Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Weaken the Barrier: Dynamic Modular Study of Lipopolysaccharide Early Transport by the Lpt Machinery (LpTarget)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Chemistry
Countries involved: France
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2027-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 226420.56
EU funding (EUR): 226420.56
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health threat and a top priority concern in Europe with estimated 1,27 million annual deaths worldwide and 35,000 in Europe. Many of these deadly infections are caused by resistant Gram-negative bacteria which are undermining our therapeutic options because antibiotics are no longer effective. These bacteria are coated by two membranes where the one exposed to the environment is made of lipopolysaccharide—a toxic glycolipid which forms a barrier hampering the penetration of compounds, including antibiotics. These bacteria possess the Lpt multiple protein complex that bridges the two membranes and transports this essential glycolipid from the inner to the outer membrane. Target the Lpt to weaken the Gram-negative barrier, enhances antimicrobial permeability and is a viable approach to fight resistance. In this project, we will employ an interdisciplinary biophysical and computational approach to advance the currently limited knowledge of the Lpt functional mechanism, necessary for effective targeting. We will uncover how lipopolysaccharide is inserted into the machinery and squeezed out from protein to protein along the bridge. The project will integrate cutting-edge computational techniques with structural biology in a native membrane environment to bridge the knowledge gap of Lpt structure and function at the molecular level. Molecular dynamics simulations will complement Lpt cryo-EM structures by exploring the complex dynamics and regulations of the transport machinery. The project will create new research avenues to weaken the Gram-negative bacterial barrier and advance progress in Lpt-based drug discovery. Its findings will establish a knowledge framework transferable across ESKAPEs, serving as an agile resource to prevent future global outbreaks of antimicrobial resistance.

Keywords: lpt,lipopolysaccharide,membrane,lipid,transport,gram negative bacteria,molecular modelling
Machine Learning and the Internet of Things for Optimisation of the Last Mile Delivery (SmartDelivery)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Spain,Italy
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-09-01
End date: 2027-02-28
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 206641.2
EU funding (EUR): 206641.2
Participants: 4
Project status: SIGNED

Scientific advances in recent years have brought to light a series of potentially disruptive technologies in the ICT landscape. They are becoming, and will increasingly become, key enabling technologies for the development of applications and services designed to improve the quality of life of citizens and make processes more efficient. Among these, we can identify some which research has recently focused on with particular attention: Machine Learning and Internet of Things. In this project we propose a combined use of these two technological enablers to solve one of the main issues which all logistics experts have to face: the problem of optimising the last mile delivery (LMD). LMD is a crucial step of the entire delivery process, as it causes bottlenecks and is typically the most costly, problematic and inefficient part. Improving the LMD process in terms of route optimisation using classic approaches is difficult: static algorithms are not suitable, and even heuristic algorithms do not find high-quality solutions, as they do not consider several factors such as unpredictable real-time events which may occur. To address these challenges, a novel hardware/software architecture which exploits real-time vehicles’ positions to continuously improve performances of the routing algorithms is proposed, together with a new IoT-based methodology to automatically/dynamically assign routes to drivers based on the values of a defined “sixth sense”parameter. A ML module will predict the best among a chosen portfolio of different heuristics/metaheuristics algorithms to optimise the route.

Keywords: last mile delivery,route optimisation,vehicle routing problem,vrp,classifiers,logistic supply chain,iot
Remotely actuated re-shaped nanocarriers for tumour targeting (HybridNP)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS1 (ERC-2022-POC1, 2022)
Start date: 2022-04-01
End date: 2023-09-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Current nanometric drug delivery systems have enormous potential to shift clinical practice in diseases that require targeted or site-specific therapy. New tools to fabricating multi-functional drug delivery systems can potentiate drug-carrier activity and offer the necessary shift from inert carriers to active drug carriers that can maximize drug activity in the desired tissue. This is particularly crucial in cancer, where chemotherapy drugs have broad spectrum non-specific activities. Based on our recent findings related to the role of physical properties of nano-carriers e.g. morphology, shape and stiffness in cell specificity, we propose to develop a remotely actuated nanocarrier with optimal parameters to provide tumor targeting. The nanocarriers are composed of thermo-responsive polymer with metal, which can be designed as asymmetric particles with preference of uptake by the more malignant cells. The project includes the development of a novel methodology for fabricating anisotropic metal/polymer hybrid nanoparticles, as well as characterization of their morphology and composition. The remote actuation of the nanocarriers will be measured as well as their theopoetic potential. The high-risk project can lead to an innovative approach in drug delivery with a particulate interest in cancer and other complex diseases.
Development of a smart shape-memory sensor for biological pressure monitoring applications (SMARTSHAPE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Digital, Industry and Space
Theme: Industry
Destination: Increased Autonomy in Key Strategic Value Chains for Resilient Industry
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Ireland,Italy,Netherlands,Czechia,Switzerland,United Kingdom
Call: Smart and multifunctional biomaterials for health innovations (RIA) (HORIZON-CL4-2022-RESILIENCE-01, 2022)
Start date: 2022-12-01
End date: 2026-11-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3218279.51
EU funding (EUR): 3218277.0
Participants: 8
Project status: SIGNED

Hypertension is the leading global contributor to premature death, accounting for over 9M deaths worldwide each year. Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a chronic lifetime risk factor. If left undiagnosed or poorly controlled, high BP can lead to serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Whereas long-term BP monitoring is required in many high-risk patients, there is no clinically accepted method of continuous BP monitoring that can be used outside of hospital settings. Thus, there is an unmet clinical need and a huge market opportunity for a medical-grade, user-friendly, and minimally invasive solution for long-term, continuous BP monitoring. The SMARTSHAPE consortium has developed and IP-protected a technologically disruptive sensor for continuous pressure measurement. However, several challenges related to biocompatibility, longevity, and delivery to the target tissue need to be overcome to deliver the sensor to the market. This project will address these challenges by formulation of an innovative biomaterial: a novel temperature-dependent shape memory polymer (SMP). The use of SMPs will enable the development of a microsensor that can be curled up, introduced into the body through a minimally invasive procedure, and ‘opened up’ when placed at body temperature to take a pre-defined shape. After integration of the biomaterial in the sensor, validation data will be generated for proof-of-performance, longevity, biocompatibility, safety, and sensor delivery through bench testing and in vivo preclinical studies. Quality and manufacturing aspects will be addressed and a regulatory strategy and lifecycle assessment delivered. BP monitoring will represent the first application, but the potential of the sensor goes far beyond that. Use cases for other healthcare applications such as intraocular or intracranial pressure will be explored, which will significantly broaden the potential and market-creating value of the project results.

Keywords: shape memory polymer,sensor,blood pressure,smart
An eXtreme Mesh deformation method to follow sharp physical interfaces (X-MESH)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Synergy grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Belgium,France
Call: ERC Synergy Grants (ERC-2022-SYG, 2022)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2029-08-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 5334732.0
EU funding (EUR): 5334732.0
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

This project will develop an innovative approach, X-MESH, to overcome a major difficulty associated with engineering analysis: we aim to provide a revolutionary way to track physical interfaces in finite element simulations using extreme deformation of the meshes. Unprecedented low computational cost, high robustness and accuracy are expected as the proposed approach is designed to avoid the pitfalls of the current methods, especially for topological changes. The key idea of the project has emerged in a synergistic brainstorming between J.-F. Remacle (meshing methods) and N. Moës (computational methods). This key idea is to allow elements to deform up to zero measure. For example, a triangle can deform to an edge or even a point. This idea is rather extreme and totally revisits the interaction between the meshing community and the computational community who, for decades, have striven to interact through beautiful meshes. Six areas in fluid and solid mechanics as well as heat transfer are targeted. Interfaces will be either (i) material, i.e. attached to particles of matter (the interface between two immiscible fluids or the dry interface in a wetting and drying model) (ii) immaterial, i.e. migrating through the material (a solidification front, contact front, yield front in yield stress fluid flow or a crack front). Successes brought by X-MESH are expected in the following engineering areas: safety design and maintenance, manufacturing processes, coastal engineering, energy efficiency, ocean modeling to cite a few. The project takes place in a stimulating environment mixing senior staff with PhDs and Post-docs to produce and disseminate publications with open source pieces of software. It also intends to create a synergy at large with the computational communities dealing with interfaces and fronts in all fields of science: topology optimization, superconductivity, tissue growth, hydrogel swelling, crystal growth, ferroelectric crystal etc.

Keywords: mesh generation,finite element analysis
Symbioses between plants and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria sustain coastal 'blue carbon' ecosystems (SeaSym)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Environmental B iology, Ecology  and E volution
Panel description: For all organisms : Ecology, biodiversity, environmental change , evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, microbial ecology , marine biology, ecophysiology, theoretical developments and mod elling
Countries involved: Austria
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2023-COG, 2023)
Start date: 2025-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999496.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999496.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Sea- and saltmarsh grasses thrive along most of Earth’s coastlines. They form the basis for some of the most ecologically and economically valuable ecosystems on the planet that are also major ‘blue carbon’ sinks. One of the main challenges these marine flowering plants faced during their evolution back into the sea millions of years ago, and one that global change is currently intensifying, is toxic sulfide accumulation around their roots, produced by microorganisms. Like on land, marine plants associate with specific communities of microorganisms, but much less is known about their roles in the health and evolution of their hosts. Intriguingly, one group of microorganisms, Sedimenticolaceae, is virtually ubiquitous in molecular surveys of sea- and saltmarsh grass roots, and is often enriched in root vs rhizosphere or sediment. Their known relatives are beneficial sulfide-oxidizing, nitrogen-fixing symbionts of marine animals, however, their function in sea- and saltmarsh grasses is unknown. SeaSym’s central goal is to reveal the biodiversity and functional roles of widespread symbioses with Sedimenticolaceae, to understand the ecological networks in which they function and evolve, and to understand how global change could shift their future functioning. SeaSym will use established and novel tools to understand symbiont diversity, function and dispersal, in the context of natural yet complex plant-associated microbial communities. My overarching hypothesis is that Sedimenticolaceae is a widespread symbiont of sea- and saltmarsh grasses, directly influencing host health and shaping element cycling in coastal ecosystems. Just as diverse land plants rely on symbioses with Rhizobia for nitrogen, I propose that diverse marine plants rely on Sedimenticolaceae that provide nitrogen whilst removing toxic sulfide. If so, this so far largely overlooked symbiosis could be one of the most important in terms of current ecological and past evolutionary significance.

Keywords: symbiosis,host microbe interactions,seagrasses salt marshes,sulfur metabolism
New Direct Empirical Evidence on Wage Setting (WeSET)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Individuals, Markets and Organisations
Panel description: Economics, finance , management
Countries involved: Italy
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2024-COG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-04-01
End date: 2030-03-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1721563.0
EU funding (EUR): 1721563.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Our project proposes to provide new empirical evidence on wage setting. This evidence will enhance our understanding of industrial relations, and of wage inequality. First, we will open up the collective bargaining process between incumbent employees and their employers in both France and the US. We will conduct textual analysis of collective bargaining agreements. We will design two-sided high-frequency surveys to follow the bargaining process within firms (e.g. offer sequences) and to measure the preferences of workers’ and employers’ representatives over various tradeoffs (e.g. wages vs employment). Using quasi-experimental designs, we will study how the identity of the workers’ and employers’ representatives matter for agreement outcomes and we will study overall bargaining efficiency. We will provide the first experimental evidence in industrial relations study through two randomized control trials. In France, we will evaluate the effects of negotiation training programs on collective bargaining outcomes. In the US, we will test for union threat effects in non-unionized workplaces through information experiments. Second, we will leverage the extraordinary opportunities offered by online job boards to open up the wage setting process for external hires. We will complement matched online-search and employment register data with detail firm and worker high-frequency surveys in both France and Sweden. We will provide a thorough analysis of selection into individual bargaining, and of the determinants of bargaining intensity and offers. We will test for bargaining theories using experimental information shocks. We will propose an empirical classification of recruiters based on their willingness to bargain with external hires that can be used to study strategic interactions among heterogenous bargaining firms. Our empirical evidence will guide policymakers in the design of collective bargaining rules and of online job boards.

Keywords: collective bargaining,unions,wage posting,wage bargaining,negotiation training programs,experiments
Multi-modal Imaging for Retinal Analysis at Cellular Levels in Early Alzheimer’s Disease (MIRACLE-AD)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Prevention,  Diagnosis and T reatment 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: France
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2025-STG, 2025)
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2030-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1766768.0
EU funding (EUR): 1766768.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) regulates blood flow to meet the metabolic demands of neural activity by delivering oxygen and nutrients. Its dysfunction is a hallmark of several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where early NVC impairment contributes to disease progression. As the retina is the only optically accessible part of the central nervous system, it provides a unique opportunity to investigate NVC at the cellular level. A precise understanding of retinal NVC could uncover key biomarkers for the evaluation of AD progression and the development of new targeted therapies. However, current imaging tools lack the spatial and temporal resolution necessary to capture neural and vascular functions simultaneously. In recent research, I have pioneered two novel imaging modalities for cellular-level retinal imaging: full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) and adaptive optics rolling slit ophthalmoscopy (AO-RSO). FF-OCT, with its interferometric properties, has the potential to visualize individual neurons involved in NVC. Meanwhile, AO-RSO, the only system capable of high-speed phase contrast imaging across a wide field of view, reveals critical vascular features, such as vessel walls and red blood cells, which are essential for probing vascular responses during NVC. The MIRACLE-AD project aims to combine the strengths of these modalities to develop an innovative tool capable of characterizing neural and vascular activity at micrometer and sub-millisecond scales in both health and early-AD patients. This approach will map neuronal pathways from photoreceptors to ganglion cells following light stimulation and measure vascular responses linked to individual ganglion cell activation. By elucidating the spatiotemporal relationship between neuronal activation and hemodynamic changes, MIRACLE-AD will deepen our understanding of NVC dysfunction in AD and its role in disease pathophysiology.
Shadow Trade: Unraveling Maritime Smuggling Between the Russian and Ottoman Empires (1853-1914). (STASH)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: The Study of the Human Past
Panel description: Archaeology and history
Countries involved: Greece
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2024-12-01
End date: 2029-11-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1490250.0
EU funding (EUR): 1490250.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

STASH deals with the history of maritime smuggling between port cities of the Russian and Ottoman Empires during the transformative period 1853 to 1914, focusing on three maritime regions – the Black Sea, the Azov Sea, and the Southeastern Mediterranean. The two empires, at the core of the Eastern Question, occupied a central position in European economic, social, and political upheavals. Within the context of the ongoing shifts between two empires and the development of legal trade relations in an era marked by intensified globalization and the transition from sail to steam, this project aims to shed light on aspects of illegal trade relations, an underexplored area of study. Specifically, we will comprehensively analyse various facets of the smuggling of both goods and people within the established trade routes and networks. The study will examine the macrostructure of the smuggling linkages, focusing on the hinterland of production/origin of clandestine trade and the foreland, the destination of material and human cargoes. It aims to identify the main nodes of export and import and the means of transportation. The research team comprises a PI, three senior researchers, six post-doctoral researchers, and two PhD candidates from Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, Italy, and Greece. They will utilize unpublished archival sources to produce two collective volumes, numerous articles, two PhD dissertations, organize four workshops, and an international conference, create an archival and bibliographical corpus, and produce a documentary film. The project aims to advance our knowledge of inter-imperial relations beyond conventional geopolitical approaches. Understanding how these two neighbouring powers navigated their shadow relations adds depth to our comprehension of the broader Eastern European economic, social, and political relations and introduces new layers to our appreciation of the region’s modern history.

Keywords: smuggling maritime history russian empire ottoman empire port cities black sea azov sea southeastern mediterranean globalization trade steamship companies merchant communities