Project acronym 2DTHERMS
Project Design of new thermoelectric devices based on layered and field modulated nanostructures of strongly correlated electron systems
Researcher (PI) Jose Francisco Rivadulla Fernandez
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Country Spain
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Design of new thermoelectric devices based on layered and field modulated nanostructures of strongly correlated electron systems
Summary
Design of new thermoelectric devices based on layered and field modulated nanostructures of strongly correlated electron systems
Max ERC Funding
1 427 190 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-11-01, End date: 2015-10-31
Project acronym COMPMUSIC
Project Computational models for the discovery of the world's music
Researcher (PI) Francesc Xavier Serra Casals
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSIDAD POMPEU FABRA
Country Spain
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE6, ERC-2010-AdG_20100224
Summary Current IT research does not respond to the world's multi-cultural reality. It could be argued that we are imposing the paradigms of our market-driven western culture also on IT and that current IT research results will only facilitate the access of a small part of the world’s information to a small part of the world's population. Most IT research is being carried out with a western centred approach and as a result, our data models, cognition models, user models, interaction models, ontologies, … are all culturally biased. This fact is quite evident in music information research, since, despite the world's richness in musical cultures, most of the research is centred on CDs and metadata of our western commercial music. CompMusic wants to break this huge research bias. By approaching musical information modelling from a multicultural perspective it aims at advancing our state of the art while facilitating the discovery and reuse of the music produced outside the western commercial context. But the development of computational models to address the world’s music information richness cannot be done from the West looking out; we have to involve researchers and musical experts immersed in the different cultures. Their contribution is fundamental to develop the appropriate multicultural musicological and cognitive frameworks from which we should then carry our research on finding appropriate musical features, ontologies, data representations, user interfaces and user centred approaches. CompMusic will investigate some of the most consolidated non-western classical music traditions, Indian (hindustani, carnatic), Turkish-Arab (ottoman, andalusian), and Chinese (han), developing the needed computational models to bring their music into the current globalized information framework. Using these music cultures as case studies, cultures that are alive and have a strong influence in current society, we can develop rich information models that can take advantage of the existing information coming from musicological and cultural studies, from mature performance practice traditions and from active social contexts. With this approach we aim at challenging the current western centred information paradigms, advance our IT research, and contribute to our rich multicultural society.
Summary
Current IT research does not respond to the world's multi-cultural reality. It could be argued that we are imposing the paradigms of our market-driven western culture also on IT and that current IT research results will only facilitate the access of a small part of the world’s information to a small part of the world's population. Most IT research is being carried out with a western centred approach and as a result, our data models, cognition models, user models, interaction models, ontologies, … are all culturally biased. This fact is quite evident in music information research, since, despite the world's richness in musical cultures, most of the research is centred on CDs and metadata of our western commercial music. CompMusic wants to break this huge research bias. By approaching musical information modelling from a multicultural perspective it aims at advancing our state of the art while facilitating the discovery and reuse of the music produced outside the western commercial context. But the development of computational models to address the world’s music information richness cannot be done from the West looking out; we have to involve researchers and musical experts immersed in the different cultures. Their contribution is fundamental to develop the appropriate multicultural musicological and cognitive frameworks from which we should then carry our research on finding appropriate musical features, ontologies, data representations, user interfaces and user centred approaches. CompMusic will investigate some of the most consolidated non-western classical music traditions, Indian (hindustani, carnatic), Turkish-Arab (ottoman, andalusian), and Chinese (han), developing the needed computational models to bring their music into the current globalized information framework. Using these music cultures as case studies, cultures that are alive and have a strong influence in current society, we can develop rich information models that can take advantage of the existing information coming from musicological and cultural studies, from mature performance practice traditions and from active social contexts. With this approach we aim at challenging the current western centred information paradigms, advance our IT research, and contribute to our rich multicultural society.
Max ERC Funding
2 443 200 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-07-01, End date: 2017-06-30
Project acronym EPINORC
Project Epigenetic Disruption of Non-Coding RNAs in Human Cancer
Researcher (PI) Manel Esteller Badosa
Host Institution (HI) FUNDACIO INSTITUT D'INVESTIGACIO BIOMEDICA DE BELLVITGE
Country Spain
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS4, ERC-2010-AdG_20100317
Summary In recent years, my laboratory, as well as others, have established the observation that epigenetic disruption, particularly in the DNA methylation and histone modification patterns, contributes to the initiation and progression of human tumors (Esteller, Nat Rev Genet 2007; Esteller, N Engl J Med 2008; Esteller, Nat Rev Biotech, In Press, 2010). Even more recently, it has been recognized that microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that are thought to regulate gene expression by sequence-specific base pairing in mRNA targets, also play a key role in the biology of the cell, and that they can also have an impact in the development of many diseases, including cancer (le Sage and Agami, 2006; Blenkiron and Miska, 2007). However, there is little understanding about epigenetic modifications that might regulate the activity of microRNAs and other non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs), transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), long interspersed ncRNAs (lincRNAs), promoter-associated RNAs (PASRs and PALRs) and terminator-associated sRNAs (TASRs) (Calin et al., 2007; Mercer, et al., 2009; Ghildiyal & Zamore, 2009; Jacquier, 2009). Our ignorance in this respect is even more significant if we consider these questions in the domain of cancer. Making best use of our expertise in several of these fields, my group will tackle the study of the epigenetic modifications that regulate ncRNA expression and how the DNA methylation and histone modifications profiles of these loci might become distorted in human cancer. These findings could have profound consequences not only in the understading of tumor biology, but in the design of better molecular staging, diagnosis and treatments of human malignancies.
Summary
In recent years, my laboratory, as well as others, have established the observation that epigenetic disruption, particularly in the DNA methylation and histone modification patterns, contributes to the initiation and progression of human tumors (Esteller, Nat Rev Genet 2007; Esteller, N Engl J Med 2008; Esteller, Nat Rev Biotech, In Press, 2010). Even more recently, it has been recognized that microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that are thought to regulate gene expression by sequence-specific base pairing in mRNA targets, also play a key role in the biology of the cell, and that they can also have an impact in the development of many diseases, including cancer (le Sage and Agami, 2006; Blenkiron and Miska, 2007). However, there is little understanding about epigenetic modifications that might regulate the activity of microRNAs and other non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs), transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), long interspersed ncRNAs (lincRNAs), promoter-associated RNAs (PASRs and PALRs) and terminator-associated sRNAs (TASRs) (Calin et al., 2007; Mercer, et al., 2009; Ghildiyal & Zamore, 2009; Jacquier, 2009). Our ignorance in this respect is even more significant if we consider these questions in the domain of cancer. Making best use of our expertise in several of these fields, my group will tackle the study of the epigenetic modifications that regulate ncRNA expression and how the DNA methylation and histone modifications profiles of these loci might become distorted in human cancer. These findings could have profound consequences not only in the understading of tumor biology, but in the design of better molecular staging, diagnosis and treatments of human malignancies.
Max ERC Funding
2 497 240 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-04-01, End date: 2016-03-31
Project acronym FAMILIY POLARIZATION
Project STRATIFIED FAMILY DYNAMICS:
POLARIZING TRENDS IN COUPLE BEHAVIOUR AND PARENTING
Researcher (PI) Gosta Knud Jorgen Esping-Andersen
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSIDAD POMPEU FABRA
Country Spain
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), SH2, ERC-2010-AdG_20100407
Summary The project applies a multiple equilibrium framework to understand ongoing transformations in family demography and their consequences for social inequalities. Associated with the changing economic role of women emerge novel family forms that replace the conventional male breadwinner model. The transition is very much in flux, producing multiple equilibria some of which are unstable and associated with inefficient and inequitable couple specialization. Based on long micro panel data for four countries at different stages of the transition, the study will address three parallel issues. One, identifying equilibrium shifts from the traditional towards more gender symmetric family forms, with particular focus on the endogenously driven dynamics that drive populations towards a gender egalitarian equilibrium. Two, analyzing the potentially polarizing demographic correlates of changing family behaviour in particular in terms of marital choice and couple stability. Three, testing hypotheses regarding family polarization with respect to parental investments in children and how these, in turn, influence children’s life chances.
Summary
The project applies a multiple equilibrium framework to understand ongoing transformations in family demography and their consequences for social inequalities. Associated with the changing economic role of women emerge novel family forms that replace the conventional male breadwinner model. The transition is very much in flux, producing multiple equilibria some of which are unstable and associated with inefficient and inequitable couple specialization. Based on long micro panel data for four countries at different stages of the transition, the study will address three parallel issues. One, identifying equilibrium shifts from the traditional towards more gender symmetric family forms, with particular focus on the endogenously driven dynamics that drive populations towards a gender egalitarian equilibrium. Two, analyzing the potentially polarizing demographic correlates of changing family behaviour in particular in terms of marital choice and couple stability. Three, testing hypotheses regarding family polarization with respect to parental investments in children and how these, in turn, influence children’s life chances.
Max ERC Funding
2 098 860 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-06-01, End date: 2016-05-31
Project acronym FLINT
Project Finite-Length Information Theory
Researcher (PI) Albert Guillen I Fabregas
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSIDAD POMPEU FABRA
Country Spain
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Shannon's Information Theory establishes the fundamental limits of information processing systems. A concept that is hidden in the mathematical proofs most of the Information Theory literature, is that in order to achieve the fundamental limits we need sequences of infinite duration. Practical information processing systems have strict limitations in terms of length, induced by system constraints on delay and complexity. The vast majority of the Information Theory literature ignores these constraints and theoretical studies that provide a finite-length treatment of information processing are hence urgently needed. When finite-lengths are employed, asymptotic techniques (laws of large numbers, large deviations) cannot be invoked and new techniques must be sought. A fundamental understanding of the impact of finite-lengths is crucial to harvesting the potential gains in practice. This project is aimed at contributing towards the ambitious goal of providing a unified framework for the study of finite-length Information Theory. The approach in this project will be based on information-spectrum combined with tight bounding techniques. A comprehensive study of finite-length information theory will represent a major step forward in Information Theory, with the potential to provide new tools and techniques to solve open problems in multiple disciplines. This unconventional and challenging treatment of Information Theory will advance the area and will contribute to disciplines where Information Theory is relevant. Therefore, the results of this project will be of benefit to areas such as communication theory, probability theory, statistics, physics, computer science, mathematics, economics, bioinformatics and computational neuroscience.
Summary
Shannon's Information Theory establishes the fundamental limits of information processing systems. A concept that is hidden in the mathematical proofs most of the Information Theory literature, is that in order to achieve the fundamental limits we need sequences of infinite duration. Practical information processing systems have strict limitations in terms of length, induced by system constraints on delay and complexity. The vast majority of the Information Theory literature ignores these constraints and theoretical studies that provide a finite-length treatment of information processing are hence urgently needed. When finite-lengths are employed, asymptotic techniques (laws of large numbers, large deviations) cannot be invoked and new techniques must be sought. A fundamental understanding of the impact of finite-lengths is crucial to harvesting the potential gains in practice. This project is aimed at contributing towards the ambitious goal of providing a unified framework for the study of finite-length Information Theory. The approach in this project will be based on information-spectrum combined with tight bounding techniques. A comprehensive study of finite-length information theory will represent a major step forward in Information Theory, with the potential to provide new tools and techniques to solve open problems in multiple disciplines. This unconventional and challenging treatment of Information Theory will advance the area and will contribute to disciplines where Information Theory is relevant. Therefore, the results of this project will be of benefit to areas such as communication theory, probability theory, statistics, physics, computer science, mathematics, economics, bioinformatics and computational neuroscience.
Max ERC Funding
1 303 606 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-08-01, End date: 2017-07-31
Project acronym OBECAN
Project Role of obesity in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma
Researcher (PI) Guadalupe Sabio Buzo
Host Institution (HI) CENTRO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIONES CARDIOVASCULARES CARLOS III (F.S.P.)
Country Spain
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS4, ERC-2010-StG_20091118
Summary Obesity is associated with increased risk for epithelial tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is not known, however, whether obesity increases the risk for HCC simply because it promotes cirrhosis, a general risk factor for HCC, or through other mechanisms that operate independently of cirrhosis. Among these, obesity is associated with a chronic inflammatory state, with the release of cytokines such as IL-6 and TNFalpha, well-known HCC mediators. Obesity is normally linked to diabetes and in consequence, to hyperinsulinemia. This increase in circulating insulin levels is suggested to be a factor that contributes to cancer. Moreover, the increase in free fatty acids (FFA) in blood among obese patients promotes a compensatory response from liver that activates the transcription of genes required for beta-oxidation, leading to a reduction in non-physiological stores of lipids in the liver. This increase in beta-oxidation could result in oxidative stress, inflammation and the production of lipid peroxidation bioproducts, which are known mutagens. The precise mechanisms whereby FFA and cytosolic triglycerides exert their effects, resulting in the diabetic phenotype, remain poorly understood. Emerging evidence nonetheless links microRNA (miRNA) with lipid metabolism, suggesting that these small RNAs mediate this increase in beta-oxidation.
Our goal is to study how the components of the obesity state (inflammation, steatosis hyperinsulinemia and microRNA control of gene regulation) affect HCC development. We will use several mouse models in which one or more of these factors are reduced following induction of metabolic disease. We will also determine whether specific miRNAs that are down- or upregulated in the liver of mice on a high fat diet are implicated in HCC development.
Summary
Obesity is associated with increased risk for epithelial tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is not known, however, whether obesity increases the risk for HCC simply because it promotes cirrhosis, a general risk factor for HCC, or through other mechanisms that operate independently of cirrhosis. Among these, obesity is associated with a chronic inflammatory state, with the release of cytokines such as IL-6 and TNFalpha, well-known HCC mediators. Obesity is normally linked to diabetes and in consequence, to hyperinsulinemia. This increase in circulating insulin levels is suggested to be a factor that contributes to cancer. Moreover, the increase in free fatty acids (FFA) in blood among obese patients promotes a compensatory response from liver that activates the transcription of genes required for beta-oxidation, leading to a reduction in non-physiological stores of lipids in the liver. This increase in beta-oxidation could result in oxidative stress, inflammation and the production of lipid peroxidation bioproducts, which are known mutagens. The precise mechanisms whereby FFA and cytosolic triglycerides exert their effects, resulting in the diabetic phenotype, remain poorly understood. Emerging evidence nonetheless links microRNA (miRNA) with lipid metabolism, suggesting that these small RNAs mediate this increase in beta-oxidation.
Our goal is to study how the components of the obesity state (inflammation, steatosis hyperinsulinemia and microRNA control of gene regulation) affect HCC development. We will use several mouse models in which one or more of these factors are reduced following induction of metabolic disease. We will also determine whether specific miRNAs that are down- or upregulated in the liver of mice on a high fat diet are implicated in HCC development.
Max ERC Funding
1 498 043 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2016-11-30
Project acronym PLANT CIRES BIOTECH
Project Functional characterization of plant cellular IRES in response to abiotic stress and their use as biotechnological tools
Researcher (PI) MarIa Del Mar Castellano
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACION Y TECNOLOGIA AGRARIA Y ALIMENTARIA OA MP
Country Spain
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS9, ERC-2010-StG_20091118
Summary To cope with abiotic stresses plants require an extensive molecular regulation of gene expression. In plants, translation is a key step in the control of gene expression under abiotic stress conditions. This translational regulation involves (1) a global inhibition of protein synthesis and (2) an efficient and selective translation of certain mRNAs, generally codifying proteins involved in the abiotic stress response. Although in plants the mechanisms involved in the onset of this dual regulation are currently unknown, some evidences point out that cap independent translation, via recognition of internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) within the mRNAs efficiently translated, could be the clue for the selective protein synthesis observed under such conditions.
In this proposal we aim to further characterize the cellular IRESs operating under abiotic stress conditions in plants and to exploit the identified cellular IRESs as biotechnological tools to allow the efficient and selective translation of mRNAs of interest under abiotic stress conditions. In plants, no IRES trans-acting factors (ITAFs) and only two cellular IRESs have been identified so far. Therefore, the systematic identification of new cellular IRESs, the identification for the first time of ITAFs and the study of how they can control IRES activity-specificity under abiotic stress conditions are important steps forward in the knowledge of how plants adapt to environmental stresses. In addition, the pioneering use of the identified cellular IRESs as a tool to tightly and specifically control the expression of proteins of interest under abiotic stress conditions will open up a new perspective for the study of abiotic stress in plants and for the generation of plants with increased tolerance to such conditions.
Summary
To cope with abiotic stresses plants require an extensive molecular regulation of gene expression. In plants, translation is a key step in the control of gene expression under abiotic stress conditions. This translational regulation involves (1) a global inhibition of protein synthesis and (2) an efficient and selective translation of certain mRNAs, generally codifying proteins involved in the abiotic stress response. Although in plants the mechanisms involved in the onset of this dual regulation are currently unknown, some evidences point out that cap independent translation, via recognition of internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) within the mRNAs efficiently translated, could be the clue for the selective protein synthesis observed under such conditions.
In this proposal we aim to further characterize the cellular IRESs operating under abiotic stress conditions in plants and to exploit the identified cellular IRESs as biotechnological tools to allow the efficient and selective translation of mRNAs of interest under abiotic stress conditions. In plants, no IRES trans-acting factors (ITAFs) and only two cellular IRESs have been identified so far. Therefore, the systematic identification of new cellular IRESs, the identification for the first time of ITAFs and the study of how they can control IRES activity-specificity under abiotic stress conditions are important steps forward in the knowledge of how plants adapt to environmental stresses. In addition, the pioneering use of the identified cellular IRESs as a tool to tightly and specifically control the expression of proteins of interest under abiotic stress conditions will open up a new perspective for the study of abiotic stress in plants and for the generation of plants with increased tolerance to such conditions.
Max ERC Funding
1 237 500 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2017-05-31
Project acronym TERATOMO
Project Near-field Spectroscopic Nanotomography at Infrared and Terahertz Frequencies
Researcher (PI) Rainer Hillenbrand
Host Institution (HI) ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONCOOPERATIVA EN NANOCIENCIAS CIC NANOGUNE
Country Spain
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Fundamental understanding and engineering of composite materials, biological structures and building
blocks for electrical and optical devices of nanoscale dimensions necessitate the availability of advanced
microscopy tools for mapping their local chemical, structural and free-carrier properties. But while optical
spectroscopy, particularly in the infrared (IR) and terahertz (THz) frequency range, has tremendous merit in
measuring such properties optically, the diffraction-limited spatial resolution has been preventing IR and
THz microscopy applications for the longest time to be used in nanoscale materials and device analysis, bioimaging,
industrial failure analysis and quality control.
During the last years we pioneered the field of IR and THz near-field microscopy, which allows twodimensional
(2D) spectroscopic IR and THz imaging of a sample surface with nanoscale spatial resolution,
independent of the wavelength. Key achievements of our work are the nanoscale resolved near-field mapping
of chemical compositions of polymer blends, mechanical strain fields in ceramics and free-carrier
concentrations in doped semiconductor transistors.
The core objective of this proposal is to develop a three-dimensional (3D) spectroscopic imaging method in
a wide spectral range between infrared (IR) and terahertz (THz) frequencies with nanoscale spatial
resolution, a method that does not and not even nearly exist today. Our approach will be based on scatteringtype
scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM), even though s-SNOM is generally considered to be a
surface mapping technique. Instead of scanning the surface, it is proposed to scan a volume above the sample
surface. By using appropriate reconstruction methods, the three-dimensional structure of the sample volume
below the sample surface could be obtained in principle. We recently conducted a theoretical study, which
confirmed the fundamental feasibility of this novel approach that shall be experimentally realized within this
proposal.
The proposed method of IR and THz nanotomography could become a new paradigm in nanoscale optical
imaging. Near-field nanotomography will have the potential to open new and even unexpected avenues for
optical characterization throughout all nanosciences, such as non-invasive, chemical identification of single
(biological) nanoparticles in complex 3D-nanostructures or the measurement of the local free-carrier
concentration and mobility in semiconductor nanowires or devices with 3D-architecture.
Summary
Fundamental understanding and engineering of composite materials, biological structures and building
blocks for electrical and optical devices of nanoscale dimensions necessitate the availability of advanced
microscopy tools for mapping their local chemical, structural and free-carrier properties. But while optical
spectroscopy, particularly in the infrared (IR) and terahertz (THz) frequency range, has tremendous merit in
measuring such properties optically, the diffraction-limited spatial resolution has been preventing IR and
THz microscopy applications for the longest time to be used in nanoscale materials and device analysis, bioimaging,
industrial failure analysis and quality control.
During the last years we pioneered the field of IR and THz near-field microscopy, which allows twodimensional
(2D) spectroscopic IR and THz imaging of a sample surface with nanoscale spatial resolution,
independent of the wavelength. Key achievements of our work are the nanoscale resolved near-field mapping
of chemical compositions of polymer blends, mechanical strain fields in ceramics and free-carrier
concentrations in doped semiconductor transistors.
The core objective of this proposal is to develop a three-dimensional (3D) spectroscopic imaging method in
a wide spectral range between infrared (IR) and terahertz (THz) frequencies with nanoscale spatial
resolution, a method that does not and not even nearly exist today. Our approach will be based on scatteringtype
scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM), even though s-SNOM is generally considered to be a
surface mapping technique. Instead of scanning the surface, it is proposed to scan a volume above the sample
surface. By using appropriate reconstruction methods, the three-dimensional structure of the sample volume
below the sample surface could be obtained in principle. We recently conducted a theoretical study, which
confirmed the fundamental feasibility of this novel approach that shall be experimentally realized within this
proposal.
The proposed method of IR and THz nanotomography could become a new paradigm in nanoscale optical
imaging. Near-field nanotomography will have the potential to open new and even unexpected avenues for
optical characterization throughout all nanosciences, such as non-invasive, chemical identification of single
(biological) nanoparticles in complex 3D-nanostructures or the measurement of the local free-carrier
concentration and mobility in semiconductor nanowires or devices with 3D-architecture.
Max ERC Funding
1 455 600 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-11-01, End date: 2015-10-31
