Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Thickening of plant organs by nested stem cells (CORKtheCAMBIA)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Cellular, Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Panel description: Structure and function of the cell, cell-cell communication, embryogenesis, tissue differentiation, organogenesis, growth, development, evolution of development, organoids, stem cells, regeneration, therapeutic approaches
Countries involved: Finland
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2018-COG, 2018)
Start date: 2019-09-01
End date: 2024-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999752.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999752.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Growth originates from meristems, where stem cells are located. Lateral meristems, which provide thickness to tree stems and other plant organs, include vascular cambium (produces xylem [wood] and phloem); and cork cambium (forms cork, a tough protective layer). We recently identified the molecular mechanism that specifies stem cells of vascular cambium. Unexpectedly, this same set of experiments revealed also novel aspects of the regulation of cork cambium, a meristem whose development has remained unknown. CORKtheCAMBIA aims to identify the stem cells of cork cambium and reveal how they mechanistically regulate plant organ thickening. Thus, stemming from these novel unpublished findings and my matching expertise on plant stem cells and lateral growth, the timing is perfect to discover the molecular mechanism underlying specification of stem cells of cork cambium. To identify the origin of stem cells of cork cambium, 1st-we will combine lineage tracing with a detailed molecular marker analysis. To deduce the cell dynamics of cork cambium, 2nd-we will follow regeneration of the stem cells after ablation of this meristem. To discover the molecular factors regulating the stem cell specification of cork cambium, 3rd-we will utilize molecular genetics and a novel method (inducible CRISPR/Cas9 mutant targeting) being developed in my lab. Since the lateral growth is orchestrated by two adjacent, nested meristems, cork and vascular cambia, the growth process must be tightly co-regulated. Thus, 4th-an in silico model of the intertwined growth process will be generated. By combining modelling with experimentation, we will uncover mechanistically how cork and vascular cambium coordinate lateral growth. CORKtheCAMBIA will thus provide long-awaited insight into the regulatory mechanisms specifying the stem cells of lateral meristem as whole, lay the foundation for studies on radial thickening and facilitate rational manipulation of lateral meristems of crop plants and trees.

Keywords: plant development,cambium,lateral meristem,vascular,xylem,phloem,cork
Boosting the scientific excellence and innovation capacity in spintronics of the D. GHITU Institute of Electronic Engineering and Nanotechnologies of the Academy of Science of Moldova (SPINTECH)

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: Sweden,Moldova, Republic of,Netherlands
Call: Twinning (H2020-WIDESPREAD-05-2017-Twinning, 2017)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2022-02-28
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 999943.75
EU funding (EUR): 999943.75
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

The overall aim of the SPIN-TECH project is to boost the scientific excellence and innovation capacity in the field of spintronics – especially in the development of advanced technology for design and production of superconducting spin-valves – of the D. GHITU Institute of Electronic Engineering and Nanotechnologies of the Academy of Science of Moldova and its high-experienced Twinning partners: Stockholm University (Sweden) and University of Twente (The Netherlands). To achieve this aim during the 3 years of the project,, the partners will implement a research and innovation strategy with the following objectives: • Objective 1: Strengthen D. GHITU IE’s research excellence in spintronics • Objective 2: Enhance the research and innovation capacity of D. GHITU IE and the Twinning partners • Objective 3: Raise the research profile of D. GHITU IE and the Twinning Partners • Objective 4: Contribute to the research and innovation priorities of Moldova • Objective 5: Support research and innovation on a European level In order to achieve these objectives, the consortium partners will put into practice a comprehensive set of measures via the project’s work packages, which will include (i) short term staff exchanges (WP1); (ii) training workshops, conferences and summer schools (WP2); and (iii) dissemination and outreach activities (WP3)

Keywords: spintronics,advanced vacuum technologies,superconducting spin valve,superconducting spintronics
Know your enemy: systematic discovery of Salmonella anti-Phage Defences for the improved design of phage therapeutics (SaPhaDe)

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: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Spain,United States
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-05-01
End date: 2023-01-29
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 245732.16
EU funding (EUR): 245732.16
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Antimicrobial drug resistance is a serious global threat that make us to fear the return of the mortality rates from pre-penicillin times. A promising alternative to antibiotic drugs is the phage therapy, which is based in viruses that kill bacteria. The rational design of effective phage therapeutics requires a fundamental understanding of evolutionary co-adaptation of phages and bacteria. These co-adaptations have led to the development of multiple anti-phage defence systems in bacteria which modulate their susceptibility to be killed by phages at strain level. In this way, the study of the diversity and mechanisms of action of defence islands in bacterial pathogens represents crucial knowledge for improving rapid delivery of phage-based therapeutics. The proposed work aims to deeply characterize the anti-phage defences in a human pathogen, Salmonella, to provide the strategy to discover and classify phage counter-defences for an optimal design of phage therapy. This project will characterize the genetics population of Salmonella to study the distribution and diversity of anti-phage defence islands and will validate the activity and function of the defence and counter-defence in bacteria and phage, respectively. The experienced researcher (ER) will establish a collaborative link between the laboratories of laboratories of Dr. German Bou (Spain), who has extensive experience in clinical microbiology and genetic modification methods, and Prof. Martin Polz (USA), who is a world expert in the ecology and evolution of environmental microbiology. This collaboration will allow to perform the most advanced methods in population and comparative genomics, isolation and discovery of phages, large scale phage host range assays and genetic modification of bacteria. The data generated in this project will be essential to understand the anti-phage defence mechanisms and to improve clinical decisions to maximize the efficacy of phage therapeutics.

Keywords: salmonella,bacteriophages,defence islands,comparative genomics,mobilome,phage therapy,antibiotic resistance,bioinformatics
Commitment, maturation and infectivity of sexual stage malaria parasites in natural infections (COSMIC)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting 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: Netherlands,United States,United Kingdom
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2014-STG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-07-01
End date: 2020-06-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1345000.0
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

Background: One of the major challenges for malaria control and elimination is the phenomenally efficient spread of malaria through sexual stage malaria parasites (gametocytes). The epidemiology and dynamics of gametocytes are poorly understood: it is presently unknown when commitment to gametocytes first occurs during infections and what intrinsic or extrinsic factors influence gametocyte production and infectivity to mosquitoes. I hypothesize that continuous early commitment to gametocyte production and the preferential sequestration of mature gametocytes in the subdermal vasculature are key to explaining the high efficiency of malaria transmission. Aim: This proposal has three main aims: i) to determine when commitment to gametocyte production first occurs during experimental and natural infections; ii) to delineate environmental triggers that stimulate gametocyte production in the absence and presence of treatment; iii) to quantify the differential distribution of parasite developmental stages in different compartments of the human bloodstream. Approach: We will use novel parasite stage composition assays in combination with epidemiological methods to determine the dynamics of gametocyte commitment and maturation during controlled malaria infections in malaria-naive volunteers and during naturally acquired malaria infections in cohorts exposed to malaria in Burkina Faso. A stage-specific immunohistochemistry assay will, for the first time, directly quantify malaria stage composition in the subdermal vasculature and mosquito bloodmeals and allow comparison with other compartments of the circulation. Importance and Innovation: This is the first study to comprehensively characterize gametocyte commitment, maturation and infectivity in experimental and natural infections. This proposal will provide insight in one of the most important questions for malaria elimination: what processes are responsible for the phenomenally efficient transmission of malaria.

Keywords: malaria,gametocytes,transmission,infectivity,anopheles,mosquito,sequestration,elimination
Molecular Programming for MicroRNA profiling (MoP-MiP)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering
Panel description: Biotechnology using all organisms, biotechnology for environment and food applications, applied plant and animal sciences, bioengineering and synthetic biology, biomass and biofuels, biohazards
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2020-STG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-02-01
End date: 2026-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499326.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499326.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

MicroRNAs, a class of transcript responsible for the fine regulation of gene expression, are emerging as promising biomarkers for cancer monitoring (diagnostic, prognostic and prediction of therapy response. The concentration profiling of – stably present – microRNAs from liquid biopsies represents a hopeful opportunity to fight these diseases, enabling large population screening for early cancer appearance and monitoring in real-time the treatment response. However, current microRNA detection methods do not meet performances in term of sensitivity, multiplexing and practicability to bring microRNA signatures in the front line of clinical applications. The objective of this research proposal is to develop novel approaches for microRNA profiling using concepts of molecular programming (MP). MP deals with the design of artificial DNA reaction networks capable of information-processing, including complex biosensing tasks. The team will investigate two major strategies: 1) the development of a digital and multiplex assay (Digiplex), where each microRNA is accurately quantified independently at the single molecule level using target-specific molecular program; 2) the exploration of molecular neural network (MolNNet) for concentration pattern recognition. It involves the conception of sophisticated molecular program architectures performing the integration of multiple microRNA concentrations, signal processing and reporting of the sample type (e.g. “healthy” or “diseased”). This project is highly interdisciplinary, gathering expertise in DNA nanotechnology, microfluidics, surface chemistry and machine learning. The expected outcomes include the advance of cutting-edge microRNA quantification technology combining single-molecule amplification with a multiplex readout (up to 100 targets). On the long term, the exploration of in moleculo neural networks is foreseen to trigger a whole new field of research, providing a ground-breaking approach for molecular diagnostics.

Keywords: microrna profiling,molecular programming,biosensors,microfluidics,dna nanotechnology,multiplex and digital assay,molecular neural network
Nanomechanical spectrometry as an early alert system of the presence of airborne pathogens in critical settings (VirAIR)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
Theme: EIC Pathfinder
Destination: Novel ideas for radically new technologies
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Spain
Call: FET Innovation Launchpad (H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-4, 2020)
Start date: 2022-01-01
End date: 2023-06-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Hospital acquired infections have been recognised as a healthcare associated risk for patients for at least a hundred years. The hospital environment may be contaminated with various environmental pathogens and with more virulent organisms. Airborne organisms can be inhaled, fall directly onto wounds or instruments or survive on surfaces and then be indirectly transmitted to patients. During the recent pandemic related to SARS-COV-2 and the Covid-19 disease, we have been aware that understanding the transmission routes is critical to stop the virus spread. In the framework of FET-PROACT-VIRUSCAN-731868 an optonanomechanical system for spectrometry of viruses from liquid samples is under development, bringing optomechanical devices to a diagnostic clinical application for the first time. IMN-CSIC has already registered two patents related to its work in the framework of VIRUSCAN, demonstrating the capability to identify unique intrinsic mechanical modes of pathogens and setting the adequate method to extract several parameters from the devices for their unequivocal identification. With the aim to contribute to minimize as much as possible the impact the current COVID-19 pandemic is having around the world, we decided to test the technology with inorganic nanoparticles present in the air environment. Results demonstrate that our mechano-optic system and method of analysis, also work for the identification and detection of viruses in air samples, being the aim of VirAIR to demonstrate and exploit its applicability for detecting SARS-COV-2 viral particles from the air environment as an early alert system of much interest for the preventive medicine units at hospitals. Such aim is out of the framework of VIRUSCAN, which is focused only on diagnostic applications and liquid samples. Thus, VirAIR main objective is to turn results from VIRUSCAN project into genuine societal and economic innovations, much needed now to contribute to stop the current COVID-19 pandemic spread.

Keywords: sars cov 2,microbiological air quality,viral particles from the air environment,nanomechanics,optics,mass spectrometry
When Soft Matter Goes Really Soft – A New Paradigm for Star Polymer Self-Assembly (Star Polymers)

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: Netherlands
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-01-13
End date: 2022-01-12
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 175572.48
EU funding (EUR): 175572.48
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Biologic supramolecular assemblies, e.g., virus capsids and multiprotein complexes, show unprecedented complexity compared to man-made structures. A key feature of the building blocks facilitating the emergence of this structural complexity is their deformability. This enables them to reconfigure during assembly to find optimum orientations within the superstructure. Here, I propose to exploit the concept of reconfigurability as design criterion for developing a new class of colloidal building blocks. Where currently available hard particles fail to form macroscopic structures due to lack of building block uniformity and undesired metastable states encountered during assembly, introducing flexibility will prevent these adverse characteristics. The envisioned building blocks are based on polymer grafted cores, where the attached polymers arms comprise solvophilic and solvophobic blocks. The limited number of arms have significant conformational freedom, a feature absent in traditional hard particles. The solvophobic segments, located at the particle’s periphery, drive spontaneous polymer micro-phase separation into patchy domains which are then locked into place. These patches imprint directional interactions to guide self-assembly and are linked to the core via flexible solvophilic polymers, enabling patch fluctuations. The resulting patch adaptability prevents the system from getting trapped in non-equilibrium states and relaxes stringent requirements on geometric uniformity, promoting the formation of long-range ordered assemblies. Following simulation studies, these soft particles should have propensity to order into ‘open’ (quasi)crystalline lattices providing unique photonic, mechanical and porous characteristics. Complementing my physical/polymer synthetic background with pioneering analytic tools, e.g. time-resolved scattering and in situ electron microscopy, this project will detail a new paradigm for self-assembly and the importance of patch flexibility.
A droplet microfluidic system for continuous in vivo evolution. (DropContEvo)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Chemistry
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2018-01-01
End date: 2019-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Droplet microfluidics has recently become one of the breakthrough technologies for high throughput screening in microbiology and biochemistry, including single cell studies and new approaches to in vitro evolution. Here we propose a development of a novel microfluidic system for unsupervised execution of multiple cycles of in vivo continuous evolution in hundreds of thousands of picoliter droplets. Each evolutionary cycle will comprise: i) encapsulation of single bacteria cells in water-in-oil compartments ii) growth of the cells coupled with production of economically relevant biomolecules iii) selection of the most efficient populations using ultra-high-throughput sorting of picodroplets, iv) dilution of each population via merging with 100 times larger nanoliter droplet containing fresh nutrients and v) passive splitting of each of the resulting nanoliter droplets to the libraries of picoliter droplets containing single cells. Confinement of the reaction in small volume and active sorting of droplets will facilitate and accelerate the process of in vivo evolution. Droplet format will also enable for various screening schemes, so far not available for continuous evolution strategies – e.g. based on high throughput fluorescence or absorbance measurements of the droplet content. The second stage of the project will comprise a series of proof-of-concept experiments presenting directed continuous evolution of the tryptophan synthase (TrpS) in E.coli bacteria. The technology proposed here would be very useful for broad community of biotechnologists, evolutionary biologists and industrial specialists without the experience in microfluidics. The proposed research will be conducted at Dr. Hollfelder´s laboratory that specializes in directed evolution of enzymes and application of microfluidics to industrial biotechnology. The project comprise broad and extensive training in research and complementary soft skills that will aid professional development of the Beneficiary.

Keywords: droplet microfluidics,microengineering,continuous in vivo evolution,directed evolution,micro bioreactors,high throughput screening,mutagenesis,enzymology
Market replication of a cutting-edge FlOod Risk ScrEEning Tool (FOReSEE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2019-05-31
Duration (months): 5.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Natural disasters commonly have deep, far-reaching consequences for the communities affected. Among the most destructive natural hazards are floods, accounting for well over 40% of all weather-related disasters. Thus, recent years have witnessing increased attention and large investments in strategic flood risk assessments and mitigation. Flood management covers the holistic and continuous assessment, evaluation and reduction of flood hazard and flood risks. Flood maps are indispensable tools to show information about hazards, vulnerabilities and risks in a particular area. Indeed, a number of countries are making significant investments to improve the quality of mapping. Most of European countries have created detailed elevation models that digitally represent the surface of the terrain with meter or even sub-meter resolution on a national scale. However, the detailed digital elevation models represent massive amounts of data that are impossible to handle on a large scale for most available flood risk analysis software. Based on cutting-edge algorithm technology, we have developed a disruptive online platform that harnesses the descriptive power of big geometric data sets to provide cost-effective and updated decision support for end-users working with flood risk and climate change adaptation. We aim to pursue a major market opportunity by expanding our business into new geographical markets, addressing standing technical and market-related challenges by adapting and demonstrating the capabilities of our platform with reference end-users. Overall, leveraging on the opportunity provided by the SME instrument, this project opens not only an important economic opportunity for SCALGO ApS, but will importantly enable a more systemic approach to flood risk management, leading to strategic decisions at various levels for a range of end-users (the public sector, businesses, and individuals), and supporting EU mitigation and adaptation policies.

Keywords: flood risk mitigation,flood risk screening tool,web based platform,o efficient algorithms