Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Stem Cell Expansion - Expansion and engraftment of haematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells (STEMEXPAND)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Biotechnology, generic tools and medical technologies for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Sweden,United Kingdom,Netherlands,France,Netherlands,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-B, 2007)
Start date: 2008-11-01
End date: 2011-10-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3918308.11
EU funding (EUR): 2995390.0
Participants: 8
Project status: CLOSED

Serious disorders of the blood system, particularly malignant blood disorders and genetic diseases can be effectively treated by blood and marrow transplantation. Despite considerable success with this treatment modality during the last decades, lack of suitable donors, engraftment failure and graft versus host disease remain serious problems that need to be addressed. This project aims to address these issues through approaches that will allow expansion of human umbilical cord blood stem cells for transplantation using cytokines, developmental cues, newly identified stem cell regulators and chemicals that can activate internal stem cell regulators to stimulate self-renewal and proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells. Successful expansion of cord blood stem cells will increase the number of hematopoietic stem cells in cord blood samples to generate suitable donor samples for adult patients that die from their disease today due to lack of donors. Expansion of hematopoietic stem- and progenitor cells will also give more efficient early engraftment following transplantation and thereby reduce the frequency of morbidity and mortality due to insufficient engraftment. This will be accomplished through the identification of novel stem cell regulators and the use of known cytokines, developmental cues and chemicals that will stimulate stem cell expansion. Improvement in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation through co-transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells will also be investigated. Conditions for expansion of mesenchymal stem cells will be defined and subsets of more primitive and more mature mesenchymal stem cells will be identified. Mesenchymal stem cells will also be used to improve engraftment efficiency of the expanded hematopoietic cells and to reduce the frequency of graft versus host disease. The findings are expected to have a great impact on the treatment of serious blood disorders by blood and marrow transplantation in the future.

Keywords: hematopoietic stem cells,mesenchymal stem cells,stem cell expansion,stem cell transplantation
Therapy after heart infarct: prevention of reperfusion injury and repair by stem cell transfer (INFARCT CELL THERAPY)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Austria,Belgium,Spain,Israel,Germany,Denmark,Germany,Austria
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-B, 2007)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2012-06-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3567100.0
EU funding (EUR): 2700000.0
Participants: 9
Project status: CLOSED

A key problem in repair and functional regeneration following myocardial infarction is the inability of heart muscle tissue to regenerate itself and appropriate vascularization under conditions of increased strain caused by the reduced contractibility of the damaged heart. This frequently leads to continuous loss of functional cells, further increase of the infarct area and finally complete loss of heart function. We propose to explore possibilities for cell therapy using different procedures and sources of stem and progenitor cells. First, we will investigate factors stimulatory for stem/progenitor cell release from the bone marrow, their recruitment to the heart and the activation of resident heart stem cells. Second, we will evaluate adoptive transfer of stem/progenitor cells of different sources, from bone marrow, adult and cord blood, adipose tissue and heart tissue itself. The use of ex vivo cultured and differentiated cells including embryonic stem cells will be tested. Third, we will test genetic modification of these cells for improved differentiation, homing and tissue repair. Fourth, we will use a unique artificial scaffold material as a slow release device for factors and as a structural support material for providing the different cell preparations to the damaged areas. This scaffold will aso be used for tissue engineering in vitro followed by insertion of artficial tissue onto the infarct area. This project of high clinical importance is designed to further support the research and development needs of two SMEs, one is determined to become a supplier of growth factor cocktails for clinical stem cell culture, a second is based on the generation and supply of stem cells for clinical use. It will evaluate whether induction of repair by factors, adoptive transfer of stem/progenitor cells or engineered tissue has benefit for heart regeneration and has potential to become a future clinical standard therapy.

Keywords: myocardial infarct,neovascularization,myocard regeneration,stem and progenitor cell therapy,tissue engineering
Set up and comparison of multiple stem cell approaches for kidney repair (STAR-T REK)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Biotechnology, generic tools and medical technologies for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Italy,Israel,Germany,Netherlands,France,United Kingdom,Finland,Germany
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2007-B, 2007)
Start date: 2008-11-01
End date: 2011-10-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4052900.0
EU funding (EUR): 2999500.0
Participants: 11
Project status: CLOSED

With the increasing rate of end-stage renal failure and limited alternatives for its treatment, potential regenerative approaches for kidney damages are urgently needed. Because of the complexity of the organ, the development of stem cell therapies for kidney is still in its infancy. Identifying which cell types are capable of beneficial effects is the critical step required to realize the potential of this therapeutic approach. Three possible sources of stem cells can be envisioned for the development of this type of treatment: (i) bone-marrow-derived stem cells, (ii) renal adult stem cells, and (iii) fetal renal stem cells. The focus of this project is to assess the regenerative potential of stem cells derived from different sources and investigate the possible obstacles to their utilization, as well as their potential side effects in preclinical models of acute and chronic renal failure. Indeed, the clinical usefulness of the treatment, as well as the need to understand currently discrepant results, require comparative experimental studies that have never been performed before either in SC therapy of kidney injury, or in that of other organs. Hopefully, this comparison will allow to set up standardized protocols of SC isolation and administration for phase I/II trials in patients affected by acute and chronic renal failure.

Keywords: stem cells,kidney regeneration,different sources of stem cells,preclinical model,standardised protocol
Organic synthesis for chemical biology: enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids from terminal alkenes using gold catalysis and investigation into the selective functionalisation of proteins (ALKENESTOAMINOACIDS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2014-05-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 239221.6
EU funding (EUR): 239221.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal centres on using cutting edge organic synthesis as a tool for the investigation of chemical biology. The first section deals with development of a novel, expedient and efficient approach to the synthesis of non-natural α-amino acids. This will employ gold catalysis to enable a completely regio- and enantioselective amino-oxygenation of an alkene to give an enantioenriched α-amino acid after simple oxidation. This method will allow highly direct access to enantiopure α-amino acids from starting materials as elementary as simple hydrocarbon alkenes. By building complexity in a single step, using the power of asymmetric gold catalysis, this will prove highly competitive with existing methods in which the motif is constructed gradually over a greater number of steps. The mild operating conditions and functional group-tolerant nature of gold catalysis means that a broad scope of alkenes will be compatible and this will yield a wide range of diverse non-natural α-amino acids which have applications in therapeutics, chemical biology and organic synthesis. Applications to synthesis of glycosylamino acids and the anti-epilepsy drug Keppra will be shown. This will be achieved in the outgoing phase in the group of F. Dean Toste at the University of California, Berkeley. In the return phase, with Matthew Gaunt at the University of Cambridge, the theme of the title will focus on application, wherein new catalytic C-H bond functionalisation techniques will be used to functionalise peptides and proteins, providing a powerful tool to perturb biological function to study biological processes. The fellow will undergo a thorough training in the biological tools and techniques required, whilst drawing upon his own experience of C-H functionalisation reaction development, to ensure the best chance of success. Overall, this proposal will establish a circulation of knowledge between the EU and the US and provide excellent training for a future research career in the EU.

Keywords: homogeneous catalysis,asymmetric catalysis,gold,chemical biology,protein modification,c-h functionalisation
A possible hydrothermal origin of Martian phyllosilicates: Exploring the talc/saponite-nontrinte system (HYDRO-MARS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-05-03
End date: 2013-04-02
Duration (months): 23.0
Total project cost (EUR): 258985.27
EU funding (EUR): 258985.27
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This study will explore the origin of Fe/Mg-rich clay minerals on Mars. Clays, recently discovered on Mars using near-infrared spectroscopy, show for the first time unambiguous evidence for sustained aqueous activity on Mars. Understanding the environmental conditions of formation of these materials, which are dominated by Fe/Mg-rich clays, is central to revealing Mars climate history and past habitability. Studies linking the infrared properties of clays to mineralogical properties and geologic context are therefore very important for understanding alteration minerals on Mars. Submarine hydrothermal fields on Earth produce abundant Mg- and Fe-rich clays (talc, saponite and nontronite). These clays are often intimately mixed either by coprecipitation, mixed-layering or atom-substitution. Thus, these or similar settings may have generated the Fe/Mg-clays on Mars. Moreover, some spectral features from these Martian clays have unaccounted for characteristics probably due to mixed-layering and/or atom substitution as in their Earth counterparts. Mg/Fe-rich clays (series talc/saponite-nontronite) from several submarine hydrothermal fields will be studied using advanced microscopy, chemical, spectroscopic, structural and isotope analytical techniques to fully characterise their crystal-chemistry and determine/constrain their formation environment (temperature, fluids, mineral assemblages). Mid- and near-IR spectra will be compared with those from Mars Fe/Mg-clays and added to the spectral library for Mars studies. This study will (1) produce new results that will constrain the mineralogical properties and formation conditions of clays on Mars; (2) increase the spectral library for Mars studies with well-characterised, complex clays; (3) enhance the European profile in planetary studies; and (4) provide the fellow with new, advanced skills in mineralogy and analytical techniques that will prepare him for new opportunities and a sustained research career in Europe.

Keywords: earth science,geochemistry,planetary science,mineralogy,clay geochemistry
Fluorescence intraoperative imaging platform for tumor margin delineation (FI2P4TUM)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-07-01
End date: 2013-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 162742.4
EU funding (EUR): 162742.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Among the distinct types of cancer treatments, surgery, which is the oldest modality, is still often confronted with difficulties in the identification of cancer spread and the accurate delineation of tumor margins. This is of uttermost importance in order to infer the lowest harm to the organ where the tumor originated but without leaving residual tumor. This proposal is intended to improve the surgical outcome, employing a highly sensitive fluorescence imaging approach, which holds a strong potential to become a key technology in intraoperative imaging. The primary goal is to employ real‐time multi‐spectral fluorescence imaging for sensitive and quantitative molecular visualization of infiltrating cancer, which can enable real‐time surgical feedback and improved surgical outcome over the current state of the art and clinical practice. For this goal an advanced multi‐spectral fluorescence imaging system that can significantly improve quantification and the observation accuracy over simple fluorescence video systems considered in the past, will be developed. Further promising new fluorescence probes will be utilized and their ability to offer high detection sensitivity and specificity of tumor margins will be investigated. The performance of this approach will be examined in controlled phantoms and in‐vivo in breast cancer and abdominal cancer in animal models. Moreover, the method will be examined in relation to offering real‐time pathology of lymph‐nodes in‐vivo. If this proposal is successful, it will lead to the development of an accurate imaging platform that can enhance surgical vision while seamlessly integrating in the operating surgical room. Due to the direct relation of the surgeon’s vision to optical methods and the relatively low cost and non‐ionizing energies used, a high dissemination potential into the surgical healthcare is expected.

Keywords: tumor margin delineation,intraoperative imaging,fluorescence
Elucidating the Roles of Proteins of Mitochondrial DNA Maintenance (MITOSKELETON)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2014-07-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 210092.8
EU funding (EUR): 210092.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Mitochondrial DNA defects were established as a cause of human disease over 20 years ago, and they are increasingly recognized as a contributory factor in major causes of human morbidity, such as neurodegeneration. Although mitochondrial DNA is known to be packaged with a variety of proteins, their functions are in many cases ill defined; hence this field is in its infancy. The functional characterization of DNA transacting proteins in mitochondria is critical to a full understanding of mitochondrial DNA metabolism and the human diseases that result when mitochondrial DNA is mutated. The proposed host laboratory is well recognized for high quality and innovative research in the field of mitochondrial genetics, and it has recently demonstrated that two components of the actin cytoskeleton are present inside mitochondria, where they associate with mitochondrial DNA. The planned experiments on these two proteins, will examine their role in mitochondrial DNA movement and transmission, identify protein partners and investigate a disease mouse model; collectively they aim to develop this new area of cell biology and determine the role of the ‘mitoskeleton’ in mitochondrial DNA maintenance and mitochondrial function.

Keywords: mitochondrial dna genetics and maintenance,nucleoids,mitochondrial diseases,bioenergetics
Magnetic Energy Conversion in Fine Nanoparticle Systems (MENCOFINAS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-08-01
End date: 2013-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 209592.8
EU funding (EUR): 209592.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Magnetic energy conversion using nanoparticles is fundamental to many rapidly developing areas such as environment-friendly nanotechnologies or in biomedicine. Examples include the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MPs) in devices for magnetocaloric refrigeration or for heating in the hyperthermia treatment of cancer. Investing in these areas is imperative if the European Research Area and the European nanotechnologies industry it to gain a worldwide leadership. Essential are scientific developments and also professional training of researchers to provide them with skills in fundamental physics and applied technology aspects. The present proposal's aim in this direction is the career development of Dr. Hovorka combined with the enhancement of his scientific expertise in the field of MP systems. Despite their importance for applications, superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic MP mixtures have been poorly studied and, as a result, the effects of interactions and hysteresis on energy losses and heat generation can presently be analyzed only on the empirical level. The aim here is to develop a solid theoretical understanding of these issues by employing the state-of-the-art multi-scale and atomistic modeling approaches as well as large scale Monte-Carlo methods. The research will be carried out at the host University of York (UK) and benefit from the top-class computational research facilities and the long standing scientific and industrial experience of Prof. Chantrell, who is the world leading scientific contributor in the field. The inter-disciplinary expertise gained during the program as well as new perspectives gathered through the transnational mobility, will put Dr. Hovorka into an excellent position to build an entirely new research portfolio and to effectively interface with leading industry researchers and developers in the future. This will strengthen the European excellence and competitiveness in the research field of applied and fundamental nano-magnetism.

Keywords: nanotechnology,superparamagnetic nanoparticles,ferromagnetic nanoparticles,hysteresis,energy losses,loss separation,kinetic monte carlo models,multiscale and atomistic modeling
Visuo-tactile cortical mechanims for a hand-centred spatial representation in humans (VTHAND-CENTRED SPACE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-12-01
End date: 2013-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 186464.8
EU funding (EUR): 186464.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

When interacting with objects the brain needs to locate the limbs and the relevant visual information surrounding them. Studies on monkeys showed that information from different sensory modalities converges at the individual neurone level within a multisensory fronto-parietal network. This multisensory integration occurs within the space surrounding the body (peripersonal space) and has been linked to the sensory guidance of reaching and defensive movements, and localisation the limbs in space. In humans, only indirect behavioural evidence exists of a similar representation, and virtually nothing is known about the neuronal mechanisms of multisensory integration in peripersonal space. This project will provide the first direct evidence for the existence of an integrative visuo-tactile (VT) mechanism in the human brain by identifying the areas which implement it in hand-centred coordinates. We will use an innovative multimodal strategy involving complementary behavioural, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial stimulation (TMS) approaches. We mean to employ cross-modal fMRI-adaptation to identify neuronal responses reflecting the multisensory integrative mechanisms of the VT peri-hand space representation. This method allows us to circumvent the limits of traditional fMRI analysis and go beyond the voxel-level resolution. We will investigate the plasticity of the VT peri-hand space during tool use and when prosthetic limbs are experienced as one’s own body part. Finally, TMS will reveal the link between the plasticity of the multisensory space representation and the motor system. This project has important clinical and industrial applications. Understanding the rapid plasticity of the multisensory peripersonal space will help to develop new rehabilitative strategies for amputees using advanced prosthetic limb devices. Our work will be important for optimising the control of virtual and robotic tools during fine manipulation (i.e. tele-surgery).

Keywords: cognitive neurosciences,multisensory integration,body representation,space representation,tool-use,amputees,fmri,tms,rubber hand illusion