Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Gene knock-up via 3’UTR targeting to treat Parkinson’s disease (PD UpReg)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases
Panel description: Medical technologies and tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases, therapeutic approaches and interventions, pharmacology, preventative medicine, epidemiology and public health, digital medicine
Countries involved: Finland
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2016-COG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2023-08-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999987.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999987.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects 1% of elderly persons and is currently incurable. PD pathogenesis is driven, at least in part, by defects in proteostasis and mitochondrial function, leading to degeneration of dopaminergic axons and neuronal death. Neurotrophic factors (NTFs) such as GDNF can protect and restore dopaminergic axons. However, attempts to deploy NTFs ectopically in therapy models, or to increase proteostasis and mitochondrial function, have met with only limited success. I hypothesize that instead of ectopic application, over-expression of relevant pathways restricted to physiologically appropriate cells provides a potent therapeutic approach to treat PD. I have made significant progress toward this goal by targeting the 3’UTR in the mouse Gdnf gene, thereby increasing expression levels without affecting the gene’s spatiotemporal expression pattern. Using this approach I have shown that elevation of endogenous GDNF levels protects mice from experimentally induced PD. Unlike ectopic GDNF application, it causes no side effects. Importantly, I have established that GDNF levels can be elevated by 3’UTR targeting in adulthood, suggesting that this strategy could be applied in humans late in life. I will use 3’UTR targeting to study the therapeutic potential of overexpressing endogenous genes, using transgenics and CRISPR-Cas9‒mediated 3’UTR editing in adult mice. First, I will increase the expression of NTFs in adult mice with experimentally induced PD. Next, I will upregulate genes important in mitochondrial function and proteostasis and test whether concurrently upregulating endogenous NTFs is a viable approach for treating PD. Third, I will use 3’UTR targeting to create a mouse model of PD in which alpha-synuclein is overexpressed, for better validation of my therapeutic strategy. Collectively, these experiments should establish proof of concept for a revolutionary, safe and effective treatment for PD.

Keywords: parkinson s disease,gene therapy,proteostasis,mitochondrial function,neurotrophic factors,3 utr
GRAPHENE REINFORCE COMPOSITES FOR 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY (3D - PRINTGRAPH)

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: Spain
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-09-16
End date: 2020-01-15
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 170121.6
EU funding (EUR): 170121.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Three dimensional printing technology is also known as rapid prototyping technology and it can be grouped within additive manufacturing techniques. This technology is based on the creation of a 3D object starting from a digital model. In recent years, 3D technology has become one of the most used methods in the development of prototypes since it allows the design of relatively complicated 3D geometries with new materials, like composites. 3D-PRINTGRAPH will be focused on improving structuctural and conductive properties of the current materials used in 3D printing technologies today. To achieve this goal, layered graphene will be integrated with the most available low melting point polymers in order to obtain a new material able to be employed in 3D printing technologies. The inter / multidisciplinary approach proposed in the 3D-PRINTGRAPH project will allow the researcher acquiring new skills in Key Enabling Technologies such as advanced graphene materials and 3D printing technology. Moreover, three different secondments in the ASCAMM Technological Center, Hewlett Packard and FAB LAB Barcelona will complement researcher's traininggiving her a multisectoral point of view and a clear idea of transfer of knowledge activities in the field of printing materials. Therefore, planned research and training activities in the 3D-PRINTGRAPH project will reinforce a position of professional maturity in research and will provide the researcher new career perspectives.

Keywords: graphene,key enable technology,nanocomposites,polymer,3d printing,rapid prototyping
Exploring the mechanisms underlying the evolution of plastids through the study of an unusual nitrogen-fixing symbiosis (UCYN2PLAST)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Global Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: France,United States
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2018-01-01
End date: 2021-11-01
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 246668.4
EU funding (EUR): 246668.4
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

Symbioses are evident sources of innovation in nature, critical for the evolution of plastids and the success of eukaryotes on Earth. The mechanisms promoting such relationships, however, are difficult to identify, especially between single-celled organisms, and remain largely unknown. A widespread symbiosis was recently discovered in the ocean between an unicellular cyanobacterium (UCYN-A) and single-celled eukaryotic algae (prymnesiophyte). UCYN-A lacks typical cyanobacterial features such as the capacity to perform oxygenic photosynthesis, CO2 fixation or the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and must thus rely on the supply of organic matter from the algal host. In turn, UCYN-A shows a dramatic genome reduction with a high specialization in nitrogen fixation, providing fixed nitrogen to the alga. Given the importance of nitrogen for the algal productivity, it has been hypothesized that UCYN-A could eventually give rise to a nitrogen-fixing plastid in a process analogous to the origin of chloroplasts. This project aims to study the UCYN-A symbiosis both from an evolutionary and a functional point of view: First, the identification and characterization of new associations from marine samples at a global scale through molecular techniques will allow a deep comparison of closely-related symbiotic lineages that will help to understand the evolutionary underpinnings of this symbiosis. Second, nutrient incubation experiments of seawater samples over diel cycles will be performed to identify potential factors regulating the carbon and nitrogen exchange between partners to gain knowledge on the host-symbiont coupling mechanisms. For this purpose, metatranscriptomic analysis and electron microscopy combined with molecular probes and quantitative isotopic techniques (FISH-nanoSIMS) will be applied. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying this unusual nitrogen fixing symbiosis will provide valuable insight into previously unknown processes explaining the evolution of plastids

Keywords: single celled symbiosis,plastid evolution,nitrogen fixing microorganims,marine microbial ecology
Enhanced Resolution MRI Ocular Scanner (ERMOS) (ERMOS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Theme: Treating and managing disease
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Clinical research for the validation of biomarkers and/or diagnostic medical devices (H2020-SMEINST-1-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-05-01
End date: 2015-10-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Enhanced Resolution MRI Ocular Scanner The objective is to show the feasibility of an innovative low cost, high resolution, dedicated MRI scanner to be used for ocular MRI. The main elements of innovation are: a very compact 0.2T magnet, a receiver (HTSRx: High Temperature Superconducting Receiver) composed of an array of 3 orthogonal high Tc superconducting coils that will allow reaching the resolution of high field superconductive “whole body” scanners. The scanner is intended to be used directly in the ophthalmic clinic without the need of sending the patient to a diagnostic imaging department. This changes the clinical path of the patient and is capable of guarantee a better quality. An ophthalmologist with experience of MRI techniques has, in fact, a much better understanding of what the specific images of the eye and of its surrounding mean in the context of the patient clinical picture. The scanner can also be used in the traditional diagnostic imaging departments reducing the queues on the “whole body” apparatuses. ITA srl has done all the development of the apparatus using room temperature receivers and under the Phase 1 project the HTSRx will be tested to show the technological viability of the device. In addition the Phase 1 activity will take care of IP protection and of selecting and contacting clinical/research centers that can associated in a Phase 2 project that has the purpose of demonstrating the diagnostic capabilities of the scanner. Potential users are ophthalmology and diagnostic imaging centres. Given that the percentage of elderly in the population is very high and that eye’s diseases characterize the advanced age the number of these centers is high. At moment most imaging diagnostic centers do not have specific eye coils and, when required, the analysis is performed using head coils that give a relatively poor resolution. Never the less a fixed percentage of patients that goes for eye patholare required to perform an MRI analysis.

Keywords: eye scanner,dedicated mri scanner
Optimized Dynamic Point Cloud Compression (OPT-PCC)

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: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-11-23
End date: 2021-11-22
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 112466.88
EU funding (EUR): 112466.88
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

3D point clouds are receiving increased attention due to their potential for many important applications, such as real-time 3D immersive telepresence. Compared to traditional video technology, 3D point cloud systems allow free viewpoint rendering, as well as mixing of natural and synthetic objects. However, this improved user experience comes at the cost of increased storage and bandwidth requirements as point clouds are typically represented by the geometry and colour of millions up to billions of 3D points. For this reason, major efforts are being made to develop efficient point cloud compression schemes. The task, however, is very challenging due to the irregular structure of point clouds. To standardize these efforts, the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) launched in January 2017 a call for proposals for 3D point cloud compression technology. In October 2017, the responses were evaluated and the first test model for lossy compression of dynamic point clouds (TMC2) was established. This test model defines a first “common core” algorithm for collaborative work towards the final standard. The aim of OPT-PCC is to contribute to these efforts by developing algorithms that optimize the rate-distortion performance of the test model. OPT-PCC’s objectives are to: 1. O1: build analytical models that accurately describe the effect of the geometry and colour quantization of a 3D point cloud on the bit rate and distortion; 2. O2: develop fast search algorithms that optimize the allocation of the available bit budget between the geometry information and colour information; 3. O3: implement a compression scheme for dynamic 3D point clouds that outperforms the state-of-the-art in terms of rate-distortion performance. The target is to reduce the bit rate by at least 20% for the same reconstruction quality; 4. O4: provide multi-disciplinary training to the researcher in algorithm design, metaheuristic optimisation, computer graphics, and leadership and management skills.

Keywords: point clouds,video compression,rate distortion optimization
Bifidobacteria as a model system for host-microbe interaction (BIF-PROTECTS)

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: Ireland
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2021-04-01
End date: 2023-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 196590.72
EU funding (EUR): 196590.72
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Our bodies are home to a staggering collection of microbes with the human gut contains up to 2 kilograms of microbial mass. In healthy individuals the interplay between the immune system and the microbiota prevents tissue damaging inflammatory responses to commensal species of bacteria while permitting immune responses against infectious microbes. Changes in the gut microbiome have been linked to perturbation of immune function and several inflammatory gut disorders. Conversely, commensal microorganisms with purported health promoting effects (probiotics) have been implicated as potential therapeutics for several ailments with over 1,300 registered clinical trials using probiotics. Bifidobacteria, a Gram-positive commensal accounts for 475 of these trials. Bifidobacteria colonise the gastrointestinal tract immediately after birth and affect the maturation of the host’s immune system. Despite the impact of microbes on our health and the large number of clinical trials underway, our current knowledge of the impact of the microbiota, including probiotics, on health is based almost exclusively on descriptive and correlative studies with a need for studies focused on causality and mechanism. The central goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms by which Bifidobacterium breve induces an anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial state in host immune cells and to determine if this can be replicated using a synthetic biology approach. The ability of a range of commensals to elicit immune modulatory responses will also be studied to identify shared mechanisms of host-microbe dialogue across bacterial species. A thorough understanding of host-microbe interactions that lead to a tolerogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial phenotype will aid in the development of novel microbiome-based treatments while the ability to replicate these effects using synthetic biology will establish a basis for novel immune based therapies.

Keywords: microbiome,bifidobacteria
Theory of particle collider processes at ultimate precision (TOPUP)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Panel description: Particle, nuclear, plasma, atomic, molecular, gas, and optical physics
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANT (ERC-2020-ADG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2459915.0
EU funding (EUR): 2459915.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN probes the interaction of elementary particles at unprecedented energy and to very high precision. The full exploitation of the upcoming data from the LHC relies on a close interplay between theory and experiment, which calls in particular for highly accurate theoretical predictions. This theoretical accuracy can be achieved only though the expansion of the fundamental scattering amplitudes to sufficiently high order in perturbation theory. This project aims to meet this challenge for modern collider physics by providing the conceptual and technical foundations for theory predictions at ultimate precision. TOPUP will develop and establish a new standard of theoretical precision in the description of physical observables at the LHC based on perturbation theory expanded to the third non-trivial order (N3LO). We will achieve this ambitious goal by targeting the main obstacles in present-day methods, and by developing novel ways for the computation of multi-loop scattering amplitudes and in the understanding and handling of unresolved multi-particle emission. The concrete goal of the project is to enable theoretical predictions at ultimate precision for multiple processes in high-energy particle collisions with full final state kinematical information. This will lead to a more precise extraction of fundamental physics parameters, such as couplings and particle masses. The newly developed methods will be applied to the derivation of the process-independent four-loop corrections to the Altarelli-Parisi splitting functions, the three-loop matrix elements for a number of fundamental scattering processes and fully differential N3LO predictions for several process-specific key observables. These calculations will shape and challenge the newly developed methods in cutting-edge applications and provide crucial input to the theoretical interpretation of the LHC precision physics program.

Keywords: collider physics,quantum chromodynamics,precision calculations,computer algebra
Biobanking and the Cyprus Human Genome Project (CY-BIOBANK)

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: Austria,Cyprus
Call: Teaming Phase 2 (H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-01, 2018)
Start date: 2019-10-01
End date: 2026-09-30
Duration (months): 84.0
Total project cost (EUR): 14999976.25
EU funding (EUR): 14999975.0
Participants: 4
Project status: SIGNED

The genetic investigation of diseases and eHealth are a priority of the Smart Specialization Strategy of Cyprus. The strategy can best be served by creating a Centre of Excellence (CoE) with two pillars: a) A contemporary Biobank research infrastructure that incorporates eHealth; b) a state-of-the-art research facility to support the Cyprus Human Genome Project and drive translational research, focused on genetic diseases, thus enhancing the European Research Area. Biobanks are organized collections of medical records and biospecimens, aimed to support biomedical research, serving as repositories and distribution centers. Biobanking and genomics infrastructures in Cyprus are lagging behind of European levels, thus limiting the prospects for research and innovation potential. The CY-Biobank shall upgrade the existing infrastructure, implementing high standard procedures and quality management systems for safeguarding data and material of the highest trustworthiness, for downstream investigations. The CoE will embrace the entire research community of Cyprus and serve as an incubator for innovative ideas and as a tertiary medical and educational institute for the rare monogenic and frequent complex disorders, aimed at better patient care and precision medicine. The CY-Biobank will adopt a patient-centric approach showing respect to sensitive ethical, legal and social issues, with the involvement of all stakeholders in the medical and patients’ communities. The CoE aspires also to play a broader role by forming the MediEuro Network with countries in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, thus complementing efforts for bridging EU to this part of the world. The Advanced Partners are the Medical University of Graz that coordinated the preparatory phase of the project for Biobanking & BioMolecular resources Research Infrastructure (BBMRI) and its subsequent European Research Infrastructure Consortium, BBMRI-ERIC, which represents the largest family of Biobanks in Europe.

Keywords: biobanking,whole genome sequencing,nephrology and nephrogenetics,clinical and molecular oncology,complex disorders,genome variation
Hybrid Epitaxial Materials for Novel Quantum State Detection and Manipulation (HEMs-DAM)

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: Denmark
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2016-STG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-08-01
End date: 2022-07-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1339600.0
EU funding (EUR): 1339600.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Research in quantum information technologies is receiving increasing attention worldwide, and huge efforts are put into the realization of the first reliable building blocks for quantum computation. The main challenge the field is facing today is unquestionably related to the loss of information due to quantum state decoherence. As indicated by our recent experiments, the perennial problem of decoherence might be solved by fully epitaxial semiconductor-superconductor growth techniques of high quality topological superconducting materials. Moreover, quantum systems based around design principles such as gate-controlled semiconductor-superconductor materials that can hold topologically‐motivated symmetry protection, might enable simpler forms of control and less dependence on available control technology. While research has made a lot of progress in the growth of semiconductor heterostructures and associated interfaces, the synthesis of semiconductor – metal/superconductor interfaces are comparably both uncontrolled and very poorly understood. As the device performance and potential applicability of nanostructured crystals largely depend on the quality of the involved interfaces, progress in synthesis of high quality interfaces will likely dictate the advancement and development not only of future quantum electronics but also play a key role in nanostructured device applications in general. The core of this proposal concerns the material synthesis of epitaxially grown semiconductor - metal/superconductor materials for advanced topological quantum electronics. The ambition will be to build an innovative environment that links between material and quantum sciences - with an overall emphasis on developing disorder-free hybrid semiconductor-superconductor crystals for novel quantum state detection and manipulation. This also includes an emphasis on developing high quality Josephson junctions - the key control point and crucial element in gatable superconductivity.

Keywords: superconductivity,topological materials,quantum information