Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Astrocyte-Neuronal Crosstalk in Obesity and Diabetes (AstroNeuroCrosstalk)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Panel description: Nervous system development, homeostasis and ageing, nervous system function and dysfunction, systems neuroscience and modelling, biological basis of cognitive processes and of behaviour, neurological and mental disorders
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2017-STG, 2017)
Start date: 2018-01-01
End date: 2023-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499938.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499938.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Despite considerable efforts aimed at prevention and treatment, the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes has increased at an alarming rate worldwide over recent decades. Given the urgent need to develop safe and efficient anti-obesity drugs, the scientific community has to intensify efforts to better understand the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. Based on human genome-wide association studies and targeted mouse mutagenesis models, it has recently emerged that the brain controls most aspects of systemic metabolism and that obesity may be a brain disease. I have recently shown that like neurons, astrocytes also respond to circulating nutrients, and they cooperate with neurons to efficiently regulate energy metabolism. So far, the study of brain circuits controlling energy balance has focused on neurons, ignoring the presence and role of astrocytes. Importantly, our studies were the first to describe that exposure to a high-fat, highsugar (HFHS) diet triggers hypothalamic astrogliosis prior to significant body weight gain, indicating a potentially important role in promoting obesity. Overall, my recent findings suggest a novel model in which astrocytes are actively involved in the central nervous system (CNS) control of metabolism, likely including active crosstalk between astrocytes and neurons. To test this hypothetical model, I propose to develop a functional understanding of astroglia-neuronal communication in the CNS control of metabolism focusing on: 1) dissecting the ability of astrocytes to release gliotransmitters to neurons, 2) assessing how astrocytes respond to neuronal activity, and 3) determining if HFHS-induced astrogliosis interrupts this crosstalk and contributes to the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. These studies aim to uncover the molecular underpinnings of astrocyte-neuron inputs regulating metabolism in health and disease so as to inspire and enable novel therapeutic strategies to fight diabetes and obesity.

Keywords: astrocytes,neurons,hypothalamus,blood vessels,energy metabolism
High density full diamond cortical implant for long life time implantation (NEURODIAM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Products and processes engineering
Panel description: Product and process design, chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, vehicle engineering, energy processes and relevant computational methods
Countries involved: France,France
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2017-STG, 2017)
Start date: 2018-05-01
End date: 2024-04-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499865.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499865.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Implantable neuroprosthetic devices offer the promise of restoring neurological functions to disabled individuals. Tests demonstrated that an array of microelectrodes implanted in cortex allows to record activity of the brain and to induce a movement on prosthetic limbs or electrical stimulations restore some visual sensations. For these applications the life time and stability of the electrodes are critical features for the reliable operation of any implantable neuronal device. It’s also necessary to have high density implant with small electrodes to cover a large surface of the cortex to have access of neuronal code. A reliable packaging for long term implantable devices are in titanium or glass but not suitable in the case of ECoG (ElectroCorticoGraphy) implant. Indeed, it is necessary to achieve a polymer implant as a core material, to follow the topology of the brain surface. But in long term the polymer swells and moisture penetrates the implant and degrades its performances therefore reducing the lifetime. The goal of NEURODIAM project is to address two major challenges: - increase the lifetime of implant by a specific packaging, - reduce the size of the electrodes to be equivalent to the neurones size (10 µm) without degradation of noise and consequently increase the electrode density for a fine mapping of the cortex. To avoid performance drift of the implant, a new packaging solution completely hermetic will be developed based on the last developments of micro and nano structuration of diamond layer that combines conductive and intrinsic synthetic diamond. Fast ageing tests will be settled to demonstrate the viability of this diamond technology. In-vitro and in-vivo assessment will be performed to demonstrate the efficiency of these implants for recording and stimulation of neuronal tissue. This project will produce high performance diamond based technology that can be later used for various implants dedicated to fundamental studies in neurosciences.

Keywords: micro and nanotechnology,neuroprothesis,electrocorticography ecog,diamond material
Single cell profiling of X chromosome reactivation during primordial germ cell specification in vivo (XPGCS)

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: United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-03-01
End date: 2018-04-17
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 195454.8
EU funding (EUR): 195454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In female mice, one of the two X chromosomes is inactivated during early development to ensure dosage compensation between genders. A long non-coding gene, Xist, plays a crucial role in the initiation of the X chromosome inactivation (XCI) process. Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursors of sperm and eggs, transmit genetic and epigenetic information to subsequent generations, following extensive reprogramming, erasure of methylation and genomic imprints, and X chromosome reactivation. The inactive X (Xi) then undergoes progressive reprogramming and reactivation in the germline of female embryos, through the loss of Xist RNA coating, followed by the erasure of the repressive H3K27me3 histone mark, and eventually biallelic expression of X-linked genes. Although the global dynamics of Xi reactivation have been mapped little is known about the gene-specific dynamics, or the mechanisms involved. To explore gene activity on the entire X chromosome during reprogramming in the germline, I will perform single-cell transcriptome analyses on PGCs from C57BL/6 X Castaneus F1 female hybrid embryos. The high rate of sequence polymorphisms between these strains provides allele-specific information for the activity of the Xp (paternal X) and the Xm (maternal X). I will investigate the kinetics of Xp and Xm gene reactivation chromosome-wide at the single cell level following PGC specification. Furthermore, I will study the dynamics of the expression of X-linked genes in conjunction with chromatin changes in PGCs by monitoring the loss of H3K27me3 enrichment on the inactive X chromosome. In parallel, I will study how the regulation of H3K27me3 affect Xi reactivation by using a conditional mutant mouse model of a H3K27me3 demethylase, UTX. Altogether, the innovative and multidisciplinary approach of this study will unravel important insights on germline reprogramming and the roles of chromatin changes associated with X chromosome reactivation.

Keywords: primordial germ cells,x chromosome,histone marks,gene expression kinetics,mouse embryo
Realizing Leibniz’s Dream: Child Languages as a Mirror of the Mind (LeibnizDream)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Synergy grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Germany,Italy
Call: ERC Synergy Grant (ERC-2019-SyG, 2019)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2026-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 10237750.0
EU funding (EUR): 10237750.0
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

Children around the globe acquire language and with it the human ability to communicate complex thoughts. This project develops a new linguistic theory to explain language and its acquisition. Our central hypothesis is that language radically compresses thought structures to sound or sign. While current theories assume a parallel between thought and language or meaning-preserving transformations, we assume that thought is mapped to language by only realizing some pieces of conceptual representations. Adult language is hyper-efficient at compressing information. For this reason, Leibniz and many others over the last 300 years have been unable to agree on the primitives of human thought. We predict that child languages are a better mirror of the human mind. Our initial evidence suggests that children are not able to compress conceptual representations as efficiently as adults. Sometimes children produce more material than adults, leading to so-called commission errors, which have never been systematically investigated. Furthermore, comprehension is easier for children when there is a one-to-one match between language and thought. To test our central hypothesis and specify how conceptual structure is compressed into language, we carry out a series of at least twelve targeted language acquisition studies on a global scale. We have recruited collaborators for more than 50 languages from 21 different language families, two sign languages and two creoles to carry out our studies. With this data, we can formulate a complete formal model of the semantic primitives, their combination into conceptual structures, the morphological compression mechanism, and the acquisition process within our model. To accomplish these goals, we rely on insights from formal semantics, generative syntax, distributed morphology, and several other linguistic frameworks. As part of our work, we also create the first open, global research collaboration to conduct language acquisition studies.

Keywords: first language acquisition,comparative linguistics,formal semantics,morphology,event structure
Identifying the ripples of gene regulation evolution in the evolution of gene sequences to determine when animal nervous systems evolved (RipGEESE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Career Restart panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2021-02-26
End date: 2024-05-01
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 337400.64
EU funding (EUR): 337400.64
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Animals display a bewildering diversity of morphological structures and adaptations that represent dramatic body plan transformations. Forming these diverse body shapes requires the coordinated expression of hundreds of genes in a cell-specific manner; a monumentally complex task that is controlled by gene regulatory networks (GRNs): genes linked to each other by regulatory interactions, which modulate the gene expression in every cell of an organism. Despite their central role in determining animal form and function, it is as of yet unclear how GRNs evolve and how they are linked to the origin of morphological innovation. This project builds on the combined knowledge and expertise of the applicant and three European research institutions in order to tackle this knowledge gap using cutting-edge techniques, and an innovative, multidisciplinary approach that merges molecular, bioinformatic, and phylogenomic methods.

Keywords: evolutionary biology,evo devo,nervous system evolution,ctenophora
Innovation Associate for highly specific Tumour Associated Carbohydrate Antigens (InnoTACA)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Portugal
Call: European SME innovation Associate - pilot (H2020-INNOSUP-2020-02, 2020)
Start date: 2021-02-01
End date: 2022-04-30
Duration (months): 15.0
Total project cost (EUR): 142964.29
EU funding (EUR): 100075.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

CellmAbs is a recent but fast growing biopharmaceutical spinoff dedicated to the development of immuno-oncology agents that target only cancer cells, promoting the activation of the immune system and inhibiting growth of cancer in both early and late stages. In spite of many advances in diagnostic and treatment development, many cancers still have no targeted therapy or have limited or toxic treatment options. Early detection is crucial to optimize treatment and substantially reduce incidence and mortality. In spite of the advent of new and improved genomic and proteomic technologies, it has not been possible to identify cancer-specific therapeutic targets or molecules that are able to reliably and accurately predict outcomes during cancer management and treatment. Cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC) have very poor standard of care and thus own an unmet need for reliable and specific targets. The discovery of tumour associate carbohydrate antigens (TACA) is very promising but is still very insipient due to lack of experts, knowledge and technology on the field. InnoTACA will address several unmet needs by presenting the grounds for hiring an Innovation Associate with relevant expertise and experience on groundbreaking technology to innovate TACA discovery to apply in cancer theranostic, combining high-quality transferable-skill training with excellent scientific training in glycomics. InnoTACA addresses the CellmAbs need of identifying highly specific TACAs, which would serve as a lead for the development of safer and more cost-effective immunotherapies, even for advanced unresectable CRC. The InnoTACA Associate and such immunotherapies will provide CellmAbs with improved products to capitalize and compete with current healthcare business and it will allow CellmAbs to connect with other high-tech SMEs focused in pharmaceutical and medical development, and partners with strong translational clinical and research backgrounds.

Keywords: glycomics,theranostic,immunotherapy
Novel hybrid thermoelectric photovoltaic devices: modeling, development, and characterization (HTEPV)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Italy,United States
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2020-08-30
Duration (months): 34.0
Total project cost (EUR): 247924.8
EU funding (EUR): 247924.8
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims at the practical realization, the characterization, and the industrial/commercial evaluation of optimized hybrid thermoelectric-photovoltaic (HTEPV) devices. HTEPV devices can convert the solar energy more efficiently than normal solar cells, since the thermoelectric component recovers part of the unused heat generated within them. In this project the hybrid optimization will be obtained with an innovative approach recently proposed within a theoretical/computational study by the fellow, Dr. Bruno Lorenzi. The principal objective of this action will be the practical hybridization of two kinds of single junction solar cells in HTEPV devices achieving performances higher than the PV cell alone by at least 25%. The project will be organized in three main phases: outgoing phase (first HTEPV development), ingoing phase (second HTEPV development), and a secondment (encapsulation development at a non-academic institution). Dr. Lorenzi will acquire knowledge and know-how especially by training through research in achieving the objectives of the action. This will contribute to make Dr. Lorenzi an independent and expert researcher in the perspective of his future research carrier. The project will also surely contribute to the advance of field of the energy harvesting. Actually it is well known that for renewables, the higher the efficiency the lower is the total-cost/produced-power ratio. Thus the large expected increase of efficiency for the hybrid devices developed in this action will have a major impact on their price per watt. This will open new concrete possibilities for near-future commercialization of this novel generation of solar harvesters, stimulating industrial productions and new markets. This in turn will lead to a wider diffusion and a higher accessibility of a renewable source of energy for the EU citizens.

Keywords: solar harvester,hybrid systems,photovoltaics,thermoelectrics,thermal losses
Spatio-temporal measurement and plasma-based control of crossflow instabilities for drag reduction (GLOWING)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Products and processes engineering
Panel description: Product and process design, chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, vehicle engineering, energy processes and relevant computational methods
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2018-STG, 2018)
Start date: 2019-02-01
End date: 2024-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499460.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499460.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Delay of laminar-turbulent flow transition on aircraft wings can potentially reduce aerodynamic drag by up to 15%, reducing emissions and fuel consumption considerably. The main cause of laminar-turbulent transition on commonly used swept wings is the development of crossflow (CF) instabilities. Despite their importance, our fundamental understanding of CF instabilities is limited due to inability of current measurement techniques to capture their complex and multi-scale spatio-temporal features. This severely limits our ability to delay CF transition, which is further impeded by the lack of simple, robust and efficient control concepts. In this proposal I will achieve unprecedented spatio-temporal measurements of CF instabilities and develop a novel active flow control system that can successfully delay transition on swept wings. To achieve these goals, I bring forth a unique combination of cutting-edge technologies, such as tomographic particle image velocimetry, advanced plasma-based actuators and linear/non-linear stability and control theory. Spatio-temporal volumetric velocity measurements of CF instabilities will be achieved at three important stages of their life, namely inception, growth and breakdown, providing breakthrough insights into the underlying physics of swept wing transition and turbulence production. The results will be used to postulate and validate linear and non-linear stability and control theory models and provide top benchmarks for high-fidelity CFD. The unprecedented wealth of information, enabled through these advances, will be used to design and demonstrate the first synergetic plasma-based laminar flow control system. This system will feature minimum-thickness plasma actuators, able to suppress the growth of CF instabilities and achieve and sustain considerable transition delay at high Reynolds numbers. These advances will finally enable robust and efficient laminar flow on future air transport.

Keywords: boundary layer transition,crossflow instability,flow control,plasma actuators,flow diagnostics,hydrodynamic stability
THE IMPACT OF DISCIPLINARY FUTURE SELF ENRICHED ELECTROMAGNETISM COURSE ON PHARMACY MAJORS’ ACHIEVEMENT AND AFFECT IN PHYSICS (DiFuSeEm)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Career Restart panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-10-01
End date: 2022-01-31
Duration (months): 28.0
Total project cost (EUR): 208040.0
EU funding (EUR): 208040.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

High drop-out rates at university level indicate that students are not able to find what they expected at the university. It is a problem in many European countries. Reports from European Commission and universities, mentioned that relating the courses in their programs to e.g. the disciplinary future selves (DFSs) of the students is one of the solutions by enhancing students’ learning and affective states (e.g. motivation and interest). The DFS is defined as a future identity that one wants to establish by choosing a certain study program. Introductory physics courses in many undergraduate programs such as pharmaceutical sciences, are among the courses perceived as difficult and sometimes irrelevant. There were few attempts to relate physics courses to pharmacy majors. However, there was no study to reveal the effects of these attempts. Though there were attempts to relate introductory physics courses to life-science students which concluded that it is possible to influence participation in a course and students’ perceptions about the link between physics and biology. In order to explore the effects of the DFS-related physics instruction on pharmacy students’ achievement in physics and affective characteristics related to physics, a quasi-experimental research with control group will be conducted. The focus of the physics course is on Electromagnetism. Activities and materials related to electricity content will be developed to design the DFS-related instruction by reviewing the literature thoroughly, and conducting interviews with the course instructors, teaching assistants, pharmacy majors, and pharmaceutical sciences faculty members. The effectiveness of the instruction will be assessed with physics achievement test and the Affective Characteristics Questionnaire (both as pre-test & post-test). During the implementation, experimental and control groups will be observed. After the implementation, post-interviews will be conducted to validate the results.

Keywords: physics education,science education,electricity,electromagnetism,disciplinary future self,affective,characteristics,interest in physics,motivation in physics