Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Haploid selection in animals (HAPSELA)

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: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2011-01-01
End date: 2012-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172328.6
EU funding (EUR): 172328.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Unlike in plants, selection during the haploid (gametic) phase of the life cycle has been assumed to be insignificant in animals. The main reason for this assumption is that gene expression in mature sperm was thought to be absent due to the densely packed nuclear DNA. However, there is increasing evidence that several genes are indeed expressed in mature sperm and hence may be under selection. Importantly, gene expression in mature sperm may lead to antagonistic selection between haploid and diploid phases, if the fitness effects of an allele are divergent in the two phases. The aim of the proposed project is to assess (i) the importance of haploid gene expression for sperm form and function and (ii) the existence of antagonistic selection between haploid and diploid life phases in animals. I will combine two important tools of evolutionary biology, namely experimental evolution and functional genomics to address these two questions. I will use the zebrafish Danio rerio as a study system, which is ideal because its entire genome is sequenced, many genes are annotated and it has external fertilization allowing in vitro fertilization assays. Allelic polymorphism will be estimated by assessing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and will be linked with variation in sperm form (morphometry) and function (motility and longevity). The project will be hosted by Professor Göran Arnqvist and will be in collaboration with Professor Hans Ellegren, both at the Centre of Evolutionary Biology (EBC), University of Uppsala, Sweden. The EBC hosts one of the largest accumulations of evolutionary biologists in the world, and it provides an extremely active and simulating research atmosphere. The proposed project will allow me to establish myself as an independent researcher and will be an imperative stepping stone for my future career.

Keywords: natural sciences,haploid selection,intragenomic conflict,postcopulatory sexual selection
Risks of global warming: the case of coral reef ecosystems in developing countries (BIOCORE)

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: Italy
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2011-03-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 158258.6
EU funding (EUR): 158258.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal will seek to examine biological diversity with particular reference to coral reef ecosystems to the environment, economy and human well-being. Coral reef ecosystems are reported to be the richest bio-diverse group in the world and from the socio-economic view; they are mainly located in developing countries. The cost of policy inaction will result to 60% corals reef loss by 2030 resulting to significant, and potentially irreversible welfare losses to the future generations. Objectives: 1-To develop conceptual framework to examine welfare impacts on biodiversity and coral reef ecosystem 2-To link society, economy, environment to ecosystem by incorporating socio- economic and demographic factors 3-To evaluate welfare impacts by simulating policy conservation programmes for environment, economy and people’s wellbeing 4-To deliver policy suggestions to value ecosystems and promote dissemination portal among all stakeholders Output: -Interactive web-based database and mapping tool to access data collected and to visualize the value of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation programs linked to human welfare and poverty alleviation -Specific education and dissemination activities for coral reef protection and coordination from organizations such as: Conservation International, International Coral Reef Action Network and UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre Benefits: 1-Society: identification of socio-economic and demographic datasets will provide a better understanding how these factors impact conservation 2-Economy: estimation of economic benefits coral ecosystems will assist in minimizing losses and ensure sustainable management and conservation 3-Institution: network opportunity with European and international researchers for immediate and future collaboration; and in Europe, policy action in conserving, mitigating and awareness campaigns on coral ecosystems will strengthen international co-operation, development and security

Keywords: humanities,valuation,biodiversity,climate change,coral reef
The role of CXCR4 receptor in Ewing sarcoma angiogenesis: a single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy study (CXCR4)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-09-09
End date: 2012-03-08
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 121186.6
EU funding (EUR): 121186.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Directed cell movement in a chemical gradient, chemotaxis, is a prerequisite for many vital processes like the immune response and wound healing, but it is also the basis for cancer spreading (metastasis). It is governed by extracellular gradients of signal molecules. While the receptors in the cell membrane are mostly identified, it is still unknown how the cell builds up the phenotype with defined front and rear edge required for directed movement In this project two potential ordering parameters, receptor mobility and cytoskeleton induced membrane domains, will be investigated on a molecular level in mouse fibroblasts and Ewing sarcoma cells embedded in 2D and 3D biomimetic matrices. The fellow will develop a combination of two actual technologies, single-molecule microscopy (SMM) and super-resolution imaging to study the diffusive behaviour of the receptors and simultaneously observe the organization of the actin network, both at the 10 nm level. Elucidating the influence of the physical organization on the establishment of cell polarity will allow her to specify a model to explain the sensitive and robust mechanisms of chemotaxis. This multidisciplinary project will be realized at the Leiden Institute of Physics, a lab which has developed the life cell SMM technology, in collaboration with the Leiden Institute of Biology and the Leiden University Medical Centre. Spatial and temporal understanding of cancer cell migratory mechanisms will be a crucial breakthrough in combining physical and biological efforts to fight cancer. The fellow will acquire skills on cutting edge microscopy, molecular cell biology, and extend her network towards the biophysical community in the host country. The unique technique developed in this study will provide the basis of the fellow’s future scientific research. She will be enabled to define her own line of research in biophysics focusing on cell motility in a strong multidisciplinary cross-border European scientific network.

Keywords: single-molecule microscopy,super-resolution microscopy,chemotaxis,g protein coupled receptor,membrane domains,ewing sarcoma,angiogenesis,3d biomimetic tissue
Cryptic ostracod species in an Ancient Lake: the Cytherissa flock from Baikal (CRYSTAL)

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: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-10-01
End date: 2012-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 159600.0
EU funding (EUR): 159600.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Ancient lakes have long been recognized as natural evolutionary laboratories and hot spots of endemism; the evolution of their morphologically often highly diverse species flocks has received much attention. Ancient lakes are evolutionary reservoirs assuring the survival of endemic species, but at the same time can act as engines generating novel diversity through intralacustrine speciation. The discovery of cryptic diversity, defined as two or more distinct species that were classified as a single morphological one is believed to be an important factor increasing estimates of current biodiversity and influencing future conservation decisions. Genetic studies have highlighted cryptic diversity in many animal taxa including ostracods (Crustacea), with the general implication that there are many more species than currently recognised. Besides assessing the importance of cryptic ostracod species for biodiversity estimates and conservation of ancient lakes, CRYSTAL will also investigate the underlying evolutionary and ecological processes that may have led to the high diversity in explosive lacustrine radiations, using the Baikalian Cytherissa species flock as a model system. The Cytherissa-radiation (Cytherideidae) from Lake Baikal is one of the most species-rich ostracod flocks and contains 47 (sub-) species. Preliminary genetic results indicate that the Cytherissa morphospecies are not monophyletic and might thus contain cryptic species. CRYSTAL will estimate diversity patterns at three specific levels: ecosystem, taxic and genetic. It will try to identify the processes that may have led to the current diversity pattern investigating trophic specialisation, substrate preferences, sexual selection and hybridisation. Also the speciation of Cytherissa in space and time will be considered revealing whether sym- or allopatric processes were most important and when and how fast the Cytherissa radition took place during the millions of years since Lake Baikal exists.

Keywords: ostracods,ancient lakes,lake baikal,biodiversity,cytherissa,cryptic species,speciation
Managing uncertainties in flood risk and climate change assessment: An exploratory study (MAN-U)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2011-03-01
End date: 2012-02-29
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 87451.6
EU funding (EUR): 87451.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The overall aim of Man-U is to improve our understanding and management of uncertainties arising from the intersection of flood risk assessment and climate change projection with policy making. While the technical and scientific challenges involved in assessing the impacts of climate change on flood risks are enormous, if anything, the institutional challenges involved in using that science for policy making and the development of adaptation options are even greater. Man-U concentrates on this interplay of science and policy. It explores how first order scientific uncertainties about future flood risk are amplified by various institutional risks arising from the uncertainties of the policymaking process itself. In addressing the relationship between these dual challenges, Man-U is both scientifically innovative and policy relevant. Man-U takes a interdisciplinary perspective and explores (i) how flooding, the risks from climate change, and the uncertainties attributed to knowledge of them are framed, (ii) whether and how those framings are contested by different science and policy actors involved in flood risk assessment and (iii) with what implications for the development of adaptation actions and strategies. To explore these frames and conflicts, Man-U focuses on the particular case of England and conducts qualitative interviews with science and policy makers (n=60). Man-U will advance the state-of-the-art of understanding the institutional challenges of translating the scientific assessments of the impacts of climate change on flood risks into adaptation actions and strategies.

Keywords: natural hazards,flood risk,climate change projection,uncertainties,social-cultural context,science-policy,adaptation,qualitative interviews.
Fire Interactions with Life on Earth (PROJECT FILE)

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,United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-10-01
End date: 2012-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 171740.8
EU funding (EUR): 171740.8
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The objective of Project FILE (Fire Interactions with Life on Earth) is to investigate the likely effects of predicted climate change on forest fire activity. Models predict a 44% increase in forest fires annually in America with a 61% increase in Canada, whilst fire seasons in boreal, temperate and Mediterranean regions will be prolonged in response to global warming. However, most predictions are based on outputs from numerical models and observed links between global warming and fire activity are essential for assessing future fire risk. This research will provide such sorely needed data by studying periods of past climate change in Earth history. Project FILE will focus on 3 key warming events: the mid-Pliocene (~3.3 million years ago (Ma)), the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (~55 Ma) and the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary (~200 Ma). Relationships between global warming and fire activity will be examined by: (1) compiling records of ancient fire activity using fossil charcoal abundance; (2) linking fire activity to records of vegetation change across these events; (3) assessing changes in vegetation for their flammable properties. The size, shape, density and connectivity of fossil leaves will be quantified, as these characters are known to control flammability. Modern analogues of the ancient plants will be subject to combustion experiments using state-of-the-art fire propagation apparatus. These experiments will test for differences in flammability between ecologically dominant plants, and will be undertaken in both modern and ancient atmospheric gas compositions. Project FILE will provide data that address key concerns in the European Climate Change Programme II: Impacts and Adaptation, and The European Commission’s April 2009 policy paper on “Adapting to Climate Change”. It targets the research goals of FP7’s “Environment” category and aims to help the EU cope with the effects of climate change and the associated sustainable environmental management demands.

Keywords: climate change impact (climate change),forest ecosystems (climate change),paleoclimate (climate change),extinction,ecosystem impact (climate change),plant biology (climate change)
Speech Perception and Language Acquisition in Hearing-Impaired Children (HEARING LANGUAGE)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-10-01
End date: 2012-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 171740.8
EU funding (EUR): 171740.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project focuses on the link between speech perception and language acquisition. It will explore the efficiency of the phonological learning mechanisms in hard of hearing children. Current research in psycholinguistics shows that normal-hearing young children are born with extraordinary speech perception capacities. They learn an astonishing number of sound regularities in their native language within the first year of life. These regularities, in turn, facilitate the acquisition of other, more abstract aspects of language, like vocabulary and syntax, a process called “phonological bootstrapping”. For example, in order to segment the continuous speech stream into word units and to learn a first vocabulary, English infants use the predominant word stress pattern of English (the initial syllable of English words is often stressed, as in ‘WINdow’) to determine word boundaries from the age of 7 ½ months. We will study the phonological bootstrapping mechanism in the children with various hearing disorders, who have reduced speech perception capacities, to determine if impairments in their linguistic development, which often are considerable, can be explained by a failure in phonological bootstrapping. We will adapt a certain number of existing psycholinguistic experiments for hearing impaired children and create new ones. We will also include speech perception experiments and standardized language tests, in order to create a test battery allowing the establishment of a phonological bootstrapping profile for children with various hearing disorders. Their performances will be compared to those of their normal-hearing peers and to those of younger children, in order to determine if the linguistic development of hard of hearing children is only delayed or qualitatively different. This new phonological bootstrapping profile will also be useful for other populations with linguistic difficulties, like children with specific language impairment or autism.

Keywords: psycholinguistics,phonology,phonetics,audiology,speech therapy
Investigation of the role of CXCL5/CXCR1 pathway in atherosclerosis (ATHEROCHEMOKINE)

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-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-07-01
End date: 2012-08-31
Duration (months): 26.0
Total project cost (EUR): 161661.0
EU funding (EUR): 161661.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in Europe and atherosclerosis, a disease of arteries, is the major contributor to this burden. Leucocytes, which are recruited by chemokines, participate in all disease stages: atheromatous plaque formation, instability, and rupture, the latter one being the cause of acute myocardial infarction. My findings suggest that the CXCL5 chemokine may play a role in atherosclerosis. I thus propose to investigate the effects of CXCL5 and its receptor CXCR1 in atherosclerosis. Blockade of the CXCL5/CXCR1 axis will be carried out using both a neutralizing antibody approach (anti-CXCL5) and a chimera mouse model approach (CXCR1 knockout cell transfer), in two mouse models of atherosclerosis, one displaying induced unstable plaques and the other natural plaque ruptures. This will provide insight into the role of CXCL5/CXCR1 axis in atheromatous plaque instability and rupture. Importantly, different types of leucocytes express CXCR1 and the development of a conditional CXCR1 knockout mouse model will provide a better understanding of CXCR1 functions in terms of its spatiotemporal dynamics. Critically, the analysis of human plaques will substantiate these findings in a clinical setting. The findings of this study will define the function of CXCL5/CXCR1 axis in atherosclerosis and offer significant potential for novel therapeutic targets and/or markers for atherosclerosis. The IEF would provide me with the opportunity to enhance my skill base by gaining expertise across a range of disciplines including transgenic mouse development, functional immunological techniques, bioengineering and clinical research. This project involves a collaborative effort across three European countries, offering the potential for an exchange of ideas and the further development of future synergies and interactions. These qualities will be fundamental to establish myself, as an independent scientist in molecular inflammation and cardiovascular research.

Keywords: chronic diseases,immunology,inflammation,atherosclerosis,leucocytes,chemokines,cxcl5,cxcr1,genetically modified organisms
SACCHARIDE MATERIALS IN PAINT SYSTEMS: NATURE, OCCURRENCE AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION (SYNOPYE)

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: Italy
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF, 2009)
Start date: 2010-09-01
End date: 2012-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 164958.6
EU funding (EUR): 164958.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The SYNOPYE project aims to study the occurrence, nature and physicochemical evolution of saccharide materials within painting systems. A painting is a complex dynamic system, in which several organic and inorganic materials are simultaneously present. Over time these may react and also undergo physico-chemical modifications (ageing). Bacteria and fungi can feed on organic binders based on polysaccharides. All such phenomena may alter the original appearance of a work of art and may also compromise its conservation and stability. Extensive work in cultural heritage research has focused on the analysis and identification of lipid and proteinaceous materials. In contrast much of the fundamental research is still required for the characterisation of polysaccharide binders, partly because of inadequate analytical capabilities. Building on preliminary work that has established the first method for the unequivocal quantification of sugars in paint polysaccharides, the SYNOPYE project aims at filling this gap. In particular, the specific objectives are: 1 – study the interactions between saccharide binders, proteinaceous materials and inorganic media, and how these interactions evolve with time; 2 – study the biodeterioration of saccharide paint binders; 3 – assess how these aspects modify the resulting sugar composition of a saccharide binder, in order to ensure its reliable identification in ancient paintings and polychromies. This approach will enable a new interpretative model to be developed for the reliable identification of a saccharide binder in a paint sample. Carrying out the fundamental research to increase the knowledge necessary for the efficient preservation of our painted cultural heritage will reinforce the central role that European research plays in the field , and will contribute to nourish the European request of high level scientific support for the Safeguard of Cultural Heritage