Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Neutron Spectroscopy with a Spherical Proportional Counter for precision measurements in deep-underground laboratories (neutronSPHERE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-09-11
End date: 2022-09-10
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212933.76
EU funding (EUR): 212933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The concept of neutron spectroscopy dates back to neutron discovery in 1932. Despite several attempts towards an efficient neutron spectroscopy system, such measurements remain cumbersome and detailed neutron spectra are sparse both in scientific laboratories and industrial sites. To-date the most widely used method relies on the 3He(n,p)3H reaction, which - however - is more well suited for thermal neutrons and is particularly expensive, given that 3He is scarce. All existing alternatives are plagued by major disadvantages: toxic/corrosive gases, poor efficiency, limited radiation hardness, degraded energy resolution. The neutronSPHERE project will provide a unique alternative to 3He-based detectors for neutron spectroscopy by using the Spherical Proportional Counter (SPC), a high-gain large-volume gaseous detector, filled with a nitrogen-based mixture. The detection principle exploits the 14 N(n, α )B11 and 14 N(n, p)C14 processes, and exhibits all major advantages of 3He-based detectors, and goes beyond that to provide fast neutron spectroscopy at an affordable price. This breakthrough is enabled by novel developments in SPC instrumentation that the host has played a key role in demonstrating. The capabilities of the developed neutron spectroscopy system will be demonstrated in two application: Firstly, neutronSPHERE will provide the first high precision measurements of the neutron background spectrum in underground facilities. These will provide a unique insight and will immediately inform direct searches for Dark Matter. Then, neutronSPHERE will measure in situ the neutron-induced dose during proton therapy treatments, which is a crucial element in hadron therapy treatment and planning.

Keywords: dark matter direct detection,gaseous detectors,fast neutron spectroscopy
Aircraft Engine Valves Thermal Management with Advanced Loop Heat Pipe (EVAL)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Smart, green and integrated transport
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Clean Sky 2
Action type: Innovation actions
Partnership: CS2 (Art-187)
Countries involved: Ukraine,Latvia
Call: Loop Heat Pipe development for severe environment (H2020-CS2-CFP10-2019-01, 2019)
Start date: 2020-06-01
End date: 2023-11-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 555035.71
EU funding (EUR): 454750.0
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

The UHBR engine is one of the most fuel-efficient propulsion concepts available today. However, outstanding technical and environmental performances are counterbalanced by severe operational conditions of engine systems. The EVAL project aims to create a demonstrator of a passive cooling system, based on a loop heat pipe (LHP) technology, for efficient thermal management of the UHBR engine bleed system valves exposed to a harsh temperature environment. The EVAL innovation will consist in combination of (i) working fluids able to meet the bleed system valve cooling requirements and aeronautical standards; (ii) EU’s domestic patented technology of evaporator-reservoir modular unit (ALTOM), which makes possible to create superior in thermal performance, compact, lightweight, robust, reliable, easy-to-integrate and still cost-effective thermal management systems; and (iii) innovative technology of LHP charging on-site. The project activities will be concentrated within TRL 4–6 range and will result in a “degraded environment” demonstration of LHP-based passive cooling system capabilities to realize precise thermal management of aircraft engine bleed system valves. In the future, the EVAL thermal management system – playing the role of “enabling technology” – will ensure accurate and precise regulation of the airflow in the UHBR engine, thus, will contribute to reliable and efficient long-term operation of the engine in the whole. Therefore, EVAL project will contribute to high-level impacts expected by the Clean Sky 2 Programme within the key pillars defined in H2020. The project will be realized by R&D teams of (1) National Aerospace University “KhAI” experienced in complex thermal management systems for aerospace and terrestrial applications, and (2) Allatherm SIA, a high-tech SME with key specialization in two-phase heat transfer technologies and devices. Administrative management and coordination will be provided by the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU). Close collaboration between academia and business will ensure strong innovation and marketing potential of the EVAL project outputs.

Keywords: aircraft engine,bleed system,thermal management,loop heat pipe,working fluid
ADVerse outcome Network for non-mutagenic CarcinogEns (ADVaNCE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Society and Enterprise panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-10-01
End date: 2019-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 187419.6
EU funding (EUR): 187419.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The field of toxicology is evolving from purely descriptive to a highly data‐rich science. To structure this large amount of data and in this way make the usage more effective for the safety assessors, the concept of adverse outcome pathways was established providing a means of understanding how chemicals induce adverse effects through their toxicity pathways and modes of action. However, there are some doubts if the one initiating event - one adverse outcome relationship enforced on AOPs by the OECD guideline is able to cover more complex adverse effects like hepatocellular carcinoma resulting from non-mutagenic chemical exposure. Therefore, the ADVaNCE project will demonstrate based on the just mentioned example that combining all existing knowledge into an adverse outcome network formed by interlinked AOPs is needed to cover all the pathways and intervention points activated in order to contribute to the development of hepatocellular carcinomas. Computational approaches will be used to extract important key events and their relationships from existing data sources and the relevant literature. These will be compared with existing AOPs and further experimental validation will be started. The computational and experimental result will finally guide the development of an integrated testing strategy completely based on in silico and in vitro data, which development and validation regarding regulatory usage will be continued after the project.

Keywords: risk assessment,adverse outcome pathway,computationally predicted,hepatocellular carcinoma,non mutagenic carcinogens,validation
Encouraging Lifelong Learning for an Inclusive and Vibrant Europe (ENLIVEN)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Estonia,Italy,Australia,Austria,Belgium,Bulgaria,Slovakia,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Lifelong learning for young adults: better policies for growth and inclusion in Europe (H2020-YOUNG-SOCIETY-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-10-01
End date: 2019-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499788.5
EU funding (EUR): 2499788.5
Participants: 10
Project status: CLOSED

The ENLIVEN research models how policy interventions in adult education markets can become more effective. Integrating state-of-the-art methodologies and theorisations (e.g. Case-Based Reasoning methodology in artificial intelligence, bounded agency in adult learning), it implements and evaluates an innovative Intelligent Decision Support System to provide a new and more scientific underpinning for policy debate and decision-making on adult learning, especially for young adults. It utilizes findings from research conducted by European and international agencies and research projects, as well as from the ENLIVEN project. It will enable policy-makers at EU, national and organizational levels to enhance the provision and take-up of learning opportunities for adults, leading to a more productive and innovative workforce, and reduced social exclusion. The project comprises 11 workpackages in 4 clusters. WPs1-3 examine programmes, governance and policies in EU adult learning, looking at the multi-dimensional nature of social exclusion and disadvantage. WP4 examines system characteristics to explain country/region-level variation in lifelong learning participation rates, with particular reference to disadvantaged and at-risk groups, and to young people. WPs 5-7 examine the operation and effectiveness of young adults’ learning at and for work, undertaking cross-country comparative institutional analysis. WPs 8 -9 develop the knowledge base for, and develop and trials, an Intelligent Data Support System (IDSS) for evidence-based policy-making and debate. The ENLIVEN team comprises leading scholars with a full range of methodological skills in lifelong learning research and related areas, as well as advanced computer science skills. It will maintain a continuing interaction with policy makers and key research networks, make targeted interventions in policy and scientific debate, and deliver a state-of-the-art IDSS to improve lifelong learning for young adults across Europe.

Keywords: lifelong learning,intelligent decision support system,young adults,social inclusion,systemic characteristics of lifelong learning,comparative organisational analysis of young adults learning
Improving health the fun way… seriously (SidekickHealth)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Iceland
Call: Open Disruptive Innovation Scheme (H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2017-05-01
End date: 2017-08-31
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

1 in 3 adults are prediabetic – at increased risk for type-2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Diabetes is associated with a high individual, social and economic burden. The global expenditure on diabetes was estimated to be €508 billion in 2015. The average diabetes-associated expenditure per adult person with diabetes in the EU in 2015 was placed at just over €2,640. In recognition of this challenge, many countries in Europe have introduced national plans addressing diabetes specifically (national diabetes plans, NDPs). GoodlifeMe was founded in 2013 in Iceland by two medical doctors who had worked for years treating people with lifestyle diseases. As 86% of deaths are due to lifestyle-related diseases, their passion was to prevent these diseases rather than treat their consequences. The company employs 11 full-time professionals including MDs, MBA, seasoned sales and marketing executives, a biomedical engineer, designer and software/game developers. The unique combination of our team has led to SIDEKICKHEALTH: a simple helper for lifestyle change for the not-so-motivated or health-savvy, those who are worst hit by lifestyle problems like prediabetes. Drawing on lessons from behavioural economics, the product is simple, fun, graphical, colourful, rich in challenges & competitions, and altruistic rewards (e.g. allowing users to earn clean water for children in need by doing well in the program). SidekickHealth has been developed applying scientific and medical methods from day one. The results have been validated through clinical trials, most recently with Harvard University. It has already signed initial contracts with Diabetes Prevention Programs to use Sidekick as a digital layer for their treatments. The results show increased performance in all indicators, including 190% of patients are more likely to reach weight loss goals. Given that the income of the provider is success-based, we are providing 65% increased revenue to our clients.

Keywords: behavioural economics,gamification,lifestyle diseases,prevention,diabetes,mhealth
Interaction and Symmetry Breaking of Counterpropagating Light (CounterLIGHT)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Panel description: Particle, nuclear, plasma, atomic, molecular, gas, and optical physics
Countries involved: Germany,United Kingdom
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2017-STG, 2017)
Start date: 2018-03-01
End date: 2024-02-29
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1281250.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Light is generally expected to travel through media independent of its direction. Exceptions can be achieved eg. through polarization changes induced by magnetic fields (known as the Faraday effect) together with polarization-sensitive birefringent materials. However, light can also be influenced by the presence of a counterpropagating light wave. We have recently shown that this leads to the surprising consequence that light sent into tiny glass rings (microresonators) can only propagate in one direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, but not in both directions simultaneously. When sending exactly the same state of light (same power and polarization) into a microresonator, nonlinear interaction induces a spontaneous symmetry breaking in the propagation of light. In this proposal we plan to investigate the fundamental physics and a variety of ground-breaking applications of this effect. In one proposed application, this effect will be used for optical nonreciprocity and the realization of optical diodes in integrated photonic circuits that do not rely on magnetic fields (an important key element in integrated photonics). In another proposed experiment we plan to use the spontaneous symmetry breaking to demonstrate microresonator-based optical gyroscopes that have the potential to beat state-of-the-art sensors in both size and sensitivity. Additional research projects include experiments with all-optical logic gates, photonic memories, and near field sensors based on counterpropagating light states. Finally, we plan to demonstrate a microresonator-based system for the generation of dual-optical frequency combs that can be used for real-time precision spectroscopy in future lab-on-a-chip applications. On the fundamental physics side, our experiments investigate the interaction of counterpropagating light in a system with periodic boundary conditions. The fundamental nature of this system has the potential to impact other fields of science far beyond optical physics.

Keywords: microresonators,optical frequency combs,integrated photonics,nonlinear optics,laser,four wave mixing,kerr effect,ultra high q
From marine molecules to eco-friendly tools for agriculture (ECOFOULPEST)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: France
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2020-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 173076.0
EU funding (EUR): 173076.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A pesticide is defined as any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests. They include herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation, insecticides for controlling a wide variety of insects, fungicides used to prevent the growth of molds, disinfectants for preventing the spread of bacteria, and rodenticides used to control mice and rats. Undoubtedly, the use of a wide range of pesticides has increased crop yields, controlled disease vectors and reduced postharvest losses. However, practically all pesticides are poisons and some of them pose long-term danger to the environment and humans through their persistence in nature and body tissue. Ideally a pesticide must be lethal to the targeted pests, but not to non-target species, including man. In the search for new alternatives, several researches paid attention towards the marine environment. Indeed, marine organisms are in constant competition with other species and any organism being able to produce compounds providing it with an evolutional advantage will prevail. Such products have been optimized through evolution to be highly efficient and represent as many opportunities for us, researchers, to develop "greener" tools to answer the increasing demand for environmentally respectful chemicals. The main goal of the project I propose is to assess the potential of specific marine organisms to produce prototype ecofriendly agrochemical agents, especially herbicides and fungicides, and to further evaluate the potential hits. In parallel, I will investigate the biosynthetic pathway of the natural compound as well as its ecological role towards other marine organisms. I envision to cover several cutting-edge areas both in fundamental and applied research, from bioprospection to ecotoxicology and including biological testing, chemical ecology and medicinal chemistry.

Keywords: agronomy
Reverse Scale-Crossing Effects In Biology (CROSSINGSCALES)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Panel description: Genetics, epigenetics, genomics and other ‘omics studies, bioinformatics, systems biology, genetic diseases, gene editing, innovative methods and modelling, ‘omics for personalised medicine
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2019-ADG, 2019)
Start date: 2020-09-01
End date: 2025-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2411075.0
EU funding (EUR): 2411075.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The central dogma in biology often invokes a bottom-up picture of life. However, at different biological scales, new properties in form and function arise that have a superseding causal impact on the behaviour of the lower-scale components from which these new properties emerge. These top-down or reverse scale-crossing effects must be taken into account in order to make predictions about spatiotemporally controlled single-cell fates, activities, levels of gene expression, or the functional outcome of cellular signalling. They can stem from the multicellular, the cellular, and the intracellular scale, and can be quantified using multiscale and multiplexed RNA and protein state imaging in combination with computer vision and data-driven modelling. The ability to comprehensively map these reverse causal effects across multiple scales has the potential to revolutionize most, if not all domains of biology and medicine. In this project, we will establish the importance of reverse causal effects in human induced pluripotent stem cells and early D. rerio embryos. To achieve this, we will develop a quantitative imaging method beyond the diffraction limit of light without compromising scalability in temporal and spatial dimensions. We will also develop a method that achieves scalable, transcriptome-wide image-based multiplexing of mRNA transcripts, and we will extend our computer vision approaches to higher resolution and to three spatial dimensions. These methods will be systematically applied to stem cell collectives grown in 2D and 3D, as well as to early embryos, achieving comprehensive quantification of nuclear and chromatin states, gene expression, subcellular organization, cellular states, and tissue-scale organization across millions of individual cells within the same dataset. These datasets will be used to quantify how, at different scales, new properties in form and function arise that have a superseding causal impact on the behaviour of the lower-scale components

Keywords: multiplexed imaging,emergence,scale crossing reverse causal effects
High-Dimensional single cell mapping of inflammatory disease signatures in monozygotic twins (IMPACT)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Panel description: Medical technologies and tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases, therapeutic approaches and interventions, pharmacology, preventative medicine, epidemiology and public health, digital medicine
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2019-ADG, 2019)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2025-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2492221.0
EU funding (EUR): 2492221.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease, where immune cell invasion into the central nervous system causes immunopathology and neurological deficit. Although disease-modifying therapies dramatically reduce disease activity, they hold the potential for severe adverse effects while long-term disability prospects remain poor. Moreover, there is to date no biomarker for monitoring the disease activity and to guide therapy decisions. I propose that the key to identifying such biomarkers is to combine single-cell mapping of leukocytes across well-curated patient cohorts with unbiased machine-learning based data interrogation. Using such an approach, we have already delineated a disease signature in a helper T cell population specific for MS. However, the immune compartment of cross-sectional cohorts is influenced by the individual genetic make up, which masks disease-specific signals and hinders a more precise characterisation of involved immune cell populations. To eliminate genetic influences, I here propose in aim 1 to interrogate the immune compartment of a unique cohort of monozygotic twin pairs -discordant for MS- and deeply analyse peripheral blood lymphocytes by single-cell mass cytometry, combined TcR and single cell sequencing, and epigenetic profiling. aim 2 to develop representation-learning methods to account for the paired genetics of twins or longitudinal samples and to include clinical covariates into the high-dimensional data set. aim 3 to use well-defined patient samples of MS-like disorders (MS-Mimics) and longitudinal samples of patients undergoing disease-modifying therapy (e.g. B cell depletion, autologous stem cell transplant) using single-cell mass cytometry. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the dimensionality of disease signature(s) towards a clinically translatable low-dimensional biomarker that could be identified and quantified by routine methods available in the clinics.

Keywords: biomarker discovery,diagnosis,treatment response,multiple sclerosis,single cell analysis,machine learning