Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic investigation of magnetic field induced quantum phase transitions (MFIQPT)

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: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2012-03-01
End date: 2014-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 194064.0
EU funding (EUR): 194064.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The central objective of the present proposal is to improve our understanding of quantum phase transitions and related emergence of novel quantum phases, such as unconventional superconductivity or Bose-Einstein condensation of magnetic excitations observed in heavy fermion compounds, quantum spin systems, and antiferromagneti molecular wheels. The proposed project will address this matter via an experimental study of the low-temperature thermodynamic properties of ferromagnetic superconductors URhGe and UCoGe, magnetic insulators SrCu2(BO3)2 and BiCu2PO6, and molecular nanomagnets Fe18 and Mn-[3x3]. In all cases, high magnetic field will act as a tuning parameter to bring systems to a quantum critical (end) point. A state-of-the-art experimental set-up for heat capacity measurements at high magnetic field up to 35 T and very low temperature down to 100 mK will be built to achieve the project goals. Ultimately, this technique will become available to the European scientific community via an access to the Grenoble High Magnetic Field Laboratory, a European user facility and the host laboratory for the project. Through the completion of the project, the applicant will acquire a broad range of scientific and technical abilities while establishing herself in the field of condensed matter research corresponding to her interests. The training and visibility thus gained will promote the professional maturity and insertion of the applicant on her path to become an independent researcher. In turn, the research will be beneficial to the host institution and will contribute to the advancement of European science. It will add considerably to our knowledge and understanding of the newly emerging physics of quantum phase transitions.

Keywords: solid state physics,electronic,magnetic and superconductive properties,superconductors,quantum phase transitions,high magnetic fields,specific heat
Structure and dynamics of desensitization in glutamate receptors (S-DODGR)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2011-06-30
Duration (months): 3.0
Total project cost (EUR): 163242.4
EU funding (EUR): 163242.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

AMPA and kainate receptors mediate fast excitatory synaptic transmission. AMPA receptor ligand-binding domains form dimers, which are well-known to control ion channel activation and desensitization. The dimer stability is related to the rate and extent of desensitization. Despite the similarity in structure between AMPA and kainate receptors, they present a clear difference in function, suggesting that specific interactions governing gating differ between these two subtypes. In this application we propose a series of chemical, electrophysiological and structural experiments to find the structural determinants of desensitization on AMPA and kainate receptors. Based on hypotheses of the tetrameric arrangements of subunits, we will insert reactive amino acids in key sites on the channels. Using a unique multi barrel fast perfusion system, we will trap receptors in different configurations using transition metal bridges or disulphide bonds, to map the interactions between dimers and determine the conformational differences between these two receptors.

Keywords: health sciences
Towards understanding neuron-microglia communication in the brain (MG INTERACTIONS)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-09-01
End date: 2013-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162242.4
EU funding (EUR): 162242.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Historically, the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system have been regarded as strictly separate. However, in the brain, resident macrophages, called microglia, play both immune and glial cell functions. Indeed, these cells constantly extend and retract branches to monitor neuronal activity directly. Upon contacts with neurons they have been shown to either support their functional integration or engulf apoptotic, injured and sick cells with surgical precision. How microglia sense the health status of neurons and how they respond accordingly, remains, however, largely unknown. Based on previous in vitro studies chemokines in particular have been shown to be central players in mediating neuronal microglial communication. Here, I propose to establish how chemokine mediated signals are transmitted across the brain and how in turn they are translated into functional interactions between neurons and neighboring microglia by manipulating, for the first time, one cell type to study the response of the other in real-time. To this aim, I will combine reverse genetic approaches, to manipulate neuronal gene expression under the microscope in a temporal manner, with quantitative imaging to monitor the behavior of the complete microglia network in response to neuronal signaling in a living brain. Moreover, this approach will also serve for testing the biological significance of novel factors identified in a genome-wide expression profiling approach. Ultimately, the results of this study will deepen our understanding of how diffusible signals are interpreted and translated into dynamic collective cell behaviors. There is no doubt that the scientific and complementary training that I will receive at the EMBL, will significantly contribute to my development as a mature scientist and will equip me for starting my own research group in the future.

Keywords: neurobiology,developmental biology,brain,neurons,microglia,interactions,chemokines,zebrafish
New Si-based halogen-free Flame Retardants for Greener plastics (FR GREENSI)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-03-31
End date: 2013-03-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 164800.0
EU funding (EUR): 164800.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The use of low-cost, bio-based and highly flammable organic polymers is increasing in all product classes and is one of the major contributors to the increase in fire growth rate nowadays. This is leading to an overall greater use of flame retardants in polymer formulations. Growing pressure for increased product safety and for health and environmental impact reduction is driving the development of innovative halogen-free flame retardant additives, to replace the widely used brominated and, in general halogen-based flame retardant additives. This technical challenge is focused at flame inhibition, anti-dripping phenomenon, low smoke generation, low toxicity and low corrosion when plastics are exposed to fire. The aim of new Si-based halogen-free Flame Retardants for Greener plastics (FR GreenSi) project, where this fellow will play a critical role, is the development of new halogen-free flame retardant additives through their mechanistic study when exposed to fire conditions. The ultimate goal is the creation of a portfolio of halogen-free flame retardant additives, to offer optimized flame retardant solutions to varied polymer matrices, meeting the needs of many industries and markets requirements and safety regulations. This fellowship will facilitate the interaction between Dow Corning Europe and Lille Faculty of Sciences. The aim, besides personal development, is the combination of the major strengths of this trio fellow-company-university in terms of synthesis and organic chemistry, formulation, plastic compounding, sample preparation and characterization and fire science and technology, as well as application into commercial products. This project will largely contribute to scientific excellence and innovative leadership of Europe. Moreover, the researcher will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic and rigorous environment, being exposed to cutting edge facilities and where innovation, efficiency, safety, ethics and personal development are the priority.

Keywords: flame-retardant,halogen-free,plastics,siloxane,resin,anti-dripping,green,sustainability
Assessment of the hazard and opportunities of using carbon nanotubes as a new nanocarrier for drug delivery in neural tissue (NANONEUROHOP)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-07-01
End date: 2013-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 199549.6
EU funding (EUR): 199549.6
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

While neurodegenerative disorders and brain cancers increase in the population, current therapies have shown their limits. But thanks to recent advancements in nanosciences and nanotechnologies, new therapeutic opportunities are offered based on the development of nanoscale drug delivery systems. Among those, carbon nanotubes (CNT) have shown promising applications for therapy of a broad range of diseases because of their highly tunable abilities to transport different molecules and to penetrate cells. In this multidisciplinary project, we propose to use chemically functionalised CNT (f-CNT) as drug delivery systems for brain disease. However, since the knowledge concerning the interaction of CNT and the brain parenchyma is poor, the main goals of the project will be to define: (i) the potential hazard of using f-CNT in the brain and (ii) the pharmaceutical opportunities that these nanocarrier systems could offer. Our overall objective will be to identify critical parameters for the design/engineering of safe and effective carbon nanotubes based drug nanovectors for brain disease, with a special focus on the CNT surface functionalization. We will use both in vitro and in vivo studies to adresses these different questions.

Keywords: health sciences,toxicology,neurobiology,biomaterial engineering,carbon nanotubes,biocompatibility
Cognitive Common Currency or Contextual Bargaining ? A new model for food preferences (4CB)

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-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 192349.6
EU funding (EUR): 192349.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Research has for long focused on what people choose, not how they choose. In the domain of food choices, like elsewhere, the dominant model is that preferences are comparative judgments between quantities of sensory pleasure. Significant development lately in the cognitive neurosciences on the many roles of hedonic systems in choices and behavior have put pressures on this classical ‘common currency’ (Cabanac,1992) model of decisions. They stress the variety of low-level, automatic, sub-personal influences bearing on food choices, and show that behaviour can be ‘nudged’ in context (Thaler & Susstein, 2008). This still doesn’t address the nature and the role played by food preferences at the conscious, personal level. The objective is to provide such a model. The timely interdisciplinary methodology draws on cognitive sciences and philosophical models of the mind, advancing bridging the gap between the study of evaluative and perceptual processes. Guided by recent models in multi-modal flavour perception (Auvray &Spence, 2007), 4CB defends a model of contextual bargaining for food choices. It combines conceptual and experimental approaches, and is set up in the interdisciplinary Center for the Study of the Senses. It defends and puts to test two key proposals by distinguishing different kinds of preferences (contextual/automatic/reflective) and contextual influences on them (multisensory context and cognitive context of consumption). Consequences for the wider concept of ‘preferences’ and impact on heath and food policies are integral to the project.

Keywords: cognitive science,philosophical anthropology,philosophy of mind,perception,preferences and choices,hedonic sciences,food,flavour,decision-making
Twophoton microscopy analysis of phosphoinositide-3 kinase function during primary and secondary T cell activation in vivo. (INVIVO TCELL IMAGING)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2013-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 179101.6
EU funding (EUR): 179101.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The adaptive immune system protects us from nocuous microbes, yet excessive immune reactions can lead to the development of autoimmunity. The initiation of adaptive immune responses takes place in lymphoid organs, including peripheral lymph nodes (PLN). Inside PLN, T cells become activated through the molecular interactions of the T cell receptor with cognate peptide-MHC (pMHC) molecules and costimulatory molecules on dendritic cells (DC). TCR-mediated signals lead to the activation of the phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway via the PI3Kδ isoform, which is required for full T cell activation in vitro. However, little is known about the role of the PI3Kδ during primary and secondary in vivo T cell activation. Here, we will use twophoton microscopy (2PM) to observe the interactions of antigen-specific control and PI3Kδ-mutant CD4+ T cells and pMHC-loaded DC deep inside PLN of live, anesthetized mice. Comparing the dynamic interaction parameters obtained in 2PM imaging with the flow cytometric analysis of the activation status of control and PI3Kδ-mutant T cells, we will delineate the precise contribution of the PI3Kδ for primary T cell activation in vivo. We will furthermore perform an analysis of the secondary activation of control and PI3Kδ-mutant effector CD4+ T cells in a mouse model of antigen-induced arthritis. Therefore, we will establish an intravital knee-joint 2PM model to follow the dynamic behavior of control and PI3Kδ-mutant effector T cells with antigen-presenting macrophages in the inflamed tissue. We will combine imaging data with disease scoring, flow cytometry and the use of a PI3Kδ-specific pharmacological inhibitor for a comprehensive analysis of PI3Kδ function at sites of inflammation. In summary, we propose to perform an in-depth analysis of the role of PI3Kδ during adaptive immune response initiation and maintenance. This is also clinically relevant since PI3Kδ inhibitors are in development for immunomodulation.

Keywords: health sciences,lymphocyte activation,phosphoinositol-3-kinase,twophoton imaging,lymph nodes,arthritis
Infants' Understanding of Social Relationships (IUSR)

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: Hungary
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 155804.0
EU funding (EUR): 155804.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Social sciences have long stressed the importance of the capacity to represent social relationships. This project will focus on the early ontogeny of this capacity. Infants' understanding of two basic types of relationships, affiliation and dominance, will be studied. The continuities between infants' and adults' intuitions about social relationships will also be assessed. These investigations will involve a combination of behavioural and eye tracking measures. The project will be carried out in the Cognitive Development Center of the Central European University. During the completion of the project, its coordinator, who already has expertise in the study of preschoolers’ social cognition, will learn how to study pre-verbal infants. In addition, the project will have several scientific outcomes of general interest. It will contribute to developmental psychology, by providing data in an area of research that has received little attention. By focusing on pre-linguistic infants, it will provide insights on the phylogeny of social relationships understanding. It will also contribute to determine the building blocks of human naïve sociology, a topic of importance for social sciences as a whole.

Keywords: cognitive science,developmental psychology,experimental psychology
Ethical, Legal, Social and Practical Barriers to Sharing between Biobanks in Europe (ELSPBSBBE)

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: France,Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-09-01
End date: 2013-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 240205.0
EU funding (EUR): 240205.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Biological samples, such as tissues, DNA, and cells are an increasingly important resource for advancing research on human diseases. In the last two decades, important efforts have been made to organize such samples and data into biobanks in order to make these samples and data available for sharing between researchers. That being said, there remains many barriers and challenges to sharing between researchers and biobanks (whether regionally, nationally or internationally). The overall objective of this research project is to obtain a better definition and understanding of the ethical, legal, social and practical problems preventing the sharing of data and/or samples between biobanks, as well as between researchers, and to suggest ethically sound (i.e. just) solutions that are feasible in practice. Five specific objectives form the basis of this work: Firstly, we will conduct a systematic and in-depth review of the literature regarding barriers to sharing. Secondly we will conduct semi-structured interviews with biobank stakeholders in four European countries (Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland and Italy). Our third objective is to follow up on the data obtained in objective 2 and conduct a survey of biobank stakeholders all across Europe. Objective four involves the ethical analysis of the barriers to sharing. An important part of this objective will be the ethical analysis of the different problems related to “justice” in sharing biological samples among researchers and defining ways to allow for just allocation of a limited resource (samples and data). Finally, the last goal will be to increase awareness of, and encourage “just’ sharing solutions among biobank stakeholders. This will be achieved through the dissemination of a “points to consider” document that will highlight the importance of sharing, the challenges to sharing and recommendations on how just and efficient sharing can be achieved.

Keywords: ethics,barriers to sharing,biobanks,review,interviews,survey,europe,recommendations for just sharing,increase awareness
The independent and interactive effects of multiple stressors on reproduction and development in cetaceans (CETACEAN-STRESSORS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-05-09
End date: 2014-10-27
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 248811.2
EU funding (EUR): 248811.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Low reproduction rates (26% pregnancy rates, 3-4 year calving intervals) in two geographically isolated common dolphin Delphinus delphis populations in North East Atlantic (NEA) and New Zealand (NZ) have been found compared to other common dolphin populations where higher pregnancy rates (>40%) exist. The causes of these low rates of reproduction in NEA and NZ are not known but contributory/causal factors may include nutritional stress, immune suppression, disease, pollutants and density dependent population effects. Studies that quantify the complex interacting and potentially confounding effects of multiple stressors on reproduction and development in cetaceans (including synergistic, antagonistic, additive and temporal effects) are urgently required. This project will systematically quantify a range of potential causal factors underpinning the low female fecundity rates in NEA and NZ populations by directly assessing stress and reproductive hormone levels, nutritional condition, reproductive and health status using state of the art (histo)pathological, molecular and other analytical techniques on samples obtained from a large number of postmortem examinations. Interactions between these and other potential causal factors and mating strategies in both sexes derived from behavioural studies of wild common dolphins in Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand will be robustly tested statistically at individual and population levels.

Keywords: animal ecology,ecotoxicology,animal reproduction,behavioural biology,population biology,environmental biology,conservation biology,animal endocrinology,animal morphology,animal pathology