Objective
A fundamental difference between man-made and living matter is metabolism: the ability to dissipate
chemical energy to drive many different chemical processes out of equilibrium. Metabolism endows
chemical systems within living organisms with properties that are standard in biology but odd in chemistry:
the capability to process information, to move and to react to the external world.
My goal is to endow soft materials with dynamic life-like properties. I have chosen four: molecular
computation, movement, self-construction and the capacity to entertain complex chemical conversations
with living cells. To do so I will embed stimuli-responsive materials with a biocompatible synthetic
metabolism capable of sustaining autonomous chemical feedback loops that process information and
perform autonomous macroscopic actions. My approach combines concepts from systems chemistry,
synthetic biology and DNA molecular programming with soft materials and uses a biochemical system
that I have contributed to pioneer: DNA/enzyme active solutions that remain out of equilibrium by
consuming a chemical fuel with non-trivial reaction kinetics. This system has three unique properties:
programmability, biocompatibility and a long-term metabolic autonomy.
Metabolic matter will be assembled in two stages: i) enabling metabolic materials with dynamic chemical,
biological and mechanical responses, and ii) creating metabolic materials with unprecedented properties,
in particular, the capacity of self-construction, which I will seek by emulating embryogenesis, and
the ability to autonomously pattern a community of living cells. By doing this I will create for the first
time chemical matter that is both dynamically and structurally complex, thus bringing into the realm of
synthetic chemistry behaviors that so far only existed in biological systems. In the long term, metabolic
matter could provide revolutionary solutions for soft robotics and tissue engineering
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2017-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75794 PARIS
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.