Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Neutrinos and other probes for new physics (NEUPROBES)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2013-08-15
End date: 2017-08-14
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The main goal of this project is the study of the present evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) with particular emphasis in neutrino phenomenology. Fundamental neutrino properties, such as the value of neutrino masses, their hierarchy, their Majorana nature, or the existence of leptonic CP violation are still unknown. This research is extremely timely since a new generation of accelerator experiments and cosmological probes is addressing these questions. In the coming years, the analysis and interpretation of all these data will be of great importance to complete our picture of the neutrino sector and constitutes one of my main research goals. Depending on these results, a new generation of facilities will be necessary to complete the picture they reveal. Their optimization will depend crucially on the findings of the present generation of experiments and constitutes the second goal of the present proposal. From the theoretical point of view, the underlying physics mechanism responsible for neutrino masses and mixings is still unknown and its discovery would provide the key to the puzzles of flavour or the origin of the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry. Thus, the research project also proposes the study of the phenomenological signatures of models of neutrino masses as well as the strategies to probe neutrino data for signals of new physics. In this context, collider experiments such as the LHC with unprecedented energy and luminosity will provide exceptional tools. The interplay between particle physics and cosmology also provides further evidence for new physics through the unknown dark matter and dark energy sectors. Therefore, a secondary research line of this proposal will be to explore the best probes to these unknown physics as well as the phenomenological implications of different theoretical models aiming at their explanation.

Keywords: p102 particle physics,phenomenology,astroparticle physics,neutrinos,dark matter,dark energy,p301 astronomy - astrophysics and cosmology
DNA damage response: ATMIN regulated non-canonical ATM activation (NONCANATM)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Austria
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-09-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The checkpoint kinase ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated) transduces genomic stress signals to halt cell cycle progression and promote DNA repair in response to DNA damage. ATMIN (for ATM INteractor) is a cofactor for ATM that shares functional homologies with another cofactor, NBS1. Whereas NBS1 is required for ATM function after induction of double-stand breaks (DSBs), ATMIN is essential for ATM signaling triggered by agents that induce ‘chromatin changes’ (including chloroquine and osmotic stress). However, the significance of this non-canonical mode of ATM signaling has been unclear. My recent work has shown that the ATMIN/ATM signaling pathway is crucial for the function of the ATM kinase, and hence the maintenance of genomic integrity and tumour suppression. In order to determine whether ATMIN is required for any of the physiological functions of ATM, we generated a conditional knock-out mouse model for ATMIN in B cells. ATM signaling was dramatically reduced following osmotic stress in ATMIN-mutant B cells. As a consequence, ATMIN deficiency led to impaired class switch recombination, and subsequently ATMIN-mutant mice developed B cell lymphomas. Thus, somewhat surprisingly given the large body of evidence supporting a role for NBS1 in ATM activation, ablation of ATMIN-dependent ATM activation leads to a severe defect in ATM function. Thus this data strongly argues for the existence of a second independent mode of ATM activation that contributes to ATM function. The molecular trigger (which can be mimicked by osmotic stress) and the components of this second ATMIN-dependent arm of the ATM pathway are unknown, but my data clearly show that it is physiologically relevant. It is worth noting that while a large amount of scientific effort has gone into characterising ATM signaling triggered by DSBs, very little is known about non-canonical ATM signaling. The experiments outlined in my research plan have the aim to understand the molecular basis of this pathway.

Keywords: molecular biology and interactions,dna damage and reapir,cancer,genomic stability
Testing galaxy formation with gravitational-wave and X-ray observations of massive black holes (GALFORMBHS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-11-01
End date: 2016-10-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

I will study the evolution of the masses and spins of massive black holes (MBHs) in competing scenarios for galaxy formation and for the MBH seeds at high redshift, and assess whether they may be discriminated with future gravitational-wave detectors and X-ray missions. This project is extremely timely and relevant for European science because two of the candidates (ATHENA and eLISA/NGO) for the ESA L-class mission selection for the Cosmic Vision program focus on MBHs as gravitational-wave or X-ray sources. The project will build upon some recent work of mine, in which I studied the MBH mass and spin evolution in a state-of-the-art "standard" semianalytical galaxy-formation model. To fully exploit ATHENA's and eLISA/NGO's potential, I will extend this work in several directions, namely: 1) I will calculate the MBH merger rates for eLISA/NGO, in the "standard" galaxy-formation model but with different scenarios for the MBH seeds. I will include the effect of the spins on the gravitational waveforms using a novel effective-one-body model that I previously developed. 2) I will consider an "alternative" galaxy-formation model that I proposed in 2010 and in which the baryonic evolution is driven by the two-phase structural evolution of the dark-matter halos, and I will work out its predictions for ATHENA and eLISA/NGO and the differences from the "standard" scenario. 3) I will work out the preditions of both the "standard" and "alternative" galaxy-formation models for future gravitational-wave detectors in the 0.1-1 Hz frequency band (DECIGO and the Einstein Telescope). 4) For both galaxy-formation models, I will analyze how well eLISA/NGO will measure the luminosity distance-redshift relation and therefore dark energy. My unique combination of expertise and the fact that I personally developed the tools needed for this project will be crucial to maximize scientific productivity and the impact on European science, and make me the ideal person for this research.

Keywords: p111 relativity,p301 astronomy - astrophysics and cosmology
A novel epigenetic modification in pluripotent stem cells (EPIPLUS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-09-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

DNA methylation is critical during mammalian development, generally represses transcription when present at gene promoters and regulates cell lineage-specific gene expression programs. Conversely, during cellular reprogramming, efficient erasure of DNA methylation is essential for reactivation of previously silenced genes and for attaining pluripotency. The identity of such “DNA demethylase(s)” has been elusive until our recent discovery of the Tet family of dioxygenases. As a research fellow in Anjana Rao’s group, I first reported that TET proteins convert 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in DNA, a novel epigenetic modification that can facilitate DNA demethylation and is associated with pluripotency. I further demonstrated that Tet1 and Tet2 are highly expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and regulate cell fate specification. ESCs depleted of Tet1 by RNAi show diminished expression of the Nodal antagonist Lefty1, resulting in hyperactive Nodal signaling and skewed differentiation toward definitive endoderm in vitro. In Fgf4- and heparin-supplemented culture, Tet1-depleted ESCs activate the trophoblast stem cell determinant Elf5 and can colonize the placenta in midgestation embryo chimeras. Consistent with these findings, Tet1-depleted ESCs form aggressive hemorrhagic teratomas with increased endoderm and ectopic appearance of trophoblastic giant cells. This proposal aims to address (1) the detailed mechanisms by which Tet proteins regulate the transition between ESC self-renewal and differentiation into distinct lineages; (2) how Tet1 regulates development of the early mouse embryo and (3) how Tet expression affects the differentiation potential of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Insights from these studies will open new avenues to improve derivation of specific cell lineages from ESCs and iPSCs by modulating Tet expression and/or activities, with potential applications in disease modeling and cellular replacement therapies.

Keywords: epigenetics and gene regulation,dna methylation,5-hydroxymethylcytosine,stem cells biology,mammalian development
GENETICALLY ENCODED FLUORESCENT NANOPROBES FOR DETECTION OF RNA INTERACTIONS (GENETIC NANOPROBES)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Israel
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-08-01
End date: 2016-07-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Achieving a quantitative understanding of the transcriptome is critical to the development of RNA biology and RNA-based therapeutics. One of the main “road-blocks” to the advancement of these fields is the inability, at present, to dynamically track most RNA molecules in vivo. In order to achieve a quantitative understanding of RNA interactions in vivo, we propose to develop a new class of genetically encoded fluorescent probes that will be designed to dynamically track gene expression (mRNA), miRNA trans-interactions, riboswitch or hairpin-type cis-interactions, ribozyme, and any other class of ncRNA. The probes will consist of large self-assembled RNA-FP complexes that will report RNA-RNA interaction dynamically via an engineered structural change that will be detected through a change in fluorescence. The signal will consist of a change in the light polarization, and will be detected by a novel implementation of a polarization Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (polTIRF) microscope design, which will enable the detection of small structural changes within the nanoprobe at fast sampling rates. In this proposal, I intend to develop, in bacteria, the first generation of these probes. Development of the probes and the imaging apparatus will take place simultaneously, in order to optimize both detection capability and the probe design. The development and demonstration of the probes' capabilities will be guided by three objectives, each divided into individual milestones and sub-projects. In particular, I intend to use this approach to quantitatively characterize synthetic hammerhead ribozyme trans interaction, cis-acting RNA thermosensors, and the Hfq RNA-protein complex. I believe that successful implementation of this combined molecular and imaging tool to quantitatively characterize the kinetics associated with RNA-RNA trans/cis-interactions will constitute a proof-of-principle to the broad applicability for our method to other RNA-based platforms.

Keywords: tirf,poltirf,ms2,pp7,nanprobes,rna,ribozymes,noise in transcription
BASIC MODELS OF JEWISH SECULAR THOUGHT (JST)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Israel
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-10-01
End date: 2016-09-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The study of Jewish secularism is a growing field. Following the recent collapse of the predominant master narrative of secularism as a homogeneous process rooted in Christianity, scholars have turned to explore the unique characteristics of Jewish secularism which distinguish it from other types of secularisms. Moreover, even within Jewish culture itself, different historical and intellectual settings have created varied manifestations of secularism. Fin de siècle Eastern Europe, for example, gave rise to a widespread Jewish secularity that differs significantly from the elitist character it acquired at the same time in North Africa and the Middle East. And both of them diverge radically from contemporary nation-based Israeli secularism. The object of this study is to mine the rich and diverse legacy of Jewish Secularism in light of a threefold typology that encapsulates key patterns of secular worldviews and lifestyles underlying Jewish existence in modernity: (1) the Radical Model attempts to completely secularize Jewish culture by purposefully excluding religion and religiosity from that culture; (2) the Pluralistic Model aims to ensure open discourse between individuals and communities, each contributing to Jewish culture according to their respective religious or secular dispositions; and (3) the Semi-Religious Model aims to offer a secular substitute for religion without excluding the religious impulse (as the radical model does), but by diverting it from religious objects to secular ones such as peoplehood or state. This pioneering typology will contribute to a new understanding of current Jewish secularity, as well as assist in the re-shaping of its future trajectory in light of the recent reassertion of power by religious forces in the spheres of politics and culture worldwide.

Keywords: jewish secularism,jewish thought,jewish modern philosophy,jewish culture
Epigenetic Regulation of Ageing (EPIAGE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-08-01
End date: 2016-07-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Ageing is certainly one of the most interesting but less understood processes of multi-cellular organisms. Although in the last decade great advances have been made to understand the molecular mechanism of ageing a unifying model is still elusive. Research in C. elegans has focussed on the characterization of signalling pathways involved in ageing. It is was demonstrated that the gene expression of old nematodes differs significantly from young worms, however, the molecular mechanisms that govern the regulation of genes have not been addressed in the context of ageing. The central questions for the proposed project are therefore, which epigenetic marks govern the ageing of animals and how these marks are interpreted in the organism. Our epigenetic analysis in the course of ageing shows a significant impact of the histone H2A-ubiquitin mark in comparison with other epigenetic marks. This finding might be partially linked to the role of H2A-ubiquitin during DNA repair and to the dependence of H2A-ubiquitin levels on proteasome stability, which is altered during ageing. In another view H2A-ubiquitin and possibly other yet to defined epigenetic marks lead to the recruitment of epigenetic factors that drive ageing. The proposed research will identify the epigenetic enzymes that set and erase the H2A-ubiquitin mark and will prove them to be determinants of the life span of the worm. Furthermore, it will reveal how the H2A-ubiquitin mark is read in the course of ageing and reveal a protein complex that transmits the ageing signal further downstream. As a consequence the chromatin will most probably be decorated by other ageing relevant epigenetic marks, which will be identified as well in this study. The project should be of great importance not only to the scientific fields of epigenetics and ageing but should also have a great impact on applied sciences.

Keywords: l208 epigenetics and gene regulation,l404 ageing,l201 genomics - comparative genomics - functional genomics,l101 molecular biology and interactions
Convergent Human Learning for Robot Skill Generation (CONVERGE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Türkiye
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-09-03
End date: 2016-09-02
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The human sensorimotor system enables the learning and control of an ever-growing number of artifacts ranging from simple tools such as chopsticks to advanced computer interfaces. The Researcher’s recent work in Japan exploited this human capacity to obtain dexterous skills on robots, which otherwise would require expert programming. In this framework, a human operator is put in the control loop of a robotic system where (s)he controls the robot in real-time. The operator then ‘learns’ to make the robot perform a given task (e.g. wiping clean a table by controlling a robot). This is analogous to a beginner’s learning to drive a car. After the operator becomes skilled, the signals coming in and leaving out of the robot are used to construct an autonomous controller. The key point of this framework is that it takes away the work from the cognitive system of an expert and places it on a layperson’s sensorimotor system. Up to now, the framework involved a sequential learning scheme: first the human operator learned to control the robot. Then, data was collected when the robot performed the tasked under the skilled operator guidance. Finally, this data was used to learn a policy using a machine learning technique. This project will substantially improve this framework by having the robot simultaneously learn with the human operator. The dynamics of the simultaneous learning of the human operator and the controlled robot will be studied in depth for obtaining quantitative criteria for a convergent learning system. The results of the analysis will be deployed on a robotic platform, and evaluation experiments will be carried out to show that convergent learning can be ensured leading to a virtuous learning experience for both the human and the robot. The development of this framework to its full potential will drastically change how we develop smart prosthetics and build robotic systems that can coexist with humans, for which this project offers an important contribution

Keywords: g210 robotics,g209 man-machine interfaces,human sensorimotor learning,human motor control
Ubiquitin Signalling Pathways Required for Influenza Virus Replication: Biological Characterisation and Identification of Novel Drug Targets (UBIFLU)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Life-long training and career development
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG, 2012)
Start date: 2012-08-01
End date: 2016-07-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Influenza viruses are a significant seasonal disease burden, and provide an ever-present threat of causing severe pandemics with potentially devastating clinical, social, and economic consequences. Vaccines and antivirals are available for the prevention and treatment of influenza. However, it often takes too long to manufacture, distribute, and administer an effective strain-matched vaccine under pandemic circumstances, while drug-resistant viruses often emerge against the approved antivirals. Thus, there is urgent need to develop new antivirals with lower chances of selecting drug-resistant strains. Influenza viruses rely extensively on host cell functions, therefore one way to minimise resistance is to target antivirals against host proteins required for virus replication. Here, I will investigate 10 cellular E3 ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like ligases with ‘druggable’ qualities that have been identified in genome-wide siRNA screens as potential host factors required for influenza virus replication. I will confirm their involvement in supporting replication of a broad range of influenza virus strains (including seasonal and pandemic viruses), and attempt to delineate their mechanism of action. By depleting cells of each E3 ligase, and using novel large-scale SILAC- and affinity- based quantitative proteomic techniques, I seek to identify global changes to the cellular ‘ubiquitin-ome’ during virus infection, and correlate these changes with specific host E3 ligases. My work should establish functional and mechanistic links between E3 ligases required for virus replication and the ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like modifications they cause. I hypothesise that there are specific modifications on cellular or viral proteins that are essential for virus replication. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these modifications will provide insights into the interplay between influenza viruses and their hosts, and could represent potential new therapeutic targets.

Keywords: influenza,ubiquitin,sumo,antivirals,e3 ligases,rna viruses,signalling