Project acronym ALICE
Project Strange Mirrors, Unsuspected Lessons: Leading Europe to a new way of sharing the world experiences
Researcher (PI) Boaventura De Sousa Santos
Host Institution (HI) CENTRO DE ESTUDOS SOCIAIS
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), SH2, ERC-2010-AdG_20100407
Summary Europe sits uncomfortably on the idea that there are no political and cultural alternatives credible enough to respond to the current uneasiness or malaise caused by both a world that is more and more non-European and a Europe that increasingly questions what is European about itself. This project will develop a new grounded theoretical paradigm for contemporary Europe based on two key ideas: the understanding of the world by far exceeds the European understanding of the world; social, political and institutional transformation in Europe may benefit from innovations taking place in regions and countries with which Europe is increasingly interdependent. I will pursue this objective focusing on four main interconnected topics: democratizing democracy, intercultural constitutionalism, the other economy, human rights (right to health in particular).
In a sense that the European challenges are unique but, in one way or another, are being experienced in different corners of the world. The novelty resides in bringing new ideas and experiences into the European conversation, show their relevance to our current uncertainties and aspirations and thereby contribute to face them with new intellectual and political resources. The usefulness and relevance of non-European conceptions and experiences un-thinking the conventional knowledge through two epistemological devices I have developed: the ecology of knowledges and intercultural translation. By resorting to them I will show that there are alternatives but they cannot be made credible and powerful if we go on relying on the modes of theoretical and political thinking that have dominated so far. In other words, the claim put forward by and worked through this project is that in Europe we don’t need alternatives but rather an alternative thinking of alternatives.
Summary
Europe sits uncomfortably on the idea that there are no political and cultural alternatives credible enough to respond to the current uneasiness or malaise caused by both a world that is more and more non-European and a Europe that increasingly questions what is European about itself. This project will develop a new grounded theoretical paradigm for contemporary Europe based on two key ideas: the understanding of the world by far exceeds the European understanding of the world; social, political and institutional transformation in Europe may benefit from innovations taking place in regions and countries with which Europe is increasingly interdependent. I will pursue this objective focusing on four main interconnected topics: democratizing democracy, intercultural constitutionalism, the other economy, human rights (right to health in particular).
In a sense that the European challenges are unique but, in one way or another, are being experienced in different corners of the world. The novelty resides in bringing new ideas and experiences into the European conversation, show their relevance to our current uncertainties and aspirations and thereby contribute to face them with new intellectual and political resources. The usefulness and relevance of non-European conceptions and experiences un-thinking the conventional knowledge through two epistemological devices I have developed: the ecology of knowledges and intercultural translation. By resorting to them I will show that there are alternatives but they cannot be made credible and powerful if we go on relying on the modes of theoretical and political thinking that have dominated so far. In other words, the claim put forward by and worked through this project is that in Europe we don’t need alternatives but rather an alternative thinking of alternatives.
Max ERC Funding
2 423 140 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-07-01, End date: 2016-12-31
Project acronym LUPUSCARE
Project PRECISION CARE IN SYSTEMIC AUTOIMMUNITY: AN INTEGRATED MULTI-TISSUE/LEVEL APPROACH FOR SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)
Researcher (PI) DIMITRIOS BOUMPAS
Host Institution (HI) IDRYMA IATROVIOLOGIKON EREUNON AKADEMIAS ATHINON
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS7, ERC-2016-ADG
Summary Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease whereby an interplay of environmental, genetic and epigenetic factors lead to perturbation of complex biological networks culminating into diverse clinical phenotypes of varying severity. High throughput methods have allowed an “initial glimpse” into pathogenesis and have laid the foundations for a molecular-based taxonomy for personalized therapy. Based on our experience with the molecular characterization of SLE, a recently completed RNA sequencing analysis of 150 patients, and our track- record of “paradigm shift” trials in SLE, we will integrate data from multi-tissue analyses with novel technologies to improve its diagnosis, monitoring and therapy, and ask fundamental pathogenetic questions in systemic autoimmunity. More specifically, we will design gene expression panels and “expression profile”/”clinical trait” correlation matrices for diagnostics, personalized immunotherapy and improved clinical trial design. In a systematic multi-tissue approach, we will examine the role of somatic mutations in enhancing immune hyperactivity and the risk for lymphoma. The staggering (7-9:1) female predominance will be elucidated through elaborate genomic, epigenomic and microbiota analyses of family trios. Finally, we will be pursuing the innovative hypothesis that the fundamental abnormalities of SLE lie within the bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) - from which all cells that participate in the pathogenesis of SLE originate - and establish it as a unifying pathogenetic mechanism. By a combination of novel experimental analyses with single cell genomics, multi–omics, humanized animal models, genome editing and an “organ on-a-chip” device, we will validate HSCs as a therapeutic target. The utility of SLE research extends beyond its boundaries, by providing unique insights as to how the immune system recognizes self-constituents and maintains its homeostasis, and how gender impacts on disease biology.
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease whereby an interplay of environmental, genetic and epigenetic factors lead to perturbation of complex biological networks culminating into diverse clinical phenotypes of varying severity. High throughput methods have allowed an “initial glimpse” into pathogenesis and have laid the foundations for a molecular-based taxonomy for personalized therapy. Based on our experience with the molecular characterization of SLE, a recently completed RNA sequencing analysis of 150 patients, and our track- record of “paradigm shift” trials in SLE, we will integrate data from multi-tissue analyses with novel technologies to improve its diagnosis, monitoring and therapy, and ask fundamental pathogenetic questions in systemic autoimmunity. More specifically, we will design gene expression panels and “expression profile”/”clinical trait” correlation matrices for diagnostics, personalized immunotherapy and improved clinical trial design. In a systematic multi-tissue approach, we will examine the role of somatic mutations in enhancing immune hyperactivity and the risk for lymphoma. The staggering (7-9:1) female predominance will be elucidated through elaborate genomic, epigenomic and microbiota analyses of family trios. Finally, we will be pursuing the innovative hypothesis that the fundamental abnormalities of SLE lie within the bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) - from which all cells that participate in the pathogenesis of SLE originate - and establish it as a unifying pathogenetic mechanism. By a combination of novel experimental analyses with single cell genomics, multi–omics, humanized animal models, genome editing and an “organ on-a-chip” device, we will validate HSCs as a therapeutic target. The utility of SLE research extends beyond its boundaries, by providing unique insights as to how the immune system recognizes self-constituents and maintains its homeostasis, and how gender impacts on disease biology.
Max ERC Funding
2 355 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-09-01, End date: 2022-08-31
