Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Active matter information machines (InfAct)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Panel description: Structure, electronic properties, fluids, nanosciences, biological physics
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2020-COG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2025-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999125.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999125.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The relation between information and thermodynamics remains a fundamental thought-provoking issue since the days of Maxwell. The most effective platforms used to explore this relation are information machines: processes that convert measured information about a system to extractable work. A crucial question that goes beyond the currently explored regime in the field is how information machines perform out of equilibrium, namely when not in equilibrium with a thermal bath. This is the general scenario of relevance to biological systems and stands at the focus of this proposal. Our recent result, showing how temporal correlations affect the efficiency of information engines (PRL 2018), demonstrates our ability to manipulate, track, and analyze particle motion in order to address such outstanding questions experimentally. We propose to realize and study three new information engines with increasing complexity: (1) a microscopic engine that converts information to osmotic pressure, (2) a macroscopic engine that converts information to pressure, and (3) a mobile engine converting local information to directed motion. The proposed engines are unique in that they harvest work from active systems, not necessarily coupled to a heat bath, and include many particles. By measuring work and information directly, we will be able to test the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics and the Jarzynski fluctuation theorem in active matter systems with feedback and control loops. Providing essential, precise and detailed experimental observations in a field in which they are lacking will pave the way toward the extension of stochastic thermodynamics to active systems. Unraveling the mechanisms that govern conversion of information to useful work will benefit far-reaching applications. These include macroscopic and microscopic biomimetic robots and machines made of an ensemble of simple agents, analogous to natural phenomena such as cargo transport in ant colonies

Keywords: statistical mechanics and thermodynamics far from thermal equilibrium,thermodynamics of information,active matter,information engines
Additive Printing for Cell-Based Analysis (ANAPRINT)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology
Theme: Nanotechnologies
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies, advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs (H2020-SMEINST-2-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2015-11-01
End date: 2018-10-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1803657.75
EU funding (EUR): 1262560.43
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The Project shall develop a unique manufacturing solution for the automated production of complex cell models widely used by industry to test biological activity and biosafety. No means of scalable manufacture presently exists. The technical solution is to assemble cell models by additive manufacturing; to control the resident cells’ locations within these 3D models; to supply the models to customers as pre-assembled, frozen products. The result shall be an analytical tool which, unlike current practice, does not compromise analytical output for convenience, but combines high predictive value and low cost with exceptional user-friendliness. The solution is unique, proprietary and highly positive-disruptive in its industrial sector. Its achievement will be measurable in this Project as an exemplifying, printed hepatotoxicity assay with wide application in drug discovery and biosafety testing. An SME Instrument Phase 1 Project advanced the core printing technology delivering this solution to TRL7, and developed a business plan for its exploitation. That business plan confirmed the wide, cross-industry application of cell-based analysis, from preclinical drug discovery through natural products/food to medical devices and nanosafety, and mapped the advantages of additively-manufactured products onto demonstrable industry trends and customer needs. The business plan and its underpinning technology are founded in the applicant’s long-term strategic goals, evidenced by profitable business in the target market from proprietary cell-based services, and by ancillary technology developments, also to TRL7 and supported by UK national funding, which create unique competitive advantage. The outcome of this Phase 2 Project will be a mature cell-based manufacturing technology, its demonstrable application in a commercial environment, and the assembly of a corporate infrastructure ready to take the Project’s manufacturing solution into a well-scoped and lucrative marketplace.

Keywords: in vitro assays,additive printing,drug discovery,preclinical testing,automated manufacture,predictive screening
Advanced nanophotonic point-of-care analysis device for fast and early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (PHOCNOSIS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Theme: Treating and managing disease
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Austria,Germany,Germany,Spain,Switzerland,Netherlands,Denmark,United Kingdom
Call: Development of new diagnostic tools and technologies: in vitro devices, assays and platforms (H2020-PHC-2014-two-stage, 2014)
Start date: 2015-09-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4146163.75
EU funding (EUR): 3593962.0
Participants: 11
Project status: CLOSED

The PHOCNOSIS project aims at the development and the preclinical validation of a nanotechnology-based handheld point-of-care testing (POCT) analysis device for its application in the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The diagnosis will be carried out by means of the fast (<10 minutes), ultra-sensitive (<1 ng/L) and label-free detection of multiple cardiac biomarkers, using a small volume of whole blood (<100 μL). This POCT analysis device will significantly help in the implementation of mass screening programs, with the consequent impact on clinical management, reducing also costs of treatments, and increasing survival rates. The PHOCNOSIS analysis device will be based on two state-of-the-art technological elements in order to obtain a compact and highly sensitive final device. First, an integrated micro-/nanofluidic system will be used for biomarkers separation, purification and concentration, targeting an effective concentration increase by a factor greater than 1000x for the targeted biomarkers. Then, the concentrated biomarkers will be detected using a novel nanophotonic-based sensing technique, envisaging a final combined detection limit below 1 ng/L. This novel sensing technique allows us to obtain systems which are low-cost, compact and with a lower complexity, thus making them suitable for the development of portable devices for POCT. The PHOCNOSIS project will target the deployment of disposable biochips with an envisaged cost below €3 to be used in a handheld analysis device with an envisaged cost below €3000. Special attention will be paid within the PHOCNOSIS project to explore the potential deployment and commercialisation of the analysis device, by means of the involvement of relevant academic and industrial partners, as well as end users.

Keywords: early diagnosis,in vitro diagnosis,mass screening,point of care,lab on a chip,cardiovascular diseases,photonic biosensor,biomarker concentration,preclinical validation
Haploinsufficiency and Intractable Epilepsy Rescue Increasing Endogenous Gene Promoter Efficiency (PromoTeRapy)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2016-02-01
End date: 2018-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 195454.8
EU funding (EUR): 195454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal will develop a new tool to rescue haploinsufficiency, which underlies many genetic disorders of neuronal excitability, and provide a new approach to treatment of intractable epilepsy. This new tool is based on the CRISPR-On technology which can regulate the expression of endogenous genes by directly targeting their promoters, which allows expression of the full panoply of splice variants and untranslated regulatory sequences. Importantly, the method does not require integrating exogenous genes into the genome, which has potential risks of insertional mutagenesis. Haploinsufficency of SCN1A, which encodes the sodium channel Nav1.1, leads to Dravet Syndrome, a severe epilepsy. My first aim is to increase SCN1A gene expression in interneurons derived by reprogramming fibroblasts obtained from Dravet Syndrome patients. I will then determine whether this strategy can be effective in non-genetic epilepsies by applying CRISPR-On technology to increase KNCA1(Kv1.1) expression in excitatory neurons in a mouse model of focal epilepsy. This project will combine my previous experience with functional analysis of neurons in different epileptic models; an unparalleled resource of genetically-characterized patients, a well characterized model of intractable epilepsy, and gene therapy techniques at the UCL Institute of Neurology; and expertise on the CRISPR-On method and fibroblast reprogramming of international collaborators. Epilepsy is one of the most important health burdens within the clinical neurosciences, and finding tools that open new mechanistic and therapeutic insights is a high priority. My proposal exploits an opportunity to establish a new tool to treat epileptic disorders and to create an international multidisciplinary network including neurophysiology, clinical neurology, molecular biology, biophysics and genetics.

Keywords: epilepsy,gene therapy,ion channels,cell reprogramming,electrophysiology
Fiscal Rules and Strategies under Externalities and Uncertainties (FIRSTRUN)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Austria,Italy,Belgium,Poland,Slovakia,Finland,United Kingdom
Call: Resilient and sustainable economic and monetary union in Europe (H2020-EURO-SOCIETY-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-03-01
End date: 2018-02-28
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2197883.0
EU funding (EUR): 2197883.0
Participants: 8
Project status: CLOSED

The FIRSTRUN project advances the theoretical and practical debates on the effective mechanisms of fiscal policy coordination. It analyzes the very reason why fiscal policy coordination may be needed in the first place, namely cross-country externalities (spillovers) related to national fiscal policies. Specifically, it identifies different types of spillover effects, investigates how they work in the EU and in the EMU, and analyses whether they work in the same fashion under different states of the economy and over the short and the long run. The project describes different forms that fiscal policy coordination can take in practice, e.g. ex-ante coordination and risk-sharing, and provides a critical assessment of the mechanisms already put in place. The FIRSTRUN project provides new tools for fiscal policy design by incorporating the new EU fiscal rules regarding e.g. government debt and deficit into applied models for fiscal policy evaluation. The tools can be used to support the decision makers in the implementation of the enhanced EU economic governance. FIRSTRUN also investigates the political economy of fiscal cooperation, for instance, the difficult inter-play between domestic political pressures and EU level priorities as well concerns about legitimation. By shedding light on the character of the governance framework for fiscal coordination, FIRSTRUN will highlight the features that work well or badly and provide insights that the EU level can exploit in its surveillance and advisory roles.

Keywords: eu economic governance,externalities,spillovers,uncertainties,sustainability,credibility,legitimacy,aging
THE NEW SUSTAINABLE EXOTIC VENEER FROM THE FRENCH CARIBBEAN (GREEN BLADE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Climate action, environment,  resource efficiency and raw materials
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: France
Call: Boosting the potential of small businesses for eco-innovation and a sustainable supply of raw materials (H2020-SMEINST-1-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-05-01
End date: 2015-10-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

FIBandCO aims to develop a new exotic veneer made from banana plan trunks as a clean alternative to wood: GREEN BLADE®, an exceptional coating, 100% natural and eco-designed. At the end of their life cycle, banana plants die on the spot and grow again from their bulb. Previously, after the harvesting of bananas fruits, trunk was naturally decomposing. Now, the trunks of banana trees are harvested by hand and used to create value through this unique veneer and other products. This process doesn’t use water nor chemicals. FIBandCO recycles this abundant agricultural waste, grab as a particularly virtuous renewable raw material. The company proposes the whole value chain, from the innovation concept to the commercialization of the products. The objectives of the company are to provide and market “turnkey factories” for banana planters, so they can exploit this raw material throughout the year. Established in Martinique in 2009, FIBandCO gives a second life to banana plant trunks. FIBandCO has been created to develop and exploit commercially this idea. Up to now, the solution is operational and credible, it allowed the company to two rounds of investment for a total amount of almost 2 M€ in 2013 and December 2014. To go further it is necessary for FIBandCO to pursue the definition of the commercial plans and the overall strategy for the next two years. Preliminary work and experiments have led to the concept validation, production process definition, and patent filing. The veneer turnkey factory prototype has been developed and tested in relevant environment (TRL 6) allowing to produce prototypes and samples of GREEN BLADE®. The final green economy outcomes and disruptive model perfectly fit with SC5-20-2014-1 call. This phase I will help our company to hit the market with a clear strategic view in terms of business model, R&D and IPR. Whit this SME Instrument deliverables, and hopefully subsequent phase II, FIBandCO can expect a strong growth during the next few years!

Keywords: banana trunk,exotic veneer,water and chemicals free process,renewable and sustainable raw,biomaterials,deforestation,non wood forest products nwfp
Activation of PI3K signalling in the pathogenesis of Vascular Anomalies (PI3K-VAs)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Spain
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2021-01-11
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 158121.6
EU funding (EUR): 158121.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Vascular anomalies are rare soft tissue tumours and malformations formed by abnormal vascular elements of various types, and mainly affect infants, children and young adults. These lesions are painful, many lead to bleeding, infections, organ dysfunction, and they can damage and metastasise to other tissues. Current treatment strategies are invasive, not fully efficient, and there is a high risk of recurrence. To date no specific targeted therapies have been developed. Most of the studies on vascular anomalies are descriptive and focused on their clinical aspects; at the moment, there is a lack of molecular understanding and pre-clinical studies on the field of vascular anomalies. Thus, identifying the causative molecular alterations of vascular anomalies and understanding their biology will lead to more refined diagnoses and will provide better and more directed therapies. Recent published and unpublished observations from our laboratory show that activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signalling pathway drive to the developments of a fraction of vascular anomalies; however, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain enigmatic. In this proposal we aim to (i) unveil alterations in the PI3K signalling pathway components that are involved in the pathogenesis of vascular anomalies, (ii) understand the role of PI3K pathway activation in the development and maintenance of these lesions, and (iii) explore the potential of repurposing PI3K pathway inhibitors for these conditions. For this, we have set up collaboration with clinicians who will provide a large collection of vascular anomalies from patients. Also, in collaboration with Pharma, we aim to use PI3K inhibitors for these diseases. Importantly, these collaborations will allow us to translate our findings into the clinic for future clinical trials. This project proposal seeks to broad our understanding of PI3K activation in vascular biology and to ultimately improve patients’ quality of life.

Keywords: pi3k,vascular anomalies,vascular tumours,vascular malformations,angiogenesis,signal transduction,pre clinical studies
Colonization resistance: training and research towards microbiome derived solutions to foodborne disease (COL_RES)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Innovative Training Networks (ITN)-European Training Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Germany,Spain,Ireland,Switzerland,France,United Kingdom
Call: Innovative Training Networks (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-03-01
End date: 2025-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2186997.48
EU funding (EUR): 2186997.48
Participants: 7
Project status: SIGNED

The COL_RES network comprises a world-leading group of investigators that will investigate the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota protects against serious foodborne pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Citrobacter and Campylobacter) and lead to the identification of next generation probiotics that can protect against multiple infectious agents. Through intersectoral industry-academia secondments the network will provide state-of-the-art training for early stage researchers (ESR) preparing them for problem solving and entrepreneurial roles in industry and society and underpinning cutting-edge research in infectious disease in the EU. Food and water borne diseases cause 23 million illnesses in the European region with 5000 deaths per annum and represent an increasing challenge to the health of the EU and global population. Through studying different pathogens using shared approaches the COL_RES network will undertake a network-wide approach to identify overlapping mechanisms by which members of the gut microbiota provide a barrier to infection through the phenomenon of Colonization Resistance. The work will utilise a systems-based approach by exploiting existing research models at world-leading laboratories combined with phageomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics to generate multi-omics data that will uncover both pathogen-specific and shared mechanisms by which the gut microbiota protects against foodborne pathogens. The work will inform the selection and testing of specific next-generation probiotic candidates that can protect against foodborne infections, with potential for further development by our industry partners. Thus, the network will enhance training through world-leading research via cross-sectoral industry secondments in an actively entrepreneurial environment.

Keywords: microbiome,microbiota,infection,immunity,foodborne pathogen,salmonella,listeria,campylobacter,e coli
Axions: From Heaven to Earth (AXION)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Panel description: Particle, nuclear, plasma, atomic, molecular, gas, and optical physics
Countries involved: Sweden
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2016-ADG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2022-12-31
Duration (months): 64.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2324391.0
EU funding (EUR): 2324391.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Axions are hypothetical particles whose existence would solve two major problems: the strong P, T problem (a major blemish on the standard model); and the dark matter problem. It is a most important goal to either observe or rule out the existence of a cosmic axion background. It appears that decisive observations may be possible, but only after orchestrating insight from specialities ranging from quantum field theory and astrophysical modeling to ultra-low noise quantum measurement theory. Detailed predictions for the magnitude and structure of the cosmic axion background depend on cosmological and astrophysical modeling, which can be constrained by theoretical insight and numerical simulation. In parallel, we must optimize strategies for extracting accessible signals from that very weakly interacting source. While the existence of axions as fundamental particles remains hypothetical, the equations governing how axions interact with electromagnetic fields also govern (with different parameters) how certain materials interact with electromagnetic fields. Thus those materials embody “emergent” axions. The equations have remarkable properties, which one can test in these materials, and possibly put to practical use. Closely related to axions, mathematically, are anyons. Anyons are particle-like excitations that elude the familiar classification into bosons and fermions. Theoretical and numerical studies indicate that they are common emergent features of highly entangled states of matter in two dimensions. Recent work suggests the existence of states of matter, both natural and engineered, in which anyon dynamics is both important and experimentally accessible. Since the equations for anyons and axions are remarkably similar, and both have common, deep roots in symmetry and topology, it will be fruitful to consider them together.

Keywords: axion,dark matter,anyon