitochondrial unfolded protein response. Much of our knowledge regarding the organelle unfolded protein response (UPR) signalling comes from studies of the endoplasmatic reticulum stress response machinery. In contrast, a potential role of mitochondria in UPR pathway is far less defined, and physiologic regulators of this pathway have not been defined. Here I propose three complementary strategies to identify molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) under different stress conditions and during ageing. My laboratory has experience in using transgenic mice and C. elegans as experimental tools and both of these powerful model systems will be used in this project. Specific aims of this proposal are: Aim 1. To identify specific substrates of UPRmt Aim 2. To define mechanisms regulating mammalian UPRmt Aim 3. To elucidate the role of UPRmt signalling in ageing

Keywords: unfolded protein response,mtdna mutations,mitochondrial theory of ageing