Project acronym AAREA
Project The Archaeology of Agricultural Resilience in Eastern Africa
Researcher (PI) Daryl Stump
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF YORK
Country United Kingdom
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH6, ERC-2013-StG
Summary "The twin concepts of sustainability and conservation that are so pivotal within current debates regarding economic development and biodiversity protection both contain an inherent temporal dimension, since both refer to the need to balance short-term gains with long-term resource maintenance. Proponents of resilience theory and of development based on ‘indigenous knowledge’ have thus argued for the necessity of including archaeological, historical and palaeoenvironmental components within development project design. Indeed, some have argued that archaeology should lead these interdisciplinary projects on the grounds that it provides the necessary time depth and bridges the social and natural sciences. The project proposed here accepts this logic and endorses this renewed contemporary relevance of archaeological research. However, it also needs to be admitted that moving beyond critiques of the misuse of historical data presents significant hurdles. When presenting results outside the discipline, for example, archaeological projects tend to downplay the poor archaeological visibility of certain agricultural practices, and computer models designed to test sustainability struggle to adequately account for local cultural preferences. This field will therefore not progress unless there is a frank appraisal of archaeology’s strengths and weaknesses. This project will provide this assessment by employing a range of established and groundbreaking archaeological and modelling techniques to examine the development of two east Africa agricultural systems: one at the abandoned site of Engaruka in Tanzania, commonly seen as an example of resource mismanagement and ecological collapse; and another at the current agricultural landscape in Konso, Ethiopia, described by the UN FAO as one of a select few African “lessons from the past”. The project thus aims to assess the sustainability of these systems, but will also assess the role archaeology can play in such debates worldwide."
Summary
"The twin concepts of sustainability and conservation that are so pivotal within current debates regarding economic development and biodiversity protection both contain an inherent temporal dimension, since both refer to the need to balance short-term gains with long-term resource maintenance. Proponents of resilience theory and of development based on ‘indigenous knowledge’ have thus argued for the necessity of including archaeological, historical and palaeoenvironmental components within development project design. Indeed, some have argued that archaeology should lead these interdisciplinary projects on the grounds that it provides the necessary time depth and bridges the social and natural sciences. The project proposed here accepts this logic and endorses this renewed contemporary relevance of archaeological research. However, it also needs to be admitted that moving beyond critiques of the misuse of historical data presents significant hurdles. When presenting results outside the discipline, for example, archaeological projects tend to downplay the poor archaeological visibility of certain agricultural practices, and computer models designed to test sustainability struggle to adequately account for local cultural preferences. This field will therefore not progress unless there is a frank appraisal of archaeology’s strengths and weaknesses. This project will provide this assessment by employing a range of established and groundbreaking archaeological and modelling techniques to examine the development of two east Africa agricultural systems: one at the abandoned site of Engaruka in Tanzania, commonly seen as an example of resource mismanagement and ecological collapse; and another at the current agricultural landscape in Konso, Ethiopia, described by the UN FAO as one of a select few African “lessons from the past”. The project thus aims to assess the sustainability of these systems, but will also assess the role archaeology can play in such debates worldwide."
Max ERC Funding
1 196 701 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-02-01, End date: 2018-01-31
Project acronym ABDESIGN
Project Computational design of novel protein function in antibodies
Researcher (PI) Sarel-Jacob Fleishman
Host Institution (HI) WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
Country Israel
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS1, ERC-2013-StG
Summary We propose to elucidate the structural design principles of naturally occurring antibody complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) and to computationally design novel antibody functions. Antibodies represent the most versatile known system for molecular recognition. Research has yielded many insights into antibody design principles and promising biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. Still, our understanding of how CDRs encode specific loop conformations lags far behind our understanding of structure-function relationships in non-immunological scaffolds. Thus, design of antibodies from first principles has not been demonstrated. We propose a computational-experimental strategy to address this challenge. We will: (a) characterize the design principles and sequence elements that rigidify antibody CDRs. Natural antibody loops will be subjected to computational modeling, crystallography, and a combined in vitro evolution and deep-sequencing approach to isolate sequence features that rigidify loop backbones; (b) develop a novel computational-design strategy, which uses the >1000 solved structures of antibodies deposited in structure databases to realistically model CDRs and design them to recognize proteins that have not been co-crystallized with antibodies. For example, we will design novel antibodies targeting insulin, for which clinically useful diagnostics are needed. By accessing much larger sequence/structure spaces than are available to natural immune-system repertoires and experimental methods, computational antibody design could produce higher-specificity and higher-affinity binders, even to challenging targets; and (c) develop new strategies to program conformational change in CDRs, generating, e.g., the first allosteric antibodies. These will allow targeting, in principle, of any molecule, potentially revolutionizing how antibodies are generated for research and medicine, providing new insights on the design principles of protein functional sites.
Summary
We propose to elucidate the structural design principles of naturally occurring antibody complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) and to computationally design novel antibody functions. Antibodies represent the most versatile known system for molecular recognition. Research has yielded many insights into antibody design principles and promising biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. Still, our understanding of how CDRs encode specific loop conformations lags far behind our understanding of structure-function relationships in non-immunological scaffolds. Thus, design of antibodies from first principles has not been demonstrated. We propose a computational-experimental strategy to address this challenge. We will: (a) characterize the design principles and sequence elements that rigidify antibody CDRs. Natural antibody loops will be subjected to computational modeling, crystallography, and a combined in vitro evolution and deep-sequencing approach to isolate sequence features that rigidify loop backbones; (b) develop a novel computational-design strategy, which uses the >1000 solved structures of antibodies deposited in structure databases to realistically model CDRs and design them to recognize proteins that have not been co-crystallized with antibodies. For example, we will design novel antibodies targeting insulin, for which clinically useful diagnostics are needed. By accessing much larger sequence/structure spaces than are available to natural immune-system repertoires and experimental methods, computational antibody design could produce higher-specificity and higher-affinity binders, even to challenging targets; and (c) develop new strategies to program conformational change in CDRs, generating, e.g., the first allosteric antibodies. These will allow targeting, in principle, of any molecule, potentially revolutionizing how antibodies are generated for research and medicine, providing new insights on the design principles of protein functional sites.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 930 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-09-01, End date: 2018-08-31
Project acronym ANTIVIRNA
Project Structural and mechanistic studies of RNA-guided and RNA-targeting antiviral defense pathways
Researcher (PI) Martin Jinek
Host Institution (HI) University of Zurich
Country Switzerland
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS1, ERC-2013-StG
Summary The evolutionary pressures exerted by viruses on their host cells constitute a major force that drives the evolution of cellular antiviral mechanisms. The proposed research is motivated by our interest in the roles of protein-RNA interactions in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic antiviral pathways and will proceed in two directions. The first project stems from our current work on the CRISPR pathway, a recently discovered RNA-guided adaptive defense mechanism in bacteria and archaea that silences mobile genetic elements such as viruses (bacteriophages) and plasmids. CRISPR systems rely on short RNAs (crRNAs) that associate with CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins and function as sequence-specific guides in the detection and destruction of invading nucleic acids. To obtain molecular insights into the mechanisms of crRNA-guided interference, we will pursue structural and functional studies of DNA-targeting ribonuceoprotein complexes from type II and III CRISPR systems. Our work will shed light on the function of these systems in microbial pathogenesis and provide a framework for the informed engineering of RNA-guided gene targeting technologies. The second proposed research direction centres on RNA-targeting antiviral strategies employed by the human innate immune system. Here, our work will focus on structural studies of major interferon-induced effector proteins, initially examining the allosteric activation mechanism of RNase L and subsequently focusing on other antiviral nucleases and RNA helicases, as well as mechanisms by which RNA viruses evade the innate immune response of the host. In our investigations, we plan to approach these questions using an integrated strategy combining structural biology, biochemistry and biophysics with cell-based functional studies. Together, our studies will provide fundamental molecular insights into RNA-centred antiviral mechanisms and their impact on human health and disease.
Summary
The evolutionary pressures exerted by viruses on their host cells constitute a major force that drives the evolution of cellular antiviral mechanisms. The proposed research is motivated by our interest in the roles of protein-RNA interactions in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic antiviral pathways and will proceed in two directions. The first project stems from our current work on the CRISPR pathway, a recently discovered RNA-guided adaptive defense mechanism in bacteria and archaea that silences mobile genetic elements such as viruses (bacteriophages) and plasmids. CRISPR systems rely on short RNAs (crRNAs) that associate with CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins and function as sequence-specific guides in the detection and destruction of invading nucleic acids. To obtain molecular insights into the mechanisms of crRNA-guided interference, we will pursue structural and functional studies of DNA-targeting ribonuceoprotein complexes from type II and III CRISPR systems. Our work will shed light on the function of these systems in microbial pathogenesis and provide a framework for the informed engineering of RNA-guided gene targeting technologies. The second proposed research direction centres on RNA-targeting antiviral strategies employed by the human innate immune system. Here, our work will focus on structural studies of major interferon-induced effector proteins, initially examining the allosteric activation mechanism of RNase L and subsequently focusing on other antiviral nucleases and RNA helicases, as well as mechanisms by which RNA viruses evade the innate immune response of the host. In our investigations, we plan to approach these questions using an integrated strategy combining structural biology, biochemistry and biophysics with cell-based functional studies. Together, our studies will provide fundamental molecular insights into RNA-centred antiviral mechanisms and their impact on human health and disease.
Max ERC Funding
1 467 180 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-11-01, End date: 2018-10-31
Project acronym assemblyNMR
Project 3D structures of bacterial supramolecular assemblies by solid-state NMR
Researcher (PI) Adam Lange
Host Institution (HI) FORSCHUNGSVERBUND BERLIN EV
Country Germany
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS1, ERC-2013-StG
Summary Supramolecular assemblies – formed by the self-assembly of hundreds of protein subunits – are part of bacterial nanomachines involved in key cellular processes. Important examples in pathogenic bacteria are pili and type 3 secretion systems (T3SS) that mediate adhesion to host cells and injection of virulence proteins. Structure determination at atomic resolution of such assemblies by standard techniques such as X-ray crystallography or solution NMR is severely limited: Intact T3SSs or pili cannot be crystallized and are also inherently insoluble. Cryo-electron microscopy techniques have recently made it possible to obtain low- and medium-resolution models, but atomic details have not been accessible at the resolution obtained in these studies, leading sometimes to inaccurate models.
I propose to use solid-state NMR (ssNMR) to fill this knowledge-gap. I could recently show that ssNMR on in vitro preparations of Salmonella T3SS needles constitutes a powerful approach to study the structure of this virulence factor. Our integrated approach also included results from electron microscopy and modeling as well as in vivo assays (Loquet et al., Nature 2012). This is the foundation of this application. I propose to extend ssNMR methodology to tackle the structures of even larger or more complex homo-oligomeric assemblies with up to 200 residues per monomeric subunit. We will apply such techniques to address the currently unknown 3D structures of type I pili and cytoskeletal bactofilin filaments. Furthermore, I want to develop strategies to directly study assemblies in a native-like setting. As a first application, I will study the 3D structure of T3SS needles when they are complemented with intact T3SSs purified from Salmonella or Shigella. The ultimate goal of this proposal is to establish ssNMR as a generally applicable method that allows solving the currently unknown structures of bacterial supramolecular assemblies at atomic resolution.
Summary
Supramolecular assemblies – formed by the self-assembly of hundreds of protein subunits – are part of bacterial nanomachines involved in key cellular processes. Important examples in pathogenic bacteria are pili and type 3 secretion systems (T3SS) that mediate adhesion to host cells and injection of virulence proteins. Structure determination at atomic resolution of such assemblies by standard techniques such as X-ray crystallography or solution NMR is severely limited: Intact T3SSs or pili cannot be crystallized and are also inherently insoluble. Cryo-electron microscopy techniques have recently made it possible to obtain low- and medium-resolution models, but atomic details have not been accessible at the resolution obtained in these studies, leading sometimes to inaccurate models.
I propose to use solid-state NMR (ssNMR) to fill this knowledge-gap. I could recently show that ssNMR on in vitro preparations of Salmonella T3SS needles constitutes a powerful approach to study the structure of this virulence factor. Our integrated approach also included results from electron microscopy and modeling as well as in vivo assays (Loquet et al., Nature 2012). This is the foundation of this application. I propose to extend ssNMR methodology to tackle the structures of even larger or more complex homo-oligomeric assemblies with up to 200 residues per monomeric subunit. We will apply such techniques to address the currently unknown 3D structures of type I pili and cytoskeletal bactofilin filaments. Furthermore, I want to develop strategies to directly study assemblies in a native-like setting. As a first application, I will study the 3D structure of T3SS needles when they are complemented with intact T3SSs purified from Salmonella or Shigella. The ultimate goal of this proposal is to establish ssNMR as a generally applicable method that allows solving the currently unknown structures of bacterial supramolecular assemblies at atomic resolution.
Max ERC Funding
1 456 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-05-01, End date: 2019-04-30
Project acronym AXIAL.EC
Project PRINCIPLES OF AXIAL POLARITY-DRIVEN VASCULAR PATTERNING
Researcher (PI) Claudio Franco
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA MOLECULAR JOAO LOBO ANTUNES
Country Portugal
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS4, ERC-2015-STG
Summary The formation of a functional patterned vascular network is essential for development, tissue growth and organ physiology. Several human vascular disorders arise from the mis-patterning of blood vessels, such as arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms and diabetic retinopathy. Although blood flow is recognised as a stimulus for vascular patterning, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate endothelial cell behaviour in response to flow and promote vascular patterning.
Recently, we uncovered that endothelial cells migrate extensively in the immature vascular network, and that endothelial cells polarise against the blood flow direction. Here, we put forward the hypothesis that vascular patterning is dependent on the polarisation and migration of endothelial cells against the flow direction, in a continuous flux of cells going from low-shear stress to high-shear stress regions. We will establish new reporter mouse lines to observe and manipulate endothelial polarity in vivo in order to investigate how polarisation and coordination of endothelial cells movements are orchestrated to generate vascular patterning. We will manipulate cell polarity using mouse models to understand the importance of cell polarisation in vascular patterning. Also, using a unique zebrafish line allowing analysis of endothelial cell polarity, we will perform a screen to identify novel regulators of vascular patterning. Finally, we will explore the hypothesis that defective flow-dependent endothelial polarisation underlies arteriovenous malformations using two genetic models.
This integrative approach, based on high-resolution imaging and unique experimental models, will provide a unifying model defining the cellular and molecular principles involved in vascular patterning. Given the physiological relevance of vascular patterning in health and disease, this research plan will set the basis for the development of novel clinical therapies targeting vascular disorders.
Summary
The formation of a functional patterned vascular network is essential for development, tissue growth and organ physiology. Several human vascular disorders arise from the mis-patterning of blood vessels, such as arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms and diabetic retinopathy. Although blood flow is recognised as a stimulus for vascular patterning, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate endothelial cell behaviour in response to flow and promote vascular patterning.
Recently, we uncovered that endothelial cells migrate extensively in the immature vascular network, and that endothelial cells polarise against the blood flow direction. Here, we put forward the hypothesis that vascular patterning is dependent on the polarisation and migration of endothelial cells against the flow direction, in a continuous flux of cells going from low-shear stress to high-shear stress regions. We will establish new reporter mouse lines to observe and manipulate endothelial polarity in vivo in order to investigate how polarisation and coordination of endothelial cells movements are orchestrated to generate vascular patterning. We will manipulate cell polarity using mouse models to understand the importance of cell polarisation in vascular patterning. Also, using a unique zebrafish line allowing analysis of endothelial cell polarity, we will perform a screen to identify novel regulators of vascular patterning. Finally, we will explore the hypothesis that defective flow-dependent endothelial polarisation underlies arteriovenous malformations using two genetic models.
This integrative approach, based on high-resolution imaging and unique experimental models, will provide a unifying model defining the cellular and molecular principles involved in vascular patterning. Given the physiological relevance of vascular patterning in health and disease, this research plan will set the basis for the development of novel clinical therapies targeting vascular disorders.
Max ERC Funding
1 618 750 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-09-01, End date: 2022-02-28
Project acronym BacRafts
Project Architecture of bacterial lipid rafts; inhibition of virulence and antibiotic resistance using raft-disassembling small molecules
Researcher (PI) Daniel Lopez Serrano
Host Institution (HI) AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DEINVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS
Country Spain
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS6, ERC-2013-StG
Summary Membranes of eukaryotic cells organize signal transduction proteins into microdomains or lipid rafts whose integrity is essential for numerous cellular processes. Lipid rafts has been considered a fundamental step to define the cellular complexity of eukaryotes, assuming that bacteria do not require such a sophisticated organization of their signaling networks. However, I have discovered that bacteria organize many signaling pathways in membrane microdomains similar to the eukaryotic lipid rafts. Perturbation of bacterial lipid rafts leads to a potent and simultaneous impairment of all raft-harbored signaling pathways. Consequently, the disassembly of lipid rafts in pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus generates a simultaneous inhibition of numerous infection-related processes that can be further explored to control bacterial infections. This unexpected sophistication in membrane organization is unprecedented in bacteria and hence, this proposal will explore the molecular basis of the assembly of bacterial lipid rafts and their role in the infection-related processes. These questions will be addressed in three main goals: First, I will elucidate the molecular components and the mechanism of assembly of bacterial lipid rafts using S. aureus as model organism. Second, I will dissect the molecular basis that links the functionality of the infection-related processes to the integrity of bacterial lipid rafts. Third, my collection of anti-raft small molecules that are able to disrupt lipid rafts will be tested as antimicrobial agents to prevent hospital-acquired infections, abrogate pre-existing infections and develop bacteria-free materials that can be used in clinical settings. I will use a number of molecular approaches in combination with cutting-edge techniques in flow cytometry, cell-imaging and transcriptomics to clarify the architecture and functionality of lipid rafts and demonstrate the feasibility of targeting lipid a new strategy for anti-microbial therapy.
Summary
Membranes of eukaryotic cells organize signal transduction proteins into microdomains or lipid rafts whose integrity is essential for numerous cellular processes. Lipid rafts has been considered a fundamental step to define the cellular complexity of eukaryotes, assuming that bacteria do not require such a sophisticated organization of their signaling networks. However, I have discovered that bacteria organize many signaling pathways in membrane microdomains similar to the eukaryotic lipid rafts. Perturbation of bacterial lipid rafts leads to a potent and simultaneous impairment of all raft-harbored signaling pathways. Consequently, the disassembly of lipid rafts in pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus generates a simultaneous inhibition of numerous infection-related processes that can be further explored to control bacterial infections. This unexpected sophistication in membrane organization is unprecedented in bacteria and hence, this proposal will explore the molecular basis of the assembly of bacterial lipid rafts and their role in the infection-related processes. These questions will be addressed in three main goals: First, I will elucidate the molecular components and the mechanism of assembly of bacterial lipid rafts using S. aureus as model organism. Second, I will dissect the molecular basis that links the functionality of the infection-related processes to the integrity of bacterial lipid rafts. Third, my collection of anti-raft small molecules that are able to disrupt lipid rafts will be tested as antimicrobial agents to prevent hospital-acquired infections, abrogate pre-existing infections and develop bacteria-free materials that can be used in clinical settings. I will use a number of molecular approaches in combination with cutting-edge techniques in flow cytometry, cell-imaging and transcriptomics to clarify the architecture and functionality of lipid rafts and demonstrate the feasibility of targeting lipid a new strategy for anti-microbial therapy.
Max ERC Funding
1 493 126 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-03-01, End date: 2019-02-28
Project acronym BATMAN
Project Development of Quantitative Metrologies to Guide Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturing
Researcher (PI) Vanessa Wood
Host Institution (HI) EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH
Country Switzerland
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE8, ERC-2015-STG
Summary Lithium ion batteries offer tremendous potential as an enabling technology for sustainable transportation and development. However, their widespread usage as the energy storage solution for electric mobility and grid-level integration of renewables is impeded by the fact that current state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries have energy densities that are too small, charge- and discharge rates that are too low, and costs that are too high. Highly publicized instances of catastrophic failure of lithium ion batteries raise questions of safety. Understanding the limitations to battery performance and origins of the degradation and failure is highly complex due to the difficulties in studying interrelated processes that take place at different length and time scales in a corrosive environment. In the project, we will (1) develop and implement quantitative methods to study the complex interrelations between structure and electrochemistry occurring at the nano-, micron-, and milli-scales in lithium ion battery active materials and electrodes, (2) conduct systematic experimental studies with our new techniques to understand the origins of performance limitations and to develop design guidelines for achieving high performance and safe batteries, and (3) investigate economically viable engineering solutions based on these guidelines to achieve high performance and safe lithium ion batteries.
Summary
Lithium ion batteries offer tremendous potential as an enabling technology for sustainable transportation and development. However, their widespread usage as the energy storage solution for electric mobility and grid-level integration of renewables is impeded by the fact that current state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries have energy densities that are too small, charge- and discharge rates that are too low, and costs that are too high. Highly publicized instances of catastrophic failure of lithium ion batteries raise questions of safety. Understanding the limitations to battery performance and origins of the degradation and failure is highly complex due to the difficulties in studying interrelated processes that take place at different length and time scales in a corrosive environment. In the project, we will (1) develop and implement quantitative methods to study the complex interrelations between structure and electrochemistry occurring at the nano-, micron-, and milli-scales in lithium ion battery active materials and electrodes, (2) conduct systematic experimental studies with our new techniques to understand the origins of performance limitations and to develop design guidelines for achieving high performance and safe batteries, and (3) investigate economically viable engineering solutions based on these guidelines to achieve high performance and safe lithium ion batteries.
Max ERC Funding
1 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-05-01, End date: 2021-10-31
Project acronym BCOOL
Project Barocaloric materials for energy-efficient solid-state cooling
Researcher (PI) Javier Eduardo Moya Raposo
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Country United Kingdom
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE8, ERC-2015-STG
Summary Cooling is essential for food and drinks, medicine, electronics and thermal comfort. Thermal changes due to pressure-driven phase transitions in fluids have long been used in vapour compression systems to achieve continuous refrigeration and air conditioning, but their energy efficiency is relatively low, and the working fluids that are employed harm the environment when released to the atmosphere. More recently, the discovery of large thermal changes due to pressure-driven phase transitions in magnetic solids has led to suggestions for environmentally friendly solid-state cooling applications. However, for this new cooling technology to succeed, it is still necessary to find suitable barocaloric (BC) materials that satisfy the demanding requirements set by applications, namely very large thermal changes in inexpensive materials that occur near room temperature in response to small applied pressures.
I aim to develop new BC materials by exploiting phase transitions in non-magnetic solids whose structural and thermal properties are strongly coupled, namely ferroelectric salts, molecular crystals and hybrid materials. These materials are normally made from cheap abundant elements, and display very large latent heats and volume changes at structural phase transitions, which make them ideal candidates to exhibit extremely large BC effects that outperform those observed in state-of-the-art BC magnetic materials, and that match applications.
My unique approach combines: i) materials science to identify materials with outstanding BC performance, ii) advanced experimental techniques to explore and exploit these novel materials, iii) materials engineering to create new composite materials with enhanced BC properties, and iv) fabrication of BC devices, using insight gained from modelling of materials and device parameters. If successful, my ambitious strategy will culminate in revolutionary solid-state cooling devices that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
Summary
Cooling is essential for food and drinks, medicine, electronics and thermal comfort. Thermal changes due to pressure-driven phase transitions in fluids have long been used in vapour compression systems to achieve continuous refrigeration and air conditioning, but their energy efficiency is relatively low, and the working fluids that are employed harm the environment when released to the atmosphere. More recently, the discovery of large thermal changes due to pressure-driven phase transitions in magnetic solids has led to suggestions for environmentally friendly solid-state cooling applications. However, for this new cooling technology to succeed, it is still necessary to find suitable barocaloric (BC) materials that satisfy the demanding requirements set by applications, namely very large thermal changes in inexpensive materials that occur near room temperature in response to small applied pressures.
I aim to develop new BC materials by exploiting phase transitions in non-magnetic solids whose structural and thermal properties are strongly coupled, namely ferroelectric salts, molecular crystals and hybrid materials. These materials are normally made from cheap abundant elements, and display very large latent heats and volume changes at structural phase transitions, which make them ideal candidates to exhibit extremely large BC effects that outperform those observed in state-of-the-art BC magnetic materials, and that match applications.
My unique approach combines: i) materials science to identify materials with outstanding BC performance, ii) advanced experimental techniques to explore and exploit these novel materials, iii) materials engineering to create new composite materials with enhanced BC properties, and iv) fabrication of BC devices, using insight gained from modelling of materials and device parameters. If successful, my ambitious strategy will culminate in revolutionary solid-state cooling devices that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
Max ERC Funding
1 467 521 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-04-01, End date: 2021-03-31
Project acronym BIAF
Project Bird Inspired Autonomous Flight
Researcher (PI) Shane Paul Windsor
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Country United Kingdom
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE8, ERC-2015-STG
Summary The agile and efficient flight of birds shows what flight performance is physically possible, and in theory could be achieved by unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) of the same size. The overall aim of this project is to enhance the performance of small scale UAVs by developing novel technologies inspired by understanding how birds are adapted to interact with airflows. Small UAVs have the potential to dramatically change current practices in many areas such as, search and rescue, surveillance, and environmental monitoring. Currently the utility of these systems is limited by their operational endurance and their inability to operate in strong turbulent winds, especially those that often occur in urban environments. Birds are adapted to be able to fly in these conditions and actually use them to their advantage to minimise their energy output.
This project is composed of three tracks which contain elements of technology development, as well as scientific investigation looking at bird flight behaviour and aerodynamics. The first track looks at developing path planning algorithms for UAVs in urban environments based on how birds fly in these areas, by using GPS tracking and computational fluid dynamics alongside trajectory optimization. The second track aims to develop artificial wings with improved gust tolerance inspired by the features of feathered wings. Here, high speed video measurements of birds flying through gusts will be used alongside wind tunnel testing of artificial wings to discover what features of a bird’s wing help to alleviate gusts. The third track develops novel force and flow sensor arrays for autonomous flight control based on the sensor arrays found in flying animals. These arrays will be used to make UAVs with increased agility and robustness. This unique bird inspired approach uses biology to show what is possible, and engineering to find the features that enable this performance and develop them into functional technologies.
Summary
The agile and efficient flight of birds shows what flight performance is physically possible, and in theory could be achieved by unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) of the same size. The overall aim of this project is to enhance the performance of small scale UAVs by developing novel technologies inspired by understanding how birds are adapted to interact with airflows. Small UAVs have the potential to dramatically change current practices in many areas such as, search and rescue, surveillance, and environmental monitoring. Currently the utility of these systems is limited by their operational endurance and their inability to operate in strong turbulent winds, especially those that often occur in urban environments. Birds are adapted to be able to fly in these conditions and actually use them to their advantage to minimise their energy output.
This project is composed of three tracks which contain elements of technology development, as well as scientific investigation looking at bird flight behaviour and aerodynamics. The first track looks at developing path planning algorithms for UAVs in urban environments based on how birds fly in these areas, by using GPS tracking and computational fluid dynamics alongside trajectory optimization. The second track aims to develop artificial wings with improved gust tolerance inspired by the features of feathered wings. Here, high speed video measurements of birds flying through gusts will be used alongside wind tunnel testing of artificial wings to discover what features of a bird’s wing help to alleviate gusts. The third track develops novel force and flow sensor arrays for autonomous flight control based on the sensor arrays found in flying animals. These arrays will be used to make UAVs with increased agility and robustness. This unique bird inspired approach uses biology to show what is possible, and engineering to find the features that enable this performance and develop them into functional technologies.
Max ERC Funding
1 998 546 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-04-01, End date: 2021-09-30
Project acronym BIO-ORIGAMI
Project Meta-biomaterials: 3D printing meets Origami
Researcher (PI) Amir Abbas Zadpoor
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE8, ERC-2015-STG
Summary Meta-materials, best known for their extraordinary properties (e.g. negative stiffness), are halfway from both materials and structures: their unusual properties are direct results of their complex 3D structures. This project introduces a new class of meta-materials called meta-biomaterials. Meta-biomaterials go beyond meta-materials by adding an extra dimension to the complex 3D structure, i.e. complex and precisely controlled surface nano-patterns. The 3D structure gives rise to unprecedented or rare combination of mechanical (e.g. stiffness), mass transport (e.g. permeability, diffusivity), and biological (e.g. tissue regeneration rate) properties. Those properties optimize the distribution of mechanical loads and the transport of nutrients and oxygen while providing geometrical shapes preferable for tissue regeneration (e.g. higher curvatures). Surface nano-patterns communicate with (stem) cells, control their differentiation behavior, and enhance tissue regeneration.
There is one important problem: meta-biomaterials cannot be manufactured with current technology. 3D printing can create complex shapes while nanolithography creates complex surface nano-patterns down to a few nanometers but only on flat surfaces. There is, however, no way of combining complex shapes with complex surface nano-patterns. The groundbreaking nature of this project is in solving that deadlock using the Origami concept (the ancient Japanese art of paper folding). In this approach, I first decorate flat 3D-printed sheets with nano-patterns. Then, I apply Origami techniques to fold the decorated flat sheet and create complex 3D shapes. The sheet knows how to self-fold to the desired structure when subjected to compression, owing to pre-designed joints, crease patterns, and thickness/material distributions that control its mechanical instability. I will demonstrate the added value of meta-biomaterials in improving bone tissue regeneration using in vitro cell culture assays and animal models
Summary
Meta-materials, best known for their extraordinary properties (e.g. negative stiffness), are halfway from both materials and structures: their unusual properties are direct results of their complex 3D structures. This project introduces a new class of meta-materials called meta-biomaterials. Meta-biomaterials go beyond meta-materials by adding an extra dimension to the complex 3D structure, i.e. complex and precisely controlled surface nano-patterns. The 3D structure gives rise to unprecedented or rare combination of mechanical (e.g. stiffness), mass transport (e.g. permeability, diffusivity), and biological (e.g. tissue regeneration rate) properties. Those properties optimize the distribution of mechanical loads and the transport of nutrients and oxygen while providing geometrical shapes preferable for tissue regeneration (e.g. higher curvatures). Surface nano-patterns communicate with (stem) cells, control their differentiation behavior, and enhance tissue regeneration.
There is one important problem: meta-biomaterials cannot be manufactured with current technology. 3D printing can create complex shapes while nanolithography creates complex surface nano-patterns down to a few nanometers but only on flat surfaces. There is, however, no way of combining complex shapes with complex surface nano-patterns. The groundbreaking nature of this project is in solving that deadlock using the Origami concept (the ancient Japanese art of paper folding). In this approach, I first decorate flat 3D-printed sheets with nano-patterns. Then, I apply Origami techniques to fold the decorated flat sheet and create complex 3D shapes. The sheet knows how to self-fold to the desired structure when subjected to compression, owing to pre-designed joints, crease patterns, and thickness/material distributions that control its mechanical instability. I will demonstrate the added value of meta-biomaterials in improving bone tissue regeneration using in vitro cell culture assays and animal models
Max ERC Funding
1 499 600 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-02-01, End date: 2022-01-31
