Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
New luminescent hydrogels and chemosensors derived from alkynyl gold(I) complexes (AU_HYDROGEL)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-07-01
End date: 2016-07-29
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 223002.2
EU funding (EUR): 223002.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Alkynyl gold(I) compounds present interesting luminescent properties due to the establishment of aurophilic interactions (Au•••Au). This kind of interaction, together with the linearity imposed by the gold(I) atoms and acetylide groups, is also responsible for the construction of supramolecular architectures such as gels. The aim of this project is the design of new luminescent hydrogels and chemosensors based on the general structure [R1AuC≡CR2]. The work is inspired, on one hand, in the recently found ability of the complexes [Au(4-ethynylpyridyl)(phosph)] (phosph = PTA, DAPTA) to form luminescent hydrogels. On the other hand, it is known that gold(I) compounds can find application in molecular recognition processes of cations and anions, where the signalling arises from the modulation of aurophilic or chromophore interactions. The project plans the study of several types of alkynyl gold(I) complexes containing coumarins, polyamines and positively charged alkylated ligands, respectively. The hydrogels found for every type of derivative will be characterized regarding their morphology, photophysics and aggregation properties. Moreover, the luminescent properties of the complexes will be investigated regarding the chemosensing of biologically and environmentally relevant anions and cations. This project represents a multidisciplinary and novelty research dealing with systems that can be valuable in a wide range of applications.

Keywords: alkynyl gold(i) complex,hydrogel,chemosensor,aurophilic interactions,luminescence,supramolecular interactions
Pathways, ecological and genomic consequences of genome duplication in Arabidopsis arenosa, an overlooked diploid-polyploid member of the model genus Arabidopsis (WILD ARABIDOPSIS)

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: Norway
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-09-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 241066.8
EU funding (EUR): 241066.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The project addresses critical gaps in our understanding of the role of genome duplication (polyploidy) in the genesis and maintenance of plant diversity. While polyploidization is widely acknowledged as a major speciation mechanism in land plants, little is still known about the performance, dynamics, and evolutionary potential of wild polyploid lineages. In my project I propose an interdisciplinary research at the interface between plant systematics, population genetics, and ecological and evolutionary genomics. I will use the novel rapidly developing high throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques which open previously unseen opportunities for studying complex evolutionary processes in plant populations. The potential of such methods in deciphering complex polyploid genomes is, however, still limited mainly due to insufficient knowledge of the genome of the wild plant under study. My project will overcome this gap as it focuses on Arabidopsis arenosa, an overlooked yet extremely promising species that represents the closest wild di-polyploid relative to the key plant model system A. thaliana. I intend to bring and analyze my unique comprehensive set of A arenosa samples (>120 populations) at University of Oslo – a renowned research institution with wide experience in HTS applications and data handling. I aim to examine the overall genetic structure of the species, reveal evolutionary history of the polyploid lineages, and assess the diversity of candidate loci under selection across the species’ range. The project will advance our understanding of evolution and diversity of plant systems, with practical implications in biodiversity conservation, agriculture, and pharmacology. In the course of the project I will significantly improve my skills of leading-edge scientific methods (analyses of high-throughput sequence data) and I will strengthen my position as an independent scientist by getting training in project management and international collaboration.

Keywords: polyploidy,genome duplication,biosystematics,evolutionary ecology,ecological and evolutionary genomics,arabidopsis,population genetics,phylogeography,high throughput sequencing
Control of gene expression in developing diencephalon by the transcription factor Pax6 (PAXBRAIN)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-10-15
End date: 2016-10-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Forebrain development is an extremely complex process that depends on the coordination of multiple molecular networks controlled by a relatively small group of transcription factors. Understanding of these genes, their downstream pathways and their spatial and temporal interactions is still far from clear, seriously limiting our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of brain development and the causes of neurodevelopmental diseases. Our research will be aimed at deepening understanding of the molecular actions of one of such transcription factor, Pax6, during mouse diencephalic development with special attention to its interaction with the Shh pathway. We shall be following changes in gene expression profiles (by RNA-seq) in normal and Pax6 mutant cells (with or without Shh blockade treatment) and interrogating the data with bioinformatic methods. The outcomes expected from this aspect include identification of genes downstream of Pax6, the relationships between these genes and their putative interactions with the Shh pathway. In a second phase of the project, we shall test specific hypotheses on whether Pax6 regulates genes in the downstream networks through direct interactions (using ChIP and EMSA assays) and will correlate Pax6’s molecular actions with its cellular functions. This represents the first study of the diencephalon under this innovative and multidisciplinary approach.

Keywords: mouse,diencephalon,pax6,shh,molecular pathways,molecular interactions,rna sequencing,gene screening,bioinformatics,developmental patterning,brain development
Global existence vs Blow-up in some nonlinear PDEs arising in fluid mechanics. (TRANSIC)

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: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-10-01
End date: 2016-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 166336.2
EU funding (EUR): 166336.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The present project aims at studying qualitative properties of some nonlinear Partial Differential Equations arising in fluid mechanics. It is divided into 3 parts. Part 1 and Part 2 address the study of some classes of 1D hydrodynamic models, namely, the inviscd Surface Quasi-Gesotrophic equation (SQG) and the generalized Constantin-Lax-Majda (gCLM) equation. Both models are closely related to the 3D Euler equation written in terms of the vorticity and are therefore mathematically interesting. More specifically, Part 1 is devoted to the study of particular solutions of the inviscid (SQG) equation which blow up in finite time. Those particular solutions turn out to satisfy a 1D non local equation which are a particular case of (gCLM) equation. Therefore, we focus on that 1D equation and we prove finite time blow-up by using methods coming from harmonic analysis and the so-called "nonlocal maximal principle" or the "modulus of continuity method" introduced by Kiselev, Nazarov and Volberg. In contrast to Part 1, Part 2 is devoted to the proof of a global existence theorem for another particular case of (gCLM) equation. Unlike Part 1 where the "modulus of continuity method" will be used only in one step of the proof, Part 2 is completly based on the use of the "modulus of continuity method". Finally, Part 3 deals with the Muskat problem which describes the interface between two fluids of different density but same viscosity. This part is centered around a global existence result due to Constantin, Cordoba, Gancedo, Strain and is based on the use of a new formulation of the Muskat problem recently obtained by Lazar.

Keywords: non local transport equation- fluid interface dynamics- harmonic analysis
Brain image processing with Alpha-Stable distributions. Applications to intensity normalization, segmentation and diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. (ALPHA-BRAIN-IMAGING)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-07-16
End date: 2017-05-03
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 223778.4
EU funding (EUR): 223778.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In this project, D. Salas-Gonzalez proposes to develop brain image processing with alpha-stable distributions with applications to intensity normalization, segmentation and diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. The expected results of this interdisciplinary project will definitely have applications and impact in the European society and its health, which is an objective of the '2020 Vision for the European Research Area’. Specifically, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer type dementia are a research priority in developed countries, as their population is becoming older and, therefore, there will be more prevalence of these neurodegenerative diseases in the future. The main goal and overall objective of this project is to attract the attention of neuroimaging experts to the potentialities and wide range of applications of the alpha-stable distribution: a heavy-tailed, non-symmetric distribution with similar desirable properties to the Gaussian density. The Gaussian distribution is used ubiquitously in neuroimaging. For this reason, the alpha-stable density can be potentially used as an alternative to the Gaussian distribution. In addition, in order to show the wide range of application in neuroimaging of the alpha-stable distribution, four different research objectives are envisaged in this project. They include basic research, strategic research, applied research and transfer of knowledge: i) Intensity normalization of FP-CIT Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography brain images. ii) Segmentation of Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI). iii) Feature extraction for Parkinsonian syndrome diagnosis. iv) Feature extraction for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. v) Software implementation for real applications.

Keywords: neuroimaging,alpha-stable distribution,brain tomography,brain image processing,alzheimer's disease diagnosis,parkinsonian syndrome diagnosis
Targeted Brain Delivery of Nrf-2 Gene and α-Synuclein Binding Peptide using Functionalised Gold Nanoparticles for Disease-modifying Therapy of Parkinson’s Disease (NANOGOLD4PARKINSONS)

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: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IIF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-27
End date: 2016-05-26
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and debilitating neurodegenerative movement disorder that is set to rise in incidence with a rapidly ageing global population. As current clinical treatments offer only symptomatic control with no curative options, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches that can delay further neurodegeneration and enhance the overall quality of life in PD patients. Recent emerging evidence on the prion-like spreading neuronal accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein proteins as well as the oxidative stress induced demise of dopaminergic neurons have revealed promising molecular targets for potential disease modifying therapies. Capitalising on the facile synthesis, low cytotoxicities and unique optical properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), we propose the development of two types of novel AuNPs bearing leptin-receptor targeting peptides, namely (a) leptin-poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)-poly(ethyleneimine)(PEI)-AuNP and (b) α-synuclein inhibitor-/leptin-PEG-AuNP for the respective delivery of the Nrf-2 antioxidant gene (pNrf-2) and α-synuclein peptide inhibitor across the blood brain barrier (BBB). In this study, detailed physicochemical characterisation as well as the evaluation of the cytotoxic and inflammatory properties of the functionalised AuNPs will be studied in a panel of brain-relevant cell types. The BBB permeability of the functionalised AuNPs and pNrf-2 complexes will be evaluated in a well-characterised in vitro transwell co-culture model; with cellular localisation examined using advanced microscopic techniques. The neuroprotective effects of inhibiting α-synuclein aggregation and upregulation of Nrf-2 antioxidant proteins using the functionalised AuNPs will be examined in a dopaminergic cell line. It is envisioned that upon the successful establishment of their respective neuroprotective effects, both types of functionalised AuNPs could be simultaneously administered for maximal clinical benefits.

Keywords: parkinson's disease,gold nanoparticle,blood brain barrier,a-synuclein inhibitor,nrf-2,gene delivery,nanotechnology,microscopy,leptin,disease-modifying,antioxidant,targeted brain delivery
Development of a new generation of highly scalable and accurate 3D Particle-In-Cell codes (PICSSAR)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-09-15
End date: 2017-09-14
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 268329.3
EU funding (EUR): 268329.3
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The success of PetaWatt (PW) laser facilities presently under construction, which aim at producing promising particle and light sources from relativistic laser-plasma interactions, will rely on the strong coupling between experiments and large-scale simulations with Particle-In-Cell (PIC) codes. Standard PIC codes currently in use fail to accurately describe these new interaction regimes because the finite difference Maxwell’s solver used to compute electromagnetic fields generates strong instabilities when particles move at relativistic velocities. At present, the mitigation of these instabilities requires the use of very high resolution, which dramatically increases the computation time, and prevents realistic 3D modeling. Our project aims at building a new generation of highly accurate PIC codes, which will enable realistic 3D simulations of these yet unexplored interaction regimes. It will use highly precise pseudo-spectral methods to solve Maxwell’s equations. Despite their accuracy, such methods have however hardly been used so far, due to their low scalability to 10,000s of cores only, which is not enough to take advantage of supercomputer architectures required for 3D modeling. To break this barrier, the main challenge to tackle is the implementation of a new and pioneering grid decomposition technique proposed by the outgoing host. This will enable for the first time a massively parallel implementation of pseudo-spectral solvers on up to a million of cores. The new PIC code will then be used to model future experiments with the PW laser of the return host and compared to standard codes. The outcome of this project will be a 3D PIC code which dramatically reduces the time-to-solution needed to solve a given problem, and hence have a huge impact on the field of ultrahigh intensity laser-plasma interaction, which is extremely active in Europe. Our general approach may also impact many other fields of computational physics where spectral solvers are used.

Keywords: particle-in-cell codes,ultra-high intensity physics,laser-plasma interaction,relativistic plasma,pseudo-spectral,parallel computing,discrete fourier transform
Unified mesoscale to wind turbine wake downscaling based on an open-source model chain (MESOWAKE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-08-01
End date: 2017-07-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 352176.3
EU funding (EUR): 352176.3
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The objective of MESOWAKE is is to contribute to the development of an open-source model chain that can bridge the gap between mesoscale meteorological processes and microscale wind farm models. Special focus will be given to the interfacing between mesoscale and microscale CFD models both based on large-eddy simulation treatment of the atmospheric boundary layer. Case studies will be based on the complex terrain aspects of the test sites of NREL and CENER as well as from industrial associate partners. The unified model will be installed and commissioned at the MareNostrum supercomputer in Barcelona (Spain) and freely distributed trough the Windbench.net model evaluation platform. A strategic plan for the development of wind energy meteorology applications based on open-source models will be jointly formulated by NREL and CENER. A Memorandum of Understanding will establish a long-term collaboration framework that guarantees the continuity of the activity beyond the duration of the project.

Keywords: wind energy,boundary-layer meteorology,large-eddy simulation,open-source,wrf,physical downscaling,complex terrain,wind turbine design,wind resource assessment
Marine Aerosol NUcleations (MANU)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-17
End date: 2017-03-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 226444.1
EU funding (EUR): 226444.1
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The topic of this proposal is the natural marine aerosol, which is of paramount importance at the global scale and influences the Earth’s radiative budget and the biogeochemical cycles. New particle formation dominates the atmospheric aerosol number budgets and most of these particles are formed by nucleation of marine biogenic vapours. MANU (Marine Aerosol NUcleations) aims to directly identify the spontaneous creation of new nanometer-sized particles in the open ocean marine atmosphere and to understand the physical and chemical transformations occurring in them once formed. MANU will (1) obtain the spatial variability of new particle formation (NPF) events in different open ocean areas, (2) elucidate the chemical composition of NPF events, (3) associate NPF events with biological processes and (4) interpret how NPF events affect the existing aerosol and its overall Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) population. The approach involves state-of-the-art mass spectrometry measurements including ATOFMS, HR-ToF-MS and Api-ToF/MS during a Southern Ocean research cruise (Hesperides, 2014) and at the Mace Head research station (Ireland, 2015). The expected outcome of this Marie Curie action is to contribute to a significant step in the career of the promising European researcher such as the candidate, specifically adding missing complementary research competencies at an advanced level of new particle formation events measurements. Additional benefits to the European knowledge-based economy and society will also come from the important return phase of the project, where the experience and the knowledge acquired as well as the contact-network built up outside Europe will be shared. This proposal is multidisciplinary because two institutions with different backgrounds (outgoing: atmospheric chemistry; return: marine biology) aims to tackle the interdisciplinary research topic of open ocean NPF events while transferring knowledge to the candidate and the public.

Keywords: marine aerosol,aerosol mass spectrometry,open ocean nucleations,ams,atofms,api-tof/ms
Tricyclic Peptides for the Development of Therapeutics (CYPEPUTICS)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-06-01
End date: 2016-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 199317.6
EU funding (EUR): 199317.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Peptide macrocycles can bind with high affinity and selectivity to protein targets and are an attractive class of molecules for the development of therapeutics. Recently, a phage display-based strategy was developed that allowed to generate potent bicyclic peptide antagonists (Heinis, C., et al., Nat. Chem. Biol., 2009). While bicyclic peptides with nanomolar affinities to a range of protein targets could be generated, it was more difficult to obtain high-affinity binders to some proteins, particularly to those having flat surfaces and no clefts or cavities. Herein, I propose to develop rigid, tricyclic peptides that should, due to a more defined three-dimensional structure, bind to flat surfaces similar as antibodies. Two formats are envisioned for the synthesis of tricyclic peptides: in the first one, a linear peptide is anchored via four cysteine residues to a small molecule while in the second format, bicyclic peptides will be generated and their two peptide rings are connected via Huisgen cycloaddition reaction to impose an additional conformational constraint. Phage-encoded combinatorial libraries of these peptide folds will be generated and subjected to affinity selections. Tricyclic peptide binding to a variety of biological targets including (a) the well-characterized cancer-associated targets EGFR and HER2, and (b) the more challenging target of the antibiotic vancomycin, the short peptide D-Ala-D-Ala, will be developed.

Keywords: phage display,organic synthesis,chemical biology,medicinal chemistry,molecular biology