Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a novel sorting pathway at the Trans Golgi Network (TGN) (SORTMECH)

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: 2013-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The Trans Golgi Network (TGN) is the central sorting station for newly synthesised proteins in the cell. Similar to a postal distribution center, incoming cargo is selected, sorted, and packaged to be carried to its final cellular destination by the postman in charge. Due to the involvement of numerous different cargoes and pleiomorhic carriers for the different destinations this process of protein sorting at the TGN is highly sophisticated. While the sorting event of lysosomal hydrolases at the TGN via mannose-6-phosphate receptor and clathrin-coated vesicles to the lysosome is well characterised, the relevant mechanism for other luminal proteins at the TGN remains elusive. We recently discovered a new role for the actin severing protein twinstar in Drosophila and its orthologs in yeast (cof1) and mammalian cells (ADF and cofilin1) in regulation of luminal protein sorting at the TGN. This process is a novel calcium dependent sorting mechanism that directly links the actin cytoskeleton and ADF/cofilin to the TGN localized P-Type calcium ATPase SPCA1. In the project described herein we will characterize the new sorting mechanism in detail. New biochemical tools will identify components of the sorting machinery on both cytosolic and luminal faces of the TGN. Cutting edge Mass Spectrometry will dissect the composition of TGN associated or luminal protein complexes. FLIM experiments will elucidate the temporal and spatial dynamics of the complexes. High throughput screening in yeast will yield new components on a genome wide level. Functional assays utilising siRNA and reconstitution will define their precise role in cargo sorting in vitro and in vivo. The complementary investigation of a Drosophila model will elucidate the physiological relevance of the process in the intact organism and its impact on developmental biology. Altogether, this work represents an essential experimental set up to answer a yet completely unresolved question in cell biology.

Keywords: l302 cell biology and molecular transport mechanisms,l105 protein synthesis - modification and turnover,l102 general biochemistry and metabolism,l306 organelle biology
Probing DNA Radiation Damage by DNA Nanotechnology (NANORADAM)

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: 2013-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In cancer radiation therapy predetermined doses of high-energy radiation are administered to reduce tumours. More than 60 % of the patients diagnosed with cancer are treated with radiation therapy. A detailed understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of DNA radiation damage is of utmost importance with respect to the question of how the damage can be increased by therapeutics used in radiation therapy. On a molecular level a large extent of the cell damage is ascribed to the production of secondary low-energy electrons along the high-energy radiation track that induce DNA single and double strand breaks. The physico-chemical mechanisms of DNA radiation damage can currently only be described for idealized small model systems and it is not known, which DNA nucleotide sequences and higher-order DNA structures are most susceptible to damage. Very recent ground-breaking advances in DNA nanotechnology allow for the first time the detailed study of the interaction of radiation with complex DNA structures. With an innovative DNA origami technique it is possible to map the radiation damage of different DNA target structures with unprecedented efficiency and accuracy. A two-dimensional DNA origami template functionalized with protruding well-defined DNA structures will be exposed to a beam of low-energy electrons. The strand break yield of different nucleotide sequences will be determined as a function of the electron energy using the DNA origami technique combined with atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the DNA origami technique allows for the study of the influence of an aqueous environment on the DNA strand break yield. The final goal is to identify the DNA target structures that can be most efficiently sensitized to low-energy electrons by radiosensitizers. This fundamental knowledge will have important implications for the development of novel therapeutics and the improvement of radiation cancer therapy.

Keywords: p302 physical chemistry,c113 physical chemistry of biological systems
Probing the function of dermal macrophages by lectin targeting for potential application to autoimmune diseases. (DERMACRO)

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: 2013-06-01
End date: 2017-05-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Autoimmune diseases originate from a breakdown in tolerance leading to immune responses against self antigens and chronic inflammation. The main effector cells are self-specific T cells and B cells, the latter producing auto-antibodies. This results in progressive destruction of organs. Because patients must rely on long anti-inflammatory treatment, autoimmune diseases take a significant toll on European public health systems. An optimal treatment would consist in a specific control of anti-self immune responses, without compromising the ability to fight infections and cancer. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that control the fate of self-specific T cells represent an attractive target, because abnormal differentiation of T cells is a critical turning point in most autoimmune diseases. Moreover, T cells are responsible for immune memory, and establish throughout the whole body. Therefore, APC-targeting therapy could be administered briefly and provide sustained, systemic benefits over long periods of time, similarly to a vaccine. In skin-involving autoimmunity, deleterious effector cells accumulate in the dermis. As opposed to dendritic cells (DCs), dermal macrophages (dMphs) keep skin immune responses in check. Although dMphs would be easily accessible to drugs, no effort has been undertaken to exploit their tolerogenic potential. Mphs and DCs take up glycosylated proteins via endocytic receptors called lectins. Anti-lectin antibodies have been used to convey antigens to DCs and control immunity. A novel approach consists in using the exceptional affinity of arbovirus envelope proteins (E-proteins) for lectins specific of dMphs. We will evaluate the capacity of E-proteins for antigen delivery and stimulation of the tolerogenic potential of dMphs in 3 steps: (1) Create targeting reagents by chemical coupling to E-proteins (2) Analyse the effects of E-protein-conjugates on dMphs (3) Determine the influence of targeted dMphs on T cell responses in vitro and in vivo.

Keywords: dermatology,immunology,chemistry,targeting,endocytic receptors,skin,dermis,dendritic cells,macrophages,antigen-presenting cells,auto-immune diseases
How Infection History Shapes the Immune System: Pathogen-induced Changes in Regulatory T Cells (Immune Regulation)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy
Panel description: The immune system, related disorders and their mechanisms, biology of infectious agents and infection, biological basis of prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, innovative immunological tools and approaches, including therapies
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2015-STG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-06-01
End date: 2022-05-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499755.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499755.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Studying host-pathogen interactions by focusing on the interaction of a single pathogen with the host has defined our understanding of these events and the insights gained form the basis for the therapeutic and vaccination strategies we use today. However, people become infected with multiple pathogens throughout their lifetime, at times even simultaneously. Still, it is largely unknown how the immune response to one pathogen alters the body’s ability to respond to a second infectious agent or the susceptibility to autoimmunity or cancer. This project will address this question by focusing on infection-induced changes in regulatory T cells (Tregs) as they may lead to biased suppression and changes in the nature of subsequent immune responses. Our efforts will focus on two areas: In a first part, we will use single cell RNA-Seq to address how infections shape the Treg compartment by defining the specialized Treg subsets generated during polarized infectious settings and analyzing how they interact with effector T cells. Based on the depth of information we expect to obtain from this approach, we envisage finding thus far unappreciated interactions and functions of Tregs in the course of an immune response. The second part will investigate how an altered Treg compartment, either through genetic modifications or infection-induced, affects disease susceptibility. In this context, we will also address stability and persistence of pathogen-induced changes in the Treg compartment. Collectively the proposed experiments will allow us to start addressing how preceding infections affect disease susceptibility. Deciphering how infection history shapes the Treg compartment and how this affects susceptibility to future challenges will lay the groundwork for addressing this question more broadly in the future and as such will likely have a transformative impact on the field.

Keywords: regulatory t cells,host pathogen interaction,immune regulation
Towards Non Iridium High Entropy Material ElectroCATalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acidic Media (HEMCAT)

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: Italy
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-10-01
End date: 2023-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 171473.28
EU funding (EUR): 171473.28
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers are one of the most promising technologies for hydrogen production. Eliminating rare and expensive iridium in current electrocatalysts for the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) in acidic media would greatly advance this technology for application on a large scale. The objective of the HEMCAT project is to produce new, cost-effective and high-performance (active and stable) electrocatalysts and to eliminate the iridium in OER electrocatalysts. The materials of focus are high-entropy materials (HEMs) that will be prepared from high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with the anodic oxidation process. Starting HEAs will be selected, prepared in bulk form and subjected to anodic oxidation processes to synthesise high-entropy oxides (HEOs) in the form of high-surface-area nanostructured films on HEA substrates. HEOs will be converted to HEMs with various treatments and will be fully characterized in terms of stability, structure and morphology. Finally, they will be tested for electrocatalytic properties in the OER reaction with state-of-the-art characterization techniques. These will include investigations of electronic and structural properties of synthesized cutting-edge electrocatalysts using synchrotron techniques (X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements) under ex-situ, in-situ and operando conditions. HEMCAT addresses key issues in energy storage and conversion that is clean, compact, and ultimately low-cost and at the same time facilitates intra-European knowledge transfer along with direct societal impacts. The new efficient, stable and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the OER in acidic media will bridge the gap between fundamental and applied electrocatalysis and facilitate the development of advanced electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic applications.

Keywords: electrocatalysis,pem electrolysis,oxygen evolution,iridium free catalysts,anodic oxidation of high entropy alloys,high entropy materials
Savings Loyalty System Based on Micro-Contributions from Retailers (PENSUMO)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Spain
Call: SME business model innovation (H2020-SMEINST-1-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-03-01
End date: 2016-05-31
Duration (months): 3.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

PENSUMO overall objective is to enable a secure and robust platform for stimulating consumers to save for the long term by an innovative reward system based on micro-contributions generated in every single purchase. Why self-management of savings is becoming so important? Financial wellness is becoming a trendy concept especially when we think in our future. While a majority of people agree that their governments will not be able to provide sufficient retirement funds, this realization is not translated into action: according to global surveys, only 38% are saving for old age, only 50% have some kind of financial plan in place, and nearly one in five do not know what will constitute their income in retirement. The European Commission has published a White Paper on Adequate, Safe and Sustainable Pensions. PENSUMO is an innovative model of commercial relationship between users and traders (retailers and branders) pursuing a two-fold purpose: (i) Customer Savings for the future (long-term) from the micro-contributions the retailers made in the Savings Plan consumer every time they buy in their associated shops. (ii) The biggest consequence of widespread use of this system among citizens, would be the birth of a new pillar of the pension system, complementary to the Public systems, with the particularity that is free and voluntary for beneficiary.

Keywords: social innovation,savings,micro contributions,consumer,loyalty,big data
TeraHertz end-to-end wireless systems supporting ultra high data Rate applications (ThoR)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Germany,Israel,Germany,France,France,United Kingdom
Call: 5G and beyond (H2020-EUJ-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2018-07-01
End date: 2022-06-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1498877.5
EU funding (EUR): 1498877.5
Participants: 9
Project status: CLOSED

Data traffic densities of several Tbps/km2 are already predicted for 5G networks. To service a fully mobile and connected society networks beyond 5G must undergo tremendous growth in connectivity, data traffic density and volume as well as the required multi-level ultra-densification. The ThoR project will provide technical solutions for the backhauling/fronthauling of this traffic. The ThoR consortium brings together the leading Japanese and European players from industry, R&D and academia, whose prior work defines the state-of-the-art in high data rate long range point-to-point THz links. This team has been instrumental in defining and implementing the new IEEE 802.15.3d Standard “100 Gbps Wireless Switched Point-to-Point Physical Layer.” ThoR’s technical concept builds on this standard, in a striking and innovative combination using state-of-the-art chip sets and modems operating in the standardized 60 and 70 GHz bands, which are aggregated on a bit-transparent high performance 300 GHz RF wireless link offering >100 Gbps real-time data rate capacity. ThoR will apply European and Japanese state-of-the-art photonic and electronic technologies to build an ultra-high bandwidth, high dynamic range transceiver operating at 300 GHz combined with state-of-the-art digital signal processing units in two world-first demonstrations: a)>100 Gbps P2P link over 1 km at 300 GHz using pseudo data in indoor and outdoor controlled environments b)>40 Gbps P2P link over 1 km at 300 GHz using emulated real data in a live operational communication network.This will require specific THz PHY technology advances (KETs) in photomixers, amplifiers including Travelling Wave Tube amplifiers, receivers, upconverters and channel aggregation. The success of ThoR will represent the first operational use of THz frequencies in ICT and this influential and powerful consortium will directly influence and shape the frequency regulation activities beyond 275 GHz through agenda item 1.15 of WRC 2019.

Keywords: thz communication,backhauling,fronthauling
Probing and controlling the three-dimensional organoid mechanobiology (MECHANOIDS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Reintegration panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Spain
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2019-09-01
End date: 2021-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 158121.6
EU funding (EUR): 158121.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Interaction between cells and their mechanical microenvironment plays a key role in the regulation of development, physiology and disease. Cell behaviour is also regulated by the dimensionality of the microenvironment: 2D cultures display biological traits that generally differ from those of 3D tissues, thus limiting their potential in biomedical research. This limitation has been addressed by the recent development of Organoids, which faithfully preserve a number of distinctive tissue traits. Still, current biophysical tools and conceptual frameworks are not yet suitable to probe and understand the mechanobiology of 3D organoid systems. This project aims to study and manipulate the mechanobiology of normal gut and colorectal cancer organoids. We will develop tools to quantify the 3D stresses applied by an organoid embedded in a gel. By measuring its 3D surface stresses and Young’s modulus we will quantify its interstitial pressure and contractility, key parameters in organ growth and tumour progression. Pressure and contractility will be related with key biological parameters such as geometry, cell adhesion and proliferation. We will fluorescently tag proteins in the organoids that will allow us to track individual cells, as well as monitoring their polarization and adhesion. The relationship between mechanics, geometry, and cell function will be further assessed by chemically reducing proliferation, mechanical stresses and adhesion. We will also modify the mechanical state of the organoids through optogenetic means. We will express proteins in the cells to control Rho-GTPases upon illumination, thereby steering the local stresses at will. We will modify organoid pressure, contractility and geometry and study their influence on the phenotype. As organoids emerge as novel tools in biomedical research, we expect that studying and manipulating their mechanobiology will bring key insight into disease and development processes, and potential new therapeutic targets.

Keywords: organoids,tumoroids,optogenetics,biomechanics,mechanobiology,mechanotransduction,traction force microscopy,colorectal cancer,lumen,bioengineering
New horizons in homogeneous dynamics and its applications (HD-App)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Mathematics
Panel description: All areas of mathematics, pure and applied, plus mathematical foundations of computer science, mathematical physics and statistics
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2017-STG, 2017)
Start date: 2018-10-01
End date: 2024-09-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1432730.0
EU funding (EUR): 1432730.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

We present a large variety of novel lines of research in Homogeneous Dynamics with emphasis on the dynamics of the diagonal group. Both new and classical applications are suggested, most notably to • Number Theory • Geometry of Numbers • Diophantine approximation. Emphasis is given to applications in • Diophantine properties of algebraic numbers. The proposal is built of 4 sections. (1) In the first section we discuss questions pertaining to topological and distributional aspects of periodic orbits of the diagonal group in the space of lattices in Euclidean space. These objects encode deep information regarding Diophantine properties of algebraic numbers. We demonstrate how these questions are closely related to, and may help solve, some of the central open problems in the geometry of numbers and Diophantine approximation. (2) In the second section we discuss Minkowski's conjecture regarding integral values of products of linear forms. For over a century this central conjecture is resisting a general solution and a novel and promising strategy for its resolution is presented. (3) In the third section, a novel conjecture regarding limiting distribution of infinite-volume-orbits is presented, in analogy with existing results regarding finite-volume-orbits. Then, a variety of applications and special cases are discussed, some of which give new results regarding classical concepts such as continued fraction expansion of rational numbers. (4) In the last section we suggest a novel strategy to attack one of the most notorious open problems in Diophantine approximation, namely: Do cubic numbers have unbounded continued fraction expansion? This novel strategy leads us to embark on a systematic study of an area in homogeneous dynamics which has not been studied yet. Namely, the dynamics in the space of discrete subgroups of rank k in R^n (identified up to scaling).

Keywords: ergodic theory,homogeneous dynamics,geometry of numbers,diophantine approximation