Požadovaný rozpočet: 195.000 EUR

The ultimate objective of the project is to start a new interdisciplinary computer graphics research group in the return host under the direction of the fellow. This leading position will allow him to fully exploit the skills acquired during the outgoing stage at the renowned Cornell University Program of Computer Graphics, and will be the foundation of his long-term independent research career. The central source of the new skills will be the execution of the proposed research, where our goal is to allow the artists in film production to create more compelling realistic computer-generated imagery through establishing global illumination as a common tool for image rendering. To reach this goal, we propose several novel scientific aspects, the most significant being the study of visual importance of various distance components of light transport on the perceived quality of synthetic images. Results of this study will drive the design choices in our development of new algorithms and data structures, such as: a) new illumination caching strategies for efficient global illumination computation in scenes with complex geometry and materials, b) memory-efficient representation of the light transport operator for real-time relighting in cinematic lighting design. In addition, a novel interface will be developed to provide artistic control over global illumination computation. The proposed research, encompassing several disciplines, such as psychophysics and cognitive sciences, statistical data modeling, and human-computer interaction, is designed specifically to deepen and widen fellow’s expertise and add to his multidisciplinary skills.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 132.000 EUR

In the field of Fine Arts are the National Histories of Art a construct that has no support in the language or borders of modern National states. This project is applying the idea of the Hegelian concept of coherent narrative history of causes and effects to the pan-European scale, where the language in the Hegel’s concept is replaced by visual symbol. I plan to further develop my research work on the socially critical and heretic iconography in the 15th Century and their reflection in later history; particularly the situation after execution of Jan Hus in Constance and Basel during the major church councils, where artists were present among many other observers and thus pictorial images may be analyzed. The violent, public death of a human being a strong impulse to the other individuals and thus its image is often found on a piece of art, or religious texts of those times. The research project and its deliverables will focus on the iconography of heretics in the 15th Century and typology of Jan Hus. It will examine various iconographic indexes and manuscripts in relation to the councils in Konstanz and Basel. The research will go through the first negative references from the 15th century about the Hussites and it will compare the written sources with the imagery of the time. The second part of the research will focus on the reception of Jan Hus in Bohemia by the Utraquist church and in Germany by Martin Luther. This part of research will focus on the imagery of Jan Hus in the Central European counter-reformation. The third part of the research will deal with the visual perception of Jan Hus in the 19th Century. The fourth part of the research project will study the importace of the Hussite movement for Marxist historiografy and the symbols it had in the twentieth century. The historici overview will end by the Prague spring 1968, hen two students decided to burn themselves publicly and drove an immense attention of the former Eastern bloc artists.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 147.000 EUR

Alcohol binging is a massive social phenomenon affecting young people in most European countries. We have only very limited information on the modulating factors of alcohol binging and on its health consequences. Nevertheless, major health complications, enhanced mortality rates, alterations in eating behavior (e.g. binge eating and changes in macronutrient selection) and increased number of alcoholics are expected in the next decades due to current adolescent binge drinking.  BINGEDRINK aims to study the behavioral consequences and the neurobiological underpinnings of alcohol binging during adolescence in a life-span perspective. A systems-oriented longitudinal study in rats will be used to study the effects of alcohol binging on (i) the extent of brain damage by voxel based morphometry in a 9.4T animal scanner, (ii) on adult alcohol and food consumption, (iii) and the development of addictive behavior. Modulating factors of alcohol binging such as stress and gender differences will be also studied. The proposed project will also analyze neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol binging and its behavioral consequences. In particular, the role of (i) the dopaminergic reinforcement system, (ii) the endocannaboinoid system and (iii) appetite-regulating peptides in mediating alcohol binging in adolescents and its behavioral consequences in adulthood will be examined. For these studies unique mutant rat models bearing a point mutation with a loss or gain of function either in the dopamine or endocannabinoid system will be used. BINGEDRINK project will bring better understanding of the risk and modulatory factors of alcohol binging which will provide the basis for preventive intervention strategies. In addition, health consequences, especially brain damage and alterations in later alcohol drinking and eating behaviour will be defined. The accompanying neurobiological studies will help to establish better pharmacological treatment strategies for alcohol-use disorders.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 4.147.000 EUR

The SUPRAMAC network aims to train the Early stage researchers within a consortium composed of 14 academic groups, private companies and industrial partners with world-leading expertise in supra-molecular and physical chemistry of (bio)polymer and colloidal systems, transferred to bio-nanotechnology and in the production of water-based functional polymer materials. The composition of the consortium is carefully and purposefully selected in order to provide the critical mass of knowledge absolutely necessary for addressing all the research and training objectives of this interdisciplinary project. The good manageability of the project is ensured by well-defined structure of the project, good record of bilateral collaborations and efficient administrative staff of the Project management department at the coordinating institution experienced in managing of EC projects. The research program aims at establishing a novel concept and experimental strategies to design new classes of synthetic polymers and hybrid (bio-conjugate) macromolecules tailored for the co-assembly into hierarchically organized multi-compartment nanostructures with pre-defined properties in aqueous environments. Such research objectives can be achieved only on the basis of a profound understanding of the systematic relationship between the macromolecular architecture in 3-dimensional design parameter space (composition, chemical sequence and topology), routes of molecular self and co-assembly and the properties of resulting supra-molecular nano-assemblies.

Žadatel: Akademie věd ČR

Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.211.661 EUR

The ultimate goal of the NanoCat network is to train Early Stage Researchers in the domain of advanced hybrid organic/inorganic materials and chemical catalysis within a consortium composed of academic groups at top-level European universities, private companies and industrial sites. The partners represent world-leading expertise in synthetic polymer, supra-molecular and organometallic chemistry and catalysis, transferred to the production of high added value hybrid materials for energy-efficient applications. The critical mass of knowledge assembled will ensure the quality of the training program and enables reaching the research and training objectives. The objective of the project is to create a trans-European collaboration and to build up a rational, theory-guided research platform for the development of novel generations of hybrid organic-inorganic materials providing novel properties outperforming state of the art solutions in terms of energy and resource-efficiency and environmental protection for large-scale chemical production. This requires deeper understanding of mechanisms and relationships of directed hierarchical multi-scale supra-molecular assembly.The NanoCat will address the urgent EU need in highly qualified researchers and engineers with a background in synthetic and physical chemistry of hybrid functional materials and chemical catalysis. This new generation of young researchers will be educated on fundamental research background and will become capable to apply diverse experimental techniques, theoretical concepts and modeling approaches in order to easily enter emerging research fields with a major impact on future knowledge-intensive technologies in EU area. We want to ensure leading position of Europe in materials science and technology. A part of the training program is dedicated to RTD soft skills. By inviting partners from the private sector, we aim to expose the Early Stage Researchers to the industrial environment and working culture.

Žadatel: Ústav makromolekulární chemie AV ČR

Požadovaný rozpočet: 100.000 EUR

The proposed project aims to study the effects of automotive foreign direct investment (FDI) on industrial upgrading and regional economic development in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The research project is designed to deliver policy recommendations contributing to the effective implementation of the EU Cohesion and Regional Policies; and allows the principal investigator to develop a personal network for future international research collaboration dealing with the effects of FDI, the automotive industry and regional development in the context of the EU. The knowledge will be transferred to the host institution, Karlova univerzita in Prague, in the form of teaching, training and supervising both pre- and post-doctoral students. As the automotive industry has become a leading industrial sector in both countries, the research project studies its effects on national and regional economic development. The research particularly focuses upon the evaluation of FDI effects on industrial upgrading, development of supply linkages with local small and medium sized enterprises, and the transfer of knowledge from foreign-owned to domestic companies. The research project also aims to evaluate regional assets and advantages for the automotive industry and to what extent they fit the strategic needs of transnational corporations. The project uses an interdisciplinary approach as it draws on research traditions in three different disciplines: research on regional development and production networks in economic geography, research on FDI, automotive industry and spillover effects in economics, and research on global value chains and economic embeddedness in industrial sociology. The financial support to the proposed project will allow the re-integration of the highly experienced US-based researcher back to his home institution in the Czech Republic and thus will further support the competitiveness and attractiveness of the European Research Area.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 127.000 EUR

Jan Hus is not only a nationalist symbol for the Czech nation. His execution also strongly influenced the history of whole Europe and has important repercussions in nowadays Europe, namely in the identity of the EU. In relation to the upcoming 600th anniversary of the Jan Hus execution, the HusVISION aims to map the understanding of his image in breaking moments of the European history focusing specifically on reformation and contra reformation, period of formation of national identities and finally on the role of Jan Hus in the European identity. The project is applying the idea of the Hegelian concept of coherent narrative history of causes and effects on pan-European scale, where the language in the Hegel’s concept is replaced by visual symbol. The HusVISION will analyze the meanings that the image of Jan Hus acquired during the history and the role that the martyr played in the formation of the European identity. It represents an innovative approach to the study of Jan Hus, as it will use the perspective of Fine arts combined with the sociological and political science approaches. A representative image Art monograph for the 600th anniversary of Jan Hus is planned to be the main outcome of the investigation. The Monograph will not only bring to present the instrumentalisation of the use of Jan Hus image, it will also be a unique collection of various historical and religious references and scarce and valuable sources. The research and the resulting monograph will contribute to better understanding of the past and will provide a basis for the reflection of the European identity.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.197.567 EUR

The NEW-DENT project is based on a research in the area of dental treatment, specifically the denture application. The new method called SET was developed, but it has not been thoroughly tested on patients yet. As a general goal of this project, we want to compare this method with classic approaches to denture manufacturing. The comparison will be done through a multicentric study, standardized research at all participating sites. The network will include dental clinics and academic institutions in each participating country. We will compare both methods from several perspectives. We will monitor time needed for the treatment, costs of the whole procedure, material demands etc. Patients themselves will assess the SET method through a questionnaire. Based on these questionnaires, we will monitor the changes in patients’ quality of lives. The NEW-DENT initial training network will aim at Early Stage Researchers as well as Experienced Researchers. Those students and researchers will develop their personal competences on carrying out the research agenda. All of them will also learn this innovative technique, which will enrich their curricula. There are three summer schools planned during the project, each of them covering one of the research thematic axes. All PhD and postdoc students will attend all three summer schools together with few external students. Besides academic lectures and courses delivered by specialists from the participating institutions, there is a complementary training planned as well. The proposed research will not only further develop the SET method itself, but it will also help young researchers to start their academic careers. Altogether, the NEW-DENT project will hire 12 students who will complete their entire PhD studies. Two researchers shall habilitate by the end of the project. 

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 156.000 EUR

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage. RONAP project focuses on the role of sodium channels (Nav) in pain mechanisms. It adopts a holistic approach towards the pain research from the molecular level, over the organ level, to the observation of the pain mechanisms at the level of living organism. To fulfil the global goal of the project, the fellow will focus on two major research lines: (i) the characterization of slow inactivation properties of the Nav, and (ii) characterization of Nav1.8 channel under physiological state of the body and under neuropathic pain conditions. The project will be carried out under supervision of Prof. Peter Reeh at the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology at Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. The host organization disposes with a unique combination of specific techniques and methods in the study of pain mechanism, enabling complex approach to the understanding of mechanisms of pain. Besides the scientific aims, the training aim of the proposed fellowship is to broaden the fellow’s knowledge and competencies in the pain study at the cellular and molecular levels. Moreover, the fellow´s own expertise in the in vivo pain modelling and in vivo evaluation of pain complements the existing gaps in the research methods at the host laboratory. The transfer of his current knowledge towards the host research group therefore increases the added value of the fellowship, as it helps to strengthen the European Research Area in the field of pain research.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 167.000 EUR

The Wilms tumour 1 (WT1) gene is used as marker of minimal residual disease, a target for immunotherapy and a tool for patient risk stratification making it unique among targets in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Despite more than a decade of work the precise role of WT1 in normal and malignant haematopoiesis has not been established. Indeed a highly complex picture is emerging with WT1 implicated in regulation of cell survival, proliferation and differentiation, as well as functioning on occasion as either a tumour suppressor or an oncogene. My host group recently demonstrated that mutations in WT1 occur at a frequency of 10% in AML, cluster to exons 7/9 and are associated with a reduction in relapse free and overall survival. These results have been confirmed in international series of >4000 primary cases of both adult and paediatric AML. However, functional analysis of these mutations is complicated by the existence of multiple WT1 splice variants and maintenance of normal wild-type expression. I am proposing to use a new technology called CompoZr Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) in order to recapitulate these truncating mutations in WT1 wildtype AML cell lines. Comparison of these mutated, null and parental lines that differ only in their WT1 status, will allow me to determine a) if WT1 mutations or loss of WT1 contribute to drug resistance as seen in patients b) identify the pathways altered in response mutation/loss of WT1 and c) mechanisms by which mutations exert their effects. I believe that the strength of the proposal, by combining both a clinical and basic research approach, is the opportunity to take these known prognostic observations a step forward with a view to identifying novel treatment strategies to target more effectively the myeloblast and leukaemic stem cell compartments in this disease, which could lead to a resultant improvement in patient outcome.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 1.972.980 EUR

POLYAQUASONS network aims to train early stage researchers within a consortium composed of academic groups and industrial partners with world-leading expertise in supra-molecular and physical chemistry of polymer and bio-hybrid systems transferred to bionanotechnologies and in production of water-based functional polymer materials. We aim at establishing a novel concept and synthetic routes to obtain new classes of synthetic polymers and hybrid macromolecules tailored for co-assembly into hierarchically organized multi-compartment nanostructures with pre-defined properties and tailored to perform such specific functions in aqueous environment as (i) bio-nanoreactors for enzymatic (cascade) reactions (ii) nano-catalytic systems; (iii) smart multi-compartment nano-containers and (iv) molecular templates. Joint expertise of the consortium covers the entire field of (bio)macromolecular and colloid science from synthetic and physical polymer chemistry to theoretical modelling and computer simulations that guarantees strong synergic effect of our collaboration. We propose a rational multidisciplinary research approach targeting at understanding of mechanisms of supra-molecular hetero-assembly in aqueous media. Proposed training program matches the EU need for highly qualified researchers with a background in synthetic and physical nanochemistry of water-based functional polymer materials capable to apply diverse experimental techniques, modelling approaches and exposed to the industrial working culture. Important part of the training programme is dedicated to RTD soft skills. The proposed research concept will enable us to create a toolbox and prototypes of novel (bio) functional polymer materials operating in aqueous environment. This will significantly contribute to advances in the fields of sustainable non-toxic bio- and nano-technologies, health-care, environmental monitoring and protection and in supporting sustainable development and life quality in the EU.

Žadatel: Akademie věd ČR

Požadovaný rozpočet: 157.000 EUR

Even though there is a general consensus that rehabilitation plays important role in maintaining and improving balance of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), it is not clear which of the existing approaches obtains better results and therefore is more effective. COPHYRE project will compare short-term and persistent influence of facilitation and task-oriented physiotherapeutic approaches to balance impairment of patients with MS in the phase of remission. These two conceptually different approaches will be compared in the multi-centre, prospective, single blinded, block randomised controlled trial with the aim to determine which of the therapies is more successful in reducing the balance impairment, frequency and seriousness of falls, and improving walking ability, autonomy in daily life activities and quality of life of the patients with MS. The research objectives of COPHYRE are: 1) to identify mechanisms of falls and balance impairment in MS; 2) to understand the principles of each treatment approach, 3) to assess the effectiveness of the treatments of balance impairment, patient’s level of participation and quality of life, and 4) to understand the implication of each approach with respect to organization of health care system, requirements in terms of knowledge and clinical setting. The results of COPHYRE will provide an overview identifying the best treatment for defined specific problem related to MS. Based on the research findings, the algorithm for effective rehabilitative treatment of patients with MS will be prepared, with specific focus on balance impairment and on reductions of falls. Considering the scope and the complication related with the treatment of MS, the significance of the COPHYRE can be seen in socio-economic, legal and medical terms.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.728.591 EUR

The ultimate goal of the EuMAC network is to train Early Stage Researchers in the domain of advanced polymer material science within a consortium composed of academic groups at top-level European universities, private companies and industrial sites. The partners represent world-leading expertise in synthetic, supra-molecular and physical chemistry of (bio)polymer and colloidal systems, transferred to the production of high added value polymer materials. The critical mass of knowledge assembled will ensure the quality of the training program and enables reaching the research and training objectives. The objective of the project is to create a trans-European collaboration and to build up a theory-guided research platform for the development of novel generations of advanced functional polymers for applications in emergent hi-tech domains. This will also enable us to develop polymer materials with novel properties, improving state of the art solutions in terms of energy and resource-efficiency and environmental protection for large-scale chemical production. This objective requires deeper understanding of mechanisms and relationships of supra-molecular hetero-assembly in aqueous media. EuMAC project addresses the urgent EU need in highly qualified researchers and engineers with a background in synthetic and physical nanochemistry of water-based functional polymer materials. This new generation of young researchers will be trained in fundamental science and will become capable to apply diverse experimental techniques, theoretical concepts and modeling approaches in supramolecular chemistry. This will allow the fellows to easily enter emergent research fields and it will have a major impact on future knowledge-intensive technologies in EU area. Finally, by inviting partners from the private sector, we are able to expose the Early Stage ultimate goal of the EuMAC network is to train Early Stage Researchers in the domain of advanced polymer material science within a consortium composed of academic groups at top-level European universities, private companies and industrial sites. The partners represent world-leading expertise in synthetic, supra-molecular and physical chemistry of (bio)polymer and colloidal systems, transferred to the production of high added value polymer materials. The critical mass of knowledge assembled will ensure the quality of the training program and enables reaching the research and training objectives. objective of the project is to create a trans-European collaboration and to build up a theory-guided research platform for the development of novel generations of advanced functional polymers for applications in emergent hi-tech domains. This will also enable us to develop polymer materials with novel properties, improving state of the art solutions in terms of energy and resource-efficiency and environmental protection for large-scale chemical production. This objective requires deeper understanding of mechanisms and relationships of supra-molecular hetero-assembly in aqueous media. EuMAC project addresses the urgent EU need in highly qualified researchers and engineers with a background in synthetic and physical nanochemistry of water-based functional polymer materials. This new generation of young researchers will be trained in fundamental science and will become capable to apply diverse experimental techniques, theoretical concepts and modeling approaches in supramolecular chemistry. This will allow the fellows to easily enter emergent research fields and it will have a major impact on future knowledge-intensive technologies in EU area. Finally, by inviting partners from the private sector, we are able to expose the Early Stage Researchers the industrial environment and its working culture.

Žadatel: Akademie věd ČR

Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.211.661 EUR

The spontaneous assembly of amphiphilic macromolecules in aqueous media, amply exemplified in nature, is the most promising bottom-up technological approach for fabrication of functional polymer materials and nano-scale devices. Some of the most important examples are encapsulation, controlled delivery and release of biologically active molecules in biomedicine, food industry and agro-chemistry, uptake and pre-concentration of toxic organic compounds and heavy metal ions in water treatment and environmental monitoring, or templates for nano-electronic devices. The public and private expenditures in the EU Member States dedicated to the research on advanced resource- and energyefficient functional materials, are comparable to similar expenditures of the technology leader countries in the world and are strongly motivated by the public demand for resource efficiency and environmental protection. However, these financial efforts are still fragmented and no easy way of using the resources and of knowledge exchange is available at the moment. In order to improve the conditions of research cooperation specifically with industry, a key player in the field (BASF) was invited to join the consortium as a full partner. In our view, the ultimate involvement of BASF as a full network partner will assure that the EU resources will be used to foster the exploitation of the research ideas across Europe as the leading research institutions from five European countries are proposing a joint initial training network, capitalising the involvement of the biggest European industrial player in the field of chemistry that will assure that the research agenda of the training network has a high relevance for the industrial applications.

Žadatel: Akademie věd ČR

Požadovaný rozpočet: 3.488.807 EUR

The spontaneous assembly of amphiphilic macromolecules in aqueous media, amply exemplified in nature, is the most promising bottom-up technological approach for fabrication of functional polymer materials and nano-scale devices. Some of the most important examples are encapsulation, controlled delivery and release of biologically active molecules in biomedicine, food industry and agro-chemistry, uptake and pre-concentration of toxic organic compounds and heavy metal ions in water treatment and environmental monitoring, or templates for nano-electronic devices. The public and private expenditures in the EU Member States dedicated to the research on advanced resource- and energy efficient functional materials, are comparable to similar expenditures of the technology leader countries in the world and are strongly motivated by the public demand for resource efficiency and environmental protection. However, these financial efforts are still fragmented and no easy way of using the resources and of knowledge exchange is available at the moment. In order to improve the conditions of research cooperation specifically with industry, a number of key players in the field were invited to join the consortium as partners. In our view, their ultimate involvement as the network partners will assure that the EU resources will be used to foster the exploitation of the research ideas across Europe as the leading research institutions from five European countries are proposing a joint European training network, capitalising the involvement of the biggest European industrial player in the field of chemistry that will assure that the research agenda of the training network has a high relevance for the industrial applications.

Žadatel: Akademie věd ČR

Požadovaný rozpočet: 186.954 EUR

The main aim of this project is to improve Dr. Šejnohová´s independent thinking, extend her leadership qualities, and project management skills on international level by collaboration with Institute of Bioprocess Engineering (BVT), University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. The host institution will contribute to broadening the competencies of the researcher in the field of cultivation in photobioreactors, characterisation and extraction of secondary metabolites from micro-algae. Dr. Šejnohová will bring knowledge about microalgae obtained at Karlova univerzita in Prague and experiences from 8 years of laboratory work at Czech Academy of Sciences. The strains are mostly from the class Eustigmatophyceae which has a great potential for use in biotechnology strains and are not included in SERI microalgae culture collection (USA). The research output of the project will be in the form “Microalga(e) passport" available for industrial use contains description of morphology and life cycles, ability of phosphorus fixation, list of substances and additionally information about ultrastructure and sequencing of multiple genetic markers (18S rDNA, rbcL, ITS). Microalga(e) passport will be protected by relevant category of intellectual property. The acquired know-how and internationals contacts Dr. Šejnohová will use for foundation of the new working group “Applied phycology” at Czech Academy of Sciences as the contact point for industry. Finally, IEF funding will be very positive for the development of the researcher but also for transfer of the research to practice.

Žadatel: Akademie věd ČR

Požadovaný rozpočet: 190.000 EUR

The research proposal relates to gerbes and their generalizations. In particular, it relates to bundle 2-gerbes, bicategory bundles and supersymmetric T-duality.Concerning bundle 2-gerbes, I propose to work out the theory of connections, including higher nonabelian connections (B-field, C-field), for 2-crossed module 2-bundle gerbes. One of the expected results is a proof of the existence of such connections on a 2-crossed module bundle 2-gerbe. Another expected result is a local description of such connections in terms of properly defined “nonabelian Deligne 3- cocycles”, the nonabelian bundle 2-gerbe with its connections being a geometric representative of such a nonabelian Deligne 3-cocycle. Concerning bicategory bundles, I propose to formulate and prove a generalization of the Diaconescu's theorem, the “2-Diaconescu's theorem’’, for small bicategories. In particular, to categorify the Diaconescu's theorem and its proof described by Moerdijk in LNM 1616. Hence, the proposal concerns a natural biequivalence of two 2-categories. The first one is the 2-category of geometric 2-morphisms from the 2-topos of stacks on a topological space to the classifying 2-topos of a small bicategory (the 2-topos of 2-presaheaves on the small category) and the second one is the 2-category of properly defined principal bicategory bundles over the topological space. The aim is to provide one possible answer to the question: “What does the classifying space of a (small) bicategory classify?” Concerning supersymmetric T-duality, I propose, starting from Buscher’s rules given by Berkovits and Maldacena, to work out a global formulation of the fermionic T-duality in terms of principal super circle bundles and super (bundle) gerbes, the latter to be worked out within this research proposal. In order to obtain nontrivial results, supermanifolds with nontrivial topology in the fermionic directions will have to be considered, i.e., supermanifolds more general then the deWitt supermanifolds.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 190.000 EUR

Obesity, atherosclerosis and their consequences belong to the most serious health problems of 21st century with increased prevalence reaching epidemic rate all over the world. They are characterized by increased circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines (e.g. IL-6, TNF-, MCP1), and acute phase proteins (e.g. SAA, CRP). Moreover, this condition induced by a chronic-inflammatory state in the body is accompanied by the elevated accumulation of immune cells into arterial walls and insulin-sensitive tissues. In interaction with neighbouring cells, they could influence secretion activity of adipocytes and endothelial cells. Therefore, immune cells, especially macrophages are considered as one of the key players in the pathogenesis of obesity, atherosclerosis and their consequences. The main goal of the MACROMET project is to characterize the phenotype and function of macrophages in AT and atherosclerotic plaques and to describe their role in the development of metabolic complications. The project will be focused on the finding of the reliable markers for identification of particular subtypes of macrophages and unveiling the mechanisms of macrophage activation in different chronic inflammatory condition in the body. It will be based on the study of the co-culture systems used various specific cell types and experiments with cells obtained from patients with different metabolic diagnosis. This proposed project would bring a new knowledge on macrophage nature in response to diverse pathophysiological environment. Morevoer, the obtained data should contribute to the development of cellbased diagnostic assays providing information about the prognosis of obesity-related complications.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 100.000 EUR

The proposed project (ReACTim) aims to identify so far elusive cell reprogramming mechanisms that prevent increase in efficiency of adoptive cell transfer (ACT)-based active cellular immunotherapy (further referred to as ACT-based cancer vaccine). This immunotherapy has shown high therapeutic potential ex vivo in multiple studies, but its introduction to clinical practice has been a disappointment. ReACTim will use a novel ex vivo study system that combines multiple cell-type models simulating the in vivo cell reprogramming in prostate cancer to uncover the critical momentum that renders these vaccines inefficient – the project rationale expects the in vivo microenvironment in which these vaccines are supposed to deliver their therapeutic impact to be the cause of this cell reprogramming. A large majority of contemporary studies has not yet addressed this phenomenon because they focus on immediate impact of various stimuli on cells of interest, whereas this cell reprogramming is induced by chronic stimulations the cell surrounding milieu elicits. The cell-type models will be represented by the (i) T cell- and dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines, (ii) prostate cancer cell lines, and (iii) mast cell lines, thus involving the key players expected to be both the target and the cause of the cell reprogramming in prostate cancer. The reprogramming process will be analyzed on the molecular level and the signalling mechanisms responsible for this process will be further investigated. Identification of the key signalling targets that may prevent undesired reprogramming would allow a design of new generation of ACT-based cancer vaccines that would be resistant to the cell reprogramming in vivo and therefore capable to deliver a profound therapeutic impact in the clinical practice.

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 100.000 EUR

The proposed project (‘Recancellim’) aims to identify so far elusive mechanisms cancer cells use to survive multiple immunotherapeutic interventions, namely the adoptive cell transfer (ACT)-based active cellular immunotherapy (ACT-ACI). Recancellim hypothesizes that cancer cells utilize cell reprogramming as the key mechanism through which they neutralize the therapeutic impacts of multiple ACT-ACIs. This reprogramming is assumed to allow the cancer cells to hijack immune cells of the patient to protect them from the impacts of ACT-ACI. Recancellim proposes to use a novel ex vivo study systém that combines multiple cell-type models to simulate the reprogramming process ex vivo, in order to uncover the critical momentum that allow the cancer cells to take control over the immune system. The cell-type models will be represented by the (i) effector cells used in ACT-ACI, (ii) model prostate cancer cell lines, and (iii) the sentinels of the cancer cell-elicited cell reprogramming - the mast cells. The reprogramming process will be analyzed on the molecular level and the signalling mechanisms responsible for this process will be further investigated. Recancellim will primarily focus on identification of novel markers of cancer-elicited reprogramming and such signaling pathways that are critical for the reprogramming process. Identification of novel markers of cell reprogramming will allow development of new diagnostic tools to better characterize the cancer disease state. Identification of the key signalling targets that may prevent undesired cancer cell-elicited reprogramming will allow a design of a new generation of ACT-ACI that will be capable alone or in combination with other therapeutic approaches to break the cancer cell resistance in vivo. Finally, the proposed project will also allow reintegration of the Žadatel in the European research community after 5 year postdoctoral stay at the NIAID/NIH in the United States. 

Žadatel: Univerzita Karlova

Požadovaný rozpočet: 15.182.402 EUR

The STIGMA consortium aims to develop new therapeutic tools to allow the acceleration of research on mechanisms of action and the development of treatments targeting cognitive dysfunction in Schizophrenia. The concept of the STIGMA project is to develop for the first time a multidisciplinary approach to rapidly find more effective and safer solutions. European scientific leaders in Schizophrenia field, patients’ association and academics support jointly the SME coordinator in the STIGMA project. The research program begins by studying the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in Schizophrenia in order to develop human models. Innovative translational strategies are then applied for preclinical activities transposing the best tools to animal models and then screen various mechanisms of action for treatment. In parallel, a number of marketed compounds will be tested off label to rapidly provide data in humans and the efficacy of the selected ones will then be confirmed in schizophrenics as an add-on therapy or with a specific use modality. If successful, it is expected to obtain a portfolio of sensitive biomarkers used for the identification of mechanisms of action and a new class of therapeutic agents suitable for treatment of cognitive impairments in Schizophrenia. New well disseminated knowledge will contribute to better understand brain dysfunction in Schizophrenia and to improve the management of the disease and the high healthcare costs.

Žadatel: Forenap FRP

Požadovaný rozpočet: 1.200.000 EUR

Our general objective is to develop a specific knowledge for the directly involved SMEs, who need to outsource their research activities, in order to be able to introduce a significant innovation to the market. In ENTRE we aim to develop a highly competitive knowledge, which will result into a functional prototype of innovative solar conversion system with a number of patented outcomes, clearly in the interest of SMEs, participating in the project due to the economic return they expect to generate. In ENTRE project the consortium is also well balanced to support the SMEs in need of outsourcing research activities to RTD performers. Finally, partner from the category ‘Other enterprises and end-users' is involved, as to coordinate the dissemination efforts, particularly due to the involvement of three independent European SMEs, who belong to similar, yet different, level of the same technology supply chain.

Žadatel: Alumistr s.r.o.