Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Supramolecular hydrogels as local controlled drug delivery carriers (SupraCarrier)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC-Proof of Concept-2016 (ERC-2016-PoC, 2016)
Start date: 2017-02-01
End date: 2018-07-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In recent years, macroscale drug delivery systems have been designed and investigated to spatiotemporally control the release of various bioactive agents and drugs at specific locations in the body. Many of these macroscale drug delivery vehicles are based on hydrogels. Depending on the location of application, and the temporal release kinetics, these hydrogel drug carriers need to be adjusted to the need of the application. Many of the currently available hydrogel systems do not have the capacity to be totally tuned. These systems: a) display a substantial initial burst release of the drug resulting in high drug doses at the initial phase; b) are difficult to apply (surgical implantation is necessary for various systems, thereby limiting their potential of easy/convenient application); c) provide only limited opportunities for chemical adjustment of their composition to improve key material properties such as their release kinetics and/or degradation rate. SupraCarrier aims to address these unmet needs by developing an injectable, supramolecular ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy) based hydrogel (UPy-hydrogel) drug delivery system that allows for local and sustained drug release. The unique selling points of this UPy-hydrogel system are: a) its demonstrated sustained drug release profile in vitro (with no initial burst release); b) its injectability due to its unique physicochemical properties (that allow for the development of clinical strategies using minimally invasive procedures); and c) its chemical structure and supramolecular assembly behaviour which allows for easy modification of either the UPy-hydrogel carrier or the drug (resulting in a versatile drug delivery platform). With SupraCarrier we aim to a) validate the commercial feasibility of a UPy-hydrogel as a novel local drug delivery system for controlled (and sustained) drug release; b) prioritise the medical applications where this system can be used; and c) provide a proof of concept for using a UPy-hydrogel

Keywords: supramolecular hydrogel,drug delivery system,injectable,controlled release,medical applications,cancer,peritoneum
Structure-function analysis of the calcium channel TRPV5 (CRYO-EM TRPV5)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Global Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Netherlands,United States
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2020-04-12
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162864.6
EU funding (EUR): 162864.6
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Ion channels are proteins composed of a hydrophillic pore that facilitate ion flow across a plasma membrane. This ionic permeability is controlled by a set of essential properties affecting the channel activation and inactivation in response to voltage, ligands, or intracellular second messengers. The focus of the present project proposal, the transient receptor potential vanilloid channel (TRPV5), forms a specific category within the large TRP familiy of ion channels as it comprises a unique high selectivity for calcium ions together with a calcium-dependent inactivation mechanism that is incompletely understood. Detailed analysis of the TRPV5 channel will provide new structural insights into channel gating that can be extrapolated to other TRP channels, as the current knowledge on the TRP protein structure and its impact on the regulation of the channel function is still limited. The key objective of my project is to deliver the first detailed mechanistic view of TRPV5 by connecting Prof. Cheng’s expertise in structural biology with my biophysical background on TRP channel functioning. The following work packages will be addressed: 1) Channel activation mechanism of TRPV5 Elucidation of the 3D structure of integral TRPV5 by single-particle cryo-EM will provide critical structural and mechanistic insight into calcium-dependent regulation of channel function. 2) Intramolecular regulation of TRPV5 Reconstitution of TRPV5 into lipid nanodiscs and liposomes allows detailed study on lipid regulation and the mechanism of channel inactivation Taken together, this project focuses on the structure-function analysis of TRPV5, a distinctive calcium-selective TRP channel. The goal is to elucidate the structure of the TRPV5 channel, and to unravel functional domains that are involved in channel function at the mechanistic level. This will ultimately advance our understanding of the molecular differences of activation, ion permeation and gating of TRP channels.

Keywords: trp channels,cryo em,electrophysiology,calcium
LEELOO is a disruptive digital solution based on Artificial Intelligence, to improve language learning by focusing on conversational skills through on-demand chatbot on everyday topics. (Talk2Leeloo)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: France
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2019)
Start date: 2019-06-01
End date: 2019-10-31
Duration (months): 5.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Language learning is a crucial worldwide challenge. Yet, after hours of studying a language, most people are not able to carry out a fluent oral discussion with native speakers. Individuals and professionals who wish to communicate in foreign languages more easily, are actually concerned. For example, 400 million Chinese people are currently learning English. Companies are investing heavily in foreign language learning training. Digital language learning solutions have emerged but those resources focus too much on passive learning of useless vocabulary, complicated grammar, boring subjects and little active learning in building authentic sentences. Motivation fades and learning does not capitalize on long-term quality progression. At LEELOO, we believe that learning a language should focus on only 3 main points: the 2,000 most frequent words, build your own sentences and speak about topics you love and need. This approach requires a solid interaction between two people who must have similar availability and share common points of interest. A key factor to success when speaking with someone is the native speaker’s ability to analyze the progression and challenge the learner. With our personal experience in studying multiple languages, we know that the limit of the execution of this method is too dependent on the native speaker. Replacing the native speaker with a virtual persona that uses Artificial Intelligence is our solution to this problem. LEELOO is an AI-based, disruptive method to improve in a foreign language through on-demand chat with a chatbot on everyday topics in the target language of study. Through a pilot version launched with several companies, we anticipate we will be able to convert those companies into paying customers through a licensed SaaS platform (B2B). This project aims to go beyond our convincing preliminary R&D works, to build a pilot chatbot (Phase 1) which will challenge the willingness for users to switch to our paid product (Phase 2).
POWERFUSE S: Fusing the gap between 3D-printing and Additive Manufacturing – the revolutionary manufacturing method for better products and a more sustainable future (Powerfuse S 4 AM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Germany
Call: H2020-EIC Accelerator pilot –SME Instrument - Green Deal (H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-4, 2020)
Start date: 2020-12-01
End date: 2023-05-31
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2140577.14
EU funding (EUR): 1498404.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Today, plastic 3D-printing cannot fully exploit its potential. The surface qualities do not meet the requirements of the products. Rough surfaces, obtained on as-printed parts, are matt, susceptible to dirt, a breeding ground for germs and do not exhibit an appealing appearance. This is where the Powerfuse S comes in. It enables a scalable surface smoothing of 3Dprinted polymer parts by a stable, reproducible and environmentally friendly physio-chemical process, the so-called VaporFuse Surfacing (VFS). Apart from optical advantages, the VFS treated parts offer smooth, water-repellent and glossy surfaces. The parts have wipeable surfaces for food and medical applications, increased mechanical properties and scratch resistance and assure water- and airtightness for carrying fluids or gases. VFS can substitute the extensive preparation for subsequent spray coating and delivers powder residue-free parts for clean room applications. VFS challenges traditional injection molding for the first time and enables 3D-printing to finally become Additive Manufacturing. Within this project, the Powerfuse S is to be further developed into a large-scale, industry 4.0-ready, sustainable system. The smoothing processes are optimized and developed for other industry-relevant polymers. Parallel to the technical side, all legal, sales and operational foundations are being laid to get this pioneering product to market. Automated post-processing of AM parts is inevitable to fully exploit all advantages of AM like mass customization of complex products with reduced costs and production times as well as a decrease of waste and scrap. It opens unprecedented possibilities for the production of tomorrow and has the potential to disrupt whole industries. Especially the enablement of on-site production and reducing complexity of global supply chains as well as enabling weight reduction in the aerospace industry through complex product design is a key enabler in saving energy and GHG emissions.

Keywords: 3d printing,additive manufacturing,post processing,polymers,chemical smoothing,smart,manufacturing,industry 4 0,clean vapor technology
Attosecond imaging and control of chemical dynamics (ATTOCHEM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Global Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: Germany,Canada
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-GF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-11-17
End date: 2018-11-16
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 243352.8
EU funding (EUR): 243352.8
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Femtosecond laser pulses can be exploited to trace the ultrafast motion of electrons (“attosecond physics”) and study the properties of molecules, and the changes they undergo, on the atomic scale (“femtochemistry”). Suitable tailoring of the laser fields even allows for controlling the electron and nuclear dynamics within molecules and thereby steer chemical reactions towards a desired outcome (“coherent control”). Despite a wide range of perspective applications in fundamental science and industry, our capabilities to exert control on chemical reactions, and our understanding thereof, have been very limited. In the proposed work, I will develop and employ a novel experimental technique, which will allow (a) controlling light-induced chemical reactions in a wide range of molecular species efficiently, and (b) imaging the electron and nuclear dynamics underlying such reactions on their natural timescales. My work will go significantly beyond the state-of-the-art and thus contribute to the development of coherent control and our microscopic understanding of photochemical reactions. The advancements become possible by combining the latest laser technology with the expertise of all participants. The proposed MSCA will complement my scientific skills, both experimental and theoretical, and will provide me with required transferable skills to reach my long-term goal of establishing my own research group in Europe. The new scientific development will contribute to consolidating the European Leadership in the field of Attosecond Physics.
CNG Fuels- Mother and Daughter CNG Station Concept (MDC)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Smart, green and integrated transport
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Small business innovation research for Transport (H2020-SMEINST-1-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-03-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The EU is lagging the rest of the world in the adoption of natural gas as the only possible source of clean, cheap fuel for heavy transport applications. The tide of economics and regulation is moving in favour of natural gas, yet the infrastructure has proven too expensive and too inflexible to meet demand both conveniently and economically. Gas grid infrastructure has defined the location of cheap gas, as mobile solutions are not scaleable and too expensive for mass adoption. Global trends identified in this proposal show that rapid gas adoption rates have been closely linked to the provision of infrastructure beyond a critical mass level, a process we believe we can rapidly accelerate. CNG Fuels have pioneered the concept of using high pressure gas grid connections to build Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations which produce the lowest cost gas, with the lowest emissions profile, and produce it far more abundantly than other stations throughout Europe. Our new CNG Station in Leyland, is feeding a customer's off grid 'daughter' station via CNG trailer. What is becoming clear to us is that we can sell a lot more gas to a lot more fleets by focussing our high pressure 'mother' stations on the provision of very cheap gas to CNG trailers for them to then fuel vehicles at 'daughter' stations, located where the customers want them, i.e. close to the depot or on the major transport routes. We intend to build stations that focus on fuelling large numbers of CNG trailers simultaneously. Locating our mother stations where the cheapest gas can be produced, i.e. the cheapest land, close to highest pressure gas grid. Our production levels will provide us bulk gas and electricity discounts as a high volume user. We can pass the savings on to our customers so that they can transport the gas and still supply it cheaply. The vastly improved economics of owning 'daughters', will rapidly boost the network effect, and the adoption rates of gas throughout Europe.

Keywords: transport,energy,truck,compressed,network
CaMKII over stimulation in engineered heart tissues (EHTs) made from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs): a parameter involved in the immaturity of hiPSC EHTs cardiomyocytes? (EHT-CaMKII)

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: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-04-01
End date: 2018-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 159460.8
EU funding (EUR): 159460.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In Europe, as observed in other parts of the world, cardiovascular (CV) diseases represent the leading cause of death. In the European Union, CV deaths account for 1.9 million deaths per year, and treatment costs for CV disease amount to an estimated 200 billion Euros per year. CV diseases encompass various pathologies that can lead to a progressive loss of cardiac contractile function and the clinical syndrome of heart failure (HF), including ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction. Drug therapy can successfully slow down the progression of HF and reduce mortality, but it cannot revert the loss of myocardium and thus provide no curative approach. The engineering of 3D heart tissues (EHTs) has been developed in 1994 and, in combination with the recent availability of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), may represent a novel, promising technique to treat such cardiac pathologies. EHTs are artificial living and functional 3D heart tissues that could replace injured or malformed heart and restore normal cardiac function on the one hand, and help modeling cardiac diseases and testing drugs in a human heart context on the other hand. However, despite the last years progress and clear advantages compared to 2D cultured hiPSC-cardiomyocytes (CM), EHT-CMs do not reach a fully mature phenotype matching that of isolated CMs from the adult human heart. Based on preliminary results obtained in the host laboratory, a set of indices suggest a role of CaMKII in the EHT-CMs maturation process. The objective of this proposal is thus to determine whether and, if yes, to which extent different CaMKII isoforms are involved in EHT-CM maturation. The EHT-CaMKII project could have very interesting impact on the EHT-CM maturation enhancement and, consequently, on numerous EHT applications encompassing cardiac repair, drug screening or disease modeling. In addition, it will contribute to understanding the biological role of CaMKII in CM biology.

Keywords: engineered heart tissues ehts,camkii,human induced pluripotent stem cells hipsc
Communities of PrACTice for Accelerating Gender Equality and Institutional Change in Research and Innovation across Europe (ACT)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Science with and for Society
Programme: Promote gender equality in particular by supporting structural change in the organisation of research institutions and in the content and design of research activities
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Iceland,Germany,Ireland,Austria,Germany,Germany,Spain,Poland,Sweden,Slovenia,France,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,Costa Rica,United Kingdom
Call: European Community of Practice to support institutional change (H2020-SwafS-2017-1, 2017)
Start date: 2018-05-01
End date: 2021-10-31
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2995771.25
EU funding (EUR): 2995771.25
Participants: 18
Project status: CLOSED

ACT will enable better access, sharing, and improvement of gender equality knowledge by advancing Communities of Practice (CoP) as agents for implementing gender equality actions among RPOs and RFOs in ERA, including integration of the gender dimension into research content and process. Considerable advances have been made in the EU in the last decade in these areas, but the resulting experiences and practices are scattered widely, which prevents systematic and systemic action. ACT will improve this situation by starting up a network of 7 Communities of Practice and developing a Practice Toolkit, as well as creating an EU-wide change monitoring and benchmarking system, and an on-line Hub for knowledge and experience sharing. The design of these outputs will take into consideration inter- and intra-institutional diversity, as well as differences in national contexts. The Consortium includes 19 organisations (experienced and novice), and includes 50 experts, to ensure that results are sustainable and produce the desired impact. The expected impacts include: 1) ensuring that researchers, their organisations, and the projects they are involved in are better equipped to stop gender bias affecting quality of science knowledge making; 2) improving understanding of gender issues in science, and how to address them, including in science curriculum, and researcher training; 3) enhancing standards for assessment of institutional excellence through incorporation of gender equality as a criterion of success; and 4) more systematic and systemic adoption of best tools and practices for GEP implementation.

Keywords: community of practice,gender equality plan,institutional change,gender equality,research careers,decision making,gender dimension,european research area
Unlocking unused bio-WASTE resources with loW cost cleAning and Thermal inTegration with Solid oxide fuel cells (WASTE2WATTS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Secure, clean and efficient energy
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Fuel Cells and Hydrogen
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: FCH2 (Art-187)
Countries involved: Italy,Italy,Italy,Germany,Italy,Switzerland,Switzerland,France,France
Call: Efficient and cost-optimised biogas-based co-generation by high-temperature fuel cells (H2020-JTI-FCH-2018-1, 2018)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2023-09-30
Duration (months): 57.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1681602.5
EU funding (EUR): 1681602.5
Participants: 11
Project status: SIGNED

WASTE2WATTS (W2W) will design and engineer an integrated biogas-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell combined heat and power system with minimal gas pre-processing, focusing on low-cost biogas pollutant removal and optimal thermal system integration. Eleven partners from 4 leading biogas countries join efforts to these objectives: 2 biogas cleaning SMEs, 3 SOFC manufacturing SMEs, a biogas expert SME and 5 leading research and education centres in SOFC characterisation and modelling, and in biogas use as a fuel. Two cleaning approaches and hardware will be developed: one for small scale units (5-50 kWe), where a huge unutilised biogas potential resides (millions of farms, bio-wastes from municipalities) - here sulphur compounds (H2S and organic S) are removed by an appropriate solid sorbent matrix; one for medium-to-large scale units (≥500 kWe), which is the existing scale of landfill biogas and large bio-waste collection schemes - here sulphur compounds and siloxanes are removed among others by a novel cooling approach. For both cases the hardware will be built and installed on real biogas-sites treating different wastes. Gas analytics will validate the approaches. A 6 kWe SOFC system from a partner will run on a real agro-biogas site connected to the small scale sorbents cleaning unit. Cost projections for high volume production for both the cleaning and SOFC systems will be conducted. A detailed full system model will be implemented, considering the biogas feedstock, composition fluctuations (and dilution) and pollutant signatures, and optimizing thermal integration with biogas-inherent CO2 (for dry-dominant reforming) and digester heating, with the targets to maximise net electrical efficiency and minimise cost. An Advisory Board consisting of biogas producing SMEs will accompany the project to facilitate market access and support the post-project multiplication of the developed solutions.

Keywords: biogas,sofc,biogas cleaning,sulphur,siloxane,techno economic optimisation