Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Fully Autonomous Search Tool to Investigate Directly Images and mOdeling of Unexplored Strong-lenses (FASTIDIoUS)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: Italy
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-12-01
End date: 2025-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172750.08
EU funding (EUR): 172750.08
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The effect of gravitational lensing, which means that light of a background source is deflected by a massive object such as a galaxy cluster, enables the possibility to probe the universe in multiple aspects, including the study of magnified high-redshift objects, novel cosmological measurements of the Hubble constant, and of the dark matter and dark energy density parameter values, as well as investigations on the formation and evolution of galaxy clusters and their member galaxies in an overdense environment. The project aims to develop a Fully Autonomous Search Tool to Investigate Directly Images and mOdeling of Unexplored Strong-lenses (FASTIDIoUS). The objectives of the FASTIDIoUS project are 1) to increase the sample of known strong lensing clusters using deep learning techniques, 2) to develop and model with an automated pipeline multiple galaxy-scale lenses within clusters to study their formation and evolution, and 3) to expand one model to the full cluster to make the first comparison between a state-of-the-art model based on image positions only and a model based on the image pixel values directly, yielding insight in the effect of constraining the mass parameters through the pixel values and allowing a source surface brightness reconstruction, as so far only performed with galaxy-scale lenses. The FASTIDIoUS project that I will carry out at the University of Milan is an innovative project built to impact several areas within the galaxy evolution and strong lensing fields. I will bring extensive experience in strong lens modeling and some unique expertise with deep learning tools applied to various astrophysical aspects. This will facilitate the research in the group and the transfer of knowledge, and expand my deep learning and modeling experience, transferable skills, and professional networks. Carrying out FASTIDIoUS within a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship will enhance the development of my career as a complete and independent leading researcher.

Keywords: gravitational lensing,deep learning
Metabolic imprinting of Th17 cells in disease pathogenesis (Th17 tissue metab)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Germany,United States
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-09-01
End date: 2026-03-31
Duration (months): 43.0
Total project cost (EUR): 265647.84
EU funding (EUR): 265647.84
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Autoimmune diseases affect an estimated 3-9% of the population and cause major personal and socio-economic consequences. IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells (Th17) are recruited to inflamed tissues and involved in autoimmune pathogenesis but were recently also shown to have homeostatic function in tissues. Preliminary data from the outgoing host indicate that Th17 cells are transcriptionally distinct in different tissues. How tissue Th17 cells acquire such specialized characteristics remains elusive. Based on recent findings from the lab that a metabolic manipulation affects Th17 cells, we hypothesize that metabolic cues from the target tissue dictate Th17 phenotypes. To address this, we will apply scRNAseq and the host lab developed Compass metabolic flux tool in 9 tissues. Hits from this analysis will undergo a novel screening approach, CHIME, to reveal effects on Th17 function. In autoimmunity, Th17 cells reside within different tissues before migrating to the inflamed tissue. Identifying a tissue metabolic switch for Th17 cell pathogenicity might thus pave the way for novel treatments. To study this, I will use a mouse model for the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) for target validation. During the return phase, the findings will be set into context of tissue niche immunology and human biology. In healthy versus inflamed human tissue, spatial RNAseq will directly reveal metabolism related differences in a natural tissue niche context. The project will be performed in a world-renowned Th17 lab. The fellow brings extensive experience with tissue immune cell extractions and MS mouse models, enabling immediate project progression. The fellow will then bring back novel techniques and experience (scRNAseq, CHIME) to the return host, where she will acquire skills in human tissue niche immunology and spatial RNAseq. This project will enhance her expertise, research and transferable skills and allow to build a network to follow her goal of becoming an independent PI.

Keywords: th17 cells,autoimmunity,immunometabolism,autoimmune disease,tissue immunology
Upgrading of low-quality iron ores and mill scale with low carbon technologies (TransZeroWaste)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Digital, Industry and Space
Theme: Industry
Destination: Climate neutral, Circular and Digitised Production
Action type: Innovation actions
Partnership: Clean Steel (co-programmed)
Countries involved: Spain,Austria,Germany,Portugal,Belgium,Greece,Poland,Luxembourg
Call: Raw material preparation for clean steel production (Clean Steel Partnership) (IA) (HORIZON-CL4-2022-TWIN-TRANSITION-01, 2022)
Start date: 2022-12-01
End date: 2026-11-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 6055716.25
EU funding (EUR): 4985616.0
Participants: 13
Project status: SIGNED

Growing demand for high quality iron ores and scrap as well as abandonment of carbon intensive sintering in the future require novel technological approaches for upgrading of low-grade iron ores and recycling of mill scale. TransZeroWaste will apply hydrometallurgy for mill scale de-oiling and use this iron-rich scrap equivalent to upgrade low-grade iron ores. For that, TransZeroWaste will develop low carbon technologies such as cold pelletising and briquetting, hot microwave pelletising, and magnet-supported hydrometallurgy from TRL 6 to TRL 8. The developed technologies will be transferable to further material flows such as dusts and sludges. On European level, the expected impact will be the potential upgrade of over 18 million t/a low-grade iron ore, up to 6 million t/a mill scale and 3 million t/a pellet sieving residue. Total impact of TransZeroWaste will include upgrading of 27 million t/a materials with low carbon technologies and avoiding of corresponding sinter plant carbon footprint of 4,3 – 9,9 MtCO2/a. Technological competences and know-how are owned by the participating partners from the applied research. They will be developed and transferred to the two industrial partners with 9 production sites. Thoroughly planned dissemination and exploitation activities will ensure effective implementation of technologies after project end. Life cycle assessment and economic evaluation will be performed; sustainable business models will be developed. Furthermore, a decision support platform for industrial users will be installed. In combination with workshops and trainings it will help to find and implement the best upgrading technology for various low-grade materials considering environmental and economic aspects. TransZeroWaste will serve as a vehicle for the transition of the European steel industry to the carbon free zero waste future.

Keywords: iron ore,mill scale,microwave,pelletising,briquetting,hydrometallurgy,magnetic separation,ultrasonic treatment,clean steel transition,direct reduction,fluidised bed
Male Paediatric Fertility Restoration using Testis Organoids (Restore-Fertility)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS (ERC-2024-POC, 2024)
Start date: 2025-10-01
End date: 2027-03-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Chemotherapy treatments for cancer and haematological disorders can lead to male infertility. While adult males can freeze a sperm biopsy prior to chemotherapy, pre-pubertal children cannot do so, as they do not yet produce sperm. Reaching 88% survival rate for paediatric cancers nowadays, many of these kids will survive to adulthood but remain infertile. There are currently no clinical fertility restoration options available for these kids. Many of them are advised to undergo a testis biopsy procedure for fertility preservation prior to chemotherapy, with the hope that techniques will be developed to allow the use of these samples for future sperm production. Within the ERC StG, we aimed to develop an in vitro system that can closely model the testis. As such, we have recently published the development of testis organoids from both embryonic and prepubertal mouse testis. These organoids can be cultured in vitro for 9 weeks, while preserving all cell types normally present in the testis. These organoids highly recapitulate the in vivo state by creating structures, as well as presenting expression profiles, of in vivo testis. We developed defined media composition for in vitro maturation. Finally, we show indications that meiosis is initiated in vitro within the organoids. In this ERC PoC, building on our development in the mouse, we will generate human testis organoids derived from pre-pubertal testis biopsies that were obtained prior to chemotherapy treatment. We will assess the ability of these testicular cells to create human testis organoids, and analyse the structure, transcriptome, as well as ability to initiate, and potentially complete, meiosis. Within Restore- Fertility, we aim to achieve significant progress with the technology development in human samples, and provide a proof-of-concept for sperm production in vitro. We will also achieve business progression by consolidating IP strategy, market analysis, and develop a comprehensive business strategy.
The gut-brain axis: Interactions between the gut microbiome and host behaviour and stress in the wild (WildMBI)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Canada
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-07-01
End date: 2028-06-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 351275.4
EU funding (EUR): 351275.4
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

The ‘gut-brain axis’ comprises bidirectional communication pathways that mediate physiology and behaviour. Laboratory studies have shown the gut microbiome – the microorganismal community inside the gastro-intestinal tract – is part of this axis, exchanging metabolites that modify social behaviour, anxiety and stress. In turn, microbiomes can themselves be altered by host stress and social context. What remains unclear is whether, and to what extent, the gut-brain axis modulates behavioural and physiological variation under natural conditions. As a MSCA fellow, I will test the hypothesis that the gut microbiome impacts behaviour and stress physiology in free-living horses, and investigate the pathways involved. For this, I will make use of long-term data collected in the Sable Island Horse Project, Canada. This unique population study comprises repeated measurement of individual behaviour and profiling of gut (faecal) microbiome (taxonomically and functionally). Combined with de novo meta-transcriptomic data and statistical modelling, this data will allow me to assess the contribution of the gut microbiome to variation in behavioural and stress, and infer the causal links underpinning microbiome-host associations. Specifically, I will determine (1) genetic and environmental contributions to risk aversion, social position and stress, and (2) the magnitude of microbiome-host interactions. I will then (3) identify the active microbial genes and pathways that mediate stress-related traits in wild horses. My results will greatly extend our understanding of the microbiome’s function in regulating stress and behaviour under natural conditions. They may also inform future applications in welfare and conservation biology that aim to help animals cope with challenging and changing environmental conditions. This project will allow me to develop new expertise and practical skills in genomics and microbiomics while also enhancing my teaching, management and leadership skills.

Keywords: behavioural ecology,gut microbiome host interaction,metagenomics,metatranscriptomics,stress physiology
Migrations of Textual and Scribal Traditions via Large-Scale Computational Analysis of Medieval Manuscripts in Hebrew Script (MIDRASH)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Synergy grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: France,Israel
Call: ERC Synergy Grants (ERC-2022-SYG, 2022)
Start date: 2023-10-01
End date: 2029-09-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 10296259.0
EU funding (EUR): 10296259.0
Participants: 5
Project status: SIGNED

MIDRASH aims to construct a groundbreaking interdisciplinary methodology for a global approach to the study of the treasure trove of medieval literary manuscripts in Hebrew script. Jews produced and consumed a prodigious cornucopia of texts in Hebrew, Aramaic, Judeo-Arabic and other vernacular languages, intertextually closely related like a mille feuille. The manuscripts constitute the unique remains of medieval Jewish literary culture, having survived - and witnessing to - centuries of migrations, persecutions and censorship. With the recent digitization of the extant manuscripts and with contemporary advances in computer vision, natural language processing and machine learning, the time is ripe for broad new studies into this manuscript culture. We can now study questions regarding their materiality, textuality, transmission and historical contexts on an unprecedented scale or heretofore beyond reach. MIDRASH proposes a pioneering study of the extensive corpora of: (1) biblical manuscripts; (2) Midrash (late antique exegetical and homiletical commentary on the Bible); (3) medieval commentaries of the Bible and Mishnah; and (4) liturgical manuscripts. Only a small fraction have been transcribed, let alone studied. State-of-the-art and bespoke algorithms will be applied to resolve issues of reading order, code switching, and transcription errors. Once mechanically transcribed, known and unknown works will be identified and reconstructed and multilingual intertextualities discerned. The latest fine-grained paleographical techniques and trained neural networks will be brought to bear on questions of provenance and transmission. Philological methods and computational linguistics will be applied to questions of textual fluidity and evolution to further our knowledge of the production and transmission of Hebrew manuscripts and texts, their authors, scribes and readers, and enhance their role as the pivotal aspect of European and Mediterranean intellectual history.

Keywords: hebrew manuscripts,document analysis,nlp,computer vision,midrash
Geometric Finite Element Methods (GeoFEM)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Mathematics
Panel description: All areas of mathematics, pure and applied, plus mathematical foundations of computer science, mathematical physics and statistics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1487870.0
EU funding (EUR): 1487870.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Partial differential equations (PDEs) describe important models in science and engineering. Many of these PDE-based models encode fundamental geometric and topological principles. For general relativity, gravity is described as the curvature of spacetime governed by the Einstein equations. For materials, defects and microstructures can be modelled as geometric quantities such as curvature. Since controlled experiments and analytical solutions are only available in very special cases, it is essential to simulate these equations on computers. Despite significant progress in the past decades, cutting-edge applications still call for reliable numerical methods. In numerical relativity, codes may break down or significantly lose precision in long term simulation of black holes due to the violation of geometric constraints. For continuum with microstructures, convergence may degenerate as multiple length scales are present. The common challenge behind these examples is to find an intrinsic way to discretise high-order tensors in geometry with certain symmetries. My research will address the fundamental problem of discretising high-order tensors by bringing together geometry, algebra, PDEs and numerical analysis. I will develop an algebraic framework and a systematic construction of tensorial finite elements with symmetries. By clarifying mathematical structures at both continuous and discrete levels, I will investigate reliable methods for discretising the Einstein equations and continuum models with microstructures. The new framework will also inspire the development of fundamental concepts and models, and establish novel connections between numerical schemes, discrete geometry, measure-valued solutions of PDEs, and discrete physics, e.g., quantum gravity and lattice gauge theory.

Keywords: finite element exterior calculus,structure preserving discretisation,discrete exterior calculus,discrete differential geometry,numerical relativity,continuum mechanics,geometric mechanics
Mapping political knowledge: urban commons in democratic Athens (KOINEPOLIS)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: France
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2026-09-01
End date: 2028-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 242260.56
EU funding (EUR): 242260.56
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

This research will provide an interdisciplinary and innovative approach to thinking about political knowledge in democratic Athens by focusing the attention on a highly topical issue: urban commons, which can be defined as collectively shared spaces, resources, or concerns, of everyday city life. Thus, this project will contribute the first application of the theory of the urban commons to the analysis of the relationship between diverse spaces of the Athenian polis and distinct strategies of political knowledge dissemination. It will start from the premise that the debate on the commons is not unprecedented. In fact, in Thucydides’ account of Pericles’ Funeral Oration, Athens is said to be openly shared as a common resource (πόλιν κοινὴν). Following this idea, and in line with recent works on the city as a commons, the first hypothesis of this project is that the Athenian polis can be considered a commons in itself, managed by ordinary citizens who participate in the daily political life of direct democracy, but also by the rest of the inhabitants, who develop practices of commoning in those spaces where people of different legal status can interact. Relying on the relevance of space in social sciences as defended by the spatial turn, the project will address a second hypothesis: (that) the urban commons of democratic Athens are essential for the dissemination of political knowledge, and that its management (including the rules for its use and the commoners who are included or excluded from it) determines the degree of diffusion of that knowledge. Thus, the main objective of this study will be to map and analyse different strategies of political knowledge management, associated with the openness or enclosure tendency of the shared spaces under consideration. As a result of examining the coexistence of opposed strategies of knowledge distribution in classical Athens, this research will offer a new perspective on dissent in democratic Athens.

Keywords: ancient greek political thought plato classical athens urban commons
Chirality controlled spin to charge interconversion in Tellurium (CHEERS)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: Spain,Switzerland
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2025-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165312.96
EU funding (EUR): 165312.96
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Consumer electronics plays an ever-greater role in our daily lives. This is reflected in the fact that electronics already account for 4% of global energy consumption. This rate is expected to triple in the coming years, generating a major environmental issue and calling for energy saving solutions. Spintronics is a leading technology with the potential to produce novel high-performance low-power devices. Central to these devices is the so-called spin to charge interconversion (SCI), where a spin polarisation is converted into a detectable electric signal and vice-versa. Ongoing efforts focus on the search for materials exhibiting optimal SCI, often found in systems with low structural symmetry. Within these, chiral materials are highly appealing as they represent the ultimate expression of broken symmetry. Chiral molecules have been shown to act as spin filters, but, due to their low electrical conductance, they cannot be implemented in electronic devices. Recently, the host group showed that Tellurium (Te), composed of chiral atomic chains connected via van der Waals (vdW) interactions, displays an exotic and chirality-dependent charge to spin conversion. However, the reciprocal effect was not studied, and the SCI efficiency, which is crucial for evaluating the technological potential of Te, was not obtained. CHEERS aims to explore the real potential of Te for advanced spintronic applications. We will combine magneto-optical kerr effect, spin pumping and magnetotransport experiments to quantify Te’s SCI efficiency, while unravelling the different physical mechanisms behind it. Finally, we will explore SCI at the atomically sharp vdW interface of Te and a layered magnet. With these efforts, CHEERS expects to acquire fundamental scientific knowledge with straightforward industrial applications. Moreover, CHEERS will offer high-quality interdisciplinary research and transversal skills training to an aspiring young scientist, helping her build a promising career.

Keywords: chirality,spinorbitronics,tellurium,spin to charge interconversion,edelstein effect,spin hall effect,moke,spin hall magnetoresistance,spin pumping,electric field effect