Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Towards the optimization of hydrogen production by nitrogenase (TOHPN)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health
Countries involved: Spain
Call:  (ERC-2007-StG, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-01
End date: 2014-09-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1968000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1968000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

In nature, molecular hydrogen is produced by the hydrogenase and the nitrogenase enzymes. Nitrogenase reduces dinitrogen to ammonia and, in this process, it evolves hydrogen. Nitrogenase and hydrogenase are oxygen-sensitive enzymes. We chose to optimize a hydrogen production system based on nitrogenase for four reasons: some organisms carrying nitrogenase simultaneously perform photosynthesis and hydrogen evolution by nitrogenase (direct biophotolysis), thus harvesting solar energy and autonomously converting it into chemical energy in a continuous process; cellular mechanisms exist to protect nitrogenase from oxygen but do not appear to exist for hydrogenase; because nitrogenase couples ATP hydrolysis to hydrogen evolution, this enzyme is able to generate hydrogen against a substantial gas pressure; finally, the biochemistry of the nitrogenase system is well known. The objective of our proposal is to provide new eco-efficient strategies for the biological production of hydrogen. Energy research is a priority theme under the Seventh Research Framework (FP7) cooperation program. The objective of energy research under FP7 is to adapt the current energy system into a more sustainable, competitive and secure one, with emphasis and support given to hydrogen research and renewable fuel production. Our proposal has three major components: (i) in vitro evolution of nitrogenase, in which we generate new nitrogenase variants by metagenomic gene shuffling and random mutagenesis, and select those with increased hydrogen production activity; (ii) the development of a genetic system to select for hydrogen overproducers; and (iii) a biochemical element designed to understand the biochemical requisites for efficient hydrogen production by the molybdenum nitrogenase as a basis for its re-engineering.

Keywords: hydrogen production,nitrogenase
Thalamic sensory processing during different behaviours (SENSORY THALAMUS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-3-IRG, 2007)
Start date: 2008-03-01
End date: 2012-02-29
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Sensory information is actively acquired and processed in the brain. This is particularly evident in the rodent whisker sensorimotor pathway, where the animal actively moves its whiskers back and forth during exploratory tactile behaviour. Sensory processing in the somatosensory neocortex has been shown to depend strongly upon ongoing behaviour. This state-dependent activity might arise through specific modulation of cortical activity or the differences in sensory processing might relate to changes earlier in the sensory network. In order to investigate this, we need to understand what changes occur in the somatosensory thalamic nuclei, through which sensory inputs transit to the barrel cortex. Here we propose to make whole-cell recordings from neurons in the somatosensory thalamic nuclei in the behaving mouse to investigate changes in spontaneous membrane potential dynamics and sensory processing during different behaviours. Our experiments will focus on uncovering the differential roles of the somatosensory thalamic nuclei in processing sensory information and how they are influenced by different behaviours. Of equal important we will investigate the thalamic contribution to the regulation of brain states. These data will shed light on the membrane potential dynamics underlying state-dependent sensory processing providing clear and well-defined data from identified neurons.

Keywords: health sciences,neurophysiology,brain research,functional biology,neurology,somatosensory system,whisker,thalamus,whole-cell and sharp electrode recordings,behaving mouse,awake
Attosecond Dynamics On Interfaces and Solids (ADONIS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2007-StG, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-01
End date: 2013-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1296000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1296000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

New insight into ever smaller microscopic units of matter as well as in ever faster evolving chemical, physical or atomic processes pushes the frontiers in many fields in science. Pump/probe experiments turned out to be the most direct approach to time-domain investigations of fast-evolving microscopic processes. Accessing atomic and molecular inner-shell processes directly in the time-domain requires a combination of short wavelengths in the few hundred eV range and sub-femtosecond pulse duration. The concept of light-field-controlled XUV photoemission employs an XUV pulse achieved by High-order Harmonic Generation (HHG) as a pump and the light pulse as a probe or vice versa. The basic prerequisite, namely the generation and measurement of isolated sub-femtosecond XUV pulses synchronized to a strong few-cycle light pulse with attosecond precision, opens up a route to time-resolved inner-shell atomic and molecular spectroscopy with present day sources. Studies of attosecond electronic motion (1 as = 10-18 s) in solids and on surfaces and interfaces have until now remained out of reach. The unprecedented time resolution of the aforementioned technique will enable for the first time monitoring of sub-fs dynamics of such systems in the time domain. These dynamics – of electronic excitation, relaxation, and wave packet motion – are of broad scientific interest and pertinent to the development of many modern technologies including semiconductor and molecular electronics, optoelectronics, information processing, photovoltaics, and optical nano-structuring. The purpose of this project is to investigate phenomena like the temporal evolution of direct photoemission, interference effects in resonant photoemission, fast adsorbate-substrate charge transfer, and electronic dynamics in supramolecular assemblies, in a series of experiments in order to overcome the temporal limits of measurements in solid state physics and to better understand processes in microcosm.

Keywords: attosecond physics,ultrafast optics,ultrafast solid and surface phenomena
Advancing scientific performance and regional potential of Estonian biomedical research (ESTBIOREG)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research Potential
Destination: Unlocking and developing the Research Potential of research entities established in the EU�s Convergence regions and Outermost Regions
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Estonia
Call:  (FP7-REGPOT-2007-1, 2007)
Start date: 2008-03-01
End date: 2011-05-31
Duration (months): 39.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1232430.4
EU funding (EUR): 1100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Growing pressure of environmental and socio-psychological factors in modern society burdens our main host defence organ systems, neural and immune system, with a number of serious consequences. Therefore the understanding of the function of these two systems as well as the mechanisms of neurological and immunological disorders is our major challenge in biomedical field. With that in mind, the Centre of Molecular and Clinical Medicine of University of Tartu has set to its general mission to raise the level of Estonian medical research and to concentrate the skills and funds to selected cutting-edge areas of medical research, neuro- and immunological sciences. Current application is aimed to provide support for these scientific activities: the overall aim of current project is to advance the RTD performance and the quality of research in neuroscience and immunology carried out by the Centre of Molecular and Clinical Medicine at University of Tartu. Fulfilment of this overall aim requires several key measures that enhance the existing dynamic environment and collaborative links within the Centre and with other institutions in neurological and immunological research: short term visits of our staff (WP1), recruitment of incoming researchers (WP2), improving the Centre’s infrastructure (WP3), transfer of knowledge via workshops and conferences (WP4) and increased public visibility within the economic and social environment of Estonia (WP5). We are sure that this will raise the Centre’s research potential and helps us to provide high quality research for society.

Keywords: neurology,neurodegenerative diseases,immunology,immunological disorders,advanced rtd performance,quality of research,regional potential
Breathing chlorinated compounds: unravelling the biochemistry underpinning (de)halorespiration, an exciting bacterial metabolism with significant bioremediation potential (DEHALORES)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2007-StG, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-01
End date: 2013-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1148522.0
EU funding (EUR): 1148522.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Bacterial dehalorespiration is a microbial respiratory process in which halogenated hydrocarbons, from natural or anthropogenic origin, act as terminal electron acceptors. This leads to effective dehalogenation of these compounds, and as such their degradation and detoxification. The bacterial species, their enzymes and other components responsible for this unusual metabolism have only recently been identified. Unlocking the full potential of this process for bioremediation of persistent organohalides, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and tetrachloroethene, requires detailed understanding of the underpinning biochemistry. However, the regulation, mechanism and structure of the reductive dehalogenase (the enzyme responsible for delivering electrons to the halogenated substrates) are poorly understood. This ambitious proposal seeks to study representatives of the distinct reductive dehalogenase classes as well as key elements of the associated regulatory systems. Our group has been at the forefront of studying the biochemistry underpinning transcriptional regulation of dehalorespiration, providing detailed insights in the protein CprK at the atomic level. However, it is now apparent that only a subset of dehalogenases are regulated by CprK homologues with little known about the other regulators. In addition, studies on the reductive dehalogenases have been hampered by the inability to purify sufficient quantities. Using an interdisciplinary, biophysical approach focused around X-ray crystallography, enzymology and molecular biology, combined with novel reductive dehalogenase production methods, we aim to provide a detailed understanding and identification of the structural elements crucial to reductive dehalogenase mechanism and regulation. At the same time, we aim to apply the knowledge gathered and study the feasibility of generating improved dehalorespiratory components for biosensing or bioremediation applications through laboratory assisted evolution.

Keywords: enzymology,transcriptional regulation,(de)halorespiration
Exploring Ultra-Relativistic Outflows (EURO_GRANOT)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-3-IRG, 2007)
Start date: 2007-09-01
End date: 2011-08-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Relativistic outflows appear in a wide variety of astrophysical sources, from Galactic micro-quasars to cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and active galactic nuclei (AGN). In most cases the relativistic outflow is thought to arise from accretion onto a black hole, while neutron-stars are also known to produce relativistic outflows (either in the form of a steady wind or an impulsive ejection of plasmoids). Such relativistic outflow sources are thought to accelerate the highest energy cosmic rays, and are expected to be important sources of high-energy neutrinos and gravitational waves for upcoming detectors. Furthermore, they can probe strong field gravity, large densities and magnetic fields, and may have a strong effect on their environment. Thus, a good understanding of their physics can have many important implications. I plan to study several different aspects of ultra-relativistic outflows, which may help shed light on their underlying physics: (i) the acceleration of an impulsive highly-magnetized relativistic outflow, its interaction with the external medium, as well as the energy dissipation and emission mechanism within the outflow. These have been investigated so far mainly in quasi-steady state long-lived sources, and the differences for impulsive short-lived outflows is of great importance, and particularly relevant for GRBs; (ii) time dependent opacity effects in impulsive relativistic sources – they lead to different observed properties compared to quasi-steady state sources, and probes the emission site and the Lorentz factor of the outflow, and thus its composition (which is very poorly constrained); this is relevant to the prompt gamma-ray emission in GRBs, as well as to flares in Blazars, micro-quasars and GRBs; (iii) The stability properties of relativistic shocks – these develop is relativistic outflow sources and may effect their observed properties, but have not been investigated in much detail so far, as their Newtonian counterparts.

Keywords: physical sciences,astronomy,astrophysics
Continuous Annular Electro-Chromatography (CAEC)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP
Destination: New production
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Austria,Germany,Switzerland,Netherlands,Austria,Finland
Call:  (FP7-NMP-2007-SMALL-1, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-01
End date: 2012-08-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3723617.7
EU funding (EUR): 2680143.0
Participants: 8
Project status: CLOSED

Capillary electrochromatography (CEC) combines the high separation efficiency of capillary electrophoresis with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and provides a powerful tool for the separation of a wide range of both neutral and charged components. The proposed integration of this technology and the rotating system of annular chromatography into a continuous annular electrochromatography (CAEC) would increase the throughput up to 20,000 times whilst maintaining an efficiency of more than 100,000 theoretical separation stages per meter. This extends the range of applicability from analytical purposes towards safe and flexible ultra small-scale production of extremely high-value-added products early on in the development stages. The project is thus expected to significantly enhance the sustainability of pharmaceutical and chemical production by providing equipment for highly intensified purification processes. The development of CAEC units as a new generation of extremely flexible high-performance process equipment requires specialised engineering skills and high-precision manufacturing techniques. A wide range of applications will be offered by the development of tailored stationary phases while an improved understanding of the complex processes occurring at different scales is used to model the performance of the CAEC system. An elaborated prototype including on-line sensors and a sophisticated process control concept will be developed and validated under industrial conditions during a demonstration phase. This will guarantee a fast uptake of the projects results and allow for an approved industrial production of the new process equipment within 1 to 2 years after the end of the project. The consortium includes an end user from pharmaceutical industry to ensure the relation to practice as well as highly innovative equipment manufactures capable of producing the required devices and standardised components at affordable costs.

Keywords: ultra-small scale production,pharmaceutical industry,high performance process equipment,industrial validation,continuous operation
Improvement of METU-Research Laboratory for the Conservation of Historic Monuments (MONUMENTSLAB)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research Potential
Destination: Unlocking and developing the Research Potential of research entities established in the EU�s Convergence regions and Outermost Regions
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Türkiye
Call:  (FP7-REGPOT-2007-1, 2007)
Start date: 2008-06-01
End date: 2011-05-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1289284.8
EU funding (EUR): 1149612.28
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Importance of conservation scientists and research in the care and conservation of cultural heritage has been better understood in last decades. Inadequate diagnosis, problems arising from incompatible repair materials have induced irreplaceable damage to historic structures. Adverse effects of the empirical conservation treatments or conservation treatments that were not well studied in terms of compatibility and durability have become noticeable on the monuments. There are collaborated efforts throughout Europe to develop standards in the field of conservation and to establish new methods of diagnosis and treatments. Although there are quite a number of institutions in Europe having active role in the conservation field, it is getting necessary to distribute the experience and develop centers for regional needs, as well as to benefit from the contribution of those centers due to the growing need for research and development in the field. In spite of its rich cultural heritage, there is not a well established research laboratory in Turkey devoted to the conservation of historic monuments that contribute to the advances in conservation science in an efficient way; METU Materials Conservation Laboratory (MCL) has been trying to contribute to the achievement of that goal. With this project, MCL aims to improve its research capacity in two main fields: a)improvement of research capacity in non-destructive analyses of historic monuments b)improvement of research capacity in microstructural analyses of historic building materials. By doing so, MCL will be able to fulfill its responsibility in a more efficient way by taking part and leading important research projects needed in Europe and in the country for the development of conservation science concerning cultural heritage.

Keywords: historic monuments,non-destructive testing,micro-structural analyses
Mapping functional protein-RNA interactions to identify new targets for oligonucleotide-based therapy. (CLIP)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Slovenia,United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2007-StG, 2007)
Start date: 2008-09-01
End date: 2013-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 900000.0
EU funding (EUR): 900000.0
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

An important question of modern neurobiology is how neurons regulate synaptic function in response to excitation. In particular, the roles of alternative pre-mRNA splicing and mRNA translation regulation in this response are poorly understood. We will study the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that control these post-transcriptional changes using a UV crosslinking-based purification method (CLIP) and ultra-high throughput sequencing. Computational analysis of the resulting data will define the sequence and structural features of RNA motifs recognized by each RBP. Splicing microarrays and translation reporter assays will then allow us to examine the regulatory functions of RBPs and RNA motifs. By integrating the biochemical and functional datasets, we will relate the position of RNA motifs to the activity of bound RBPs, and predict the interactions that act as central nodes in the regulatory network. The physiological role of these core RBP-RNA interactions will then be tested using antisense RNAs. Together, these projects will provide insights to the regulatory mechanisms underlying neuronal activity-dependent changes, and provide new opportunities for future treatments of neurodegenerative disorders.

Keywords: rna-protein interactions,alternative splicing,mrna translation,activity-dependent neuronal responses,antisense rna technology
Regulation of APP Metabolism by ER-Associated Degradation (APPERAD)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Finland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-3-IRG, 2007)
Start date: 2008-03-01
End date: 2011-02-28
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 75000.0
EU funding (EUR): 75000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The pathological Ab peptide that accumulates in senile plaques in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains is derived from a precursor protein APP. Although etiology of AD is complex, genetic evidence shows that duplication of the APP gene locus leading to elevated levels of APP protein is sufficient to cause early-onset AD highlighting the importance of regulatory mechanisms. The events resulting in generation of Ab from APP are well characterized but the regulation of APP protein levels in cells is poorly understood. Previous studies suggest that a degradation pathway in the ER participates in the regulation of APP metabolism but the exact mechanism remains unknown. Recently, we have identified APP as a substrate for ER-associated degradation pathway (ERAD). Here, we will focus on characterization of the ERAD pathway of APP aiming at (1) identification of ERAD proteins that associate with APP, and (2) characterization of regulatory mechanisms that control ERAD of APP. We have identified an APP-binding protease HtrA2 that collaborates with the proteasome in ERAD of APP. Importantly, HtrA2-/- mice display a neurodegenerative phenotype and cells derived from these mice are increasingly susceptible to ER stress while secreting more Ab. Currently, there are no methods available for analyzing HtrA2 protease activity in cells and tissues. We will develop a fluorescence-based assay for HtrA2 activity to facilitate mechanistic studies linking HtrA2 to neurodegeneration. Modulation of APP metabolism in the early secretory pathway is an attractive therapeutic approach as it precedes other APP proteolytic processing events. Enhancement of ERAD could be used to downregulate APP metabolism and help the aging neurons in their battle against protein aggregation stress. Thus, the aims of this proposal are (1) to determine the role of ERAD as a catabolic pathway regulating APP levels and (2) to assess if changes in proteolytic activity of HtrA2 play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Keywords: neurobiology,degenerative diseases,cell biology,biochemistry,metabolism,cytochemistry,neurochemistry