Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Towards rational design of cancer therapeutic drugs: a first principles study of the photosensitization mechanism of methylene blue (Photoblue) (PHOTOBLUE)

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: Austria
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF, 2012)
Start date: 2013-07-01
End date: 2015-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 179137.2
EU funding (EUR): 179137.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cancer is a severe health problem and thus the development of effective cancer drugs is one of the first priorities of the European Research Area. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a well-recognized process to treat cancer where cell death is caused by the effect of singlet molecular oxygen acting on molecular constituent parts of the cell. The most common way to generate singlet molecular oxygen requires the interaction between a photoexcited triplet photosensitizer and ground state molecular oxygen and, often, a biological compound. The general aim of Photoblue is to unravel the process of photosensitization in PDT by studying theoretically the photosensitizer methylene blue and its interplay with the environment. Methylene blue is selected because it is small to be studied theoretically and its photosensitization mechanism is unknown. To achieve this aim we propose a combination of state-of the-art quantum chemistry and a multilayer hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics technique that will allow a novel understanding of this light-activated process on the atomic level. The dynamical calculations will be performed in the presence of water, molecular oxygen, and DNA in order to mimic a realistic biological environment. Conducting the proposed research will train the applicant in i) using the most advanced ab initio methods to describe ground and electronic excited states and ii) developing molecular dynamical methods to obtain time-resolved information. The coaction of the host group experience in excited state electronic structure calculations and molecular dynamical simulations together with the applicant’s extensive experience in modeling large systems with MM force fields guarantees the feasibility of this challenging project. The experience gained within Photoblue will provide the applicant with the high qualification and scientific maturity to attain an independent position in academia in any European country in the future.

Keywords: photochemistry,computational chemistry,ab initio molecular dynamics,photosensitization mechanism,methylene blue
Can biomechanical measurements of joints predict severity of osteoarthritis? (GAIT-2-OA)

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-2012-IEF, 2012)
Start date: 2013-09-01
End date: 2014-08-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 154617.6
EU funding (EUR): 154617.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and disabling, multi-factorial disease with strong genetic and environmental determinants. The natural form of OA that arises spontaneously in Str/ort mice has been used as a model for human OA joint degeneration. This model is limited, however, because it is impossible to grade OA incidence and severity non-invasively in mice. Locomotor biomechanics provides a unique tool for non-invasively assessing knee dynamics, and has already been used to detect gait modifications in humans. Such gait analyses are directly transferable to mice. Our pilot data suggest that OA-prone Str/ort mice, in which the joints deteriorate rapidly with ageing, can readily be categorised by temporal changes in gait. Our hypothesis is that deterioration or deviation in individual mouse gait from normal will provide a non-invasive measure of joint degeneration. Our first aim is to examine the heritability of histological osteoarthritis (OA) severity and drop-out age, and their genetic and phenotypic correlations. Our second aim is to assess the relationship between different aspects of gait measurements and OA severity in Str/ort mice, and to assess the predictability of gait measurements on drop-out age. The third aim is to assess the degrees of asymmetry of individuals’ gait measurements (left versus right and front versus rear limbs) during the development of OA in Str/ort mice and compare these to changes in gait during normal healthy ageing in non OA-prone, mice. Identifying new statistically-defined and robust methods of OA detection in the mouse that do not require sacrifice would radically change how OA research might be conducted using this species and accelerate translation of new therapies.

Keywords: l212 biostatistics,l702 diagnostic tools,l207 quantitative genetics
Chemical proteomics for universal profiling of histone lysine malonylation and succinylation. (CHEMPROT-HLMS)

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-2012-IEF, 2012)
Start date: 2013-07-01
End date: 2015-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A large body of evidence suggest that reversible post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histones play a crucial role in gene expression and to the field of epigenetics, and that aberrant histone modification contributes to different diseases such as cancer. Recently, two novel types of histone PTMs called lysine malonylation (Kmal) and succinylation (Ksucc) have been identified. KMal and Ksucc induce more substantial chemical changes to the chemical properties of the modified protein than lysine acetylation or methylation, which are already known to have very important cellular roles. Taking into account the fact that most previously described histone PTMs have important biological functions and are implied in different human diseases, a logical hypothesis is that Ksucc and Kmal also play an important role in the regulation of histone protein structure and function, and potentially also across the wider proteome. These novel PTMs open many interesting questions: • Which histone lysine residues are the targets for these novel PTMs? • What enzymes regulate addition (writer) or removal (eraser) of Kmal and Ksucc? • Are there reader proteins that bind to histone Kmal and Ksucc to modulate changes in gene transcription? • What role do histone Kmal and Ksucc play in the regulation of histone structure and function? However, there are no standard and robust tools to directly identify and manipulate the enzymes or binders, and identifying the targets is currently a massive undertaking, and it is not easy to ‘pulse-chase’ without a label. The aim of the proposed project is to develop a platform of chemical probes and technologies that will enable for the first time proteome-wide global analysis of the complex biological network involve in these new types of PTMs of histone. These novel chemical biology tools will be used to identify novel histone targets and the enzymes (writers and erasers) and proteins (readers) involved in these new PTMs.

Keywords: organic chemistry,biological chemistry,chemical proteomics,epigenetics and gene regulations,histone post-translational modifications,activity-based probes,peptide-based probes
Scientific Concepts of Emotion and Cultural Identities (SCECI)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF, 2012)
Start date: 2013-07-01
End date: 2015-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 230036.6
EU funding (EUR): 230036.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project will investigate (a) the scientific concepts of emotion that psycho-medical research has produced between 1950 and 2000, and (b) if and how these concepts have informed emotional culture and identity in post-industrial societies in Western Europe—assessed through cultural productions such as film. The innovative character of this proposal lies in its subject and in its transdisciplinary approach that integrates expertise in psycho-medical research into current historical and cultural debate. It will develop a new frame for analysis that seeks to bridge the remaining conceptual gap in scholarship on emotion. In the first year, the researcher will join the project “Emotional Culture and Identity” (CEMID) of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) at the Universidad de Navarra. During this phase the applicant will receive excellent training in cultural analysis at the ICS that currently hosts nearly 60 researchers of various academic disciplines (philosophy, sociology, economics, political science, communication, medicine, biology, etc.) and of 16 different nationalities. The knowledge and experience that is obtained in Navarra will be put to use in the writing phase to be carried out in the second year, partly at the researcher’s home institution, the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, in order to create lasting synergies in the cultural analysis of emotion. By facilitating future collaborations between Spanish and German social science research centers on emotion research the proposed project will greatly contribute to EU excellence and competitiveness, and enable the researcher to pursue her goals of completing her postdoctoral academic training and becoming a successful tenure track professor.

Keywords: soc emotion identities cultural history physiology psychology neuroscience subjectivity media emotional immediacy self history of science cinema and media studies
Studies of Polynuclear Clusters for Biomass Conversion (STU POSTERMAC)

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: Denmark
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IOF, 2012)
Start date: 2014-01-01
End date: 2015-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 204930.6
EU funding (EUR): 204930.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

There are four main objectives: 1) Study the chemical performance of the multidentate amino ligand supported tri- and hexanuclear iron clusters developed by the Betley group. The clusters will be subjected to CO, CO2 and MeOH. 2) Construct novel cluster designs by ligand manipulations. Synthesise new hexanucleating and "odd" valued nucleating ligands. 3) Apply the accumulated knowledge on cluster chemistry and their unique properties to use them as mediators for actual organic chemical group transformations with focus on biomass conversion, especially EtOH and monomeric carbohydrates conversion. 4) Development of catalytic versions of these organic transformations. These objectives will be achieved by: 1) Reaction condition optimisation for the reaction with the given substrate. All the resulting new clusters will be analysed with respect to structure, electronic distribution, and chemical behaviour by reaction with a second substrate. Cluster properties are in focus. 2) The novel ligands will be synthesised using general literature procedures. The new clusters will be made using the experience and know-how in the Betley group. 3) Same procedure as in 1) with the difference that reactivity is in focus here. Novel clusters will be synthesised and employed. 4) Finding two substrates that react while restoring an active cluster allows for a catalytic system. The insight gained in 1-3) will be used. The relevance to the Work Programme is: Knowledge and skills on the highest level in the world will be transferred from Harvard University, USA, to DTU, Denmark. The combination of the research fields of polynuclear clusters and biomass conversion has a multidisciplinary character. Hence, it will bring new research platforms to Europe, rendering it highly attractive for the best researchers in the world. Moreover, biomass conversion for energy and chemicals is a very hot topic and sustainable living is part of the Horizon 2020 program described by the European Commission.

Keywords: c112 catalysis,c132 coordination chemistry,c130 intelligent materials - self assembled materials,c141 organic chemistry,c111 method development in chemistry,c114 chemical reactions
Design, synthesis and evaluation of potential group-1 and group-2 neuraminidase inhibitors (G1_G2_NAINHIBIT)

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: Italy
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IOF, 2012)
Start date: 2014-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 227893.2
EU funding (EUR): 227893.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Influenza neuraminidase (NA) is the enzyme that releases influenza virions from the infected cells, cleaving the sialic acid receptor on host cells. It has been recently demonstrated that influenza A has neuraminidase subtypes that belong to two distinct subgroups. The crystal structures of the three subtypes N1, N4 and N8 (group-1 enzymes) were found to be virtually identical in the shapes of their active sites. However they were found to be different when compared to N2 and N9 subtypes (group-2 enzymes). In the case of N1, N4 and N8 subtypes, a loop of amino acids which includes the active site catalytic residue Asp 151, was found to adopt an unusual open conformation compared to the N2 and N9 subtypes in which loop-150 was of a closed conformation. The observation of different active site conformations between certain subtypes of group-1 and group-2 enzymes suggests that these two groups are not only genetically distinct but are also structurally distinct. The main objective of our project is to develop new specific neuraminidase inhibitors with two distinctive important features: 1) a novel general scaffold which provides the correct ring distortion required to mimic both group-1 and group-2 neuraminidase transition-state; 2) further additional groups of suitable shape and size that extend the general structure and fill the cavity-150, with the aim of generate group-1 specific inhibitors. The objectives of the project will be achieved through the employment of multidisciplinary competences, in which the host institutions have enormous experience: design of carbohydrate mimics as inhibitors, libraries synthesis, virus like particles STD-NMR spectroscopy, biological evaluation and molecular modelling.This fellowship will ensure the opportunity for the applicant to be exposed to an international and interdisciplinary context, working on a timely scientific project resulting from the collaboration of two internationally recognized research leaders in glycoscience.

Keywords: carbohydrate mimics,sialic acid,viruses,influenza a,150 cavity,neuraminidase inhibitors,oseltamivir derivatives,virus like particles,libraries,computational chemistry,std,nmr spectroscopy
Helical Alleno-Acetylenic Oligomers with High Chiroptical Activity (HELICALLENES)

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: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF, 2012)
Start date: 2013-06-01
End date: 2015-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 192622.2
EU funding (EUR): 192622.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The principal goal of this proposed Marie Curie project is to develop a new class of structurally-stable chiral macromolecules—alleno acetylenic oligomers—with an all-carbon backbone and rigid helical secondary structure that will result in high optical activity. We wish to explore and attain a thorough understanding of the factors that allow a significant increase in the optical activity of these materials. This will be achieved by stabilizing their secondary helical structure by the means described below in the proposal, and by forming assemblies of these helices to yield superstructures, in which the optical activity will be increased as a result of cooperative effects. This research project will provide an innovative route for the synthesis of new structurally-stable helical foldamers, where several strategies will be applied: (i) covalent crosslinking using ring closure metathesis (RMC), (ii) non-covalent cross linking using hydrogen and halogen bonding, (iii) coordinative cross linking, (iv) solvophobic interaction – using various solubilizing groups. Considering the high chiral activity reported for the parent oligomer, the structural stabilization of the crosslinked oligomers and the formation of ordered superstructures are expected to result in novel, optically active oligomeric geometries with record-high chiral activities.

Keywords: carbon-rich chemistry,foldamer chemistry,allenes
Appropriating the 'Legitimate': Far-Right Discourses on Ecology (FAR-RIGHTECO)

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: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF, 2012)
Start date: 2013-11-04
End date: 2015-11-03
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168794.4
EU funding (EUR): 168794.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Modern societies have increasingly thematised themselves with ecological issues as their basic problems. However, the ‘legitimacy’ publicly ascribed to ecology renders its appropriation possible by groups widely viewed as ‘illegitimate’, enabling such actors to attract not only their core audience, but also a moderate wider public. This project analyses such appropriation, i.e. both the assessment of as well as the potential for self-legitimisation via ecological topics. This is done via an analysis of the politically relevant case of increasingly popular far-right populist and radical parties, and looser groups of organised intellectuals in Austria, Germany and Switzerland between 2001 and 2011. Existing research on these actors has investigated, e.g., their stance on immigration but similarly extensive research into their public discourses on ecology does not exist. Little is known about ‘how’ and ‘why’ some far-right actors reject ecological issues, while others appropriate the protection of nature. Through triangulating quantitative corpus-linguistics (direct comparison of the investigated discourses on ecology), quantitative appropriation analysis (mapping assessments of and potential self-legitimation via ecology) and qualitative discourse analysis (how ecology is performed in detail), I ask: Which topics characterise far-right discourses on ecology? How are these performances affected as soon as these actors address a moderate wider public? (How) Do these actors draw on traditional right-wing narratives about the humans-and-nature relationship? Successful appropriation of the ‘legitimate‘ topic of ecology might enable these actors to legitimise their core topics, attract a moderate wider public and transvalue (liberal-)democratic values. Thus, the project provides, for the first time and in a historical and comparative perspective, an analysis of such attempts, enabling a better understanding of increasingly successful far-right populists and radicals.

Keywords: cultural sociology,environmental sociology,mixed methods (corpus analysis,relational method,critical discourse analysis),far-right populism/radicalism
Rethinking uncertainty: A problem-based approach (RETHINKING)

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-2012-IEF, 2012)
Start date: 2013-09-02
End date: 2015-09-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The overarching aim of this research project is to improve our understanding of uncertainty, the robustness of its formal modelling and its inter-sectoral communication. Decision-making in the face of the continuing financial crisis and climate change policy-making are two problems of high socio-economic impact in which our overall understanding of uncertainty plays an unquestionably decisive role. This interdisciplinary project sets out to contribute to such pressing issues by addressing a set of key epistemological questions that arise in the construction of formal models of rational decision-making under uncertainty. By doing so it will throw new light on one of the most fundamental problems in the multifaceted field of uncertain reasoning: how to identify an efficient trade-off between foundational robustness and expressive power in the quantification of uncertainty. The expected results will bring foundational and methodological clarity as well as formal advance. The former will give rise to a novel framework in which a plurality of models of uncertain reasoning are developed in continuity with their intended applications in individual, social and institutional decision-making. As to formal advance, it is hoped that the new framework will lead to principled extensions of probabilistic measures of uncertainty and the maximisation of expected utility. Logic, decision theory and formal epistemology will provide the methods and techniques of investigation. The expected results will impact directly on economic theory, the foundations of probability and statistical inference, and artificial intelligence. The fulfilment of the research and training goals of the project will greatly benefit from the engagement with professionals and policy groups. This, in turn, is expected to add significantly to the project's impact outside the academia.

Keywords: uncertain reasoning,decision theory,s211 epistemology - logic - philosophy of science,m101 logic and foundations,e102 microeconomics,g111 modelling tools