Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
The role of the phosphoinositide 3-kinases in the regulation of dendritic cells functions (PI3KS IN DCS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-03-01
End date: 2011-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168288.66
EU funding (EUR): 168288.66
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) regulate many signalling events, having wide implications for cell biology in many cell types. Among the various catalytic subunit isoforms, p110 is expressed only in some leukocyte cells and was shown to have important potential for the regulation of immune responses. This PI3K isoform was shown to control development of allergic lung disease by affecting Th2 differentiation. Recently, p110 has been proposed to selectively control the production of the pro-allergic cytokine IL-6 in dendritic cells (DC), potentially explaining its importance in Th2 differentiation. We hypothesize in the current project that p110 is a much more central regulator of DC functions which controls most critical functions of these cells, like antigen uptake, processing, migration and T cell stimulatory and polarizing capacity. Also, as PI3Ks are in active balance with phosphatases such as PTEN, we propose that the tandem p110/PTEN, rather than p110 alone, regulates DC function. Therefore, one central theme of the project will be to dissect how p110/PTEN-derived signalling affects the functions of different subsets of DCs that now make up the DC family, as this might provide critical new insights into immunoregulation. For our studies, we will use specific pharmacological antagonists or gene deficient animals, and we will use the latest tools and methods of cellular immunology and molecular biology. A combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches will allow us to depict the implication of p110 in all critical functions of DCs. At the completion of this project, we will have clear insights into how DC function is molecularly controlled by p110 and we will have gained a better understanding of how the p110antagonists that are under clinical development might work to suppress inflammation.

Keywords: health sciences,allergology,immunology
Linking the Atmosphere and Terrestrial biosphere carbon and water cycles using oxygen ISotopes (LATIS)

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-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-08-01
End date: 2011-12-31
Duration (months): 29.0
Total project cost (EUR): 173401.73
EU funding (EUR): 173401.73
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Quantifying terrestrial carbon storage and predicting the sensitivity of ecosystems to global climate change relies on the ability to separately investigate photosynthesis and respiration. The oxygen (18O/16O) isotope ratios of CO2 and water can substantially advance our understanding of how carbon and water cycle through the terrestrial biosphere. This is because a large isotopic disequilibrium often exists between the oxygen isotope composition of CO2 exchanged by leaves and soils with the atmosphere making it a powerful independent tool for quantifying and understanding variability in the CO2 gross fluxes of the terrestrial biosphere. The aim of LATIS is to improve our understanding of C18OO fluxes between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere. We will achieve this by: 1) elucidating the role of soil biology on the oxygen isotope composition of the net soil CO2 flux, 2) incorporating up-to-date theoretical models of C18OO exchange from foliage and soils into the unique soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer model, MuSICA-iso and, 3) developing and testing new theory to mechanistically interpret the oxygen isotope signals of CO2 exchanged between tree stems and the atmosphere and how they relate to tree physiology. LATIS is a multi-disciplinary project utilising state-of-the-art field measurements observing the continuous fluctuation of branch, stem and soil isofluxes. These observations will be used to validate the novel models developed in LATIS. This innovative and ambitious approach will result in: 1) an improved understanding of the oxygen isotope CO2 exchange between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere, 2) the development of a state-of-the-art soil-vegetation-atmosphere water and CO2 isotope exchange model and, 3) a deeper understanding of oxygen isotope signals involved during the transport of water and carbon within plants and how these processes are preserved in wood cellulose.

Keywords: atmosphere biosphere carbon water oxygen isotopes isofluxes photosynthesis respiration carbonic anhydrase svat modelling terrestrial ecosystems phloem xylem sugars climate turbulent transfer
Psychological game theory and Bayesian rationality (PSYCHOLOGICAL GAMES)

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: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-08-01
End date: 2011-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 153564.54
EU funding (EUR): 153564.54
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The main objective of this project is to study the epistemic conditions for equilibria in psychological games. This is a natural way to go, since a psychological game incorporates beliefs into the individual’s payoff function. The epistemic analysis in the literature is divided in two big branches: the type space approach introduced by Harsanyi (1967)-68 and the Bayesian state space approach introduced by Aumann (1976). The theory in psychological games employs tools only from the first approach. Our main purpose is to extensively study the Bayesian foundations of psychological games. This would give us insights for rationalizability (Brandenburger and Dekel, 1987) and correlated equilibria (Aumann, 1987), which are crucial solution concepts for strategic form games. In addition, this approach would allow us to contribute to the theory of extensive form psychological games under the assumption that players update their beliefs during the course of the game (Battigalli and Dufwenberg, 2007).

Keywords: psychological sciences,mathematics
Dissecting the new “platform-binding site” on the bacterial ribosome. Role of particular ribosomal proteins in regulating translation initiation in bacteria. (PBS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-02-01
End date: 2012-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172267.71
EU funding (EUR): 172267.71
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Recent X-ray crystallographic and cryo-electron microscopy data indicate that structured mRNAs bind to the bacterial ribosome at an early step of translation initiation, to a newly characterised ribosomal site located at the “platform” of the small ribosomal subunit (the “platform-binding” site or PBS). In a second step, the mRNAs are supposed to unfold and to migrate to the P-site to interact with the initiator tRNA. The proposal aims at dissecting the role of ribosomal proteins situated at the PBS and potentially contacting the structured 5’-terminal parts of mRNAs. It is proposed to isolate mutants in the genes of the corresponding proteins that influence the in vivo translation of the lacZ gene fused to different model 5’-UTRs known to be involved with translation regulation. Once such mutations are found, global analysis of their effect will be performed and their effect will be analyzed in vitro.

Keywords: translational control of gene expression,escherichia coli,translation initiation,ribosome,ribosomal proteins,platform-binding site
Dynamic nuclear polarization - enhanced high resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy for atomic 3D structure determination of functionalized nanotubes and other nano-sized objects (DNP4NANOCARAC)

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-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-04-01
End date: 2011-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 176803.79
EU funding (EUR): 176803.79
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims at developing the instrumentation and methodology required to perform solid-state sub-nanometer scale structural studies by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). In the last decades NMR has proven to be a priceless tool to probe structure and dynamics of systems as diverse as glasses, metal surfaces, polymers and proteins, etc. However, the low sensitivity of the technique currently limits its outreach in material science, chemistry and biology. In order to overcome this limitation, we plan to use a technique called Dynamic Nuclear polarization (DNP) which is able to hyperpolarize nuclear spins. The DNP phenomenon, discovered at low magnetic fields (&lt; 0.3 T), is far from being new but its usage at high magnetic fields (5 to 20 T and more) constitutes an exciting ongoing challenge. Compared to traditional NMR where the signal originates from thermal polarization, DNP enables us to enhance the NMR signal to noise by 1 to 4 orders of magnitude (depending on the nuclei) by transferring the magnetization of unpaired electron spins (polarizing agents) to the surrounding nuclear spins. Utilizing emerging high frequency microwave technologies, optimized polarizing agents together with state of the high resolution solid-state NMR instrumentation and methods, we plan to develop original magnetic resonance experiments at high magnetic fields. This technique should allow bringing down the NMR detection threshold to micro/nano-molar concentration, studying larger molecular systems and performing multidimensional experiments orders of magnitude faster. The project will lead to numerous interdisciplinary applications to illustrate the potential of DNP-enhanced NMR to characterize new materials for the nanotechnologies (functionalized nanotubes, molecular wires, etc.), new polymers for energy (CNT embedded in polymers, etc.), and to determine the 3D atomic solid-state structure of biomolecules (membrane proteins, paramagnetic proteins, etc.).

Keywords: physical chemistry,nuclear magnetic resonance,dynamic nuclear polarization,sensitivity,nanosciences,technological sciences
ScaleWorks – Parallel File System Support for Rapid Prototyping of Scalable Applications (SCALEWORKS)

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: Greece
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-12-01
End date: 2011-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 195132.06
EU funding (EUR): 195132.06
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project conducts research on parallel file system support for scalable applications. The scientific objective is to enable the rapid design and implementation of scalable applications over emerging cost-effective server, network and storage hardware through the use of novel support from an extensible parallel file system. The proposed architecture, ScaleWorks, is designed to address key challenges in the implementation of efficient scalable applications, in accordance with technological and cost-efficiency trends. The project plan includes includes career development and knowledge-transfer activities that will assist the migration of the applicant from the United States, where he has been until recently employed at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, NY, to the European space. The project will also carry out educational activities that advance the concepts of scalable applications, parallel file systems, and network storage systems in computer and information science, and broader impact activities that will apply innovative distributed network and storage infrastructures to address the computing needs of sensitive sectors, including security, education, and healthcare.

Keywords: technological sciences
Elucidating the Role of Phosphorylation by Polo-like kinases in Modulating Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation and Toxicity in Parkinson's disease and Related Disorders (PLKS IN PD)

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: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-05-01
End date: 2011-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 180234.43
EU funding (EUR): 180234.43
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Increasing evidence suggest that alpha-synuclein (a-syn) phosphorylation plays an important role in the regulation of a-syn aggregation, Lewy Bodies (LBs) formation and neurotoxicity in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related synucleopathies. However, the exact kinase(s) responsible for phosphorylating a-syn and the relationships between phosphorylation, a-syn fibrillogenesis, LB formation and cell death have not been fully elucidated. Preliminary data in our Laboratory have pointed out a Polo-Like Kinase family (Plks) as an interesting candidate for a-syn phosphorylation and modulating protein aggregation. To determine the relationship between the phosphorylation of a-syn by Plk family, protein aggregation and neurodegeneration, we plan to use an integrative approach combining in vitro and in vivo approaches. In the in vitro part, we seek to elucidate the role of phosphorylation by Plks in modulating a-syn aggregation in vitro and in primary cell culture. In the in vivo part, we plan to study the possible co-localization of Plks and phosphorylated and unphosphorylated a-syn in LBs inclusions in the brain of parkinsonians patients and animal models of PD. We also seek to evaluate the biochemical and functional consequences of co-delivering Plks and various modified forms of a-syn directly to the rodent brain. This proposal will give us the opportunity to better understand functional consequences of a-syn phosphorylation and mechanisms by which it contributes to neurotoxicity. That will allow us to identify new therapeutic targets of synucleopathies treatment.

Keywords: alpha-synuclein,synucleopathies,phosphorylation,polo-like kinases,protein aggregation
Development of new strategies for osteochondral regeneration (OSCHSCAF)

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-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-08-01
End date: 2011-01-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 131594.02
EU funding (EUR): 131594.02
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In contrast to any conventional therapies, regeneration medicine such as tissue engineering requires highly cross-disciplinary knowledge and technology. In this proposal, we propose new strategies for tissue engineering osteochondral tissue to tackle a disease caused by physical trauma and age-related degeneration, a major health problem in western societies. Despite various therapeutic options, no optimal solution has been found for the treatment of cartilage and osteochondral defects. This project aims to develop a new type of osteochondral scaffold to stimulate chondrocytes and osteoblasts growing in a monolithic structure with different architecture regions. The frame of the scaffold will be constructed by degradable PLA/PCL blends with tailorable degradation mechanisms. The collage II and hyaluronan gel will be incorporated into the large pore region by plastic compression to enhance chondrogenesis, whilst HA and TRAP signalling components will be adhered to small pore region to promote bone formation. To accelerate the maturation of the tissue and matrix production, external mechanical stimulation to the constructs will be applied. The feature of the various pore architecture through the scaffold enables transfer of differentiated strain to the seeded cells depending on the area where the cells are present under a single load regime. This multidisciplinary project will be hosted by one of EU excellent institute within NoE network in tissue engineering. The research fellow has accepted comprehensive training in materials science in a top ranked university in Turkey. The complementary expertise and experience between the fellow and the host ensure the success of the proposal. The success of the project shall share the knowledge and technology between the fellow and the host and enhance the fellow’s career development.

Keywords: health sciences,tissue engineering,scaffold,osteochondral,regeneration medicine
Single Cell Imaging of Gene Activation during Oxidative Neuron Death: Towards Quantitative Systems Approaches (SIM-ON)

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: Ireland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2009-05-01
End date: 2011-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 177354.02
EU funding (EUR): 177354.02
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Ischaemic stroke and neurodegenerative disorders are leading causes of death and disability and their incidence is rising rapidly due to increases in European life expectancy. Excessive apoptosis is pathogenic when it concerns post-mitotic cells such as neurons; for instance in stroke or neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress is a major contributor to ischemic and neurodegenerative processes; however, the molecular mechanisms and biological switches that determine outcome, i.e. neuronal tolerance or neuronal apoptosis, in response to oxidative stress are not fully characterised. This aim of this project is to analyse these events at the single cell level. The applicant has an excellent track record in the molecular analysis of pro-apoptotic gene activation in response to oxidative stress. Here, we propose to monitor and quantify the activation of cytoprotective (ARE- and HSE-containing) vs. pro-apoptotic (BIM) gene expression in neurons and astrocytes in real-time using GFP-based reporter assays and employing quantitative confocal and epifluorescence microscopy approaches. The quantitative single-cell data obtained will be incorporated into mathematical models of apoptosis activation developed by the host laboratory. The suggested fellowship will advance our understanding of this critically important biological process by allowing for a quantitative analysis of this signalling/gene activation network. The fellow will strongly complement the research activities of the host laboratory, and most importantly, will acquire new skills and be exposed to a unique interdisciplinary training programme. Furthermore, this work could provide important information for the development of new therapeutic strategies for ischemic and neurodegenerative disorders.

Keywords: neurodegeneration,oxidative stress,neurons,astrocytes,gene activation,single cell imaging,quantitative microscopy,systems biology,apoptosis,bh3 only proteins,cytoprotection
Targeting IGF-1 receptor in liver cancer with focus on its mechanistic role in transcription and its interaction with the cell cycle machinery (IGF1RHC)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, 2008)
Start date: 2010-03-31
End date: 2012-03-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 236351.44
EU funding (EUR): 236351.44
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is a cell surface receptor kinase being vastly expressed in malignant tissues and plays crucial roles in growth and survival of cancer cells. Targeting IGF-1R is pharmaceutically today a very attractive concept. Larsson’s group at KI has contributed extensively to the current knowledge about IGF-1R and demonstrated that the cyclolignan PPP inhibits IGF-1R signaling. An oral IGF-1R inhibitor of cyclolignan chemistry is presently studied in patients with advanced cancer. Recently, they found that IGF-1R is SUMOylated, translocated to the nucleus, where it affects transcription. This is a novel and original function for IGF-1R and one of the goals of this proposal is to further study whether it is limited to tumor cells. In such case, these findings will be a breakthrough and the foundation for further development of specific therapeutic targeting of cancer. Here we aim to study two mechanistic aspects of IGF-1R: (1) its role as a transcription factor in tumor cells, (2) its interaction with the cell cycle machinery, as ultimate regulators of cell division. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was chosen as it has a very poor prognosis and a high mortality due to absence of efficient treatments. It is one of Egypt’s national health priorities and its incidence is increasing in Europe. Three experimental models will be used : HCC cell lines in which SUMOylation, nuclear translocation of IGF-1R and, which genes it transcriptionally activates will be studied, We will induce HCC in knockout mice lacking Cdk2 and p27, generated by Aleem to study how IGF-1R interacts with loss of these cell cycle proteins, and how its inhibition by PPP affects development and progression of HCC. Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts isolated from these mice will also be used for cell cycle analysis. We anticipate that IGF-1R modulates transcription of genes relevant to tumor growth leading to development of more specific therapeutic tools against liver cancer

Keywords: health sciences,liver cancer,igf-1 receptor,transcription,cell cycle