Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
The electrosolvation force: a new physical paradigm in chemistry and biology (ELECTROSOL)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2024-ADG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-10-01
End date: 2030-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Over the last several decades, dating back to the work of Langmuir, and Rosalind Franklin, the literature has consistently reported on a long-ranged attraction between particles in solution carrying electrical charge of the same sign. This attraction is not explained by standing theories and has remained an open conundrum. My laboratory has recently made important progress in elucidating the underpinnings of this phenomenon, introducing an “electrosolvation” force that drives spontaneous attraction and cluster formation in like-charged particles in solution. The force is long-ranged and is governed by the orientation of solvent molecules at the particle-electrolyte interface. The sign of the force exhibits an asymmetric response to the sign of charge of the particle: e.g., in water, negatively charged particles counterintuitively attract, whilst positives repel as expected, and vice versa in other solvents. This fundamental and unexpected mechanistic insight now opens for the first time the possibility to systematically investigate the origins of a host of poorly understood natural processes that are likely governed by this interaction, touching virtually all areas of the life sciences and beyond. Noteworthy examples include interactions driving biomolecular condensation, pathological protein aggregation, crystallization, gelation and DNA packing. We will carry out an in-depth experimental exploration of the interaction across length scales - from molecules to microspheres and macroscopic surfaces - using cutting edge experimental methods pioneered in my laboratory. We will further advance a fundamental understanding of the interaction through theoretical modelling and simulation. This comprehensive investigation will likely lead to the establishment of a broad and generally applicable conceptual paradigm that will fundamentally redefine how we think about molecular and particle interactions in the solution phase.

Keywords: interparticle interactions,molecular interactions,solvation forces,non local electrostatics,biomolecular condensation
Photons and Electrons on the Move (FastTrack)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: Spain
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2021-ADG, 2021)
Start date: 2022-11-01
End date: 2027-10-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2498355.0
EU funding (EUR): 2498355.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The conversion of sunlight photons to electrons is the essence of the natural photosynthesis that powers life. Dedicated antennas funnel the sun’s energy towards reaction centres. Amazingly, nature reaches almost perfect photon-to-electron conversion efficiency, while it regulates down at high light level for protection and survival. How does nature dynamically re-organize the membrane architecture, its packing, order, diffusion, on light stress? Which pathways are taken to charge separation? What is the role of fluctuations, coherences, color and vibrations? My group recently succeeded in first detection of the fs spectral progression of a single exciton, the nanoscale tracking of electron transport and reveal energy disorder of a single photosynthetic complex. These pioneering results, together with our expertise in fs pulse control and nanoimaging, set the grounds to now address photosynthetic light-to-charge transfer in real nanospace and ultrafast. Specific objectives are: Energy transport on the nanoscale: tracking spatiotemporal membrane transport by super-resolved transient optical microscopy and nanophotonic light localization: to reveal disorder and quantify diffusion. Light to charge: photo-current detection of the energy flow: by ultrafast photo-thermoelectric graphene and photo-electrochemical detection I will probe charge separation of the reaction center directly, quantify rate and efficiency. Multidimensional spectra on the nanoscale: by collinear 2D spectroscopic imaging with photocurrent and fluorescence detection, I will map the development of the energy landscape, at special membrane spots, ultimately on a single complex. Functional imaging: visualize the dynamic light-response of the membrane architecture, the changes in packing density, (dis)order, diffusion and pathways to charge separation. The novel tool-set of FastTrack and the insights on nature’s energy strategies are directly relevant for artificial photosynthesis and solar technology.

Keywords: photosynthetic complex,energy transfer efficiency,transient microscopy,light harvesting membrane,membrane transport,nanoscale imaging,reaction center,exciton diffusion,multi dimensional spectroscopy,electrochemistry,graphene photo detection,antenna complex,charge separation,photocurrent,photoprotection,single molecule detection,dis order,ultrafast spectroscopy,exciton delocalization,light diffusion
The plant hologenome – is plant adaptative potential shaped by its microbionts? (PLANTHOLOGENOME)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2025-12-31
Duration (months): 28.0
Total project cost (EUR): 230774.4
EU funding (EUR): 230774.4
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Explaining why related species have very different abilities to spread, adapt and survive is a central question in evolutionary biology. Microbes have long been recognized as key to the ability of plants or animals to explore resources in their environment, and there is now growing recognition that microbionts should be considered an integral part of their host. The holobiont theory state that a plant or animal cannot be considered as an individual organism, but as a holobiont consisting of the host and the sum of all its microbionts, and that adaptive genomic changes in the holobiont also includes changes in its microbiont community. The range of microbionts a species is able to associate with through time and space has been suggested to be correlated to host adaptability to different environments and could thus be an important component in distribution patterns in plants. In this project, I aim to establish the association between wild plant genomes, their microbiont communities and their habitat use, using orchids and their associated microbiomes as a model system. I will generate bacterial and fungal metagenomic profiles from tissue samples from orchids and couple it with host genomic variation to i) Explore the link between individual plant genotype and microbiont community profile using individual level sampling from two closely related orchid species, ii) Measure differences in range and variability of microbiont community among 20 congeneric wild orchid species, and iii) Correlate species-level diversity and variability of microbiont community with distribution range and habitat diversity in 20 congeneric orchid species. The results will impact our general understanding of the importance of plant microbiomes in determining their adaptive and evolutionary success, and provide important knowledge on factors effecting plant distribution of high relevance in nature management and conservation of threatened plant species.

Keywords: plant microbiome,hologenomics
Phylogenetic taxonomy and classification of fungi (PhylFun)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Environmental B iology, Ecology  and E volution
Panel description: For all organisms : Ecology, biodiversity, environmental change , evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, microbial ecology , marine biology, ecophysiology, theoretical developments and mod elling
Countries involved: Estonia
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2024-ADG, 2024)
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2030-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3305750.0
EU funding (EUR): 3305750.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The kingdom Fungi comprises >150,000 currently recognised species distributed across 80 classes in 20 phyla. Total species numbers are estimated at 2-3 million and our preliminary eDNA analyses suggest at least double numbers of higher-ranking taxa. However, current nomenclatural regulations fall short in DNA-based taxonomic descriptions. PhylFun aims to develop the concept and methodology for DNA-based phylogenetic classification of organisms, using fungi as examples, for an improved taxon communication and classification framework. My team will use cutting-edge methods of single-cell analysis, genomics and taxonomy for analysing our global collection of samples for DNA/sequence-based classification and providing a detailed higher-level fungal classification. We will generate large amounts of high-quality long-read DNA sequence data and create a bioinformatics platform for data management (WP1) that will be combined with the developed DNA-based classification framework (WP2) to produce an updated phylogenetic classification for fungi and potentially other microeukaryotes (WP3). PhylFun is expected to greatly benefit researchers and the public by communicating the taxa of fungi and other eukaryotic microorganisms, allowing us to consider them in conservation assessments and quarantine. The project is of a high-risk high-gain (HRHG) nature because of multiple novel methodological aspects and addressing one of the greatest gaps in taxonomy and classification related to rapid technological advances, whereas the proposed amendments for using DNA/sequence characters as types or in descriptions/diagnoses may be voted down by morphotaxonomists. Nonetheless, the potential benefits for the entire taxonomic and research community can be enormous by finally anchoring the “dark matter” fungi and other microeukaryotic organisms via providing valid names, a position in the classification system, insights into potential ecophysiological functions and conservation requirements.

Keywords: fungi,taxonomy
Organoid technologies for disease modeling, drug discovery and development for rare diseases (ORGESTRA)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Doctoral Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Netherlands,Belgium,Portugal,France,Germany,Sweden,Ireland
Call: MSCA Doctoral Networks 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2027-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3572896.11
EU funding (EUR): 3455308.8
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

The vast majority of rare diseases are characterized by genetic origin, often severe in pathology and with limited or no treatment options. This also includes the paediatric disorders cystic fibrosis (CF) and cystinosis. Both diseases usually manifest in the first year of life. In recent year, great progress has been made in CF research allowing a swift transfer of novel drugs from bench to bedside. This is fueled by the application of advanced in vitro models, viz. organoids, in phenotyping patients and personalize treatment options. In ORGESTRA, we propose to use stem cell-derived organoids to train 13 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in developing personalized disease models for the lung and kidney diseases, CF and cystinosis, with significant unmet clinical needs. Research will aim to identify pathogenetic mechanisms and druggable targets, drug mode of action for effective and innovative treatment strategies, classify the pathway to clinic and address ethical and regulatory issues to foster acceptance and implementation of the organoid models. Eventually, a living technologies toolset will be developed for a swift transfer from bench to bedside. ORGESTRA will provide an international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary training by creating a new expert framework of 14 partners from 7 countries, combining molecular biologists, engineers, pharmacologists, clinicians, epidemiologists and ethicists, giving each DC unique, joint-doctoral training and tailored experience in industry and/or patient organisations, complemented with a rich workshop programme. The ORGESTRA objectives contribute perfectly to the Horizon Europe goals of the societal challenge on improving the health and well-being of the EU citizens.

Keywords: precision medicine,cystic fibrosis,cystinosis,clinical trial design,organoids,personalised disease model,regulatory issues,public patient interactions,patient perspective
AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH IMPACT OF PRIMARY SEMI-VOLATILE AND SECONDARY PARTICLES AND THEIR ABATEMENT (AEROSOLS)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Theme: Mobility
Destination: Clean and competitive solutions for all transport modes
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: France,Norway,Greece,Germany,Austria,United Kingdom,Finland
Call: Prevent smog episodes in Europe: Air quality impact of engine-emitted volatile, semi volatile and secondary particles (HORIZON-CL5-2022-D5-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2026-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1845291.75
EU funding (EUR): 1845291.75
Participants: 9
Project status: SIGNED

Considering the growing transport demand and dependence on oil, collective and immediate actions must be taken to abate emissions and mitigate their environmental and health impacts. Very fine particles emissions, and the formation of secondary aerosols through atmospheric processing, are believed to be the pollutant with the greatest public health impact, even if there is a major knowledge gap concerning their atmospheric behaviour (e.g. mechanism/contribution to smog episodes). AEROSOLS is a 36-months timely, ambitious, and interdisciplinary project with aim to define robust and transparent measurement and modelling methodologies to quantify the currently disregarded volatile/semi-volatile (V/S-V) primary and secondary emissions, and their associated risks. Furthermore, technological and legislative monitoring/abating mechanisms will be proposed to control these emissions in order to help improve air quality and public health. This will be achieved by: - quantifying V/S-V emissions formation, abatement, and dynamics within the vehicle system under real-driving-emissions (RDE) testing conditions on roads and in labs utilising innovative instrumentations and methodologies; - characterising secondary aerosol formation and atmospheric evolution mechanisms employing advanced instrumentations (e.g. for particles as small as 1nm), methodologies, and modelling to provide scientific evidence of the precursors’ role; - categorising (‘taxonomising’) and prioritising (assisted by Artificial Intelligence) primary and secondary emissions compounds based on their health impact (by employing in vitro/vivo testing), environmental/social life-cycle-assessment, and risk. Advocacy information will be provided to the stakeholders and legislation/policy makers and proposals will be made for improving the standards/regulations, and consequently the air quality. The support of stakeholders and partners will accelerate the transition to a cleaner and climate-neutral society/economy.

Keywords: particle emissions,sub 10nm particles,secondary aerosols,volatile and semi volatile emissions,internal combustion engine,exhaust aftertreatment,rde,pems,emissions legislation,air quality
EXPLORING SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES TO COUNTERACT TERRITORIAL INEQUALITIES FROM AN INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH (EXIT)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Culture, creativity and inclusive society
Theme: Culture, creativity and inclusive society
Destination: Innovative Research on Social and Economic Transformations
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Italy,Austria,United Kingdom,Greece,Belgium,Serbia,Denmark
Call: Determining key drivers of inequality trends (HORIZON-CL2-2021-TRANSFORMATIONS-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-11-01
End date: 2026-03-31
Duration (months): 41.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2664796.25
EU funding (EUR): 2664796.25
Participants: 11
Project status: SIGNED

The redrawing of social inequalities across Europe during the last few years includes both a retrenchment of longstanding inequalities among countries, and the emergence of new disadvantages, together with an erosion of the status and protections previously enjoyed by most citizens within them. This is particularly prominent from a geographical perspective as spatial inequality grows within regions. Despite overall country level economic growth, certain regions are experiencing long-term socioeconomic stagnation or decline. These areas have been often characterised as 'left-behind'. Yet, little is known of what drives ‘left-behindness’. EXIT will provide an in-depth analysis of ‘left-behind’ as a concept used for characterising territorial inequalities faced by certain areas and, grounded on this, identify strategies to address it. This means not only building knowledge on the drivers of inequality in areas that are characterised as ‘left-behind’, but also on what drives political, media and academic characterisations of these areas as ‘left-behind’ and experiences and perceptions of being ‘left-behind’ among inhabitants of areas experiencing socioeconomic stagnation or decline. To answer these questions, EXIT proposes a bottom-up, interdisciplinary and mixed-methods research with a community-based and intersectional approach from the analysis to the transferability of practices. Addressing how different axes of inequality intersect in perceptions and experiences of ‘left-behindness’ is crucial to understand the gap between the development of policies to redress territorial inequalities and their impact on the ground. In this regard, EXIT proposes to take a place-based approach to delineate the role of different forces, and how they interplay to produce uneven effects among communities.

Keywords: territorial inequalities,left behind places,intersectionality,mixed methods
Capitalizing on apolipoprotein trafficking to deliver mRNA to the brain (PORTAL)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Netherlands,Israel
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-04-01
End date: 2027-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 217076.16
EU funding (EUR): 217076.16
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Efficient therapeutic delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains a significant challenge in treating neurological disorders. The BBB, composed of tightly regulated endothelial cells, severely restricts drug access to the brain, reducing efficacy and increasing off-target effects. While lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been essential for developing mRNA-based vaccines, their use in brain-targeted therapies is limited by poor BBB penetration and suboptimal mRNA translation. Apolipoproteins, our body’s own nanodelivery system, possess the inherent ability to cross the BBB. Extensive preliminary data demonstrate that apolipoprotein nanoparticles (aNPs) efficiently integrate mRNA for extrahepatic delivery and are a compelling platform for brain targeting. While mRNA immune cell delivery firmly established, I propose exploring apolipoprotein nanoparticles (aNPs) for mRNA delivery to the brain. The PORTAL project aims to harness the unique properties of apolipoproteins to deliver mRNA across the BBB. By screening 400 compositionally diverse aNPs—comprising apolipoprotein A1, E, and fusion apolipoproteins targeting BBB receptors—this project seeks to identify lead candidates for effective mRNA delivery to the brain. Each aNP will carry mRNA encoding Cre recombinase, along with unique DNA barcodes for detailed biodistribution and functional studies in the A14 neuroinflammation mouse model. By integrating protein engineering, RNA therapeutics, and preclinical neuroinflammation models, this research aims to uncover key factors driving BBB penetration and mRNA delivery efficiency. The innovative combination of apolipoproteins and lipid nanotechnology will unlock new pathways to the brain, setting a new standard for RNA-based treatments. Upon completion of this Program, I will be equipped with cutting-edge technical, teaching, and leadership skills, empowering me to excel as an independent researcher and drive innovation of nanomedicine brain treatments.

Keywords: mrna delivery,nanoparticles,blood brain barrier,apolipoprotein,neuroinflammation