Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
The cardiac neurovascular interface in aging (Neuroheart)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing
Panel description: Organ and tissue physiology, comparative physiology, physiology  of ageing , pathophysiology, inter - organ and tissue communication, endocrinology, nutrition,  metabolism, interaction with the microbiome, non -communicable diseases including cancer (and except disorders of the nervous system  and immunity -related diseases)
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2021-ADG, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2027-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2486183.0
EU funding (EUR): 2486183.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Aging is a major risk factor for impaired cardiovascular health. The aging myocardium is characterized by endothelial cell dysfunction, diastolic and systolic impairment, increased hypertrophy and fibrosis and electrophysiological alterations that predisposes the elderly to arrhythmic risk. The mechanism of age-associated pathophysiological alterations are incompletely understood. In preliminary data, we report that aging is associated with a decline in axon density in the heart. Since vessels align with nerves and this interplay is critical for tissue homeostasis in other organs, we postulate that an impairment of the neuro-vascular interface in the aging heart may contribute to age-associated pathologies. To address this hypothesis, we will first characterise axon extension and patterning of different nerve fibres in the heart. Second, we will decipher the underlying mechanisms mediating the reduction of axon density in the aging heart. Based on preliminary data documenting an induction of the repulsive Semaphorin 3a (SEMA3A) in endothelial cells of the aging heart, we will address if endothelial SEMA3a mediates the effect. Third, we will determine the consequences of reduced neuron density: We will i) study electrical stability and arrhythmias; ii) We will explore the nerve secretome aiming to identify paracrine signals that possibly control cardiac tissue homeostasis and age-associated alterations. iii) We will assess the cross-talk of neurons with age-associated cardiac inflammation. Finally, we will determine whether senescence may contribute to neuro-vascular alterations during aging. We will extend preliminary data suggesting that senolytics interfere with the age-induced decline in axon density. Together, these data will decipher the so far unexplored role of the neuro-vascular interaction in the aging heart. We believe that restoring or preserving a functional cross-talk between neurons and the vasculature may contribute to healthy cardiac aging.

Keywords: cardiac aging,endothelial dysfunction
High-throughput Optimization for Indoor Organic Photovoltaic Energy Systems (HOPES)

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: Physics
Countries involved: Spain,Sweden
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-06-01
End date: 2026-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181152.96
EU funding (EUR): 181152.96
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Recently, the growing popularity of internet of things (IoT) applications has garnered substantial interest in autonomous off-grid energy harvesters such as organic photovoltaics (OPVs) from indoor-available energy sources namely artificial lights. The success of IoT will rely on avoiding battery maintenance for the billions of sensors postulated to be deployed, using available renewable energy at deployment for powering the sensors. The discovery of novel organic materials and diverse device strategies led to a big leap in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of OPVs up to 31% under indoor lights. Despite the augmented usefulness of indoor OPVs with record performance, several challenges thus far need to be attempted. The High-throughput optimization for indoor Organic Photovoltaic Energy Systems (HOPES) project introduces a novel concept of combining advanced high-throughput experimentation techniques with a standalone tunable light source. HOPES is interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary and includes the development of highly efficient indoor OPVs along with the scale-up property that is, integration of IoT devices with the high-performance OPV. In HOPES, the researcher will implement a computer-controlled light emitting source to achieve a desirable light spectrum by exploring a large library of illumination spectra. This will lead to achieving the highest possible PCE (> 40%) for a given OPV system. The traditional experimental techniques cannot meet the recent progress of indoor OPVs owing to their limitations of time and workforce. Thus, HOPES will explore a variety of materials at an unbeaten pace by combinatorial screening to reach the highest PCE in indoor OPVs. The researcher’s experience with the indoor OPVs will be combined with the host supervisor’s expertise in high-throughput experimentation to successfully implement HOPES. The advanced training gained during HOPES implementation will contribute to excelling the researcher's professional career.

Keywords: high throughput optimization,organic photovoltaics,organic semiconductors,nanofabrication,evaporation,blade coating,surface morphology,photocurrent mapping,organic thin films,organic polymers
Synaptic resilience in Tau-induced neurodegeneration (Hibernating_Synapses)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Panel description: Nervous system development, homeostasis and ageing , nervous system  function and dysfunction , systems neuroscience  and modelling , biological basis of cognitive processes and of behaviour, neurological and mental disorders – In humans and all other organisms
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2021-ADG, 2021)
Start date: 2023-01-01
End date: 2027-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Dementia is an enormous burden on society. Patients require life-long care and there is no cure or symptomatic treatment. At early phases, dementia is closely associated with synaptic degeneration and this correlates well with Tau pathology in >20 Tauopathies. Interestingly, historic observations in hamsters and squirrels show that when they enter into hibernation, they also display Tau pathology and synaptic loss. Pathologists have pointed to these similarities; however, there is an important difference: synaptic loss is progressive in dementia, but reversible in hibernating animals. Capitalizing on recent technological advancements, I will unravel the mechanisms of this remarkable, yet understudied process of synaptic remodeling in hibernation and then use the pathways that reverse synapse loss in hamsters, to counteract Tau-induced synaptic decline in models of dementia. We will achieve these goals by first defining and studying the molecular and cellular drivers of synaptic remodeling during cycles of hibernation. This is based on innovative spatial transcriptomic and synaptic proteome analyses in hamster brains. We will then identify the human homologues of the hamster genes that reverse synaptic loss following hibernation and use a selection strategy in xenotransplanted human neurons and functional assays on custom-designed multielectrode arrays, to isolate genes rescuing Tau-induced neurodegeneration. This approach is bold, but feasible; my lab has a record of accomplishment in synaptic and neurodegeneration research and we already have strong preliminary work implicating specific pre-synaptic pathways in the types of Tau-dependent synaptic remodeling that we will study here. The gain is that we will uncover the mechanisms of a remarkable process of synaptic resilience, and apply this to rescue the synaptic loss in neurodegeneration. This project will define a conceptually new and unexplored class of therapeutic targets to tackle Tau-induced neuronal decline.

Keywords: dementia,synapse loss,hamster,induced pluripotent stem cell,hibernation,liquid phase separation of synaptic vesicles,synaptogyrin 3,tau
PReparing for Optimal Phase III/IV maTErnal Group B StreptococCal vaccine Trials in Africa (PROTECT) (PROTECT)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Health
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Global Health EDCTP3
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: EDCTP3 (JU-JTI)
Countries involved: Spain,United Kingdom,Uganda,Kenya,Malawi,Mozambique,Belgium,Germany
Call: Implementation research/real life assessment of existing interventions in women and children’s health (HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2023-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-03-01
End date: 2027-02-28
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3271990.5
EU funding (EUR): 3271990.5
Participants: 10
Project status: SIGNED

Two vaccines designed for pregnant women, to protect their unborn infant, are entering late phase development and will prevent infections from group B Streptococcus and respiratory syncytial virus, respectively. For these vaccines to be approved, the vaccine must work effectively without causing any unwanted responses. To implement these vaccines in countries with low resources, healthcare systems must be strengthened by improving vaccine safety monitoring and surveillance of infection, and advancing vaccine delivery, vaccine confidence, and patient participation. The rapid rollout of electronic health records (EHR) in Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Uganda offers an opportunity to use routine data to strengthen reporting of rates of adverse pregnancy, neonatal and infant outcomes, and any adverse events following immunisation; this will be imperative in informing and preparing for future large scale vaccination rollout campaigns. Our approach will address key gaps in EHR to develop pregnancy registries embedded within national reporting systems to establish this data, including baseline rates of pregnancy and infancy outcomes for Tetanus and COVID19 vaccines currently in use. These reporting systems will allow monitoring of potential safety signals once new vaccines are introduced. Experts in EHR, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, microbiology, clinical trials, and implementation research will develop the motivation and tools needed to monitor and evaluate current and future maternal vaccines. We will work closely with the WHO, African Medicines Agency and Country Stakeholders, co-developing pregnancy registries, sentinel site microbiological surveillance systems, and maternal vaccination communications toolkits in preparation for the decade of maternal vaccines. Our programme of work culminates in a network of maternal vaccine trial sites who can rapidly evaluate vaccines in pregnancy from late-stage trials through to introduction on a national level.

Keywords: group b streptococcus,vaccines,maternal immunisation
Covalently embedded 2D-2D heterostructures of graphene and metal-organic frameworks (GRAPHMOF)

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: Belgium,France
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): 216240.0
EU funding (EUR): 216240.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Molecularly engineered materials obtained via the sequential combination of different nanomaterials is an encouraging methodological approach. Two-dimensional (2D) materials offer a platform that allows the construction of unique heterostructures with a diversity of physical and chemical properties. Most of the 2D heterostructures are composed of direct stacking of discrete monolayer fragments of individual materials. Although this method allows flexibility, it is sluggish, cumbersome, and mechanically weak. Instead, covalent functionalization provides stability and robustness to the heterostructure. GRAPHMOF is to elucidate the detailed structure of 2D MOF nanosheets covalently affixed with monolayer graphene and MoS2 using scanning probe microscopy. I will employ state-of-the-art scanning probe microscopy to unravel the nanoscale interfacial structure of 2D-2D heterostructures. The fundamental information obtained from the microscopy measurements will be employed to assess the influence of the heterostructures of the 2DMOF on either graphene and/or MoS2 electronic structure using Raman and PL spectroscopy. A clearer understanding and effective use of covalent bond formation could lead to the development of functional surfaces with potential applications in optoelectronic, supercapacitors and sensors. GRAPHMOF will allow me to pursue a highly innovative research line in surface science, providing me a perfect platform for my personal development in terms of research and training in a topic of key importance, i.e., 2D materials, direct covalent functionalization, and state-to-the-art imaging techniques. This project will also allow me to strengthen my teamwork and leadership skills as well as widen my scientific network and collaborations. In summary, this MSCA allowance will be a positive turning point in my academic career toward scientific excellence.

Keywords: scanning tunneling microscopy,covalent functionalization,self assembly,2d 2d heterostructures,molecular interactions
European Photonic Quantum Computer (EPIQUE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Digital, Industry and Space
Theme: Digital
Destination: Digital & Emerging Technologies for Competitiveness and Fit for the Green Deal
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Italy,Austria,France,Denmark,Portugal,Germany,Netherlands,Czechia,Ireland,Belgium,Poland
Call: Investing in alternative quantum computation and simulation platform technologies (RIA) (HORIZON-CL4-2023-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-CNECT, 2023)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2026-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 10340741.5
EU funding (EUR): 10340741.5
Participants: 19
Project status: SIGNED

Photonics is one of the first platforms explored for quantum computing (QC), bringing the advantage of low decoherence and natural connectivity for distributed and blind QC. Recent years have witnessed a step-change in the scale, complexity, and scope of QC with photons which recently led to 3 out of the 4 demonstrations of quantum advantage from Canadian and Chinese groups. These impressive achievements were obtained with squeezed light in bulky apparatus that are not fit for scalability. Europe shows strong leadership in development of integrated optical QC platforms, with breakthroughs in the development of high transmission dense photonic chips, record efficiency detectors and deterministic single photon sources. Photonic QC also benefits from a clear roadmap toward fault tolerant architectures proposed by leading EU quantum algorithm teams. EPIQUE gathers world leaders in photonics QC with expertise in both technology and algorithms from academia and SMEs who work together to deliver the technological breakthroughs required to push the platform toward general purpose QC. This will be achieved via new nanofabrication that combines novel switching with mature silicon compatible circuitry, via optimising both single photon sources and detectors, via new interfacing possibilities in silicon nitride and direct write modular chips, via fast low loss switching in lithium niobate, and via quantum architectures that leverage all of these advances. EPIQUE will develop three QC prototypes that will demonstrate essential building blocks of generating and fusing quantum states to entangle >10 qubits, and critical measurement and feedforward capabilities required to scale the platform to >1000 qubits. At the end of this project, we will have proven a route to general purpose quantum computing that will strengthen private investment in EU based optical QC companies.

Keywords: quantum computer,integrated quantum photonics,chips,quantum advantage,detectors,source of photonic quantum states
Hijacking small hydrophobic protein transport to deliver therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (SH-CNS-AM)

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
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-05-01
End date: 2027-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 263393.28
EU funding (EUR): 263393.28
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Neurological disorders affect over 540 million individuals in Europe alone, yet effective treatments are limited, primarily due to the challenge of delivering therapeutic compounds across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). This project aims to develop a novel, virus-inspired technology that utilizes small hydrophobic (SH) proteins, derived from the neurotropic mumps virus to shuttle CNS-active molecules across the BCSFB via the GPR125 receptor. This innovative approach will allow for the effective delivery of therapeutic agents and avoid issues surrounding chemical modification and viral vector packaging of drugs. Building on promising preliminary data, where an SH protein conjugated to Exendin-4 significantly reduced appetite in mice, this project will focus on understanding transport mechanisms of SH-conjugated molecules into the brain. The research will be divided into three work packages (WPs). WP1 will investigate the mechanism of SH-GPR125 transport in vitro using choroid plexus cells and advanced imaging techniques. WP2 will examine the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of SH-Silicon Rhodamine (SiR) in vivo, determining its uptake in GPR125 knockout and wild-type mice. WP3 will assess the efficacy of SH-enkephalin, a therapeutic peptide targeting the mu-opioid receptor, in an acute pain model, testing its ability to reduce pain perception in mice. This project offers a transformative approach to CNS drug delivery, with the potential to revolutionize treatment for a range of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. By leveraging the natural ability of neurotropic viruses to cross the BCSFB, we propose a method that bypasses current limitations in CNS drug delivery. The outcomes of this research will provide a foundation for future clinical applications, potentially leading to new therapies that address the urgent unmet medical needs posed by neurological disorders.

Keywords: blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier bcsfb,g protein coupled receptors gpcrs
Gut HORMOne stimulating CAPSules for the treatment of gastrointestinal metabolic disorders (HormoCaps)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS (ERC-2023-POC, 2023)
Start date: 2024-07-01
End date: 2025-12-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

HormoCaps will help us demonstrate the viability as a commercial product of a dual-action drug delivery system which synergizes its own biological effect and that of the encapsulated bioactive molecule for the oral delivery of peptides. This would represent an alternative to current oral incretin-based treatments for gastrointestinal metabolic disorders. In HormoCaps, we will (i) demonstrate the translational feasibility of our strategy; (ii) evaluate the capacity of the formulation to simultaneously stimulate the secretion of hormones that are present at different concentrations at distinct regions of the gastrointestinal mucosa; and (iii) consolidate our results towards a licensing plan to guide the commercialization of our formulation.
Condensates at Membrane Scaffolds – Integrated Systems as Synthetic Cell Compartments (ComeInCell)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Doctoral Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Chemistry
Countries involved: Germany,Netherlands,Spain,Israel,Italy,Belgium,Denmark,United Kingdom,France,Austria
Call: MSCA Doctoral Networks 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-11-01
End date: 2028-10-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3965616.0
EU funding (EUR): 3965616.0
Participants: 30
Project status: SIGNED

ComeInCell will establish a novel integrated Synthetic Cell platform to provide cost- and resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, widely applicable and quantitative model systems to elucidate key cellular mechanisms of health and disease based on the integration of condensate and membrane models. Understanding membrane-condensate interactions is vital for deciphering their functional roles in cellular processes. Our consortium employs synthetic vesicles as model systems to explore these interactions. These tailor-made mimics of cellular compartments offer a platform for studying membrane dynamics and the impact of compartmentalization on the activity of reaction networks and the assembly of complex machinery. We will design synthetic cells as life-science prototyping tools to decipher the role of membrane-associated condensates in essential cellular processes linked to membrane transport, membrane transformation, metabolic networks, and repair. The network will confront global challenges, providing solutions in drug development, therapeutics, green-related issues, and synthetic biology. Our goal is to equip junior scientists with cross-disciplinary expertise for developing integrated synthetic cellular testbeds encompassing condensates and membranes, revolutionizing prototyping systems. We will train the next generation of biophysicists, biochemists and bioengineers in rigorous quantitative and mechanistic thinking, while establishing strong ties to young and emerging European SMEs in the health sector for efficient dissemination towards new therapies

Keywords: artificial cells bottom up synthetic biology light responsive systems microfluidics giant vesicles