Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Silicene, a new material for nanoelectronics (SILINANO)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-02-01
End date: 2017-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 161968.8
EU funding (EUR): 161968.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Silicene, the silicon analogue for graphene, has recently been discovered. It retains many of the interesting phenomena of graphene (2D geometry, strength, durability, the Dirac cone at the Fermi level), however it displays a significant buckling out of plane relating to the preference of silicon to form sp3, rather than sp2, hybridised bonds. This buckling is predicted to allow greater control over the electronic properties of silicene than has been traditionally been found in graphene, with silicene predicted to have a quantum spin Hall-effect and applications in valleytronics. Additionally, the use of silicon, rather than carbon, will allow silicene devices to be more readily integrated into current electronic technology. This project proposes to develop recipes for creating silicene on new substrates (like monolayer boron nitride and europium), and then doping the silicene layers (with, for example, boron or phosphorous). These layers will be characterised by complementary spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, to gain a wealth of information on the chemical, electronic and geometric structure of the silicene and doped silicene layers. Most notably angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) will be used to study these layers. ARPES provides a clear insight into the occupied band structure of the layer, by providing a k-space map near the Fermi level. STM will be used to probe, in real space, the topography of the silicine and to study the assembly and ordering of the layer; furthermore STM will be necessary in order to identify the expected honeycomb structure, which will be indicative of a 2D sp2-hybridised material, is present.

Keywords: sp2 hybridisation,graphene,valleytronics,nanoelectronics,spintronics,quantum spin hall-effect,arpes,stm
Investigation of VEGF-C involvement in acquired metastatic properties of renal cell carcinoma following anti-angiogenesis treatments (VELYMPH)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 269743.8
EU funding (EUR): 269743.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Abnormal vascular network formation is a prerequisite for tumor growth. This phenomenon has prompted the development of therapeutic approaches targeting molecules involved in the formation of pathological blood vessels such as VEGF and its receptors VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3. Although some patients benefited from such an approach, the majority of patients had a poor outcome through a transient decrease of the tumor/metastases accompanied by the selection of more aggressive tumors cells. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, responsible for approximately 80% of cases. It has been described as being among the most lethal of all the urological cancers. One major problem encountered in cancer patients, including RCC patients treated with anti-angiogenesis drugs, is the recurrence of metastases and even the development of new metastatic niches. Therefore, we postulate that the over-expression of VEGF-C, a growth factor for vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells, is responsible for tumor cells metastasis in response to anti-angiogenesis therapy. Hence, the objective of our project is to determine the molecular mechanisms leading to the expression of VEGF-C after treatment with anti-angiogenesis drugs. Because VEGF-C may constitute both a predictive marker and a new pertinent therapeutic target, its role in acquired metastatic properties of RCC following anti-angiogenesis treatments deserves to be rigorously investigated. We will focus on the transcriptional regulation of VEGF-C and the stability of its mRNA. These goals will be achieved through the use of relevant cellular and animal models. Since the anti-angiogenesis therapies lead to genetic adaptation of tumor cells, probably due to expression of receptors targeted by anti-angiogenesis drugs, our ultimate goal is to identify important partners that play a key role in the escape to anti-angiogenesis therapies that should have been curative.

Keywords: tumor angiogenesis,renal cell carcinoma,vegf-c,transcriptional regulation,anti-angiogenesis therapy,predictive markers,therapeutic targets
Multi-phenotype Analysis of Rare Variants – devELopment of an analysis method and software with implementation to large-scale data to unravel pleiotropic genetic effects behind cardiometabolic traits (MARVEL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-08-01
End date: 2016-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The obesity rates are rapidly increasing worldwide concomitantly with rising prevalence of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Individual trait genome-wide association studies of common variants (minor allele frequency, MAF>5%) have highlighted complex genetic relationships between related cardiometabolic phenotypes with an intriguing pattern of associated overlapping DNA sequence variant effects, which does not always follow the epidemiological correlations. Joint analysis of multiple correlated traits: (i) increases power for variant discovery; and (ii) facilitates dissection of the genetic mechanisms underlying multi-phenotype association signals, including evaluation of the evidence for pleiotropy. Multi-phenotype analysis methods for common variants have been proposed, however, with the current focus being in low-frequency and rare variants (MAF<5%/1%), novel method development for identification of such effects is required. The project has three goals: 1) To develop a multi-phenotype analysis method for rare variants and to test it on at least 20000 individuals directly available to me. The availability of high-throughput “omics” data, including sequencing data and serum metabolites, adds further challenges to the methods development, e.g. due to genotype uncertainty and hundreds of correlated traits. I will extend the methodological development to the methods for meta-analysis of rare variants, given the need to combine genetic effects across many individual studies; 2) To create an efficient publicly available software tool for the developed methods; 3) To dissect the genetic architecture behind cardiometabolic phenotypes by conducting a large-scale multi-phenotype meta-analysis of rare variant effects on metabolic traits within international consortia. This timely and highly relevant project will allow me to embark on an independent academic career in the field of statistical genetics where my research interests lie.

Keywords: multi-phenotype analysis,rare variants,omics data,method development,software development,meta-analysis,cardiometabolic traits
Developing High Resolution Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) dating of fossil teeth: contribution to the chronology of early hominid occupations in the Mediterranean area (HR_ESR)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Spain
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-10-02
End date: 2016-10-01
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 174242.7
EU funding (EUR): 174242.7
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) is the only chronometric method that can be applied to date Early Pleistocene fossil teeth from early hominid occupations in the Mediterranean area. Recent investigations focused on these old samples have highlighted the limitations of the standard procedures, as well as the complexity of the post depositional alteration processes in dental tissues at micro-scale. To overcome these issues, the present project proposes a cutting edge investigation that can only be performed as a joint project between RSES and CENIEH, since these institutions offer complementary facilities and experienced staff. Basically, this work aims at: (i) Investigating the physical and chemical processes that are affecting dental tissues at micro scale and evaluating their impact on the ESR age results, (ii) developing a high resolution combined US-ESR dating approach for fossil teeth. From a methodological perspective, the project is expected to improve the reliability of the ESR method by contributing to the understanding of why for a given site, some samples yield seemingly reliable results while others do not. This will lead to the identification of some objective criteria to evaluate the suitability of tooth samples for ESR dating. On the geochronological side, this project will expose new perspectives for the ESR method. This new high resolution approach will improve the accuracy of the age estimates, since several ages per sample will be produced once suitable dental domains have been identified. This project will provide new ESR dating results for some of the oldest archaeological sites in the Mediterranean basin, thus contributing to improve our knowledge of the first hominid settlements in this area. The present project is an important step for the development of Mathieu Duval’s scientific career, by offering him the possibility to acquire new competencies and to interact with world leading researchers in Earth Sciences and Archaeology.

Keywords: human evolution,electron spin resonance dating,uranium-series dating,fossil teeth,geochronology,quaternary,early pleistocene,early hominid settlements in europe and africa
Finite and Algebraic Geometry for Error correction (FACE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Belgium
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-07-01
End date: 2016-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 169800.0
EU funding (EUR): 169800.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The primary objective of the FACE project is to study and develop the connections between Coding Theory and non-linear geometric objects in Galois spaces, by using both theoretical and computational instruments. The FACE project will focus on particular types of non-linear geometric objects: arcs, (n,r)-arcs, caps, saturating sets, and algebraic varieties. These objects correspond to specific types of linear error-correcting codes. These codes are deeply involved in the process of transmission of information, since they preserve the information against errors occurring during the transmission process on a communication channel; without this protection the information received could be unusable. The main aim of the FACE project is to construct and to classify new examples and new infinite families of the geometrical counterparts of linear error-correcting codes with good parameters, i.e. correcting a large number of errors with respect to their length.

Keywords: finite geometry - algebraic geometry - linear error correcting codes - random network codes - projective systems of points - (n,r)-arcs - caps -saturating sets
Structural analysis of the conformational transitions of the K18 fragment of human tau driven by Hsp70 action (HSP70-TAU NMR)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2016-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168794.4
EU funding (EUR): 168794.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The proteins Tau and α-synuclein are causative agents of several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In physiological conditions these neurotoxic proteins adopt a disordered conformation but undergo conformational transitions leading to their aggregation and amyloid fibril formation under neuronal stress. ATP-driven molecular chaperones of the heat-shock protein (Hsp) family have been postulated to play a critical role in inhibiting the gain-of-toxic function of these proteins. However, little is known about the binding and activation mechanism of neurotoxic proteins, and of disordered proteins in general, induced by Hsps. Given the dynamic and unstable nature of these interactions and activation cycles, NMR spectroscopy is ideally suited to obtain insight into the nature of these interactions. In the attached application I propose to obtain - by means of novel artful NMR experimental designs, complemented with extensive biochemical and biophysical characterization - a detailed model of the aggregation-prone fragment of Tau bound to the two different allosteric conformations of Hsp70. This will for the first time shed light onto the still unsolved conformational changes in a client protein motivated by the chaperone mode of action. Moreover, I will study several disease-related Tau mutants, the role of cochaperones in this cycle, as well as the effect of inhibitors to better understand the mechanism of Hsp-substrate interaction. In addition, the detailed structural information that will be obtained in this project will provide the basis to chemically optimize available inhibitors and test their cellular effect in the last phase of the project. The opportunity to carry out this ambitious project represents a significant step forward for my future independent career, being deeply involved in state-of-the-art methodological and biological tutoring in a scientific environment that is tightly connected to the industry sector.

Keywords: alzheimer's disease,nmr,tau,hsp70,hsp90,allostery,amyloidogenic idps,chaperones,atpases,aggregation inhibitor,toxic gain-of-function,protein interactions,intrinsically disordered proteins
Searching for nature's best clocks and extragalactic millisecond transients with large interferometric arrays: from the GMRT to the SKA (CLOCKS AND BURSTS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IIF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-04-22
End date: 2016-04-21
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 309235.2
EU funding (EUR): 309235.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit a beam of radio waves from their magnetic poles. Their rate of rotation is very stable and so the pulses detected as they spin are like the ticks of an extremely precise clock. Measuring small deviations in the rate that this clock runs makes them ideal laboratories to test gravity theories and as detectors for gravitational waves. In addition to the regular radio emission from pulsars, millisecond transient bursts (FRBs) are observed at the locations of cataclysmic events, making them useful probes for extreme states of gravity, pressure, temperature and magnetic fields. Their extragalactic origin makes them useful to study the poorly constrained baryon content of the intergalactic medium. Motivated by the need to discover more of both these source classes and my recent discoveries of MSPs at the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), the largest array in the world, combined with the expertise of University of Manchester in non-imaging high time resolution astronomy, we propose for the highly sensitive GMRT High Resolution Southern Survey (GHRSS) for MSPs and transients. This survey is calculated to find at least 45 MSPs and tens of FRBs. The simultaneous time domain search and imaging capability of this survey also provides an unique opportunity of discovery and simultaneous localisation of MSPs and FRBs, which is currently not employed at any other telescope. As the GMRT is a prototype for the global Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and SKA1-mid in particular, the techniques we propose to develop here will be directly applicable. This project brings together my expertise in leading GMRT pulsar surveys with the extensive pulsar and transient search experience and SKA knowledge of my UK host. This combination will allow us to deliver cutting edge science in collaboration with European scientists and enable us to play a leading role in the SKA.

Keywords: millisecond pulsars,fast radio transients,gravitational waves,pulsar and transient search,timing,interferometric array,beamformer,imaging,astrometry,high performance computing,gmrt,ska
Impact of food matrix interaction and post-translational modifications on the allergenicity of Mal d 3, a major apple allergen (CARAMEL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Austria
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-02-01
End date: 2017-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 240733.2
EU funding (EUR): 240733.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Food allergy is a global health problem with significant impacts on the community, especially in Western countries. Fruit allergy, in particular, has a considerable relevance as the avoidance of some fruits or other cross-reactive vegetables often results in an unbalanced diet. Among fruit allergens, non-specific Lipid Transfer Proteins (nsLTPs) are small, basic proteins that can cause severe, potentially lifethreatening, systemic reactions. Their compact and stable three-dimensional structure, due to the 4 disulphide bonds, makes them highly resistant to degradation, allowing them to reach the gut only slightly modified and induce severe systemic reactions in sensitised individuals. Several efforts have been made for the identification and subsequent physic-chemical, biochemical and immunological characterisation of nsLTPs. However, the protein structure by itself does not full justify the allergen’s ability to produce an immuno-response and other factors must be taken into consideration, such as the immune-modulating properties of both food matrix interactions and post-translational modifications (PTMs), as well as their effects on the allergen structure. Notably, there is a lack of knowledge about the impact of such interactions/modifications on nsLTPs. The aim of the present proposal is to shed light on this important aspect of nsLTPs allergenicity, studying apple as model food and using a multidisciplinary approach. Specific objectives are to investigate both the effects of selected fruit matrix components (1) and PTMs (2) on Mal d 3 allergenicity, and to perform detailed studies on the Mal d 3 structure by computational methods, including crystallisation trials of Mal d 3 (3). The expected findings will reveal the importance of factors that are currently undervalued regarding allergenic risk assessment. In addition, this proposal contemplates many aspects of education and training for the fellow and thus provides a further step in her academic career.

Keywords: food allergy,food matrix,allergens,lipid transfer protein (nsltp),post translational modifications (ptms).
Frontal Asymmetry as an Endophenotypic Marker of Differential Susceptibility to Parenting in Infancy: A Functional NIRS Study (INFANT NIRS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-02-01
End date: 2016-01-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 97023.3
EU funding (EUR): 97023.3
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Infants’ social-cognitive skills develop within the parent-infant relationship. Differences between parents in the way they interact with their infant may have important consequences for infants’ social-cognitive development. Moreover, due to their genetic make-up, some individuals may be more affected by their social environment than others. Indeed, genes that may convey this differential susceptibility have been identified. However, the analysis an use of genetic material is time-consuming, expensive, and surrounded by ethical concerns. Susceptibility may also not be conveyed by a single gene, but rather by many. Obtaining an endophenotype for susceptibility would therefore be worthwhile. Frontal asymmetry (differences in activity of the left and right frontal cortex) may be such an endophenotype. Because it can be measured easily, relatively cheaply, and non-invasively, frontal asymmetry may offer considerable advantages over genetic measures as a differential susceptibility marker. The proposed study investigates frontal asymmetry as an endophenotype for differential susceptibility to effects of maternal sensitivity on infant social cognition. Because infant cognitive development is tightly intertwined with brain development we investigate effects of sensitivity on the neural underpinnings of socio-cognitive development, using fNIRS to image brain activity. We focus on two processes: activation of the mirror neuron system and neural processing of motherese. The proposed study will provide important insights into the neural mechanisms underlying differential susceptibility, highly relevant for our understanding of the processes leading to children’s successful or aberrant development. Insights gained from the study may also inform future studies searching for ways to enhance susceptibility in individually tailored parenting support and interventions. For this purpose a susceptibility marker that can be measured quickly, easily, and non-invasively is vital.

Keywords: fnirs,infant,differential susceptibility,maternal sensitivity,social cognition,mirror neuron activity,motherese