Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Coherent Manipulation of Rotational States of Single Molecules via Direct Frequency Comb Excitation (COMAMOC)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-05-01
End date: 2020-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 200194.8
EU funding (EUR): 200194.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The increasing ability to manipulate individual quantum systems is leading to a wave of new technologies that have fundamentally superior performance and capabilities for many applications in metrology, sensing, communication, simulation and computing. It is thus identified today as a major axis of research and innovation as apparent from the European Commission decision to launch a Quantum Technology (QT) Flagship. Trapped and laser-cooled atomic ions have in this context proven to be a very important system. Their exploitation within QT is, however, typically limited by their coupling to time-varying stray magnetic fields which shortens the timescale for coherent manipulation. In this perspective, using molecular ions, because they can be made nearly immune to magnetic fields fluctuations, would be advantageous. The complex level structure makes though quantum control of cold molecular ions significantly more challenging. Only this year first deterministic state manipulation of molecular ions, yet within a same rotational manifold, was performed at NIST, USA, in the group of Dr. Dietrich Leibfried. With COMAMOC, I will go step further and drive transitions between different rotational levels with a frequency comb laser. This innovative approach, will be based on my recent achievement in driving the fine structure transition of the Ca+ atomic ion with this technique, in collaboration with Prof. Michael Drewsen at AU. The proposed action, hosted in his group, which has longest experience with cold molecular ions, is a unique opportunity to achieve full deterministic coherent control over the quantum states of a molecule. COMAMOC will open up for many fundamental investigations and technological achievements ranging from test of QED to the use of molecular ions as qubits in ion-based QT. The proposed action is therefore expected to impact the future of the information and communication technology (ICT) market which is foreseen to be quantum in the next few decades.

Keywords: frequency comb,cold molecular ions,rotational spectroscopy,stimulated raman transition,quantum logic spectroscopy,qubits,coherent manipulation
Deconstructing the role of SUMO on chromatin in cell identity and tissue repair (SUMiDENTITY)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing
Panel description: Organ and tissue physiology, comparative physiology, physiology of ageing, pathophysiology, interorgan and tissue communication, endocrinology, nutrition, metabolism, interaction with the microbiome, non-communicable diseases including cancer (and except disorders of the nervous system and immunity-related diseases)
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2018-ADG, 2018)
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2024-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499995.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499995.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

The maintenance of cell identity and how it is subverted in disease are central questions in biology and medicine. The interplay between transcription factor and chromatin configurations plays a key role in maintaining cellular identity, yet how this interplay is regulated is poorly understood. Notably, the existence of possible general mechanisms underlying different cell-state specifications remains to be determined. We have recently uncovered evidence that sumoylation, which deposits a chromatin-associated mark (SUMO) that principally targets transcriptional regulators, acts as a general barrier to cell-fate transitions and enforces two distinctive chromatin types to safeguard somatic and pluripotent cell identities. The central paradigm for the proposed work is that SUMO functions as a general stabilizer of critical chromatin-bound determinants of cell identity and that the equilibrium between conjugating/deconjugating activities provides a general regulatory mechanism for their dynamic targeting to key chromosomal loci, thus actively contributing to cell-fate change. Focusing on reprogramming to pluripotency and transition to totipotent-like states, we propose to: 1) identify relevant locus-specific SUMO substrates/complexes in fibroblasts and ESCs, 2) define the role of SUMO in regulating their function and dynamics and, reciprocally, 3) explore the sumoylation/desumoylation balance that accompanies cell-fate change. A complementary effort seeks 4) to exploit these experimental approaches to study a paradigmatic pathophysiological process involving rapid cell-fate transitions: tissue repair following muscle injury. With a vision toward targeting this druggable pathway for regenerative medicine and cancer treatment, we expect these studies to integrate the gene regulatory roles of SUMO in resisting cell-fate change, thus opening up new avenues to the molecular mechanisms that specify cell identity during development and to how they are corrupted in disease.

Keywords: cell identity,gene expression,chromatin,post translational modification,sumo,muscle,tissue regeneration,mouse models
Accelerated Ordering Service for Distributed Ledgers (ACCORD)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Spain
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-05-01
End date: 2021-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172932.48
EU funding (EUR): 172932.48
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Distributed ledgers (DLs), also called blockchains, have the potential of transforming the ways individuals and businesses interact. While today a trusted third party, such as a bank, is required to guarantee that transactions among these entities are performed correctly, with DLs it is possible to delegate this task to a distributed computer network that relies on cryptographic operations and sophisticated distributed consensus algorithms to ensure that transactions are recorded durably and in a tamper-free manner. As a result, DLs have the potential to reduce the cost of transactions and the associated latencies dramatically. However, the adoption of DLs outside of crypto-currency use-cases has been slow partially due to their low performance compared to traditional data management systems. This stems mostly from the constraints and design choices inherited from the first public blockchains, that targeted public, geo-distributed, operation. Today, however, most industry use-cases require permissioned access to the ledger and involve nodes that are geographically close to each other (e.g. in a shipping port). This prompts a redesign of DLs and allows for using various hardware acceleration features to increase their performance. In the ACCORD project, we aim to increase distributed ledger throughput by at least an order of magnitude, while lowering latencies by a similar factor. To achieve this, we focus on the core component of DL systems, namely, distributed consensus that is used to establish an absolute order of transactions. This ordering operation (service) is typically the main performance bottleneck in DLs. To fully exploit emerging network technologies and to overcome stagnating CPU performance, we will use hardware acceleration (i.e., FPGAs) to offload the steps required by the ordering service. The outcome of this project is a DL design with performance that allows it to be deployed in use-cases in which DLs are inadequate today (e.g., trading).

Keywords: distributed systems,hardware acceleration,distributed ledger,networking
Immunological incompatibility as a basis for cancer curing and vaccination (ULISES)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
Theme: EIC Pathfinder
Destination: Novel ideas for radically new technologies
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Italy,Spain,Spain,Germany,Spain,Spain,Belgium,Netherlands,Netherlands
Call: FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking (H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01, 2019)
Start date: 2020-10-01
End date: 2024-06-30
Duration (months): 45.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2977160.0
EU funding (EUR): 2977160.0
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

In the ULISES project, we aim at developing an immunologic-based treatment strategy where cancer cells are “reprogrammed” to become “visible” to the patient’s own immune system, which will see them as “not belonging to the body” and will attack them, emulating the allogenic response to incompatible transplants. Thus, it will constitute a “natural” treatment, as the patient’s own immune system will be used to attack cancer cells, with no drugs, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, transplants, etc., significantly reducing the treatment time to few weeks and producing minimal or almost null side effects. In addition, this “reprogramming” will lead to an “immunological-memory” avoiding future relapses (vaccine-like effect) through TIL (Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes) generated around the tumour microenvironment by the immune system. Porous nanoparticles (NPs) will be used as carriers for delivering a plasmid DNA cargo into the tumour cells in order to produce that “reprogramming”. These NPs will specifically recognize the cancer cells through the CD47 protein and the folate receptors beta and alpha, highly expressed on the surface of the cells. Moreover, two messenger RNAs will be used in order to avoid the side effects caused by targeting CD47 protein (mainly anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia). Finally, highlight that the ULISES therapeutic strategy will be a “global” treatment, since only with 3 subtypes of NP (one for each chosen alloHLA-A), we will be able to target the entire population for each cancer type. For the implementation and validation of this strategy, we will focus on pancreatic cancer because of its high aggressiveness, lack of effective treatments and little life expectancy, but the developed strategy will also be valid for other cancer varieties with minimal modifications.

Keywords: immunological incompatibility,allogenic response,pancreatic cancer,genetic cargo,plasmids,antibodies,nanoparticles
Smart Lab-On-Chips for the Real -Time Control of Cells (SmartCells)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Panel description: Structure, electronic properties, fluids, nanosciences, biological physics
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2016-COG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-04-01
End date: 2023-09-30
Duration (months): 78.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2198150.99
EU funding (EUR): 1244160.96
Participants: 5
Project status: SIGNED

Cells are complex, autonomous genetic machines with rich information processing capabilities. Synthetic Biology builds on these properties to design novel, synthetic genetic programs in cells with the aim of benefiting humans. Yet, safety and efficiency issues require creation of synthetic circuits that are reliable over a large range of operating conditions and stable to all sorts of perturbations. This is a tremendous challenge for synthetic biologists, as the robustness of any circuit is limited by their high dependence on the cellular host machinery and the fundamental stochastic nature of gene expression. Taking inspiration from physics and engineering we have imagined a computer-based feedback loop that can remotely, in real-time, control the state of a synthetic genetic program running in cells. Here, we will combine microfluidics, optogenetics, structured illumination, inference methods and control algorithm into such a real time control device of gene expression for yeast cells. We will then study how cells can be controlled at different scales and with increasing levels of complexity from a simple circuit to a simple multicellular ecosystem. Specifically, we aim at: (1) Understanding the potential and limits of such a control method. We will ask to what extent robust control can be achieved at the single cell level over a broad range of operating conditions. (2) Taking control of complex circuits. In particular, we will take control of key genes of the large regulatory network in charge of yeast adaptation to osmotic stress and dissect their roles in setting the mechano-biology properties of yeast. (3) Taking control of multicellular systems. We will control the collective dynamics of a population of cells via single cell control at selected locations. This framework will establish solid scientific and technological foundations of a novel research area combining physics, engineering and synthetic biology to take control of living systems.

Keywords: systems biology,micro and nano systems engineering
Towards a neural and cognitive architecture of consciousness (CONSCIOUSNESS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Panel description: Cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, theoretical philosophy
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2016-STG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-05-01
End date: 2023-08-31
Duration (months): 76.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499766.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499766.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

For decades the cognitive neuroscience community has expended significant effort identifying system-level neural correlates of human consciousness, broad neural signatures that distinguish conscious from unconscious processes at the level of whole brain regions. Meanwhile, within the field of neurobiology, rapid progress has been made in understanding the neurotransmitter systems underlying basic sensory processes (e.g. in mice, monkeys). This research has, however, been performed in relative isolation from studies of human consciousness, and clear opportunities to link the two levels of description remain largely unexplored. Here I will establish this link by combining state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques with pharmacological interventions. First, I will validate and refine existing theories of consciousness by isolating system-level neural correlates of consciousness that are invariant across experimental tasks and manipulations. Second, I will test the hypothesis that NMDA receptors play a crucial role in recurrent processing, the dynamic information exchange between brain regions, thought to give rise to consciousness. I will also test the hypothesis that rapid fluctuations in spontaneous network activity (modulating arousal levels), which are controlled by noradrenaline and acetylcholine neuromodulatory systems, determine the likelihood of sensory evoked recurrent processing, and hence consciousness, to occur. Third, I will test the hypothesis that recurrent processing provides the possibility for prolonged and flexible information processing, which could represent a potential function of consciousness. In summary, the proposed research has the potential to gain fundamental insights in the neural causes, rather than simply correlates, of human consciousness, as has been the focus of most previous work. In so doing, the work will advance scientific understanding of the long-debated functional significance of consciousness for human cognition and behavior.

Keywords: conscious perception,visual awareness,unconscious processes,cognitive neuroscience,neuroimaging
A total cyber protection service to Small Businesses operating critical infrastructure and Residential customers (ConnectProtect)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Secure societies - protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Engaging SMEs in security research and development (H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017, 2016)
Start date: 2016-07-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project focuses on cyber-security and aims to address any form of internal or external malware and cyber-attacks. Estimates of global financial losses due to cyber-crime are at least €350 billion per year and are expected to reach €1.89 trillion by 2019. Cyber-crime has led to the loss of up to 150,000 jobs in Europe, which is about 0.6% of the total unemployed population. In response to cyber-crime, we initiated ‘ConnectProtect’ in 2012, a total cyber protection service for SMEs and residential customers. We worked with about 20 SMEs in the UK to build this service and up to date, we developed a reporting engine capable of correlating events/logs from multiple security products across multiple organisations and constantly updating each event in real-time to generate the relevant classification of potential threat. The report engine is able to generate a case for our engineers to deal with an incident in real-time and allowing the customer to view their security state via a dashboard. We aim to further establish and understand our target market and conduct a detailed Europe wide cyber-security market study to establish the size and dynamics of the small business market; engage developmental, operational, and marketing partners for successful delivery of this project. We also seek to develop an Intellectual Property (IP) strategy to protect our solution from exploitation by other parties. Through this project we will reduce the cyber security burden in the EU from an average of €280 to between €10 and €70 per employee per month and we will create over 100 jobs through native sales language teams that would be set up in our various target countries. We will potentially save SMEs over 20% (i.e. over €1 billion) of revenue lost to cyber-crime in Europe.

Keywords: protection,cyber security,cyber protection,small businesses
Open Distributed Digital Content Verification for Hyper-connected Sociality (SocialTruth)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: Italy,Italy,Italy,Romania,Poland,Greece,France,France,France,United Kingdom
Call: Future Hyper-connected Sociality (H2020-ICT-2018-2, 2018)
Start date: 2018-12-01
End date: 2021-11-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3178110.0
EU funding (EUR): 2505027.0
Participants: 13
Project status: CLOSED

The extreme growth and adoption of Social Media, in combination with their poor governance and the lack of quality control over the digital content being published and shared, has led information veracity to a continuous deterioration. Current approaches entrust content verification to a single centralised authority, lack resilience towards attempts to successfully “game” verification checks, and make content verification difficult to access and use. In response, SocialTruth’s ambition is to create an open, democratic, pluralistic and distributed ecosystem that allows easy access to various verification services (both internal and third-party), ensuring scalability and establishing trust in a completely decentralized environment. The distinctive advantages are: a) avoidance of vendor lock-in through access to configurable combinations of various content analytics and verification services (with support for text, image and video content) via standard Application Programming Interfaces; b) distributed trust and reputation establishment powered by blockchain technology, ensuring immutability and auditability, revealing information cascades and empowering an information veracity observatory; c) integration of lifelong learning approach for detection of new paradigms of fake news; d) easy interaction through a Digital Companion that allows convenient everyday access of individual users to verification services from within their browsers. SocialTruth will benefit: a) Individual users to verify the validity of Social Media content and prevent misinformation spread; b) Media organisations, content authors and journalists to boost their investigative capabilities by enabling improved cross-checking of various multimedia information sources; c) Search engines, Social Media platforms and e-advertising networks to improve information veracity and contribute into a more sustainable and quality-oriented web and social media ecosystem.

Keywords: digital media,content verification,blockchain,natural language processing,semantic analysis,machine learning,artificial intelligence,expert system
KAM Patch, the Smart Sweat Patch: a breakthrough platform for hydration monitoring (KAM Patch)

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: 2018-07-01
End date: 2018-12-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Dehydration is a silent threat affecting the health and wellbeing of a large fraction of the world’s population. Vulnerable groups such as children, older people, pregnant and breastfeeding women, athletes and outdoor workers present the highest prevalence, resulting in associated acute and long-term health risks. Our property technology (EP17382045) is KAM Patch, a wearable smart patch that monitors hydration through sweat analysis, wirelessly and in real-time. KAM Patch is created with novel nano-inks capable of transforming commodity materials such as paper, rubber or cotton into smart sensing materials. Through the latest generation of flexible electronics, the device can be embedded in mass-market daily objects, such as patches or Band-Aids. KAM Patch is simple, affordable and does not require direct user intervention, which facilitates market adoption. This will help people to make smart choices, thus improving their quality of life and producing a positive impact on public health. The market for this product is still emerging, which is very interesting from a business point of view. Kamleon’s goal is to take a strategic market position in the development of this new health and well-being business. Furthermore, KAM Patch is very different from the technologies currently present in the market, regarding cost and user experience. It is expected that both Kamleon’s value proposition and business models will evolve through time. Initially focusing on hydration, we forecast initial sales during year 3, with a CAGR of 70% and 90 % the following 4 and 5 years through an intensive commercialization and internationalization plan, with an estimated 12 M revenues, generating an employees’ growth from 4 to 52 professionals during year 5. This Phase 1 will consist of a thorough feasibility study, intended to measure KAM Patch’s potential and assess its technical and economic viability.

Keywords: dehydration,children,elderly,sport,medical device,sweat analysis,hydration,wearable smart patch,disruptive innovation,health,patient empowerment,athletes,wireless