Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Innovative methods for understanding blunt force trauma patterns to assess conflicts in past times (IMPACT)

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: Lithuania
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-11-01
End date: 2027-10-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181136.16
EU funding (EUR): 181136.16
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Blunt force trauma (BFT) is one of the most common type of trauma observed in archaeological studies and forensic cases. Often originating from assaults or accidental falls, determining the exact cause is difficult. Accidents are often associated with multiple traumata occurring in different areas of the body, whereas violent acts show directional trauma patterns. The study of skeletal trauma significantly hampered by insufficient methods to differentiate accidents from assaults. The research will take place under supervision of Prof. Jankauskas, a very experienced forensic anthropologist and bioarchaeologist, at the faculty of medicine at Vilnius University (LT). Based on 500 recent trauma cases from the US, this project will establish new protocols for the analysis of BFT. Trauma frequencies all over the body and features of traumata will be evaluated to identify discrimination factors for the distinction between accidents and assaults. In the second stage, the developed methods will be applied to archaeological samples presenting high frequencies of BFT which will provide new insights into, assaults, accidents, and child abuse in prehistory and will allow to interpret societal changes in the past related to climate change, frailty and famines. Training opportunities and a two-way-knowledge transfer of hands-on forensic case work, trauma & palaeopathological analyses will bring urgently needed know-how to Austria and will provide networking opportunities for new methods for VU, e.g. peptide analyses. This is the first study which analyzes BFT patterns on a large scale to develop new methods for the interpretation of trauma in the past. A systematic evaluation of osteological traumata on a large recent sample has rarely been performed in anthropological studies which makes an interpretation of traumata in cases with unknown contextual data (e.g. in bioarcheological samples) difficult.

Keywords: blunt force trauma,accidents,interpersonal violence,conflicts,trauma patterns
ecr-bAsed muLticharged ion Beam for Active debris removal and oTher remediatiOn stRategies (ALBATOR)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: The European Innovation Council (EIC)
Theme: EIC Pathfinder
Destination: Challenges
Action type: EIC actions
Countries involved: France,Spain,Germany,Luxembourg
Call: Strengthening the sustainability and resilience of EU space infrastructure (HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2029-02-28
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4827064.95
EU funding (EUR): 3999981.9
Participants: 5
Project status: SIGNED

Space pollution from satellite debris poses a critical challenge for the sustainability of space operations and traffic management. To address this, several concepts for space debris removal are being explored, including both contact-based and contactless methods. Contact-based solutions are especially complex due to the unpredictable motion of space debris, which could easily damage or destroy these systems during retrieval attempts. ALBATOR, a contactless approach, proposes the use of the Ion Beam Shepherd method, which relies on momentum transfer from a collimated, multiply-charged plasma beam. The project focuses on designing and developing an Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR)-like ion beam system, along with the necessary electronics, including RF power systems, high-voltage components, command and control systems, and gas regulation units. To achieve that ambition, ALBATOR will optimize the ion beam system by gaining a deep understanding of plasma discharge and plume expansion physics. It will create advanced models to simulate plasma discharge and its interaction with debris, accounting for factors such as multiply-charged ions, electromagnetic wave behavior, and materials interactions like sputtering, which influence momentum transfer. A series of vacuum chamber tests will be conducted to characterize the ion beam's properties, such as ion current, energy, and composition, under simulated space conditions. Additionally, the interaction of the ion beam with various satellite materials will be studied to assess its effectiveness in momentum transfer. The system’s versatility will also be tested using different propellants. The results from these tests will contribute to simulations of various mission scenarios, including debris deorbiting and detumbling. These findings will help build synergies with other debris remediation strategies, such as harpoons or nets, ultimately creating a comprehensive solution portfolio to secure on-orbit space operations.

Keywords: active debris removal,ion beam sheperd method,multiply charged ion beam,beam diagnostics,plasma discharge and plume expansion modelling
AdviSor neTwork foR OptimAl ferTilisers Use (STRATUS)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Theme: Bio-Environment
Destination: Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Spain,Poland,Greece,Slovenia,Netherlands,France,Italy,Belgium,Sweden,Latvia,Croatia
Call: Developing EU advisory networks on the optimal fertiliser use (HORIZON-CL6-2023-GOVERNANCE-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-02-01
End date: 2029-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4471999.28
EU funding (EUR): 3998770.31
Participants: 18
Project status: SIGNED

STRATUS, extending over 60 months, aims to connect advisors across Europe for accelerating knowledge creation and sharing on Integrated Fertilization Management, supporting farmers to bring this knowledge into practice to achieve the ambition of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies, thus reducing nutrient losses to the environment while maintaining soil fertility. For this, STRATUS will create an EU-wide advisory network through the creation of three transnational sub-networks (Fertilization Innovation Networks - FIN) on Precision farming, Bio-based fertilisers and Soil quality (SQ) in which trained advisors will collect a total of 104 Good Practices (GPs) and Research Innovations (RIs) on optimal fertiliser use and will identify at least 48 Best Practices (BPs) as the result of the systemic feasibility assessment of the GPs and RIs . In addition, STRATUS will also ensure the integration of the advisors in the MS AKIS as well as the adaptation of the project work to the local conditions through the creation of 10 Communities of Practices (CoPs), in 10 partners countries, established with local AKIS actors, following the MA approach. Based on these BPs, STRATUS will develop 60 demonstrations and training material that will facilitate advisors to exchange knowledge, experiences and key challenges for advisory practice through Cross Visits in all MS and CoPs. All the knowledge generated in the project will become available through an inventory hosted in the digital platform of the STRATUS project. STRATUS will determine the model for the exploitation model of the platform besides the self-sustainability of the EU-wide advisory network . STRATUS will cover all EU27 MS, eleven (11) MS are covered directly by project partners, while the other are covered through being members of EUFRAS and SEASN and project’s advisory organisations in charge of “mirroring” knowledge exchange.

Keywords: advisors,network,akis,knowledge exchage,demostrations,innovative solutions,sustainable nutrient management,biobased,carbon farming,nutrients,peer to peer,systemic feasibility assessment,ma
Menstrual migraine: understanding its pathophysiology and developing precision treatment strategies (MM)

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: Denmark,United States
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-08-01
End date: 2026-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 214934.4
EU funding (EUR): 214934.4
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Females experience 3 times more migraine attacks than males, with menstrual migraine affecting 60% of these females. They occur before or during menses and are associated with oestrogen (E2) withdrawal, dramatically affecting a patients quality of life. Menstrual migraines are poorly understood, limiting novel treatment strategy discovery. Recently, I demonstrated that E2 withdrawal increases the function and forward membrane trafficking of specific potassium channels (Kv7) in systemic arteries. If present within the cerebrovascular system, E2 withdrawal will increase sensitivity to endogenous migraine-inducing vasodilators, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), contributing to migraine onset. This project is split into two objectives. 1.) Investigate oestrus cycle-dependent changes in rodent cerebrovascular reactivity via molecular, functional and electrophysiological techniques, with a focus on E2 mediated changes in Kv7 subcellular trafficking via novel G-protein coupled oestrogen receptor, GPER1. 2.) Translate pre-clinical basic science research generated in objective 1 into a model of mensural migraine. International collaboration with Prof. Geoffrey Abbott at the University of California, Irvine, allows for access to in vivo Hemodynamic Perturbation Monitoring (HPM) and a novel CRISPR/Cas9 Kv7 knockout rat. HPM allows for simultaneous measurement of cerebral blood flow and migraine onset (induced by CGRP). We will investigating if female rats are more susceptible to migraine induction when E2 is low, and and whether they are protected from migraine induction by GPER1 stimulation or Kv7 knockout. Our project has the potential to reveal novel pathophysiological mechanisms underlying menstrual migraine allowing the development of novel precision treatment strategies. My hosts and I are experts in the field of vascular Kv7 physiology, and are the ideal candidates to carry out this project.

Keywords: migraine,menstrual migraine,cerebral vasculature,vascular smooth muscle,ion channel,potassium channel,kv7,sex hormone,sex hormone signaling,estrogen,gpcr,gper1
Signs, polynomials, and reaction networks (POSALG)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Mathematics
Panel description: All areas of mathematics, pure and applied, plus mathematical foundations of computer science, mathematical physics and statistics
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2021-COG, 2021)
Start date: 2023-01-01
End date: 2028-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1782649.0
EU funding (EUR): 1782649.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Many real-world problems are reduced to the study of polynomial equations in the non-negative orthant, and this is in particular the case for models of the abundance of the species in a biochemical reaction network. The polynomials associated with realistic models are huge, with many parameters and variables, making qualitative analyses, without fixing parameter values, challenging. This results in a mismatch between the needs in biology and the available mathematical tools. The driving aim of this proposal is to narrow the gap by developing novel mathematical theory within applied algebra to ultimately advance in the systematic analysis of biochemical models. Motivated by specific applications in the field of reaction networks, we consider parametrized systems of polynomial equations, and address questions regarding the number of positive solutions, connected components of semi-algebraic sets, and signs of vectors. Specifically, we (1) pursue a generalization of the Descartes' rule of signs to hypersurfaces, to bound the number of negative and of positive connected components of the complement of a hypersurface in the positive orthant, in terms of the signs of the coefficients of the hypersurface; (2) follow a new strategy to prove the Global Attractor Conjecture; and, (3) develop new results to count the number of positive solutions or find parametrizations. The novelty and strength of this proposal resides in the interplay between the advance in the analysis of reaction networks and the development of theory in real algebraic geometry. The research problems are studied in full generality for arbitrary parametrized polynomial systems, but each question has a well-defined purpose, directed to the ultimate goal of having a scanning tool to automatically analyze the models used in systems and synthetic biology. Therefore, this proposal will strengthen the bridge between applied algebra and real-world applications, through the study of reaction networks.

Keywords: positive real algebraic geometry,sign vectors,steady states,biochemical reaction networks,connected components semi algebraic set
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Population Genetics (PopGenAI)

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: United Kingdom,United States
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-10-01
End date: 2027-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 276187.92
EU funding (EUR): 276187.92
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Understanding the demographic history of populations and species is essential, as it plays a critical role in conservation and breeding programmes for both wild and domesticated species. However, inferring demographic history from genetic data faces the problem of model non-identifiability, where different demographic histories fit the genetic data equally well. This issue is amplified by the use of summary statistics instead of complete genetic data. Addressing the model non-identifiability problem is fundamental for improving the precision of demographic inference, particularly in complex cases involving multiple independent admixture events or barriers to gene flow. This project aims to resolve the problem of model non-identifiability in demographic inference by developing a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can uncover histories that are indistinguishable when a particular summary statistic is used. This generative AI will serve three core purposes: (1) identify non-identifiable demographic histories, helping researchers better understand the range of possible historical events that could explain the data; (2) apply this tool to clarify complex demographic histories in domesticated species, such as cattle, providing more accurate insights into their genetic background and informing breeding programmes to maintain genetic diversity; and (3) detect barriers to gene flow in recently diverged species, offering deeper insights into local adaptation and speciation processes valuable for conservation. By addressing the model non-identifiability problem and applying this approach to key biological questions, this project has the potential to transform the study of demographic history in population genetics and open new perspectives for research on species evolution and adaptation.

Keywords: demographic inference,model non identifiability problem,generative artificial intelligence,machine learning,admixture history,domesticated species,genetic barrier to gene flow,local adaptation
Unveiling the molecular coordination between the cell division machinery and S-layer biogenesis in Bacillus anthracis (SLYDIV)

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: Belgium
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2025-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 175920.0
EU funding (EUR): 175920.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Many bacteria possess a paracrystaline protein coat named the S-layer. S-layers cover the entire cell surface and are involved in protection, virulence, cell-shape maintenance and communication. Lattice integrity is essential for S-layer function, meaning that its assembly must be intimately coordinated with cell growth and division. Some studies have reported that S-layer biogenesis co-localizes with peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here, I will investigate the molecular regulatory network that orchestrates S-layer assembly, cell division and PG synthesis in the human pathogen Bacillus anthracis, where S-layer defects render the bacterium avirulent, making this ultrastructure an attractive therapeutic target. In the SLYDIV project I will 1) structurally and functionally compare Sap and EA1, the exponential and stationary phase S-layer proteins of B. anthracis 2) follow their in vivo assembly using time-resolved labelling and fluorescent microscopy and 3) uncovering the molecular interactions that couple S-layer assembly with the PG and/or cell division machinery. I will make use of chemicals that selectively target the cell cycle or cell division and monitor localization of S-layer assembly, will use nanobodies that disturb S-layer integrity and monitor the localization of cell wall synthesis, and use my interactomics experience to discover contact partners of S-layer and PG synthesis. Thus, SLYDIV is a multidisciplinary and integrative project that combines structural biology, biophysics, cell imaging, and microbiology. In addition, SLYDIV meets my solid knowledge on bacterial cell division with the host labs’ expertise on S-layer structure and function. The SLYDIV project aims to lead to a major breakthrough in the basic understanding of the regulation of the bacterial cell envelope, while it will pave the way for specific novel molecular therapies against B. Anthracis, a Category A bioterrorist agent.

Keywords: s layer cell division nanobodies cell envelope peptidoglycan
Decoding local crosstalk in tumor formation (De-CAF)

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 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): 183600.96
EU funding (EUR): 183600.96
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Communication between different cell types is essential for many biological processes, both in homeostasis and in disease. In tumor initiation, growth and metastasis, cancer cells send and receive chemical and physical cues from their microenvironment. Those cues determine how disease progresses and influence proliferation and invasiveness of malignant cells. Understanding the crosstalk between cancer cells and their immediate environment is crucial for the advance of novel cancer therapies. Thanks to the development of single-cell technologies, we can now sample the complexity and the many functions of the tumor microenvironment. While immune cells are at the forefront of these studies, the mesenchymal fibroblast component is also a highly pertinent and significant player. In this proposal, I will focus on proximal communication between cancer cells and mesenchymal fibroblasts. Using intestinal cancer as a model, I will apply a multimodal approach to investigate the consequences of tissue crosstalk in the early stages of epithelial transformation and the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). First, I will use tumoral organoid-naive fibroblast co-cultures to study the crosstalk between epithelium and mesenchymal fibroblasts in vitro, and its effect on fibroblasts gene expression pattern (objective 1). Secondly, I will interrogate the response of mesenchymal fibroblasts to epithelial transformation in vivo at single cell depth. I will identify new fibroblasts subpopulations (CAFs), study their origin and transcription factors involved in their activation (objective 2). Finally, I will study the tissue re-organization induced by crypt hyperproliferation using high-resolution confocal imaging and in situ hybridization, to spatially contextualize any changes in gene expression (objective 3). Results from these three objectives will enhance understanding of cellular crosstalk in early stages of cancer and the mechanism of CAFs activation.

Keywords: cellular crosstalk intestinal cancer pdgfra mesenchyme fibroblasts organoids imaging
High selective 2DCOFs for Resources Recovery from Electronic-Waste (COFFRREW)

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: 2025-09-15
End date: 2027-09-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 209483.28
EU funding (EUR): 209483.28
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Recovery of precious and critical metals (Au, Nd) from e-waste not only has substantial economic and environmental advantages but also addresses the problem of resource scarcity. In this area, the adsorption approach is recognized as an efficient, facile, and green methodology. Recently, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as potential adsorbents for metal recycling from waste materials. However, there are still key challenges that need to be addressed: (1) poor selectivity against interferents; (2) low uptake capacity; and (3) poor reusability in real leaching solutions. To address these issues, COFFRREW aims to develop sustainable and economically viable adsorbents for precious metal recovery from e-waste. To achieve these aims, a series of β-ketoenamine 2DCOFs (Tp-linked) will be synthesized using facile "solvothermal" chemical reactions. Then, pore-wall engineering with appropriate functional groups will follow to tune the selectivity and efficiency for targeted metal ions. This project will construct novel and tailor-made 2DCOF structures, which will produce exciting outcomes to resolve the problems of selectivity, uptake capacity, and reusability in the field of Au and Nd recovery using COFs. This project will study the role of selective sites (such as thiol for Au3+, long carboxyl arms for Nd3+) in the confined spaces of Tp-linked 2DCOFs for selective metal recovery from e-waste, and will fill the research gap by resolving the challenges in this field. This project is both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary in nature. It will have significant social, economic, and scientific impacts, aligning with SDG Goals 8 and 13, the Green Deal Charter, and contributing to the enhancement of EU scientific excellence.

Keywords: cofs,adsorption,metal recovery,precious metals,e waste