Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Soluble dietary fibre: unraveling how weak bonds have a strong impact on function (BINDING FIBRES)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering
Panel description: Biotechnology using all organisms, biotechnology for environment and food applications, applied plant and animal sciences, bioengineering and synthetic biology, biomass and biofuels, biohazards
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2015-STG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-04-01
End date: 2022-03-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Dietary fibres are recognized for their health promoting properties; nevertheless, many of the physicochemical mechanisms behind these effects remain poorly understood. While it is understood that dietary fibres can associate with small molecules influencing, both positively or negatively their absorption, the molecular mechanism, by which these associations take place, have yet to be elucidated We propose a study of the binding in soluble dietary fibres at a molecular level to establish binding constants for various fibres and nutritionally relevant ligands. The interactions between fibres and target compounds may be quite weak, but still have a major impact on the bioavailability. To gain insight to the binding mechanisms at a level of detail that has not earlier been achieved, we will apply novel combinations of analytical techniques (MS, NMR, EPR) and both natural as well as synthetic probes to elucidate the associations in these complexes from macromolecular to atomic level. Glucans, xyloglucans and galactomannans will serve as model soluble fibres, representative of real food systems, allowing us to determine their binding constants with nutritionally relevant micronutrients, such as monosaccharides, bile acids, and metals. Furthermore, we will examine supramolecular interactions between fibre strands to evaluate possible contribution of several fibre strands to the micronutrient associations. At the atomic level, we will use complementary spectroscopies to identify the functional groups and atoms involved in the bonds between fibres and the ligands. The proposal describes a unique approach to quantify binding of small molecules by dietary fibres, which can be translated to polysaccharide interactions with ligands in a broad range of biological systems and disciplines. The findings from this study may further allow us to predictably utilize fibres in functional foods, which can have far-reaching consequences in human nutrition, and thereby also public health.

Keywords: dietary fibre,noncovalent bonding,molecular interactions,spectroscopic tools,molecular probes
Microfiber Electrofluidics for Integrated Molecular Diagnostics (iMDx)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting 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: Sweden
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2016-STG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-08-01
End date: 2022-07-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499180.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499180.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Diagnosis of an increasing number of diseases (such as HIV, Ebola and antibiotic resistant bacteria) rely on centralized laboratories with specialized instruments and skilled personnel. This type of clinical analysis with long lead times and high cost is inappropriate for point of care diagnostics. Portable, automated, and disposable devices with integrated molecular diagnostics (iMDx), could solve this problem. Such devices, however, basically do not exist today. This research program will develop materials, methods, and diagnostic techniques to enable portable integrated molecular diagnostics (iMDx) devices, that are disposable (almost zero-cost), and that can detect a broad range of diseases using DNA amplification. To achieve this, we will develop "3D microfiber electrofluidics (MEF)". MEFs rely on simple and readily available porous sheets including paper, and textiles. Their fabrication is simple, and yet they are very powerful because they can monolithically integrate 3D microfluidics, 3D microelectronics, electrochemical analysis, storage of reagents / biomolecules, as well as handling and manipulation of cells. We will develop techniques, using the combined capabilities of MEFs, for real-time DNA amplification and electrochemical DNA detection directly from samples. We will use three amplifications techniques for realizing a comprehensive iMDx platform: i) DNA detection, using established and state of the art amplification methods (e.g. PCR, LAMP, RPA). ii) RNA detection, using "nucleic acid sequence-based amplification" (NASBA). iii) Protein detection, using antibody to DNA translation through "proximity ligation assay" LPA, and using the detection of the amplified DNA is the indirect measure of proteins. The outcome of this program has the potential to be ground breaking, and change the structure of measuring, processing, and pricing of biomedical information, and dramatically broaden its accessibility and applicability.
Transparent heterogeneous hardware Architecture deployment for eNergy Gain in Operation (TANGO)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Spain,Spain,Belgium,Belgium,France,United Kingdom
Call: Customised and low power computing (H2020-ICT-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-01-01
End date: 2018-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3199625.0
EU funding (EUR): 3199625.0
Participants: 7
Project status: CLOSED

Computer systems have faced significant power challenges over the past 20 years; these challenges have shifted from the devices and circuits level, to their current position as first-order constraints for system architects and software developers. TANGO’s goal is to characterise factors which affect power consumption in software development and operation for heterogeneous parallel hardware environments. Our main contribution is the combination of requirements engineering and design modelling for self-adaptive software systems, with power consumption awareness in relation to these environments. The energy efficiency and application quality factors are integrated in the application lifecycle (design, implementation, operation). To support this, the key novelty of the project is a reference architecture and its implementation. Moreover, a programming model with built-in support for various hardware architectures including heterogeneous clusters, heterogeneous chips and programmable logic devices will be provided. TANGO will create a new cross-layer programming approach for heterogeneous parallel hardware architectures featuring automatic code generation including software and hardware modelling. This will consider power, performance, data location and time criticality optimization, in addition to security and dependability on the target hardware architecture. These results will be demonstrated in two real-world applications: reconfigurable power optimized connected platform and HPC. In order to improve collaboration and sustainability of TANGO’s and fellow projects results, TANGO considers the foundation of a Research Alliance in which complementary research efforts into novel programming approaches will nucleate, leading to a strong research collaboration and effective integration of project results.

Keywords: requirements engineering,design modeling,self adaptive software systems,application lifecycle
Strengthening the Research Area of Delivery of Nucleic acid mimics (NAMS) into bacteria to fight the antibiotic crisis (DelNAM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Spreading excellence and widening participation
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Improved access to Excellence
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Belgium,Denmark,Portugal
Call: Twinning (H2020-WIDESPREAD-05-2017-Twinning, 2017)
Start date: 2018-08-01
End date: 2022-01-31
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 960853.75
EU funding (EUR): 960853.75
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

DelNAM aims at Strengthening the Research Area of Delivery of Nucleic Acid Mimics (NAMS) into bacteria to fight the antibiotic crisis. This will be achieved by twinning the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) with outstanding EU institutions with high expertise in the areas of NAMs development and nanodelivery strategies. DelNAM will allow the development of a consolidated strategic research approach and a set of guidelines for exploitation and commercialization of the results that will have a strong regional, national and European impact. The proposal integrates synergies in complementary fields of research that include nanotechnology, synthetic chemistry, microbiology and bioprocess modelling, aiming to obtain scientific breakthroughs that can improve the global health and economy. The objectives of this proposal are in line with the specific challenge and scope of the topic H2020-WIDESPREAD-2016-2017 of the Twinning call, addressing networking gaps and deficiencies between the research institutions of the Widening countries and internationally-leading counterparts at EU level. This challenge is addressed by twinning FEUP with 2 leading EU research institutions: University of Southern Denmark (SDU), in Odense, Denmark, a global leader in the development and invention of novel NAMs for gene therapy. They contribute with their extensive experience on the synthesis, structural studies and molecular modelling of NAMs; Ghent University (UGhent), in Belgium, an internationally-recognized laboratory for its excellence in the field of nanomedicines for the delivery of drugs and, in particular, nucleic acids. They provide decisive expertise on the design of delivery systems for nucleic acids and their behavior in native biological fluids.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance,nucleic acid mimics,cellular delivery,nanomedicine
Nanoengineering and Processing of Metal-Organic Framework Composites for Photonic Sensors (PROMOFS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Products and processes engineering
Panel description: Product and process design, chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, vehicle engineering, energy processes and relevant computational methods
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2017-COG, 2017)
Start date: 2018-04-01
End date: 2024-09-30
Duration (months): 78.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2431911.0
EU funding (EUR): 2431911.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The project is in the field of nanoporous materials engineering, focusing on the discovery, characterisation and application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as an innovative platform to afford disruptive photonics sensing technology. Compared to the traditional material options (e.g. metal oxides and nitrides), MOFs offer several key advantages. The vast inorganic-organic (hybrid) structural diversity of MOFs implies a huge prospect to tune the desirable physical and chemical properties for engineering bespoke applications. Their 3D crystalline framework meant there is long-range periodicity, translating into continuous pathways to facilitate energy transfer and transport mechanisms. Significantly, the nanoscale pores within MOFs can be used as a vessel to host functional guests, in this context: to confine light-emitting complexes and emissive molecules creating unconventional Guest@MOF photoluminescent systems. Having established the project feasibility through pilot studies and further demonstrated the promising potential to fabricate photonic sensors, it is timely to address the outstanding challenges in this nascent field:- (1) To establish facile processing of new Guest@MOF photonic materials and composite systems, utilising in-situ nanoscale confinement strategy in conjunction with supramolecular processing method (2) To characterise photophysical and photochemical properties controlling the performance of Guest@MOF systems, and, to understand fundamental mechanisms at the nanoscale (3) To employ ab-initio computational modelling to gain deeper insights into host-guest interactions, and, to predict structure-property relations informing the design of customised materials (4) To innovate in materials patterning technology for versatile materials-to-device manufacturing processes (5) To apply Guest@MOF materials in nanoengineering of tuneable photonics sensors (6) To quantify and enhance stability of Guest@MOF materials central to practical applications

Keywords: metal organic frameworks,hybrid composites,sensor materials
DESIGNING 2D NANOSHEETS FOR CO2 REDUCTION AND INTEGRATION INTO vdW HETEROSTRUCTURES FOR ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS (2D-4-CO2)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Products and processes engineering
Panel description: Product and process design, chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, vehicle engineering, energy processes and relevant computational methods
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2018-STG, 2018)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2023-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499931.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499931.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) holds great promise for conversion of the green-house gas carbon dioxide into chemical fuels. The absence of catalytic materials demonstrating high performance and high selectivity currently hampers practical demonstration. CO2RR is also limited by the low solubility of CO2 in the electrolyte solution and therefore electrocatalytic reactions in gas phase using gas diffusion electrodes would be preferred. 2D materials have recently emerged as a novel class of electrocatalytic materials thanks to their rich structures and electronic properties. The synthesis of novel 2D catalysts and their implementation into photocatalytic systems would be a major step towards the development of devices for storing solar energy in the form of chemical fuels. With 2D-4-CO2, I propose to: 1) develop novel class of CO2RR catalysts based on conducting 2D nanosheets and 2) demonstrate photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into chemical fuels using structure engineered gas diffusion electrodes made of 2D conducting catalysts. To reach this goal, the first objective of 2D-4-CO2 is to provide guidelines for the development of novel cutting-edge 2D catalysts towards CO2 conversion into chemical fuel. This will be possible by using a multidisciplinary approach based on 2D materials engineering, advanced methods of characterization and novel designs of gas diffusion electrodes for the reduction of CO2 in gas phase. The second objective is to develop practical photocatalytic systems using van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures for the efficient conversion of CO2 into chemical fuels. vdW heterostructures will consist in rational designs of 2D materials and 2D-like materials deposited by atomic layer deposition in order to achieve highly efficient light conversion and prolonged stability. This project will not only enable a deeper understanding of the CO2RR but it will also provide practical strategies for large-scale application of CO2RR for solar fuel production.

Keywords: electrocatalysis,2d materials,heterostructures,photocatalysis
Drone-based Radio Aid Measuring System (DRAMS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Spain
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Drone-based Radio Aid Measuring System [DRAMS] solution comprises calibration and inspection of ILS and VOR systems, usually termed Flight Inspection, which is a cornerstone for the air traffic navigation and the safe landing of airplanes in all airports. CANARD drone technology, based on the state-of-the-art unmanned aircrafts, is a novel approach to allow more precise, rapid and cost-efficient Flight Inspection. Background: In air navigation, safety and efficiency are top priorities. The need to ensure safe landing led to the creation of navigational aids (also known Navaids), which are markers that help pilots to land. In aviation, the Instrument Landing System [ILS] is the most commonly used landing aid in the world. This radio-based system precisely guides aircraft pilots along the correct landing course, even in reduced visibility. Meanwhile, Very-high-frequency Omnidirectional Radio range [VOR] is a type of short-range radio navigation system for aircraft, enabling them to determine their position and stay on course by receiving radio signals transmitted by ground beacons. For several decades, the market has relied on manned Flight Inspection Aircrafts to do this calibration and ensure proper operation. DRAMS follow a procedures-hardware-software paradigm: A set of operational procedures is performed by a drone equipped with sensors and the gathered data is processed by custom developed software. The software will be developed a way that a single drone with interchangeable sensors and a single App can perform different tasks. Key advantages of DRAMS’ approach are: Inexpensive, readily available, safe, reliable, eco-friendly and compliant to standards DRAMS will harness the first-mover effect to create a Blue Ocean market inside the mature Flight Inspection market. Our initial market forecast shows that by achieving just 3,75% of the total ILS/VOR inspection market (€336M) we will reach the break even point in 2023 and accumulated revenues of €12,6M by 2025.

Keywords: dron,drones,automated unmanned vehicle,remotely piloted aircraft,navigation aids,navaids,instrument landing system,very high frequency omnidirectional radio range,airport
Modulation of intestinal barrier function and inflammation via butyrate-promoting dietary fibre (FIBCOLIT)

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: Sweden
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2023-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 203852.16
EU funding (EUR): 203852.16
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The FIBCOLIT project investigates the impact of fermentable dietary fibres (DFs) on intestinal physiology and inflammation via dietary intervention study in human patients with microscopic colitis (MC), a chronic disease characterised by sustained mild intestinal inflammation. This subject topic has significant interest for public health considering 1) the increased global incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases in the last 20 years, and 2) the increased scientific knowledge regarding the role of intestinal inflammation in driving the development of systemic inflammation in metabolic diseases. Currently, considerable knowledge gaps exists regarding the biological and physiological mechanisms that maintain and modulate intestinal homeostasis as well as the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to chronic intestinal inflammation. The FIBCOLIT project aims to answer these open scientific questions through a multi-omics approach employing several analytical methods to examine DF-induced changes in intestinal barrier function, inflammatory markers, intestinal microbiota composition and functionality, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms, quality of life, and general well-being. The projects utilises a DF known to promote the production of luminal butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that has been associated with several positive health effects. Overall, the project's methodology allows specific targeting of the mechanistic links between DF intake, butyrate, and intestinal health. Should DF supplementation prove effective at restoring intestinal homeostasis, it could potentially offer a non-pharmaceutical option to the prevention and management of diseases characterised by chronic intestinal inflammation. The project results could potentially also serve as starting point in the development of functional foods for the general public.

Keywords: gastrointestinal health,intestinal barrier function,intestinal inflammation,intestinal permeability,dietary fibre,intestinal microbiota,butyrate
Study of 2,5-dihydrochorismate, a newly discovered class of plant specialized metabolites. (CHORPATH)

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: Belgium
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-04-01
End date: 2022-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 166320.0
EU funding (EUR): 166320.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Plants produce arrays of specialized metabolites that are crucial for plant development, defense and interactions with the ever-changing environment. Discovery of metabolites and metabolic pathways by dissecting the underlying genetic basis is an important challenge, not only to increase our understanding of life, but also to provide indispensable applications for humans such as pharmaceuticals. In this project we will investigate the occurrence and biosynthesis of the 2,5-dihydrochorismates, a novel metabolic class that was recently discovered by the host group in the plant model Arabidopsis (unpublished). Notably, chemically synthesized 2,5-dihydrochorismate and analogues have been shown to be potent in vitro inhibitors of chorismate-utilizing enzymes. This inhibitory activity hints to a potential biological role for 2,5-dihydrochorismates in regulating the flux through these pathways, opening perspectives for applications. The direct objective of my project is to unravel the biosynthetic pathway of 2,5-dihydrochorismates. We therefore aim i) to structurally identify additional pathway intermediates and sinks via LC-MS based metabolite profiling and purification followed by NMR, ii) to test whether chorismate is a precursor of the pathway by feeding plants with Stable Isotope Labeled chorismate, followed by analyzing the MS fragmentation spectra of the labeled molecules, iii) to investigate the role of an operon-like gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of 2,5-dihydrochorismates via reversed genetics, and iv) to obtain insight in the in planta role of 2,5-dihydrochorismate by feeding experiment followed by metabolic profiling. My experience in reversed genetics and enzyme kinetics in specialized metabolism in rice make me well suited to bring this project to success. My prime objective is to strengthen my skills in metabolite profiling, pathway discovery and structural elucidation, to become an independent plant scientist in plant specialized metabolism.

Keywords: reverse genetics,chorismate,specialized metabolism,gene cluster,metabolic pathway