Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Research Impact on Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change (ERIMACC)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: European Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2011-03-01
End date: 2013-04-30
Duration (months): 26.0
Total project cost (EUR): 32500.0
EU funding (EUR): 32500.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Global environmental issues such as climate change pose a major societal challenge. A lot of research is ongoing to provide knowledge for improving society’s response to climate change: assessing potential impacts, formulating options for mitigation and adaptation, dealing with uncertainties of model outputs. However, a major challenge remains to ensure that research has an impact, i.e. that research outcomes are actually used by society and translated into solutions. The interaction between science and society is not a simple matter of linear knowledge transfer from research to practice and recent research on science-society interfaces has identified various forms of knowledge transfer and exchange. The overall aim of the proposed research is to understand better how to enhance the societal impact of climate change governance research. Producing research impact requires expertise that is generally not incorporated in traditional disciplinary academic training and education. The intermediary aim is therefore to increase the expertise for producing research impact amongst climate change governance researchers. Knowledge about research impact is dispersed in several bodies of literature: political and policy science, public administration, business management and innovation studies, communication studies. Moreover, it generally fails to provide practical guidelines. To know what expertise researchers should acquire, new knowledge about the production of research impact therefore has to be generated. Action research within ongoing research projects is the preferred research strategy for this study. Through design and testing of strategies for delivering impact it will be explored how different types of research, scholarship and engagement initiatives help to shape the decisions made by local and regional governments and private and civil society stakeholders.

Keywords: knowledge management,climate change governance,science-policy interaction
Ultra-Stable Molecular Force Spectroscopy with Micromachined Transducers (UTMOST)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Türkiye
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2011-03-01
End date: 2015-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The objective of the proposed research is to develop micromachined transducers for improved atomic force microscopy (AFM) based biomolecular mechanics measurements. The research focus will be on the design and microfabrication of these transducers that allow ultra-stable measurements for applications in life sciences. A major research effort will be on performing long-time scale biological experiments using these transducers. Successful implementation of ultra-stable molecular force spectroscopy with micromachined transducers (UTMOST) will facilitate biomolecular measurements with unprecedented stability and accuracy. The proposed approach is to design transducers that thermo-mechanically match the AFM cantilevers. The transducer comprises a micro-stage anchored to its substrate using bimaterial and isolation legs. Bimaterial legs are made of two different materials with different values of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Due to CTE mismatch, these legs deflect under thermal fluctuations. It is guaranteed by design that the micro-stage deflects identically with the AFM cantilever. This provides constant tip-to-transducer distance at all times so that the force applied on the biomolecules stays the same. Originality of the proposed research is to utilize microsystems technology as an integral component of a novel AFM-based assay for biomolecular applications. As such, novel concepts and methods introduced with UTMOST will advance both engineering and life sciences. Positioned between microsystems technology and single-molecular studies, the proposed research will contribute to European technological and scientific excellence. This proposal describes the methodology for the development of UTMOST devices in depth. The details of the biomolecular experiments planned to demonstrate device operation are also explained in this research proposal.

Keywords: microengineering,microsystems,nanobiotechnology,molecular markers and recognition,atomic force microscopy
Role and regulation of CD98hc and Rho proteins during skin wound-healing (CD98 RHO SKIN)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2012-03-01
End date: 2016-02-29
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In mammals, the skin is by its size one of the largest organs, covering the entire body and protecting inner tissues against a wide range of environmental threats ranging from UV irradiation to microorganisms and viruses. This function is achieved via a multilayered organization of the skin among which the outermost layer, the epidermis, provides its waterproofing and barrier functions to the skin. Upon excessive physical stress, skin can be damaged and has to be repaired in order to restore its protective function. To this end, keratinocytes from the epidermis migrate from the edges of the wound over the injured tissue. Such migration requires profound morphological changes driven by the cell cytoskeleton and the small G proteins of the Rho family. Besides, we have just observed that the transmembrane protein CD98hc is indeed required for proper epidermal wound healing in vivo. CD98hc is an intriguing protein that functions as both the large subunit of an amino acid transporter (SLC3A2) and a co-receptor for integrins. Additionally, in some instances, CD98hc can regulate Rho proteins activity. Therefore, in my first aim, I would like to address the molecular pathways responsible for Rho proteins regulation during epidermal wound healing and particularly those downstream of CD98hc. During my postdoctoral training in Keith Burridge’s lab, I have learned the techniques required to identify the GEFs and GAPs involved in this regulation. Independently, I also seek to explore the regulation of Rho GTPases by atypical regulators such as RhoGDIs. To this end, I propose, in a second aim, to assess the function of RhoGDI during epidermal wound healing. Along the same line, I seek to identify the GDF proteins responsible for the displacement of Rho from RhoGDI by setting up and screening a yeast 2-hybrid screen. I anticipate that completion these aims will give us a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of Rho proteins during wound healing.

Keywords: cell biology
Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Communities Involved in Wood Degradation in a Xylophagic Catfish (METAXYLO)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2011-03-01
End date: 2015-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Microbes play an essential role in the global cycling of carbon and nitrogen, but, many of the microorganisms involved in these biogeochemical cycles are, as yet, unculturable using traditional microbiological methods. Thus, essential microbial interactions and biochemical processes contributing to these cycles await discovery. Application of molecular tools can overcome limitations of non-culturability, enabling the description of microbial communities. Fishes of the genus Panaque are capable of long-term survival on a wood-only diet (xylophagy). The microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract probably contain mechanisms for cellulose decomposition and nitrogen fixation, enabling this xylophagous lifestyle. In this study, a polyphasic approach will be employed, to overcome limitations of each technique and better describe and understand the microbes present. In this proposal traditional microbiological culture tools, microbial community profiling using 454-pyrosequencing techniques, fluorescent in situ hybridisations and functional genes analysis will be employed to provide a comprehensive view of the microbial communities present, in the different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. The major goal of this proposal is examine microbial communities associated with xylophagy and to identify novel microbial metabolic genes, enhancing our understanding of the carbon and nitrogen cycles in the environment. The study of novel microbes, enzymes and model systems can provide valuable insight into critical metabolic pathways and enable more efficient biotechnological exploitation.

Keywords: natural sciences
Novel smart materials for biomedical application (BIO-SMART)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: European Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2011-05-01
End date: 2014-04-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 45000.0
EU funding (EUR): 45000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Over the last decade, considerable progress has been achieved in the treatment of both traumatic skin injury, such as severe burns, or the treatment of chronic soft tissue injury, such as chronic ulcers, by the use of tissue engineering scaffolds within which either natural, or stem cell based tissue regeneration can take place. One of the problems of using scaffolds in hospital is bacterial infection, which tends to start at a focal point, and spread across the wound bed and by the time this is obvious enough to see, the infection is well-progressed and difficult to eradicate with either antibiotics, or silver or iodine dressings. This proposal seeks to develop a novel material, smart cryogels, capable of responding to specific “signalling molecules” released either by bacteria or as a product of the immune response; to be used as wound dressings, and as tissue engineering scaffolds. The strategy proposed in the proposal is to secure the antimicrobial agent inside the polymer matrix controlling its release until it is needed. This allows targeting of the areas affected by infection, with antimicrobial agents, thus performing micro-point treatment. The fast specific response also allows release of the antimicrobial agent at the first sign of bacterial colonisation, providing earlier treatment, preventing infection and bacterial spreading, thus providing better treatment. The ability to treat infection at an earlier stage will significantly improve the healing process, providing better treatment and reduction of cost. The potential benefits of the project are very high, as the novel smart macroporous materials which will be developed have clear clinical and commercial potential as delivery materials for diverse applications in medicine, such as biomaterials, sensing/diagnosis devises and drug delivery systems.

Keywords: polymer chemistry,biomedical materials,hydrogel,tissue engineering,wound dressing,smart polymers
Interactions of Breast Cancer Cells with Macrophages in Controlled 3D in vitro Microenvironments (CANCER-3DMATRIX-EGF)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Türkiye
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2015-10-01
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The leading cause of death for cancer patients is metastasis. During metastasis, cancer cells interact with various molecules and cells. It has been shown that a group of macrophages facilitates metastasis. Our goal is to determine the mechanism of interaction between epidermal growth (EGF) produced by macrophages and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressed by breast cancer cells. Soluble EGF or macrophage conditioned medium does not stimulate breast cancer cell invasion into collagen matrix and 6 kDa EGF is not detected in conditioned medium or cell lysates. Various growth factors are known to bind the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells can move by haptotaxis (chemo-attractants are substrate-bound). What is more, breast cancer cells do not invade into collagen matrix when macrophages are not present. Based on the above, we will test the following hypotheses: 1) Breast cancer cells show chemotaxis to freely diffusing EGF in ECM. 2) Breast cancer cells show haptotaxis to ECM bound EGF. 3) Breast cancer cells are stimulated by EGF on the cell surface of macrophages. We will use UV lithography to prepare 3D microenvironments for cell culture and use confocal fluorescence microscopy to assay cell behavior and examine the ECM of macrophages. If EGF is soluble in 3D matrix, breast cancer cells will show increased motility with increased proximity to macrophages. If EGF binds to ECM, then ECM produced by macrophages will be able to stimulate breast cancer cell motility via stimulation of EGFR. If EGF stays on the surface of macrophages, breast cancer cells will not invade the matrix without direct contact with macrophages. This interdisciplinary project will establish an experimental system to study interactions between different cell types and will help develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and devices. The researcher will bring the state-of-the-art knowledge and know-how she has acquired in various international institutions, to Europe.

Keywords: breast cancer cells,macrophages,epidermal growth factor,epidermal growth factor receptor,3d microenvironment,uv lithography
Molecular mechanisms of fibrinogen function regulating NSC differentiation in CNS injury or disease (FIB)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2015-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

After brain injury or neurologic disease, the ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to regenerate is limited. Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the potential to differentiate into neurons and glia, but neurogenesis is incomplete after CNS disease because of a changed extracellular environment. The identification of novel factors responsible for regulating NSC fate is necessary for the molecular understanding of NSC differentiation. In previous work, we have identified that fibrinogen, a blood-derived protein, which is deposited in the nervous system after perturbations of the neurovascular homeostasis, is an inhibitor of neuronal regeneration and an activator of astrocyte scar formation. Fibrinogen interacts with a plethora of receptors and mediates pathways that control cell proliferation and differentiation. Although the signalling machinery necessary for fibrinogen action is present in brain cells, such as NSCs, the role of fibrinogen on NSC differentiation has not been characterized. The central goal of this project is to understand the molecular basis of fibrinogen signalling on NSC proliferation, migration and differentiation. The studies in this project involve the identification and characterization of the NSC/progenitor cell populations, the receptors and signaling mechanisms used by fibrinogen to mediate its effects on regulating NSC fate using state-of-the-art in vivo and in vitro techniques. Understanding how fibrinogen affects neurogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels after CNS injury is important for developing novel therapeutic approaches to promote functional regeneration of the nervous system.

Keywords: neurobiology,neuronal regeneration,blood-brain-barrier,trauma,multiple sclerosis,neural stem cells,extracellular matrix
Chromatin Dynamics of Stem Cells and Lineage Commitment in Plant Development (CHROMORPHO)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: European Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands,Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2011-06-01
End date: 2013-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 30000.0
EU funding (EUR): 30000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

In recent years chromatin has emerged as an extremely dynamic platform for establishing and maintaining gene expression programs. Chemical alterations of DNA and histone proteins, nucleosome positioning and histone variant usage collectively allow the formation of complex combinatorial codes of chromatin modifications that determine local DNA accessibility to transcription and transcript processing machineries. As in animals, plant stem cell identity and lineage commitment are controlled by unique transcription factor networks and conserved chromatin factors including nucleosome remodelers, histone variants and histone modifiers of the Polycomb group (PcG, epigenetic repressors) as well as Trithorax group (TrxG, epigenetic activators). Moreover, in stem cells the histone variant H2A.Z collaborates with PcG factors and is pivotal for timely activation of differentiation genes during the transition to lineage commitment. Although more of these tantalizing concepts in the plant and animal chromatin field have recently surfaced non have hitherto been proven in vivo by studying specific cell types derived from developing organisms. I believe plants can become the next stepping-stone in our understanding of these developmental chromatin concepts. Due to lack of cell migration, easy supply of in vivo derived material as well as extensive collections of genetic backgrounds plants offer a unparalleled opportunity to study cell type specific chromatin changes along the trajectory of cell lineage commitment. I here propose to use Arabidopsis root development as a model system in combination with fluorescence assisted cell sorting, chromatin immuno-precipitation and genome-wide analysis of a set of chromatin parameters. This unique study will reveal parallels and diverging concepts of plant and animal development at the chromatin level and generate a deeper understanding of plant patterning processes that could lead to substantial crop improvements.

Keywords: stem cells,chromatin,development,cromatin immuno-precipitation,chip,differentiation,arabidopsis,tilling array,cell sorting,facs,root,plethora,retinoblastoma,morphogen,auxin gradient
Interval Timing, Decision Making, and Reward Maximization (OPTIMAL TIMING)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Re-integration Grants
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Türkiye
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG, 2010)
Start date: 2011-03-01
End date: 2015-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Time is a ubiquitous, defining feature of apparently simple decisions that we routinely face in daily life. These decisions include trading off speed against accuracy while taking a timed test, or stepping on the gas pedal rather than braking when the traffic light turns yellow. Keeping track of time is adaptive, because reward earned in many real-life scenarios depends on the temporal statistics of the environment. To that end, evolution appears to have favored a stopwatch-like mechanism that, with high accuracy but limited precision, allows many organisms to time intervals in the seconds-to-minutes range. Importantly, the subjective sense of time that results is sufficiently imprecise so that maximizing rewards while making decisions requires taking account of not only temporal accuracy, but also temporal uncertainty. In short, it requires optimal temporal risk assessment. With this project, the applicant aims to carry out an innovative, quantitative analysis of the temporal risk assessment capability that is fundamental to our daily functioning. He will specifically evaluate whether humans make optimal decisions and maximize rewards when confronted with their endogenous timing uncertainty, as well as experienced exogenous uncertainty. To that end, he proposes a number of experiments that impose different time constraints on the problem of reward maximization in scenarios that entail dissimilar everyday-like decisions. The results will lead to an in-depth characterization of human temporal risk assessment ability under multiple sources of uncertainty in terms of the degree to which it approaches optimality. This endeavor promises to open a new avenue for interval-timing and decision-making research, and to bridge the empirical and theoretical gap between them by incorporating the psychophysics of interval timing into the study of reward maximization. The results will have important implications for timing and decision-making deficits observed in neuropathology.

Keywords: psychological sciences,cognitive science,experimental psychology,interval timing,time perception,psychophysics,decision making,reward maximization,optimality,risk assessment