Project acronym 3D-nanoMorph
Project Label-free 3D morphological nanoscopy for studying sub-cellular dynamics in live cancer cells with high spatio-temporal resolution
Researcher (PI) Krishna AGARWAL
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITETET I TROMSOE - NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2018-STG
Summary Label-free optical nanoscopy, free from photobleaching and photochemical toxicity of fluorescence labels and yielding 3D morphological resolution of <50 nm, is the future of live cell imaging. 3D-nanoMorph breaks the diffraction barrier and shifts the paradigm in label-free nanoscopy, providing isotropic 3D resolution of <50 nm. To achieve this, 3D-nanoMorph performs non-linear inverse scattering for the first time in nanoscopy and decodes scattering between sub-cellular structures (organelles).
3D-nanoMorph innovatively devises complementary roles of light measurement system and computational nanoscopy algorithm. A novel illumination system and a novel light collection system together enable measurement of only the most relevant intensity component and create a fresh perspective about label-free measurements. A new computational nanoscopy approach employs non-linear inverse scattering. Harnessing non-linear inverse scattering for resolution enhancement in nanoscopy opens new possibilities in label-free 3D nanoscopy.
I will apply 3D-nanoMorph to study organelle degradation (autophagy) in live cancer cells over extended duration with high spatial and temporal resolution, presently limited by the lack of high-resolution label-free 3D morphological nanoscopy. Successful 3D mapping of nanoscale biological process of autophagy will open new avenues for cancer treatment and showcase 3D-nanoMorph for wider applications.
My cross-disciplinary expertise of 14 years spanning inverse problems, electromagnetism, optical microscopy, integrated optics and live cell nanoscopy paves path for successful implementation of 3D-nanoMorph.
Summary
Label-free optical nanoscopy, free from photobleaching and photochemical toxicity of fluorescence labels and yielding 3D morphological resolution of <50 nm, is the future of live cell imaging. 3D-nanoMorph breaks the diffraction barrier and shifts the paradigm in label-free nanoscopy, providing isotropic 3D resolution of <50 nm. To achieve this, 3D-nanoMorph performs non-linear inverse scattering for the first time in nanoscopy and decodes scattering between sub-cellular structures (organelles).
3D-nanoMorph innovatively devises complementary roles of light measurement system and computational nanoscopy algorithm. A novel illumination system and a novel light collection system together enable measurement of only the most relevant intensity component and create a fresh perspective about label-free measurements. A new computational nanoscopy approach employs non-linear inverse scattering. Harnessing non-linear inverse scattering for resolution enhancement in nanoscopy opens new possibilities in label-free 3D nanoscopy.
I will apply 3D-nanoMorph to study organelle degradation (autophagy) in live cancer cells over extended duration with high spatial and temporal resolution, presently limited by the lack of high-resolution label-free 3D morphological nanoscopy. Successful 3D mapping of nanoscale biological process of autophagy will open new avenues for cancer treatment and showcase 3D-nanoMorph for wider applications.
My cross-disciplinary expertise of 14 years spanning inverse problems, electromagnetism, optical microscopy, integrated optics and live cell nanoscopy paves path for successful implementation of 3D-nanoMorph.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 999 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-07-01, End date: 2024-06-30
Project acronym AAATSI
Project Advanced Antenna Architecture for THZ Sensing Instruments
Researcher (PI) Andrea Neto
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2011-StG_20101014
Summary 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.
Summary
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.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 487 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-11-01, End date: 2017-10-31
Project acronym APROCS
Project Automated Linear Parameter-Varying Modeling and Control Synthesis for Nonlinear Complex Systems
Researcher (PI) Roland TOTH
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2016-STG
Summary Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) systems are flexible mathematical models capable of representing Nonlinear (NL)/Time-Varying (TV) dynamical behaviors of complex physical systems (e.g., wafer scanners, car engines, chemical reactors), often encountered in engineering, via a linear structure. The LPV framework provides computationally efficient and robust approaches to synthesize digital controllers that can ensure desired operation of such systems - making it attractive to (i) high-tech mechatronic, (ii) automotive and (iii) chemical-process applications. Such a framework is important to meet with the increasing operational demands of systems in these industrial sectors and to realize future technological targets. However, recent studies have shown that, to fully exploit the potential of the LPV framework, a number of limiting factors of the underlying theory ask a for serious innovation, as currently it is not understood how to (1) automate exact and low-complexity LPV modeling of real-world applications and how to refine uncertain aspects of these models efficiently by the help of measured data, (2) incorporate control objectives directly into modeling and to develop model reduction approaches for control, and (3) how to see modeling & control synthesis as a unified, closed-loop system synthesis approach directly oriented for the underlying NL/TV system. Furthermore, due to the increasingly cyber-physical nature of applications, (4) control synthesis is needed in a plug & play fashion, where if sub-systems are modified or exchanged, then the control design and the model of the whole system are only incrementally updated. This project aims to surmount Challenges (1)-(4) by establishing an innovative revolution of the LPV framework supported by a software suite and extensive empirical studies on real-world industrial applications; with a potential to ensure a leading role of technological innovation of the EU in the high-impact industrial sectors (i)-(iii).
Summary
Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) systems are flexible mathematical models capable of representing Nonlinear (NL)/Time-Varying (TV) dynamical behaviors of complex physical systems (e.g., wafer scanners, car engines, chemical reactors), often encountered in engineering, via a linear structure. The LPV framework provides computationally efficient and robust approaches to synthesize digital controllers that can ensure desired operation of such systems - making it attractive to (i) high-tech mechatronic, (ii) automotive and (iii) chemical-process applications. Such a framework is important to meet with the increasing operational demands of systems in these industrial sectors and to realize future technological targets. However, recent studies have shown that, to fully exploit the potential of the LPV framework, a number of limiting factors of the underlying theory ask a for serious innovation, as currently it is not understood how to (1) automate exact and low-complexity LPV modeling of real-world applications and how to refine uncertain aspects of these models efficiently by the help of measured data, (2) incorporate control objectives directly into modeling and to develop model reduction approaches for control, and (3) how to see modeling & control synthesis as a unified, closed-loop system synthesis approach directly oriented for the underlying NL/TV system. Furthermore, due to the increasingly cyber-physical nature of applications, (4) control synthesis is needed in a plug & play fashion, where if sub-systems are modified or exchanged, then the control design and the model of the whole system are only incrementally updated. This project aims to surmount Challenges (1)-(4) by establishing an innovative revolution of the LPV framework supported by a software suite and extensive empirical studies on real-world industrial applications; with a potential to ensure a leading role of technological innovation of the EU in the high-impact industrial sectors (i)-(iii).
Max ERC Funding
1 493 561 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-09-01, End date: 2022-08-31
Project acronym BLOCKCHAINSOCIETY
Project The Disrupted Society: mapping the societal effects of blockchain technology diffusion
Researcher (PI) Balazs BODO
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH3, ERC-2017-STG
Summary Recent advances in cryptography yielded the blockchain technology, which enables a radically new and decentralized method to maintain authoritative records, without the need of trusted intermediaries. Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency blockchain application has already demonstrated that it is possible to operate a purely cryptography-based, global, distributed, decentralized, anonymous financial network, independent from central and commercial banks, regulators and the state.
The same technology is now being applied to other social domains (e.g. public registries of ownership and deeds, voting systems, the internet domain name registry). But research on the societal impact of blockchain innovation is scant, and we cannot properly assess its risks and promises. In addition, crucial knowledge is missing on how blockchain technologies can and should be regulated by law.
The BlockchainSociety project focuses on three research questions. (1) What internal factors contribute to the success of a blockchain application? (2) How does society adopt blockchain? (3) How to regulate blockchain? It breaks new ground as it (1) maps the most important blockchain projects, their governance, and assesses their disruptive potential; (2) documents and analyses the social diffusion of the technology, and builds scenarios about the potential impact of blockchain diffusion; and (3) it creates an inventory of emerging policy responses, compares and assesses policy tools in terms of efficiency and impact. The project will (1) build the conceptual and methodological bridges between information law, the study of the self-governance of technological systems via Science and Technology Studies, and the study of collective control efforts of complex socio-technological assemblages via Internet Governance studies; (2) address the most pressing blockchain-specific regulatory challenges via the analysis of emerging policies, and the development of new proposals.
Summary
Recent advances in cryptography yielded the blockchain technology, which enables a radically new and decentralized method to maintain authoritative records, without the need of trusted intermediaries. Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency blockchain application has already demonstrated that it is possible to operate a purely cryptography-based, global, distributed, decentralized, anonymous financial network, independent from central and commercial banks, regulators and the state.
The same technology is now being applied to other social domains (e.g. public registries of ownership and deeds, voting systems, the internet domain name registry). But research on the societal impact of blockchain innovation is scant, and we cannot properly assess its risks and promises. In addition, crucial knowledge is missing on how blockchain technologies can and should be regulated by law.
The BlockchainSociety project focuses on three research questions. (1) What internal factors contribute to the success of a blockchain application? (2) How does society adopt blockchain? (3) How to regulate blockchain? It breaks new ground as it (1) maps the most important blockchain projects, their governance, and assesses their disruptive potential; (2) documents and analyses the social diffusion of the technology, and builds scenarios about the potential impact of blockchain diffusion; and (3) it creates an inventory of emerging policy responses, compares and assesses policy tools in terms of efficiency and impact. The project will (1) build the conceptual and methodological bridges between information law, the study of the self-governance of technological systems via Science and Technology Studies, and the study of collective control efforts of complex socio-technological assemblages via Internet Governance studies; (2) address the most pressing blockchain-specific regulatory challenges via the analysis of emerging policies, and the development of new proposals.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 631 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-01-01, End date: 2022-12-31
Project acronym BSP
Project Belief Systems Project
Researcher (PI) Mark BRANDT
Host Institution (HI) STICHTING KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT BRABANT
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH3, ERC-2017-STG
Summary Belief systems research is vital for understanding democratic politics, extremism, and political decision-making. What is the basic structure of belief systems? Clear answers to this fundamental question are not forthcoming. This is due to flaws in the conceptualization of belief systems. The state-of-the-art treats a belief system as a theoretical latent variable that causes people’s responses on attitudes and values relevant to the belief system. This approach cannot assess a belief system because it cannot assess the network of connections between the beliefs–attitudes and values–that make up the system; it collapses across them and the interrelationships are lost.
The Belief Systems Project conceptualizations belief systems as systems of interconnecting attitudes and values. I conceptualize attitudes and values as interactive nodes in a network that are analysed with network analyses. With these conceptual and empirical tools, I can understand the structure and dynamics of the belief system and will be able to avoid theoretical pitfalls common in belief system assessments. This project will move belief systems research beyond the state-of-the-art in four ways by:
1. Mapping the structure of systems of attitudes and values, something that is not possible using current methods.
2. Answering classic questions about central concepts and clustering of belief systems.
3. Modeling within-person belief systems and their variations, so that I can make accurate predictions about partisan motivated reasoning.
4. Testing how external and internal pressures (e.g., feelings of threat) change the underlying structure and dynamics of belief systems.
Using survey data from around the world, longitudinal panel studies, intensive longitudinal designs, experiments, and text analyses, I will triangulate on the structure of political belief systems over time, between countries, and within individuals.
Summary
Belief systems research is vital for understanding democratic politics, extremism, and political decision-making. What is the basic structure of belief systems? Clear answers to this fundamental question are not forthcoming. This is due to flaws in the conceptualization of belief systems. The state-of-the-art treats a belief system as a theoretical latent variable that causes people’s responses on attitudes and values relevant to the belief system. This approach cannot assess a belief system because it cannot assess the network of connections between the beliefs–attitudes and values–that make up the system; it collapses across them and the interrelationships are lost.
The Belief Systems Project conceptualizations belief systems as systems of interconnecting attitudes and values. I conceptualize attitudes and values as interactive nodes in a network that are analysed with network analyses. With these conceptual and empirical tools, I can understand the structure and dynamics of the belief system and will be able to avoid theoretical pitfalls common in belief system assessments. This project will move belief systems research beyond the state-of-the-art in four ways by:
1. Mapping the structure of systems of attitudes and values, something that is not possible using current methods.
2. Answering classic questions about central concepts and clustering of belief systems.
3. Modeling within-person belief systems and their variations, so that I can make accurate predictions about partisan motivated reasoning.
4. Testing how external and internal pressures (e.g., feelings of threat) change the underlying structure and dynamics of belief systems.
Using survey data from around the world, longitudinal panel studies, intensive longitudinal designs, experiments, and text analyses, I will triangulate on the structure of political belief systems over time, between countries, and within individuals.
Max ERC Funding
1 496 944 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-07-01, End date: 2023-06-30
Project acronym CAPE
Project Ghosts from the past: Consequences of Adolescent Peer Experiences across social contexts and generations
Researcher (PI) Tina KRETSCHMER
Host Institution (HI) RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH3, ERC-2017-STG
Summary Positive peer experiences are crucial for young people’s health and wellbeing. Accordingly, multiple studies (including my own) have described long-term negative psychological and behavioral consequences when adolescents’ peer relationships are dysfunctional. Paradoxically, knowledge on adult social consequences of adolescent peer experiences –relationships with others a decade later - is much less extensive. Informed by social learning and attachment theory, I tackle this gap and investigate whether and how peer experiences are transmitted to other social contexts, and intergenerationally, i.e., passed on to the next generation. My aim is to shed light on how the “ghosts from peer past” affect young adults’ relationships and their children. To this end, I examine longitudinal links between adolescent peer and young adult close relationships and test whether parents’ peer experiences affect offspring’s peer experiences. Psychological functioning, parenting, temperament, genetic, and epigenetic transmission mechanisms are examined separately and in interplay, which 1) goes far beyond the current state-of-the-art in social development research, and 2) significantly broadens my biosocially oriented work on genetic effects in the peer context. My plans utilize data from the TRAILS (Tracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives’ Survey) cohort that has been followed from age 11 to 26. To study intergenerational transmission, the TRAILS NEXT sample of participants with children is substantially extended. This project uniquely studies adult social consequences of peer experiences and, at the same time, follows children’s first steps into the peer world. The intergenerational approach and provision for environmental, genetic, and epigenetic mediation put this project at the forefront of developmental research and equip it with the potential to generate the knowledge needed to chase away the ghosts from the peer past.
Summary
Positive peer experiences are crucial for young people’s health and wellbeing. Accordingly, multiple studies (including my own) have described long-term negative psychological and behavioral consequences when adolescents’ peer relationships are dysfunctional. Paradoxically, knowledge on adult social consequences of adolescent peer experiences –relationships with others a decade later - is much less extensive. Informed by social learning and attachment theory, I tackle this gap and investigate whether and how peer experiences are transmitted to other social contexts, and intergenerationally, i.e., passed on to the next generation. My aim is to shed light on how the “ghosts from peer past” affect young adults’ relationships and their children. To this end, I examine longitudinal links between adolescent peer and young adult close relationships and test whether parents’ peer experiences affect offspring’s peer experiences. Psychological functioning, parenting, temperament, genetic, and epigenetic transmission mechanisms are examined separately and in interplay, which 1) goes far beyond the current state-of-the-art in social development research, and 2) significantly broadens my biosocially oriented work on genetic effects in the peer context. My plans utilize data from the TRAILS (Tracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives’ Survey) cohort that has been followed from age 11 to 26. To study intergenerational transmission, the TRAILS NEXT sample of participants with children is substantially extended. This project uniquely studies adult social consequences of peer experiences and, at the same time, follows children’s first steps into the peer world. The intergenerational approach and provision for environmental, genetic, and epigenetic mediation put this project at the forefront of developmental research and equip it with the potential to generate the knowledge needed to chase away the ghosts from the peer past.
Max ERC Funding
1 464 846 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-02-01, End date: 2023-01-31
Project acronym CDMAN
Project Control of Spatially Distributed Complex Multi-Agent Networks
Researcher (PI) Ming Cao
Host Institution (HI) RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2012-StG_20111012
Summary "Spatially distributed multi-agent networks have been used successfully to model a wide range of natural, social and engineered complex systems, such as animal groups, online communities and electric power grids. In various contexts, it is crucial to introduce control actions into such networks to either achieve desired collective dynamics or test the understanding of the systems’ behavior. However, controlling such systems is extremely challenging due to agents’ complicated sensing, communication and control interactions that are distributed in space. Systematic methodologies to attack this challenge are in urgent need, especially when vast efforts are being made in multiple disciplines to apply the model of complex multi-agent networks.
The goal of the project is twofold. First, understand whether a complex multi-agent network can be controlled effectively when the agents can only sense and communicate locally. Second, provide methodologies to implement distributed control in typical spatially distributed complex multi-agent networks. The project requires integrated skills since both rigorous theoretical analysis and novel empirical explorations are necessary.
The research methods that I plan to adopt have two distinguishing features. First, I use tools from algebraic graph theory and complex network theory to investigate the impact of network topologies on the systems’ controller performances characterized by mathematical control theory. Second, I utilize a homemade robotic-fish testbed to implement various multi-agent control algorithms. The unique combination of theoretical and empirical studies is expected to lead to breakthroughs in developing an integrated set of principles and techniques to control effectively spatially distributed multi-agent networks. The expected results will make original contributions to control engineering and robotics, and inspire innovative research methods in theoretical biology and theoretical sociology."
Summary
"Spatially distributed multi-agent networks have been used successfully to model a wide range of natural, social and engineered complex systems, such as animal groups, online communities and electric power grids. In various contexts, it is crucial to introduce control actions into such networks to either achieve desired collective dynamics or test the understanding of the systems’ behavior. However, controlling such systems is extremely challenging due to agents’ complicated sensing, communication and control interactions that are distributed in space. Systematic methodologies to attack this challenge are in urgent need, especially when vast efforts are being made in multiple disciplines to apply the model of complex multi-agent networks.
The goal of the project is twofold. First, understand whether a complex multi-agent network can be controlled effectively when the agents can only sense and communicate locally. Second, provide methodologies to implement distributed control in typical spatially distributed complex multi-agent networks. The project requires integrated skills since both rigorous theoretical analysis and novel empirical explorations are necessary.
The research methods that I plan to adopt have two distinguishing features. First, I use tools from algebraic graph theory and complex network theory to investigate the impact of network topologies on the systems’ controller performances characterized by mathematical control theory. Second, I utilize a homemade robotic-fish testbed to implement various multi-agent control algorithms. The unique combination of theoretical and empirical studies is expected to lead to breakthroughs in developing an integrated set of principles and techniques to control effectively spatially distributed multi-agent networks. The expected results will make original contributions to control engineering and robotics, and inspire innovative research methods in theoretical biology and theoretical sociology."
Max ERC Funding
1 495 444 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-01-01, End date: 2017-12-31
Project acronym CELLPATTERN
Project The Cellular Basis of Multicellular Pattern Formation
Researcher (PI) Dolf Weijers
Host Institution (HI) WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS3, ERC-2011-StG_20101109
Summary The formation of plant organs (leaves, roots, flowers) depends on the activity of stem cells (SC), located in stem cell niches (meristems) together with adjoining organizer cells (OC) that prevent SC differentiation. Despite their importance, SC and OC have been poorly described at molecular and cellular level and mechanisms for their coordinated specification are only partially understood. We study the specification of the very first SC and OC for the root in the early Arabidopsis embryo where cell divisions are almost invariant and, in the absence of cell motility, highly predictable. Previously we have established a central role for the transcription factor MONOPTEROS (MP) in OC specification and we have recently found that MP also controls SC specification. Hence, MP offers a unique entry point into studying the genomic and cellular reprogramming that underlies coordinated SC and OC specification. Our recent identification of MP target genes has shown that its function in SC specification is cell-autonomous, while MP-dependent OC specification involves a mobile transcription factor.
In recent years we have developed a set of resources to systematically study embryonic root meristem initiation, and are now in a unique position to answer the following questions in this ERC project:
1. What transcriptional reprogramming underlies the first specification of SC and OC in the plant embryo?
2. What cellular changes follow from transcriptional reprogramming and mediate elongation and asymmetric division of SC and OC?
3. What is the mechanism of directional protein transport that ensures spatiotemporal coordination between SC and OC?
The project will provide genome-wide insight in the cellular reprogramming underlying the coordinated formation of a multicellular structure. Finally, this work will shed light on mechanisms of stem cell and stem cell niche formation.
Summary
The formation of plant organs (leaves, roots, flowers) depends on the activity of stem cells (SC), located in stem cell niches (meristems) together with adjoining organizer cells (OC) that prevent SC differentiation. Despite their importance, SC and OC have been poorly described at molecular and cellular level and mechanisms for their coordinated specification are only partially understood. We study the specification of the very first SC and OC for the root in the early Arabidopsis embryo where cell divisions are almost invariant and, in the absence of cell motility, highly predictable. Previously we have established a central role for the transcription factor MONOPTEROS (MP) in OC specification and we have recently found that MP also controls SC specification. Hence, MP offers a unique entry point into studying the genomic and cellular reprogramming that underlies coordinated SC and OC specification. Our recent identification of MP target genes has shown that its function in SC specification is cell-autonomous, while MP-dependent OC specification involves a mobile transcription factor.
In recent years we have developed a set of resources to systematically study embryonic root meristem initiation, and are now in a unique position to answer the following questions in this ERC project:
1. What transcriptional reprogramming underlies the first specification of SC and OC in the plant embryo?
2. What cellular changes follow from transcriptional reprogramming and mediate elongation and asymmetric division of SC and OC?
3. What is the mechanism of directional protein transport that ensures spatiotemporal coordination between SC and OC?
The project will provide genome-wide insight in the cellular reprogramming underlying the coordinated formation of a multicellular structure. Finally, this work will shed light on mechanisms of stem cell and stem cell niche formation.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 070 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-10-01, End date: 2016-09-30
Project acronym COSMOS
Project Game theoretic Control for Complex Systems of Systems
Researcher (PI) Sergio GRAMMATICO
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2018-STG
Summary Modern society is based on large-scale, interconnected, complex infrastructures, e.g. power, transportation and communication systems, with network structure and interacting subsystems controlled by autonomous components and human users, generically called “agents”. These systems possess the features of “complex” systems of systems (C-SoS), such as rationality and autonomy of the agents, and require effective multi-agent coordination and control actions for their safe and efficient operation. Multi-agent optimization has attracted an extraordinary amount of research attention as a methodology to let agents cooperatively coordinate their actions, but it is inappropriate and ineffective for systems with noncooperative (selfish) agents, virtually all modern C-SoS.
A paradigm shift is necessary to ensure safe and efficient operation of complex systems with possibly noncooperative agents. With this aim, COSMOS shall embrace dynamic game theory and pursue a twofold scientific and technical objective: 1) to conceive a unifying framework for the analysis and control of complex, multi-agent, mixed cooperative and noncooperative, systems; 2) to provide automated computational methods for solving coordination, decision and control problems in C-SoS. To achieve these goals, COSMOS will adopt a novel operator-theoretic approach, and integrate methods within and across dynamic game theory, networked multi-agent systems and control, statistical learning, stochastic and mixed-integer optimization.
Summary
Modern society is based on large-scale, interconnected, complex infrastructures, e.g. power, transportation and communication systems, with network structure and interacting subsystems controlled by autonomous components and human users, generically called “agents”. These systems possess the features of “complex” systems of systems (C-SoS), such as rationality and autonomy of the agents, and require effective multi-agent coordination and control actions for their safe and efficient operation. Multi-agent optimization has attracted an extraordinary amount of research attention as a methodology to let agents cooperatively coordinate their actions, but it is inappropriate and ineffective for systems with noncooperative (selfish) agents, virtually all modern C-SoS.
A paradigm shift is necessary to ensure safe and efficient operation of complex systems with possibly noncooperative agents. With this aim, COSMOS shall embrace dynamic game theory and pursue a twofold scientific and technical objective: 1) to conceive a unifying framework for the analysis and control of complex, multi-agent, mixed cooperative and noncooperative, systems; 2) to provide automated computational methods for solving coordination, decision and control problems in C-SoS. To achieve these goals, COSMOS will adopt a novel operator-theoretic approach, and integrate methods within and across dynamic game theory, networked multi-agent systems and control, statistical learning, stochastic and mixed-integer optimization.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 415 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-02-01, End date: 2024-01-31
Project acronym CU-ANGIO
Project Prostate cancer localization by contrast-ultrasound angiogenesis imaging
Researcher (PI) Massimo Mischi
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2011-StG_20101014
Summary Prostate cancer causes over 1/4 of new cancer cases and 1/10 of cancer deaths in western males. Efficient methods for early treatment are available. Many lives could therefore be saved by early cancer detection, but this is not viable due to the inadequacy of the available noninvasive diagnostics. Systematic biopsy is the only reliable detection technique, but it is hampered by high costs and causes serious discomfort and health risks because of its invasiveness. Moreover, precise cancer localization is not possible, impeding the use of available focal treatments.
This research will push the frontiers of prostate cancer diagnostics by a revolutionary method for localization of cancer angiogenesis (microvascular growth). Different from all methods for angiogenesis imaging, invariably based on the assessment of blood perfusion, I aim at quantifying the local dispersion dynamics of an intravascular tracer. Dispersion is the spreading process of the tracer within the vasculature, which I firmly believe to correlate much better than perfusion with microvascular architectures and, therefore, with cancer angiogenesis.
The assessment of local dispersion is challenging and will be pursued through an intravenous injection of an ultrasound contrast bolus and novel spatiotemporal analysis of the bolus passage through the prostate circulation, measured by three-dimensional ultrasound imaging.
If successful, the proposed method will represent a breakthrough for early noninvasive and accurate prostate cancer localization, precise focal treatment, and treatment follow-up, with strong potential for use for other types of cancers, such as breast cancer. Moreover, this method will facilitate further groundbreaking research in the therapeutic control of angiogenesis in several pathologies.
This exciting research builds on my multidisciplinary expertise in ultrasound contrast dilution methods and on consistent and successful collaborations with leading clinical and industrial partners.
Summary
Prostate cancer causes over 1/4 of new cancer cases and 1/10 of cancer deaths in western males. Efficient methods for early treatment are available. Many lives could therefore be saved by early cancer detection, but this is not viable due to the inadequacy of the available noninvasive diagnostics. Systematic biopsy is the only reliable detection technique, but it is hampered by high costs and causes serious discomfort and health risks because of its invasiveness. Moreover, precise cancer localization is not possible, impeding the use of available focal treatments.
This research will push the frontiers of prostate cancer diagnostics by a revolutionary method for localization of cancer angiogenesis (microvascular growth). Different from all methods for angiogenesis imaging, invariably based on the assessment of blood perfusion, I aim at quantifying the local dispersion dynamics of an intravascular tracer. Dispersion is the spreading process of the tracer within the vasculature, which I firmly believe to correlate much better than perfusion with microvascular architectures and, therefore, with cancer angiogenesis.
The assessment of local dispersion is challenging and will be pursued through an intravenous injection of an ultrasound contrast bolus and novel spatiotemporal analysis of the bolus passage through the prostate circulation, measured by three-dimensional ultrasound imaging.
If successful, the proposed method will represent a breakthrough for early noninvasive and accurate prostate cancer localization, precise focal treatment, and treatment follow-up, with strong potential for use for other types of cancers, such as breast cancer. Moreover, this method will facilitate further groundbreaking research in the therapeutic control of angiogenesis in several pathologies.
This exciting research builds on my multidisciplinary expertise in ultrasound contrast dilution methods and on consistent and successful collaborations with leading clinical and industrial partners.
Max ERC Funding
1 430 955 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-06-01, End date: 2018-05-31
