Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
The biology of nuclear calcium: general principles of adaptations and strategies to develop a light-induced signaling enhancer (NUCLEAR CALCIUM)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Neurosciences and neural disorders
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2008-AdG, 2008)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2014-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2400000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2400000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Adaptation is a characteristic of life. Changes in gene expression allow cells and organisms to transform signals from the environment into long-lasting adaptive responses that range from learning and memory, addiction and chronic pain, to immunity and plant-microbe symbiosis. The project is based on the idea that the rules and signals governing the rich repertoire of adaptations are simple and used nearly universally. The research program consequently follows the concept that persistent adaptations take place when calcium a widely used modulator of cell functions enters the cell nucleus to activate transcription. In the nervous system, nuclear calcium controls CREB-mediated transcription following synaptic activity and is required for memory and activity-dependent survival. Dysfunction of nuclear calcium signaling may lead to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. We propose to develop methods for in vivo visualization of nuclear calcium signals in awake animals performing learning tasks and to establish, using key examples of adaptive responses, nuclear calcium a an evolutionary conserved regulator of adaptations. On the basis of common principles governing adaptive responses it becomes possible to develop general strategies to modulate adaptations irrespective of cell type or phylogenetic borders. At the heart of the proposal is the development of the proto-type of a nuclear calcium signaling enhancer. We exploit the optical properties of channelrhodopsin and aequorin to construct a light-induced signaling enhancer to boost physiological nuclear calcium responses and to restore them in disease or aging. The proposal has a focus on neuroscience and aims to provide proof-of-principle for unconventional treatments of neurodegenerations and age-related cognitive decline. In addition, the nuclear calcium concept is applied to immunology and plant biology to devise means of modulating immune responses and increasing plant growth by boosting symbiosis signaling.

Keywords: neuronal signaling,calcium,imaging,gene expression,nmda receptor,creb,learning,survival
Integrative phagosomal biology: antigen presentation and developmental programs in dendritic cells (PHAGODC)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Immunity and infection
Countries involved: France
Call:  (ERC-2008-AdG, 2008)
Start date: 2009-07-01
End date: 2014-06-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2214702.0
EU funding (EUR): 2214702.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Integrative phagosomal biology: antigen presentation and developmental programs in dendritic cells Dendritic cells phagocytose incoming pathogens and dead cells in peripheral tissues, and then migrate to the draining lymph nodes where they deliver to lymphocytes all the information required for the initiation of adaptive immune responses. This information relates to the nature of the pathogen, which is sensed, both directly through pattern recognition receptors (including Toll-like receptors, TLRs), and indirectly through different receptors for cytokines and stress factors. This information also concerns the structure of the antigens, which will be presented to T lymphocytes in the form of proteolytic peptides loaded on MHC molecules. Phagosomes play a critical role in the processing of antigens for presentation to both MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T cells, and to MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cells (a process called cross presentation). Importantly, antigen processing and presentation to T cells is influenced by the environment of the dendritic cells and by the type of TLR-ligands engaged. The present project aims to identify the molecular basis for the regulation of phagosomal functions (including oxidation, pH control and degradation) and antigen processing during the different developmental programs of DCs. Our main specific aims are: 1) to analyse the regulation of the phagosomal function during dendritic cell maturation, 2) to identify novel molecular players and pathways in antigen cross presentation using shRNA- based screens, and 3) to image dynamically phagocytic dendritic cell functions, in vitro and in vivo. This project will provide an integrated vision of the phagosomal function of dendritic cells and of its regulation during dendritic cell maturation. It will unravel novel molecular players and pathways involved in the control of the phagocytic function in general, and will contribute to understanding the molecular basis of immune recognition.

Keywords: dendritic cells,phagocytosis,antigen presentation,intracellular traffic,nadph oxidase,acidification cross presentation,dynamic imaging,2-photon microscopy
Improving the services of the NMP NCP Network through Trans-national Activities (NMP TEAM)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: Integration
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Greece,Ireland,Italy,Romania,Malta,Germany,Türkiye,Bulgaria,Czechia,Hungary,Poland,Portugal,Russian Federation,United Kingdom,Estonia
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2008-CSA-2, 2008)
Start date: 2009-04-01
End date: 2011-09-30
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1291116.2
EU funding (EUR): 998100.0
Participants: 15
Project status: CLOSED

The NCP TeAm project aims at an improved NMP NCP service across Europe therefore helping simplify access to FP7 calls, lowering the entry barriers for newcomers, and raising the average quality of submitted proposals through closer collaboration between the NMP NCPs and normalisation of the differences in knowledge and quality of provided services across the NCP Network in Europe and beyond. To this effect the four main objectives of this project are to optimise the tools at hand to the benefit of the networks clients, such as the adoption of a partner search system tailormade to the NMP needs and the creation of an NCP NMP Network website, to maximise the impact and add value to organised National and European events with organising parallel brokerage (partnership building) events, joint NMP NCP stands and joint awareness campaigns (including visits to researchers and industries), to standardise the Network skills and provided services through the creation of a charter of services, an operational manual, twinnings and targeted trainings and to forge stronger links with all NMP related Networks, Technology platforms and other EC initiatives and programmes.

Keywords: nmp ncp services,trans-national activities,partner search
Understanding the Origin of Species: Ecological Genomics and Transcriptomics on Oceanic Islands (ORIGENE)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Evolutionary, population and environmental biology
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2008-AdG, 2008)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2014-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2415470.0
EU funding (EUR): 2415470.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The origin of species diversity has challenged biologists for more than two centuries, but despite the large amount of literature on the subject, pivotal questions about speciation remain unanswered. For example, we know that the origin of species must involve genetic separation, most often followed by phenotypic differentiation. Geographic isolation and subsequent genetic separation gives rise to the uncontroversial allopatric mode of speciation. But in theory, populations can become genetically separated without geographical isolation, resulting in the more disputed sympatric mode of speciation. Recently, Savolainen (the applicant of this proposal) and colleagues provided strong evidence for sympatric speciation in a case study of two species of Howea palms on Lord Howe Island, Australia. Here, we will take our research to a much deeper level and tackle novel themes. Innovative approaches will be developed, combining field ecology and genetic modelling, and taking advantage of the most recent advances in genomic technologies such as ultra-high throughput sequencing provided by the Roche 454 and Illumina Solexa platforms. Using Howea as a model system, sequences of their transcriptomes, scans of their genomes and genes expression profiles, we will test the theoretical predictions that only a few genetic loci controlling key traits are necessary for rapid ecological speciation. Extending this study to other taxa and islands, we will ask what combinations of ecological conditions and genomic architectures lead to the evolution of new species? Particularly, how can species originate in the face of gene flow, for example when confined to a minute oceanic island? The project will provide one of the most comprehensive studies of speciation and has the potential to provide a drastically new perspective on this process. It will also shed light on the wide-ranging link between genotype and phenotype, as well as help to manage biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

Keywords: speciation,plant sciences,evolutionary ecology
Evolutionary explanations for cooperation: microbes to humans (COOPERATION)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Evolutionary, population and environmental biology
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2008-AdG, 2008)
Start date: 2009-10-01
End date: 2015-09-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1200000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1200000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cooperation poses a problem to evolutionary theory because it can be exploited by selfish individuals. Evolutionary biologists have developed a detailed theoretical overview of possible solutions to the problem of cooperation. In contrast to our theoretical understanding of potential solutions, however,, we have been relatively unsuccessful at applying theory to understand observations of cooperative behaviour nature. We present a novel and interdisciplinary programme of research to address this problem by empirically testing assumptions and predictions of several leading explanations for cooperation. We will develop theory to make explicit testable predictions for specific systems. We will exploit the advantage offered by different study systems: experiments with bacteria, comparative studies on cooperative breeding vertebrates, and experiments on humans. In addition to addressing specific hypotheses, we will show how evolutionary theory links and differentiates explanations for cooperation across various taxa and levels of biological organization.

Keywords: altruism,cooperation,social evolution
Novel strategies for the cell therapy of muscular dystrophies (STEM CELLS FOR DMD)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Italy
Call:  (ERC-2008-AdG, 2008)
Start date: 2009-03-01
End date: 2014-02-28
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1900000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1900000.0
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims to develop an effective cell therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). To reach this goal we plan to transfer a human artificial chromosome containing the whole dystrophin locus into dystrophic mesoangioblasts. As the transfer is inefficient and requires selection, it is impossible to use primary cells that would undergo senescence during selection. Therefore we need to reversibly immortalize DMD patient mesoangioblasts by the combined use of lentiviral vectors expressing either floxed human telomerase (h-Tert) or floxed Bmi1 (and also the Herpes Simplex Thymidine Kinase, HSTK). Immortal clones, selected for proper expression of h-Tert and Bmi1 and maintenance of a mesoangioblast phenotype, will be transfected with a human artificial chromosome expressing human dystrophin. Expressing clones will be selected and characterized. Before transplantation, selected clones will be infected with an adenoviral vector expressing the Cre recombinase and then treated with Gancyclovir. Transduced and selected cells will be transplanted into mdx/SCID (dystrophic and immune deficient) mice and the extent of dystrophin reconstitution and consequent functional benefit will be evaluated. In addition, the possible immune reaction to the transgenes or novel antigens generated by the experimental strategy will be monitored by an in vitro assay utilizing donor s dendritic cells and T lymphocytes. Finally this strategy will be repeated in Golden Retriever dystrophic dogs, the closest animal model to DMD. Dog mesoangioblasts will be reversibly immortalized, transduced with the dystrophin HAC and, after viral excision and GC selection, transplanted in the same dogs from which they had been directly isolated. Dystrophin expression, functional amelioration and possible toxic and immune reactions will be monitored. This project will therefore cover all pre-clinical experimentation and would set the stage for immediate clinical translation.

Keywords: muscolar dystrophy,telomerase,human artificial chromosome.
Decoding the mechanisms of centrosome duplication (CENDUP)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Cellular and Developmental Biology
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (ERC-2008-AdG, 2008)
Start date: 2009-04-01
End date: 2014-03-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2004155.0
EU funding (EUR): 2004155.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Centrosome duplication entails the formation of a single procentriole next to each centriole once per cell cycle. The mechanisms governing procentriole formation are poorly understood and constitute a fundamental open question in cell biology. We will launch an innovative multidisciplinary research program to gain significant insight into these mechanisms using C. elegans and human cells. This research program is also expected to have a significant impact by contributing important novel assays to the field. Six specific aims will be pursued: 1) SAS-6 as a ZYG-1 substrate: mechanisms of procentriole formation in C. elegans. We will test in vivo the consequence of SAS-6 phosphorylation by ZYG-1. 2) Biochemical and structural analysis of SAS-6-containing macromolecular complexes (SAMACs). We will isolate and characterize SAMACs from C. elegans embryos and human cells, and analyze their structure using single-particle electron microscopy. 3) Novel cell-free assay for procentriole formation in human cells. We will develop such an assay and use it to test whether SAMACs can direct procentriole formation and whether candidate proteins are needed at centrioles or in the cytoplasm. 4) Mapping interactions between centriolar proteins in live human cells. We will use chemical methods developed by our collaborators to probe interactions between HsSAS-6 and centriolar proteins in a time- and space-resolved manner. 5) Functional genomic and chemical genetic screens in human cells. We will conduct high-throughput fluorescence-based screens in human cells to identify novel genes required for procentriole formation and small molecule inhibitors of this process. 6) Mechanisms underlying differential centriolar maintenance in the germline. In C. elegans, we will characterize how the sas-1 locus is required for centriole maintenance during spermatogenesis, as well as analyze centriole elimination during oogenesis and identify components needed for this process

Keywords: centrosome,centriole,duplication,c. elegans,human cells
Unraveling the code of DNA replication origins and its link with cell identity (ORICODE)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry
Countries involved: France
Call:  (ERC-2008-AdG, 2008)
Start date: 2009-02-01
End date: 2014-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2000000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

DNA replication origins remain poorly defined in metazoans, in contrast to bacteria or S. cerevisiae. We believe that, in eukaryotes, a differential encoding of chromosomes by DNA replication origins is instrumental for the acquisition of cell identity during development. We wish to decipher this encoding, to determine whether it is linked to gene expression, and identify the mechanisms used to build a replication origin. First, we will unravel the origins code in mouse undifferentiated pluripotent cells with a genome-wide approach and correlate the replication origins&apos; map with other chromosomal genetic or epigenetic features. The origins code will be deciphered also in the same cells when engaged into a specific (neural) differentiation. We predict that this differential mapping will identify constitutive and regulated origins, the latter specific to gene domains expressed in differentiation and providing cell identity. In the second axis of this project, we will identify proteins that constitute a replication origin. We will exploit two novel screening procedures developed in our laboratory. The &quot;chromosome-trap&quot; assay uses DNA beads to collect factors assembling at replication origins, using Xenopus cell-free systems. The &quot;Replication foci capture&quot; method allows the isolation of replication origins at their in-situ chromosomal location. Key objective 1: to unravel DNA replication origins&apos; code in pluripotent embryonic stem cells. Key objective 2: to identify a link between replication origins and cell identity . Key objective 3: to investigate whether replication origins are responsible for the spatio-temporal organization and cell identity regulation by Homeobox domains. Key objective 4: to perform a functional analysis of replication origins by SiRNA silencing of differentially expressed gene domains or specific KO of DNA replication origins. Key objective 5: to identify new factors which assemble replication origins by two novel screening procedures.

Keywords: dna replication. epigenetics
System analysis of a bio-energy plantation: full greenhouse gas balance and energy accounting (POPFULL)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Applied life sciences and biotechnology
Countries involved: Belgium
Call:  (ERC-2008-AdG, 2008)
Start date: 2009-03-01
End date: 2014-10-31
Duration (months): 68.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

One of the strategies for mitigation of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions that is receiving a lot of attention in this post-Kyoto era, is the use of bio-energy as a replacement for fossil fuels. Among the different alternatives of bio-energy production the use of biomass crops such as fast-growing woody crops under short rotation coppice (SRC) regimes - is probably the most suited, in particular in the EU. Two issues need to be addressed before the efficacy of bio-energy for carbon mitigation can be conclusively assessed, i.e. (i) a full life cycle analysis (LCA) of the global warming contribution of SRC, and (ii) and an assessment of the energy efficiency of the system. The objectives of this project are: (i) to make a full LCA balance of the most important greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O and O3) and of the volatile organic compounds (VOC s), and (ii) to make a full energy accounting of a SRC plantation with fast-growing trees. The project will involve both an experimental approach at a representative field site in Belgium and a modelling part. For the experimental approach a SRC of poplar (Populus) will be monitored during the course of 1+3 years, harvested and transformed into bio-energy. Eddy covariance techniques will be used to monitor net fluxes of all greenhouse gases and VOC's, in combination with common assessments of biomass pools (incl. soil) and fluxes. For the energy accounting we will use life cycle analysis and energy efficiency assessments over the entire life cycle of the SRC plantation until the production of electricity and heat. A significant process based modeling component will integrate the collected knowledge on the greenhouse gas and energy balances toward predictions and simulations of the net reduction of fossil greenhouse gas emissions (avoided emissions) of SRC over different rotation cycles, global warming scenarios, and management strategies.

Keywords: bio-energy,modelling,poplar,populus,carbon balance,energy efficiency