Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
375 Million Years of the Diversification of Life on Land: Shifting the Paradigm? (TERRA)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Earth system science
Panel description: Physical geography, geology, geophysics, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, climatology, cryology, ecology, global environmental change, biogeochemical cycles, natural resources management
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2014-STG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-07-01
End date: 2020-06-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1495063.0
EU funding (EUR): 1495063.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Life on land today is spectacularly diverse, representing 75–95% of all species on Earth. However, it remains unclear how this extraordinary diversity has been acquired across deep geological time. This research project will address this major knowledge gap by reassessing the dominant paradigm of terrestrial diversification, an exponential increase in diversity over the last 375 million years, using the rich and well-studied fossil record of tetrapods (four-limbed vertebrates) as an exemplar group. Previous analyses of tetrapod diversification have been based on an outdated and problematic dataset that is likely to artificially inflate apparent diversity towards the present day. A major new dataset will be assembled, detailing the spatial and temporal distribution of terrestrial tetrapods across their entire fossil record in unprecedented detail. These data will be analysed using the latest approaches to sampling-standardisation in order to generate completely novel, rigorous curves of diversification through time. These will be compared within a cutting-edge statistical framework to alternate diversification models, as well as to changes in rock record sampling, global environments (e.g. sea level and atmospheric composition) and marine diversity. These comparisons will allow us to address the following key questions: (i) Does terrestrial diversification follow an exponential pattern over the last 375 million years? (ii) Is the terrestrial fossil record as complete as the marine fossil record? (iii) Are long-term patterns of terrestrial diversification driven by physical changes in the Earth system such as climate change? (iv) Did marine and terrestrial biodiversity follow similar trajectories across geological time? (v) How severely did mass extinction events impact upon terrestrial tetrapod diversification? Our work will establish a new, rigorous paradigm for the long-term pattern of terrestrial diversification, and test and identify its drivers.

Keywords: biodiversity,tetrapoda,fossil record,terrestrial,environmental change
Epithelial cell sheets as engineering materials: mechanics, resilience and malleability (EpiMech)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Products and processes engineering
Panel description: Product and process design, chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, vehicle engineering, energy processes and relevant computational methods
Countries involved: Spain
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2015-CoG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-09-01
End date: 2022-08-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1989875.0
EU funding (EUR): 1989875.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The epithelium is a cohesive two-dimensional layer of cells attached to a fluid-filled fibrous matrix, which lines most free surfaces and cavities of the body. It serves as a protective barrier with tunable permeability, which must retain integrity in a mechanically active environment. Paradoxically, it must also be malleable enough to self-heal and remodel into functional 3D structures such as villi in our guts or tubular networks. Intrigued by these conflicting material properties, the main idea of this proposal is to view epithelial monolayers as living engineering materials. Unlike lipid bilayers or hydrogels, widely used in biotechnology, cultured epithelia are only starting to be integrated in organ-on-chip microdevices. As for any complex inert material, this program requires a fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationships. (1) Regarding their effective in-plane rheology, at short time-scales epithelia exhibit solid-like behavior while at longer times they flow as a consequence of the only qualitatively understood dynamics of the cell-cell junctional network. (2) As for material failure, excessive tension can lead to epithelial fracture, but as we have recently shown, matrix poroelasticity can also cause hydraulic fracture under stretch. However, it is largely unknown how adhesion molecules, membrane, cytoskeleton and matrix interact to give epithelia their robust and flaw-tolerant resilience. (3) Regarding shaping 3D epithelial structures, besides the classical view of chemical patterning, mechanical buckling is emerging as a major morphogenetic driving force, suggesting that it may be possible design 3D epithelial structures in vitro by mechanical self-assembly. Towards understanding (1,2,3), we will combine a broad range of theoretical, computational and experimental methods. Besides providing fundamental mechanobiological understanding, this project will provide a framework to manipulate epithelia in bioinspired technologies.

Keywords: cell and tissue mechanics,epithelia,computational mechanics,poroelasticity,fracture,buckling,biomimetic materials,mechanobiology,biomembranes
Elucidating the mechanism of mechanotransduction through YAP and TAZ (YAP MECHANO)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2020-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168277.2
EU funding (EUR): 168277.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The mechanical properties of the cellular environment deeply influence cell fate and behavior. Cells respond to outer forces not only through the rapid remodeling of their cytoskeleton, but also by implementing gene expression changes. The Piccolo laboratory pioneered the notion that the transcriptional coactivators YAP and TAZ act independently of the Hippo pathway to activate gene expression in response to cytoskeletal tension. Crucially, YAP/TAZ are the main effectors of the cellular response to mechanical cues instructing proliferation, cell death or cell fate choice. Despite the importance of mechanosensing in development, tissue homeostasis and cancer, the mechanistic link between the actin network and YAP/ TAZ regulation has remained elusive. This project aims to close this gap in our knowledge by uncovering the molecular events that lead to the activation and nuclear translocation of YAP/TAZ in cells experiencing mechanical strain. Using live imaging, I plan to derive a model of the nuclear YAP shuttling dynamics. Optogenetic tools and targeted genetic approaches will be used to delineate which components of the actomyosin network are sufficient to regulate YAP/TAZ and to probe a potential link to nuclear mechanics. Mass spectrometry will provide a comprehensive view of YAP/TAZ interaction partners in cells subjected to different mechanical inputs and biochemical validation experiments will systematically delineate the molecular pathway of mechanotransduction from cytoskeletal tension to YAP/TAZ activation. Finally, loss- and gain-of-function experiments in a range of model systems will establish the functional importance and generality of these newly identified mechanotransduction pathway players. Uncovering the mechanotransduction pathway will not only greatly advance our understanding of cell biology, but also aid to identify potential targets for cancer therapy, as indeed the stiffening of the tumour environment is a driving factor in cancer progression.

Keywords: mechanobiology
Investigating the transcriptional regulation of auxin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis embryo (ITRABAE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Czechia
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2022-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 144980.64
EU funding (EUR): 144980.64
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Survival of flowering plants is determined by the proper production of seed, whose shape and size are defined by the development of an embryo. Such mature embryo mimics the body pattern of the new plant that will develop after germination. Auxin is a key regulator of various aspects of plant development, including embryo morphogenesis. Cellular auxin gradients, maintained by auxin production along with signalling and transport, are essential for proper embryo development. The embryonic local auxin biosynthesis appears spatiotemporally controlled, necessitating the presence of regulatory networks. Also, it became evident that auxin plays a critical role as an integrator of environmental cues, notably high temperatures, known to impair seed production. Thus, I aim at deciphering the molecular and genetic mechanisms behind the spatiotemporal regulation of auxin biosynthetic genes during embryo development, and how this regulatory network is impacted by heat stress. In the proposed work, I will functionally dissect the contribution of AGL transcription factors, identified in a yeast one-hybrid screen as binding to auxin biosynthetic promoters, to the direct regulation of auxin biosynthetic pathways using multidisciplinary approaches such as genetics, metabolomics, and molecular biology. Further, I will investigate whether high temperatures impact this regulation, notably at epigenetic levels. Overall, the proposed work would serve as an excellent foundation to dissect the mechanisms responsible for local auxin biosynthesis during embryo development, which would pave the way to devise strategies for mitigating the effects of climate warming on seed and plant morphogenesis.

Keywords: auxin biosynthesis,transcriptional regulation
Novel Electro-Responsive Protein Separation Method with Magnetic Nanoparticles (NERS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Global Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Chemistry
Countries involved: Germany,United States
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2022-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 176036.16
EU funding (EUR): 176036.16
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Pharmaceuticals for cancer therapies and other diseases are very since the production of therapeutic molecules such as antibodies is costly and every production process needs to be developed individually. Especially purification processes, which make up to 80-90% of the whole production, need to be improved or new ideas need to be developed. Short peptide sequences, so called “tags”, can be used to create new purification strategies based on the biomolecule recognition of these sequences. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are an interesting counterpart for peptide tags as their properties facilitate an easy handling and manipulation. The key to the design of high-affinity peptide tags lies in an in-depth understanding of surface-peptide recognition patterns. I developed such a magnetite-binding peptide tag which allows the purification of tagged model proteins from fermentation broths by changing the surrounding media. However, such pH and buffer switches might also alter the properties of pharmaceutically relevant proteins such as antibodies. The challenge of this project is to establish a novel elution process based on an electrical potential switch instead of a pH switch. The process contains the magnetic separation of proteins containing the peptide tags and the elution of proteins based on the change of tag-particle interactions with electric fields. The use of this system will help to understand the binding of proteins to iron oxide nanoparticles and the formation of an electrochemical double layer in external fields. The electrical double layer formation is not only interesting in biotechnological processes but for the understanding of electrochemical catalysis and energy storage. This idea might pave the way to completely new approaches in biomolecule recognition, protein detection and purification.

Keywords: bio nanotechnology,magnetic nanoparticles,electrochemical double layer
Green mobile recycling technology for dirty (none-recyclable) plastic waste (MobileRecycle)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Climate action, environment,  resource efficiency and raw materials
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Slovakia
Call: Boosting the potential of small businesses in the areas of climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials (H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017, 2016)
Start date: 2016-08-01
End date: 2017-01-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The plastic waste is a serious problem for all over the world due its non-biodegradable character. Global problem of the plastic waste is in its limited recycling. On average, Europe produces 25, 2 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. 37% of the plastic waste ends up in landfills, 25% is recycled and 15% is composted. Only 23% is used for energy production. European economy thus loses a significant amount of potential 'secondary raw materials' among which plastic plays a significant part. The Leitner will introduce to the market a green method of recycling dirty plastic waste applicable on a global level and the result of the recycling is alternative fuel (oil and gas). The equipment recycles dirty plastic waste by thermal depolymerisation, thus recasting it into ecological oil and process gas with immediate further multi-purpose usage. Leitner is a mobile technology, suitable also for small operations optimally processing 1 thousand tonnes of dirty plastic waste per day. The applicant has produced prototypes of the green technology and has tested them now in industrially relevant environment (real operation). The equipment weight is 2,500 kg, forming a container assembly (dimensions: 8m x 3m x 3m), which can be easily connected/disconnected. The existing prototype produces 1 litre of oil from each kilogram of dirty plastic waste. For the production of 1 litre of an ecological oil, the technology requires 1 kWh energy. The project intention is in line with EU endeavours to support SMEs in areas addressing the climate action, environment, green growth potential and raw material challenge. The project is also in line with 2016-2017 strategic priorities of systemic eco-innovation and circular economy, nature-based solutions and sustainable supply of (secondary) raw materials.

Keywords: waste management,green recycling,dirty plastic waste
Innovative Network for Monte Carlo Event Generators for LHC Physics (MCnetITN3)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Innovative Training Networks (ITN)-European Training Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Australia,Germany,Belgium,Sweden,Belgium,United States,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Innovative Training Networks (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-04-01
End date: 2021-12-31
Duration (months): 57.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3929950.71
EU funding (EUR): 3929950.71
Participants: 15
Project status: CLOSED

We propose a European Training Network that will provide a total of 540 ESR-months of training in Monte Carlo event generator physics and techniques, and related applications in experimental particle physics. Monte Carlo event generators are central to high energy particle physics. They are used by almost all experimental collaborations to plan their experiments and analyze their data, and by theorists to simulate the complex final states of the fundamental interactions that may signal new physics. We will build on the success of our current MCnetITN, by creating a European Training Network incorporating all the authors of current general purpose event generators, with the main purposes of: (a) training a large section of our user base, using annual schools on the physics and techniques of event generators and short-term studentships of Early Stage Researchers as a conduit for transfer of knowledge to the wider community; (b) training the next generation of event generator authors through dedicated PhD studentships; (c) providing broader training in transferable skills through our research, through dedicated training in entrepreneurship and employability and through secondments to non-academic partners. We will achieve these training objectives both through dedicated activities and through our research activities: (d) developing the next generation of higher precision event generators and supporting them for use throughout the LHC era and beyond; (e) playing a central role in the analysis of LHC data and the discovery of new physics there; and (f) extracting the maximum potential from existing data to constrain the modeling of the higher-energy data from the LHC and future experiments.

Keywords: monte carlo event generators,lhc physics
Abstraction and Generalisation in Human Decision-Making (NEUROABSTRACTION)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Panel description: Cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, theoretical philosophy
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2016-COG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-07-01
End date: 2023-12-31
Duration (months): 78.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999775.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999775.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Intelligent agents make good decisions in novel environments. Understanding how humans deal with novelty is a key problem in the cognitive and neural sciences, and building artificial agents that behave effectively with novel settings remains an unsolved challenge in machine learning. According to one view, humans form abstract representations that encode latent variables pertaining to the high-level structure of the environment (a “model” of the world). These abstractions facilitate generalisation of extant task and category information to novel domains. For example, an individual who can ride a bicycle, or speak Spanish, will learn more rapidly to ride a motorcycle, or speak Portuguese. However, the neural basis for these abstractions, and the computational underpinnings of high-level generalisation, remain largely unexplored topics in cognitive neuroscience. In the current proposal, we describe 4 experimental series in which humans learn to perform structured decision-making tasks, and then generalise this behaviour to input domains populated by previously unseen stimuli, categories, or tasks. Building on extant pilot work, we will use representational similarity analysis (RSA) of neuroimaging (fMRI or EEG) data to chart the emergence of neural representations encoding abstract structure in patterns of brain activity. We will then assess how the formation of these abstractions at the neural level predicts successful human generalisation to previously unseen contexts. Our proposal is centered around a new theory, that task generalisation depends on the formation of low-dimensional population codes in the human dorsal stream, that are scaffolded by existing neural basis functions for space, value and number. The work will have important implications for psychologists and neuroscientists interested in decision-making and executive function, and for machine learning researchers seeking to build intelligent artificial agents.
MidInfraRed PHotonics devices fABrication for chemical sensing and spectroscopic applications (MIRPHAB)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Italy,Germany,Austria,Germany,Norway,Switzerland,Belgium,Poland,France,France,France,Netherlands,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Cross-cutting ICT KETs (H2020-ICT-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-01-01
End date: 2021-06-30
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 16367797.07
EU funding (EUR): 12980217.39
Participants: 21
Project status: CLOSED

The MIRPHAB (Mid InfraRed PHotonics devices fABrication for chemical sensing and spectroscopic applications) consortium will establish a pilot line to serve the growing needs of European industry in the field of analytical micro-sensors. Its main objectives are to: • provide a reliable supply of mid-infrared (MIR) photonic components for companies incl. in particular SMEs already active in analytical MIR sensing • reduce investment cost to access innovative MIR solutions for companies already active in the field of analytical sensors, but new to MIR photonics based sensing • attract companies new to the field of analytical sensors, aiming to integrate µ-sensors into their products. To fulfil those objectives, MIRPHAB is organized as a distributed pilot line formed by leading European industrial suppliers of MIR photonic components, complemented by first class European R&D institutes with processing facilities capable of carrying out pilot line production. MIRPHAB provides: • access to MIR photonic devices via mounted/packaged devices for laser-based analytical MIR sensors • expert design for sensor components to be fabricated in the pilot line plus training services to its customers. The platform will be organized such that new developments in MIR micro- and integrated optic components and modules can be taken up and incorporated into the MIRPHAB portfolio. MIRPHAB will work on a convincing scheme for the flow of hardware and information, suitable to operate a distributed pilot line efficiently. MIRPHAB will develop sound business cases and a compelling business plan. Potential cost-performance breakthroughs will be shown for reliable MIR sensing products based on building blocks provided by MIRPHAB. MIRPHAB will become a sustainable source of key components for new and highly competitive MIR sensors, facilitating their effective market introduction and thus significantly strengthening the position and competitiveness of the respective European industry sector.