Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
The evolution of the human hand: grasping trees and tools (GRASP)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: The study of the human past
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Austria
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2019-08-31
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1618252.6
EU funding (EUR): 1618252.6
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

The unique manipulative abilities of the human hand have fascinated scientists since the time of Darwin. However, we know little about how these unique abilities evolved because we have lacked, (1) the necessary fossil human (hominin) evidence and (2) the appropriate methods to investigate if, when and how our early ancestors used their hands for locomotion (climbing) and manipulation (tool-use). The GRASP project will use novel morphological, experimental and biomechanical methods to investigate different locomotor and manipulative behaviours in humans and other apes, and will use this knowledge to reconstruct hand use in the most complete early hominin hand fossils, those of Australopithecus sediba. The goal of GRASP is to determine the evolutionary history of the human hand by addressing two fundamental, yet unresolved, questions: (1) Were our fossil hominin ancestors still using their hands for climbing? (2) When and in which fossil hominin species did stone tool-use and tool-making first evolve? These questions will be addressed via three objectives: First, microtomography and a novel, holistic method (MedTool®) will be used to analyse the internal bony structure of human, ape and fossil hominin hand bones. Second, collection of the necessary biomechanical data on (a) the loads experienced by the human hand during tool-use and tool-making, (b) hand use and hand postures used by African apes during locomotion in the wild and, (c) the loads experienced by the bonobo hand during arboreal locomotion. Third, data from the first two objectives will be used to adapt musculoskeletal models of the human and bonobo hand and, through the creation of 3D biomechanical (finite-element) models, simulate natural loading of individual hand bones in humans, bonobos and fossil hominins. With this detailed understanding of hand function, we will determine how the locomotor and manipulative behaviours of Au. sediba and other early hominins shaped the evolution of the human hand.

Keywords: human evolution,biomechanics,locomotion,finite-element modelling,primate,functional morphology,fossil hominins
Air-sea gas exchange - PArameterization of the Sea-Surface Microlayer Effect (PASSME)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Earth system science
Countries involved: Germany,Germany
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-04-01
End date: 2019-09-30
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1485797.0
EU funding (EUR): 1485797.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The Earth’s oceans absorb about 11 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year, about 25% of all anthropogenic CO2. The oceans are huge reservoirs of CO2, and a better understanding on how the oceans absorb CO2 is critical for predicting climate change. The sea-surface microlayer (SML), the aqueous boundary layer between the ocean and atmosphere, plays an important role in the exchange of gases between the ocean and atmosphere. The effects of the SML on air-sea gas exchange have been widely ignored by past and current research efforts due to uncertainties to what extent the SML covers the oceans. However, we recently reported the ubiquitous coverage of the oceans with SML, which pushes the SML into a new and wider context that is relevant to many ocean and climate sciences. I propose experiments at multiple scales, i.e. in laboratory tanks, wind wave tunnel, mesocosm and during a long-term field study. I propose a systematic field study measuring air-sea CO2 fluxes and mapping chemical, biological and physical properties of the SML. With the experiments on smaller scales, such measurements will allow for the first time (i) to define new parameters controlling gas fluxes, (ii) to quantify short-time and seasonal variability, (iii) to define global proxies for the effects of the SML, and (iv) to develop and apply a new parameterization for the correction of global CO2 flux data. For the first time, biogeochemical processes relevant to carbon cycling are investigated on the ocean’s surface at an interfacial level. Furthermore, I aim to reconstruct the natural composition of the SML in a wind-wave tunnel to study its ability to modify the ocean’s surface at well-defined wind regimes. The results from the proposed studies can form the basis for an improvement of current assessments of CO2 fluxes, and oceanic uptake rates. A better understanding in the oceanic uptake of atmospheric CO2 is critical in predicting climate trends and establishing policies.

Keywords: carbon cycle,air-sea gas exchange
Maintenance of epigenome integrity in response to DNA damage (EPIN)

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: France
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Protection of genome integrity is crucial for maintaining cell identity and viability. However, the organisation of DNA with histone proteins into chromatin in eukaryotic cell nuclei poses structural constraints to the detection and repair of DNA lesions. Dynamic and tightly controlled changes in chromatin organisation are thus critical for an efficient response to DNA damage, while at the same time preserving chromatin integrity. Yet, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are still poorly characterised, particularly in higher eukaryotes. Here, we describe a range of complementary approaches using cutting-edge imaging to address this issue in mammalian cells. Our aim is to investigate DNA damage-induced alterations at distinct levels of chromatin organisation, from histone proteins up to higher-order chromatin structure, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. (1) We first intend to provide a detailed analysis of histone variant dynamics at DNA damage sites by combining local induction of DNA lesions with pulse-chase imaging of histone proteins. (2) To examine how these dynamics are reflected at the level of higher-order chromatin folding, we will quantitatively visualise changes in chromatin compaction in cells exposed to genotoxic stress. For this, we will implement a recent FLIM-FRET-based approach and also exploit super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. (3) We will examine the spatio-temporal regulation of damaged chromatin reorganisation, analyse how it connects with DNA damage signalling and repair pathways, and characterise the histone chaperones and chromatin remodelling factors involved. (4) To broaden the range of candidate regulatory factors, we will screen for novel players in the DNA damage response among chromatin-associated proteins using laser micro-irradiation induced damage. Altogether, these integrated approaches should provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms that coordinate the maintenance of genome and epigenome integrity.

Keywords: dna damage,genome instability,chromatin compaction,histone dynamics
Optical Responses Controlled by DNA Assembly (ORCA)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2013-12-01
End date: 2018-11-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1433840.0
EU funding (EUR): 1433840.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Artificially constructed materials can be designed to shape the propagation of light and can thus exhibit optical characteristics that are not found in nature. With such metamaterials, remarkable optical applications such as cloaking of objects, sensing of molecular environments or the fabrication of perfect lenses that are not bound by optical resolution limits could be realised. However, for metamaterials to operate at visible wavelengths they have to be structured in three dimensions with nanometre precision which currently poses an enormous barrier to their fabrication. By using molecular self-assembly based on the self-recognizing properties of sequence-programmable DNA strands, this barrier will be overcome. After having pioneered the 3D DNA origami method and the creation of DNA-based metamaterials, I propose the following new paths of research: i) Metamaterials that are switchable in electric or magnetic fields and operate at visible or near infrared wavelengths will be designed and produced by DNA self-assembly for the first time. The hypothesis that materials with strong chirality show negative refraction will be tested and optical resonators with dimensions below 100 nm will be generated. ii) The light-shaping characteristics of metal particle helices will be used to detect organic molecules. As most organic molecules are chiral and can be considered as chiral arrangements of multiple dipole elements, it is expected that the organic dipoles couple to the plasmonic dipoles of the metal helices. This in turn will induce changes in the optical activity of the material. In a parallel approach, organic molecules will be used to induce conformational changes in DNA-supported particle assemblies, which will then be detected in their optical response. Both of these fundamentally new detection schemes will allow extremely sensitive detection of biomolecules at visible wavelengths.

Keywords: metamaterials,dna nanotechnology,chirality
Gut microbiota, innate immunity and endocannabinoid system interactions link metabolic inflammation with the hallmarks of obesity and type 2 diabetes (ENIGMO)

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: Belgium
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2013-10-01
End date: 2018-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1494640.0
EU funding (EUR): 1494640.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are characterized by metabolic inflammation and an altered endocannabinoid system (eCB) tone. We have provided evidence that gut microbiota modulate both intestinal and adipose tissue eCB system tone. Insulin resistance and inflammation have been linked to microbiota-host interaction via different Toll-Like Receptors (TLR’s). Our preliminary data show that tamoxifen-induced epithelial intestinal cells deletion of the key signalling adaptor MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary-response gene 88), that encompass most of the TLR’s, protect mice against diet-induced obesity and inflammation. A phenomenon closely linked with changes in the intestinal eCB system tone and antimicrobial peptides production. Moreover, we discovered that the recently identified bacteria living in the mucus layer, namely Akkermansia muciniphila, plays a central role in the regulation of host energy metabolism by putative mechanisms linking both the intestinal eCB system and the innate immune system. Thus these preliminary data support the existence of unidentified mechanisms linking the innate immune system, the gut microbiota and host metabolism. In this high-risk/high-gain research program, we propose to elucidate what could be one of the most fundamental processes shared by different key hallmarks of obesity and related diseases. A careful and thorough analysis of the molecular and cellular events linking gut microbiota, the innate immune system and eCB system in specific organs has the potential to unravel new therapeutic targets. We anticipate the key role of MyD88 and the enzyme NAPE-PLD (N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase-D) involved in the synthesis of N-acylethanolamines family to be key determinant in such pathophysiological aspects. Thus, these approaches could provide different perspectives about disease pathogenesis and knowledge-based evidence of new therapeutic options for obesity and associated metabolic disorders in the future.

Keywords: gut microbiota,type 2 diabetes,obesity,gut,antimicrobial peptides,adipose tissue,liver,endocannabinoid system,metabolic inflammation,metabolic endotoxemia,innate immunity
Picometer scale insight and manipulation of novel materials (PICOMAT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Physical and Analytical Chemical sciences
Countries involved: Austria
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2013-08-01
End date: 2018-07-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1468279.0
EU funding (EUR): 1468279.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The recent years have witnessed an explosive growth in the numbers of new materials with fascinating properties and high application potential. Two-dimensional materials are at the focus of interest, in particular graphene but also two-dimensional niobium diselenide, molybdenum disulfide, hexagonal boron nitride, mono-layer bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide, and a variety of other layered materials. This proposal builds on my recognized expertise and experience in the areas of atomically resolved studies and atomic level manipulation of new materials using electron beams in a transmission electron microscope. Instead of observing random, beam-driven or contamination-induced variations in image sequences, I plan to carry out targeted, controlled experiments to study atomic scale modifications in real time. I will establish new experimental approaches to study the properties of low-dimensional systems, light-element- and radiation-sensitive samples. The first key objective is controlled in-situ manipulation, via imposing chemical modifications that are locally activated by the electron beam and directly followed in real time. The second and strongly interlinked objective is to alleviate the effects of radiation damage by different new approaches (beyond low-voltage imaging), by making use of new statistical methods that exploit the multiplicity of identical configurations. I aim to transfer very recent developments for low-dose imaging from structural biology to the case of point defect configurations in a crystalline material, to allow the identification of atomic configurations that are currently not accessible as they do not withstand the electron dose that would be needed for their identification. Overall, this project will provide fundamental new insights to the science and applications of some of today's most promising new materials, new routes to tailor their properties, and methodological advances that will reach well beyond our target materials.

Keywords: graphene,high-resolution transmission electron microscopy
Multidimensional Spectroscopy at the Attosecond frontier (MIDAS)

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: Israel,Germany
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2013-09-01
End date: 2018-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1349833.0
EU funding (EUR): 1349833.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The invention of multidimensional spectroscopy was a major leap in nuclear magnetic resonance. Comparable schemes in the optical regime have led to significant advances in our understanding of ultrafast dynamics in complex molecular systems. Currently, these multidimensional approaches are the most powerful and complete measurement schemes for resolving molecular dynamics on femtosecond time scales. The goal of this project is to advance the basic ideas and concepts of multi-dimensional spectroscopy to the forefront of ultrafast science – the attosecond (10-18 second) regime. Attosecond science is a young field of research that has rapidly evolved over the past decade. Leading researchers in the field have opened a door into a new area of research that allows the observation of multi-electrons dynamics on their own natural time scale. Attosecond science lies at the heart of strong field light-matter interactions. These interactions can lead to the generation of attosecond duration XUV and energetic electron pulses, thereby providing researchers with the tools for studying a broad range of fundamental phenomena in Nature which evolve on an attosecond time scale. While an extensive theoretical effort has been invested in studying these phenomena, their experimental observation remains limited. The main limitation is set by the complexity of the interaction that offers numerous channels in which electronic dynamics can evolve. The proposed research program aims at introducing multidimensional spectroscopy in the attosecond regime, thus revealing the underlying complex dynamics behind many attosecond scale phenomena. Integrating state of the art experimental schemes, supported by advanced theoretical analysis, will lead to the discoveries of new phenomena previously inaccessible in many experimental observations. The impact of the proposed research is beyond attosecond spectroscopy – opening new paths in resolving phenomena at the extreme nonlinear limit.

Keywords: attoseconds,high harmonic generation,perturbation,multielectrons dynamics
Crystal Engineering for Molecular Organic Semiconductors (CEMOS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Products and process engineering
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-01-01
End date: 2018-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1477472.0
EU funding (EUR): 1477472.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The urgent need to develop inexpensive and ubiquitous solar energy conversion cannot be overstated. Solution processed organic semiconductors can enable this goal as they support drastically less expensive fabrication techniques compared to traditional semiconductors. Molecular organic semiconductors (MOSs) offer many advantages to their more-common pi-conjugated polymer counterparts, however a clear and fundamental challenge to enable the goal of high performance solution-processable molecular organic semiconductor devices is to develop the ability to control the crystal packing, crystalline domain size, and mixing ability (for multicomponent blends) in the thin-film device geometry. The CEMOS project will accomplish this by pioneering innovative methods of “bottom-up” crystal engineering for organic semiconductors. We will employ specifically tailored molecules designed to leverage both thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of molecular organic semiconductor systems to direct and control crystalline packing, promote crystallite nucleation, compatibilize disparate phases, and plasticize inelastic materials. We will demonstrate that our new classes of materials can enable the tuning of the charge carrier transport and morphology in MOS thin films, and we will evaluate their performance in actual thin-film transistor (TFT) and organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Our highly interdisciplinary approach, combining material synthesis and device fabrication/evaluation, will not only lead to improvements in the performance and stability of OPVs and TFTs but will also give deep insights into how the crystalline packing—independent from the molecular structure—affects the optoelectronic properties. The success of CEMOS will rapidly advance the performance of MOS devices by enabling reproducible and tuneable performance comparable to traditional semiconductors—but at radically lower processing costs.
Glioblastoma Inhibition: Targeting Tumour-derived Extracellular-Vesicle Driven Cell-Recruitment (GLITTER)

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: Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2013-StG, 2013)
Start date: 2014-02-01
End date: 2019-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1299291.6
EU funding (EUR): 1299291.6
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are malignant brain tumours and among the most aggressive human cancers. GBMs patients have an extremely poor survival rate due to a complete absence of adequate therapies capable of efficiently targeting GBM cells inside the brain. Recently, we demonstrated that GBM cells release pro-tumoural extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the bloodstream, which emerged as important intermediates in communication with distant peripheral cells in the body. Of note, the distribution of GBM-derived EVs can now be monitored in vivo by employing a novel Cre/LoxP mouse reporter model. This sophisticated imaging model enables the visualisation of normal peripheral cells that have taken up circulating GBM-derived EVs and allows for subsequent tracking of the recruitment of these cells to the tumour. Recent studies have shown that GBM-derived EVs have the capability to manipulate non-neoplastic cells, exploiting them for tumour expansion. Moreover, we have preliminary evidence that GBM-derived EV receptor pathways can be identified and blocked, possibly causing stagnation of GBM tumour growth by preventing recruitment of essential support cells. We aim at identifying these pathways using unbiased RNAi screening, followed by interference with pro-tumoural cell recruitment, using small molecule drugs in our GBM in vivo models. Finally, circulating GBM-derived EVs and their RNA content are also efficiently captured and internalised by blood platelets (PLTs) that can act as efficient EV carriers. Hence, tumour-derived RNA in circulating EVs and PLTs, isolated from the blood of GBM mouse models and patients, may serve as non-invasive biomarkers and companion diagnostics platform. GLITTER aims to; 1) Analyse in detail the EV-driven recruitment and signalling of essential GBM support cells; 2) Halt GBM tumour growth by interference with EV-mediated recruitment of pro-tumoural non-neoplastic cells; 3) Validate the EV/PLT-based diagnostic platform.