ERC FUNDED PROJECTS

Darwin’s theory of natural selection rests on the principle that fitness variation in natural populations has a heritable component, on which selection acts, thereby leading to evolutionary change. A fundamental and so far unresolved question for the field of evolutionary biology is to identify the genetic loci responsible for this fitness variation, thereby coming closer to an understanding of how variation is maintained in the face of continual selection. One important complicating factor in the search for fitness related genes however is the existence of separate sexes – theoretical expectations and empirical data both suggest that sexually antagonistic genes are common. The phrase “two sexes, one genome” nicely sums up the problem; selection may favour alleles in one sex, even if they have detrimental effects on the fitness of the opposite sex, since it is their net effect across both sexes that determine the likelihood that alleles persist in a population. This theoretical framework raises an interesting, and so far entirely unexplored issue: that in one sex the functional performance of some alleles is predicted to be compromised and this effect may account for some common human diseases and conditions which show genotype-sex interactions. I propose to explore the genetic basis of sex-specific fitness in a model organism in both laboratory and natural conditions and to test whether those genes identified as having sexually antagonistic effects can help explain the incidence of human diseases that display sexual dimorphism in prevalence, age of onset or severity. This multidisciplinary project directly addresses some fundamental unresolved questions in evolutionary biology: the genetic basis and maintenance of fitness variation; the evolution of sexual dimorphism; and aims to provide novel insights into the genetic basis of some common human diseases.

1 500 000 €

Start date: 2012-01-01, End date: 2016-12-31

The Tera-Hertz portion of the spectrum presents unique potentials for advanced applications. Currently the THz spectrum is revealing the mechanisms at the origin of our universe and provides the means to monitor the health of our planet via satellite based sensing of critical gases. Potentially time domain sensing of the THz spectrum will be the ideal tool for a vast variety of medical and security applications. Presently, systems in the THz regime are extremely expensive and consequently the THz spectrum is still the domain of only niche (expensive) scientific applications. The main problems are the lack of power and sensitivity. The wide unused THz spectral bandwidth is, herself, the only widely available resource that in the future can compensate for these problems. But, so far, when scientists try to really use the bandwidth, they run into an insurmountable physical limit: antenna dispersion. Antenna dispersion modifies the signal’s spectrum in a wavelength dependent manner in all types of radiation, but is particularly deleterious to THz signals because the spectrum is too wide and with foreseeable technology it cannot be digitized. The goal of this proposal is to introduce break-through antenna technology that will eliminate the dispersion bottle neck and revolutionize Time Domain sensing and Spectroscopic Space Science. Achieving these goals the project will pole vault THz imaging technology into the 21-th century and develop critically important enabling technologies which will satisfy the electrical engineering needs of the next 30 years and in the long run will enable multi Tera-bit wireless communications. In order to achieve these goals, I will first build upon two major breakthrough radiation mechanisms that I pioneered: Leaky Lenses and Connected Arrays. Eventually, ultra wide band imaging arrays constituted by thousands of components will be designed on the bases of the new theoretical findings and demonstrated.

1 499 487 €

Start date: 2011-11-01, End date: 2017-10-31

A persistent challenge in unravelling mechanisms that regulate memory function is how to bridge the gap between inter-molecular dynamics of single proteins, activity of individual synapses and emerging properties of neuronal circuits. The prototype condition of disintegrating neuronal circuits is Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Since the early time of Alois Alzheimer at the turn of the 20th century, scientists have been searching for a molecular entity that is in the roots of the cognitive deficits. Although diverse lines of evidence suggest that the amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) plays a central role in synaptic dysfunctions of AD, several key questions remain unresolved. First, endogenous Abeta peptides are secreted by neurons throughout life, but their physiological functions are largely unknown. Second, experience-dependent physiological mechanisms that initiate the changes in Abeta composition in sporadic, the most frequent form of AD, are unidentified. And finally, molecular mechanisms that trigger Abeta-induced synaptic failure and memory decline remain elusive. To target these questions, I propose to develop an integrative approach to correlate structure and function at the level of single synapses in hippocampal circuits. State-of-the-art techniques will enable the simultaneous real-time visualization of inter-molecular dynamics within signalling complexes and functional synaptic modifications. Utilizing FRET spectroscopy, high-resolution optical imaging, electrophysiology, molecular biology and biochemistry we will determine the casual relationship between ongoing neuronal activity, temporo-spatial dynamics and molecular composition of Abeta, structural rearrangements within the Abeta signalling complexes and plasticity of single synapses and whole networks. The proposed research will elucidate fundamental principles of neuronal circuits function and identify critical steps that initiate primary synaptic dysfunctions at the very early stages of sporadic AD.

2 000 000 €

Start date: 2011-12-01, End date: 2017-09-30

Clouds play a key role in the climate system. Small anthropogenic perturbations of the cloud system potentially have large radiative effects. Aerosols perturb the global radiation budget directly, by scattering and absorption, as well as indirectly, by the modification of cloud properties and occurrence. The applicability of traditional conceptual models of indirect aerosol effects to convective clouds is disputed as cloud dynamics complicates the picture. Strong evidence for numerous aerosol effects on convection has been established in individual disciplines: through remote sensing and in-situ observations as well as by cloud resolving and global modelling. However, a coherent scientific view of the effects of aerosols on convection has yet to be established. The primary objective of ACCLAIM is to recast the effects of aerosols on convective clouds as basis for improved global estimates of anthropogenic climate effects. Specific objectives include: i) to unravel the governing principles of aerosol effects on convective clouds; ii) provide quantitative constraints on satellite-retrieved relationships between convective clouds and aerosols; and ultimately iii) to enable global climate models to represent the full range of anthropogenic climate perturbations and quantify the climate response to aerosol effects on convective clouds. I have developed the research strategy of ACCLAIM to overcome disciplinary barriers in this frontier research area and seek five years of funding to establish an interdisciplinary, physics focused, research group consisting of two PostDocs, two PhD students and myself. ACCLAIM will be centred around global aerosol-convection climate modelling studies, complemented by research constraining aerosol-convection interactions through remote sensing and a process focused research strand, advancing fundamental understanding and global model parameterisations through high resolution aerosol-cloud modelling in synergy with in-situ observations.

1 429 243 €

Start date: 2011-09-01, End date: 2017-02-28