Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Environmental metal pollution revealed in archaeological human remains (PollutedPast)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: The Study of the Human Past
Panel description: Archaeology and history
Countries involved: Spain,Sweden
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2022-COG, 2022)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2028-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999966.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999966.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Environmental metal pollution threatens us all. While discussions of further prevention continue, the historical dimension is rarely considered. The long history of metal contamination has been well traced in natural archives (e.g. lake sediments and peat). However, there is a need for long-term studies directly on humans remains to fully understand how metal pollution affected the life of our ancestors. PollutedPast will fill this gap by linking new research on skeletal remains from archaeological sites with research done using natural archives. The overall objective is to determine the severity of metal pollution in preindustrial populations. This will be achieved by meeting four prerequisites: 1) availability of high chronological resolution studies in natural archives, 2) periods of contrasting pollution levels, 3) areas with contrasting pollution histories, and 4) availability of well-suited and studied osteological collections. The investigations will concentrate on collections from NW and SE Spain, and SE Sweden, selecting individuals from Roman to Late Medieval times. Individuals at risk (babies, those with chronic infectious diseases) will also be targeted. The methodological approach is based in a revolutionary combination of techniques. Multielemental (>30) and high-resolution (every 200μm) analyses of bones, bioapatite and teeth will provide critical insights into metals incorporation. Lead, copper and mercury, metals different sources and biogeochemical cycles, will be researched in depth and compared with well-reconstructed pollution histories in natural archives from the selected areas. Lead isotopes will be used, aided by mixing models, to trace the sources and estimate the proportion of pollution-lead in skeletons. This project will generate ground-breaking knowledge about the long-term impact of metal contamination – by mining and metallurgy - and explore how differences in resources management may have had consequences regarding human societies.

Keywords: osteoarchaeology metal pollution glocalization xrf core scanner lead isotopes lead mercury copper paleopathology physiological stress roman times medieval times
Carbon to Roots (CtR)

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: Denmark,United States
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-10-01
End date: 2028-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 447706.08
EU funding (EUR): 447706.08
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Carbon to Roots aims to improve alfalfa, the most grown forage in the world, to help fight climate change by storing more carbon from the air into the soil. By using advanced genetic techniques and microProteins engineering, the project will develop alfalfa varieties with deeper and steeper roots. These improved root systems will store more carbon underground, reducing the amount released into the atmosphere. This research will fill three major gaps: 1. Understanding the genetic networks that control alfalfa's root system. 2. Developing deep learning methods to measure root system architecture in alfalfa. 3. Creating efficient strategies to engineer alfalfa's proteins in a dominant fashion, obtaining steeper and deeper roots bypassing homozygosity in tetraploid outcrossing alfalfa varieties. The project will use cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure and collaborate for two years with experts at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, leveraging the existing knowledge and technology in root architecture for carbon sequestration within the Harnessing Plants Initiative to achieve these goals. The knowledge acquired at Salk will be used in the final project year, when selected alfalfa varieteis will be transformed and regenerated in Denmark, at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences of Copenhagen University, using the alfalfa tissue culture expertise of the research fellow and plant transformation infrastructure available there. The expected outcome is alfalfa plants that store more carbon in deeper soil layers, helping to mitigate global warming, as well as improve soil health and the drought resistance of the selected varieties. The discoveries achieved in this project will also benefit other crops improvement efforts. In fact, alfalfa has an incredibly high natural variation, which will be explored in Carbon to Roots to understand what are the gene variants and gene networks responsible for steeper and deeper roots in crop systems.

Keywords: microproteins,high throughput phenotyping,gwas,genome sequencing,scrna seq,tissue culture,plant transformation,crispr cas9,dominant mutations,tissue specific promoters
Decoding the Wiring of Integrative Neurocircuits in Metabolic Control (DeWireMetab)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing
Panel description: Organ and tissue physiology, comparative physiology, physiology  of ageing , pathophysiology, inter - organ and tissue communication, endocrinology, nutrition,  metabolism, interaction with the microbiome, non -communicable diseases including cancer (and except disorders of the nervous system  and immunity -related diseases)
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2024-COG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2030-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2000000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Systemic metabolism has to be constantly adjusted to the internal variance in nutrient availability. Therefore, the brain integrates multiple signals related to energy balance and coordinates alterations in energy intake with fuel distribution by precisely fine-tuning feeding, hormone release, and autonomic output. Cell-specific investigations have shown that this involves various molecularly distinct neurons that are distributed throughout the nervous system, each encoding different aspects of behavior and physiology. However, it has not been possible to comprehensively assess the circuit organization of these functionally distinct cells due to the enormous neuronal heterogeneity and anatomical complexity of the regions they reside in. Addressing this issue would have fundamental implications for elucidating the information network flow within the brain that ultimately orchestrates metabolic processes across cells, tissues, and organ systems. Thus, the proposed research program will employ a newly developed approach for the unbiased identification of the molecular profiles of connected neurons. This knowledge will then be used for targeting engineered neurobiological tools to newly identified neurocircuits in order to characterize their integrative features and metabolic functions with unprecedented precision. This multidisciplinary combinatorial approach will be employed to (1) unravel hypothalamic neurocircuits that integrate hormonal signals, (2) identify the neurocircuits that relay nutrient signals from the gut, and (3) define convergence of hormonal and vagal inputs in distinct neurocircuits. Collectively, the proposed research program will provide a more holistic insight into the integrative wiring diagram of metabolism-regulatory neurocircuits, which could provide long-elusive insights into how their disruption is linked to metabolic disorders, and may even lay the foundation for developing new druggable targets to better treat specific metabolic disorders.

Keywords: neural control of metabolism hypothalamus gut brain communication
Dirac Photonic Metamaterial for Quantum Light Sources (DIRAQUM)

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: Physics
Countries involved: Germany
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-05-01
End date: 2026-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 173847.36
EU funding (EUR): 173847.36
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Technology in photonic quantum information processing and quantum computing is advancing rapidly, requiring more efficient and precise control of the generation of quantum states of light. Over the past decade, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as near-perfect photon sources with unprecedented photon emission rates compared to other technologies. However, two key factors, photon indistinguishability and extraction efficiency, are critical for practical applications such as multiphoton interferometric experiments, quantum computing and boson sampling. Achieving both high photon indistinguishability and extraction efficiency from any quantum light source is challenging due to inherent trade-offs between precise control of photon properties and efficient collection, as well as technical and material limitations. Various photonic structures (such as cavities and metamaterials) have been used to improve the extraction efficiency of the emitters, but they often introduce complexities that adversely affect photon indistinguishability. Imperfections such as etched surfaces around QDs can lead to unwanted effects like an unstable charge environment due to exposed crystal bonds and surface interactions, ultimately degrading photon indistinguishability. To address these issues and improve performance, a promising alternative approach is to integrate quantum dots with Dirac photonic metamaterials. Within these metamaterials, topological states can emerge as protected edge states, which are known to be resilient to disorder and imperfections. Furthermore, Dirac photonic metamaterials lead to enhanced light-matter interactions, allowing a dramatic increase in spontaneous emission and the manipulation of chiral photon modes. The overall aim of this project is to combine quantum dots (InGaAs) with Dirac photonic metamaterials to achieve specific goals, including high photon indistinguishability, efficient photon extraction and tailored single-photon emission.

Keywords: quantum dot,single photon sources,photonic metamaterial,dirac cone,quantum optics
Gaze and Hand intERactions for enhancing usabIlity and Accessibility of virTual Reality applicatIons in neuropsyChology (GERIATRIC)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Greece,Türkiye
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-09-01
End date: 2027-02-28
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 211658.4
EU funding (EUR): 211658.4
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

One out of 5 Europeans is ≥ 65 years old, and 10% of Europeans struggle with performing Instrumental Activities of Daily Living like housekeeping, shopping, and managing finances. This everyday struggle is predominantly attributed to cognitive ageing. Early detection of cognitive decline is imperative to slow down the exacerbation of cognitive ageing, yet existing tools fall short in the timely identification of such decline. The proposed project attempts to bridge this gap, utilizing Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) to create an innovative cognitive assessment system, simulating real-life conditions and providing an accurate representation of individuals' everyday functionality. The GERIATRIC project recognizes the barriers posed by the elderly population's often limited IT proficiency and compromised motor skills, which have historically obstructed the effective use of computerized cognitive assessment tools. GERIATRIC seeks to address these challenges by incorporating Eye-Tracking (ET) and Finger-Tracking (FT) technologies, thereby augmenting the usability, accessibility, and clinical relevance of IVR cognitive assessments. Hand-based (FT) and gaze-based (ET) interactions will be developed, evaluated, and compared in terms of usability, performance, and throughput. The validity and clinical utility of the IVR cognitive test will be examined, especially for the detection of cognitive decline in older adults. In collaboration with industry partners, the final stage transforms the IVR cognitive assessment into a potent cognitive training tool. To foster innovation in the field, GERIATRIC will promote the democratization of IVR for broader research and clinical applications by offering open-source access to IVR software, code, and assets to the broader scientific community. Through GERIATRIC, I will cultivate a diverse skill set and a robust track record, which may assist me in acquiring a tenure position at a prestigious European research institution or university.

Keywords: usability,accessibility,elderly,ageing
Engineering lipid nanoparticles to target and escape the endosome, deliver their cargo and perform better as breast cancer therapies (MaxFUSE LNPS)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Condensed Matter Physics
Panel description: Structure, electronic properties, fluids, nanosciences, biological physics
Countries involved: Sweden
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2023-STG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-06-01
End date: 2029-05-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1844248.0
EU funding (EUR): 1844248.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

There is a strong need for personalised genetic medicines for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. LNP-mRNA nanomedicines have already been proven as safe and cost effective in the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. However, cancer treatments often require (i) repeat dosing (ii) controlled immune response (iii) adaptability to combat drug resistance. There are several LNP-RNA clinical cancer trials ongoing, many of which have reported challenges with toxicity, performance and specificity (off target effects). For an LNP-RNA cancer therapeutic to function, they need to localise in the correct organ, enter the cancer cells and escape the cellular (endosomal) processing pathway to release their RNA cargo. In current LNP-RNA formulations only a small fraction (<10 %) of LNPs successfully escape the endosome. However, these ‘null’ LNPs can still contribute to toxicity which places huge restrictions on their clinical application and performance. The aim of this proposal is to provide mechanistic insight into the endosomal escape of LNPs and use nanoscale engineering to target the endosome and improve LNP endosomal escape. This is particularly relevant in breast cancer as the majority of LNP systems are optimised for liver applications and designed to undergo fusion under ‘healthy’ endosomal conditions. In breast cancer, the composition (lipid, protein) and environment (pH) of the endosome differ significantly between healthy and cancer cells. Objectives: - Use omics approaches to quantify key differences in the endosome in healthy and breast cancer sub type cells and develop breast cancer sub type endosome models - Design LNPs with enhanced fusion to endosomes using (i) lipid composition (ii) protein – protein / lipid interactions (iii) pH mediated fusion - Validate novel LNPs with increased endosomal fusion and lower toxicity for breast cancer treatment

Keywords: lipid nanoparticles,membrane fusion,x rays,neutrons,microscopy
GoLexic: Transforming intervention for dyslexic children (GoLexic)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: European innovation ecosystems
Theme: Elevating the scalability potential of European business
Destination: Elevating the scalability potential of European business
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Women TechEU (HORIZON-EIE-2022-SCALEUP-02, 2022)
Start date: 2023-06-01
End date: 2024-03-31
Duration (months): 10.0
Total project cost (EUR): 107142.86
EU funding (EUR): 75000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

GoLexic is an app that helps children with dyslexia and reading challenges improve their reading and writing skills thanks to an innovative, accessible, effective and affordable solution. It leverages a structured teaching approach developed for dyslexic learners, and uses speech recognition to drive reading practice and assess children's skills and challenges. This in turn drives the personalisation of the programme for each child. This combination of speech recognition and personalisation is a differentiator for GoLexic compared to other digital learning programmes for children with dyslexia. The goal is to scale personalised reading intervention so that parents and teachers have easy access to a robust tool that helps children improve their literacy skills.

Keywords: edtech dyslexia sen literacy speech recognition personalisation
Computational design, fabrication and engineering methods for unconstrained, highly resource efficient, point-supported timber slabs in multi-storey buildings (UniversalTimberSlab)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: The European Innovation Council (EIC)
Theme: EIC Pathfinder
Destination: Challenges
Action type: EIC actions
Countries involved: Germany,Portugal
Call: EIC Pathfinder Challenge: AEC digitalisation for a new triad of design, fabrication, and materials (HORIZON-EIC-2023-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-10-01
End date: 2027-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3262112.5
EU funding (EUR): 3262112.5
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

The project aims to develop novel design, engineering and fabrication methods for point-supported timber slab structures in multi-storey buildings. It aims to provide the fundamental technologies for a sustainable alternative building system that could broadly replace point-supported reinforced concrete slabs - especialy in urban building projects. The project aims to develop a universally applicable, suppliable, usable and affordable alternative building system and make timber construction broadly available. It is based on a building system concept, in which complex arrangement of wood lamellas provide the potential for high structural performance. Questions of design computation, structural engineering, simulation methods and mechanical testing of this system will be addressed in the project. Provided the complexity of the material makeup and potentially long computing times, surrogate modelling methods will be developed based on disciplinary modelling methods. These allow fast computation of various design options. An AI-based Intelligent Decision Support System will integrate all surrogate models and provide informative design feedback of the universal timber slab system throughout all design stages. The building system will be applicable to multidirectional, long-span slabs and enable computationally derived geometric adaptivity to typical building project boundary conditions - such as site, program and design intent. The possibility for free and sparse column layouts allows for higher design flexibility and the design of mixed-use urban platforms with a great potential for long-term reusability. The system leverages computational design and construction to build bespoke, highly material efficient and digitally scaleable building structures from wood. Hence it provides high potential to sustainably and broadly disrupt predominant, energy- and carbon intensive reinforced concrete slabs in building construction.

Keywords: computational design,computational engineering,robotic fabrication,multi storey,timber construction,building systems,fem,simulation,surrogate modelling,ai,lightweight,low carbon,sustainable,new european bauhaus,structural design,wood architcture,robotic fabrication
The Anarchist Translation Flows and World Literature Project (ARGOT) (ARGOT)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Spain,Belgium
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2023-05-02
End date: 2025-05-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181152.96
EU funding (EUR): 181152.96
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Anarchist periodicals worldwide historically offered readers an uncommon and often outlawed experience of world literature. Yet, their countless literary translations, as well as the editors and translators involved in this circulation, have been largely ignored by anarchist, literary and translation studies. Data driven approaches, along with the rise of digital archives, make it possible, for the first time, to carry out a comprehensive, large-scale study of these translations by considering periodicals in multiple languages, a wide geopolitical space (several port cities in the Americas and Southern Europe) and a critical period for both literary and anarchist history, 1890-1910. Thus, ARGOT will unveil the significant contribution of anarchist periodicals to world literature by taking into account the people who enacted this transfer. With a specific focus on women and their role in thriving translation flows, ARGOT pursues three main goals: 1. to identify the literary translations that appeared in anarchist periodicals in Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Río de Janeiro, Havana, New York, Lisbon or Barcelona; 2. to rediscover the cultural mediators involved in these translations (particularly women), and 3. to address the multilingualism of anarchist communities through a spatial approach. These goals will be achieved using an innovative, interdisciplinary methodology that combines data mining and computational science, anarchist, literary and translation history, and women’s and gender studies. By making freely available two open-access reusable databases on translated texts, translators and publishers, ARGOT will shift our understanding of anarchist periodicals in the circulation of world literature and shed light on exciting new connections. From a personal perspective, the MSCA-IF will greatly contribute to my career as a strong and highly skilled researcher in translation, literary, anarchist studies and digital humanities.

Keywords: history of anarchism translation studies world literature periodical studies multilingualism digital humanities large scale approaches