Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
The RANK-Axis in Breast Cancer: A comprehensive prospective evaluation of promising novel biomarkers (RANKL_OPG)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IIF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168794.4
EU funding (EUR): 168794.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. The recently identified Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB (RANK)-axis has stimulated novel research in the field of breast cancer etiology, treatment, and prevention. Experimental data implicate RANK signalling in mammary tumor development. Preliminary human data show increased RANK expression correlated with poor outcome, and circulating concentrations of osteoprotegerin, the decoy RANK receptor inhibiting RANK-axis signalling, are increased in several conditions associated with decreased risk of breast cancer (e.g. pregnancy). The proposed research will provide the first evidence on the role of pre-diagnosis RANK-axis members in the etiology of breast cancer in the EPIC cohort, the largest prospective breast cancer case-control study worldwide, and in a complementary study in the unique Finnish Maternity Cohort. A RANK-inhibitor is clinically available and these studies have the potential to inform primary prevention trials. The research will be completed at the internationally recognized German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The fellow`s knowledge transfer objectives capitalize on almost a decade of research experience and established networks in U.S. pregnancy cohorts and Harvard University`s Nurses` Health Study. The fellow will: (1) Promote scientific exchange with U.S.-based cohorts and provide subject area expertise; (2) Broaden data analysis expertise at DKFZ to foster long-term collaborations among colleagues; and, (3) Lead and initiate cancer research projects and form strategic professional networks with European colleagues to develop ongoing collaborations. The novel research will strengthen DKFZ`s position as a center for innovative research in cancer epidemiology and the fellowship provides a unique opportunity to reinforce and expand collaborations between scientists at DKFZ and U.S. institutions.

Keywords: breast cancer,pregnancy,epidemiology,women's health,biomarkers
Charting the holographic quantum landscape, and consequences on charge transport at strong coupling (HOLOLAND)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-09-01
End date: 2017-08-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 279780.9
EU funding (EUR): 279780.9
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal aims at elucidating the properties of charge transport at strong coupling, when no quasiparticle description is valid. We will employ techniques from gauge/gravity duality, which comes from String Theory and High Energy physics and maps a strongly-coupled field theory with a UV conformal fixed point to an asymptotically Anti-de Sitter gravitational spacetime described by Einstein’s equations. Possible applications can be found in strongly-coupled Condensed Matter systems. Scaling properties of transport at strong coupling likely originate from scaling regimes of the gravitational dual, so we will classify and chart the holographic quantum landscape following Effective Holographic Theories principles. This approach relies on specifying the symmetries and the relevant operators in the problem at hand. I expect to be able to identify such operators in phases breaking translation invariance homogeneously, build gravity models with tunable intermediate scaling regimes, characterize the phases studied with both local (transport coefficients, correlators…) and nonlocal (entanglement, fractionalisation) observables and explore connections with top-down models from String Theory. The main research training objectives are three-fold: complementing my set of current skills with gravitational perturbation and numerical techniques, as well as building a solid culture in modern Condensed Matter Theory. Important additional research and transferable skills are included in the training plan. At the outcome of the Fellowship, I will find myself at a privileged position at the interface between High Energy and Condensed Matter physics, able to draw research directions from both sides. I expect the proposal to be very beneficial to the ERA: it will encourage multidisciplinary exchanges, foster collaborations between France and the USA, and more generally further advances on a new and radical change of paradigm relevant for some long-standing Condensed Matter issues.

Keywords: gauge/gravity duality,black holes,strongly-coupled condensed matter systems
Enhancing cognitive flexibility in autism (ENHANCINGFLEXIBILITY)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2016-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 243847.8
EU funding (EUR): 243847.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The proposed project seeks to apply theoretical knowledge and insights from the research field on cognitive training and develop interventions that target flexible behaviour in autism. While empirical evidence for success of cognitive training is provided by improvement of skills within a certain task context, this project aims to determine which training regimens would target underlying mechanisms and enable the transfer of trained skills to other tasks, as well as to everyday behaviour. The proposed project builds upon my previous research on autism as well as the novel methodological approach I used by including game-like elements in my experiments. Neuroimaging techniques in the proposed project will complement my existing skills with new imaging methods (EEG). They will also provide further insight into the brain regions and attentional processes involved in cognitive flexibility, illustrating a multidisciplinary character of the proposal. Acquiring my own distinctive research niche will significantly enhance my prospects of gaining professional employment. Combined with my professional experience, this new theoretical and applied knowledge will provide me with a diverse skill set and make me an attractive candidate for future academic positions.

Keywords: autism,cognitive flexibility,cognitive training,apps
Insight into the structure and function of marine pelagic food webs: traits and trade-offs in zooplankton feeding behaviour (ZOOTRAIT)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Denmark
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-09-01
End date: 2017-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221154.6
EU funding (EUR): 221154.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Understanding biogeochemical dynamics in the ocean and predicting responses of marine ecosystems to climate change and other stressors require a good description and knowledge of the structure and biological processes in pelagic food webs. In marine ecosystems, zooplankton occupy a key trophic position in plankton food webs, playing a pivotal role in marine biogeochemical cycling and fish recruitment. Knowledge of zooplankton predator-prey interactions is essential for better comprehension of the factors regulating the structure of marine food webs and therefore, for an integrated understanding of the marine ecosystems dynamics. Traditionally, models of pelagic marine food webs quantify interactions between species or functional types, but attempts to embrace the inherent complexity of marine food webs make these models very complex. An emerging alternative approach, the trait based approach, proposes to replace the thousands of species with organisms that are characterized by a few key traits (i.e. those characteristics/features that are essential to the success – fitness - of an organism) and their associated trade-offs (what are the costs and benefits of a particular trait). The present project aims to experimentally quantify the feeding tradeoffs (i.e., feeding efficiency vs. metabolic cost and mortality risk) associated with the three main feeding behaviors in zooplankton and to construct trait-based models to predict zooplankton trait distributions in the ocean. Overall, the proposed project will increase our ability to understand the factors that govern the structure and function of pelagic food webs, and predict their changes under different environmental conditions, including global climate change scenarios.

Keywords: trait-based models,zooplankton,marine food webs,key traits,trade-offs,copepods,predator-prey interactions,feeding behavior
DNA origami templates for nanocrystalline diamond nanostructures. (DIAMONDDNA)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-09-01
End date: 2016-09-20
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 196456.2
EU funding (EUR): 196456.2
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The superlative properties of diamond make it a choice material for making nanoscale devices over a broad range of applications. Diamond devices are conventionally made using "top-down" processing following the seeding and growth of nanocrystalline diamond thin films, however, due to the great resilience of diamond, fabricating nanoscale devices is technologically demanding and nanoscale patterning requires expensive and lengthy processing such as electron beam lithography (EBL). Herein, the applicant presents a proposal to develop a novel, inexpensive, rapid and scalable methodology to fabricate nanoscale devices using "bottom-up" processing with a feature resolution that will surpass current state-of-the-art processing techniques such as EBL. To achieve this goal, the technique of DNA Nanotechnology will be used to create self-assembled 2D DNA patterns of any desired shape, which will subsequently be electrostatically and covalently coated with nanodiamond and diamondoid particles. Following diamond seeding on DNA templates, the applicant proposes to grow nanocrystalline diamond thin film devices with nanoscale features. Given the diameter of DNA is ca. 2 nm, structures with nearly 2 nm feature resolution should be achievable, especially when seeding the structures with molecular diamondoid particles. Following development of said technique, nanoscale diamond devices (specifically nanophotonic structures, transistors and biosensors) will be fabricated that promise unprecedented performance.

Keywords: diamond,nanodiamond,diamondoid,adamantane,mwpecvd,dna nanotechnology,dna origami,self-assembly,bottom-up,nanotechnology
Improved heTErodyne Receiving Arrays for TEraherzt applications (ITERATE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-10-20
End date: 2017-10-19
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 268329.3
EU funding (EUR): 268329.3
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Sensors at sub-millimeter wavelengths, which is loosely defined as 100 GHz to 3 THz, provide unprecedented sensitivity for astrophysics, planetary science, Earth observation, medical imaging or security screening. Heterodyne receivers, which down-convert radio frequency signals to intermediate frequency signals preserving the amplitude and phase information of the incoming radiation, are generally the detector of choice for high resolution sub-millimeter wave spectroscopy. Heterodyne receivers provide both the sensitivity and resolution for such studies. Nevertheless, it is clear that the future instruments will demand heterodyne arrays for higher sensitivity, greater mapping speed, large scale mapping ability, multiple line spectroscopy, and imaging capability. Passive and/or active heterodyne focal plane arrays would have profound impact on medical diagnostics, contraband detections, and astrophysical spectroscopy and imaging applications. However, only a handful of heterodyne array instruments at sub-millimeter wavelengths with a limited number of pixels are currently operational or being developed. This proposal deals with the development of improved heterodyne receiving arrays for instruments at THz frequencies. Such arrays will be enabled by higher levels of component integration with novel array concepts. Front-end architecture, including the choice of mixer elements and local oscillator (LO) injection schemes will be crucial to the overall design of such instruments. However, the novelty of this statement springs up from the efficient integration of the mixer with the antenna element at frequencies as high as 2.7 THz, and from the assembly of all the pixels taking advantage of novel antenna array topologies. The accomplishment of the work plan will not only contribute to the maturity of THz technology; the manufactured devices will be readily available for scientific and industrial purposes.

Keywords: teraherzt,heterodyne receivers,focal plane arrays,antenna arrays
Microcavity Array Supported Lipid Bilayers; Biomimetic Test Beds for Drug–Membrane Interactions (MEMSENSE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Ireland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-04
End date: 2016-03-03
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183504.6
EU funding (EUR): 183504.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The proposed research programme will advance the state of the art in nanostructured array preparation. This will be achieved by utilising microcavity arrays generated via standard nanosphere lithographic approaches and reproducibly introducing additional nanostructures via plasmonically directed growth. The resulting arrays will lead to greater optical signal enhancement due to the additional plasmonic coupling and focusing generated by the extra metallic structures. Importantly, these arrays will not only lead to increased plasmonic activity but will be reproducibly prepared, unlike current approaches used to enhance the activity of microcavity arrays. Nanostructured arrays of this nature can be used to enhance optical signals such as those generated in Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy. Therefore, following their development they will be used in the preparation of a novel drug permeability assay. Biomimetic lipid bilayers, representing natural cell membranes, will be supported on the arrays and the interaction of drug molecules of interest monitored via metal enhanced fluorescence, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance. The proposed approach will result in the measurement of a dissociation constant for specific drug-membrane combinations. This dissociation constant will be an improved parameter compared to the currently utilised partition coefficient that is measured for drugs between two immiscible liquids. An improved insight into drug-membrane interactions, such as those provided by the proposed novel drug permeability assay, will have significant impacts in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical fields. Product development will be better informed at a much earlier stage and only the most promising targets advanced to the more expensive in vitro and in vivo testing stages. This will ensure products are successfully brought to market quicker than currently happens and savings are made within the development pipeline.

Keywords: metallic microcavity arrays,nanostructures,plasmonics,plasmonically directed growth,enhanced optical spectroscopies,se(r)rs,fluorescence,assymmetric bilayers,drug dissociation constants
Subsurface Microbial contribution to Dark CO2 fixation in geological storage sites. Community structure and dynamics. (DARK ENERGY)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2016-12-19
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 261384.6
EU funding (EUR): 261384.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

With the aim of reducing anthropogenic CO2 emission in the atmosphere and subsequent climatic changes and ocean acidification, carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the deep subsurface has been envisaged as one of the mitigating solution. Its efficiency is currently evaluated at the Hellisheidi CO2 injection site in Iceland. This pilot site is implemented in the Hengill area (SW Iceland). This field scale injection of CO2-charged waters is designed to study the feasibility of storing permanently CO2 in mafic rocks and to optimize associated industrial techniques. Prior to the injection, the microbiological initial state was characterized through regular sampling of groundwaters at various seasons since October 2008. The microbial communities have been followed all along 2 CO2 injections using cloning and pyrosequencing of the16S RNA gene. These results show a high reactivity of the microbial communities after the injection, especially involving microorganisms of the C, S, N and Fe cycles. However, the implication of the nutrient cycles has not been determined yet. Our objectives for this study are: 1. To understand the microbial communities function in relation to C, S, Fe and N cycles through a metagenomics analysis. 2. To study the community structure and dynamics of the biofilms adhered to the basaltic substrate, using cloning, pyrosequencing and qPCR. 3. To describe the microbial-mineral interactions in relation to potential CO2 precipitation and biological C fixation. FISH, single cell genomics and SEM analyses will be performed. Besides the relevant scientific contribution of the project, the obtained results will contribute to the development of the CO2 fixation technology. The contribution of microorganisms to carbon storage has not been integrated into geochemists predictive models, nor understood. We will provide valuable information on the microbial potential for direct or indirect CO2 fixation that will be integrated into further projects.

Keywords: subsurface microbiology,co2 fixation,metagenomics,single cell genomics,microdissection,biofilms,microbial diversity,community function,qpcr,fish,community dynamics,microbial ecology
Integrating phylogenetics, ecology and evo-devo to understand the origin of plant species: the role of spur length evolution in speciation of the genus Linaria (LINARIA-SPECIATION)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-04-22
End date: 2016-04-21
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Understanding the origin of species is one of the major challenges of modern biology, and requires the integration of ecological, evolutionary and developmental approaches. In this project, we aim to understand speciation processes in plants using a clade of eight Iberian bifid toadflaxes (Linaria sect. Versicolores) as a model system, and applying a multidisciplinary approach. Particular attention will be paid to investigating the role of evolutionary variation in the length of nectar spurs in mediating speciation, as nectar spurs have been previously hypothesized as a key innovation promoting speciation in angiosperms. Particular objectives are as follows: (1) To reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within the study clade using multiple unlinked DNA regions and state-of-the-art coalescent-based methods. Based on phylogenetic results, ancestral states of key traits (particularly spur length) involved in species differentiation will be reconstructed. (2) To investigate the components of reproductive isolation among species of the study clade, including prezygotic (pollinators, environmental niche) and postzygotic breeding barriers. (3) To understand the genetic and developmental basis of a key flower trait, spur length, putatively involved in speciation of the study clade. To this end, we will build upon previous work on flower development in the tribe Antirrhineae and genus Linaria. First, we will analyze the transcriptional basis of spur development in Linaria using next-generation sequencing technology. Then, inter-specific differences in expression patterns of genes potentially involved in regulating spur length variation will be examined. In the end, information on phylogenetic relationships, reproductive barriers, evolution and development of key traits will be integrated in order to understand mechanisms of speciation in Linaria sect. Versicolores.

Keywords: speciation,evolution,plants,evo-devo,next-generation sequencing,phylogenetics,reproductive barriers,nectar spurs,pollination,mediterranean biodiversity