Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
A Gamma-ray Infrastructure to Advance Gravitational Wave Astrophysics (GIGA)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Universe Sciences
Panel description: Astro -physics/ -chemistry/ -biology; solar system; planetary systems; stellar, galactic and extragalactic astronomy; cosmology; space sciences; astronomical instrumentation and data
Countries involved: Germany,Netherlands
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2023-STG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2028-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1658500.0
EU funding (EUR): 1658500.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

When galaxies merge, do their central supermassive black holes also merge? How does the merger affect star formation and the evolution of galaxies? How does physics beyond the Standard Model of particles affect the Universe? The detection and characterisation of low-frequency gravitational waves (GWs) will address these fundamental and longstanding questions of astronomy and cosmology. Supermassive black holes at the centres of merging galaxies are expected to form binary systems whose orbital motion generates GWs. A cosmological population of such systems combine to build up a GW background (GWB). Such a GWB is also expected if the Universe went through an inflationary period, providing a GW map just moments after the Big Bang. Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs), which are ensembles of extremely stable millisecond pulsars (rotating neutron stars), can be used to study this GWB. Searches for the GWB have typically used sensitive radio telescopes. However, radio data exhibit complex noise processes, predominantly arising from the interstellar medium (ISM), that limit its sensitivity and introduce bias. Gamma rays are immune to the effects of the ISM and a gamma-ray PTA can overcome several of the limitations affecting radio data. GIGA will (a) establish a gamma-ray PTA and independently detect the GWB, (b) develop advanced inference techniques to distinguish its astrophysical origins, (c) measure properties of the ISM through multiwavelength studies, and (d) explore energy-dependent couplings of dark matter. Through these avenues, GIGA will also maximise the sensitivity of radio PTAs and provide crucial validation of their measurements. The detection of the GWB will provide the first stringent constraints on the dynamical evolution of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies while advanced inferences techniques will aid in disentangling weaker astrophysical sources including cosmic strings and phase transitions, thus probing physics beyond the Standard Model.

Keywords: pulsar timing arrays,pulsars
Decoding Epileptogenic Glioma Networks Using Forebrain Assembloids (GLIO-NET)

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: Austria
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-04-01
End date: 2027-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 328835.31
EU funding (EUR): 230184.72
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Pediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas are the primary cause of cancer-related mortality in children and adolescents. The most common and aggressive forms harbor mutually exclusive mutations in histone 3 (H3), involving distinct brain regions and developmental origins. In contrast to other gliomas, GABAergic interneuron progenitors are implicated as the cells of origin for H3G34-mutant diffuse hemispheric gliomas (DHGs), which almost exclusively affect the cerebral hemispheres. Seizures are a common comorbidity in patients with cortical gliomas, with evidence suggesting that gliomas alter synaptic structures to induce hyperexcitability. Neuronal activity, in turn, accelerates glioma progression through paracrine signaling and neuron-to-glioma synapses. Despite their cortical involvement, high seizure incidence, and poor prognosis, neuron-glioma interactions in DHGs remain understudied. Human cerebral organoids, pioneered by the Knoblich Lab, recapitulate early brain architecture and circuit assembly via excitatory neurogenesis (dorsal forebrain) and interneuron development (ventral forebrain). Ultimately leading to functional network activity with complex oscillatory dynamics, organoids provide the ideal platform to study brain tumors in the context of network pathologies. In this project, I will develop patient-derived models of seizure-associated DHGs in brain region specific cerebral organoids to examine neuron-glioma synapses. Using barcoded viral tracing and genetic perturbation screening, I will identify synaptic interaction partners and tumor-specific anti-connectivity targets. Electrophysiological recordings will assess the effects of anti-epileptogenic and anti-tumorigenic perturbations. This work will provide critical insights into neuron-glioma communication and its role in epileptogenesis during tumor progression, with important therapeutic implications.

Keywords: brain organoids brain tumors pediatric glioma cancer neuronal connectivity neural networks synaptic tracing crispr screening epileptogenesis seizure activity epilepsy electrophysiology
Research Horizons for Gaza (H-Gaza)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Research infrastructures
Theme: Research infrastructures
Destination: Other destinations
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Action to support Gazan researchers (HORIZON-INFRA-2025-GAZA-IBA, 2025)
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2027-06-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1000000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

In a context of extreme geopolitical risk and severe disruption to Gaza’s academic and research systems, the H-Gaza project aims to safeguard and reconnect Gaza’s present and future research and innovation capacity by: i) mapping existing regional and local support initiatives, stakeholders, and potential beneficiaries (Palestinian researchers in and from Gaza); ii) piloting a Virtual Research Collaboration Hub via EURAXESS for 75 early-stage, postdoctoral and experienced researchers in or from Gaza, offering mentorship and career guidance, access to research infrastructure, discipline-specific discussion groups, training in transferable skills, matchmaking with existing and emerging opportunities and collaborative research activities; and iii) conducting a scenario-based feasibility assessment to guide the design of a larger intervention. Supporting Gaza’s research capacity is not only an act of solidarity or academic aid, but a strategic investment in science diplomacy and global stability. It is precisely in contexts of high risk and systemic collapse that the soft power of science becomes most visible, opening pathways for connection, continuity, quiet resilience and hope where other systems may fail.

Keywords: gaza,academic disruption,science diplomacy,mapping,research and innovation continuity,career guidance,pilot project,feasibility assessment
A novel evolutionary perspective on language: The advantage of arbitrariness and roots of discreteness (ArbEvo)

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: United Kingdom
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2027-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 276187.92
EU funding (EUR): 276187.92
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Language is one of the greatest mysteries in the evolution of humankind. It is a remarkable phenomenon that appears to be distinct from other animal communication system, and yet its evolutionary roots remain far from clear. One interesting feature of human language, that does not seem to exist in other communication systems, is the arbitrary relationship between form and meaning. In recent years, many studies have emphasised cases of non-arbitrariness, such as iconicity, and pointed to its advantages for communication, but the merits of arbitrariness itself are rarely considered. This project takes a novel perspective and aims to demonstrate the potential advantage of arbitrariness, in order to elucidate it as an evolutionary adaptive behavioural trait. The specific proposal is that arbitrariness supports communication under noisy conditions. A combination of cross-linguistic comparison, laboratory psycholinguistic experiments, and computational modelling will illuminate the role of arbitrariness in efficient communication. It will demonstrate how decoupling form and meaning reduces ambiguities, when context is available, and explore the effects of various types of naturally occurring noise. The project aims to further demonstrate the role of another quality of arbitrariness: that is, the induction of a discrete communication system. This has consequences for the emergence of complex linguistic characteristics, such as syntax and compositionality. By integrating ideas from distinct fields, such as the evolution of animal communication, and cross-cultural and cross-linguistic human studies, the project has the potential to set forth a novel theory about key aspects of the evolution of language.

Keywords: language evolution iconicity arbitrariness systematicity cross linguistic categories concepts
A Human Pancreatic Islet Perturbation Atlas (HuPIPA) to decipher diabetes-relevant regulatory networks (HuPIPA)

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: Spain
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-06-01
End date: 2026-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165312.96
EU funding (EUR): 165312.96
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Type 2 diabetes (or T2D) is a heterogeneous disease that affects nearly 1 in 10 adults worldwide, directly causing 1.5 million deaths each year. Human genetics and single cell genomic studies show that abnormal pancreatic β-cell transcriptional programs play a crucial role in type 2 diabetes. However, we lack an understanding of how this is translated into impaired β-cell function or mass. Consequently, existing drug therapies for T2D aim to alleviate hyperglycaemia, but do not target causal mechanisms. My overarching goal is to understand variation of β-cell transcriptional states. I postulate that even if an infinite number of perturbations are conceivable, only a finite number of cell states exist. Identifying and characterizing major cellular states, by studying regulatory responses to perturbations could provide insights into T2D pathophysiology, and pave the way for disease-modifying strategies. The concept of Human Cell Atlas currently depicts the cells landscape under one theoretical average condition, and does not represent the broad range of possible cell states that exist in different conditions. I'll be extending this concept towards the production of a Human Pancreatic Islet Perturbation Atlas (HuPIPA), which has the potential to be the first atlas characterizing cell states dynamics through multiple perturbations. I will harness this resource to unravel T2D mechanisms and to discover candidate therapeutic strategies. To this end, I will design a large-scale single-cell multiomics experiment of human islets facing chemogenetic perturbations. I will develop a novel statistical tool for the analysis of single-cell multiomics data under a broad range of conditions, and perform an integrative analysis with T2D human genetic and single cell datasets. This project, at the junction of statistics, genetics and computer science, has the potential to provide new knowledge for a better understanding and treatment of T2D.

Keywords: single cell analysis,type 2 diabetes,human pancreatic islets,regulatory networks
Plastic Degradation by Genetic Engineered Black Soldier Fly using Chitosan Nanocapsules (PLASTIFLY)

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: Chemistry
Countries involved: Italy,Spain
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2027-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 193643.28
EU funding (EUR): 193643.28
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

The management of plastics, a persistent environmental challenge due to their durability, necessitates innovative solutions. While Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae demonstrate potential as a bioremediation agent for organic waste, their capacity for plastic degradation remains limited. This study proposes enhancing the plasticolytic capabilities of BSF larvae through genetic engineering, specifically by introducing plastic-degrading enzymes using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. To overcome the challenges associated with low gene delivery efficiency in insects, we propose employing chitosan-based nanocarriers. These carriers offer biocompatibility, biodegradability, and protection for genetic material. Integrating magnetic nanoparticles into these carriers enables magnetofection, improving gene delivery precision and efficacy. By genetically modifying BSF larvae to degrade plastics, we aim to develop a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to plastic waste management, reducing reliance on harmful chemicals and minimizing environmental impact. This research has the potential to expand beyond conventional plastics, contributing to comprehensive waste management strategies.

Keywords: chitosan nanoparticles,plastic degradation,black soldier fly
Experiencing Access with Interactive Technologies (ACCESSTECH)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Computer Science and Informatics
Panel description: Informatics and information systems, computer science, scientific computing, intelligent systems
Countries involved: Austria
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2023-STG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-02-01
End date: 2029-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499910.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499910.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

How is access experienced in interaction with modern technologies? Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has a tradition of asking questions around functionality in the context of assistive and accessible technologies. However, the additional aspects of lived experiences with disabilities are often secondary to the questions and interests driven by non-disabled researchers. This approach risks producing artefacts that might be functionally accessible, but are deemed as undesirable, unwanted or even harmful by disabled communities themselves. With an increased move towards digitising aspects of our everyday lives, there is an urgent need to understand the fundamentals of how access can be conceptualised, implemented and flexible to situated engagements. ACCESSTECH investigates the deeper theories behind access as a component affecting interaction with technologies for disabled people through Participatory Research through Design. Drawing on the PI's outstanding track record in critical analysis and participatory design practices within HCI (including 14 award-winning papers), we approach experiences of access along four paths of inquiry: 1) We identify the needed research and design parameters enabling us to produce knowledges about access-enabling technologies. 2) We establish which methods are required to design and develop critical technologies that are rooted in disability cultures as well as accepted and desired by disabled people. 3) We explore a range of different technologies to understand how they afford different kinds of access experiences. 4) We conceptualise and articulate access experiences as a distinct aspect shaping the interactive characteristics of modern technologies on a theoretical level. Each of these paths informs disability centred practices and theories in HCI, though, collectively, ACCESSTECH represents a fundamental paradigm shift in the ways we encounter disabilities and technologies.

Keywords: access,human computer interaction,participatory design,research through design,experience
Revealing the natUre and ideNtity of actiVe sites through structure-depEndent mIcrokinetic modeLing for CO2 electroreduction reaction (UNVEIL)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Italy,Switzerland
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-12-16
End date: 2025-12-15
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 188590.08
EU funding (EUR): 188590.08
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

The present-day chemicals industry heavily depends on fossil fuels, contributing significantly to the concerning rise in global CO2 emissions. However, for transitioning to renewables, large-scale and high energy-density energy storage is needed. The CO2 electroreduction reaction holds promise in this direction, due to its unique ability to convert waste CO2 emissions back into valuable base chemicals at ambient conditions, using renewable electricity. However, it currently lacks industrial adoption, due to the lack of highly selective and stable catalysts. Understanding the catalytic properties such as selectivity and stability at the atomic scale requires fundamental insights about the "real" catalyst structure under reaction conditions and its effects on the reaction mechanisms. The goal of this project is to investigate this structure sensitivity of the Cu-based CO2 electroreduction reaction by developing a structure-dependent microkinetic model. To achieve this, I will use Boltzmann statistics and DFT calculations to predict ensembles of Cu nanoparticles with thermodynamically most stable morphologies under experimental reaction conditions and account for the respective distribution of active sites. Thereafter, the reaction pathways towards key products such as hydrogen, methane and ethylene over the active sites will be investigated. The multiscale analysis based on the structure-dependent microkinetic modeling will connect the experimentally observed macroscopic reaction rates with the nanoscale true structure of the catalyst, revealing the structure-property relationships of the CO2 electroreduction catalyst. The potential outcomes are: 1) understanding how catalyst structure at the nanoscale affects its properties in the CO2 electroreduction process; 2) achieving a wider adoption of multiscale modelling as a tool for rational electrocatalyst design; and 3) establishing stronger collaborations between experimental and theoretical catalysis.

Keywords: structure sensitivity,first principles multiscale analysis,electrocatalysis,co2 electroreduction over copper catalyst
Particle distribution dynamics in nonlinear bifurcating networks (BiNet)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Systems and Communication Engineering
Panel description: Electrical, electronic, communication, optical and systems engineering
Countries involved: Finland
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2021-COG, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2027-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2000000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Bifurcating networks are ubiquitous in nature such as vasculature/pulmonary networks, kidney urinary tract, and branching in plants. In addition to their role of transporting the carrying fluid, these networks distribute discrete particles suspended in the fluid leading to intricate spatiotemporal particle flow dynamics. The heterogenous distribution of red blood cells (RBC) in microcirculation is an example of this behaviour, consequences of which are not well-understood. Our objective is to explain the fundamental principles and implications of nonuniform particle distributions in bifurcating networks using RBC flow in vasculature as a model system. Currently there is no systematic approach to study such complex particle distribution dynamics. We propose using droplet microfluidic as an analogue of the biological network. Microfluidics provide superb control of the droplets/particles, carrying fluid and network properties in highly engineered microfabricated devices. We aim to understand RBC distribution patterns in capillary network and the consequences during vascularization and organogenesis. Our approach is (i) to observe the in vivo RBC fractionation in chick embryo vasculature, (ii) to develop its in vitro analogue using droplet microfluidics, (iii) to develop in silico model and determine the governing parameters. This project will discover the foundations of particle transport phenomena in nonlinear bifurcating networks and address the long-lasting question of RBC nonuniformity in microcirculation and its implications as a groundbreaking contribution. Another key outcome will be correlating RBC heterogeneity to corresponding organ growth by visualising two bifurcating networks simultaneously: vasculature and urinary tree, using kidney organoid xenotransplantation. The project will advance (i) the fundamental understanding of particle distribution in nonlinear bifurcating networks and (ii) the research in vascularization and artificial kidney development.

Keywords: microfluidics,microdroplets,red blood cells