ERC FUNDED PROJECTS

Quantum simulators (QS) are experimental systems that allow mimic hard to simulate models of condensed matter, high energy physics and beyond. QS have various platforms: from ultracold atoms and ions to superconducting qubits. They constitute the important pillar of quantum technologies (QT), and promise future applications in chemistry, material science and optimization problems. Over the last decade, QS were particularly successful in mimicking topological effects in physics (TEP) and in developing accurate quantum validation/certification (QVC) methods. NOQIA is a theory project, aimed at introducing the established field of QS+TEP+QVC into two novel areas: physics of ultrafast phenomena and attoscience (AS) on one side, and quantum machine learning (ML) and neural networks (NN) on the other. This will open up new horizons/opportunities for research both in AS and in ML/NN. For instance, in AS we will address the question if intense laser physics may serve as a tool to detect topological effects in solid state and strongly correlated systems. We will study response of matter to laser pulses carrying topological signatures, to determine if they can induce topological effects in targets. We will design/analyze QS using trapped atoms to understand and detect TEP in the AS. On the ML/NN side, we will apply classical ML to analyze, design and control QS for topological systems, in order to understand and optimize them. Conversely, we will transfer many-body techniques to ML in order to analyze and possibly improve performance of classical machine learning. We will design and analyze quantum neural network devices that will employ topology in order to achieve robust quantum memory or information processing. We will design/study attractor neural networks with topological stationary states, or feed-forward networks with topological Floquet and time-crystal states. Both in AS and ML/NN, NOQIA will rely on quantum validation and certification protocols and techniques.

2 164 244 €

Start date: 2019-07-01, End date: 2024-06-30

The goal of this project is to provide, to the large community of scientist working in molecular target therapies, a fast and accurate tool capable of obtaining an atomic detailed mechanism of the protein-ligand induced fit, of its recognition process and of the ligand migration. Understanding these aspects is essential to obtain better drugs with the ability, for example, of bypassing drug resistance induced by protein mutations. This resistance mechanism is currently a fundamental process that will be increasing substantially with further development of specific molecular targets. The main ideas are based on state of the art methodologies recently developed in our laboratory capable of describing these processes. PELE, our novel technology based on protein structure prediction algorithms and a Monte Carlo sampling, is capable of describing the all atom dynamical interaction between a protein and a ligand. The proposed objectives includes: 1) Continue the methodological development of PELE, 2) developing automatic protocols for the study of the drug-protein dynamical interaction, and 3) building a web server allowing public use of these development The resulting technology will allow scientist to understand the atomic mechanism for drug delivery, drug resistance, etc., in only few days, approximately in 100 hours of CPU, allowing for a la carte design of improved inhibitors in a timely fast manner (essential when probing hundreds of compounds!). The development of the modelling tools, disseminated and freely accessible by means of a web server, will be conducted at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, the Spanish national supercomputing center with one of the best computational infrastructures in Europe.

1 399 999 €

Start date: 2010-05-01, End date: 2015-04-30

Prevalent eye diseases, such as myopia, presbyopia, and corneal disease affect millions worldwide, but for now cannot be prevented. Surgical interventions of these conditions are turning to additive surgery, exemplified by corneal implants or the replacement of the natural crystalline lens by (or addition of) an intraocular lens, as it reduces complications of tissue removal surgeries. Current eye treatments involving adding tissue or lenses exist in the form of amnion bandages, corneal inlays, and intraocular lenses. However, those approaches suffer from a number of shortcomings: corneal haze or rejection; risk of disease transmission, short lifespan, need of cryopreservation and donor tissue; lack of compliance of lens designs and biomaterials. In particular, no material has been found that fully meets the requirements for mechanical properties, transparency, biocompatibility and versatility for applications in the cornea and in accommodating intraocular lenses. In recent years, silk fibroin derived from silkworm cocoons has emerged as a protein polymer for biomaterial applications. SILK-EYE will develop a new generation of corneal and intraocular implants, using silk-based materials tuned to each specific application and light enabling procedure. The silk-based implants will feature both the accessibility advantages of synthetic materials and the structural and biocompatibility properties of allografts, capitalizing on silk’s unique potential for transparency, controllable stiffness and degradability, refractive index and permeability, and their potential for light-induced cross-linking and bonding in the eye. SILK-EYE will design radically novel corneal dressings and implants, and accommodating intraocular lenses that are more biocompatible and functional than current synthetic implants, and are safer, more tunable, accessible and affordable than donor allografts, potentially revolutionizing how the major corrective procedures in ophthalmology are performed.

2 499 610 €

Start date: 2020-01-01, End date: 2024-12-31