Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Untangling the network of RNA silencing pathways in plants. (RNAI IN PLANTS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-07-01
End date: 2013-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 200549.6
EU funding (EUR): 200549.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims to understand RNA silencing pathways in plants using the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model. The aim is to characterise the different modules in the RNA silencing pathways, the ways that they interact to form complex regulatory networks and the effect of these networks on growth and development. The initial approach will involve genetic and molecular characterisation of components in RNA silencing machinery. Having identified these components, I will then use different approaches to modify the different modules and assess their involvement in growth and progression of the algal life cycle. Chlamydomonas is an appropriate model because it has RNA silencing pathways that are simplified versions of those in higher plants, but in which there is still the potential for complexity given the existence of different types of pathways associated with suppression of gene expression at the RNA and chromatin level. In addition, because Chlamydomonas can be cultured synchronously, it is possible to carry out a system level analysis of regulatory networks: the extracts will represent the content of a single cell type at a defined stage of the cell cycle whereas with higher plants there are complications for this analysis associated with different cell types.

Keywords: rnai,rna silencing,chlamydomonas reinhardtii,sirnas,mirnas,argonaute
Interplay of anisotropy and interactions in charged colloidal systems (CHARGEDANISOTROPY)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-09-01
End date: 2012-08-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 90024.0
EU funding (EUR): 90024.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In this proposal we present a program of research and training in the area of soft condensed matter and statistical physics, focusing on understanding the role of long ranged interactions on phase behavior of anisotropic colloids. The Interesting interplay between anisotropic shape, long range interactions and its consequences on the phase behavior of nanoparticles is a challenging problem which is far from well-understood. As an important step towards realizing this goal, we aim for a systematic study of both equilibrium and non-equilibrium phases of charged anisotropic colloids with axial symmetry. This can be envisaged in the general framework of charged spheroidal particles. The research project will explore the phase behavior of charged spheroids as a function of various control parameters (charge, size, aspect ratio and ionic strength). This model system has direct implications for the system of clays, which are a particular group of anisotropic colloids (platelet shapes), with widespread applications. An important issue in this respect to be resolved is to understand why the isotropic-nematic transition is preempted by a gel-like phase in some clays, while the reverse behavior (nematic order observed before gel phase upon increasing clay density) has been reported in seemingly very closely related compounds. We plan a direct collaboration with the experimental groups working on clays in University of Paris Sud (Patrick Davidson) and Ecole Polytechnique de Paris (Pierre Levitz) and as a result comparison of our results with experimental data is an essential part of project.

Keywords: charged anisotropic colloids,clays,isotropic-nematic transition. colloidal gel,colloidal glass,physical sciences
Human iPS cell therapy for spinal cord injury (HUMAN IPS IN SCI)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-10-03
End date: 2013-10-02
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 194766.4
EU funding (EUR): 194766.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Human iPS cell therapy for Spinal Cord Injury with Acronym: “Human iPS in SCI” Our overall aim is to develop a clinically safe and effective neural cell therapy, combining novel biomaterials and human neural progenitor cells, to improve functional outcome after spinal cord injury (SCI). We have the unique possibility to compare neuro-rescue potentials of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and their neural progeny, with that of human neural precursor cells from the already formed spinal cord. The questions raised and studied in the present research program are unique with the introduction of human iPS cells and bioresorbable hydrogels. It offers future autologous transplantation procedures and thereby no immunological and reduced ethical considerations. If we manage, we can make patient-specific cell preparations to counteract the secondary degeneration after SCI. The project is of high relevance for clinical introduction of neural cell therapy after SCI, as well as other nervous system lesions. Our proposed project will significantly contribute and add novel and multidisciplinary competencies to my profile as research fellow, developing my skills as a valid and independent European researcher. The cultural exchange with Karolinska Institutet will allow me to gain knowledge and skills in human neural stem cell, iPS techniques, SCI in vitro and in vivo models as well as in the field of biomaterial engineering. In addition, my genuine geographical move to Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm to perform this project, offers me to join, and add knowledge to, the European research community in developing effective future cell therapies for neurodegenerative and traumatic nervous system lesions.

Keywords: health sciences,neurosciences,immunology,neurobiology,biological engineering,clinical biology
Indeterminacy and Argument in Greek Philosophy: An Alternative Metaphysics in Protagoras, Pyrrho and in the Socratic Schools (traditionally named as 'minor'). (IAGPH)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Italy
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-09-05
End date: 2013-09-04
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 236547.0
EU funding (EUR): 236547.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims to unearth the full philosophical importance of Protagoras, Pyrrho and of two Socratic schools (the Cyrenaics and the Megarians) from the shadows imposed on them by modern traditional scholarship, by focussing on the key-idea of metaphysical indeterminacy. Metaphysical indeterminacy is the radical view that reality is inherently without any fixed ontological structure on its own: things in the world do not have any intrinsic essence on their own. The project at issue here proposes to understand the significance of metaphysical indeterminacy (as well as reconstructing the logic through which indeterminacy is both argued for and contrasted to) in the context of the thought of Protagoras, the Socratic schools of the Cyrenaics and the Megarians and of Pyrrho, in the crucial period of time spanning from the fifth to the end of the fourth century B.C. In so doing, a challenging interpretation of the philosophical weight to be attached to the figures and schools just referred to will be proposed. It will be argued that these figures and schools delivered a metaphysical model of reality that was philosophically appealing, in so long as it provided a forceful alternative to the Platonic/Aristotelian view of reality. The novelty of the proposed project is that it first identifies a view, such as indeterminacy, as an essential metaphysical position to be evaluated in Greek philosophy and, secondly, that it makes such a view as the common element around which Protagoras, the Cyrenaics, the Megarians and Pyrrho constructed their different—yet germane—doctrines, hence offering a quite innovative reading of both the philosophical relations between these somehow underestimated thinkers and of their respective importance in the context of Ancient thought.

Keywords: metaphysical indeterminacy,greek philosophy,alternative,protagoras,pyrrho,socratic schools.
Managing AM fungi for enhancing C sequester in an agroecosystem affected by salinity (MYCOCARBOSE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-07-01
End date: 2013-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 170363.2
EU funding (EUR): 170363.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

According to research priorities within the seventh Framework Programme of the EU, a multidisciplinary R+D project (physics and microbiology of soils, molecular biology of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and biotechnology of mycorrhizal inocula) is proposed aimed to achieving soil rational and sustainable recovery practices for increasing carbon sequestration and stabilization of degraded salt affected soils. Our research will focus on agroecosystems subjected to physical degradation processes, where excess amounts of toxic soluble salts and scarcity of organic matter are the most important environmental factors that limit crop plant growth and development. The main objective of the project is as follows: 1) to optimise the use of AM fungi as bioamendments for purposes of improving physical quality of agricultural soils affected by salinity and as a means of increasing the functioning of agroecosystems as carbon sinks; thereby reducing soil erosion and degradation and mitigating CO2 emissions. Among the specific objectives of the project are the followings: 1) to isolate and select effective AM fungi for increasing the concentration and immuno-reactivity of soil glomalin, 2) to assess the effect of saline stress on diversity of AM fungi, the production of glomalin and its relationship with stability of edaphic structure, 3) to determine the balance of carbon in soil inoculated with AM fungi, for estimating the carbon sequestration in the microbial biomass and the fractions of carbon related to microbial activity, including the fraction of glomalin, and 4) to obtain indicators of biological activity as a means to assess the capacity of soil for sequestering carbon.

Keywords: environmental biology,soil biodiversity,biodiversity indicators,soil remediation,carbon dioxide capture,storage,disposal (climate change),mycology
Elucidating the molecular mechanism of NOD2-mediated autophagy (NOD2 SIGNALLING)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, 2010)
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2013-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 199549.6
EU funding (EUR): 199549.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

NOD2 is an intracellular pathogen recognition receptor (PRR) expressed in monocyte lineage and intestinal epithelial cells. NOD2 recognizes muramyldipeptide (MDP), a component of bacterial cell walls and MDP stimulation induces a signalling cascade that synergises with that of other PRRs to mature dendritic cells (DCs) and renders them competent for antigen presentation. NOD2 is notable in that variants of the receptor are associated with 40% of western Crohn’s (CD) disease. Previously Dr Simmons group has shown that NOD2 induces autophagy in dendritic cells and that this is required for correct antigen presentation and bacterial handling. CD patient DCs expressing variant NOD2 show defective autophagy induction, impaired bacterial handling and antigen presentation. This combination of effects could predispose to inflammation by allowing abnormal persistence of bacterial components in the mucosa. Here, the aim is to investigate the mechanism of NOD2-mediated autophagy and to examine NOD2 interacting proteins pre- and post- stimulation with MDP. Furthermore, siRNA library screening will be used to identify genes that participate in the NOD2 autophagy pathway. Elucidating the special features of NOD2-mediated autophagy is essential to develop targeted immunomodulators of this pathway.

Keywords: nod2,autophagy,pattern recognition receptor,dendritic cells,crohn's disease
Structure and function of the insect Juvenile hormone receptor (JHRECEPTOR)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Czechia
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF, 2010)
Start date: 2012-01-16
End date: 2015-01-15
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 347359.9
EU funding (EUR): 347359.9
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Juvenile hormone (JH) is a critical regulator of insect development. JH prevents juvenile to adult transformation (metamorphosis) until a larva attains a proper size, at which time a drop in JH titer permits adult morphogenesis. Therefore, JH treatment of final-stage larvae blocks metamorphosis and perpetuates their juvenile state. This status-quo effect is significant for use of JH mimics, such as methoprene, for insect pest and disease vector control. Despite considerable effort, the molecular mode of JH action remains obscure due to failure to identify a JH receptor (JHR). In 1986 a Drosophila mutant screen yielded a candidate JHR gene, Methoprene-tolerant (Met). Our recent discovery that Met regulates insect metamorphosis in response to JH inspired new efforts to characterize the JH signaling pathway. This proposal aims to complete the quest for the JH receptor by resolving the structure of the Met protein and by functionally characterizing proteins that together with Met may form an active JHR. The Applicant is experienced developmental biologist and molecular geneticist. However, neither he nor his host institution in the Czech Republic possess the expertise and equipment required for protein structural analyses. Therefore, the Applicant proposes to collaborate with the Australian CSIRO, where a research team led by Prof. Ronald J. Hill has the most relevant experience in resolving the structure of insect nuclear hormone receptors. The team has extensive protein purification and crystallization facilities and access to the Australian synchrotron. The Applicant would greatly profit from the capacity present at CSIRO by learning the approaches to protein expression, purification, and structural analysis. This would not only lead to the above scientific aim but tremendously improve the qualification of the Applicant upon his return to Europe. At the community level, it would increase the lost competitiveness of European-based science in the field of JH research.

Keywords: developmental biology,animal endocrinology,entomology,insects,metamorphosis,juvenile hormone,methoprene,nuclear hormone receptors,bhlh-pas proteins,protein structure,crystallography
From Flat to Chiral: A unified approach to converting achiral aromatic compounds to optically active valuable building blocks (FLATOUT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Austria,Germany
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1487000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1487000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The stereoselective preparation of enantioenriched organic compounds of high structural complexity and synthetic value, in an economically viable and expeditious manner, is one of the most important goals in contemporary Organic Synthesis. In this proposal, I present a unified and conceptually novel approach for the conversion of flat, aromatic heterocycles into highly valuable compounds for a variety of applications. This approach hinges upon a synergistic combination of the dramatic power of organic photochemical transformations combined with the exceedingly high selectivity and atom-economy of efficient catalytic processes. Indeed, the use of probably the cheapest reagent (light) combined with a catalytic transformation ensures near perfect atom-economy in this journey from flat and inexpensive substructures to chiral added-value products. Conceptually, the photochemical operation is envisaged as a energy-loading step whereas the catalytic transformation functions as an energy-release where asymmetric information is inscribed into the products. The chemistry proposed herein will open up new vistas in enantioselective synthesis. Furthermore, groundbreaking and unprecedented methodology in the field of catalytic allylic alkylation is proposed that significantly expands (and goes beyond) the currently accepted “dogmas” for these textbook reactions. These include (but are not limited to) systematic violations of well-established rules “by design”, new contexts for application, new activation modes and innovative leaving groups. Finally, the comprehensive body of synthetic technology presented will be applied to pressing target-oriented problems in Organic Synthesis. It shall result in a landmark, highly efficient total synthesis of Tamiflu, as well as in application to an environmentally important target (Fomannosin), allowing the easy production of analogues for biological testing.

Keywords: aromatic compounds,organocatalysis,palladium,tamiflu,fomannosin
Demonstration of 1st European SOFC Truck APU (DESTA)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Joint Technology Initiatives (Annex IV-SP1)
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Fuel Cells and Hydrogen
Action type: Collaborative project
Partnership: FCH (Art-185)
Countries involved: Austria,Sweden,Germany,Germany,Denmark
Call:  (FCH-JU-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2015-06-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 10441618.8
EU funding (EUR): 3874272.0
Participants: 5
Project status: CLOSED

Within the DESTA project the first European SOFC (“Solid Oxide Fuel Cell”) Truck APU (“Auxiliary Power Unit”) will be demonstrated. SOFC technology offers big advantages compared to other fuel cell technologies due to compatibility to conventional road fuels like diesel. Within the last years significant improvements have been made to bring SOFC stack technology and APU BoP components to prototype and product level. The project will begin with APU requirement definition for application of an SOFC APU into an US type Volvo heavy-duty truck. In parallel the test conditions for the vehicle test and off-vehicle tests will be elaborated. Due to huge development efforts at Eberspächer and AVL at project begin of DESTA already 2 SOFC APU systems will be available at laboratory prototype level. These 2 APU systems (in each case 3) will be tested based on an accelerated test profile for at least 1 year. Based on the test results and additional investigations a benchmark of the 2 systems will be performed by the independent research institute Forschungszentrum Jülich. Based on this benchmark and derived recommendations the 2 systems will be merged and optimized to one final DESTA SOFC APU. In this process the most promising approaches from both systems will be identified and realized in the final DESTA SOFC APU. In parallel to the system test and development TOFC will focus on SOFC stack optimization. In this project the decision has been made to focus on ASC stacks to due high maturity of this technology. This technology is already very close to industrialization. But the stacks still have to be improved in terms of start-up time, lifetime and sulphur tolerance which will be performed in WP3. Finally the optimized DESTA SOFC APU systems will go into tests. On the one hand the truck demonstration and on the other hand laboratory systems tests (performance, long-time, vibration, salt spray,..) will be performed.

Keywords: truck,apu,diesel,sofc,fuel processing,idling
Genomic and lifestyle predictors of foetal outcome relevant to diabetes and obesity and their relevance to prevention strategies in South Asian peoples. (GIFTS)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Health
Destination: Translating research for human health
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Norway,Pakistan,India,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,Germany,Finland,Bangladesh,Germany,Spain
Call:  (FP7-HEALTH-2011-two-stage, 2011)
Start date: 2012-02-01
End date: 2016-01-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4081992.54
EU funding (EUR): 2999332.0
Participants: 16
Project status: CLOSED

Despite a strong genetic component to diabetes and obesity, the rapidly rising prevalence of these disorders is due to adaptation to a changing environment. The epicentre of the ‘diabetes epidemic’ is in South Asia and this is reflected in the migrant populations in Europe. Current prevention strategies are focused on adult life and target over-nutrition in high-risk adults. However, for many population groups across the globe, these strategies ignore many key principles that underlie the increasing global prevalence of these diseases. A substantial portion of the South Asian people, living in their home countries experience nutrition deprivation, while after migration to Europe, may encounter nutritional abundance resulting in imbalance during their lifecourse. These conditions are of particular importance during foetal and early developmental stages where environmental insults may interact with genetic risk to induce ‘foetal programming’ of adult metabolic disease. Few groups have targeted early life programming as an opportunity for the prevention of diabetes/obesity in childhood and subsequent adult life and there are limited guidelines on this topic. The proposed grant will bring together a unique group of investigators in South Asia (India, Bangladesh and Pakistan) and Europe (UK, Norway, Germany and Finland) with SMEs of complementary expertise (Germany and Spain) combining prevention strategies, state-of-the-art genomics, social sciences and public health that focus on these early life predictors of disease. The major objective behind this collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach is to combine knowledge from the work packages on lifestyle, nutrition and genomics to both inform public health policy through guideline development and design a large-scale pragmatic intervention to prevent the metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes in South Asian populations aimed at early life taking into account multi-generational effects.

Keywords: early life determinants,foetal,genetic,lifestyle,environment,prevention,metabolic syndrome,obesity,diabetes,south asians,immigrants,multi-gerational effects,societal,health policy