Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Bringing the field of psychiatry forward: Unraveling heterogeneity of Depression (HETODEP)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-08-01
End date: 2017-07-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Depression is a highly prevalent disorder associated with substantial costs, and predicted to be the leading cause of disability in 2030. Although there has been substantial progress in our understanding of the biological processes and environmental exposures associated with mood disorders, application of newer technologies such as neuroimaging and molecular biology have not resulted in major breakthroughs in our understanding of depression, particularly with respect to treatment. One of the major reasons for this lack in breakthroughs is the substantial heterogeneity of major depression. In-depth characterization of biological correlates of subtypes can inform our understanding of the sources of heterogeneity that may index different etiological pathways. In addition, clinical presentation of depression forms an important component in research on depressive subtypes. Recent evidence suggests that disturbances in activity, sleep, appetite and circadian patterns may be more important than mood changes as core features of depression, but measurement of these domains relies on self-reported, retrospective assessments. Objective ambulatory methodologies, including Actigraphy and ecological momentary assessment (EMA), may be valuable in defining the core features of depression subtypes more accurately. In addition, these technologies are relevant to future research and clinical practice through applications in interventions and continuous patient monitoring. This proposal aims to unravel the heterogeneity of depression by: 1) Systematical characterization of depressive subtypes on a wide range of biological measures to increase insights into the differential etiology of depressive subtypes and bring us one step closer to improved treatments, and 2) Incorporation of accurate, objective, and valid assessment of the core features and differentiators of depression subtypes using innovative ambulatory monitoring technologies, and use of these to validate depressive subtypes.

Keywords: l512 psychiatric disorders,l709 public health and epidemiology
DECENTRALIZED MONITORING AND ADAPTIVE CONTROL FOR NETWORKED DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS (DEMAND)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Serbia
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Decision making in large-scale, complex and uncertain systems is a challenging problem. The advents of sensor networks and networked control systems have strengthened the importance of decentralized multi-agent methods. The aim of the project is to define a novel framework and a set of tools for efficient decentralized estimation, detection and adaptive control for networked dynamical systems. Many fundamental questions are open in this area, such as how the cooperation of numerous simple units can overcome very limited resources (in terms of the amount of information, energy, reliability, communication and computation capacity) that each agent has. To tackle these problems we are going to propose systematic techniques based on overlapping system decomposition and game-theoretic methods. Furthermore, we will develop algorithms with embedded cooperation strategy where local detectors, observers and controllers are embedded in a consensus based scheme in order to enhance the overall networked system capabilities. Finally, the developed tools will be verified in the important application area of self-organizing mobile wireless sensor networks.

Keywords: networked control,decentralized decision making,sensor networks,g204 systems engineering - sensorics - actorics - automation,g201 control engineering,g208 networks,g207 signal processing,g210 robotics
Hardness Results in Geometry Processing (HRGP)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of this proposal is explore hardness results in the fields of Geometry Processing and Computer Graphics. Traditionally, research in Geometry Processing has concentrated on devising efficient methods for tasks such as shape segmentation, shape matching, reconstruction and analysis of geometric data among others. Unfortunately, the majority of existing techniques are presented in an ad-hoc manner demonstrating their performance only on a handful of examples, and often contain many ad-hoc steps and implicit human intervention. On the other hand, there has been very little systematic study of theoretical hardness of the problems in geometry processing and very few rigorous results exist on the theoretical limitations (i.e. impossibility) of methods that aim to solve problems in Geometry Processing and Computer Graphics. Having such results will not only shed light on the quality of performance of existing methods but also show why and when external (e.g. human) input is sometimes theoretically necessary. The goal of this proposal is to initiate a field-wide study of the inherent difficulty of geometric problems and to establish rigorous impossibility results. This can have an far-reaching impact in fields as diverse as medial imaging and protein structure analysis among many others.

Keywords: g104 graphics and image processing
Role of the exon junction complex in the splicing of heterochromatic transcripts (EJC_SPLIC_HET)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-03-01
End date: 2017-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Pre-mRNA splicing is an essential function in virtually all eukaryotic organisms. In the human genome, 95% of the genes with multiple exons are subjected to alternative splicing, increasing the diversity of the transcriptome and ensuring the complexity of the organism. Because of its prevalence in many physiological functions splicing mis-regulation has been linked to a large number of diseases, including various cancers. In addition to providing diversity splicing presents an opportunity for genetic control at multiple layers of its regulation. One of these layers is the cis-regulatory elements present on the transcripts, and their associations with their cognate trans-acting factors. The coupling between transcription and splicing introduces additional regulatory levels. For instance, an unexpected connection between chromatin and splicing has recently been uncovered. However, despite its potential significance, we still know very little about how these two processes communicate with each other. We have recently found an essential role for the exon junction complex (EJC) in the splicing of long introns in Drosophila. Remarkably, this function is biased towards transcripts encoded by genes located in heterochromatin, suggesting that heterochromatic transcripts containing long introns might be spliced by a novel mechanism in which the EJC plays a crucial role. We plan to decipher the mechanism by which the EJC regulates splicing of large heterochromatic transcripts and more generally how heterochromatin influences pre-mRNA splicing. This study will have a major impact on our understanding of the interplay between chromatin and splicing and should lead to alternative therapeutic strategies which will involve the modulation of chromatin to treat human diseases that are a consequence of aberrant splicing. Furthermore, this project should contribute to the understanding of the long-standing paradox of how gene expression can occur from a heterochromatic environment.

Keywords: epigenetics,gene regulation,pre-mrna splicing,heterochromatin
INNATE IMMUNE SIGNALLING: OPTIMAL MICROFLUIDICS PROTOCOLS, PREDICTION AND CONTROL (OPTIMAL MICROFLUIDIC)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Poland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-10-01
End date: 2017-09-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

My research will use integrative modeling of the interactions of the molecular elements to develop a more complete understanding of dynamic cellular signalling and information processing mechanisms. It will focus on information content of collected biological data, predictive power of developed models and gaining control over studied systems. This will be achieved via mathematically designed experimental protocols executed using microfluidic devices. A system of NF-kB signalling with TNF stimulation will serve as an initial model to develop theoretical and experimental tools. Methodology will be then utilized to better understand principles of LPS-IRF3 signalling. The complexity of biochemical systems causes informative experimentation to be a difficult task and makes mathematical modelling necessary to explain collected data. Unfortunately, selecting an appropriate model is usually problematic. Even measurements of all components of a dynamic biochemical system, do not allow for its reverse-engineering if observed only in a small number of experimental conditions. The only possibility to overcome the selectivity of available data is to perturb a system in a way that reveals desired information. The ability of microfluidics to generate spatial and temporal perturbations in extracellular environments provides a unique tool for execution of carefully designed stimuli. In my research, I will combine methods of experimental design with new possibilities of microfluidic devices in order to increase the predictive power of biochemical dynamical models and gain control over studied systems in vitro. The ability to control biological systems is essential to guide drug target selection and design new effective therapies.

Keywords: innate immunity/systems bilogy/predictive modeling/ experimental design/
Anchoring the Consumer: Legitimacy and Accountability in Competition Law (ACLACL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-11-01
End date: 2018-10-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal offers interdisciplinary, empirical and comparative research into the legitimacy and accountability problems facing EU competition law. EU competition law has gone through a significant reform process orchestrated by the European Commission. The Commission’s overarching goal in this process was to place ‘consumer welfare’ at the centre of the enforcement of competition rules. In contrast to the strong consumer focus in the design of substantive rules, consumers play a very limited role in the process of the making and enforcement of EU competition rules. Firstly, institutions representing consumer/citizen interests, such as the European Parliament and civil society, have been largely absent in the process leading to reforms. Secondly, the reforms increased economic technicality and the Commission’s administrative discretion in the enforcement of competition rules at the expense of judicial and parliamentary oversight. The limited ex ante consumer participation jeopardises the legitimacy of EU competition law, whereas the limited ex post judicial and parliamentary control impedes accountability. The voluminous law and economics literature of competition law focuses almost exclusively on substantive questions, turning a blind eye to legitimacy and accountability problems. Against this background, the proposed project will study the legitimacy and accountability problems in EU competition law and potential solutions for these problems using delegation theory as the main analytical framework. For methodology, the project will use empirical research of the role of consumer organisations and parliamentary committees, legal analysis of judicial review standards, and comparative research of the US antitrust regime that provided the main inspiration for the reform agenda. By filling an important gap in the literature, the project will contribute to developing mechanisms for firmly anchoring consumers in the making and enforcement of EU competition rules.

Keywords: s109 political systems - legitimacy of governance,s110 legal systems - constitutions - foundations of law,s111 private - public and social law
Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Health
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-Adhoc-2007-13, 2007)
Start date: 2013-01-01
End date: 2014-03-31
Duration (months): 15.0
Total project cost (EUR): 134580.0
EU funding (EUR): 120000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) brings together leading health research funding agencies of key countries (currently USA, Canada, UK, Australia, China, India and South Africa) to coordinate research activities addressing on a global scale the prevention and treatment of chronic, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, cancer and mental health. The first coordinated research programme of the GACD focuses on hypertension prevention and control in Low and Middle Income Countries. The specific objectives of the forthcoming work of the GACD Secretariat are the following: 1) Coordinate among the GACD members the next chronic disease research programme, 2) coordinate among GACD members and participating research teams the joint activities of the GACD Hypertension Programme and 3) implement the communications strategy.

Keywords: chronic diseases,non-communicable diseases,health research funding,biomedical research,collaboration,public research funding agencies
A Land Degradation and Desertification Appraisal System for South Africa (LANDDAPP)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-05-01
End date: 2018-02-19
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Today, more than 50% of the Earth’s surface is covered by areas prone to land degradation and desertification (LDD). It is widely recognized that an understanding of LDD is central to the debate of global environmental change and sustainability. However, for all its importance to scientists and policy-makers confronting the complexities of environmental change, LDD is still poorly understood. One of the most seriously affected regions in the world is South Africa (SA) with ~440,000km2 vulnerable to some extent. Through desertiﬁcation, soil in SA has lost 25% or more of its fertility and the process is ongoing; moreover, large scale erosion and desertiﬁcation have led to food insecurity in several areas. Quantifying the processes of LDD is still very much a formidable, if not an impossible, task due to its complex nature and the use of desertification indices has become a common practice as a way around this hurdle. Remote sensing data adhere to the principles of repetitiveness, objectivity and consistency, which are prerequisites in the frame of monitoring and surveillance. However, no indicator of LDD is directly inferable from satellite-based data. Suitable indirect indicators need to be chosen, which can be related to LDD processes that operate in the specific area and scale of study. Moreover, studies of LDD must simultaneously consider both human- and environmental-based variables. In this context, this research will seek to assess LDD in the pilot-study area of North West Province of South Africa over the last twelve years. An operational, nested indicator appraisal system, LanDDApp, will be developed comprising of quantitative and qualitative LDD indices estimated using satellite imagery, field measurements, socio-economic data and geocomputation techniques. LanDDApp shall be used for identifying degradation ‘hot-spots’ where mitigation measures are required and thus provide a management tool for the prioritisation of such measures.

Keywords: v201 earth observations from space - remote sensing,v104 geographical information systems - cartography,land degradation,desertification,indicators,net primary production,salinity,south africa
The role of neuronal intracellular traffic in Alzheimer´s disease (TRAFFICINAD)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Portugal
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In neurons of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) there is an aberrant accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) at synapses that renders difficult the formation of new memories for AD patients. Intracellular trafficking abnormalities have been implicated in Aβ accumulation. This research project aims to define how neuronal intracellular trafficking is mechanistically involved in Aβ accumulation that leads to AD. We will determine how the intracellular itinerary of the amyloid precursor protein in neurons influences the generation of Aβ. We will determine the intracellular trafficking of lysosomal hydrolases in neurons and their contribution to the lysosomal clearance of Aβ. Furthermore, we will investigate the mechanism whereby regulators of intracellular trafficking identified as risk-factors for AD contribute to Aβ accumulation. Finally, because aging is the most important risk factor for AD, we will determine if alterations in intracellular trafficking occur in aging, identifying a new mechanism of vulnerability to neurodegeneration in AD. Thus, we will demonstrate how intracellular trafficking is implicated in AD and unravel an important disease mechanism.

Keywords: l302 cell biology and molecular transport mechanisms,l502 molecular and cellular neuroscience,l404 ageing
Cellular Hypoxia Alters DNA Methylation through Loss of Epigenome Oxidation (CHAMELEO)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-05-01
End date: 2016-04-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 75000.0
EU funding (EUR): 75000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

DNA methylation is integral to the regulation of gene transcription but is deregulated in cancer. Mechanisms causing this dysregulation are however poorly understood. Although DNA methylation mechanisms were described for several decades ago, the enzymes responsible for DNA demethylation were only discovered a few years ago: TET enzymes catalyze the conversion of 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) through a reaction requiring oxygen and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG). Interestingly, decreased oxygen concentrations (hypoxia) are common in cancer, as is an altered 2OG metabolism. Hypoxia induces the activity of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) transcription factors, which alter gene expression in cells to counter and cope with hypoxia. It is however poorly characterized how DNA methylation influences HIF binding, and how HIF in turn interfaces with the epigenome. In CHAMELEO, we aim to investigate the influence of hypoxia on the epigenome and the resulting phenotypic response in cancer. Firstly, we hypothesize that promoters of tumor suppressor gene can be hypermethylated through inhibition of DNA demethylation at low oxygen concentrations, thus contributing to oncogenic transformation. To investigate this, we will study the dependence of TET DNA hydroxylases on oxygen and 2OG, as well as the overall and locus-specific changes upon hypoxia of their product (5hmC). Secondly, because much of the hypoxic response is executed through HIFs, we will investigate how HIF binding is influenced by DNA methylation and how HIFs interface with epigenetic modulators such as TETs. Experiments in vitro and in vivo will be combined with state-of-the-art high-throughput sequencing techniques, and are expected to provide an unambiguous and comprehensive view on the role of DNA methylation dynamics in hypoxia and cancer.

Keywords: l208 epigenetics and gene regulation,l406 cancer and its biological basis