Project acronym COLLMOT
Project Complex structure and dynamics of collective motion
Researcher (PI) Tamas Vicsek
Host Institution (HI) EOTVOS LORAND TUDOMANYEGYETEM
Country Hungary
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE3, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Collective behaviour is a widespread phenomenon in nature and technology making it a very important subject to study in various contexts. The main goal we intend to achieve in our multidisciplinary research is the identification and documentation of new unifying principles describing the essential aspects of collective motion, being one of the most relevant and spectacular manifestations of collective behaviour. We shall carry out novel type of experiments, design models that are both simple and realistic enough to reproduce the observations and develop concepts for a better interpretation of the complexity of systems consisting of many organisms and such non-living objects as interacting robots. We plan to study systems ranging from cultures of migrating tissue cells through flocks of birds to collectively moving devices. The interrelation of these systems will be considered in order to deepen the understanding of the main patterns of group motion in both living and non-living systems by learning about the similar phenomena in the two domains of nature. Thus, we plan to understand the essential ingredients of flocking of birds by building collectively moving unmanned aerial vehicles while, in turn, high resolution spatiotemporal GPS data of pigeon flocks will be used to make helpful conclusions for the best designs for swarms of robots. In particular, we shall construct and build a set of vehicles that will be capable, for the first time, to exhibit flocking behaviour in the three-dimensional space. The methods we shall adopt will range from approaches used in statistical physics and network theory to various new techniques in cell biology and collective robotics. All this will be based on numerous prior results (both ours and others) published in leading interdisciplinary journals. The planned research will have the potential of leading to ground breaking results with significant implications in various fields of science and technology.
Summary
Collective behaviour is a widespread phenomenon in nature and technology making it a very important subject to study in various contexts. The main goal we intend to achieve in our multidisciplinary research is the identification and documentation of new unifying principles describing the essential aspects of collective motion, being one of the most relevant and spectacular manifestations of collective behaviour. We shall carry out novel type of experiments, design models that are both simple and realistic enough to reproduce the observations and develop concepts for a better interpretation of the complexity of systems consisting of many organisms and such non-living objects as interacting robots. We plan to study systems ranging from cultures of migrating tissue cells through flocks of birds to collectively moving devices. The interrelation of these systems will be considered in order to deepen the understanding of the main patterns of group motion in both living and non-living systems by learning about the similar phenomena in the two domains of nature. Thus, we plan to understand the essential ingredients of flocking of birds by building collectively moving unmanned aerial vehicles while, in turn, high resolution spatiotemporal GPS data of pigeon flocks will be used to make helpful conclusions for the best designs for swarms of robots. In particular, we shall construct and build a set of vehicles that will be capable, for the first time, to exhibit flocking behaviour in the three-dimensional space. The methods we shall adopt will range from approaches used in statistical physics and network theory to various new techniques in cell biology and collective robotics. All this will be based on numerous prior results (both ours and others) published in leading interdisciplinary journals. The planned research will have the potential of leading to ground breaking results with significant implications in various fields of science and technology.
Max ERC Funding
1 248 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-03-01, End date: 2015-02-28
Project acronym COMBINE
Project From flies to humans combining whole genome screens and tissue specific gene targeting to identify novel pathways involved in cancer and metastases
Researcher (PI) Josef Martin Penninger
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUT FUER MOLEKULARE BIOTECHNOLOGIE GMBH
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS4, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Cancer care will be revolutionized over the next decade by the introduction of novel therapeutics that target the underlying molecular mechanisms of the disease. With the advent of human genetics, a plethora of genes have been correlated with human diseases such as cancer the SNP maps. Since the sequences are now available, the next big challenge is to determine the function of these genes in the context of the entire organism. Genetic animal models have proven to be extremely valuable to elucidate the essential functions of genes in normal physiology and the pathogenesis of disease. Using gene-targeted mice we have previously identified RANKL as a master gene of bone loss in arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer cell migration and metastases and genes that control heart and kidney function; wound healing; diabetes; or lung injury Our primary goal is to use functional genomics in Drosophila and mice to understand cell transformation, invasion, and cancer metastases of epithelial tumors. The following projects are proposed: 1. Role of the key osteoclast differentiation factors RANKL-RANK and its downstream signalling cascade in the development of breast and prostate cancer. 2. Requirement of osteoclasts for bone metastases and stem cell niches using a new RANKfloxed allele; function of RANKL-RANK in local tumor cell invasion. 3. Role of RANKL-RANK in the central fever response to understand potential implications of future RANKL-RANK directed therapies. 4. Integration of gene targeting in mice with state-of-the art technologies in fly genetics; use of whole genome tissue-specific in vivo RNAi Drosophila libraries to identify essential and novel pathways for cancer pathogenesis using whole genome screens. 5. Role of TSPAN6, as a candidate lung metastasis gene. Identification of new cancer disease genes will allow us to design novel strategies for cancer treatment and will have ultimately impact on the basic understanding of cancer, metastases, and human health.
Summary
Cancer care will be revolutionized over the next decade by the introduction of novel therapeutics that target the underlying molecular mechanisms of the disease. With the advent of human genetics, a plethora of genes have been correlated with human diseases such as cancer the SNP maps. Since the sequences are now available, the next big challenge is to determine the function of these genes in the context of the entire organism. Genetic animal models have proven to be extremely valuable to elucidate the essential functions of genes in normal physiology and the pathogenesis of disease. Using gene-targeted mice we have previously identified RANKL as a master gene of bone loss in arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer cell migration and metastases and genes that control heart and kidney function; wound healing; diabetes; or lung injury Our primary goal is to use functional genomics in Drosophila and mice to understand cell transformation, invasion, and cancer metastases of epithelial tumors. The following projects are proposed: 1. Role of the key osteoclast differentiation factors RANKL-RANK and its downstream signalling cascade in the development of breast and prostate cancer. 2. Requirement of osteoclasts for bone metastases and stem cell niches using a new RANKfloxed allele; function of RANKL-RANK in local tumor cell invasion. 3. Role of RANKL-RANK in the central fever response to understand potential implications of future RANKL-RANK directed therapies. 4. Integration of gene targeting in mice with state-of-the art technologies in fly genetics; use of whole genome tissue-specific in vivo RNAi Drosophila libraries to identify essential and novel pathways for cancer pathogenesis using whole genome screens. 5. Role of TSPAN6, as a candidate lung metastasis gene. Identification of new cancer disease genes will allow us to design novel strategies for cancer treatment and will have ultimately impact on the basic understanding of cancer, metastases, and human health.
Max ERC Funding
2 499 465 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-01-01, End date: 2013-12-31
Project acronym CRYTERION
Project Cryogenic Traps for Entanglement Research with Ions
Researcher (PI) Rainer Blatt
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAET INNSBRUCK
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Quantum computers offer a fundamentally new way of information processing. Within the scope of this proposal, quantum information processing with an ion trap quantum computer will be investigated. With the new combination of cryogenic technology and ion traps for quantum computing we intend to build a quantum information processor with strings of up to 50 ions and with two-dimensional ion arrays for an investigation of deterministic many-particle entanglement. The cryogenic traps will be applied for quantum simulations, for fundamental investigations concerning large-scale entanglement and for precision measurements enhanced by quantum metrology techniques employing entangled particles.
Summary
Quantum computers offer a fundamentally new way of information processing. Within the scope of this proposal, quantum information processing with an ion trap quantum computer will be investigated. With the new combination of cryogenic technology and ion traps for quantum computing we intend to build a quantum information processor with strings of up to 50 ions and with two-dimensional ion arrays for an investigation of deterministic many-particle entanglement. The cryogenic traps will be applied for quantum simulations, for fundamental investigations concerning large-scale entanglement and for precision measurements enhanced by quantum metrology techniques employing entangled particles.
Max ERC Funding
2 200 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2008-12-01, End date: 2013-11-30
Project acronym DARE
Project Soil Foundation Structure Systems Beyond Conventional Seismic Failure Thresholds: Application to New or Existing Structures and Monuments
Researcher (PI) George Gazetas
Host Institution (HI) NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS - NTUA
Country Greece
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE8, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary The main goal of the proposed research is to investigate the possibility of allowing below-ground support systems to respond to strong seismic shaking by going beyond a number of thresholds that would conventionally imply failure and are today forbidden by codes. Such thresholds include : (a) sliding at the soil-foundation interface ; (b) separation and uplifting of a shallow foundation from the soils ; (c) mobilization of bearing capacity failure mechanism for shallow foundations ; (d) structural yielding of pile foundations ; (e) combination of some of the above. Whereas under static loading conditions a slight exceedance of such thresholds leads to failure, the oscillatory nature of seismic shaking will allow such exceedances for a short period of time, with perhaps no detrimental or irreparable consequences. The latter take the form of permanent foundation displacements, rotations, or injuries , which the designer will aspire to confine within rational limits. The motivation and the need for this research has come from : (i) observations of actual behaviour in a variety of earthquakes ; conspicuous examples : the permanent tilting , overturning, and often survival of numerous buildings on extremely soft soil in Adapazari during the Kocaeli 1999 earthquake ; (ii) the foundation design of a number of critical structures (e.g., major bridge pier, air control tower, tall monuments, elevated water tanks,) against large seismic actions ; the disproportionately large overturning moment and/or base shear force of such slender structures can hardly be faced with today s conventional foundation methods, (iii) the need to seismically retrofit and rehabilitate older structures and historical monuments; (iv) structural yielding of pile foundations is now detectable (thanks to technological advances), thus eliminating one of the reasons for avoiding it.
Summary
The main goal of the proposed research is to investigate the possibility of allowing below-ground support systems to respond to strong seismic shaking by going beyond a number of thresholds that would conventionally imply failure and are today forbidden by codes. Such thresholds include : (a) sliding at the soil-foundation interface ; (b) separation and uplifting of a shallow foundation from the soils ; (c) mobilization of bearing capacity failure mechanism for shallow foundations ; (d) structural yielding of pile foundations ; (e) combination of some of the above. Whereas under static loading conditions a slight exceedance of such thresholds leads to failure, the oscillatory nature of seismic shaking will allow such exceedances for a short period of time, with perhaps no detrimental or irreparable consequences. The latter take the form of permanent foundation displacements, rotations, or injuries , which the designer will aspire to confine within rational limits. The motivation and the need for this research has come from : (i) observations of actual behaviour in a variety of earthquakes ; conspicuous examples : the permanent tilting , overturning, and often survival of numerous buildings on extremely soft soil in Adapazari during the Kocaeli 1999 earthquake ; (ii) the foundation design of a number of critical structures (e.g., major bridge pier, air control tower, tall monuments, elevated water tanks,) against large seismic actions ; the disproportionately large overturning moment and/or base shear force of such slender structures can hardly be faced with today s conventional foundation methods, (iii) the need to seismically retrofit and rehabilitate older structures and historical monuments; (iv) structural yielding of pile foundations is now detectable (thanks to technological advances), thus eliminating one of the reasons for avoiding it.
Max ERC Funding
2 399 992 €
Duration
Start date: 2008-12-01, End date: 2013-10-31
Project acronym DISCRETECONT
Project From discrete to contimuous: understanding discrete structures through continuous approximation
Researcher (PI) Laszlo Lovasz
Host Institution (HI) EOTVOS LORAND TUDOMANYEGYETEM
Country Hungary
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE1, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Important methods and results in discrete mathematics arise from the interaction between discrete mathematics and ``continuous'' areas like analysis or geometry. Classical examples of this include topological methods, linear and semidefinite optimization generating functions and more. More recent areas stressing this connection are the theory of limit objects of growing sequences of finite structures (graphs, hypergraphs, sequences), differential equations on networks, geometric representations of graphs. Perhaps most promising is the study of limits of growing graph and hypergraph sequences. In resent work by the Proposer and his collaborators, this area has found highly nontrivial connections with extremal graph theory, the theory of property testing in computer science, to additive number theory, the theory of random graphs, and measure theory as well as geometric representations of graphs. This proposal's goal is to explore these interactions, with the participation of a number of researchers from different areas of mathematics.
Summary
Important methods and results in discrete mathematics arise from the interaction between discrete mathematics and ``continuous'' areas like analysis or geometry. Classical examples of this include topological methods, linear and semidefinite optimization generating functions and more. More recent areas stressing this connection are the theory of limit objects of growing sequences of finite structures (graphs, hypergraphs, sequences), differential equations on networks, geometric representations of graphs. Perhaps most promising is the study of limits of growing graph and hypergraph sequences. In resent work by the Proposer and his collaborators, this area has found highly nontrivial connections with extremal graph theory, the theory of property testing in computer science, to additive number theory, the theory of random graphs, and measure theory as well as geometric representations of graphs. This proposal's goal is to explore these interactions, with the participation of a number of researchers from different areas of mathematics.
Max ERC Funding
739 671 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-01-01, End date: 2014-06-30
Project acronym GEMIS
Project Generalized Homological Mirror Symmetry and Applications
Researcher (PI) Ludmil Katzarkov
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAT WIEN
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE1, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Mirror symmetry arose originally in physics, as a duality between $N = 2$ superconformal field theories. Witten formulated a more mathematically accessible version, in terms of topological field theories. Both conformal and topological field theories can be defined axiomatically, but more interestingly, there are several geometric ways of constructing them. A priori, the mirror correspondence is not unique, and it does not necessarily remain within a single class of geometric models. The classical case relates $\sigma$-models, but in a more modern formulation, one has mirror dualities between different Landau-Ginzburg models, as well as between such models and $\sigma$-models; orbifolds should also be included in this. The simplest example would be the function $W: \C \rightarrow \C$, $W(x) = x^{n+1}$, which is self-mirror (up to dividing by the $\bZ/n+1$ symmetry group, in an orbifold sense). While the mathematics of the $\sigma$-model mirror correspondence is familiar by now, generalizations to Landau-Ginzburg theories are only beginning to be understood. Today it is clear that Homologcal Mirror Symmetry (HMS) as a categorical correspondence works and it is time for developing direct geometric applications to classical problems - rationality of algebraic varieties and Hodge conjecture. This the main goal of the proposal. But in order to attack the above problems we need to generalize HMS and explore its connection to new developments in modern Hodge theory. In order to carry the above program we plan to further already working team Vienna, Paris, Moscow, MIT.
Summary
Mirror symmetry arose originally in physics, as a duality between $N = 2$ superconformal field theories. Witten formulated a more mathematically accessible version, in terms of topological field theories. Both conformal and topological field theories can be defined axiomatically, but more interestingly, there are several geometric ways of constructing them. A priori, the mirror correspondence is not unique, and it does not necessarily remain within a single class of geometric models. The classical case relates $\sigma$-models, but in a more modern formulation, one has mirror dualities between different Landau-Ginzburg models, as well as between such models and $\sigma$-models; orbifolds should also be included in this. The simplest example would be the function $W: \C \rightarrow \C$, $W(x) = x^{n+1}$, which is self-mirror (up to dividing by the $\bZ/n+1$ symmetry group, in an orbifold sense). While the mathematics of the $\sigma$-model mirror correspondence is familiar by now, generalizations to Landau-Ginzburg theories are only beginning to be understood. Today it is clear that Homologcal Mirror Symmetry (HMS) as a categorical correspondence works and it is time for developing direct geometric applications to classical problems - rationality of algebraic varieties and Hodge conjecture. This the main goal of the proposal. But in order to attack the above problems we need to generalize HMS and explore its connection to new developments in modern Hodge theory. In order to carry the above program we plan to further already working team Vienna, Paris, Moscow, MIT.
Max ERC Funding
1 060 800 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-01-01, End date: 2013-12-31
Project acronym MEDIGRA
Project Mechanics of Energy Dissipation in Dense Granular Materials
Researcher (PI) Ioannis Vardoulakis
Host Institution (HI) NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS - NTUA
Country Greece
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE8, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Granular materials are of interest to different fields of the physical sciences and engineering. To model their behaviour, either a solid- or fluid mechanics approach is used. Rather than deforming uniformly, granular fluids develop thin shear-bands, which mark areas of flow, material failure and energy dissipation. The MEDIGRA project proposes a thorough experimental, theoretical and numerical study of the Mechanics of Energy DIssipation in dense GRAnular materials. The fundamental challenge faced by the project is to quantify the various energy dissipation mechanisms in dense granular materials using innovative thermo-poromechanical experiments. The measured characteristics are expected to lead to the formulation of appropriate analytical and numerical tools aimed to describe the mechanical behaviour of granular materials from the rigorous angle of energetics. In particular, the project proposes to: 1) Design, develop, install and exploit a novel Thermographic High Speed Cylinder Shear Apparatus (THSCSA) to study the properties of the mechanical and thermal boundary layer that is forming at the inner rotating-drum material interface, as well as determining the required thermographic properties of granular materials. 2) Convincingly quantify the way the total energy dissipation is split into heat production, grain breakage and other mechanisms, using the project-developed THSCSA apparatus and other advanced experimental apparatuses. 3) Develop physical models and robust numerical tools capable of incorporating the experimentally obtained dissipation characteristics. 4) Test the knowledge acquired within the project in two applications (shear segregation and landslide modelling). The project aims to advance our knowledge on the basic physics behind long-standing open problems such as the “heat-flow paradox” in earthquake mechanics, the lifetime prediction of imminent catastrophic landslides and the applicability of continuum approximations to segregation phenomena.
Summary
Granular materials are of interest to different fields of the physical sciences and engineering. To model their behaviour, either a solid- or fluid mechanics approach is used. Rather than deforming uniformly, granular fluids develop thin shear-bands, which mark areas of flow, material failure and energy dissipation. The MEDIGRA project proposes a thorough experimental, theoretical and numerical study of the Mechanics of Energy DIssipation in dense GRAnular materials. The fundamental challenge faced by the project is to quantify the various energy dissipation mechanisms in dense granular materials using innovative thermo-poromechanical experiments. The measured characteristics are expected to lead to the formulation of appropriate analytical and numerical tools aimed to describe the mechanical behaviour of granular materials from the rigorous angle of energetics. In particular, the project proposes to: 1) Design, develop, install and exploit a novel Thermographic High Speed Cylinder Shear Apparatus (THSCSA) to study the properties of the mechanical and thermal boundary layer that is forming at the inner rotating-drum material interface, as well as determining the required thermographic properties of granular materials. 2) Convincingly quantify the way the total energy dissipation is split into heat production, grain breakage and other mechanisms, using the project-developed THSCSA apparatus and other advanced experimental apparatuses. 3) Develop physical models and robust numerical tools capable of incorporating the experimentally obtained dissipation characteristics. 4) Test the knowledge acquired within the project in two applications (shear segregation and landslide modelling). The project aims to advance our knowledge on the basic physics behind long-standing open problems such as the “heat-flow paradox” in earthquake mechanics, the lifetime prediction of imminent catastrophic landslides and the applicability of continuum approximations to segregation phenomena.
Max ERC Funding
981 600 €
Duration
Start date: 2008-11-01, End date: 2011-10-31
Project acronym NANOTHERAPY
Project A Novel Nano-container drug carrier for targeted treatment of prostate cancer
Researcher (PI) George Kordas
Host Institution (HI) "NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ""DEMOKRITOS"""
Country Greece
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS7, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary The essence of the proposal is the fabrication of multiple nano containers which exhibit double and triple stimuli response and site recognition. Specifically, the containers will be grafted by Leuprolide (LP) for prostate cancer recognition. Multiple containers will be filled by two drugs (e.g. LP and DOX) in different compartments not interacting with each other chemically (cocktail of drugs, e.g. Container1 Leuprolide (LP) and Container2 Doxorubicin (DOX)). The release can be excited by internal or external stimuli response. The internal stimuli response of our nanocontainers will require simultaneous recognition of pH, redox and/or T of the tumour. The external induction will be caused by RF excitation (hyperthermia). The nanocontainers will identify the tumour first by the agonist (LP). After trapping the container at the tumour, they will be activated by the double and triple internal excitation. This way, we achieve extremely local chemotherapy of the diseased site and the healthy organs will be untouched. Our smart nanocontainers will be tuned for prostate cancer, but our system will be evaluated for other cases such as breast cancer and thrombosis. The containers will be modified (phase transition, volume change, degradation, etc.) and deliver the drug only and if only the two sensors give positive response. The containers can be excited by external induction (Radio Frequency (hyperthermia) RF or laser light). This revolutionary strategy is necessary because the externally induced delivery methods have the disadvantage that the radiofrequency fields, the magnetic fields and the laser lights are not local but they extend over large space, larger than the size of the tumour. One cannot focus from outside the laser beam directly to the tumour only may be due to lack of imaging facilities. Our technology will prevent the release of drugs in sites where the local values correspond to the healthy tissue.
Summary
The essence of the proposal is the fabrication of multiple nano containers which exhibit double and triple stimuli response and site recognition. Specifically, the containers will be grafted by Leuprolide (LP) for prostate cancer recognition. Multiple containers will be filled by two drugs (e.g. LP and DOX) in different compartments not interacting with each other chemically (cocktail of drugs, e.g. Container1 Leuprolide (LP) and Container2 Doxorubicin (DOX)). The release can be excited by internal or external stimuli response. The internal stimuli response of our nanocontainers will require simultaneous recognition of pH, redox and/or T of the tumour. The external induction will be caused by RF excitation (hyperthermia). The nanocontainers will identify the tumour first by the agonist (LP). After trapping the container at the tumour, they will be activated by the double and triple internal excitation. This way, we achieve extremely local chemotherapy of the diseased site and the healthy organs will be untouched. Our smart nanocontainers will be tuned for prostate cancer, but our system will be evaluated for other cases such as breast cancer and thrombosis. The containers will be modified (phase transition, volume change, degradation, etc.) and deliver the drug only and if only the two sensors give positive response. The containers can be excited by external induction (Radio Frequency (hyperthermia) RF or laser light). This revolutionary strategy is necessary because the externally induced delivery methods have the disadvantage that the radiofrequency fields, the magnetic fields and the laser lights are not local but they extend over large space, larger than the size of the tumour. One cannot focus from outside the laser beam directly to the tumour only may be due to lack of imaging facilities. Our technology will prevent the release of drugs in sites where the local values correspond to the healthy tissue.
Max ERC Funding
2 000 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-02-01, End date: 2014-01-31
Project acronym NEURONAGE
Project Molecular Basis of Neuronal Ageing
Researcher (PI) Nektarios Tavernarakis
Host Institution (HI) IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS
Country Greece
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS4, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Ageing is associated with marked decrease of neuronal function and increased susceptibility to neurodegeneration, in organisms as diverse as the lowly worm Caenorhabditis elegans and humans. Although, age-related deterioration of the nervous system is a universal phenomenon, its cellular and molecular underpinnings remain obscure. What mechanisms are responsible for the detrimental effects of ageing on neuronal function? The aim of the proposed research programme is to address this fundamental problem. We will implement an interdisciplinary approach, combining the power of C. elegans, a highly malleable genetic model which offers a precisely defined nervous system, with state-of-the-art microfluidics and optical imaging technologies, to manipulate and monitor neuronal activity during ageing, in vivo. Our objectives are four-fold. First, develop a microfluidics platform for high-throughput manipulation and imaging of specific neurons in individual animals, in vivo. Second, use the platform to monitor neuronal function during ageing in isogenic populations of wild type animals, long-lived mutants and animals under caloric restriction, a condition known to extend lifespan from yeast to primates. Third, examine how ageing modulates susceptibility to neuronal damage in nematode models of human neurodegenerative disorders. Fourth, conduct both forward and reverse genetic screens for modifiers of resistance to ageing-inflicted neuronal function decline. We will seek to identify and thoroughly characterize genes and molecular pathways involved in neuron deterioration during ageing. Ultimately, we will investigate the functional conservation of key isolated factors in more complex ageing models such as Drosophila and the mouse. Together, these studies will lead to an unprecedented understanding of age-related breakdown of neuronal function and will provide critical insights with broad relevance to human health and quality of life.
Summary
Ageing is associated with marked decrease of neuronal function and increased susceptibility to neurodegeneration, in organisms as diverse as the lowly worm Caenorhabditis elegans and humans. Although, age-related deterioration of the nervous system is a universal phenomenon, its cellular and molecular underpinnings remain obscure. What mechanisms are responsible for the detrimental effects of ageing on neuronal function? The aim of the proposed research programme is to address this fundamental problem. We will implement an interdisciplinary approach, combining the power of C. elegans, a highly malleable genetic model which offers a precisely defined nervous system, with state-of-the-art microfluidics and optical imaging technologies, to manipulate and monitor neuronal activity during ageing, in vivo. Our objectives are four-fold. First, develop a microfluidics platform for high-throughput manipulation and imaging of specific neurons in individual animals, in vivo. Second, use the platform to monitor neuronal function during ageing in isogenic populations of wild type animals, long-lived mutants and animals under caloric restriction, a condition known to extend lifespan from yeast to primates. Third, examine how ageing modulates susceptibility to neuronal damage in nematode models of human neurodegenerative disorders. Fourth, conduct both forward and reverse genetic screens for modifiers of resistance to ageing-inflicted neuronal function decline. We will seek to identify and thoroughly characterize genes and molecular pathways involved in neuron deterioration during ageing. Ultimately, we will investigate the functional conservation of key isolated factors in more complex ageing models such as Drosophila and the mouse. Together, these studies will lead to an unprecedented understanding of age-related breakdown of neuronal function and will provide critical insights with broad relevance to human health and quality of life.
Max ERC Funding
2 376 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-05-01, End date: 2015-04-30
Project acronym PRIMEGAPS
Project Gaps between primes and almost primes. Patterns in primes and almost primes. Approximations to the twin prime and Goldbach conjectures
Researcher (PI) Janos Pintz
Host Institution (HI) RENYI ALFRED MATEMATIKAI KUTATOINTEZET
Country Hungary
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE1, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary The twin prime conjecture, that n and n+2 are infinitely often primes simultaneously, is probably the oldest unsolved problem in mathematics. De Polignac (1849) conjectured that for every even value of h, n and n+h are infinitely often primes simultaneously. These are the most basic problems on gaps and patterns in primes. Another one is the conjecture of Waring (1770), stating that there are arbitrarily long arithmetic progressions (AP) of primes. For the newest developments we cite Granville (Bull. AMS 43 (2006), p.93): ): Despite much research of excellent quality, there have been few breakthroughs on the most natural questions about the distribution of prime numbers in the last few decades. That situation has recently changed dramatically with two extraordinary breakthroughs, each on questions that the experts had held out little hope for in the foreseeable future. Green and Tao proved that there are infinitely many k-term arithmetic progressions of primes using methods that are mostly far removed from mainstream analytic number theory. Indeed, their work centers around a brilliant development of recent results in ergodic theory and harmonic analysis. Their proof is finished, in a natural way, by an adaptation of the proof of the other fantastic new result in this area, Goldston, Pintz and Yildirim s proof that there are small gaps between primes. The proposal's aim is to study these types of patterns in primes with possible combination of the two theories. We quote 3 of the main problems, the first one being the most important. 1) Bounded Gap Conjecture. Are there infinitely many bounded gaps between primes? 2) Suppose that primes have a level of distribution larger than 1/2. Does a fixed h exists such that for every k there is a k-term AP of generalised twin prime pairs (p, p+h)? 3) Erdôs' conjecture for k=3. Suppose A is a sequence of natural numbers, such that the sum of their reciprocals is unbounded. Does A contain infinitely many 3-term AP's?
Summary
The twin prime conjecture, that n and n+2 are infinitely often primes simultaneously, is probably the oldest unsolved problem in mathematics. De Polignac (1849) conjectured that for every even value of h, n and n+h are infinitely often primes simultaneously. These are the most basic problems on gaps and patterns in primes. Another one is the conjecture of Waring (1770), stating that there are arbitrarily long arithmetic progressions (AP) of primes. For the newest developments we cite Granville (Bull. AMS 43 (2006), p.93): ): Despite much research of excellent quality, there have been few breakthroughs on the most natural questions about the distribution of prime numbers in the last few decades. That situation has recently changed dramatically with two extraordinary breakthroughs, each on questions that the experts had held out little hope for in the foreseeable future. Green and Tao proved that there are infinitely many k-term arithmetic progressions of primes using methods that are mostly far removed from mainstream analytic number theory. Indeed, their work centers around a brilliant development of recent results in ergodic theory and harmonic analysis. Their proof is finished, in a natural way, by an adaptation of the proof of the other fantastic new result in this area, Goldston, Pintz and Yildirim s proof that there are small gaps between primes. The proposal's aim is to study these types of patterns in primes with possible combination of the two theories. We quote 3 of the main problems, the first one being the most important. 1) Bounded Gap Conjecture. Are there infinitely many bounded gaps between primes? 2) Suppose that primes have a level of distribution larger than 1/2. Does a fixed h exists such that for every k there is a k-term AP of generalised twin prime pairs (p, p+h)? 3) Erdôs' conjecture for k=3. Suppose A is a sequence of natural numbers, such that the sum of their reciprocals is unbounded. Does A contain infinitely many 3-term AP's?
Max ERC Funding
1 376 400 €
Duration
Start date: 2008-11-01, End date: 2013-10-31
