Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
employing protein aggregation as an antibacterial design strategy (PeptIn)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: ERC-Proof of Concept (ERC-2017-PoC, 2017)
Start date: 2017-07-01
End date: 2018-12-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Antibiotic resistance is increasing globally at such a pace that many experts fear the dawn of the post-antibiotic era if we fail to meet the urgent need for novel therapeutics. We evaluated if the working hypothesis of the MANGO ERC project that protein aggregation is driven by sequence specific interactions can be exploited to generate aggregates that are specifically toxic to bacteria without affecting mammalian cells. In particular we examined if peptides encoding aggregation-prone sequence segments of bacterial proteins can display antimicrobial activity by initiating aggregation in bacteria but not in mammalian cells. Unbiased in vitro screening of aggregating peptides lead to the identification of several hits that are strongly bactericidal against drug resistant gram+ S aureus strains, and others against pathogenic gram- E coli strains. The peptides cured mice from bacterial sepsis without apparent toxic side effects. The peptides enter and accumulate in the bacterial cytosol where they cause aggregation of bacterial polypeptides and the formation of inclusion bodies. Although the precise chain of events that leads to cell death remains to be elucidated, the ability to tap into aggregation-prone sequences of bacterial proteomes to elicit antimicrobial activity represents a rich and unexplored chemical space to be mined in search of novel therapeutic strategies to fight infectious diseases that are increasingly threatening global healthcare. However, given the novelty of this concept, the viability of aggregating peptides as antimicrobial therapeutics needs to be further advanced in order to consolidate the already significant interest from the pharmaceutical industry. In the current proposal we outline a series of experiments designed to address some of the key questions that were raised by potential investors and experts from the pharmaceutical sector to whom we presented the current data package.

Keywords: protein aggregation,antibacterials,antibiotics,antibiotic resistance
Novel Electride Material for Enhanced electrical propulSIon Solutions (NEMESIS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Space
Theme: Enabling advances in space technology
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Spain,Austria,France
Call: SRC – In-Space electrical propulsion and station keeping (H2020-SPACE-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2019-10-01
End date: 2023-03-31
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 975803.75
EU funding (EUR): 970446.25
Participants: 5
Project status: SIGNED

The NEMESIS project is a transversal project strategically aiming at developing electride-based cathode technology which is compatible with all kinds of electric propulsion (EP) systems requiring neutralization addressing the full span of required electron currents from 50 mA to 5 A. The ceramic electride C12A7:e- has excellent materials properties for thermionic devices for EP applications such as hollow cathodes or thermionic emitters. Its properties are superior to those of conventional ceramics currently employed in EP neutralizer technology. It is anticipated that C12A7:e- neutralizer technology is a potential game changer widening the applicability of EP immensely by enabling new mission scenarios due to higher reliability, compatibility with alternative propellants, lower power consumption on satellite and less thermal load at low costs. The challenge is to fully transfer the theoretically ideal materials properties of C12A7:e- to neutralizer devices in order to fully make use of its potential for application in order to achieve the best performance and reliability and become a disruptive force in the cost-driven satellite market. The interdisciplinary NEMESIS consortium addresses with task by establishing the full chain from materials synthesis via processing to device design, fabrication and testing. All links of the chain are interlocked and will be permanently validated. Four types of ceramic-based neutralizer device concepts will be addressed and matured to TRL4 aiming specifically at exploring the anticipated strengths of C12A7:e-. The 36 months NEMESIS project requests a total of EC grant of 975.803,75 € for an experienced interdisciplinary consortium of 5 partners from 4 countries: 2 SMEs ATD (Spain, Coordinator), Exotrail (France), 2 universities Justus Liebig University Giessen (Germany), Universidas de Politecnica de Madrid (Spain), 1 research institute FOTEC (Austria).

Keywords: space electric propulsion performance and cost improvements,improve electric propulsion devices performances using c12a7 novel thermionic emitter material
Genetic Translation Studies (GTS)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-06-01
End date: 2022-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 178320.0
EU funding (EUR): 178320.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

After centuries of neglect, the translator is now recognised as a crucial negotiator in the international exchange of ideas. Accessing reliable versions of foreign texts is absolutely vital for international dialogue and establishing common grounds for the exchange of culture. Within this process, translators are regularly held accountable for their perceived fidelity to the translated text and for the success of its adaptation to the target culture. Yet we know very little about how, during the writing or genesis of the text, translators negotiate their personal ethics and creativity within the constraints of the publishing industry and the culture of reception. Translation Studies could more accurately describe translation processes and better train future translators if researchers knew how expert literary translators decide which strategies to pursue, when they exercise or restrain their creativity, and when it is circumscribed by others. The possibility to acquire such knowledge is emerging through the recent development of translators’ archives in Europe and North America, in particular. Scholars have begun to retrace the genesis of certain texts by studying translation manuscripts and material evidence of the creative process. However, this new field of research lacks a coherent methodology that allows it to build a systematic appreciation of translator decision making and understand how individuals negotiate external pressures and influences. The Genetic Translation Studies project addresses exactly this problem. Furthermore, it analyses the cultural politics that determine if, which, and whose translation materials are collected, where, how, and above all, why. It uses this understanding to formulate and promote policy solutions to increase the quantity and diversity of translator archives. This will therefore allow future researchers to understand the processes that shape a much wider range of translations valued by the public.

Keywords: translation studies,sociology of translation,literary archives,public policy
POLYmer-COntrolled Mesocrystal application-oriented Production: a combined theoretical and experimental approach. (POLYCOMP)

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: Chemistry
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-09-28
End date: 2017-09-27
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

POLYmer-COntrolled Mesocrystal Production (POLYCOMP) aims to develop an intimate understanding of the underlying mechanisms of mesocrystal formation. This in turn will lead to the development of new mesocrystals with controlled morphologies and thus optimised properties. Mesocrystals have only very recently been described and are best viewed as an entirely new class of material. As such these unique substances have the potential to revolutionise materials/devices containing inorganic components. Applications are myriad and include building materials, such as concrete, with vastly greater compression strengths (in theory at least, the heights of concrete buildings could be increased from 500m to 15km!), solar cells with far higher solar harvesting efficiencies, new biomimetic materials, e.g. for use in joint replacement procedures, and electronic devices where size-dependent nanoparticle-like properties, e.g. superparamagnetism, are retained in macroscopic-sized materials enabling easier manufacture of components such as computer memory, quantum dot-based LEDs, etc. Currently approaches to mesocrystal formation are somewhat ad hoc and these kinds of application remain largely unachievable. The principle underlying reason for this is that mesocrystal formation processes are often still too poorly understood. POLYCOMP will remove this bottleneck to mesocrystal exploitation by focusing directly on developing a generic understanding of mesocrystal formation processes. Such an approach is thus clearly directly relevant to the EU’s mission to advance knowledge and technology in areas such as construction, electronics and energy.
COMmunication and Assessment With Adaptive Realtime Environments (ComaWare)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Austria
Call: Open Disruptive Innovation Scheme (implemented through the SME instrument) (H2020-SMEINST-2-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2015-10-01
End date: 2018-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2943500.0
EU funding (EUR): 2038750.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Imagine being able to hear, feel, and think – but not see or move. You cannot communicate in any way, but can hear doctors and family members saying that you are comatose and cannot understand or make decisions. Recent work has shown that this nightmarish situation is a reality for tens of thousands of people worldwide, who have been diagnosed as comatose but may in fact have some ability to understand. More recent work has shown that brain-computer interface (BCI) systems can help with re-assessment of these patients, and can even provide communication. Our Feasibility Assessment in ComaWare Phase I, and other very recent developments, have strongly supported our plan to provide new technology to help these patients. In addition to providing assessment and communication, our new mindBEAGLE prototype will also be able to provide prediction and rehabilitation. This is a highly disruptive technology that will create a new market and buyer group: patients who have been (mis)- diagnosed as unable to communicate. These persons, and their physicians and families, will be very highly motivated to convey their basic needs and desires, and seek rehabilitation to regain some cognitive and motor function. In addition to creating a new mindBEAGLE-Pro system specialized for severely disabled persons without vision, we will also develop, pilot-test, and launch a novel business focused on providing support for patients, their carers and clinicians. This evaluation will support our Commercialization Plan, along with user, market and IP research, targeted surveys of end users, business experts, researchers and other groups, Workshop Tours, and other activities. Our efforts will be supported by a strong Advisory Board and subcontractors with specific, targeted expertise. Overall, ComaWare will create a paradigm shift in assessment and treatment of persons diagnosed with disorders of consciousness.

Keywords: brain computer interface,disorders of consciousness,neurotechnology
The neural correlates of the self in altered states of consciousness. (NeuCoSe)

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: France
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-06-21
End date: 2019-06-20
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 185076.0
EU funding (EUR): 185076.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The consciousness of self is fundamental to our human existence. In several mental health afflictions there appears to be a change in the relation between the self and conscious experience: in anxiety and depression, people can be absorbed in negative thoughts, while in (traumatic) dissociation, distance between the self and conscious experience can occur. Studies report that meditation and hypnosis can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress, but it is unclear why. I hypothesise that meditation and hypnosis change the relation between the self and the conscious experience. I aim to study the neural correlates of these changes in self-consciousness during meditative and hypnotic states with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in healthy controls and intracranial electroencephalography in people with epilepsy, which is the only way to directly measure the activity of deep brain structures thought to play a role in self-consciousness, such as the insula. I will combine these measurements with first-person interviews and behavioural tasks. This innovative study will elucidate the neural correlates of the consciousness of self and will help understand the reported beneficial effects of meditation and hypnosis on mental health.

Keywords: consciousness,self,meditation,hypnosis,functional magnetic resonance imaging,intracranial eeg
The limits of the sciences in identifying causes and scientific laws (Alexander Krauss)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-03-15
End date: 2019-03-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Scientists rarely question the scientific methods – and their related complex theory, strong assumptions and problematic quantitative techniques – used to generate the causes and laws in their particular scientific models, which is the guiding research question of this project. Better understanding the limits of using mathematical and statistical methods in science is important for research and policy, because these methods all lead to some degree of biased results and scientists using them often misguidedly claim to establish strong causal relationships. This research project will investigate the underlying assumptions of quantitative methods by critically assessing the leading, most cited academic studies across the sciences that all use some form of mathematical and statistical methods. By combining theoretical, methodological and empirical analysis, this research project will help disentangle the links between the actual methods applied by scientists and the causal effects and scientific laws they claim to identify in their models. Identified causes and laws need to always be understood in the context of the different methods used to express them. This research project thus aims to address the gaps in the literature on scientific methodology by providing insight and knowledge into the large set of important assumptions and limitations behind mathematical and statistical methods used to identify causes and scientific laws. By helping to increase awareness among scientists about these biases and constraints and by outlining ways to better combine multiple methods, this project also aims to help improve scientific practice. More broadly, it hopes to help improve how we understand scientific methodology and thus science and evidence-based policymaking.

Keywords: limits of scientific methods,scientific methodology,philosophy of science
Developing multi-modality nanomedicines for targeted annotation of oncogenic signaling pathways (NanoSCAN)

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: Switzerland
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2015-STG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-09-01
End date: 2022-01-31
Duration (months): 65.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1700000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1700000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Spatial and temporal changes in the underlying biochemistry of cancer control disease progression and response/resistance to treatment. Developing methods to detect changes in oncogenic signaling at an early stage is vital to further our understanding of cancer, and will advance the next generation of anti-cancer therapies. Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology to diagnose or treat disease. In light of the recent introduction of tools like Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI) scanners, there is now a new opportunity to develop hybrid imaging protocols that can simultaneously take advantage of the functional and anatomic information available from PET/MRI to address changes in oncogenic signaling pathways. The work outlined in this interdisciplinary ERC Project is designed to advance new chemistry and imaging methods to measure changes in oncogenic signaling in various cancers before, during and after treatment using PET/MRI. The long-term goals are to expand the scope and utility of radiolabelled nanomedicines as dual-modality PET/MRI probes for detecting changes in oncogenic signaling in various cancers and develop efficient methods for translating new technologies to the clinic. Successful completion of this ERC Project has the potential to transform personalised clinical management of cancer patients via advanced PET/MRI detection of oncogenic signaling processes.

Keywords: radiochemistry,nanomedicines,molecular imaging,oncogenic signaling
Implementation and Preliminary Validation of a Novel Noninvasive Neuromodulation Technique to Restore Hand Movement and Promote Recovery after Stroke (CortIMod)

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: United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-11-01
End date: 2018-11-27
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 195454.8
EU funding (EUR): 195454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Stroke is a leading cause of adult chronic disability and has devastating socioeconomic costs. Severe hand paresis is a major contributor to chronic disability after stroke. New research opportunities offer the prospect of accelerating both the understanding of neurological disorders and the development of new therapies to improve rehabilitation by promoting neural plasticity. This project proposes an innovative multimodal platform integrating noninvasive electrophysiological recording and stimulation devices to “neuromodulate” the motor cortex. The platform will decode cortical states preceding human motor intentions to induce highly functional neural changes in the cortical circuits controlling hand muscles. I expect that the application of this new intervention will lead to unprecedented levels of motor recovery by reinforcing patients' remaining brain-muscle connections. I recently finished my Ph.D. in the emerging field of neural engineering. In it I developed technologies to study brain activities related to voluntary and pathological motor processes in neurological patients, and I designed real-time platforms integrating cortical signals with muscle electrical stimulation for neurorehabilitation. The research in this project together with the expertise of my supervisor and host constitute an unmatchable opportunity for me to develop and consolidate critical neuroscience, neural engineering, and clinical skills, which will broaden my current competencies. I will also enrich my network of collaborations and receive training on management, tutoring, teaching, proposal writing and ethics, which will allow me to become and independent and mature researcher. I expect that my research will have high impact in the EU society and I anticipate that, through this fellowship, I will promote research in neuromodulation from a multidisciplinary perspective and devise the possibilities to effectively transfer new technologies to the clinical practice.

Keywords: neurorehabilitation,neuromodulation technologies