Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Translational Research in Europe – Applied Technologies for Osteoarthritis (TREAT OA)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: United Kingdom,United Kingdom,Netherlands,Belgium,France,Greece,Iceland,Netherlands,Belgium
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-A, 2007)
Start date: 2008-01-01
End date: 2013-06-30
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 16673604.35
EU funding (EUR): 11924660.0
Participants: 11
Project status: CLOSED

TREAT-OA will address the need for better treatment and diagnostics for osteoarthritis (OA) - the most common cause of disability in Europe. Currently there are no drugs that can cure, reverse or halt the disease. Nor are there yet reliable clinical biochemical markers for diagnosis or prognosis which is an impediment to the management of OA, costs of therapeutic trials and the development of disease modifying drugs. TREAT-OA represents a large-scale collaborative, integrated, trans-disciplinary project utilising a resource of 28,000 OA phenotyped subjects with available genome-wide association scan data as well as leading basic science laboratories and technologies. This is the largest study of its kind that will address the generalisability and utility of genetic and biochemical risk factors throughout the EU. The key objectives of TREAT-OA are to: 1 Identify genes and biochemical markers consistently associated with risk and progression of OA 2 Use such genes to further our understanding of the molecular pathways involved in disease aetiology 3 Analyze pathways to identify targets for pharmacological intervention 4 Develop transgenic animal laboratory OA model systems . 5 Develop a panel of genetic and biochemical diagnostics for risk and progression of OA 6 Disseminate results from this extensive research at large and use results and technologies for training within the EU TREAT-OA will help develop European clinical and scientific excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of OA. The novel pathways in disease aetiology discovered will translate into novel drug targets and protein therapeutics for OA. The development of in vitro and in vivo assays will provide a comprehensive technology platform enabling the discovery and development of disease modifying drugs for OA. TREAT-OA will also make a major impact on the disease via a diagnostic panel of genes and biochemical markers for selecting severe cases and rapidly progressing individuals.

Keywords: osteoarthritis treatment diagnosis genome-wide association scan in vitro assays animal models for drug screening enu mutagenesis biomarkers translational research
THE SAFETY PHARMACOLOGY OF ARTEMISININS WHEN USED TO REVERSE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF MALARIA IN PREGNANCY (ARTEMIP)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Portugal,Netherlands,Sweden,Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-A, 2007)
Start date: 2008-03-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2597331.0
EU funding (EUR): 1948880.0
Participants: 6
Project status: CLOSED

Artemisinin based antimalarial drug combinations are recommended for the treatment of P.falciparum malaria infections throughout all malarial endemic areas of the world and in all populations, including women of child bearing age. The studies planned in this collaborative project are central to assessing the potential hazard posed by these drugs to the developing human foetus and thereby making evidence based recommendations on the risk:benefit of these drugs. Although clinical experience to date indicates the artemisinins to be safe, the area of reproductive toxicology demands special consideration. Data from the Chinese literature and our own studies confirm that the artemisinins are embryotoxic and potentially teratogenic in animal species at drug doses within the human therapeutic range. Based on over ten years of investigating the pharmacology of these drugs we have developed a hypothesis which can explain these teratogenic effects. Our hypothesis is based on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from cleavage of the artemisinin peroxide bridge and consequent embryofoetal damage to key biological macromolecules. Our hypothesis draws on parallels with the metabolic activation and teratogenic effects of the other established teratogens such as phenytoin

Keywords: malaria,pregnancy,artemisinin,embryotoxicity,teratogenicity,risk:benefit,health policy.
Self-Modulating Neurons in the Cerebral Cortex: From Molecular Mechanisms to Cortical Network Activities (CORTEXSELFCONTROL)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Physiology, Pathophysiology and Endocrinology
Countries involved: France,Italy
Call:  (ERC-2007-StG, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-01
End date: 2014-03-31
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 996000.0
EU funding (EUR): 996000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

In the mammalian brain, the neocortex is the site where sensory information is integrated into complex cognitive functions. This is accomplished by the activity of both principal glutamatergic neurons and locally-projecting inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, interconnected in complex networks. Inhibitory neurons play several key roles in neocortical function. For example, they shape sensory receptive fields and drive several high frequency network oscillations. On the other hand, defects in their function can lead to devastating diseases, such as epilepsy and schizophrenia. Cortical interneurons represent a highly heterogeneous cell population. Understanding the specific role of each interneuron subtype within cortical microcircuits is still a crucial open question. We have examined properties of two major functional interneuron subclasses in neocortical layer V: fast-spiking (FS) and low-threshold spiking (LTS) cells. Our previous data indicate that each group expresses a novel form of self inhibition, namely autaptic inhibitory transmission in FS cells and an endocannabinoid-mediated slow self inhibition in LTS interneurons. In this proposal we will address three major questions relevant to self-inhibition of neocortical interneurons: 1) What is the role of FS cell autapses in coordinating fast network synchrony? 2) What are the molecular mechanisms underlying autaptic asynchronous release, prolonging FS cell self-inhibition by several seconds, and what is its relevance during physiological and pathological network activities? 3) What are the induction mechanisms, the molecular players involved and the functional roles within cortical microcircuits of the endocannabinoid-mediated long-lasting self-inhibition in LTS interneurons? Results of these experiments will lead to a better understanding of GABAergic interneuron regulation of neocortical excitability, relevant to both normal and pathological cortical function.

Keywords: neocortex,interneurons,gaba,endocannabinoids,autapses
Space coding in hippocampo-entorhinal neuronal assemblies (SPACEBRAIN)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Norway,Italy,United Kingdom,Switzerland,Germany,Israel,United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-A, 2007)
Start date: 2008-02-01
End date: 2011-07-31
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 7996767.0
EU funding (EUR): 3000000.0
Participants: 7
Project status: CLOSED

Despite impressive advances in almost every field of neuroscience, our insights into brain function remain largely confined to its building blocks at the microscopic level, and to phenomenological descriptions at the macroscopic level. Understanding how complex mental functions originate from electrical and chemical processes in brain cells requires a comprehensive and integrated multi-level analysis focused on neuronal assemblies and microcircuits, where myriads of intricately connected neurons with different properties act together. We shall use the coordinator’s recent discovery of entorhinal grid cells – a key cell type in the network for spatial representation and navigation – as a model for neuronal computation in non-sensory cortical microcircuits. The crystal-like structure of the firing fields of grid cells provides an entirely new route to access the neuronal interactions responsible for pattern formation in the brain. Using a forceful combination of computational modelling and novel electrophysiological, optical and molecular research tools never applied for circuit analyses in the brain before, we shall establish the mechanisms by which microcircuits in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex encode, maintain and update representations of location as animals move from one place to another. Insights into the underlying computations have considerable translation potential. Understanding the algorithms for spatial navigation may change the way we manage a number of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, which commonly begins in the entorhinal cortex and has topographical disorientation as one of its most reliable symptoms, and it may provide European industry with radically innovative concepts for the design of artificial navigating agents.

Keywords: cell assemblies,microcircuits,place cells,spatial,memory,navigation,hippocampus,cortex,brain,alzheimer's disease,coding
A road map for European ageing research (WHYWEAGE)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Belgium,Germany,Italy,France,Greece,United Kingdom,Austria,Germany,United Kingdom,Belgium,Poland,Hungary
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-A, 2007)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2010-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 559824.0
EU funding (EUR): 499176.0
Participants: 15
Project status: CLOSED

The rapid increase of life expectancy in Europe is essentially a positive outcome from improved health care and socioeconomic progress. However age-related deteriorations of health greatly impinge upon the health care and social security systems. This fosters an increasing necessity of keeping as long as possible the elderly in relatively healthy conditions. Unravelling the fundamental mechanisms of ageing is a pre-requisite for maintaining activity and independence of the elderly, thus improving the quality of life at older age. After some preparative effort made in FP6, time has come to federate the European research on ageing around commonly agreed perspectives, considering the need for progress in an area of great socioeconomic and political stake in Europe. The next step is therefore to raise a road map for the European research on the molecular aspects of healthy human ageing, considering also some aspects of development. Based on an assessment of the state of the art in molecular gerontology and breakthroughs in biotechnology, we shall clarify the main priorities for the next 15 years. We will engage an open and transparent mechanism to support a closely prepared and coordinated series of subtopic research workshops merging in a get-together integrative conference. In order not to start from scratch again, the selection of the participants will be based namely on the list of 50 associate and 14 full members, academic and industrial, of the ongoing FP6 « Linkage » Coordination Action, led by the coordinator of this proposal, experienced in successfully managing European projects. Distinguished scientists working in other fields of molecular biology and biotechnology will also participate. The conclusions of the workshops and final conference will be published in a series of position papers. This will serve as a reference tool for further support of European policies on ageing, considering other stakeholders in the field who will also be invited to participate

Keywords: molecular gerontology - healthy ageing - state of the art - international policy - roadmap of research on ageing
Targeted Nanosystems for Improving Photodynamic Therapy and Diagnosis of Cancer (NANOPHOTO)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Italy,Slovenia,United Kingdom,Netherlands,Germany
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-A, 2007)
Start date: 2008-07-01
End date: 2011-12-31
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3248383.2
EU funding (EUR): 2453118.0
Participants: 5
Project status: CLOSED

The overall objective of this proposal is the development of one or more nanosystems loaded with Foscan® and conjugated to cancer cell specific ligands for improving the efficacy and selectivity of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and optimise a fluorescence-based tumour imaging approach. At present, PDT with Foscan® can be very effective but is not selective because Foscan® accumulates in the tumour tissue as well as in healthy ones. A great improvement of the therapy can only come from the availability of a carrier able to seek cancer cells and deliver Foscan® selectively to them. Three types of nanosystems, namely, liposomes, silica nanoparticles or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer nanoparticles, have been selected as potential nanocarriers for the selective delivery of Foscan®. The selection was mainly based on the different chemical nature of these systems, which can affect biocompatibility. During the first part of the project each type of nanosystem will be optimised through in vitro and in vivo tests and leader nanocarriers will be selected and conjugated to cancer cells specific ligands for increasing the selective delivery of Foscan®. The ligands we will use (folic acid, EGF, and antibodies) for targeting the nanosystems find their corresponding receptor over-expressed on the surface of cancer cells, therefore allowing a selective delivery of drugs in these cells. In vitro and in vivo investigations will be carried to demonstrate the validity of our approach and deliver, at project conclusion, a final product which can then be tested clinically. Because of the red fluorescence emitted by Foscan®, once it is selectively accumulated in cancer cells fluorescence based technique can be used for tumour imaging and diagnosis. Therefore we expect to develop a Foscan® loaded nanosystem/s which can be used for improving both therapeutic and tumour imaging approaches.

Keywords: liposomes,nanoparticles,epidermal growth factor,antibodies,photodynamic therapy,photodiagnosis
Targeting assembly of infectious HIV particles (HIV ACE)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: France,Germany,United Kingdom,Czechia,Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-A, 2007)
Start date: 2008-03-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4903156.0
EU funding (EUR): 3000000.0
Participants: 8
Project status: CLOSED

AIDS remains one of the major life threatening infectious diseases in the world today. A constant supply of novel antiretrovirals (ARVs) is needed to respond to the limitations of current drugs. By the end of 2007, the therapeutic arsenal against HIV is expected to comprise ARVs blocking all major steps of HIV replication, except for particle assembly and budding. Members of HIV-ACE were instrumental in recent breakthroughs concerning virus assembly and Envelope incorporation into virions. On the basis of novel and fully validated targets, the objectives of HIV-ACE are: i) Assay development, drug screening and pre-clinical development of small molecule inhibitors of Capsid assembly and Env incorporation, up to the stage of Early Drug Candidates with acceptable toxicity profile determined by ADME/Tox studies, activity against multi drug-resistant viral strains and primary non-B isolates, antiviral activity in primary T cells and macrophages (WP1); ii) Elucidation of 3D structures of these validated targets and rational drug design guided by molecular modelling and docking of inhibitors (WP2); iii) validation and exploitation of the HIV-susceptible transgenic rat model to allow preclinical in vivo-evaluation of novel drug candidates from HIV-ACE and to provide the European pharmaceutical industry with an efficient in vivo-platform for predictive testing of any kind of anti-HIV drug (WP3); iv) Elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for activity of the validated inhibitors, and discovery/validation of novel targets in the budding pathway of HIV-1 (WP4). HIV-ACE is composed of 8 teams from 5 European countries, including a Biopharma SME, led by prominent world-class scientists in Virology, Cell Biology, Immunology, Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, working in highly regarded research organisations. To efficiently achieve the ambitious goals of HIV-ACE, strong management led by a very experienced organisation has been included in a separate coordination-management WP5.

Keywords: aids/ hiv/ capsid assembly/ enveloppe incorporation/ antiretrovirals/ screening/ hiv budding/ medicinal chemistry/ virology/ cell biology/ drug discovery
Spinal locomotor circuits: organization and repair after injury (SPINAL CORD REPAIR)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Sweden,United Kingdom,Switzerland,United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-A, 2007)
Start date: 2008-01-01
End date: 2011-06-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3935200.0
EU funding (EUR): 2998000.0
Participants: 5
Project status: CLOSED

Neural circuits in the spinal cord, called central pattern generators (CPGs), can produce locomotor movements. The locomotor activity pattern is the result of the circuit design and the interplay between the firing properties of the CPG constituent neurons and their synaptic interactions. Spinal cord injury impairs the function of the locomotor circuitry and results in paralysis. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the assembly of the spinal locomotor circuitry, the function of its key excitatory components and the intrinsic plasticity in the healthy and injured spinal cord is a prerequisite for designing novel therapeutic methods to restore locomotor function after spinal cord lesion. The work-packages have been designed to elucidate the key molecular pathways responsible for the development and assembly of the spinal circuitry for locomotion. The intrinsic function and modulation the spinal circuitry will be examined in the healthy spinal cord by combining sophisticated molecular, anatomical, pharmacological and electrophysiological tools. The mechanisms of plasticity and reorganization of the circuitry will be examined in the injured spinal cord as will the mechanism to promote regeneration of the lesioned axons. This project will integrate knowledge on the development and normal spinal cord function together with biological interventions aiming at protecting and repairing the injured spinal cord. The gained understanding will offer molecular and cellular foundations that will be instrumental in developing strategies for restoring motor function following spinal cord injury.

Keywords: locomotor circuitry,development,regeneration,extracellular matrix,locomotor training,modulation
Identification of Mechanisms Correlating with Susceptibility for Avian Influenza (IMECS)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Netherlands,Finland,Netherlands,Switzerland,Italy,Netherlands,Viet Nam
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-A, 2007)
Start date: 2008-04-01
End date: 2012-12-31
Duration (months): 57.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3668819.6
EU funding (EUR): 2797287.0
Participants: 8
Project status: CLOSED

IMECS is a proposal of the FLUSECURE network aimed at combating the threat of new and re-emerging forms of highly pathogenic influenza in its first stages of a disease by identifying mechanisms of protection that are essential for a solid immune response to avian influenza. IMECS is uniquely featured by correlating research in humans directly to protection from influenza. The IMECS initiative was introduced since the recent H5N1 avian influenza vaccine trials results have shown limited success in inducing a protective immune response as compared to the standard human influenza vaccines. This despite large investments and multiple vaccine formulations tested. These results make clear that the mechanisms of immunity for avian influenza are inherently different from those for human/seasonal influenza. The IMECS initiative aims to elucidate these mechanisms and aims to provide essential knowledge for development of breakthrough pandemic vaccines as a result. The initiative thereto boosts the development of AI-correlates of protection for the clinical screening of vaccine candidates in healthy adults and in different target groups, the origin of subclinical AI infection in humans, as well as a research programme for the screening of vaccine candidates in vitro. The following research objectives are pursued: - Determining the basis of the homologous and non-homologous mechanisms of protection for avian influenza; - Determine the mechanisms of protection in specific target groups, including infants and the elderly; - Determining the AI-specific response after vaccination in clinical trial studies. IMECS combines the knowledge of leading European universities and research centres. The multidisciplinary consortium has the resources, skills and knowledge to realize the objectives of this collaborative research project.The consortium consists of 6 partners and two subcontractors from five different European countries and one disease endemic country (SICA)

Keywords: homologous non-homologous mechanisms of protection influenza target-groups correlates of protection