Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Unlocking the potential of cryo-electron tomography by simplification of the sample preparation workflow (Cryo-SECOM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2018-12-01
End date: 2019-03-31
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is a powerful technique that can faithfully image the native cellular environment at nanometer resolution and enables the acquisition of 3D images of large and pleomorphic objects, such as cells and organelles, with unprecedented resolution. The main problem in the current cryo tomography workflow is the multiple critical steps needed to make the sample suitable for analysis. Current labs use a workflow that involves at least 22 steps, limiting the throughput to the creation of only one sample a day, and with a low yield of the analysis due to contamination of the sample during the transfer steps. Delmic has completely reimagined the cryo-ET workflow, with the ultimate vision of completely automating sample preparation. Central to this workflow is the cryo-SECOM, which integrates a correlated cryo light microscope with a FIB/SEM system. Additionally, a unified carrier simplifies the placing and carrying samples around and the sample handling and loading/unloading procedures are automatized. We will tie all workstations together, basically creating a ‘cryo-ET sample prep robot’. This fully integrated workflow approach reduces the switching between many workstations, gives higher yield, and offers unprecedented precision in targeting the area of interest. By simplifying the workflow and reducing the preparation time, cryo-SECOM will allow researchers to innovate faster, decreasing the sample preparation time by 87% and improving the yield by 8-fold. The cost per sample will be greatly reduced by 90%. Cryo-SECOM will be key in unlocking the full potential cryo-ET, opening new horizons in structural biology research that will have broad application to address fundamental questions in microbiology.

Keywords: cryo electron microscopy,tomography,nanoscience,visual proteomics
CRACKING THE CODE BEHIND MITOTIC FIDELITY: the roles of tubulin post-translational modifications and a chromosome separation checkpoint (CODECHECK)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Cellular, Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Panel description: Structure and function of the cell, cell-cell communication, embryogenesis, tissue differentiation, organogenesis, growth, development, evolution of development, organoids, stem cells, regeneration, therapeutic approaches
Countries involved: Portugal
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2015-CoG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-07-01
End date: 2023-06-30
Duration (months): 84.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2323468.0
EU funding (EUR): 2323468.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

During the human lifetime 10000 trillion cell divisions take place to ensure tissue homeostasis and several vital functions in the organism. Mitosis is the process that ensures that dividing cells preserve the chromosome number of their progenitors, while deviation from this, a condition known as aneuploidy, represents the most common feature in human cancers. Here we will test two original concepts with strong implications for chromosome segregation fidelity. The first concept is based on the “tubulin code” hypothesis, which predicts that molecular motors “read” tubulin post-translational modifications on spindle microtubules. Our proof-of-concept experiments demonstrate that tubulin detyrosination works as a navigation system that guides chromosomes towards the cell equator. Thus, in addition to regulating the motors required for chromosome motion, the cell might regulate the tracks in which they move on. We will combine proteomic, super-resolution and live-cell microscopy, with in vitro reconstitutions, to perform a comprehensive survey of the tubulin code and the respective implications for motors involved in chromosome motion, mitotic spindle assembly and correction of kinetochore-microtubule attachments. The second concept is centered on the recently uncovered chromosome separation checkpoint mediated by a midzone-associated Aurora B gradient, which delays nuclear envelope reformation in response to incompletely separated chromosomes. We aim to identify Aurora B targets involved in the spatiotemporal regulation of the anaphase-telophase transition. We will establish powerful live-cell microscopy assays and a novel mammalian model system to dissect how this checkpoint allows the detection and correction of lagging/long chromosomes and DNA bridges that would otherwise contribute to genomic instability. Overall, this work will establish a paradigm shift in our understanding of how spatial information is conveyed to faithfully segregate chromosomes during mitosis.

Keywords: mitosis,tubulin code,molecular motors,aneuploidy,chromosome separation checkpoint,aurora b gradient,nuclear envelope reformation,micronuclei,indian muntjac,error correction
BIOmaterial RIsk MAnagement (BIORIMA)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology
Theme: Advanced materials
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Ireland,Ireland,Italy,Italy,Italy,Germany,Italy,Italy,Austria,Germany,Germany,Spain,Spain,Italy,Spain,Hong Kong,Switzerland,Greece,Sweden,China,Belgium,France,France,Netherlands,Denmark,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,Portugal,Japan,United Kingdom
Call: Development of a reliable methodology for better risk management of engineered biomaterials in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products and/or Medical Devices (H2020-NMBP-2017-two-stage, 2017)
Start date: 2017-11-01
End date: 2022-01-31
Duration (months): 51.0
Total project cost (EUR): 8761418.75
EU funding (EUR): 7999981.25
Participants: 42
Project status: CLOSED

BIORIMA stands for Biomaterial Risk Management. BIORIMA aims to develop an integrated risk management (IRM) framework for nano-biomaterials (NBM) used in Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMP) and Medical Devices (MD). The BIORIMA RM framework is a structure upon which the validated tools and methods for materials, exposure, hazard and risk identification/assessment and management are allocated plus a rationale for selecting and using them to manage and reduce the risk for specific NBM used in ATMP and MD. Specifically, the IRM framework will consist of: (i) Risk Management strategies and systems, based on validated methodologies, tools, and guidance, for monitoring and reducing the risks together with methods for evaluating them; (ii) Validated methodologies and tools to identify the potential Exposure and Hazard posed by NBM to humans and the environment; (iii) A strategy for Intelligent Testing (ITS) and Tiered Risk Assessment for NBM used in ATMP and MD. BIORIMA workplan consists of 7 workpackages covering the major themes: Materials, Exposure, Hazard and Risk. BIORIMA will generate methods and tools for these themes for use in risk evaluation and reduction. The BIORIMA toolbox will consist of validated methods/tools for materials synthesis; reference materials bank; methods for human/environment exposure assessment and monitoring; (eco)-toxicology testing protocols; methods for prevention of accidental risks – massive release or explosion – A tiered risk assessment method for humans/environment; An intelligent testing strategy for NBM and risk reduction measures, including the safer-by-design approach. BIORIMA will deliver a web-based Decision Support System to help users, especially SME, evaluate the risk/benefit profile of their NBM products and help to shorten the time to market for NBM products.

Keywords: integrated risk management framework,intelligent testing strategy,decision support system,safer by design approach,nano biomaterials,toolbox,validated methods,reference materials bank
Electronic AXONs: wireless microstimulators based on electronic rectification of epidermically applied currents (eAXON)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — 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: Spain
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2016-COG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-05-01
End date: 2023-04-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999813.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999813.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

To build interfaces between the electronic domain and the human nervous system is one of the most demanding challenges of nowadays engineering. Fascinating developments have already been performed such as visual cortical implants for the blind and cochlear implants for the deaf. Yet implantation of most electrical stimulation systems requires complex surgeries which hamper their use for the development of so-called electroceuticals. More importantly, previously developed systems based on central stimulation units are not adequate for applications in which a large number of sites must be individually stimulated over large and mobile body parts, thus hindering neuroprosthetic solutions for patients suffering paralysis due to spinal cord injury or other neurological disorders. A solution to these challenges could consist in developing addressable single-channel wireless microstimulators which could be implanted with simple procedures such as injection. And, indeed, such solution was proposed and tried in the past. However, previous attempts did not achieve satisfactory success because the developed implants were stiff and too large. Further miniaturization was prevented because of the use of inductive coupling and batteries as energy sources. Here I propose to explore an innovative method for performing electrical stimulation in which the implanted microstimulators will operate as rectifiers of bursts of innocuous high frequency current supplied through skin electrodes shaped as garments. This approach has the potential to reduce the diameter of the implants to one-fifth the diameter of current microstimulators and, more significantly, to allow that most of the implants’ volume consists of materials whose density and flexibility match those of neighbouring living tissues for minimizing invasiveness. In fact, implants based on the proposed method will look like short pieces of flexible thread.

Keywords: biomedical electronics,biomedical engineering,biomedical implants,electrical stimulation,neuroprosthetics,rectifiers,minimal invasiveness,electroceuticals,paralysis,neuropathic pain
ImmuNogenomics TArgeting Cancer (INTACt)

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: Israel
Call: ERC-Proof of Concept-2016 (ERC-2016-PoC, 2016)
Start date: 2017-06-01
End date: 2018-11-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Melanoma is the most aggressive, treatment-resistant and lethal type of skin cancer. Its increasing incidence worldwide emphasizes the need for new treatment strategies. Major recent breakthroughs in melanoma therapy have highlighted the role of immune T cell-mediated responses against tumor cells, showing that immune-system recognition of neo-antigens on cancer cells serves as a distinctive immunological signature. However, current strategies to identify neo-antigens are biased, costly and time-consuming. Directly addressing this major therapeutic limitation, this PoC project is aimed at commercializing an innovative tool, called INTACt, for designing highly personalized therapies for melanoma patients, ones that efficiently target the composition of patient-specific neo-antigens that arise as a consequence of mutations in a patient’s melanoma genome. INTACt is designed to identify neo-antigens in a high-throughput, systematic and cost-effective manner in cell lines, fresh tumors, patient-derived xenografts and plasma. INTACt will further identify the patient neo-antigen-reactive T cells to then be returned to the patient, using neo-antigen-specific T cells or RNA vaccines. Such personalized targeting of the patient’s melanoma genetic landscape is key to a significantly improved mortality. Unlike existing therapeutic strategies, INTACt may be considered the ultimate personalized immune therapy for the treatment of melanoma patients to be expended to other cancer types. This patient-specific tool will significantly lower patients’ economic and psychological burden caused by unnecessary chemotherapy and targeted therapy. INTACt also holds the promise of realizing value from enormous past investments in drug candidates that were eliminated due to person-specific toxicities or lack of efficacy as these can be combined with the neo-antigen-based immunotherapy. INTACt will thus enable the creation of new business models for the highly pressured pharmaceutical industry.

Keywords: melanoma,neo peptide,somatic mutation,immunogenomics,immune therapy
PortPath: A Portable Device for Detecting Pathogens (PortPath)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept 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
Call: Call for proposals for ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2020-PoC, 2020)
Start date: 2020-08-01
End date: 2022-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Many of today’s water resources are contaminated by pathogenic bacteria, which cause serious diseases, especially in low-income countries. One particularly grave concern is Vibrio cholerae, the disease-causing agent of cholera, with an estimated 1.3 to 4.0 million cases worldwide every year and an estimated annual mortality rate of up to 143,000 people. The current state-of-the-art detection methods for this pathogen have high demands on the equipment and on the expertise of the investigating person. In addition, a positive detection generally takes several hours and is very expensive. PortPath presents a completely new approach for the detection of pathogens (with emphasis on the cholera pathogen), which is based on automated analysis of water samples contaminated with pathogens. PortPath is not only much faster and cheaper than previous detection methods but can also be used by non-medical laypersons. An easy-to-use software together with low-cost hardware shows whether pathogens are present in a water sample. The software uses the recent developments in computer technology, especially in machine learning strategies. Significant components of PortPath have already been developed. The two objectives during the Proof of Concept phase are (1) the technical validation with a first prototype of PortPath, and (2) the development of a business plan for PortPath.

Keywords: pathogen,detection,tracking,motility,microbe,water,smartphone,magnification,algorithm,health,machine learning
Environment-Friendly and Cost-Effective Production of Graphene Nano Platelets for Composite Applications (GREENGRAPHENE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Türkiye
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2019-06-30
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Graphene-based materials gained a lot of interest by researchers worldwide and a wide variety of applications has been developed from them in the last decade. There are more than 45000 patent applications recorded after the inventors of graphene were awarded with Nobel prize in 2010. Graphene’s applications extend from fast charging high capacity batteries to light-weight and high strength aircraft parts. Composite industry is the field that graphene can be quickly adapted because graphene can be produced in powder form similar to many of the other additives used in the composites industry. Composites industry is a €63.2 Billion market and it is expected to reach above €113,85 Billion within the next 5-6 years. Offering performance properties comparable with the current metallic and ceramic materials is the main motivation for the composite producers and costs of the additives in the market constitutes only 1% (>€1 Billion market for additives) of the overall costs. The major obstacle that prevents the rapid initiation and adaption of graphene into the composites market is the price ranges (2800-7600 €/kg) of the material with desired quality. In order to overcome this obstacle, Nanografi developed a simple, disruptive, cost-effective and environment-friendly graphene production method (patent pending) and offered a good chance for graphene in the composites industry. The developed method offers graphene nanoplatelet product with high quality and offering the lowest price range (<€85/kg graphene) after the production is scaled up to 100 tonnes/year within 5 years. The price offers can go down further as the demand increased. To conclude, in GREENGRAPHENE Project, Nanografi aims to bring its high quality graphene product which we produce by our highly innovative method to the composites market and prepare technical/ economical feasibility reports for increasing the use of graphene in the composites industry.

Keywords: graphene nanoplatelet,composite industry,composite additives,high quality graphene production,environment friendly graphene production
MULTI-level framework to enhance seismic RESilience of RC buildings (MULTIRES)

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: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-11-01
End date: 2021-10-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212933.76
EU funding (EUR): 212933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

MULTIRES aims to develop an advanced, harmonised, multi-level framework to assess earthquake risk of existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings in earthquake-prone regions and to design/select practice-oriented, cost-effective, seismic resilience-enhancing solutions (e.g. structural retrofit, risk-transfer products). The framework will benefit several seismic-prone countries (e.g. Greece, Italy, Romania), for which most of the existing buildings are designed according to pre-seismic codes and where RC buildings represent the highest share from 1960s onwards (e.g. 48% in Italy). Two levels of analysis refinement will be considered, single buildings vs. building portfolios, specifically tailored to the expected needs/goals of different stakeholders: building owners and government agencies/(re)insurance companies. A coherent treatment of risk and uncertainty in each project’s task will promote dynamic and informed decision-making aiming at seismic resilience. MULTIRES builds on the probabilistic catastrophe risk modelling expertise of the Earthquake and People Interaction Centre (EPICentre) at the University College London (UCL), UK – the Host Institution - and seismic performance assessment of existing RC building expertise of the Fellow. State of the art/practice will be advanced providing flexible analysis methods for fragility and vulnerability assessment and their implementation tools (e.g. guidelines, computer codes). The framework will be applied to a large-scale building portfolio in Italy, where the Fellow and the Supervisor have strong links with local stakeholders, thus ensuring availability of data, knowledge transfer and true impact of the research on local communities. Through world-leading research training and co-development, the project will contribute to create a holistic culture of risk awareness and resilience in Europe, reflecting a strong commitment to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Keywords: earthquake engineering,structural engineering,civil engineering,risk assessment,modelling and impact assessment,hazard analysis,decision making
New sustainable and recyclable catalytic materials for proton exchange membrane electrolysers (RECYCALYSE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology
Theme: Advanced materials
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Austria,Germany,Germany,Spain,Switzerland,France,United Kingdom,Denmark,Denmark
Call: Materials for non-battery based energy storage (RIA) (H2020-NMBP-ST-IND-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-04-01
End date: 2023-09-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 5560727.5
EU funding (EUR): 5560727.5
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

RECYCALYSE will disrupt the energy storage market through novel and recyclable catalytic materials made of abundant elements to be used in the most promising type of electrolysers to date, i.e. proton exchange membrane electrolysers (PEMEC). To overcome the main barriers that remain for PEMEC, namely high capital cost and use of critical raw materials (CRM), and to boost the economic competitiveness of EU stationary storage production, two main objectives have been defined. First, we will develop and manufacture highly active sustainable oxygen evolution (OER) catalysts that will reduce or eliminate CRMs, thus decreasing CO2 emissions and reducing cost. This will be achieved using novel supports, which we will also develop during the project, and by substituting CRMs with earth abundant elements such as Ni, Mn and Cu. Secondly, we will develop a recycling scheme for PEMEC catalysts, electrodes and overall system, thus reducing or avoiding the dependence on materials imports in Europe, implementing the recovered elements in the new developed catalysts, thus reaching a full circular economy. To meet these objectives RECYCALYSE combines world-leading research institutions and innovative and R&D performing SMEs specialised in the in hydrogen, materials engineering and recycling. The novel catalysts prepared with the new green processes along with the PEMEC prototype that we will design and build, will situate EU in an excellent position regarding energy storage. We will produce hydrogen with a high purity, and its transformation into energy will greatly reduce CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the novel low-CRM catalysts and developed materials recycle processes will strongly contribute to fulfil EU 2020 and 2050 targets. In summary, RECYCALYSE will result in a substantial reduction in the levelised costs of energy storage, leading to an improved technical and economic competitiveness of EU energy storage production suitable to store large amount of energy with at cost.

Keywords: electrolysis,catalytic materials,critical raw materials,recycling,hydrogen,power to gas