Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Improving COgnition in Down syndrome (ICOD)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Theme: Treating and managing disease
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Italy,Spain,Spain,France,France,France
Call: New interventions for Non-Communicable Diseases (H2020-SC1-2020-Two-Stage-RTD, 2020)
Start date: 2021-02-01
End date: 2026-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 6105089.5
EU funding (EUR): 5989839.5
Participants: 7
Project status: SIGNED

Cognitive disabilities in individuals with Down syndrome (DS), also known as Trisomy 21, have no approved pharmacological treatment and represent a significant burden on DS individuals, their families and the healthcare system. The ICOD project will deliver a clinical proof of concept for a new therapy of cognitive deficits in DS by performing first in humans (phase I) and clinical efficacy (Phase II) studies with AEF0217. AEF0217 is a new chemical entity which offers a unique opportunity to treat cognitive deficits in DS. AEF0217 targets the CB1 receptor, a hyperactivity of which has been recently linked to cognitive deficit in DS. AEF0217 belongs to a new pharmacological class, named signalling specific inhibitors of the CB1 receptor (CB1-SSi), which allows to reverse cognitive deficit in animal models of DS. Because of its innovative MOA, AEF0217 is able to reduce selectively a hyperactivity of the CB1 without modifying the basal activity of this receptor and consequently without inducing behavioural side effects. The overarching goal of the ICOD project is to make this innovative first-in-class drug available for DS individuals 7 years after clinical development initiation.

Keywords: down syndrome,cognitive deficits,signaling specific cb1 receptor inhibitors,clinical drug development,safety,efficacy,first in human study
Unlocking the potential of Sustainable BiodegradabLe Packaging (USABLE PACKAGING)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Bio-based Industries
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: BBI (Art-187)
Countries involved: Italy,Spain,Italy,Italy,Italy,Italy,Italy,Spain,Spain,Italy,Spain,Greece,Türkiye,Poland,Belgium,Switzerland,Croatia,France,France,France,France,United Kingdom,Portugal,Portugal
Call: Develop bio-based packaging products that are biodegradable/ compostable and/or recyclable (H2020-BBI-JTI-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-06-01
End date: 2022-11-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 6506043.79
EU funding (EUR): 4813045.0
Participants: 27
Project status: CLOSED

USABLE Packaging will develop high performance plastic packaging through a sustainable and fully circular value chain, where the biomass raw material sourcing derives from food processing side streams, to obtain, via a low footprint biochemical processing, a portfolio of bio-based biodegradable building block materials enabling the realisation of complex packaging structures, including laminates and multilayer films, to match key functional requirements of commercial petrochemical plastics, such as gas/ liquid barrier properties, mechanical resistance, cold temperature resistance, hot tack, among others, while enabling the realisation of a full set of packaging items from rigid to semi rigid and flexible by tuning the functionalisation of base resins through bio-synthesis and the compound processing. USABLE Packaging concept is designed to retrofit the existing state of the art packaging processing technology by controlling the chemical and physical properties of the base building blocks materials. With respect to petrochemical peers USABLE Packaging offers a sustainable end-of-life, since on one hand materials are biodegradable with no harm to the environment, on the other hand they have potential to deliver additional economic value through organic recycling for production of biogas, with the same consolidated disposal route as bio-waste, or through biotech recycling, to be used again as feedstock for the production of the same base resins for USABLE Packaging, basically closing again and again the same value chain to re-obtain virgin materials.

Keywords: biodegradable polymers,biopolymers,bioplastics,biobased materials
Platelet Endothelial Aggregation Receptor 1 (PAELLA)

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: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-10-01
End date: 2022-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212933.76
EU funding (EUR): 212933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death world-wide, affecting both men and women. Myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke are two severe consequences of cardiovascular disease caused by formation of an occlusive thrombus. Blood coagulation and thrombus formation is a complex interplay between clotting factors, platelets and endothelial cells lining the blood vessels that often involve interactions with leukocytes and other inflammatory cells. I propose to study a novel receptor on platelets, PEAR1, and its role in haemostasis, inflammation and thrombosis. I will use unique, synthetic poly-sulfated sugars that I have characterised as novel agents to activate PEAR1 and take advantage of the 30 years of experience of my host, Professor Watson, in studying platelet activation, and the recent identification (unpublished) of the natural ligand in the body which activates PEAR1. I will use state-of-the-art methodology available in Birmingham including flow chamber studies, CRISPR-CAS knock-down, phosphoproteomics, super-resolution and light sheet microscopy, intravital microscopy and a PEAR1 deficient mouse model to test my hypotheses that PEAR1 plays a critical role in thrombus stabilisation at sites of injury and drives thrombo-inflammatory disease in the vasculature. Uncovering the role of the novel receptor PEAR1 may lead to new treatment strategies to combat thrombosis.

Keywords: pear1,platelet,endothelium,thrombosis,blood coagulation,inflammation,receptor signalling,glycopolymers,sulfated carbohydrates
European Mercenaries in the Dutch Empire. A Connected History of Continental Europe and Colonial Indonesia, c. 1800—1900 (EuMeDE)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-07-01
End date: 2023-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162806.4
EU funding (EUR): 162806.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Being one of the smallest 19th century European powers, however with one of the largest overseas empires, the Netherlands continuously depended on non-European services, resources and man-power to build and run their far-flung island empire in Southeast Asia. Unsurprisingly, around 40% of the European soldiers employed by the Dutch Colonial Army between 1816 and c. 1914 were non-Dutch, hailing mostly from Belgium, Germany, France, and Switzerland. How did the Dutch manage to recruit ca. 70.000 European foreigners into their colonial army? And how did these men not only help build the Dutch Empire, but through their imperial careers also affect the histories of those European regions they came from? Using a database with biographic information on all 175.000 European soldiers and mercenaries in the Dutch Colonial Army, this project will be the first to tell the 'forgotten' story of deep historical connections between Indonesia, which today is the largest Muslim-majority and the overall third largest democracy in the World, and vast parts of Western- and Central Europe. Uncovering this largely unknown connected history will impact European Global History, Dutch Colonial History and the national histories of the mentioned countries. Carrying out this project under the supervision of Prof. Roland Wenzlhuemer at the Munich Centre for Global History will deepen my conceptual understanding of Global History, widen my methodological skill set, and improve my leadership skills. This will significantly increase my chances of getting a tenured position for European and Global History.

Keywords: dutch colonial history,southeast asia,indonesia,netherlands,germany,france,switzerland,belgium
INterdiSciPlinarity and excellence for doctoral training of International REsearchers in Paris (INSPIRE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND)-Doctoral programmes
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Countries involved: France
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND-DP) (H2020-MSCA-COFUND-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-10-01
End date: 2021-03-31
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 9417600.0
EU funding (EUR): 4708800.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

United in a Community of Universities and Institutions, called “Université Sorbonne Paris Cité” (USPC), eight research universities and five research organisations located in Paris and its surroundings have decided to join their forces to build a world-class new type of university. Together they form a research-intensive university, with over 12000 professors and researchers including more than 6000 doctoral candidates. Each year, 1100 of these candidates defend their PhD thesis, corresponding to about 10% of the yearly new doctors cohort in France. These graduates are enrolled in one of the 31 doctoral schools affiliated to USPC and covering all fields of knowledge. INSPIRE will give more favourable working conditions to the selected candidates compared to French standards while giving a better visibility. It thus expects to 1. Attract better candidates from a wider range of countries, raising globally the level of selection 2. Provide improved collaboration opportunities at international scale and with the non academic sector 3. Improve follow-up and mentoring conditions, notably through the presence of dedicated personnel. Within the five-year programme, INSPIRE aims to launch two calls to recruit 30 doctoral candidates for each call. They will be welcomed into the doctoral schools of its partner organisations thanks to the EU contribution and the USPC financial support. An independent, international committee will conduct the final selection. The participants will be provided with a three-year work contract for full-time research positions with additional access to dedicated funding for mobility and additional research expenses. All selected candidates will be offered dedicated housing through CROUS , another partner organisation of INSPIRE. Equal opportunity issues will be addressed in all aspects of the programme thanks to the expertise gained by the participation of two USPC members in FP7 projects (TRIGGER at Paris Diderot and EGERA at Sciences Po).

Keywords: doctoral training,inter disciplinarity,inter national,inter sectoral,good practices,equal opportunities
Self-sustaining vibration and mechanical resonance effects in stimuli responsive liquid crystal polymer coatings and membranes (Vibrate) (VIBRATE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Panel description: New materials and new synthetic approaches, structure-properties relations, solid state chemistry, molecular architecture, organic chemistry
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2014-ADG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-10-01
End date: 2020-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2429322.5
EU funding (EUR): 2429322.5
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The amplification of collective molecular effects to macroscopic deformation is one of the most intriguing challenges in materials science. Individual molecules can be reversibly activated by various means such as light, chemicals and external electrical or magnetic fields. They may respond by changing their orientation, their molecular conformation or by breaking /forming chemical bonds. Bringing these molecules in a matrix of an ordered molecular system, such as a liquid crystal polymer network, introduces molecular cooperativity and directionality. Dimensional changes of the individual molecules add up to large effects such as the formation of deformed surfaces in a coating and the formation of free volume (molecular voids) in membranes. The objective of the present proposal is to bring the molecular action, in conjunction with the macroscopic deformation, out of its equilibrium aiming a self-sustaining oscillation of the macroscopic response to a continuous trigger. An example that will be investigated is a surface that continuously changes it topography when addressed by its trigger. Another example is a membrane that will oscillate its (localized) free volume thus providing an active transport mechanism for species through the membrane. Alternatively we will investigate the response to an oscillating trigger with a frequency matching the molecular action to find sweet spots for mechanical resonance thus enhancing the macroscopic effect. The research is challenging. Only, with a comprehensive and combined effort, we can expect the required progress needed to close the gap between materials science, optics, electronics and mechanics and to deliver routes to new applications. But when achieved it will undoubtfully lead to new applications in coating and film technology with an outlook to soft robotics, self-pumping membranes, mechanical communication at man-machine interfaces and energy harvesting.

Keywords: responsive polymers,oscillating surfaces,oscillating membranes
An Artificial Visual Cortex for Image Processing (ARTIV1)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: France,France
Call: ERC-Proof of Concept-2016 (ERC-2016-PoC, 2016)
Start date: 2017-04-01
End date: 2018-09-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 149937.0
EU funding (EUR): 149937.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The ERC starting grant GECOMETHODS, on which this POC is based, tackled problems of diffusion equations via geometric control methods. One of the most striking achievements of the project has been the development of an algorithm of image reconstruction based mainly on non-isotropic diffusion. This algorithm is bio-mimetic in the sense that it replicates the way in which the primary visual cortex V1 of mammals processes the signals arriving from the eyes. It has performances that are at the state of the art in image processing. These results together with others obtained in the ERC project show that image processing algorithms based on the functional architecture of V1 can go very far. However, the exceptional performances of the primary visual cortex V1 rely not only on the particular algorithm used, but also on the fact that such algorithm “runs” on a dedicated hardware having the following features: 1. an exceptional level of parallelism; 2. connections that are well adapted to transmit information in a non-isotropic way as it is required by the algorithms of image reconstruction and recognition. The idea of this POC is to create a dedicated hardware (called ARTIV1) emulating the functional architecture of V1 and hence having on one hand a huge degree of parallelism and on the other hand connections among the CPUs that reflect the non-isotropic structure of the visual cortex V1. Such a hardware that we plan to build as an integrated circuit with an industrial partner will be a veritable artificial visual cortex. It will be fully programmable and it will be able to perform many biomimetic image processing tasks that we expect to be exceptionally performant. ARTIV1 will come to the marked accompanied by some dedicated software for image reconstruction and image recognition. However we expect that other applications will be developed by customers, as for instance softwares for optical flow estimation or for sound processing.

Keywords: sub riemannian geometry,artificial visual cortex,image processing,image reconstruction,image recognition,fpga,asic
Forest belowground carbon transport: From rhizosphere fluxes to physiological drivers (RHIZOCARBON)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Panel description: Ecology, biodiversity, environmental change, evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, microbial ecology, marine biology, ecophysiology, theoretical developments and modelling
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2019-STG, 2019)
Start date: 2019-09-01
End date: 2024-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Trees are unique in that responses at the organism level, being upscaled to forest canopies, bear large effects on the cycling and distribution of water and carbon in regional and global scales. Hence, tree carbon allocation dynamics are central not only to tree eco-physiology but also to global biogeochemistry. While tree aboveground carbon fluxes have been extensively studied, belowground fluxes, such as root respiration, growth and exudation have been mostly overlooked due to poor access to the root system. This project is set to address this knowledge disparity by answering key questions concerning belowground carbon flow. In one line of research, we will study the trees' “in-house” management of carbon flow, inspired by our recently achieved first comprehensive tree carbon balance calculation, which indicates that carbon reserves serve as a buffer that accommodates large fluctuations in carbon supply and demand. This will be complemented by an exploration of the inter-tree carbon supply network of mycorrhizal fungi routes, an investigation prompted by our discovery that mature trees in a mixed forest transfer unprecedented amounts of carbon among each other via fungal networks. Computational models will be applied to identify the evolutionary requirements for the development of belowground carbon transfer in a mycorrhizal network. We will dive into the highly complex soil system not in an artificial medium system – but in a mixed forest site, complemented by greenhouse experiments simulating forest tree communities. To trace below-ground carbon transport, we will apply our novel methodology of continuous, in vivo, combined measurement of 13CO2 carbon allocation and flux rate. This novel ‘rhizosphere expedition’ will decipher the key belowground carbon transport processes, shedding light on the extent to which trees and fungi regulate them and facilitating predictions of carbon storage in changing climate and forests.

Keywords: tree eco physiology,carbon allocation,forest rhizosphere,root exudation,mycorrhiza
Towards the use of IgY antibodies as alternative therapeutics (PureIgY)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept 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: Portugal
Call: ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2019-PoC, 2019)
Start date: 2020-09-01
End date: 2022-07-31
Duration (months): 23.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The increased occurrence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is a critical concern corresponding to economic and societal challenges of high priority. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is responsible for 33,000 deaths per year, while bringing €1.5 billion per year in healthcare costs and productivity losses to the EU. Current solutions (biopharmaceuticals) are highly expensive and very few tackle the AMR scenario. Therefore, new approaches to tackling AMR focusing on low cost and relatively low time-to-market therapeutics must be pursued. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) present in hen’s egg yolk is a potential alternative to the previously described biotherapeutics, and can be obtained in higher amounts from a renewable and non-invasive matrix. However, given the complex nature of egg yolk, the current purification technologies are multi-step and mainly based on chromatography, being highly expensive and leading to low yields. In the ERC Starting Grant (IgYPurTech) I proposed the use of aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) as IgY separation/purification platforms (from commercial and non-hyperimmune eggs since no therapeutic action was defined in the proposal). Although promising results have been obtained with ABS, during the IgYPurTech framework an additional and more cost-effective process to purify IgY was developed. It is not based on the selective extraction of antibodies for one of the phases in ABS, but on two steps of induced precipitation with appropriate salts and biopolymers. This innovative purification platform enables to produce high-quality IgY in higher amounts and at a significantly lower cost than other currently commercialized biotherapeutics. In this PoC Action – PureIgY – it is aimed to scale-up the developed purification technology, to address the biological features of specific IgY to tackle the AMR critical scenario, to work on the business plan development and business development, and to create an early-stage drug development start-up.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance,biopharmaceuticals,purification process,scale up,start up,business development,investment ready business plan