Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Selection and Regulation of Compartments by Fuel-driven Phase Separation (FuelledLife)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Panel description: Structure, electronic properties, fluids, nanosciences, biological physics
Countries involved: Germany,Germany
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2020-STG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1498852.0
EU funding (EUR): 1498852.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Living cells rely on the compartmentalisation of thousands of different molecules and their chemical reactions. Remarkably, many of such compartments form by phase separation of heteropolymers controlled by sequence-specific interactions and fuel that drives reactions away from equilibrium. If we knew how such polymers with sequence-specific interactions evolve and compartmentalise in fuel-driven multi-component mixtures, we would better understand the role of phase separation in living cells and how synthetic or prebiotic cells emerge. I aim to study how fuel-driven phase separation can drive the selection and replication of hetero-polymers with sequence-specific interactions, the control of their chemical reactions and the emergence and selection of different compartments. My team and I will develop a theory for phase separation and chemical reactions in multi-component mixtures driven away from equilibrium by irreversible, fuel-driven reactions. This theory will provide a link between phenomena on the compartment scale and coarse-grained properties of sequences. First, we will use this theory to study how compartments control biochemical reactions, and how this control is determined by sequence. Second, we will investigate how sequences are selected, replicated and evolve under cyclic, non-equilibrium conditions. Third, we will use our theory to unravel how fuel-driven chemical reactions regulate formation and division of compartments, and affect selection of different compartments within a population. Our theoretical studies will elucidate the physical mechanisms and conditions which will be experimentally scrutinised by our collaborators. Our results will let us understand how living cells regulate phase separation, like the formation of stress granules by selecting RNA. Moreover, our results will elucidate the role of phase separation for the emergence of life by determining the prerequisites of a protocell to divide, replicate and undergo selection.

Keywords: phase separation in cells,synthetic cells,non equlibrium thermodynamics,physics of emulsions,statistical physics of living systems,cell biophysics,biophysics of the origin of life
PHAGOSCOPY: Dissecting cell-autonomous immunity with ex vivo electron cryo-microscopy (PHAGOSCOPY)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions
Panel description: Molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biophysics, synthetic and chemical biology, drug design, innovative methods and modelling
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2019-STG, 2019)
Start date: 2020-02-01
End date: 2026-01-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1438510.0
EU funding (EUR): 1438510.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Our immune system provides a formidable barrier to the many microbial pathogens that we encounter every day. Yet, many pathogens have the ability to avert this barrier by invading the host cell and seeking shelter inside a phagosome whose membrane physically prevents the pathogen from being recognized and eliminated. Cell-autonomous immunity is a part of the innate immune system that fights off such pathogens. Among the antimicrobial effectors mobilized by this immune response are the Guanylate-Binding Proteins (GBPs). GBPs form dynamic supramolecular assemblies that promote lysis of phagosomes and, thus, killing of pathogens. Despite their central importance, we know very little about the molecular mechanisms of GBPs. Two fundamental questions are: (1) What is the structure and composition of GBP assemblies on membranes?, and (2) Once assembled, how do the GBPs structurally rearrange to reshape and rupture the phagosome's membrane? These questions remain unanswered because structural biology has been lacking methods for determining dynamically changing structures of proteins that are assembled in complex environments such as phagosomes. Here, I propose to take a two-pronged approach to address these questions: first, I will use cryo-EM and (single-molecule) fluorescence microscopy to elucidate the interactions and conformational changes involved in GBP oligomerization on model membranes. Second, I will visualize this pathway on native phagosomes using a recently developed ex vivo reconstitution system unique to my laboratory. By determining how GBP assemblies form on phagosome membranes, how they reshape the membrane so that it ruptures, and how these processes can be regulated and inhibited, I will derive a mechanistic model of a key effector function that cells employ to combat disease-causing pathogens. More broadly, my study will establish a novel approach for integrative imaging that will be applicable to a wide range of dynamic molecular assemblies in cells.

Keywords: cryo em,cryo tomography,structural biology,macromolecular assemblies,sample preparation,nanotechnology
Laser loop for engineering long-distance interactions in hybrid quantum systems (LASERLOOP)

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: Physics
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-03-01
End date: 2023-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 191149.44
EU funding (EUR): 191149.44
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Light is a powerful carrier of quantum information and an established tool to manipulate matter at the quantum level. In this action, we explore a novel technique of using light in quantum physics and technology: As a means to generate for the first time strong, quantum coherent interactions between different systems over macroscopic distances. Our approach relies on a laser loop that connects the systems and mediates coherent bidirectional interactions between them. This is possible due to a destructive interference of the quantum noise introduced by the light, otherwise responsible for decoherence. At the same time, information is erased from the output field, making the loop effectively closed to the environment. This makes it possible to achieve quantum coherent coupling between the two systems. We will use this technique to couple a nanomechanical oscillator and an atomic spin ensemble in the quantum regime and we will engineer a variety of different interactions between them. This enables the generation of state-swaps and two-mode squeezing, offering new possibilities for the quantum control of the motion of macroscopic objects. Another particular focus will be understanding the role of the environment in quantum physics, which requires to induce dissipation in a controlled manner. The laser loop scheme proposed in this action allows to engineer such an environment, and to profit from the large parameter tunability of atomic and nanomechanical devices to study the physics of non-Hermitian systems. These feature degeneracies known as exceptional points, showing remarkable properties such as enhanced sensitivity to external parameters. Exceptional points have mainly been investigated so far in a classical context and will be studied in this project in a hybrid quantum system. The research in this action will extend the toolbox for engineering long-distance interactions in quantum networks, also with relevance for quantum sensing and simulation.

Keywords: optomechanics,quantum interface,hybrid quantum system,cold atoms,nano mechanical oscillator,light matter interactions,exceptional points
novel bioreactor Platform for reprOducible, Scalable ExpansIon and cardiac DifferentiatiON of hiPSC in suspension culture (POSEIDON)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-10-01
End date: 2017-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 159460.8
EU funding (EUR): 159460.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have the potential to revolutionize biomedical sciences, however the standardised mass production, indispensable for their industrial and therapeutic use, is still a major challenge. Impeller stirred-tank bioreactors, currently used for hiPSC bioprocessing, impose detrimental stresses on cultured hiPSCs, resulting in heterogeneity of cells and cell-aggregates, limited bioprocess reproducibility, and low hiPSC expansion efficiency at high costs. The ambitious purpose of the POSEIDON project is the development of a next-generation automated bioreactor platform to significantly improve reproducibility, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of scalable hiPSC expansion. To demonstrate the utility of the method for the production of valuable human cell types, a novel process for hiPSC-cardiomyogenic differentiation will also be established. This pioneering bioreactor will be developed by advanced engineering design methods and will enable controlled hiPSC suspension culture by non-impeller-dependent low-shear hydrodynamic conditions. Purposely designed automated systems will lead to bioprocess standardisation with enhanced reproducibility, efficiency and scalability beyond the state in the art. The proposed Fellowship will enable a highly interdisciplinary collaboration between the Researcher, a talented post-doc with a significant track record in bioengineering, and the supervisor, a world leader in stem cell bioprocessing, whose group is embedded in one of Europe’s leading hubs for regenerative biomedicine. These working conditions will effectively promote the Researcher’s professional development, providing her with excellent new expertise in stem cell bioprocessing and fundamental leadership skills, significantly widening her career perspectives. The project outcomes will be of tremendous benefit to the European biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors, contributing to the European excellence, competitiveness and quality of life.

Keywords: bioreactor,automation,up scaling,hipsc,hipsc expansion,hipsc cardiomyogenic differentiation,dynamic suspension
Facilitating Multi-level governance for energy efficiency (multEE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Secure, clean and efficient energy
Theme: Market uptake of energy innovation
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Austria,Germany,Germany,North Macedonia,Slovakia,Greece,Croatia,Lithuania,Latvia,Denmark
Call: Enhancing the capacity of public authorities to plan and implement sustainable energy policies and measures (H2020-EE-2014-3-MarketUptake, 2014)
Start date: 2015-03-01
End date: 2017-08-31
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1981743.75
EU funding (EUR): 1981743.75
Participants: 10
Project status: CLOSED

MultEE aims to improve the ease and quality of energy efficiency (EE) policy planning and implementation in the project’s partner countries and beyond, addressing the challenges of evidence-based policy-making in a multi-level governance setting. It contributes to making EE and sustainable energy planning vertically consistent between the national, regional and local level, to facilitating horizontal coordination between policy levels and to improving the quality of monitoring energy efficiency. The project pursues a two-faceted, yet integrated, approach in order to reach this objective: (1) building on a mapping of European best practices and experience from a pilot project carried out by the lead partner, country-specific solutions for effective monitoring and verification (M&V) based on bottom-up data will be developed and their implementation supported; (2) the implementation of innovative M&V schemes will be facilitated via coordination mechanisms developed and introduced together with the partners, aimed at spurring on exchange and cooperation between policy levels. The project pays particular attention to providing opportunities for peer learning between old and new EU Members States and neighbouring countries from Southeast Europe to partner countries from the EU and its South-Eastern neighbourhood as well as to disseminating results beyond partner countries and to other policy areas. One of the specificities of multEE is that its activities target the interplay between administrative levels rather than focusing on a single one of them. Particular focus will be put on capacity-building for the entities and officials involved with EE planning in the partner countries. MultEE will be put in practice by experienced partners within a strong consortium led by GIZ, drawing upon solid experience and a well-established network of contacts to ensure dissemination and high impacts within and beyond the project.

Keywords: coordination mechanism,monitoring and verification systems,energy efficiency
Isoform specific inhibition by transient protein state stabilization (ISOTRAPSS)

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: Chemistry
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-09-15
End date: 2017-09-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The rapid identification of synthetic molecules that selectively inhibit some proteins among families of closely related proteins is one of the major unsolved problems of modern drug discovery. If such ability was at hand, it would radically revise our definition of the ‘druggable’ genome. The goal of this proposal is to expand the state-of-the art of rational drug design with a new strategy that combines cutting edge computational techniques with modern experimental biophysical methods. We aim to achieve selective inhibition of proteins that are highly similar to other related proteins. To do so we will exploit concepts from energy landscape theory to identify transient conformational states of proteins that can be trapped by ligands to achieve extremely high binding selectivity. To provide proof of concept for such strategy, we will focus efforts on the therapeutically relevant cyclophilin protein family. Computational work will focus on: 1) unravelling the conformational preferences of the most common cyclophilin family members, and 2) clarification of current controversies regarding the binding mode and structure activity relationships of known selective ligands. Experimental work will involve the characterization of purchased or custom-synthesized ligands in in vitro assays and crystal structure analyses. Overall, this project proposes fundamental advances in rational drug design, therefore expanding opportunities for the development of future small molecule therapeutics.

Keywords: structure based drug design,molecular dynamics,free energy calculations,biophysical assays,cyclophilins
Energy Efficient Ventilated Façades for Optimal Adaptability and Heat Exchange enabling low energy architectural concepts for the refurbishment of existing buildings (E2VENT)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology
Theme: Technologies enabling energy-efficient systems and energy-efficient buildings with a low environmental impact
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Spain,Italy,Spain,Spain,Spain,Greece,Greece,Belgium,Poland,France,Czechia,United Kingdom
Call: Adaptable envelopes integrated in building refurbishment projects (H2020-EeB-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-01-01
End date: 2018-06-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3402788.75
EU funding (EUR): 3402788.75
Participants: 13
Project status: CLOSED

EVENT will develop, demonstrate and validate a cost effective, high energy efficient, low CO2 emissions, replicable, low intrusive, systemic approach for retrofitting of residential and commercial buildings, able to achieve NZEB retrofit standard levels, through the integration of an innovative adaptive ventilated façade system, including: • Embedded, breakthrough smart modular heat recovery units, which allow thermal storage mode • High efficient photovoltaic generation capability units • Cost-effective, easy to install, high performance adapted products for external thermal insulation • Energy efficient HVAC systems The developed technologies will be integrated in the ventilated façade, and a real time intelligent façade management system will control operation of the system based on meteorological prediction methods for forecasting in advance the decentralised electricity production and the energy (electrical and thermal) demand of the building enabling maximum RE usage. It will inter-operate with existing or latest state-of-the-art Building Energy Management System, to achieve optimum energy efficiency by reducing primary energy needs, CO2 emissions and peak loads, assuring at least the same comfort levels required by Member States Building Codes, at an affordable price. Foreseen impact will be: • Energy savings of more than 40%, by the holistic use of the ventilated façade, the heat recovery of ventilation air • At least a reduction of 40% of CO2 emissions, as a consequence of the achieved primary energy savings • Reduced thermal and electrical peak loads • Typical performance target of less than 25 kWh/m 2 year (excluding appliances) Use of heat recovery units, number of photovoltaic cells, natural lighting strategies, and insulation thickness; are variable depending on the characteristics of the building to be retrofitted. Therefore EVENT retrofitting system can be adaptable to different types of buildings and climates, which makes the system versatile.

Keywords: retrofitting ventilated facade heat recovery exchanger latent heat thermal energy storage system indoor air quality dynamical control system bem prototype experimentation monitoring of pilot buildings
VOQAL.AI; A COLLABORATIVE OPEN SOURCE AND MULTILINGUAL PLATFORM FOR COST EFFECTIVE CHATBOTS AND VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS DEVELOPMENT (VOQAL.AI)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: France
Call: Open Disruptive Innovation Scheme (H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2017-10-01
End date: 2019-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1050000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Humankind has progressed quite a lot with building machines that it can talk to, and that respond with something resembling natural speech. The society is in a transition point where voice and natural-language understanding are suddenly at the forefront.At the same time, mobile usage is growing worldwide and so mobile shopping. Conversational commerce , a.k.a. conversional shopping, is a trend emerged from the use voice search via mobile personal assistants. It transforms all interactions with a brand or merchant into a natural conversation – from shopping assistance to customer support. The introduction of voice search was just the beginning. In fact, companies are starting to have a more conversational approach online using messaging, digital assistants, chat apps and automated, machine learning dialogue to engage with the consumer, offering them the opportunity to interact with brands and services (chatbots and vocal assistants). In fact, speech recognition market is expected to grow from $ 3.73 Billion in 2015 to reach $ 9.97 Billion by 2022 (at a CAGR of 15.78% during the period), whereas voice recognition market growth is expected from $ 440.3 Million in 2015 to $ 1.99 Billion by 2022 (CAGR of 23.66% between 2016 and 2022). PERTIMM has detected a growing demand from Internet users and buyers for cost-effective, neutral and privacy-friendly services and from chatbot developers for platforms that support fast and cost effective chatbots development. VOQAL.AI main objective is to accelerate the use of the first European multilingual vocal assistant, collaborative, open-source platform for e-commerce, as first segment market, that guarantees Human Machine Communication (HMC), whereas granting independency of GAFAs (Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon) data treatment and privacy. VOQAL.AI users will reduce between 80-90% of the cost and time in the chatbot development with an improvement by 200% the commercial conversion rate of ecommerce organizations.

Keywords: open source,collaborative platform,chatbot,cost effective,neutral,privacy friendly,e commerce website,mobile apps,interactive information acces,human interaction,multilingual,kernel