Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Ecogenomics of Mosquito-Microbe Symbiosis for Novel Control Strategies of Infectious Diseases (RosaLind)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Panel description: Genetics, epigenetics, genomics and other ‘omics studies, bioinformatics, systems biology, genetic diseases, gene editing, innovative methods and modelling, ‘omics for personalised medicine
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2020-STG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499405.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499405.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The burden of mosquito-transmitted diseases such as Plasmodium, Dengue, West Nile, Zika, Usutu, or yellow fever continue to increase globally, representing one of the most significant public health threats. In the context of insecticide resistance concomitant to the absence of an efficient vaccine, new strategies that focus on mosquito’s microbiota are being developed. In particular the widespread intracellular bacterium Wolbachia, which can limit pathogen transmission and hijack host reproduction, represents one of the most promising tools to control the transmission of disease. Nevertheless, the genomic variability of Wolbachia and its mobilome, together with its influence on pathogen blocking, in interaction with other symbiotic Life in naturally infected vectors, remains largely unknown. In this project, I plan to dissect the mechanisms of interaction between Wolbachia, commensal (“healthy”) bacterial communities and pathogens, using cutting-edge ‘omics’ and molecular approaches. 1.Wolbachia variants: I will use shotgun metagenomes to reconstruct Wolbachia and other symbiotic genomes and investigate the links between Wolbachia genetic variability, density and protection in naturally infected individuals at the organ level. I will explore the extent and potential role of Wolbachia phages in mutualistic traits such as defense through differential expression analyses in native conditions and controlled infection within Culex spp. 2.Midgut microbiota: I will explore the diversity, variability, role, and interaction of midgut symbionts with arboviruses through 16S amplicon sequencing and expression analyses in experimental infections conditions in Culex spp. 3.pWCP: I will investigate the transformation and expression capacity of the first and newly discovered Wolbachia plasmid element. If successful, a Wolbachia transformation technology would represent a new tool for vector control strategies and potentially have a great impact for public health worldwide.

Keywords: infectious diseases,vector control,microbiome,symbiosis,parasitism,omics,mobile genetic elements
Building on Advanced Lofar Technology for Innovation, Collaboration, and Sustainability (BALTICS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Spreading excellence and widening participation
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Improved access to Excellence
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Latvia,Netherlands,United Kingdom
Call: Twinning (H2020-TWINN-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-01-01
End date: 2018-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 999652.5
EU funding (EUR): 999652.5
Participants: 4
Project status: CLOSED

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) is the only institute in Latvia engaged in radio astronomy (RA), and indeed the only RA research centre in the Baltic States. ASTRON and UMAN are world-class centres of expertise in RA science since 1950s. They recognize VIRAC as a strategically important partner for their future endeavours, in particular in the further instrumental development and maximal science utilization of their state-of-the-art physically distributed radio telescope facilities: LOFAR, and e-MERLIN. Addressing the specific challenge of the call BALTICS has the primary objective to directly and significantly increase the expertise level of VIRAC staff that will become able to carry out internationally-competing scientific research: • As a result, the number of peer reviewed VIRAC publications on LOFAR-related subjects will increase from 1 to 5 per year. • The number of VIRAC staff members (co-)authoring scientific research papers for top-level journals will increase from 4 to 10. • BALTICS is specifically designed to cement the networking collaborations between ASTRON, UMAN, and VIRAC. • BALTICS is also the perfect stepping stone on the way to future financing, realization, and exploitation of LOFAR station in Latvia joining ITL network. As the essential all-round and in-depth training of VIRAC staff proceeds, the institute will naturally become a long-term collaborator in the interdisciplinary research networks surrounding the ILT. This is a win-win approach, which addresses strategic interests of ASTRON and UMAN, in their quest for further extension and ultimate exploitation of the top-level facilities in which they currently are leaders. BALTICS will achieve the defined objectives by carefully chosen depth and breadth of training where a cross-section of 20 VIRAC staff members will be intensively trained during lectures, practical exercises, staff exchange visits, workshops, summer school, advisory consultations.

Keywords: radio astronomy,lofar,e merlin,big data analysis,interferometry,digital signal processing,rf design,training,staff exchange,summer school s,apprenticeship
NETwork and digital platform for Cultural Heritage Enhancing and Rebuilding (NETCHER)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies
Theme: Reflective societies - cultural heritage and European identity
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Italy,Germany,Italy,Spain,Greece,Belgium,France,France,France,France
Call: Social platform on endangered cultural heritage and on illicit trafficking of cultural goods (H2020-SC6-TRANSFORMATIONS-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2021-03-31
Duration (months): 27.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1574219.71
EU funding (EUR): 1499606.25
Participants: 12
Project status: CLOSED

The last decades have witnessed a variety of initiatives promoted by a diverse set of actors engaged in the protection of endangered cultural heritage and in stopping illicit trade, initiatives that have tried to bring solutions, remediation, methods and approaches to tackle looting and trafficking. NETCHER seeks to address the complex challenge of harmonising and bringing together these worthy, but often disconnected initiatives by using a participative approach that will result in the establishment of a structured network (defined as a Social Platform) drawing together a broad range of players such as international bodies, umbrella organizations, national governments, researchers, public policy makers, NGOs, as well as public and private foundations. In light of the significance of these uncoordinated efforts, the Platform will take charge of the systematizing and framing of all the emerging best practices in order to enhance and capitalize on the experiences of the partnership members at an international level for building a joint action plan with shared toolkits and a research and innovation roadmap.

Keywords: collaborative platform,common research roadmap,global network,open innovation,stakeholders involvment
Generating superior industrial yeasts through modulation of Crabtree repression (SUPERYEAST)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Panel description: Genetics, epigenetics, genomics and other ‘omics studies, bioinformatics, systems biology, genetic diseases, gene editing, innovative methods and modelling, ‘omics for personalised medicine
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: Call for proposals for ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2020-PoC, 2020)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2022-06-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The common baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is used in various industrial applications, ranging from the production of fermented beverages like beer and wine, foods including bread and chocolate, bioethanol, enzymes and pharmaceuticals. S. cerevisiae cells can grow aerobically, using the TCA cycle and electron transport chain to produce around 16 to 18 molecules of ATP (energy) per glucose molecule. However, when glucose concentrations exceed about 1% (w/w), the cells tend to shut down this respiratory mechanism in favour of alcoholic fermentation, even if this metabolic route only yields 2 ATP molecules per glucose consumed. This so-called "Crabtree effect" makes it difficult to efficiently cultivate industrial yeasts in large-scale industrial fermenters because maximal biomass yield is only obtained in conditions where glucose concentrations are kept below the critical limit for activation of the Crabtree effect, but high enough to allow maximal growth. Interestingly, however, some S. cerevisiae strains seem to be less sensitive to glucose inhibition of respiration than others, suggesting that certain natural strains harbour specific alleles that make them less subjected to Crabtree repression. In our ongoing ERC CoG, we have shown that besides limiting efficient biomass formation, the Crabtree effect also decreases the efficiency with which strains can metabolize industrial media. Moreover, we identified an as yet uncharacterised gene, YLR108C, that controls the glucose level at which respiration becomes repressed. Our preliminary results show that swapping natural alleles of YLR108C changes the level of glucose at which the Crabtree repression starts. In this PoC, we propose to use our findings to generate superior industrial yeasts that combine optimal industrial fermentation performance with more efficient biomass production. To avoid generating GM strains, we will use natural breeding and/or self-cloning techniques.

Keywords: yeast,fermentation,beer,wine,bread,cerevisiae,crabtree effect
Quality Control and Maintenance of Synaptic Mitochondria (SynapticMitochondria)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Panel description: Nervous system development, homeostasis and ageing, nervous system function and dysfunction, systems neuroscience and modelling, biological basis of cognitive processes and of behaviour, neurological and mental disorders
Countries involved: Portugal
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2015-STG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-09-01
End date: 2023-02-28
Duration (months): 78.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1300000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1300000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Mitochondria at the synapse have a pivotal role in neurotransmitter release, but almost nothing is known about synaptic mitochondria composition or specific functions. Synaptic mitochondria compared to mitochondria in other cells, need to cope with increased calcium load, more oxidative stress, and high demands of energy generation during synaptic activity. My hypothesis is that synaptic mitochondria have acquired specific mechanisms to manage local stress and that disruption of these mechanisms contributes to neurodegeneration. How mitochondria sense their dysfunction is unclear. Even more intriguing is the question how they decide whether their failure should lead to removal of the organelle or dismissal of the complete neuron via cell death. We anticipate that these decisions are not only operational during disease, but might constitute a fundamental mechanism relevant for maintenance of synaptic activity and establishment of new synapses. Recent studies have revealed several genes implicated in neurodegenerative disorders involved in mitochondrial maintenance. However the function of these genes at the synapse, where the initial damage occurs, remains to be clarified. These genes provide excellent starting points to decipher the molecular mechanisms discussed above. Furthermore I propose to use proteomic approaches to identify the protein fingerprint of synaptic mitochondria and to compare them to mitochondria from other tissues. I plan to identify key players of the proposed regulatory pathways involved in intrinsic mitochondria quality control. In a complimentary approach, I will exploit our findings and use in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches to measure mitochondrial function of synaptic versus non-synaptic mitochondria and the relevance of those changes for synaptic function. Our work will unravel the specific properties of synaptic mitochondria and provide much needed insight in their hypothesized predominant role in neurodegenerative disorders.

Keywords: mitochondria,synapse,neurodegeneration
Developing novel high temperature superconductor rotor windings for electric aircraft propulsion machines (NI HTS machine)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-06-04
End date: 2020-06-03
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The 2nd generation high temperature superconductor (2G HTS) machine has a significant advantage in high power density, enabling it to play a revolutionary role in electrical aircraft propulsion. However, existing research on 2G HTS machines reveals a major technique hurdle: the thermal stability of 2G HTS coils is too low for use in aviation. Being easily subject to damage during a quench or thermal fluctuation is unacceptable. The development of new technologies is a must to improve the thermal stability and reliability of HTS windings in electrical machines. A new winding technique, no-insulation (NI) coil, has been developed recently to improve the thermal stability of HTS coils in a high field magnet. The main idea is to remove the turn-to-turn electrical insulation. During a quench, the transport current can “bypass” the local normal region through its metallic turn-to-turn contact, significantly reducing the heat generated in the HTS. Therefore, NI coils are self-protecting compared to their insulated counterparts. This project will apply the NI technique to the HTS rotor windings of HTS synchronous machines, to significantly improve the thermal stability and reliability of the machine. This requires a clear understanding of the performance of NI HTS rotor windings in machine environments, which have not been studied yet. This project will substantially advance HTS machine technology by: 1) providing validated numerical tools to analyse the electromagnetic and thermal responses of NI coils in HTS machines; 2) proposing design strategies for using NI coils to improve stability and controllability. The novelty and originality of the project lies in the novel numerical methods for the NI coils and knowledge of the new characteristics of HTS machines with NI coils. This project will deliver a thorough understanding for the next generation of thermally reliable HTS machines with NI technology.

Keywords: high temperature superconductor machines,electric aircraft propulsion,self protecting rotor windings
Rational Engineering of Synthetic Systems for Propagation of Information via Catalytic Assembly of Copies (RESSPICAC)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Panel description: Structure, electronic properties, fluids, nanosciences, biological physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2019-STG, 2019)
Start date: 2019-11-01
End date: 2025-08-31
Duration (months): 70.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499433.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499433.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Copying of information-bearing polymer templates is vital to life. The central dogma of molecular biology describes how a sequence of nucleotides in DNA is copied into a sequence of nucleotides in a newly-assembled RNA polymer, and then into a sequence of amino acids in a protein. These processes involve sophisticated machinery in extant organisms, but even the ribosome is bound by the same physical principles as simpler systems that must have operated in early life. Despite the fundamental importance of copying, and its potential for the engineering of complex molecular systems, we do not understand these basic principles that enable accurate and reliable copies to be made of polymer templates, and cannot build minimal synthetic copying systems. I propose to explore minimal models of copying, leveraging recent advances in the thermodynamics of small, fluctuating systems and the thermodynamics of information processing, to identify these principles. I will translate this insight, via detailed molecular simulation and experimental characterisation of novel reaction motifs, into the construction of minimal synthetic copying systems. I will construct these systems from non-biological synthetic DNA. The project will provide insight into analogous processes in living organisms, and shed light on primitive living systems. It will also lay the groundwork for engineering synthetic systems with key cell-like functionalities, providing a mechanism for the production of complex assemblies that is fundamentally distinct from traditional self-assembly. Theory and simulation will drive the experiments, making rational design of systems possible whilst providing insight into the fundamental thermodynamics of information processing and computation, and the biophysics of novel nucleic acid interactions. Indeed, designing and building concrete molecular systems based on fundamental theory will enhance our understanding of the theories themselves.

Keywords: dna nanotechnology,molecular simulation
Flexible and resilient integrated biofuel processes for competitive production of green renewable jet and shipping fuels (FLEXI-GREEN FUELS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Secure, clean and efficient energy
Theme: Low-cost, low-carbon energy supply
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Germany,Germany,Germany,Germany,Greece,Sweden,Sweden,Sweden,Denmark,Denmark,Denmark
Call: Developing the next generation of renewable energy technologies (H2020-LC-SC3-2020-RES-RIA, 2020)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2023-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3993006.25
EU funding (EUR): 3993006.25
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

The FLEXI-GREEN FUEL project will advance the production of next generation biofuels for shipping and aviation by developing and improving integrated technologies for a complete conversion of #1 lignocellulosic residue biomass (LIGN) and #2 the organic fraction of municipal waste (OFMSW). Project targets are to significantly reduce the cost by improving the performance of the produced biofuels regarding the efficiency, the environment and society. Semi-continuous organosolv pretreatment is used for the separation of cellulose and hemicellulose fractions from lignin, aiming at optimal conversion of each stream. As lipids are far superior bio-crudes towards hydrocarbon fuels, this project we will develop and optimize three efficient methods to convert sugars to lipids (fungal fermentation, algae dark fermentation and lipid rich larva production), which will be further converted via advanced hydrotreatment (HDO/isomerization) to diesel range (C16-C18) alkanes. We will combine this with the utilization of furans (from pentose/hexose sugars) via condensation (C-C coupling) and hydrodeoxygenation routes to allow production of drop-in aviation fuels. And with utilization of lignin fast pyrolysis via selective fractionation, hydrodeoxygenation and alkylation towards aviation fuels (C8-C17) and/or bunker type fuels (>C18). Whole system analysis assess economic (TEA) and environmental (LCA) performance indicators and benchmark against conventional aviation and shipping fuels.

Keywords: lignocellulosic residue,organic fraction of municipal solid waste,jet like aviation bio fuels,bunker like shipping bio fuel,integrated conversion processes
Photoactivatable Drug Releasing Implants (PADRE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Panel description: Medical technologies and tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases, therapeutic approaches and interventions, pharmacology, preventative medicine, epidemiology and public health, digital medicine
Countries involved: Finland,Finland
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2020-COG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-05-01
End date: 2026-04-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1962477.0
EU funding (EUR): 1155415.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

This proposal introduces a next-generation platform for next generation optimally personalised drug therapy: on-demand drug releasing implants triggered and controlled by blue/UV light. The technology is based on novel light generation pathways and a light-sensitive nanocellulose drug reservoir. A formidable physiological barrier for light-triggered drug release has been the inability to use high-energy blue/UV light as the triggering signal. This is because the penetration depth of light drops to from a few cm to under 100 micrometers when moving from near-infrared to UV light, making deeper targets within tissues accessible only to red light. However, red light, with its intrinsically lower energy, has limited value in photochemical reactions because the photocleavage of covalent bonds typically requires UV-light. This is why many groups are looking at e.g. red-to-blue photon upconversion strategies. The major objective in PADRE is to circumvent the issue of unavailable blue light in implants through local light generation. Having access to light with higher energy will enable a much wider chemical toolbox, including photocleavable linkers. I will use blue/UV light to trigger and precisely control drug release. The approach creates an unconventional way to modulate the release profiles without unwanted drug leakage. The light will be generated through either 1) photon upconversion, or 2) integrated light sources. With the first approach, I will pioneer efficient red-to-blue/UV triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion in a hydrogel environment, while in the second approach I will generate light by a co-implanted light source. Both approaches are feasible according to my preliminary results on efficient triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion and photoresponsive liposomes and will be demonstrated in a working implant prototype. The core breakthrough of PADRE will be a viable solution to employ blue excitation in precisely-tailored drug-releasing implants.

Keywords: liposomes,controlled drug release,nanocellulose,photon upconversion,medical devices,implant