Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Microscopic modelling of the highly efficient intra- and inter-antennae energy transfer to the reaction centre in plant photosystem II (MicroMod-PSII)

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: Netherlands
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-04-01
End date: 2019-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165598.8
EU funding (EUR): 165598.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

MicroMod-PSII aims to provide an unprecedented microscopic, structure-based understanding of the excitation energy transfer mechanism in plant photosystem II (PSII) from the outer antennae complexes to the reaction centre under physiological conditions. It will unravel nature’s highly sophisticated way of harvesting sunlight in unrivalled detail. Within the framework of MicroMod-PSII, the first-ever coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations at almost atomistic resolution of PSII supercomplexes in thylakoid membrane patches will be performed. Based thereon, the intra- and inter-antennae excitation energy transfer toward the reaction centre will be modelled using high-level ab initio quantum chemistry. For this purpose, a procedure will be developed to transform coarse grained molecular dynamics snapshots into atomistic structures best suited for quantum chemical calculations. The calculated chromophore properties will provide a detailed understanding of the interplay between rigorous, highly conserved structural organisation and dynamic flexibility at the protein-protein interfaces and its impact on the outstanding light harvesting properties of PSII. The overall strategy developed during MicroMod-PSII can emerge as an important tool for computational biology as it allows modelling of a wide variety of reactions in the electronic ground or excited state catalysed by protein supercomplexes. During MicroMod-PSII, the researcher will acquire extensive expertise in state-of-the-art coarse grain molecular dynamics and will transfer knowledge in quantum chemistry and quantum dynamics to the host group. The improvement of complementary skills such as scientific management, networking, public engagement and team leadership will significantly develop the researcher. Together with the broad knowledge of state-of-the-art simulation techniques covering multiple time and length scales, this will provide excellent preparation for the researcher’s next scientific career step.

Keywords: photosynthesis,coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations,intra and inter antennae excitation energy transfer,plant photosystem ii supercomplex,membrane protein
Molecular understanding of metabolic complexes: Towards engineering the next generation of synthetic biosystems (METABOLON)

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: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2020-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212194.8
EU funding (EUR): 212194.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Why most plant natural products escape industrial production? So far, synthesis of many of these high-value compounds in microbes is simply based on putting together all the players in a pathway. Nevertheless, to produce its stunning chemical diversity, nature uses much more elaborate biosynthetic networks, frequently involving the formation of macromolecular assemblies termed metabolons. These complexes utilize dynamic interactions and partner exchange to produce the desired compounds in a coordinated fashion. To take my biotechnological expertise one step further, I will study the dynamic mechanisms that rule the assembly and regulation of metabolons and use this knowledge to reshape the way microbial production platforms are engineered. METABOLON clearly introduces a new level of analysis and intervention into metabolic engineering, by examining the efficiency of complex formation and the fine molecular details that could affect enzyme performance. In addition, it develops tools and methods to obtain a molecular understanding of the role of the host membranes in heterologous enzyme function. Importantly, it introduces the concept of altering the host environment to mimic that of the native pathway host, and suggests approaches to achieve this in the case of the ER membrane. With a pressing need to move towards a bio-based society (H2020 priorities), METABOLON will set the blueprint for the rational engineering of the many complexes that create a plethora of bioactive compounds, natural aromas, flavours and colours. METABOLON will help me immensely to develop a unique skill-set that brings together my previous expertise in metabolic engineering with newly acquired knowledge in enzymology, single-molecule microscopy and biophysics. This will enable me to develop an interdisciplinary research program and pursue an independent academic career in the highly demanding field of synthetic biology.

Keywords: metabolic engineering,yeast,plant biochemistry,enzymology,membrane,liposome,terpenoid
INnovative Network for Training in ToUch InteracTIVE Interfaces (INTUITIVE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Innovative Training Networks (ITN)-European Training Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Germany,Italy,Germany,Spain,Belgium,Sweden,France,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Innovative Training Networks (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2019-10-01
End date: 2024-03-31
Duration (months): 54.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4156299.51
EU funding (EUR): 4156299.51
Participants: 11
Project status: SIGNED

INTUITIVE will train a generation of early stage researcher (ESR) in ground breaking scientific and technological approaches in haptics. They will develop novel soft biomorphic tactile skin based on flexible electronics, miniaturized soft sensors, and a powerful new understanding of tactile information processing in humans - intrinsically shaped through the interaction with the environment, and aimed to advance robotics and assistive technology. The technological novelties of this project include touch sensor using materials such as graphene and new functionalities such as memory device in skin for deeper understanding of skin biomechanics through artificial means. Neuroscience investigations and computational modelling using predictive coding will explain how variable modes of interactions still lead to a stable representation of the objects we interact with, and how robots could use these principles to acquire knowledge of their haptic environment. This will also help developing intuitive and efficient haptic displays as an aid for the blind and prosthetics. Through participation in this ITN and targeted courses, the ESR will acquire complementary expertise of neuroscience, haptics, flexible electronics, microsensors, robotics and rehabilitation technology. This programme, proposed by 13 key academic, research institutes and industry, will deliver 540 person-months of unparalleled multidisciplinary research training to 15 ESRs. The ESR will be mentored by INTUITIVE PIs, who are pioneers in the neuroscience or/and technology of haptics and its applications. They will have access to state-of-the-art equipment including unique devices designed by the PIs. Hands-on project training will be supplemented with formal training courses in relevant fields and a variety of courses such as IPR, grant writing and exploiting the scientific results. Mobility within the network targeted to each ESR will ensure exposure to both academic and industrial environments.

Keywords: tactile sensing,haptics,flexible electronics,perceptual mechanisms
Vine and Wine Innovation through Scientific Exchange (vWISE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Research and innovation staff exchange
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Spain,Spain,Italy,Argentina,South Africa,Spain,Australia,France,Portugal,Chile
Call: Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-03-01
End date: 2025-02-28
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 874000.0
EU funding (EUR): 874000.0
Participants: 13
Project status: SIGNED

vWISE is a RISE in the field of viticulture and oenology, which focuses on the consequences and solutions to the impact of climatic change on vines, grapes and wines: in particular on abiotic stress on vines and grape quality and ripening with genetic exploitation, reduction of alcohol level in wine by adapted yeasts and engineering process, adapted microorganisms to prevent spoilage, wine quality changes and sensorial preservation. Climate change represents a considerable threat to the wine industry in Europe that has social and economic consequences. This RISE comprises of 13 partners from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Argentina, Australia, Chile and South Africa. The team is internationally recognized, highly qualified and employ cutting-edge technologies and emergent techniques. Synergies and complementarities between the research teams are already efficient and will develop further through the network. The vWISE will: -focus on innovation to develop methods tools and standards to help assess the impact of climate change scenarios and adaptation responses, -permit 39 researchers mobilities with interweaving approaches in the increasingly sophisticated techniques required to gain insights into vines, grapes and microorganisms metabolism and to develop novel methods to fight against climatic changes and to give advances on wine authenticity, -improve understanding of climate change and linkages with sustainable development, -improve safety and biodiversity. - Researchers will be able to integrate multi-level approaches to make conceptual advances in the field with the international network, helping them to acquire operational experience, new knowledge, scientific methods and transferable skills that will ensure opportunities and career perspectives in R&D departments or management in private companies. vWISE will make careers in European oenosciences and viticulture more attractive to scientists (young, junior and senior) after their mobilities.

Keywords: vine,climate change,grapes,wine,quality,innovation,genetics,yeast,bacteria,microbiology,authenticity
Rural transformation and structural change – A new spatial perspective on trade-offs in household decision-making in low-income countries (RTSC)

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: Economic Sciences
Countries involved: Germany,United States
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2022-09-01
End date: 2024-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 176036.16
EU funding (EUR): 176036.16
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Understanding the decision-making of smallholder households in low-income countries is a crucial step in the design of effective policy measures for development. This task is becoming increasingly complicated as more and more factors (e.g. urbanization, climate change) influence rural transformation processes. Economic research normally singles out individual mechanisms (e.g. income composition) and spatial variability thereof is represented by access to the most important economic center in a region. However, trade-offs between multiple decision factors can lead to complex spatial patterns in livelihoods, often further complicated by multiple accessible economic centers. RTSC proposes an innovative and interdisciplinary framework to capture such complex patterns by modeling decision-making based on the location of a household in two-dimensional space. This framework includes key features such as the development of a microeconomic model of location-dependent trade-offs in household decision-making, the application of advanced statistical techniques to capture them in an empirical analysis based on primary data from Myanmar, and the vision to use RTSC results for evidence-based policy design. Planned as a Global Fellowship, RTSC brings together UGOE, a leading European university in agricultural development economics, and IFPRI, an international key player in providing research-based policy support on matters such as poverty reduction and food security. These host institutions complement each other perfectly providing state-of-the-art expertise in applied economic research and policy support. These conditions can be used effectively by the experienced researcher (ER), as she brings skills in household modeling, fieldwork, and advanced statistical methods. RTSC will, thus, allow her to develop as an independent researcher by refining her research portfolio, acquiring skills in project management, and extending her professional network.

Keywords: household models,development economics,agricultural economics,food security,myanmar
Rationally designed nanostructured catalysts for bio-conversion systems: assessing the innovation potential of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) powder/particle coatings for the catalyst market (nanoCARBS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2015-PoC, 2015)
Start date: 2016-02-01
End date: 2017-07-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 149550.0
EU funding (EUR): 149550.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The introduction of biomass-derived feedstocks for the production of liquid fuels and chemicals brings new challenges to the chemical industry: the conventional heterogeneous catalysts used in past petrochemical operations often cannot be adopted. Demanding operation conditions cause extensive deactivation problems, while in the same time material scarcity is severely pressing for advances in the utilization efficiency of the active catalyst materials. The understanding of the interplay between agglomeration and coating during Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) in combination with the expansion of the surface nanostructuring options to carbon materials (ERC-StG: AggloNanoCoat) renders a new class of rationally-designed catalysts available. Nanostructuring precision in fabrication results in materials with an engineered structure-performance behaviour, effectively addressing performance-related issues (e.g. stability/selectivity) while using minimum amounts of scarce elements. Switching to a gas-phase technique for catalyst manufacturing has the potential to enable a cleaner way of production and a significant abatement of energy and waste footprints of the process. The foreseen profitability boost – while addressing societal requirements for optimal use of scarce resources in more efficient production schemes – can justify the transition in technology. The nanoCARBS project aims to realize the innovation potential of ALD for the production of nanostructured Catalysts as Rational Bio-conversion Systems in a scalable way. Taking the necessary pre-commercialization steps will enable us to demonstrate the benefits of the technology for an industrially-relevant catalyst product. Setting-up a business strategy will allow the commercialization of the technology initially in the field of catalyst industry.

Keywords: atomic layer deposition,powders nanostructuring,biomass conversion,biorefinery,material scarcity,overcoats,carbon,agglonanocoat,scale up,catalyst manufacturing,catalyst market
AN INNOVATIVE MICROBIAL CELL FACTORY FOR NATURAL VANILLIN (BELLOSSOM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: European SME innovation Associate - pilot (H2020-INNOSUP-2020-02, 2020)
Start date: 2020-10-01
End date: 2022-01-31
Duration (months): 16.0
Total project cost (EUR): 158928.57
EU funding (EUR): 111250.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Vanillin is the second most expensive spice globally (€11.000/kilo) and used compound in fragrances and food industry. Over 99% of all vanillin is chemically synthesised. However, market demand for chemically synthesized vanillin is declining due to the excessive use of fossil resources and solvents that severely impact the environment. However, the production of natural vanillin is limited (<1%) due to natural disasters, the limited capacity and high costs. This shows the strong societal, industrial and environmental need for an innovative, cheap and scalable production method for natural vanillin. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a suitable alternative to produce vanillin from natural substrates; the resulting product is classified as natural vanillin under European and US food legislation. However, conventional genetic engineering methods have strong technological limitations. EV Biotech aims to revolutionize conventional biotechnology by developing an innovative microbial cell factory (MCF) strain using innovative technologies from systems biology and in silico modelling. To achieve this, EV Biotech envisions a novel molecular dynamics modelling strategy based on 3D protein simulations and computational enzyme design tools to redesign these enzymes. In fact, the development of this molecular dynamics model for proteins is critical for the overall proof-of-concept and success of BELLOSSOM. However, the team lacks a PhD-level scientist who has specialized knowledge of molecular dynamics modelling of proteins/enzymes. EV Biotech plans to exploit three business opportunities by recruiting an Innovation Associate: (1) a lack in the market for large-scale natural vanillin production methods, (2) the industrial demand for MCF with higher production rates of natural compounds, and reduced time and costs for their development, and (3) the addition of a molecular dynamics model for proteins in the production pipeline to enhance the current market position.

Keywords: vanillin
Antibiotic intracellular delivery via virus-like carriers (AIDViC)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC-Proof of Concept-2016 (ERC-2016-PoC, 2016)
Start date: 2017-07-01
End date: 2018-12-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 149062.0
EU funding (EUR): 149062.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Taking inspiration from natural carriers, such as viruses, a new technology has been developed in our laboratories part of an ongoing ERC starting grant project, Molecular Engineering of Virus-like Carriers (MEViC). We created synthetic viruses using polymers and thus safer materials. They are able of delivering high payload of specific drugs into cells with no detrimental effect. While testing for anticancer therapies, we identified a synthetic virus capable of targeting almost exclusively macrophages. We performed preliminary work showing that this can be successfully applied to deliver antibiotics to rid of intracellular pathogens. This has now open a completely new possibility whereas we can expand our technology for the treatment of several infections as well as to contribute to the ongoing efforts in tackling antibiotic resistance.

Keywords: antibiotics,drug resistance pathogens,intracellular pathogens,tuberculosis,mrsa related infections,leishmaniasis,gingivitises
Identification of different neuro-cognitive mechanisms of prediction in language comprehension (NeuroPred)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Netherlands,United States
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2019-04-01
End date: 2022-03-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 260929.8
EU funding (EUR): 260929.8
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Predictions were recently proposed to be the core mechanism organizing brain functioning at all levels and in all domains. However, in contrast, within language comprehension, evidence for predictions has not been ubiquitous across participants, tasks, and materials. In my earlier research I showed that this discrepancy can be reconciled by positing the existence of at least two different neurocognitive mechanisms of prediction: active prediction that is restricted to highly informative contexts and to speakers who can rapidly exploit that informativity, and passive prediction, which is part-and-parcel of language comprehension. The objective of this project is to better understand the different mechanisms involved at the cognitive and at the neural level. I will be trained in 3 specialized techniques: Event-Related Optical Signal, eye-tracking, and magnetoencephalography, as well as new data-analysis methods. This training will enable me to establish, for both types of prediction, the time-course and associated ERP-components, underlying brain structures, their behavioural markers during free reading of texts, and patterns of connectivity and causal exchange of information between involved brain areas. An important novelty lies in the materials used in the project: fully naturalistic stories parametrized using recurrent neural networks. NeuroPred brings together two excellent laboratories: Prof. Kara Federmeier, a pioneer and one of the leading researchers in studying prediction in language comprehension, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Prof. Peter Hagoort at the Donders Center for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, a renowned expert in the neurocognition of language. The research bridges psycholinguistics, cognitive neuroscience and computer science. Thanks to this interdisciplinary approach, NeuroPred will provide me with excellent 'training through research' and enable me to transfer newly obtained skills back to the EU.

Keywords: predictions,language comprehension,eros,eye tracking,connectivity,language models,machine learning