Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Single-molecule spectroscopy of coordinated motions in allosteric proteins (SMALLOSTERY)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2016-ADG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-05-01
End date: 2022-10-31
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2484722.0
EU funding (EUR): 2484722.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Critical for the function of many proteins, allosteric communication involves transmission of the effect of binding at one site of a protein to another through conformational changes. Yet the structural and dynamic basis for allostery remains poorly understood. In particular, there is no method to follow coordinated large-scale motions of domains and subunits in proteins as they occur. Since the subunits of allosteric proteins often contain multiple domains, any such method entails probing the dynamics along several intra-protein distances simultaneously. This proposal aims at ameliorating this deficiency by creating the experimental framework for exploring time-dependent coordination of allosteric transitions of multiple units within proteins. Our methodology will rely on single-molecule FRET spectroscopy with multiple labels on the same protein and advanced analysis. We will explore fundamental issues in protein dynamics: relative motions of domains within subunits, propagation of conformational change between subunits, and synchronization of these motions by effector molecules. To investigate these issues, we have carefully selected three model systems, each representing an important scenario of allosteric regulation. While the homo-oligomeric protein-folder GroEL conserves symmetry in a concerted transition between major structural states, the symmetry of the homo-oligomeric disaggregating machine ClpB is broken via a sequential transition. Symmetry is attained only after binding to DNA and ligands in the third system, the family of RXR heterodimers. This exciting project will provide the very first catalogue of coordinated and time-ordered motions within and between subunits of allosteric proteins and the first measurement of the time scale of the conformational spread through a large protein. It will enhance dramatically our understanding of how allostery contributes to protein function, influencing future efforts to design drugs for allosteric proteins.

Keywords: protein dynamics,allostery,single molecule fret
Development of immunosuppressive treatments with better safety (SAFEIMMUNOSUPPRESS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2015-PoC, 2015)
Start date: 2016-01-01
End date: 2017-06-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The idea of the proposal is to prove the relevance of the development a novel class of immunosuppressive drugs with a better safety. These agents will aim at selectively inhibit the proliferation of T (and B) lymphocytes by targeting a medically relevant target (named CTPS1) recently identified by Dr Latour in the team of Pr Fischer. Proliferation of T lymphocytes is a normal component of the immune reaction toward an antigen, but in certain circumstances, the proliferation of activated T lymphocytes is deleterious including in the context of organ transplantation, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Accordingly, several classes of immunosuppressive agents have been developed to inhibit and control these excessive and pathological responses. Actually, most of these inhibitors known are associated with toxicity due to their nonspecific broad effects. A promising future application of immunosuppressive drugs is to search for agents that inhibit unwanted lymphocyte responses by novel and more specific mechanisms. The aim of the project is to conduct a feasibility study for the development of such drugs that could selectively inhibit the proliferation of activated lymphocytes by targeting CTPS1 (without broad side effects as currently used inhibitors). The excepted outcomes of the project are to amass the weight of data needed for achieving a technology transfer to an industrial partner active in drug discovery. These data represent key points to address needed for advancement of the idea to high throughput drug screening and design stage (that will be realized by the industrial partner). This background work includes pre-clinical studies in cellular and animal models and a technical feasibility study validating the plan for drug discovery, as well as IPR finalization, contacts with potential industrial partners and finalization of the commercialization strategy.

Keywords: immune response,immunosupressants,lymphocyte proliferation
Water and Baptism in Old English Poetry (Cleansing Water)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2019-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The purpose of this project is to offer the first comprehensive study of the function of water and its relationship with baptism in the four most significant Old English poetry manuscripts: the Exeter Book, the Vercelli Book, the Junius XI and the Cotton Vitellius A XV. Analysis of a group of mainly poetic texts, selected on the basis of their references to baptism and water, will help determine how these topics are treated and developed in relation to salvation. The texts will also be studied with reference to their codicological context to reconsider the individual manuscripts as a whole and re-evaluate the criteria in the composition of the codices, and the different meaning these topics assume with regard to different contexts. Texts referencing water will be compared to show similarities and differences in the treatment of baptism, and linguistic patterns will be established. The study will lead to a better understanding of the Anglo-Saxons' culture; it will also help determine how, and to what extent, this vision has been assimilated and developed in contemporary European culture. The research results will be presented in a number of outputs, including conference papers, articles, a co-edited volume, and a monograph. The supervisor’s expertise both overlaps with, and complements the researcher’s skills, so that the project will be of mutual benefit at both individual and institutional level. The research activity and training at QUB will foster the researcher’s skills and promote her career by broadening her experience and improving her research techniques through contact with highly qualified scholars in a vibrant working environment. Active participation in seminars and conferences will allow her to engage in international collaboration, facilitating her entry into the international academic world. Her methods will benefit from the encounter with a dynamic community of medievalists, stimulating a multidisciplinary approach to current and future research.

Keywords: water,baptism,religion,poetry,anglo saxon,manuscripts,old english
Integrated Precision Medicine Technologies Research Centre of Excellence (IPMT)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Spreading excellence and widening participation
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Improved access to Excellence
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Germany,Spain,Cyprus
Call: Teaming Phase 1 (H2020-WIDESPREAD-04-2017-TeamingPhase1, 2017)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2018-08-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 399997.5
EU funding (EUR): 399997.5
Participants: 5
Project status: CLOSED

Most medical interventions are effective in only a small percentage of the patients. The multifactorial nature of disease and patient differences in presentation, genetics and exposures have been implicated as the causes. Precision medicine aims to maximize the effectiveness of medicine by tailoring the diagnosis and treatment to match individual patients. This proposal will establish an Integrated Precision Medicine Technologies Research Centre of Excellence, a multidisciplinary centre which will be a leader in the development of new technologies to further enable and accelerate the progress and application of precision medicine. The Centre will include all the essential fields: (i) modelling & simulations, (ii) intelligent systems & bioinformatics, (iii) imaging & biosignal analysis, (iv) digital & eHealth, (v) embedded systems & electronics, and (vi) sensing technologies (including nano), with support from (vii) biosciences and (viii) clinical validation. Initially, the clinical emphasis will be on tools and methods for relevant multifactorial diseases: cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and traumatic brain injury. The proposal is a collaboration between leading Cypriot and European institutions. The host, the University of Cyprus, is the country’s leading academic institution, with local partners including major medical centres as well as support from the Ministry of Health and other private organizations. The advanced partners are the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Technology (BMT), Germany, and the Centre for Biomedical Research - Bioengineering, Biomaterials & Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Spain. The experience of the partners, combined with the synergies created by this project, provide a great opportunity to establish a sustainable Centre which will (i) conduct vital and timely research, (ii) promote innovation, (iii) provide education and training to a new breed of scientists, (iv) improve the local research capacity, and (v) spearhead economic growth.

Keywords: precision medicine,ehealth,bioinformatics,big data,medical imaging,embedded systems,sensing technologies,molecular,cellular biosciences,cancer,neurodegenerative diseases,critical care
Feasibility study of a microturbine for delocalized electrical energy, off-grid generation (AirWatt)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Secure, clean and efficient energy
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon energy system (H2020-SMEINST-1-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2014-10-01
End date: 2015-03-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Advanced Microturbines S.r.l. developed a microturbine for local generation of electricity from pressurized gases, in the range of 20-50W. The present study will evaluate the feasibility of energy storage and supply system for off-grid applications, based on the microturbine technology, characterized by being low costs, low carbon, flexible, robust and easy to maintain. From a business standpoint, the market need for a similar device was realized by the experience of the proposer in the oil&gas industry. In this context, having a local and distributed energy generation in smart distribution grids represents a potential for cost saving and performance improvements: for example, leakages can be detected by distributed sensors and information sent via wireless transmitters, powered by the microturbine. The microturbine can be used in two operating modes: • As micro-turbo expander exploiting available pressure drops for generating electricity to power up delocalized sensors and transmitters. • As air-powered generator, supplying critical loads for short periods, taking energy from a pressurized tank. Three main objectives shall be reached during the feasibility: a first validation of the technical concepts, a detailed picture of the markets (smart distribution grids, remote off-grid repeaters and possible niches) and a refined business model and plan. On these results, Advanced Microturbines S.r.l. is willing to base the application for phase2. In line with its objectives, the study will include the following activities: Analysis of the technical scenario and concept design: trends and current IPR scenarios, preliminary list of technology suppliers and potential future partners. Study of the markets: trends, Porter’s 5 Force analysis, strategy for market entering. Business model, business plan and action plan towards phase2: main technical and economical conclusions, inputs for the final deliverable, detailed technical development plan for phase2 and after.

Keywords: microturbine,delocalized electricity generation,smart grid metering and monitoring,gas smart distribution grid,off grid power supply,telecom stations and repeaters
Genetic dissection of a tonically active neural circuit (GENETONE)

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-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2019-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Understanding how the brain works is a fundamental challenge in biology and a priority of EU research. A subset of brain circuits can signal tonically to encode persistent stimuli. Such circuits are involved in many sensory systems (e.g. vision, hearing) and in homeostatic responses (e.g. temperature, pH, and posture control). How tonic activity is molecularly achieved remains poorly understood. In C. elegans a tonic circuit promotes aggregation behavior and escape from 21% oxygen. At its core this circuit comprises URX oxygen sensors that tonically stimulate RMG interneurons as oxygen approaches 21%, evoking a switch in behavioral state. Each neuron in the circuit can be imaged and selectively modified in vivo - providing a special opportunity to dissect a tonically active circuit. Genetic screens have isolated 74 mutants with behavioral defects linked to URX-RMG tonic activity and that appear to disrupt hitherto unstudied loci. I am currently identifying the genes defective in these mutants, something I expect to achieve by May 2016 when the Fellowship would begin. I propose to combine genetics, neural imaging, optogenetics and biochemistry to characterize these genes’ function. I expect to define groups of gene products that act together. Some will be hitherto uncharacterized in any animal. I propose to collaborate with partners in the host institute and elsewhere to characterize the function of conserved genetic pathways I discover in depth. I will gain added value from learning new approaches (e.g. biochemistry, CLEM, cell-specific RNA Seq) and by extending some of my findings into a vertebrate model. I expect my research to provide general insights into molecular mechanisms by which tonic circuits work, with potential implications for human disease. This project is likely to pioneer new lines of research indispensible to establish an independent research career, will broaden and deepen my technical expertise, and will help me develop new scientific networks.

Keywords: molecular underpinnings of behavior,forward genetics,cell biology of neurons,neural networks,c elegans
GREENTOP - Gamification of cRowdcomputing to ENhance EarTh Observation data Processing (GREENTOP)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Space
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Romania
Call: Engaging SMEs in space research and development (H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2017-05-01
End date: 2017-10-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The European Space Agency provides free access to great amounts of data from its space missions. Processing it for applications in forestry, land cover, land use, precision agriculture and other fields requires huge capabilities. Through gamification, a community of enthusiasts is encouraged to share their computing power to rapidly process small portions of imagery. Members can also participate actively in validating data manually, providing a human verification of the computer processed information. User involvement, both for automated processing and manual validation will be encouraged through a gamification process (virtual badges, eCards, premium access to data, gifts of independent processing units - IoT devices). The Internet of Things, through small computing modules that process images using energy from renewable sources will organize an innovative mesh network of independent processing units providing green processing power. Big Data of Earth Observation is split into parts individually processed, constantly updating the Earth view from space. Processed data will be publicly available for viewing, while thematic downloads will be charged. Potential customers are Environment NGO’s, local authorities, small and medium sized business in the forestry and agriculture domains, while cooperation with universities in imagery research projects is also envisaged. The collaboration with startup communities through preferential data access and accessible fees has the purpose of boosting further innovation and creativity. Data will be processed using well-known algorithms for radar imaging (Seitinel 1), high resolution multispectral imagery (Sentinel2) and multiple instruments data (Sentinel 3). GREENTOP - Gamification of cRowdcomputing to ENhance EarTh Observation data Processing encourages internet users to support ESA’s initiative of distributing free spatial data. Further applications include tacking input from IoT devices for enhancing analysis algorithms.

Keywords: earth observation,big data processing,gamification,crowdcomputing
Developing the iTOP kit: Empowering scientists with efficient intracellular delivery of biologicals in hard-to-manipulate cell types (ENTRANCE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Theme: Treating and managing disease
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: Supporting innovative SMEs in the healthcare biotechnology sector (H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2019-10-31
Duration (months): 26.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1514200.0
EU funding (EUR): 1514200.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

NTrans Technologies BV has developed iTOP; a novel and extremely effective method to deliver highly relevant bioactive molecules (including DNA, RNA, active proteins, and their combinations) into mammalian cells. This includes the efficient delivery of such molecules inside the most biologically and biomedically relevant cell types (e.g. human primary and stem cells), which are notoriously difficult to manipulate. iTOP technology has been scientifically validated (published in the top scientific journal Cell in 2015) and patented (WO2015028969). iTOP addresses the unmet need of researchers and drug developers to be able to transfect a range of biomolecules into biologically relevant cell models; in particular to study genetic diseases and to underpin results obtained with standard immortalized cell lines. The ENTRANCE project includes the necessary steps towards market entry of the iTOP research-use-only (RUO) kit: The development of (i) an iTOP RUO kit and (ii) an iTOP on-line community as innovative marketing tool that will support proper use and stimulate efficient application of the technology. The ENTRANCE project will thus provide the scientific community access to the novel iTOP tool, facilitate direct access of iTOP kit users to the NTrans support team, and enable sharing of user experiences via an iTOP interactive forum. ENTRANCE will instigate a revolution in biomedical sciences by empowering both researchers and drug developers to manipulate the most relevant cell types with unprecedented efficiency. This will allow the field to move forward at a significantly accelerated pace. The iTOP RUO kit will generously earn back the investments within 4 years, and help to create a buzz around the merits and possibilities of the technology. The latter is of immense value to the SME forecasted to support 16 FTE by 2020, with the ambition to expand its product pipeline and become leader in technologies for delivery of therapeutic biomolecules into primary cells.

Keywords: itop,intracellular delivery,protein transfection,transduction,oligonucleotides,primary cells,crispr cas,cre lox,cell manipulation
Reinventing Energy Efficiency in Communication Networks (RENEW)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Systems and communication engineering
Panel description: Electrical, electronic, communication, optical and systems engineering
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2020-COG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-06-01
End date: 2026-05-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999835.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999835.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

To this day, communications engineering has closely followed the seminal guidelines developed by Claude E. Shannon in 1948, which were mostly influenced by the telephone network of those days. The widespread use of mobile communications and the advent of machine-to-machine communications nowadays entail an exponential increase in data rates and the available models are no longer sufficient to design power-efficient, low-latency, high-speed communication systems. The overarching aim of RENEW is to further increase the data rates of the global telecommunication network while, at the same time, addressing its non-negligible environmental impact. By fundamentally revisiting the transceiver processing algorithms of the core parts of the communication network, RENEW has the potential to overcome the limitations of current design methodologies and to significantly reduce the complexity and energy consumption of the network. Capitalising on cutting-edge results in the fields of machine learning, reinforcement learning, optimisation techniques and neuromorphic computing, RENEW will reinvent the design of communication transmitters and receivers by introducing sparsely connected atomic neural blocks that realise highly parallelisable transceivers guaranteeing high throughputs with low energy consumption. RENEW will explore novel concepts for extremely energy efficient receivers based on spiking neural networks, promising efficiency gains by multiple orders of magnitude. The viability of the RENEW concepts will be demonstrated in applications of high relevance such as high-speed optical communication networks or low-power IoT applications. My industrial experience designing high-speed optical communications, together with my background in coding and communication theory as well as machine learning techniques will be an important enabler for the RENEW concept, which has a transformative potential as it will consequently yield novel energy efficient communication systems.

Keywords: optical fibre communications,energy efficient communications,error correction codes,coherent communications,machine learning for communications,deep learning