# AXA Foundation for Human Progress: full site content

> The AXA Foundation for Human Progress supports scientific research that addresses the great challenges facing humanity.

Content in English. See [llms.txt](https://axafoundation.org/llms.txt) for the site structure.

## News and research insights

### The Claude Bébéar Grand Prize: Supporting Equal Opportunities and Civic Engagement

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-claude-bebear-grand-prize-supporting-equal-opportunities-and-civic-engagement
Published: 2026-10-09

Created by AXA with the support of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, the Claude Bébéar Grand Prize honors the Group's founder and his vision of corporate responsibility in society: "There can be no efficient economy without responsibility, no prosperous society without solidarity, and no democratic life without civic spirit." The Grand Prize supports associations that promote these values among young people, through innovative initiatives that address concrete needs and strengthen their confidence in the future. Discover the nonprofit nominees and vote from October 12 to November 8 (presentation in French) Vote (new window) A Pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility From its very inception, AXA has championed the values of solidarity and protection. A visionary, Claude Bébéar extended these values beyond the insurance business, paving the way for the civic engagement of corporate and their employees, and for the fight against inequalities. His successors, Henri de Castries and then Thomas Buberl, have continued this vision. Today, it remains the guiding compass of the AXA Group and its teams. Daring to Commit to Society, Opening Doors, Creating a Tangible Impact This legacy sets the course for the Claude Bébéar Grand Prize, an award designed to amplify the impact of associations guiding the next generation on their path to autonomy and civic engagement. They empower young people with the means to shape their own future and society. The Prize focuses on two areas of action: Civic engagement - Fostering informed citizens who can participate in democratic life, think critically and resist misinformation; Equal opportunities – Promoting access for all young people to educational, cultural and social opportunities, to reduce inequalities and strengthen social cohesion. Accelerating and Scaling Up Innovative Initiatives  The Grand Prize recognizes two categories of projects, which correspond to two stages in the development of initiatives. Their names echo two words associated with AXA's founder: audacity and conquest. The Audacity Award is aimed at nonprofits leading an innovative and ambitious initiative in need of acceleration. The winner will receive 100,000 euros over two years (50,000 euros per year), as well as dedicated support. The three nonprofits in the running are: Lumières sur l'info, with its TropMytho truck that travels to meet the public and help them understand current events; Melting Pot, which brings democracy to life in local neighborhoods; Graine d'orateur, which uses the power of public speaking to give young people in Seine-Saint-Denis a voice. The Conquest Award is intended for nonprofits that are already making a significant impact and are ready to expand their efforts nationwide. The winner will receive 200,000 euros over two years (100,000 euros per year), as well as dedicated support.  The three nonprofits in the running are: Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders) , with its Microbibli initiative which provides libraries to isolated communities; 1001mots, which helps parents whose first language is not French foster their child's language development; Le Sens de l'École, which helps students in priority areas rediscover the values and joy of school.  Participatory Philanthropy Through a Public Vote The public is invited to help select the winners of the Claude Bébéar Grand Prize. From October 12 to November 8, 2026, everyone can vote twice on the Claude Bébéar Grand Prize platform: once for the Audacity Award and once for the Conquest Award. The winners will be announced on December 3, 2026. Equal Opportunities: a Founding Commitment, a Living Conviction Associations are on the ground. They identify the needs, devise solutions and implement them. Our mission is to give them the resources to either emerge or scale their impact. And by involving the public in choosing the winners of the Claude Bébéar Grand Prize, we offer everyone the opportunity to support their actions and to play an active role in their commitment.  Clément Rouxel General Delegate of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress Read the press release Claude Bébéar Born on July 29, 1935, a graduate of the École polytechnique, Claude Bébéar joined the Anciennes Mutuelles d'assurance in Rouen in 1958. He became its CEO in 1975 and, in less than a generation, transformed this small mutual insurer from Normandy into a global insurance giant. A pioneer in corporate philanthropy, he created the Institut du Mécénat Humanitaire, which later became Les entreprises pour la Cité. He launched AXA Hearts in Action to encourage employees to engage in social and solidarity initiatives. Throughout his life, he championed a vision of business as a committed actor in society. He founded the Institut Montaigne and initiated the anonymous CV. He passed away on November 4, 2025, at the age of 90.

### Biodiversity and Health: Protecting the Living World to Protect our Lives

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/biodiversity-and-health-protecting-the-living-world-to-protect-our-lives
Published: 2026-10-02

We still too often view biodiversity as just one environmental issue among many. Yet it is essential to our food, our access to water and our medicines. As climate change accelerates its decline, preserving biodiversity is critical to our physical and mental health, our economic prosperity and the cohesion of our societies. Drawing on a wide range of expertise, the latest edition of FACTS explores the interdependence between biodiversity, health and economic development, featuring researchers, doctors, economists and field practitioners. Several scientists supported through AXA’s scientific philanthropy also share their work and perspectives. At the intersection of life sciences, public health, economics and public policy, the report sheds light on a major yet underestimated health risk: ecosystem degradation. It also explores concrete levers for action for businesses, public decision-makers and civil society. The scientific evidence is clear: it is urgent to translate it into decisions. We are delighted to present the latest issue of FACTS (#28) to which the AXA Foundation for Human Progress has contributed alongside Veolia Institute’s, with Sanofi, and under Wavestone’s coordination. Read FACTS #28 (PDF in English) Two key moments accompany the publication: A conference on october 5 - both in person at the Veolia Institute Auditorium and online, to explore the profound links between biodiversity and human health — and how science can help address these challenges. To participate Participation in the World Health Summit in Berlin, October 11-13, to bring this issue to the heart of international discussions on the future of health. Through this publication, we are joining forces with leading stakeholders to generate and disseminate knowledge that benefits society. Our ambition is to make science a foundation for dialogue between institutions and businesses, and for collective action.

### Heritage Craft Trades in France: Preserving Savoir-Faire and Securing Their Future

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/heritage-craft-trades-in-france-preserving-savoir-faire-and-securing-their-future
Published: 2026-09-24

In France, more than a third of heritage craft trades no longer have dedicated training programs. Techniques and skills passed down over centuries are now at risk of disappearing. In response to this concerning situation, an Apprentice training center (CFA, from the French centre de formation d’apprentis) dedicated to these craft trades, for which no French state-recognized diploma exists, has been established through a five-year partnership (2025–2029) under which the AXA Foundation for Human Progress has become the Lead Partner of the Manufactures nationales - Sèvres & Mobilier national . The CFA is the first pillar of this partnership, which has a twofold objective: to preserve and pass on rare skills, and to promote contemporary creation in France and internationally. It brings this ambition to life.   Its first training program, dedicated to textile dyeing, has begun in September 2026. A program in parquetry will follow in January 2027. Ensuring Skills Outlive Those Who Master Them France has 281 listed craft trades, and more than 100 of them have no dedicated training pathways. Yet these crafts are essential to creation, restoration, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Companies struggle to recruit because these trades rely on practice, observation and the repetition of specific techniques. Such skills cannot be sustained without being passed down from master to apprentice. It is this chain of transmission that the CFA aims to restore.  Our response: we must train apprentices before it’s too late. Thomas Buberl President of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress and CEO of AXA Training Programs Tailored to the Needs of Craft Businesses The CFA seeks to rebuild high-quality programs tailored to the needs of craft businesses and leading to a state-recognized qualification. It also aims to raise awareness among younger generations about these passion-driven careers, and to offer genuine, long-term professional opportunities. Apprentices will train alongside experienced professionals and their apprentice supervisors. They will also receive theoretical instruction at regional training units.  Passing on Skills: a Driving Force for Local Economic Vitality Each year, new training programs will be created based on which of these trades are at risk and on companies’ hiring needs, with support from the French Ministry of Education and local partners.  Within five years, the aim is to bring together around 20 businesses within the CFA to pass on exceptional skills, create jobs for younger generations and help local communities thrive.  Of the 50,000 savoir-faire businesses in France, over 80% are single-person entities, including auto-entrepreneurs, spread across 80% of the country. The AXA Foundation for Human Progress’s commitment therefore supports both the intergenerational transmission of skills and local and national economic vitality. A Series Following the New Generation of Artisans The “Passing the Torch” video series (“Relève assurée“ in French) will follow these future craftspeople throughout their apprenticeships. Episode by episode, it will showcase the techniques and skills they are learning today to keep them alive tomorrow.

### The AXA Foundation for Human Progress Reaffirms its Commitment to Preserving the Sites that Enrich France’s Regions, In Partnership With the Fondation du Patrimoine

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-axa-foundation-for-human-progress-reaffirms-its-commitment-to-preserving-the-sites-that-enrich-frances-regions-in-partnership-with-the-fondation-du-patrimoine
Published: 2026-09-18

A founding member of the Fondation du Patrimoine, AXA has been working alongside the foundation since 2019 as part of the Mission Patrimoine initiative led by Stéphane Bern to preserve and promote local heritage treasures. In 2025, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress renewed its commitment to the Fondation du Patrimoine for three years. This approach combines heritage safeguarding, local anchoring and citizen participation. It strengthens regional pride and social cohesion, while ensuring the transmission of heritage to future generations and supporting the local culture. It is also aimed at boosting the local economy by promoting job creation. By protecting this local heritage, we are taking action to preserve what matters and build a more resilient and inclusive future alongside our partners. Over the past seven years, AXA’s funding has helped support the preservation of 38 remarkable sites. The grant from the AXA Foundation for Human Progress complements the funds allocated by Mission Patrimoine, the program implemented by the Fondation du Patrimoine and supported by the Ministry of Culture and FDJ UNITED. Public Voting One site per major French region is sponsored (West, Ile-de-France, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, as well as one site in the overseas territories). The site is selected- from among the priority projects of the network identified by Mission Patrimoine through votes cast by AXA employees and the general public. The AXA Foundation for Human Progress provides financial support to the six selected projects.

### By supporting Safe Cyber Space, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress extends its commitment to child protection to include digital risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/by-supporting-safe-cyber-space-the-axa-foundation-for-human-progress-extends-its-commitment-to-child-protection-to-include-digital-risks
Published: 2026-09-16

Given the rapid and multifaceted growth of cyber risks, strengthening prevention initiatives at an early age is essential. That is why the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is committed to supporting Safe Cyber Space , an online risk prevention program for young people, for three-years. Launched by AXA, the program will be implemented in France, Spain, and Portugal, bringing together UNICEF France, the Simplon Foundation, and everyone.AI. Child protection is a fundamental commitment for the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, and which we carry out comprehensively - from preventing and detecting violence to protecting and helping child victims rebuild. Clément Rouxel General delegate of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress Making the digital world a place where children’s rights are respected Safe Cyber Space relies on the expertise of three partners committed to protecting young people: UNICEF France , which represents the United Nations Children's Fund in France and works to protect the rights of children in more than 190 countries and territories; Simplon Foundation , an endowment fund backed by the Simplon group. Since 2019 it has worked for an inclusive and solidarity-driven digital world, serving vulnerable groups (children and teenagers, women, unemployed or untrained young, refugees and people with disabilities); everyone.AI , a non-profit organization that studies at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence how to safeguard the cognitive and emotional development of 0- to 25-year-olds in the face of emerging AI uses. Together, these partners aim to raise awareness among teenagers, their parents and educators about digital challenges and provide them with the necessary tools to navigate them. Safe Cyber Space targets more than 15,000 middle school students in person and nearly 3 million adults and children in France, Spain and Portugal through national campaigns. This makes it one of the most far-reaching awareness programs on these issues in Europe. Technology companies on a mission for responsible digital use Safe Cyber Space leverages AXA's technological expertise to promote prevention and access to safer digital use among children, parents and educators. Supporting and protecting young people in their digital use requires action both in the design of technologies and in the way they are used. Matthieu Caillat Group Chief Technology & AI Officer and Chief Executive Officer of AXA Group Operations Safe Cyber Space, a concrete partnership The program will address the main risks associated with digital use, including phishing, cyberbullying, misinformation, digital addiction, the impact of AI on socio-emotional and cognitive development, and the responsible AI use in learning. Three key areas for building the right habits: Raising awareness among young people and adults of major digital risks : with the Simplon Foundation, the rollout of Cybervengers.club , a series of educational AXA manga, to 15,000 middle school students. UNICEF will spread the campaign, alongside training for parents, educators and AXA employees (France, Spain) to help them identify and address signs of distress. National campaigns and studies to better understand digital habits : focus groups led by UNICEF to study young people's digital habits, and the publication of a strategic report to inform policies and initiatives related to child protection online, intented for public and economic decision-makers. Training for parents and educators : co-creation with everyone.AI of training modules dedicated to parents and educators, dedicated first to AXA employees and partners, then to the general public. Support at the highest institutional level The project is also backed by Sarah El Haïry, High Commissioner for Childhood, and Najat Maalla M'jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children. The digital world cannot be a territory where companies' responsibility ends. For too long, we have asked children to adapt to the risks of tools designed by adults. This logic must be reversed: it is the digital world that must adapt to children's rights. (…) A child does not have fewer rights behind a screen. Sarah El Haïry High Commissioner for Childhood The partnership was inaugurated in the presence of Sarah El Haïry - High Commissioner for Childhood, Najat Maalla M’jid - Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ann Avril - UNICEF France, Frédéric Bardeau - Simplon Foundation, Maxime Le Bourgeois - everyone.AI, Clément Rouxel - AXA Foundation for Human Progress and Matthieu Caillat - AXA. At the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, we are convinced that protecting children is a prerequisite for social cohesion and a cornerstone of the fight against inequality. By supporting Safe Cyber Space, alongside UNICEF France, the Simplon Foundation and everyone.AI, we are reaffirming our commitment to protecting children in every area of their development. Read the press release

### The AXA Foundation for Human Progress announces four new AXA Chairs to advance health, climate, and global risk research

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-axa-foundation-for-human-progress-announces-four-new-axa-chairs-to-advance-health-climate-and-global-risk-research
Published: 2026-09-14

Science plays a critical role in how societies understand and navigate a complex and fast-changing world. Climate change, health threats, and growing inequalities are deeply interconnected challenges that call for rigorous, independent knowledge, built over time and shared openly. The AXA Foundation for Human Progress is pleased to announce the four laureates of the 2026 AXA Chair call, launched in fall 2025. These 4 new AXA Chairs were selected through a rigorous, independent peer‑review process, and will each receive up to €1 million over 5 years to develop research programs within leading academic institutions.  The selected projects reflect a shared commitment to tackling some of the most pressing challenges of our time - from  human health to planetary sustainability  - through  innovation, technology, and scientific rigor . Spanning two major thematic pillars, these initiatives demonstrate how cutting-edge research can drive meaningful, real-world impact: Health , with projects focused on improving the safety   of cancer treatments notably through artificial intelligence, and on protecting vulnerable displaced populations from  vector-borne diseases - both placing  equity and patient well-being  at their core. Climate & Environment , with efforts to build more accurate next-generation  climate models  and to develop precise tools for  measuring greenhouse gas  emissions locally - both addressing the  urgent need for better data and smarter solutions  in the fight against climate change. Several common threads emerge across these diverse fields: a reliance on  advanced technologies , particularly artificial intelligence and innovative sensing tools; a focus on  concrete outcomes  at both the individual and global scales; and a drive to move beyond traditional approaches toward  hybrid, adaptive methodologies . These Chairs embody our conviction that high‑quality science, conducted in full independence and in dialogue with society, is instrumental to building a more just, resilient, and sustainable future. Discover the 4 projects SAFE-PATH - Enhancing Cancer Treatment - Prof. Mohamad Mohty (Sorbonne Université, France) Making cancer treatment safer, more personalized, and more humane by preventing complications before they occur and enabling patients to spend more time living, and less time in hospital. Vector Control for Displaced and Hard to Reach Communities - Prof. Natacha Protopopoff (Swiss TPH, Switzerland)   Developing and evaluating tailored vector control interventions for displaced and hard to reach communities to prevent vector borne diseases in humanitarian settings. Next Generation Climate Models - Prof. Pierre Gentine (ENS PSL, France*) Building hybrid climate models combining physics and artificial intelligence to provide more accurate forecasts and support the fight against climate change. Greenhouse Gas Measurement - Prof. David Bastviken (Linköping University, Sweden)   Developing sensors and drones to accurately measure local greenhouse gas emissions, facilitating more effective reduction actions at the local scale.  *Pierre Gentine will remain co-affiliated at Columbia University

### Heritage as a Common Language: The AXA Foundation for Human Progress at the Heart of the Franco-Mexican Bicentennial

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/heritage-as-a-common-language-the-axa-foundation-for-human-progress-at-the-heart-of-the-franco-mexican-bicentennial
Published: 2026-09-03

In the fields of Arts, Culture, and Heritage , the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is committed to: preserving and transmitting material heritage, intangible legacies, and savoir-faire (traditional skills); nurturing collective memory; supporting tomorrow's creations. This mission takes on special significance in celebration of the bicentennial of diplomatic relations between France and Mexico.  To celebrate this anniversary, the AXA Foundation is partnering with AXA Mexico and l’Institut Français (the French Institute) of Latin America at the French Embassy in Mexico. Together, they share the conviction that living heritage is a powerful force for dialogue between nations, social cohesion, and the resilience of our societies.   From September to November 2026, “La Gran Fiesta Franco-Mexicana”  Announced by French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to Mexico City with President Claudia Sheinbaum on November 7, 2025, “La Gran Fiesta Franco-Mexicana” is the result of numerous collaborations between institutions, artists, and creators from France and Mexico. The program will take place in 21 cities across Mexico and includes nearly 200 events spanning science, the arts, education, and innovation such as exhibitions, concerts, film series, performances, competitions, symposiums, and conferences.   Here are a few examples of projects on the program of “La Gran Fiesta Franco-Mexicana”: France as the guest of honor at the Cervantino International Festival in Guanajuato; French photography at Fotoseptiembre; The Musée national d’art moderne (National Museum of Modern Art) du Centre Pompidou at Bellas Artes; (LA)Horde, which brings together French and Mexican dancers; The Manufactures nationales and “los Gobelinos” of Guadalajara at the Palacio de Cultura Citibanamex - Palacio Iturbide   From Sèvres to Mexico City: Connecting Yesterday's Savoir-Faire with Tomorrow's Creation By joining the exhibition of the Manufactures nationales and “los Gobelinos” of Guadalajara, “ Historias Entretejidas, Francia-México. Un legado compartido ” (Intertwined stories, France-Mexico. A shared heritage), curated by Ana Elena Mallet and held in the heart of Mexico City, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress continues its commitment to protecting and promoting living heritage beyond borders. In January 2026, the AXA Foundation became a Lead Partner of the Manufactures Nationales—Sèvres & Mobilier national , through a groundbreaking five-year partnership (2025–2029) dedicated to preserving and transmitting the excellence of French decorative arts and design and to promoting French creation’s international influence. The exhibition in Mexico City will highlight the cultural exchange between France and Mexico, showcasing the influence of Gobelins and Aubusson on 20th-century Mexican tapestry. French craftsmanship has nurtured a vibrant textile tradition, blending indigenous traditions with European techniques. This partnership reflects the values of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress: preserving and passing on endangered craftsmanship to foster contemporary creation and a cultural resilience - and sharing these as widely as possible. “Heritage is not about the past; it is what connects us today.” At the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, we believe that safeguarding cultural heritage, preserving orphaned know-how and supporting creative industries are essential to our resilience. They strengthen social cohesion and generate new economic opportunities rooted in local communities. In this spirit, we have joined the Bicentennial Corporate Patrons’ Circle, alongside businesses and corporate foundations such as Safran, Sanofi, BNP Paribas, and the TotalEnergies Foundation. This new chapter in Franco-Mexican friendship thus illustrates the AXA Foundation for Human Progress’s ambition: to help recreate common ground in a world that needs it more than ever.  

### Earthquake in Colombia: The AXA Foundation for Human Progress Takes Action Through the NGOs CARE and Médecins du Monde

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/earthquake-in-colombia-the-axa-foundation-for-human-progress-takes-action-through-the-ngos-care-and-medecins-du-monde
Published: 2026-08-31

Following the devastating earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10, 2026, causing significant damage in several regions - particularly in the western and central parts of the country -, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress has announced exceptional emergency support. To address the specific needs of affected populations during the current post-emergency and recovery phase, the AXA Foundation is providing support to its long-standing partners, the Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) CARE and Médecins du Monde. Concrete Actions for the Most Affected Populations Supporting teams and projects already on the ground ensures the rapid and effective deployment of committed resources. CARE: Protecting the Most Vulnerable and Supporting the Local Economy CARE is leveraging its field expertise to support residents of the hardest-hit Colombian departments. In responding to this crisis, three objectives have been identified: Safety and protection of populations against risks linked to displacement and the consequences of the earthquake : raising awareness of post-earthquake risks among approximately 10,000 people, establishing “SAFE SPACES” dedicated in particular to women and girls, and distributing emergency material kits and cash assistance; Restoring access to essential health services and psychosocial support : providing continuity of health services through mobile approaches coordinated with local authorities (medical consultations, psychological support, maternal and reproductive health services, and distribution of postpartum kits to vulnerable mothers); Safe, responsible, and market-based financial assistance for households affected by economic losses or loss of livelihoods, enabling them to prioritize their own urgent needs (food, housing, healthcare), preserving their dignity and autonomy while supporting the local economy. Founded at the end of WWII, present in more than 100 countries, and having helped 58 million people in 2025, the NGO CARE delivers humanitarian aid to people affected by poverty and injustice around the world. CARE focuses on three major areas:  women’s rights, climate change, and humanitarian aid. © CARE France - Catalina Vargas © CARE France - Catalina Vargas © CARE France - Catalina Vargas © CARE France - Catalina Vargas Médecins du Monde : Strengthening Access to Care, Health Facilities and Mental Health Support True to its mission of international solidarity, Médecins du Monde operates in Colombia in direct coordination with ongoing institutional efforts. Through its local office, the organization is implementing two programs: Restoring access to essential healthcare services and strengthening the capacity of healthcare facilities and communities by: deploying 3 mobile medical teams, supplying healthcare facilities to ensure continuity of care, empowering healthcare workers (through training and support), and supporting community liaisons (to identify emergencies and address needs); Addressing mental health needs and providing psychosocial support through: psychological first aid (immediate intervention), individual consultations and group psychosocial support activities, and strengthening referral mechanisms to direct people toward specialized care. The French NGO Médecins du Monde was founded in 1980. It operates in France and abroad to provide care to the most vulnerable populations, victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters, and those with no access to healthcare. It condemns violations of human dignity and human rights and advocates for improving the situation of vulnerable people. Taking Immediate Action to Prepare for the Future Through these two allocations, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress reaffirms its purpose: These are AXA Foundation’s missions: ‘Repairing Today’ by addressing the most urgent needs without delay, and ‘Preparing Tomorrow’ by strengthening the ability of these communities to face the next shock and to rebuild on their own terms.  Clément Rouxel General Delegate of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress On the ground, AXA Colpatria's teams mobilized immediately alongside the government, the local authorities and the federation of insurance players in Colombia. They dedicated their expertise, experience, but also their time and energy, to work for the needs of families and businesses alike, and for the reconstruction of the affected areas. At AXA, we believe that our role as insurers transcends the protection of life and property, making us active participants and committed drivers of the reconstruction and recovery of our country. This donation reflects our vision of building a more resilient Colombia, where solidarity and protection go hand in hand. Repairing today for a stronger tomorrow.  Alexandra Quiroga AXA COLPATRIA´s CEO

### Wildfires: Repairing and Supporting Today

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/wildfires-repairing-supporting-today
Published: 2026-07-29

France is facing the worst wildfire crisis in its modern history in 2026. Since the beginning of the year, over 116,000 hectares have already burned. Since July 22, a mega-fire has been ravaging the Landes de Gascogne forest in Gironde: 42,000 hectares destroyed in just a few days, hundreds of buildings leveled, and more than 220,000 people forced to evacuate, while several thousand firefighters, military personnel and European reinforcements remain mobilized on the ground. True to its mission of addressing both immediate crises and long-term challenges, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is mobilizing €1 million in response to this unprecedented emergency and its human, economic and environmental consequences. Three organizations are receiving immediate funding: The French Red Cross, for material and psychosocial emergency aid; The SDIS (Departmental Fire and Rescue Services), to help fund essential equipment for firefighting operations - in Gironde and the Landes; Civil Protection, to help fund the resources needed to shelter and assist displaced populations - primarily in Gironde, followed by Corsica and the Var. No Longer Just Responding to Emergencies   The growing frequency and intensity of wildfires now threaten most forest regions across France and Europe. Fighting wildfires can no longer be approached as a matter of emergency response alone.   A paradigm shift is required toward collective, systemic prevention rooted in local communities - combining forest management, early detection, rapid response, stakeholder training, and cooperation between landowners, local authorities, insurers and emergency services.   In line with AXA Foundation’s ambition for a viable future, scientific research and the protection of nature, we support long-term initiatives to sustain our commitments over time, create lasting impact and reduce risk.   In France, for example, we are partnering with Voies Navigables de France and the Fondation Terres d'Eau , to protect water resources and biodiversity to strengthen territorial resilience to climate challenges; with the Goodplanet Foundation , through regenerative hydrology projects ; Internationally, with the Technical University of Crete, where Prof. Apostolos Voulgarakis, is developing global-scale fire propagation models to raise awareness and train decision-makers ( see the dedicated Master Class ); with AXA Climate and the University of Zaragoza, who are co-funding the development of a local model integrating vegetation, topography and climate factors (notably El Niño), with a case study in Chile. Preparing for tomorrow   Through its commitment to nature, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress works to restore, preserve and sustainably manage ecosystems for future generations. Every project we support is part of a chain of action - from knowledge to citizens, from local to global - demonstrating that, together, it is possible to repair, prevent risk, and prepare for the future.

### Unlock Education: Supporting Changemakers to Make Education a Key Driver of Social Cohesion

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/unlock-education-supporting-changemakers-to-make-education-a-key-driver-of-social-cohesion
Published: 2026-07-20

As social divides, polarization, and educational inequalities intensify, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress and Ashoka launched Unlock Education in autumn 2025 , a three-year program that places education at the heart of social cohesion. Unlock Education supports social entrepreneurs (Ashoka Fellows) who transform the education system into a space where young people develop empathy, cooperation, critical thinking, and agency, while strengthening trust within educational communities. The program is rooted in the strong conviction that education is an essential lever to enable young people to reach their full potential. By focusing on empathy, cooperation, and leadership, it seeks to instill in them the skills and values they need, to strengthen social cohesion and to contribute to a positive transformation of society. Over the next 3 years, Unlock Education will support 30 Ashoka Fellows tackling systemic challenges, and implementing innovative solutions tailored to key stages of children's and adolescents' development: Early childhood (0 to 6 years) – Growing well: Laying the foundations of empathy, curiosity, and resilience, and introducing new approaches to reading and mathematics for solid lifelong learning. Primary childhood (7 to 13 years) – Living well together: Fostering collaboration and a safe environment to develop critical thinking, creativity, civic spirit, ethical awareness, and autonomy. Adolescence (14–18 years) – Finding the right path: Developing leadership and civic engagement, helping young people envision their future, and preventing school dropout A Global Initiative Driven by Community To build a global community committed to addressing polarization and social fragmentation through education, after France , Belgium and Türkiye in year 1, the partnership expand to Germany , Thaïland , the UK , and Brazil . AXA employees will have the opportunity to engage with the world of social entrepreneurship, develop new skills such as systemic thinking and collaborative leadership, and explore ways to support Ashoka Fellows in advancing innovative solutions in education. Six Inaugural Fellows Supported, Deploying Local Innovations in Service of a Global Vision of Living Together In its first year, in 2025, the program was deployed in France, Belgium, and Türkiye. The selected Ashoka Fellows are working on key issues for the future of our societies: fighting disinformation and strengthening critical thinking, developing social and emotional learning and well-being at school, climate education and civic engagement , the inclusion of children with disabilities or special educational needs, and reducing inequalities linked to poverty and geography . Through these first six Fellows, Unlock Education embodies a vision: that of an education that prepares young people to live together in diverse and evolving societies, by strengthening their ability to understand the world, connect with others, and act for the common good. The six Fellows and AXA entities have launched multiple collaborations. By acting on teaching practices, school curricula, public policies, and local ecosystems, these projects have already proven that human-centered education can become a powerful systemic lever for social cohesion. Discover All the Projects of the Ashoka Fellows France: Fighting Misinformation, Integrating Emotions into Learning In France, Aude Favre left traditional journalism after witnessing the rise of conspiracy theories and disinformation to create Fake Off and CitizenFacts . Her goal is to prepare a new generation of citizens who can take a step back, verify facts, and resist manipulation in a saturated information environment. Fake Off offers immersive workshops, newsroom simulations, podcasts, and educational tools that teach young people to verify information, detect biases, differentiate between facts from opinions, and understand the economic forces behind disinformation. The initiative also trains teachers and educators to integrate media literacy into their classrooms and strengthen students' ability to debate, cooperate, and build sound arguments. By directly tackling disinformation in classrooms and equipping education professionals with long-term tools, the project helps establish media literacy as a pillar of the education system, fostering critical thinking at scale. Ashoka Fellow Profile: Aude Favre | Unlock education Vanessa Duchatelle addresses another pillar of social cohesion: well-being and social and emotional learning (SEL) at school. Through ScholaVie , she helps transform a system largely focused on academic performance into one that recognizes that success also depends on understanding one's emotions, cooperating, and caring for others. ScholaVie trains education professionals - teachers, school health staff, and education teams - to integrate social and emotional skills into their daily practice: empathy, self-regulation, collaboration, and stress management. The project relies on a research-based methodology, in-person and remote training and a digital platform of pedagogical resources. It collaborates with ministries, local education authorities, researchers, and local authorities. By placing social and emotional learning at the heart of educational practice, ScholaVie redefines the mission of school: not only transmitting knowledge, but also building resilient school environments where well-being becomes a systemic priority. Ashoka Fellow Profile: Vanessa Duchatelle | Unlock education Belgium: Mobilizing Climate Education, Rebuilding Educational Trajectories Koen Timmers draws on his experience as an educator In Belgium to lead an ambitious project that turns climate education into a driver of engagement, skills, and global empathy. His organization, Take Action Global , connects classrooms around the world to explore the effects of climate change, co-design solutions, and share their actions through a collaborative curriculum available in many languages. Students progress from understanding the issues to taking concrete action by leading projects - planting trees, reducing waste, running local awareness campaigns, and more. In the process, they develop critical thinking, cooperation, and leadership skills. Teachers are provided with structured tools to connect global challenges to local realities and integrate climate topics into their lessons in a lasting way. By creating shared curricula, communities of teachers, and large-scale projects, Take Action Global helps make climate education a structural part of education systems rather than a occasional topic, and anchors environmental engagement at the heart of learning. Ashoka Fellow Profile: Koen Timmers | Unlock education Theo Vaes addresses a critical yet often overlooked issue: the impact of poverty on young people's educational and professional pathways. Through Kanzo , he has long worked to strengthen family stability and housing security by creating long-term “buddyships” between volunteer citizens and people facing vulnerability. Based on this foundation of trust, his project Athena provides open learning spaces for teenagers who are excluded or dropping out of school, where they can rebuild their self-esteem, regain a sense of purpose, and reorient themselves toward education, training, or employment. By connecting housing, social support, learning, and professional integration, Theo mobilizes an ecosystem of public, nonprofit, and civic actors around these pathways. By addressing living conditions, self-confidence, and future prospects simultaneously, Athena demonstrates that tackling school dropout cannot be limited to the walls of the classroom. The project promotes a systemic approach that calls on social and education policies to address the root causes of inequality, rather than only their symptoms. Ashoka Fellow Profile: Theo Vaes | Unlock education Türkiye: Turning Rural Schools and Adapted Education into Levers for Equity In Türkiye, Mine Ekinci founded KODA based on a clear observation: children in rural areas face significant educational inequities, and village teachers often remain isolated and undersupported. KODA builds a network of teachers, students, and communities to transform these schools into centers of opportunity and local pride. The organization supports teachers in becoming educational leaders, engages families and communities in school life, and fosters connections with universities and policymakers to integrate rural education into national strategies. Its approach combines social and emotional learning, teacher support, and the design of inclusive learning environments. By creating a genuine ecosystem around village schools that includes teachers, families, researchers, public authorities, KODA makes rural education a strategic priority and shows how investing in these areas can help close geographic gaps, prevent school dropout, and strengthen social cohesion at the national level. Ashoka Fellow Profile: Mine Ekinci | Unlock education Zafer Elcik turned his brother's autism into a global movement for inclusive learning. His platform Otsimo democratizes access to special education through educational games and therapy apps for children with autism, disabilities or special educational needs. These apps are complemented by a family app to track progress. Otsimo helps make special education more accessible and affordable, and better adapted to families' realities, while offering tools and training for parents and teachers. By intervening from early childhood, the project creates favorable conditions for long-term success, autonomy, and social participation for these children. By bringing together families, education and health professionals, and policymakers around shared resources, Otsimo helps drive education systems toward more inclusive models, where children with disabilities or special educational needs are fully considered in policies and practices. Ashoka Fellow Profile: Zafer Elcik | Unlock education About Ashoka Present in over 30 countries, Ashoka is the 7th most influential NGO in the world. It carries the vision of a world where we all are changemakers in service of the common good, placing social innovation and systemic change at the heart of its action. Since its creation, Ashoka has identified, supported, and scaled social entrepreneurs who deliver large-scale solutions to today's most pressing social and environmental challenges. To learn more about the Unlock Education program and eligibility requirements, visit your country's website at https://unlockeducation.ashoka.org/

### The AXA Foundation for Human Progress is Partnering with UNESCO and the Journal Nature to Launch the “A New Generation of Scientists” Campaign

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-axa-foundation-for-human-progress-is-partnering-with-unesco-and-the-journal-nature-to-launch-the-a-new-generation-of-scientists-campaign
Published: 2026-07-15

In the face of global climate, health, and social crises, a new generation of researchers is emerging. Born in the era of digital transformation, they are redefining the bounds of research, bringing a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and deeply committed vision - as well as a sense of urgency. At a time when science is questioned and challenged, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress reaffirms its conviction: science plays a vital role in understanding the world and building a more just and resilient society. With misinformation on the rise, it is essential to defending the truth. With environmental crises and growing inequalities we urgently need to rethink our social models: science must guide action now more than ever. This conviction drives the launch of “A New Generation of Scientists”: a traveling exhibition and a multi-platform campaign (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram), co-produced with UNESCO and supported by a partnership with the prestigious scientific journal Nature. “A New Generation of Scientists” marks the launch of New Gen, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress’s new program. Dedicated to the younger generation of researchers, New Gen aims to provide long-term support for innovative, independent, and transdisciplinary science in order to tackle the major challenges in health, climate, and society. The program celebrates and supports a  community of bold young researchers committed to shaping the future of scientific research through their work. Choosing Science: Choosing to Be a Force for Change “A New Generation of Scientists” is a strategic advocacy and influence initiative centered on profiles of young scientists aged 18 to 35 from every continent. They are all engaged changemakers working at the intersection of science, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. They all position science as a pathway to impact, purpose, and action. The campaign speaks directly to young people at a pivotal moment in their educational and career choices. It reminds them that becoming a researcher means believing that understanding the world is the first step to changing it; It means choosing to be a vital source of energy, innovation, and hope for society and people as a whole; it means dedicating yourself not merely to a career, but to a cause. Accompanying the launch are words from Jane Goodall, United Nations Messenger of Peace: You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. A Generation Speaking to its Own Generation Beyond showcasing their fascinating journeys, “A New Generation of Scientists” aims to build a bridge between these brilliant researchers and young people by highlighting teamwork and a shared commitment to putting open, multidisciplinary science at the crossroads of tomorrow’s challenges and for the common good. The 2026 exhibition features 11 portraits and will be expanded with new portraits in 2027, and again in 2028. The disciplines - ranging from classrooms dedicated to STEM to materials science laboratories, and even the most remote corners of our planet - highlight the fundamental values of inclusion, the transmission of Indigenous knowledge, and gender equality. Through the New Gen program and this major international traveling campaign - in partnership with UNESCO and Nature - the AXA Foundation for Human Progress reaffirms its ambition: the resilience of societies and the reduction of inequalities, today and for future generations. By offering these eleven young researchers a platform that matches their talent, the Foundation is empowering a new generation to shape the future of research with courage, clarity, and determination. This project aligns with UNESCO’s mission to build peace through international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication. It places the new generation of scientists at the heart of the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development (2024–2033), proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. The prestigious scientific journal Nature is joining the campaign as a media partner, offering its editorial authority and global network to amplify the voice of this new generation among researchers, policymakers, and young audiences worldwide. Discover the Journeys of Young Researchers Who Have Made Science Their Mission - and Tell Yourself: “There’s a Place for Me in Science.” Science thrives on thendiversity of backgrounds, cultures and disciplines. There are multiple pathways to contribute and make a difference: over the last thirty years, digital technologies have transformed the practice of science and introduced new skills and new careers. Through captivating photo stories and genuine testimonials, young researchers from around the world share their motivations, aspirations and commitments. Meet the architects of a resilient science who are working for the benefit of future generations. The unveiling of “A New Generation of Scientists” took place on July 15, 2026, at the UNESCO House. The exhibition will be on display  on the gates at UNESCO's in Paris until September 30, 2026. It will then embark on an international tour, with Belgium as its next stop. Eleven Portraits, One Shared Conviction: Science Will Save the World “The key is to be driven by your curiosity, always asking questions.” Emma Vogel , 32 (USA/Norway), postdoctoral researcher at the Arctic Sustainability Lab, University of Tromsø, studying how marine top predators’ movements and behaviours are shaped by prey fields and environmental factors and how whale species interact with local fisheries; Laureate of the Nature photo contest Scientists at Work 2025. “The world needs science!” Chloé Dindault , 32 (France), AXA Research Fund postdoctoral fellow, working on organic agrivoltaics at the IMS Bordeaux Lab - Bordeaux INP, CNRS, and the University of Bordeaux and conducting research on innovative manufacturing processes for new photovoltaic panel materials. “Science helps you to not have biases, to critique everything in each way possible and to question everything.” Dev Karan , 18 (India), founder of Pondora, a youth‑led initiative revitalizing neglected village ponds through community partnerships, ongoing maintenance, and low‑cost water‑quality monitoring. UN Young Activist Laureate 2025. “Science became my thing when I learned of other areas that I could be curious of and that I could involve more people in something I love.” Elisa Torres Durney , 22 (Chile), social entrepreneur, pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Duke University, USA, founder of Girls in Quantum, expanding access to quantum education for girls and young women. “Part of my mission is to make sure that the next girl who looks up at the sky doesn’t have to wonder if science is for her.” Meriem El Yajouri , 32 (Morocco), first Moroccan woman to join the prestigious NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore (the Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescopes) focusing on diffuse interstellar bands and interstellar matter. “Young scientist: they are the future.” Vusiliye Moyo , 38 (Zimbabwe), postdoctoral Research Fellow at ACDI, University of Cape Town, working on the Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable Groups in Africa (HABVIA) dedicated to heat adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). “Science taught me something important: saying I don’t know is not a mistake or a weakness, it is the starting point of something interesting.” Nadim Saleem , 25 (Syria/France), fled Syria at age 18; PhD student at ISAE‑SUPAERO and LAAS‑CNRS in Toulouse (France), he is now conducting research in brain–computer interfaces (BCI) and human–robot interaction (HRI). “Science brings hope to the world and a lot of fun to your own self.” Ndaudika Mulundineli , 35 (Namibia), received the UNESCO Al‑Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Youth in STEM, co‑founder of the Mindsinaction STEAM Centre, introducing Namibian children to STEM education through hands‑on learning. “Science is the best way to give a direct voice to nature.” Callie Veelenturf , 33 (USA/Panama), marine conservation biologist, founder of Leatherback Project dedicated to protect leatherback turtles in Panama connecting Indigenous communities with government agencies. “Science gives you the power to turn knowledge into change.” Azaria Pickering , 30 (Fidji), an ocean monitoring and technical officer at the Pacific Community (SPC), monitoring ocean acidification across the Pacific Islands, a critical issue for marine biodiversity. “Science allows to understand this world and to shape its future. It is very cool and important.” Yan Zhong , 32 (China), postdoctoral researcher at C-CIA Group, University of Geneva, Switzerland, studying climate change-related natural catastrophes risks in the Hindu Kush–Himalaya (HKH) region.

### Call for Contributions: “Entrepreneurship for Climate Change Adaptation”

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/call-for-contributions-entrepreneurship-for-climate-change-adaptation
Published: 2026-07-09

The French Foundations Fondation Entreprendre and Fondation Ceetrus, and the AXA Foundation for Human Progress have launched a joint call for contributions to support 150 entrepreneurial projects in France focusing on climate change adaptation. Four public-interest nonprofits (eligible for corporate philanthropy in France) will be selected to receive €250,000 each over a three-year period to support these entrepreneurial projects in the field, identify best practices, and disseminate them widely. The winning organizations will be announced on December 4, 2026.   A Key Priority: Regional Resilience   As climate change already disrupts daily life and weakens local economies, adaptation has become an absolute necessity. We believe that local entrepreneurship is a powerful driver for resilience, delivering agile, concrete, and socially driven solutions in highly vulnerable sectors, such as forestry, agriculture, fisheries, food, housing, local urban planning, mobility, tourism, and resource/waste management.  A Collective Approach to Amplifying Impact   We foster connections among experts because we believe in cross-sector approaches based on partnerships and collective action. By joining forces with other committed stakeholders, we can amplify our long-term impact.   The four winners will join “Réponse collective” (Collective Response), a unique collaborative ecosystem developed by the Fondation Entreprendre. This network brings together philanthropic backers, public actors, and experts (R&D, impact assessment…). Over the course of three years, we will collaborate to:   develop support mechanisms for entrepreneurs;   test and sustain solutions on the ground;   capitalize on lessons learned and share best practices;   carry out advocacy actions.  Apply here by September 16, 2026: https://4059035899.wiin.io/fr/applications/entreprendre-ladaptation-au-changement-climatique   Full guidelines: https://www.fondation-entreprendre.org/actualite/appel-a-contributions/   - Since 2008, Fondation Entreprendre has supported entrepreneurship that addresses social, economic, and environmental challenges, to boost vulnerable regions and promote equal opportunities for all.  Established over 15 years ago, Fondation Ceetrus funds and guides regenerative entrepreneurial initiatives that create long-term, viable solutions for real estate, the environment, and social cohesion. 

### 22 startups incubated at HANDILAB, Europe’s First Innovation Hub for Disability and Autonomy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/supporting-handilab-europes-first-innovation-hub-for-disability-and-autonomy
Published: 2026-07-01

A unique ecosystem driving inclusive innovation As part of its commitment to inclusion and strengthening social resilience, the AXA Fund for Human Progress is a founding patron of HANDILAB , Europe's first innovation hub entirely dedicated to disability and loss of independence. Created by the Fiminco Group and located in Saint-Denis (Greater Paris), HANDILAB is a 13,000 m² innovation hub designed to foster collaboration, accelerate innovation, and develop practical solutions that promote autonomy and inclusion . Open to everyone, it brings together start-ups, large companies, researchers, artists, public institutions, and the general public. The site combines research and training facilities, innovation and production spaces for professionals, and a discovery and experimentation area open to the public. This ecosystem enables companies and start-ups to co-develop solutions by placing disability and universal design at the heart of the innovation process. HANDILAB is founded on strong convictions that we fully share: Moving disability, dependency, and loss of independence beyond the sole medical and social care perspective; Recognising people with disabilities as value creators and full members of society; Encouraging collaboration between research, entrepreneurship, and businesses to accelerate inclusive innovation. The partnership between HANDILAB and AXA Foundation for human Progress focuses on two key initiatives: Supporting innovation through an award program that grants startups one year of incubation at Handilab An ESSEC-Handilab Chair "Inclusion & Economic and Social Performance" A new cohort of start-ups advancing inclusion Our support is reflected in an incubation programme that enables new start-ups to join the HANDILAB ecosystem each year. In February 2026, eleven new start-ups were selected by a panel bringing together representatives from several AXA entities, while five start-ups from the inaugural cohort were awarded a second year of incubation. Altogether, 22 start-ups will have benefited from incubation through the partnership between HANDILAB and the AXA Fund for Human Progress between 2024 and 2026. On 30 June, the new cohort was officially celebrated during an award ceremony, under the patronage of Anne-Elise Chevillard, Diversity & Inclusion Director at AXA France. This new cohort reflects the diversity of innovations being developed to foster autonomy and inclusion: B&A Biomedical - early detection of autism spectrum disorders through artificial intelligence; Dynseo - digital solutions supporting people with disabilities and their caregivers; Heralbony - promoting artists with disabilities through partnerships with businesses and brands; Hopper – innovative sports prosthetics that improve access to sport for amputees; InSleepLab - preventing sleep-related risks in the workplace; Kwit - digital tools supporting people dealing with addiction; Panthea - making live performances more accessible through immersive technologies; Reverto - virtual reality solutions for preventing psychosocial risks; Sonaid - sound-based detection of critical events to improve the safety of vulnerable people; SonarVision - ultra-precise navigation technology for people with visual impairments; Xray Moov - remote medical supervision of bedside imaging. The first cohort of supported start-ups is already demonstrating the tangible impact of the programme . Several have brought their first products to market, launched clinical trials or partnerships with healthcare institutions, received recognition at major events such as CES and VivaTech, and begun expanding internationally. This momentum demonstrates that incubation provides long-term support, extending far beyond one-off funding. Through this partnership, we are helping move disability beyond the boundaries of the medical and social care sector and place it at the heart of business, innovation, and value creation. Together with HANDILAB , we are transforming difference into strength and making inclusion a driver of meaningful, sustainable, and positive growth for everyone.

### The AXA Foundation for Human Progress Steps Up for Lebanon

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-axa-foundation-for-human-progress-steps-up-for-lebanon
Published: 2026-06-23

Faced with an unprecedented economic, social and political crisis, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress announces exceptional support for Lebanon, in partnership with two major humanitarian organizations: l'Œuvre d'Orient and the French Red Cross. Comprehensive Support for the Most Vulnerable Populations L'Œuvre d'Orient, present in the region for 170 years and recognized by UNESCO and ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council), benefits from this support to operate across the entire Lebanese territory. In close collaboration with local associations, the organization deploys concrete and multidimensional assistance: distribution of hygiene products, food and medicine, access to medical care and psychological support, meals for thousands of displaced people, as well as support for centers and dispensaries welcoming elderly and vulnerable individuals. Strengthening the Red Cross's Intervention Capacities A key player in the Lebanese healthcare system, the Lebanese Red Cross — which handles 35% of the country's national blood collection — sees its intervention capacities significantly strengthened through the support of the French Red Cross as part of this partnership. Teams will be able to support frontline ambulance services, deploy emergency medical units, supply health centers and distribute hygiene and essential supply kits, while reinforcing their logistics and coordination. A Long-Term Commitment This initiative reflects the AXA Foundation for Human Progress's commitment to working alongside recognized field partners, capable of delivering rapid and tailored responses to the needs of populations. This mobilization alongside AXA Middle East reaffirms its solidarity with the Lebanese people during one of the most difficult periods in their recent history. It fully aligns with the Foundation’s mission: to repair today, by helping address the most urgent needs, and to prepare for tomorrow, by strengthening communities' capacity to face crises, recover and rebuild over the long term.

### Letters from Charles de Gaulle Joined France's National Heritage

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/letters-from-charles-de-gaulle-joined-frances-national-heritage
Published: 2026-06-11

Thanks to the support of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, a collection of letters from the private archives of Charles de Gaulle is now accessible to the general public. A major partner of the National Archives of France ( Archives nationales ) for over ten years, AXA made this acquisition possible at the exceptional sale " De Gaulle. Une succession pour l'histoire " (De Gaulle, Legacy for History) organized by Artcurial in Paris in December 2024. These handwritten letters have now entered the shared national heritage. This patronage is part of the commitment of AXA Foundation for Human Progress, which brings together the main philanthropic actions of the AXA Group and the AXA Mutuelles d'Assurances. One of the Foundation’s Arts, Culture and Heritage pillar’s missions is to safeguard collective memory - a cornerstone of social cohesion and of a society's ability to narrate its own history. From Private Archives to Collective Heritage In March 2024, Admiral Philippe de Gaulle, the general’s eldest son, passed away. His death raised an urgent question: What would become of the collection of the General's family archives - his letters to his mother, his wife, and those closest to him? The answer took shape a few months later. On 16 December 2024, the personal archives of General de Gaulle were put up for auction at Artcurial, Paris. In preparation for the sale, France’s major public institutions  for conservation and research* cooperated to ensure each document would go to the institution best suited to preserve and promote it. Indeed, as early as the 1950s, Charles de Gaulle had himself planned a sensible distribution of his papers: his literary writings and Memoirs to the National Library of France ( Bibliothèque Nationale de France ) and his official state papers - held in that capacity as public records -, along with the private documents offering insight into them, to the National Archives. The acquisitions made at the December 2024 sale honour these broad intentions, and AXA’s philanthropic support has enabled these significant documents to join the national public collections, where they are now preserved, studied and accessible to all. We are proud to have contributed, alongside the National Archives, to this acquisition of unique handwritten archives belonging to General de Gaulle - one of the most illustrious figures in history -, thereby helping enrich France’s national heritage. Supporting the entrance of this collection into the institution that preserves France’s memory, and contributing to the public’s historical knowledge, resonates deeply with our values. Thomas Buberl Chairman of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, CEO of AXA History in the First Person This remarkable historical and memorial legacy acquired by the National Archives spans more than half a century, from 1914 to 1970. The portion supported by AXA Foundation's patronage covers the period 1936–1970 and comprises 31 lots - 93 documents in total, including 87 letters written by Charles de Gaulle to those close to him and six letters addressed to the General. It is an intimate and continuous correspondence that runs through the entire adult life of Charles de Gaulle. Among the letters : those written to his mother, Jeanne - some written from German prisoner-of-war camps (Ingolstadt, Wülzburg, Rosenberg) during WWI, to his father Henri (in 1915 and 1929), to his wife, Yvonne, during the fighting in May-June 1940 and the years of exile in London, and to his son, Philippe, a naval officer, up until 1970. A number of pieces of political or institutional correspondence complement these: a letter to the Spanish ambassador in Berlin (1918), a letter on Hitler and Mein Kampf (1936), letters from Pétain, Reynaud, Juin, Koenig and Herriot addressed to De Gaulle. They reveal the breadth of his networks and concerns in an early century marked by wars, crises, and reconstruction. The Man Behind the Statesman These letters gradually reveal the figure of the statesman, aware of the burden of power and true to the path he has set for himself. In October 1940, as leader of Free France, he wrote to his wife from Douala (Cameroon): “ The task is weighty, both in practical and moral terms. One must accept - and I do accept - all the consequences of this tragedy, in which events have made me one of the principal actors .” These letters are a precious resource for researchers, history enthusiasts, and teachers, and a powerful educational tool for any citizen curious about their political heritage. They offer younger generations a unique opportunity to understand, in De Gaulle’s own words, what it means to act for one’s country in a world marked by uncertainty. A sound democracy rests on every citizen’s access to their History. Without this mobilization, some of these items might have left the country or disappeared into inaccessible collections—an irreparable loss to our cultural heritage. For the National Archives, the support of sponsors such as AXA has been crucial. Protecting Memory to Prepare for the Future As guardians of the nation’s memory, the National Archives purpose is to make such documents accessible. Once admitted to their collections, these archives become material for research, education and civic life. For the AXA Foundation, supporting this acquisition means more than preserving historical heritage. It is a contribution to transmission of knowledge, civic education and the duty of remembrance. Made accessible to all, these archives become a common good: they nourish shared knowledge, strengthen the bonds between generations and contribute to the democratic vitality of our society. Protecting a people's memory is also a way of protecting individuals. Protecting the long term is fully in line with AXA's mission as an insurer and its purpose: “Acting for human progress by protecting what matters.” In an increasingly complex world, fostering civic education is an imperative — and a key ambition of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress. After 40 years of philanthropy led by the AXA Group and the AXA Mutuelles d’assurances, the AXA Foundation was created to take this ambition further, systemically and at scale. Human progress is fueled by the arts, culture and heritage. These are drivers of dialogue and social cohesion. They help strengthen the long-term resilience of our societies.  Clément Rouxel General Delegate of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress *The National Archives of France, the National Library of France (BnF), the Historical Service of Defense, the Departmental Archives of Nord, the Army Museum, the Museum of the Order of Liberation et the Museum of the Legion of Honor and the Orders of Chivalry Exhibition « From the private archives of general de Gaulle to the Appeal of June 18 » From June 16 to June 18, 2026 To mark the anniversary of the Appeal of June 18, AXA presented, within the setting of its Paris headquarters, a collection of letters from General de Gaulle to those close to him, between 1936 and 1944. These letters were acquired by the National Archives with the support of AXA at the Artcurial sale of December 2024. As part of an exceptional loan, the original manuscript of the Appeal of June 18, 1940, held by the National Archives and not covered by AXA's, was also on display. General de Gaulle's Private Letters: A Unique Record for Heritage and Memory The exhibition allowed visitors to discover several handwritten letters addressed to his loved ones, written in a flowing, elongated, slightly slanted hand. To his mother in 1936. To his wife Yvonne during the decisive hours of May and June 1940, as France was collapsing under the German offensive. To his son Philippe, in the midst of the war. This correspondence bear witness, often with sobriety and restraint, to his reflections and concerns, but also to his determination in the most critical moments. These documents reveal what history books rarely provide: an encounter with the man behind the historical figure - a husband, a father, a son, and one of the most decisive figures in contemporary history. The exhibition paid tribute to that founding moment in French history that is the Appeal of June 18, while reminding us that memory has meaning only when it remains a shared asset for all. Preserving the Memory of General de Gaulle for Future Generations To many, Charles de Gaulle is a voice from the past. And yet, in his time, he was not speaking about the past - but about what did not yet exist: the future. Born in Lille on November 22, 1890, Charles de Gaulle was trained as an officer at Saint-Cyr. He encountered war in the terrible trenches of 1914–1918, where he was wounded several times and taken prisoner. During the interwar period, he published works on armored warfare that established him as a pioneer of mechanized battle. In June 1940, amid the collapse, he joined the government as Under-Secretary of State for War and National Defense. While Marshal Pétain asked the Germans to end hostilities on June 17, 1940, the next day, Charles de Gaulle broadcast from London on the BBC his « Appeal of June 18 » to refuse defeat and continue the fight - the founding act of Free France. He led Free France, the French Committee of National Liberation and the Provisional Government of the French Republic until 1946. Recalled to power in 1958 as prime minister, at the height of the Algerian crisis, he oversaw the establishment of the Fifth Republic and became its first president. He reformed the institutions, brought the Algerian War to an end, guided decolonization, and pursued a policy of national independence - including a nuclear deterrent and France's withdrawal from NATO's integrated command structure - while advancing his own vision of European integration, from the Franco-German partnership to vetoing the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community. Following the defeat of the April 1969 referendum, he stepped down from office. He died at Colombey-les-Deux-Églises on November 9 ,1970. A figure of authority, but also a thinker on social justice, he leaves the image of a statesman who believed that a country's greatness is measured by its ability to remain master of its own destiny, even in a world in crisis. His enduring legacy lies in both his actions and in a unique way of thinking about social justice, sovereignty and protecting the most vulnerable. De Gaulle believed in progress, but warned early on against a homogenising capitalism and a modernity that risks forgetting the human being. He believed in a society's ability to devise new solutions, and made the protection of individuals, the cohesion of territories and the command of one's own destiny central priorities. He was convinced that a country cannot merely adapt to shocks, it must organize its capacity for resistance and recovery, engage its citizens - through participation and solidarity - and refuse to leave anyone behind. His legacy continues to resonate with people today because he embodied a way of governing that never separated decision from protection, freedom from solidarity, or authority from care for the most vulnerable. De Gaulle is not just a moment in our memory - he is that question which remains forever open: how do we act, in a world saturated with risks and crises, so that progress remains human and what truly matters is protected without being set in stone? For more on Charles de Gaulle: https://www.charles-de-gaulle.org/ About the National Archives The National Archives, a division of the Ministry of Culture, are the largest archival centre in Europe. As the memory of France, they preserve and make available to the public the State’s records from the Middle Ages onward, as well as the archives of Parisian notaries and private archives of national interest. Through their exhibitions, publications and other outreach activities, the National Archives contribute to the understanding of history and the sharing of civic values with the general public, particularly with younger generations. Discover more : www.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr

### The AXA Foundation for Human Progress Reveals 13 Winners of its International Call to Tackle Violence Against Children

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-axa-foundation-for-human-progress-reveals-13-winners-of-its-international-call-to-tackle-violence-against-children
Published: 2026-05-27

The AXA Foundation for Human Progress has announced the 13 laureates of its first international call for projects, launched in France, Spain, and Colombia, to fight violence against children. These ambitious and innovative initiatives aim to advance this critical societal issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 2 children worldwide experience physical, sexual or emotional violence, making the fight against violence against children a critical societal issue across the globe .  Yet too much violence against children remains unseen, unspoken, and unaddressed. As a continuation to its 10-year support to violence against women, AXA has launched in fall 2025 a dedicated program to address this silent emergency, led by the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, backed by a €10 million budget over three years. This bold initiative aims to break the cycle of violence against children by supporting a comprehensive, multi-stage protection chain —prevention, detection, disclosure, protection, healing and transformation—through targeted partnerships. As the first milestone of this multi-year program, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress launched its first international call for projects in autumn 2025.  Rolled out during the first year in France, Spain and Colombia, the call targeted associations, NGOs and foundations and resulted in the selection of 13 innovative and locally rooted projects, following a rigorous process that combined local expertise and global strategic coherence. On May 27, during a visit to AXA Colpatria in Colombia, AXA Group CEO Thomas Buberl announced the laureates of this first call for projects. Violence against children is a silent emergency that we can no longer afford to ignore. With this program, AXA is committing long-term resources and partnerships to make the invisible visible, protect the most vulnerable, and help break the cycle of violence. Thomas Buberl AXA Group CEO Supported over a three-year period, these 13 projects led by recognized organizations will focus on three key challenges: Addressing the invisibility of violence against children Developing long-term child protection programs Tackling the root causes of such violence    Support for the creation and development of child helplines, training and equipping education professionals (teachers, youth workers, etc.), and funding dedicated support centers are among the many initiatives supported through this call for projects. Violence against children remains one of the most pressing yet underestimated threats to future social cohesion, risking to fracture the fabric of entire communities. The organizations we are supporting embody, each in their own way, innovative and locally rooted solutions. Together, they work across the full spectrum: making violence visible, establishing safe and sustainable protection pathways, and addressing root causes to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Protecting children is a long-term commitment, a cornerstone for building a resilient and cohesive society. Clément Rouxel General Delegate of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress Beyond its role as a funder, the AXA Foundation aims to be an active architect of sustainable solutions, fostering long-term impact for vulnerable children and their communities. What's next? The second round of the call for projects to combat violence against children is now open in Italy and Senegal . Applications can be submitted from 30 September to 30 November. Our calls for projects Discover (new window) Details of the projects selected under this first call for projects: Preventing cyberviolence and bullying on young people – E-Enfance / 3018 (France) The supported project aims to build a nationwide response to bullying and cyberviolence affecting children and adolescents. The Association will strengthen its 3018 support system to better prevent, detect and address these harmful situations, while further developing the Observatory of Digital Violence Against Minors. The project will also provide training for child protection professionals by mobilizing schools, youth organizations and local structures across France. Supporting Children Affected by Trauma – SOS Villages d’Enfants (France) SOS Villages d’Enfants is developing a therapeutic daily-life approach for children placed under child protection services. The project aims to improve trauma detection, create calming environments, and provide individualized care pathways. Its objective is to offer child victims of violence a more stable and healing environment. Strengthening Victim Support and Assistance – L’Enfant Bleu (France) L’Enfant Bleu works to improve the prevention, detection and support of children affected by violence across France. The project supports a national helpline, specialized psychological and legal assistance, and awareness-raising initiatives in schools. It provides a comprehensive response to better protect child victims. Making Sport a Safe Environment – Fondation Sport Sans Violence (France) The Sport Sans Violence Foundation, created by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee and hosted by the French Sport Foundation, aims to eliminate all forms of violence in sport, particularly sexual and gender-based violence, and to make sport a safe space for everyone. The project is built around three main pillars: prevention and awareness-raising in the field, support for associations helping victims rebuild their lives, and a pool of instructors helping sports organisations strengthen and speed up their disciplinary procedures. Breaking the Silence Around Incest – Face à l’Inceste (France) Face à l’Inceste develops educational resources and awareness campaigns to prevent intrafamilial sexual violence. The association aims to better inform parents and adults in contact with children while also contributing to legislative change. The project helps bring visibility to violence that is still too often hidden and unspoken. Preventing Bullying from an Early Age – The Paris Federation of the Ligue de l’Enseignement   (France) The Paris Federation of the Ligue de l’Enseignement is rolling out a national program to prevent bullying and violence in schools from an early age. The project focuses on developing psychosocial skills and training education professionals. It also actively involves children and parents to help transform educational practices over the long term. Preventing Gender-Based and Sexual Violence – En avant toute(s) (France) En Avant Toute(s) works with young people to prevent gender-based and sexual violence and improve access to adapted support services. The project combines digital listening and prevention tools, school-based awareness workshops and remote support solutions, including the premieresfois.fr chat. An innovative approach to reach young people where they are. Strengthening Helplines for Child Victims – Fundación ANAR (Spain) In Spain, Fundación ANAR is expanding its free 24/7 helplines and chat services to support children and adolescents affected by intrafamilial violence. The service provides immediate psychological, social and legal assistance. A vital initiative to ensure rapid support and protection for young victims. Protecting Children in Foster Care – ASEAF (Spain) ASEAF works to promote foster care in Spain as the preferred protection measure for children who cannot live with their families. The project aims to provide safer, more stable family environments for children in the child protection system. This project includes training foster families and creating a national observatory on foster care. Its goal is to improve child protection policies over the long term and ensure every child’s right to grow up in a family. Preventing and Detecting Sexual Violence – Fundación Vicki Bernadet (Spain) Fundación Vicki Bernadet is implementing a comprehensive approach to combat sexual violence against children. The project combines prevention strategies, professional training, awareness-raising activities and specialized support for victims and their families. A holistic initiative designed to improve safeguarding and institutional response to child sexual abuse. Training Schools to Prevent Violence – Fundación Universidad del Norte (Colombia) In Colombia, Fundación Universidad del Norte works with public schools to prevent, detect and address violence against young children at an early stage. The project trains teachers and school professionals while involving families and children through experiential workshops. It also contributes to aligning school protocols with national mental health and education standards. Creating a Comprehensive Child Support Center – Los Pisingos (Colombia) Los Pisingos is creating a specialized center in Bogotá dedicated to preventing and addressing sexual, psychological and domestic violence against children and adolescents. The center will provide psychological, legal and educational support, alongside community activities aimed at strengthening socio-emotional skills. The project also seeks to reinforce local child protection networks. Breaking Cycles of Family Violence – Fundación FANA (Colombia) Fundación FANA is developing a program combining therapeutic care and prevention for children exposed to neglect, abuse and family instability. The project offers specialized therapies and parenting workshops to support children’s recovery and prevent future violence. A long-term initiative focused on building safer environments for children and adolescents. About The AXA Foundation for Human Progress The AXA Foundation for Human Progress brings together the main philanthropic actions of AXA Group and AXA Mutuelles d’Assurances, in France and worldwide. With an endowment of 60 million euros per year, this fund aims to amplify support for impactful projects in AXA's four historical areas of sponsorship: science, nature, solidarity and culture.  The AXA Foundation for Human Progress is fully aligned with AXA’s mission: "Acting for human progress by protecting what matters." Through this Fund, AXA implements its broader vision of protection, which extends to the resilience of societies and the reduction of inequalities, today and for future generations. Visit the website : https://axafoundation.org Media relations: +33.1.40.75.46.74 ahlem.girard@axa.com   sylwia.tulak@axa.com ziad.gebran@axa.com

### Renewing Our Commitment to Healthier Waterways in France

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/renewing-our-commitment-to-healthier-waterways-in-france
Published: 2026-05-21

Since 2022, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress has partnered with Voies Navigables de France (VNF) to protect biodiversity and water resources along 6,700 km of rivers, canals, and waterways. Building on this success, we are renewing and expanding this collaboration in 2026, to increase our impact across French regions. This program addresses key climate challenges affecting French waterways, including water level management, wetland preservation, invasive species control, and diversification of tree species to protect riverbanks. With VNF’s local presence and our support, the initiative aims to deliver a tangible impact in each region , by working closely with local authorities, AXA employees, and regional media. Citizens and Regions at the Heart of Project Selection The public was invited to vote for one of two environmental projects in five French regions, covering the entire country. The winning project in each region receives €100,000 in support . This citizen-driven approach has already mobilized 10,000 votes in 2023 and 15,000 in 2024. In 2026, this initiative has been renewed, enabling regions to select the projects that will benefit from our support. From April 20 to May 20, 13,000 citizens voted online , with the support of a dedicated digital campaign and the AXA network across France. Regional Projects Elected for 2026 Support Île-de-France Depollution of sediments in the Seine and the Oise. West “Grand-Rue”: Refilling a strategic water reserve and restoring an outstanding natural site. NorthEast Landscape and biodiversity enhancement along a section of the Burgundy Canal. SouthWest Replanting 600 trees along the Canal du Midi. SouthEast Reusing sediments from the Rhône–Sète Canal to support agricultural soils. Scaling our Contribution to Climate Resilience Through our partnership with VNF and the Terre d’Eau Foundation, we are committed to funding regional projects that protect water resources and biodiversity. Beyond financial support, the program boosts visibility and engagement through social media voting campaigns (aiming for at least 10,000 votes annually) as well as the active involvement of AXA teams at the local level. By combining local environmental action with broad citizen participation, this partnership strengthens climate resilience, restores ecosystems, and a tangible contribution is made to safeguarding natural capital across territories.

### New AXA Chair in Mountain Hazard at UNIGE

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/new-axa-chair-in-mountain-hazard-at-unige
Published: 2026-05-11

New Research Chair for Mountain Hazard at the University of Geneva supported by the AXA Foundation for Human Progress Climate change is rapidly escalating disaster risks in mountains, and notably in the Alps. Melting glaciers, shrinking snow cover and thawing permafrost are destabilizing mountains, triggering more rockfalls, debris flows and cascading hazards that threaten communities and infrastructure. At the same time, hotter summers and more intense storms are fueling sudden, high-impact events floods. To tackle these growing risks, the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has launched a new chair thanks to the support of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, to study changes in mountain disaster risks. The chair will focus in particular on debris flows and their impacts across the Swiss, French, Austrian, German and Italian Alps. On July 25, 2022, an extreme local storm at Piz Nair (Engadine, Switzerland) triggered a debris flow affecting forest, infrastructure, and roads. Sudden and fast — they can exceed 50 km/h — debris flows rush down mountain torrents with tremendous force. These destructive mixtures of water, debris, soil and rocks sweep away boulders and tree trunks along their path. They occur when water mobilizes loose debris on steep slopes of at least 25%. Increasingly common in summer and autumn, often triggered by intense thunderstorms or diluvial rains, these phenomena amplified by climate change pose a growing threat to infrastructure and mountain societies. The occurrence of debris flows in the European Alps often leads to casualties and causes damage amounting to several hundred million Swiss francs. In summer 2024, for instance, a cluster of violent storms unleashed destructive debris flows across the Alps, affecting southern Switzerland (Val Bavona, Valle Maggia), northern Italy (Valle d’Aosta and Piedmont), as well as parts of Austria and Germany. It caused widespread damage, including buried roads, damaged bridges, and the destruction of homes and power infrastructure. The new AXA Chair in Mountain Disaster Risks at UNIGE will examine how climate warming, changing precipitation patterns, glacier retreat, and permafrost degradation influence the frequency, magnitude, and impacts of different types of gravitational natural hazards in mountain regions. It will provide a comprehensive approach to quantify and evaluate future mass-movement risks and help define strategies, together with public and private actors, to limit loss and damage in the future. Our university’s mission goes beyond generating scientific knowledge. It must address solutions to the major challenges facing our societies, starting with climate change. With the creation of this new chair, we fully embrace this dual ambition. Audrey Leuba Rector of UNIGE Protecting what really matters is AXA’s core purpose, and by supporting this new chair, we help ensure that risks are identified at an early stage. This knowledge is crucial for taking the right measures to minimize the impact of these risks on the environment and society. Monika Wieneke Actuarial & Security and member of the executive board at AXA Switzerland We are proud to support the innovative research of this new chair at UNIGE, which will provide invaluable insights to help foster more resilient conditions for local communities—today and for generations to come  Clément Rouxel General Delegate for the AXA Foundation for Human Progress Markus Stoffel, a specialist in climate related risks, the chair will build on two decades of experience and combine field observations, remote sensing and process modelling to better understand where and when slopes fail, how far destructive flows can travel, and what this means for exposed communities and critical infrastructure. Integrated within the Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences of the Faculty of Science, it will receive EUR 200,000 per year for five years from the AXA Foundation for Human Progress – the endowment fund of AXA Mutuelles d’Assurances companies and the AXA Group. It will be developed in collaboration with the Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, the Department of Earth Sciences and the Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE) and will host three PhD candidates as well as two senior researchers, one of whom 50%. The new chair will offer a unique opportunity to study the impact of changing climatic conditions on mass-movement risks in the European Alps. The rock-ice avalanche in Blatten last year or the fatal debris flows in summer 2024 underscore the pressing need to improve understanding of these processes and their dynamics. While we won’t be able to avoid the occurrence of these phenomena in the future, we can certainly mitigate the resulting damage.  Markus Stoffel UNIGE Professor The Science pillar of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is committed to supporting innovative research programmes that contribute to societal progress. Funding for the new chair follows a highly competitive call for proposals launched by the foundation and overseen by a scientific committee, through which Markus Stoffel’s project was selected from more than one hundred applications. About the University of Geneva Founded in 1559, the University of Geneva (UNIGE) now ranks among the top 100 universities worldwide. As a versatile institution with international reach, it fully integrates into the international landscape of Geneva while also contributing to the cultural, social, and economic development of the region. UNIGE is a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the 4EU+ European alliance, with its research quality being internationally recognised. It has been honoured with numerous distinctions, including several Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals. UNIGE hosts nearly 18,000 students from 150 countries across its nine faculties and thirteen interfaculty centres.

### French-American Educational and Cultural Exchange with the Juilliard School and Villa Albertine

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/french-american-educational-and-cultural-exchange-with-the-juilliard-school-and-villa-albertine
Published: 2026-04-13

Through its support to the Académie of the Opéra-Comique, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is enabling a new French-American educational and cultural exchange program with The Juilliard School, a world leader in performing arts education based at Lincoln Center in New York, and Villa Albertine, an institution of the French Embassy dedicated to culture and education in the United States. The program will begin in May 2026, when young artists from the Académie and Juilliard meet in Paris and New York for a first joint residency. Nurturing the Next Generation of Opera Artists Designed for a new generation of young opera artists, this partnership reflects a shared ambition to foster the circulation of talents, repertoires, and ideas on both sides of the Atlantic, while strengthening access to culture for young and diverse audiences. Created in 2023 at the initiative of Louis Langrée, General Manager of the Théâtre national de l’Opéra-Comique, the Académie welcomes each year around ten young artists (singers, conductors, pianists, stage directors, vocal coaches) and offers them high-level training in interpretation, French singing, and the spoken-sung style specific to opéra-comique. In close collaboration with The Juilliard School’s Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts and Villa Albertine, these artists will participate in masterclasses, coaching sessions, and cross-residencies in Paris and New York, with joint recitals of French and American music programmed in both cities starting in the 2026 season. Bringing Opera Closer to Young Audiences Beyond excellence in training, the project includes a strong arts education and outreach component targeting young audiences. Building on the Académie’s existing presence in schools in the Paris region and Villa Albertine’s mission to make French language and culture accessible to young US-based audiences, the artists will develop workshops, encounters, and participatory formats inspired by Juilliard and Villa Albertine’s experience with school and student communities, in order to reduce geographical, social, and economic barriers to discovering opera and the vocal arts. Culture as a driver of inclusion and opportunity By supporting this French-American exchange, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress helps strengthen the cultural and educational ties between two leading artistic ecosystems and contributes to the international reach of French creation and excellence. This partnership embodies several core priorities: supporting artistic creation and emerging talents, contributing to dialogue between cultures, promoting culture as a driver of inclusion and opportunity, and reinforcing AXA’s long-term commitment to culture, education and the next generation on both sides of the Atlantic.

### Supporting breakthrough research on demographic change, social protection, and solidarity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/supporting-breakthrough-research-on-demographic-change-social-protection-and-solidarity
Published: 2026-04-08

Backing Seven Early-career Researchers to Reimagine the Social Contract for a Fairer Future Demographic shifts, rising inequalities, and emerging risks such as climate change and technological disruption challenge traditional models of social protection. These issues call for innovative approaches to organizing rights, responsibilities, and mutual support within societies. As part of our commitment to strengthening social resilience and solidarity through science, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is supporting cutting-edge postdoctoral research under the theme “Rethinking the Social Contract: Demographic Change, Social Protection, and Solidarity.” The aim of this fellowship program is to generate new knowledge and actionable insights that help individuals and communities better manage risks, build resilience, and reinforce trust, protection, and solidarity. The call generated strong interest, and at the end of the process selection, seven exceptional early-career researchers (within five years of their PhD) were chosen based on academic excellence, project innovation, and outreach capacity. Generating Practical Solutions for a Better Society This Fellowship aims to deliver concrete insights on how the social contract must evolve to support a more resilient, fair, and sustainable society. It promotes interdisciplinary, solution-driven research capable of providing actionable recommendations for policymakers, institutions, and communities. Generating Practical Solutions for a Better Society This initiative aims to deliver concrete insights on how the social contract must evolve to support a resilient, fair, and sustainable society. It promotes interdisciplinary, solution-driven research capable of providing actionable recommendations for policymakers, institutions, and communities. The selected projects explore key issues such as demographic change and aging societies, migration and shifting population dynamics, evolving labor markets and new work models, social protection systems and safety nets, inclusive, and adaptable social contracts in the face of interconnected risks. Discover the Supported Projects Dr Martina Bovo, Politecnico di Milano (Italy) Migration Urban Policy for a New Social Contract in Southern Italy Dr Bovo’s project explores how recent migration has reshaped daily life, governance, and social cohesion in European cities, with a focus on precarious living conditions in Southern peripheries. Using the town of Castel Volturno in Southern Italy as a case study, her team will map migrants’ living conditions, identify all key integration actors (from public institutions to grassroots organizations) and analyze how they interact. Working directly with local stakeholders, the project will co-produce practical conditions and tools for more inclusive, place-based policies that reflect real needs and intersectional inequalities. The findings will be scaled up into policy‑oriented knowledge, helping to strengthen the link between research, public debate and decision‑making on migration and urban governance. Dr Mario Bernasconi, University of Basel (Switzerland) Demographic Shifts and Policy Responses This project examines how ageing populations and shrinking workforces are reshaping social protection and the behavior of older workers, focusing on pension and unemployment insurance reforms. A first strand looks at partial retirement: using rich Dutch administrative data and natural experiments created by pension reforms, Dr Bernasconi will estimate how flexible retirement options affect when and how people leave work, then use a structural life‑cycle model to simulate alternative policy designs. A second strand analyses a German reform of unemployment insurance (UI) that reduced benefit duration but was announced in advance, prompting many older workers to leave employment early to lock in more generous pre‑reform benefits. Dr Oa Akua Konadu-Osei, Maastricht University (Netherlands) Beyond Borders and Precarity: A Transnational Social Contract for Gig Work Dr Konadu-Osei's aim is to explore how transnational gig work is transforming the social contract between firms in high‑income countries and gig workers in low‑ and middle‑income countries. Focusing on platforms and hiring organizations in the Global North and workers in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, her project examines weak regulation, heightened precarity, and limited worker voice. Combining policy analysis, surveys, interviews, and co‑creation workshops, the research seeks to outline what a fair transnational social contract for gig work could be and how platforms can adopt more inclusive practices that support long‑term socio‑economic resilience. Dr Trang Le, University of New South Wales (Australia) Fertility, Education, and Evolving Social Contract in Developing Countries This research examines how rapid demographic change in emerging economies is transforming the “old deal” between generations, and what that implies for social protection and public policy. Focusing on Indonesia, with extensions to Vietnam and Thailand, Dr Le develops a structural life‑cycle model in which children are treated as informal old‑age insurance, and households choose fertility and education under income risk, borrowing constraints, informality and changing expectations of support. Using rich panel data (IFLS and comparable surveys), the project quantifies how weakening norms of filial support affect decisions about family size and human capital investment, and simulates how social pensions, education subsidies and other policies could offset rising vulnerability, inequality and immobility. Dr Lara Schwarz, University of California, Berkeley (United States of America) Climate Resilience as Social Responsibility: Protecting Health in Extreme Weather Evaluating how well public climate adaptation measures, such as cooling and clean air centers, this project aims to protect unhoused people, who are among the most exposed to extreme heat and wildfire smoke. Building on earlier findings from San Diego that showed higher climate‑related health impacts in unhoused populations, it expands the analysis to major cities across California using seven years of hospital and emergency department data. By linking heat and smoke exposure to health outcomes and assessing the effectiveness and cost‑effectiveness of these interventions, Dr Schwarz will provide thanks to her research robust evidence to design more targeted, equitable, and protective climate policies in California and beyond. Dr Lauren Stuart, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) Health, Work, and Change: A New Social Contract for Youth Dr Stuart’s project tests whether youth‑led community health programs can jointly improve health, create jobs, and strengthen social cohesion in low‑income urban areas. In Soweto and Alexandra, 100 unemployed young people will provide monthly blood pressure screenings to 100 older adults over six months, while researchers track health outcomes for elders and mental, economic and employment outcomes for youth. An economic analysis will assess the sustainability and scalability of this model, aiming to inform policies that link youth employment with chronic disease management in South Africa and similar contexts. Dr Laurence Anthony Go, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) Institutions and Migration: Allocation, Cohesion, and Transformation (IMPACT) This research examines how migration reshapes core institutions and, in turn, how those institutions shape migrants’ impacts on host societies. Through three subprojects on labor market rules in Spain, national identity rituals across countries, and a naturalization reform in the Philippines, Dr Go will analyze how resource allocation, social cohesion and development policies can be designed to turn migration into a driver of fair and inclusive long‑term growth. We believe that supporting independent, high-quality research is essential to anticipating future challenges and designing more inclusive protection frameworks. By backing these seven postdoctoral researchers, we aim to contribute to a renewed vision of the social contract: one that better equips societies to navigate uncertainty, reduce inequalities, and strengthen solidarity for generations to come.

### A New Generation of AXA Chairs for Transdisciplinary Research

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/a-new-generation-of-axa-chairs-for-transdisciplinary-research
Published: 2026-03-11

At the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, we consider science as a compass for action, to drive human progress. To adress the current context of interconnected, complex risks affecting human health, the planet and our societies, science can no longer be confined to silos. It must be built collectively, with its beneficiaries, for greater impact. To that end, we are launching a new generation of AXA Chairs in order: To connect multiple disciplines; To involve societal partners from the start; To generate knowledge and solutions that drive change. Each AXA Chair is a highly selective funding scheme designed to foster transformative, transdisciplinary research networks, at the intersection of multiple fields and societal actors: 5-year projects, with up to €1.5M in network grants; Led by senior researchers (PhD +10 years); Transdisciplinary by design, combining at least one social science / humanities / economics discipline with at least one natural science / engineering / technology field; Co-developed and co-implemented with non-academic partners (e.g., public authorities, NGOs, community organizations, public hospitals, etc.). Research topics The AXA Foundation for Human Progress supports academic projects that deepen our understanding of the major risks facing people, societies, and the planet, and that help us anticipate, prevent, and respond to those risks on two distinct categories: 1. Global Category Supports international, transdisciplinary research networks addressing major risks and challenges at the intersection of: Risks to People Health and Human Well-Being; Risks to Societies; Risks to the Planet. 2. Health in France Category Exclusively supporting AXA Chairs: Hosted by French academic institutions or public research organizations; Focusing on risks to human health and well-being in France and in a broader international context e.g., chronic and infectious diseases, mental health, environmental determinants of health, health inequalities, health systems resilience. Applications Details and Timeline Application must be done on : https://institution.axa-research.org/ The selection of research projects is conducted independently, following a rigorous process of academic pre-screening and peer review. The Scientific Committee, composed of leading experts from diverse disciplines, guarantees a transparent, fair, and merit-based selection process. About the AXA Foundation for Human Progress The Science program of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress brings together two preexisting science philanthropy initiatives of AXA: the AXA Research Fund, launched in 2008 by AXA Group, aimed at supporting independent academic research globally in key areas related to risks, and informing science-based decision-making and the Health Philanthropy Program of the Mutuelles d’assurances AXA, an ambitious program dedicated to supporting health research projects in France since 2022 focusing on youth and old age.

### Supporting Women in Need

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/supporting-women-in-need
Published: 2026-03-07

Protecting women in vulnerable situations is a priority for the AXA Foundation for Human Progress. Through strategic partnerships, we strengthen the actions of those defending women's rights on the ground and providing long-term support to women who are victims of violence. Supporting Women’s Access to Justice The AXA Foundation for Human Progress provides financial support to the Elle’s Angels program, carried out with Juridica and AXA Hearts in Action, to help women affected by violence take legal action against their abusers. By removing the financial barriers to legal proceedings, this initiative enables women to exercise their rights and access a safer pathway toward protection and recovery. We have also established the Kids Angels fund, dedicated to covering legal costs for children who are victims of violence, ensuring they too can access justice too. Empowering Those Who Defend Women’s Rights We support the Fondation des Femmes, a leading organization for women’s rights, that raises public awareness, fosters debate on gender equality, and highlights issues such as violence, precarious living conditions, and health by supporting nearly 650 community projects. By supporting its feminist hub, La Cité Audacieuse in Paris, we help create a physical space bringing together associations initiatives and training programs dedicated to women’s rights. Through the Myriade program led by the Fondation des Femmes, we also contribute to a strategic and financial support scheme that amplifies the impact of 14 organizations committed to combating violence and advancing equality. Supporting Women in their Access to Justice AXA entity Juridica runs initiatives that help AXA Foundation’s partner associations in defending the rights of women through legal, psychological, and financial support, as well as temporary housing solutions. Through the Elle’s Angels program, carried out jointly with Juridica and AXA Hearts in Action, we help women affected by domestic violence take legal action against their abusers by removing the barrier of the cost of legal proceedings, enabling women to exercise their rights and begin a safer pathway toward protection and recovery.

### Promoting Contemporary Creation as a Driver of Human Progress

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/incubating-contemporary-creation-as-a-driver-of-human-progress
Published: 2026-03-06

The AXA Foundation for Human Progress fosters contemporary creation through major partnerships with the Aix-en-Provence and Avignon Festivals as well as the Villa Albertine Across these initiatives La FabricA in Avignon, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence , and Villa Albertine , the AXA Foundation for Human Progress pursues one same goal: to make contemporary creation a catalyst for understanding, dialogue, and transformation. By acting as an incubator, we invest in structuring venues, support long-term programs rather than one-off events, encourage cross-border and cross-disciplinary collaboration, and promote broad access to artistic innovation. Through these strategic partnerships, we reaffirm our commitment to contemporary creation as a key condition for meaningful and sustainable human progress. Festival d’Avignon - La FabricA: A Space to Invent the Theater of Tomorrow In 2026, for the third time, we are Lead partner of the Festival d’Avignon (July 4–25) and Major Patron of La FabricA , the Festival’s only permanent venue. The partnership supports a dedicated space for research and production, where artists can develop their work before public performances, in a venue open year-round and environmentally exemplary. Both an artists’ residence and a full-scale rehearsal stage mirroring the Cour d’Honneur at the Palais des Papes, La FabricA is a laboratory for new aesthetics and innovative relationships with text, space, and audiences—fully aligned with the Foundation’s role as an incubator for contemporary theater. Festival d’Aix-en-Provence: Shaping the 21st-Century Opera Repertoire Since 1948, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence has been a leading European opera festival, welcoming about 70,000 spectators and presenting works from Baroque to contemporary repertoire, alongside recitals and concerts. By supporting the Festival from 2025 to 2027, we help renew operatic language, rethink the relationship between works, audiences, and venues, and contribute to the 21st‑century opera repertoire. Under the vision of Pierre Audi, the Festival combines international artistic excellence with multidisciplinary experimentation. The Academy and the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra serve as laboratories where young artists develop projects at the crossroads of cultures—an ecosystem we are committed to nurturing. Villa Albertine: a Transatlantic Bridge for Contemporary Creation With Villa Albertine in New York, we support a key platform for Franco-American cultural and intellectual exchange . The Villa hosts artists, writers, researchers, and cultural professionals, giving them time and space to create and connect. The partnership is rooted in Étant Donnés , a flagship contemporary art program that, over more than 30 years, has supported over 700 artists, 50 curators, and 350 projects in 87 cities across France and the United States. In its first year, the partnership also enabled a collective residency in Marfa, Texas, where researchers and intellectuals spent a month reflecting on major contemporary issues such as migration and environmental change - illustrating our vision of contemporary creation as a tool for inquiry and critical reflection.

### Imagining Climate-Resilient Territories with Good Planet Foundation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/imagining-climate-resilient-territories-with-good-planet-foundation
Published: 2026-02-21

A Three-Pillar Eco-Positive Approach The AXA Foundation for Human Progress partners with the GoodPlanet Foundation, founded by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, to strengthen the resilience of French territories facing climate change. Over three years, we have co-developed an ambitious program combining agroecology, science, and youth engagement . This programs aims to restore water cycles, protect biodiversity, and mobilize citizens around a positive vision of ecological transition. Alongside GoodPlanet and a network of local actors, we support 27 farms implementing regenerative hydrology and other agroecological practices that restore soils, conserve water resources, and enhance biodiversity. Across these pilot sites, more than 6,600 trees are being planted, and three plots are equipped with scientific sensors. This creates a unique field laboratory to measure the impact of nature-based solutions on climate resilience. We also support the production and sharing of scientific data to document the effectiveness of these approaches, with the goal to accelerate the scaling of innovative agroecological practices at territorial level and inform public debate and advocacy. Engaging Young People Through Art and Action with Resonances The third core pillar of the program is youth engagement. Through workshops, educational activities, and the national “Résonances” art contest , we encourage young people to become active players in the ecological transition on their own territories. The 2026 edition of Résonances on the theme “Living Territory” has just reached a major milestone: the contest closed at the end of February, and 213 artistic creations have been published on the Résonances platform. These works, across writing, illustration, photography, video, and audio, are open to public voting until the end of March, alongside a special “Coup de Cœur” award from the GoodPlanet Foundation. Nurturing a New Generation of Changemakers 40 creations will be preselected in total: four per artistic format and per age group (15–19 and 20–25). They will then be evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury including representatives from our foundation, and from GoodPlanet, artists, mental health advocates, and young laureates from previous editions. The 20 finalist creations to be exhibited at the Résonances Festival on May 30–31, 2026. A final public vote during the festival will then select the winners, with a prize ceremony held on May 31. Laureates will access unique learning experiences: editorial immersions, creative workshops, studio recording sessions, and a day with Yann Arthus-Bertrand. These experiences are designed to help laureates discover new environments and build skills. By integrating support for farmers, scientific evidence, and youth engagement through art and collective action, this partnership fosters climate resilience rooted in local communities and nurtures a new generation of changemakers.

### Supporting the Paris-Saclay Summit - Choose Science to Champion Scientific Research

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/supporting-the-paris-saclay-summit-choose-science-to-champion-scientific-research
Published: 2026-02-17

On 18 February 18, 2026, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress took part in the Paris-Saclay Summit – Choose Science at CentraleSupélec , reaffirming our commitment to science and evidence-based decision-making. This third edition was a great success, featuring 130 French and international speakers from over 20 countries, more than 5,000 unique visitors, 25,000 conference bookings, and 37,300 live connections. For us at the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, this strong engagement underscores the importance of open and evidence-based dialogue, more vital than ever, to defend science against rising anti-science narratives and to shape ambitious, long-term research agendas in the public interest. Advancing Brain Science to Protect Lives Our first contribution highlighted how cutting-edge neuroscience can help protect lives in high-risk environments. Clément Rouxel, General Delegate of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, joined cognitive scientist Prof. Frédéric Dehais (ISAE-SUPAERO) for a conference titled “From Air Crashes to Operating Rooms: How Brain Science Saves Lives.” Together, they explored how a deeper understanding of human attention, cognitive overload, and decision-making under stress can reduce human error in high‑risk environments such as aviation and surgery. By supporting research at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and safety, we help turn cutting-edge science into practical solutions that strengthen safety systems and better protect both professionals and the public. Rethinking How We Finance Scientific Ambition Later in the day, Eloi Astier, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress’s Scientific Philanthropy Partnerships Manager, took part in a high-level roundtable on “Enterprises, Philanthropy, Public Authorities, Europe: How to Finance France’s Scientific Ambition?” Alongside representatives from the CNRS and the ANR, the discussion focused on how private foundations, public funding, and European programs can better align to support bold, long-term research. Three priorities emerged: Providing multi-year, flexible funding so researchers can take risks and explore breakthrough ideas; Strengthening collaboration between public institutions, companies, and philanthropy to scale solutions faster; Ensuring research serves the public interest, with a strong focus on prevention, resilience, and inclusion. Through these strategic discussions, we reaffirmed our role as a committed partner to the scientific community in France and Europe. Sharing Insights and Continuing the Conversation Replays of these sessions are available below: Clément Rouxel in discussion with our AXA Chair, Frederic Dehais - 10:15-10:50 From Plane Crash to Operating Room: How Brain Science Saves Lives – in French Watch online on Youtube Eloi Astier with speakers from the CNRS Foundation and the ANR - 16:30-17:30 Businesses, Sponsorship, Public Authorities, Europe: How To Finance French Scientific Ambition? - in French Watch online on Youtube We will continue to support ambitious research, foster dialogue between science and society, and advocate for funding models that enable impactful science to deliver long-term benefits for all.

### Under Antarctica: Crossing the Continent to Advance Climate Science

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/under-antarctica-crossing-the-continent-to-advance-climate-science
Published: 2026-01-20

A Pioneering Kite‑Ski Expedition for Polar Research They did it! In exactly 80 days , French glaciologist Dr. Heidi Sevestre and polar explorer Matthieu Tordeur crossed inland Antarctica by kite‑ski, covering 4,000 km in extreme conditions , all in the name of science. Towing ground‑penetrating radars across the ice sheet, they collected unique data to better understand how Antarctic ice is melting, and how it will contribute to future sea‑level rise. The AXA Foundation for Human Progress supported the Under Antarctica Expedition, alongside leading scientific and institutional partners. From the launch of this unique expedition on October 1st to their arrival at Union Glacier Base on January 21st , we have accompanied this mission, which combines cutting‑edge polar science with an innovative, low‑impact mode of exploration. Mapping Ice‑Sheet Dynamics to Strengthen Climate Models A New Way to Do Science in Extreme Environments Under Antarctica is the first long‑distance kite‑ski expedition fully dedicated to polar science. With two ground‑penetrating radars, Heidi and Matthieu have surveyed the ice sheet along their route: To map ice layers and accumulation rates; To detect subglacial lakes and rivers; To reveal the topography of the bedrock beneath the ice. These unprecedented data will help scientists reconstruct how Antarctica has responded to past climate variations and refine projections of its future contribution to sea‑level rise. They will feed into climate and coastal‑impact models used to inform adaptation strategies in vulnerable coastal regions worldwide. From Scientific Data to Education and Public Awareness Beyond data collection, the expedition has a strong educational and outreach dimension. Through a dedicated school program and regular updates from the field, more than 300,000 students have followed the journey in real time, learning about polar environments, climate change, and the importance of protecting fragile ecosystems. A documentary scheduled for 2026 will further amplify the impact of this mission by reaching a broader audience. By supporting Under Antarctica, we accelerate the science of cryosphere and enable a new model of polar science: one that is lighter and more sustainable. Read more on Under Antarctica Expedition

### Growing Agroecological Futures with Children and Farmers

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/growing-agroecological-futures-with-children-and-farmers
Published: 2026-01-14

Tree-Planting: a Powerful Educational Tool The AXA Foundation for Human Progress partners with the association Des Enfants et des Arbres to accelerate the agroecological transition in France. Together, we bring farmers and schoolchildren around a shared goal: using tree-planting projects as powerful educational tools to restore biodiversity, protect soils, and reconnect young people with the land. Through this partnership, we support a nationwide program of hands-on workshops in which classes help to plant hedgerows and agroforestry trees on nearby farms. These activities are integrated into structured learning pathways, designed to make environmental education concrete, positive, and action-oriented. Addressing Farmers’ Climate and Soil Challenges Across France, farmers face growing pressure on their ecosystems: soil erosion, declining yields, biodiversity loss, and increasing exposure to extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heat waves. These challenges not only weaken agricultural production but also rural landscapes and communities. Agroforestry and bocage hedges are recognized as effective, nature-based solutions to these issues. Trees help: To protect and stabilize soils, reducing erosion; To improve water infiltration, retention, and filtration; To moderate wind and temperature variations, creating microclimates; To capture and store carbon, while providing habitats for biodiversity. By supporting Des Enfants et des Arbres, we contribute deploying these solutions at the farm level, while strengthening trust and dialogue between farmers and local communities. Empowering Children through Funded Tree-Planting Workshops The core of the program is a series of educational workshops that transform tree planting into a formative experience for children. Pupils (from 4th to 7th grade) take part in real planting projects on farms, typically planting around 250 trees per class. These are not just one-off outings but key steps in a broader pedagogical journey: Before the planting day, farmers visit their partner class to present their work, explain the role of field trees and hedgerows, and show how the project will transform the local landscape; Teachers use a dedicated toolkit to incorporate the project into multiple subjects (science, geography, literature, arts, math), and link climate and biodiversity topics to tangible action; On site, children learn how to plant and protect trees and discover the connections between agriculture, ecosystems, and climate resilience in real conditions . Our funding supports 16 agroforestry planting projects across France, each with a dedicated €5,000 envelope. This enables: The involvement of 480 children and 16 farmers around joint planting projects; The planting of approximately 4,000 trees that contribute to soil protection, water regulation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity; The production of educational content and visibility for these initiatives, reinforcing their impact at national level. Through these workshops, children experience themselves as active contributors to the future of their territories. They build knowledge, confidence, and a sense of responsibility toward the living world. By combining support for farmers and transformative learning experiences for young people, we help grow a new generation of citizens ready to engage in the agroecological transition.

### Lead Partner of the Manufactures nationales - Sèvres & Mobilier national

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/lead-partner-of-the-manufactures-nationales-sevres-and-mobilier-national
Published: 2026-01-12

The AXA Foundation for Human Progress Supports the Future of French Decorative Crafts and Design At the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, we believe that safeguarding cultural heritage and fostering creative industries are vital drivers of resilience. They strengthen social cohesion, preserve rare skills, and generate new economic opportunities rooted in local communities. This is why we have become the Lead Partner of the Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national. This unprecedented five-year commitment (2025–2029) aims to preserve, transmit, and promote the excellence of French decorative arts and design, in France and internationally. © Lorenz Cugini At the heart of this partnership lies a shared ambition: promoting French savoir-faire by protecting endangered craftsmanship and championing contemporary creation. The partnership is structured around two complementary pillars to achieve this: preserving and transmitting rare skills, and celebrating contemporary creation in France and beyond. © Mobilier national, Camille Gasser Preserving and Transmitting Exceptional Savoir-Faire The first pillar of this partnership is the creation of an Apprenticeship Training Center (CFA) dedicated to “orphaned” craft trades. Currently, 281 craft trades are listed in France, with more than a third being considered “orphaned” due to the absence of dedicated training pathways. Without formal diploma programs, some of these crafts risk disappearing, despite being essential to creation, restoration, and heritage conservation. Therefore, supporting these sectors has become a strategic priority to safeguard jobs, sustain local economic ecosystems, and protect unique skills. The objective of creating this CFA is to rebuild high-quality, diploma-granting training programs tailored to the needs of craft businesses, raise awareness among younger generations about these passion-driven careers, and offer genuine, long-term professional opportunities in rare but promising fields. Of the 50,000 savoir-faire businesses in France, over 80% are single-person entities spread across 80% of the country. Therefore, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress’s commitment directly supports local economic vitality and the intergenerational transmission of skills. © Mobilier national, Camille Gasser Celebrating Creation and Amplifying International Reach The second pillar of the partnership highlights contemporary creation and increases the global visibility of French decorative arts and the innovators shaping its future. The AXA Foundation for Human Progress supports the Salon des Nouveaux Ensembliers, an annual event dedicated to French artisans and designers. As an international traveling exhibition, this initiative will spotlight the 53 craft trades represented within the Manufactures nationales, while contributing to an ambitious program furnishing French embassies worldwide. The Salon des Nouveaux Ensembliers brings together heritage and innovation, highlighting exceptional artisans and their ability to project centuries-old savoir-faire into a resolutely contemporary vision. By becoming Lead Partner of the Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national, we reaffirm our mission to act for common good of current and future generations, by placing the preservation and transmission of craftsmanship at the heart of our support for local communities and French culture. The partnership was inaugurated on January 13, 2026, in the presence of Thomas Buberl, AXA Group CEO, and President of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, and Hervé Lemoine, President of the Manufactures nationales - Sèvres & Mobilier national.

### Supporting Mentalo to Strengthen Youth Mental Well-Being

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/supporting-mentalo-to-strengthen-youth-mental-well-being
Published: 2026-01-11

A Strategic Partnership with Inserm to Understand Youth Mental Health Since 2022, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress has been supporting Mentalo , a large-scale participatory research program led by Inserm and Université Paris Cité. Tracking up to 50,000 young people aged 11 to 24 in France, Mentalo aims to better understand how their well-being evolves over time and to identify key factors influencing their mental health. Based on these insights, the project will develop MENTALO+ , an innovative app dedicated to the prevention and promotion of youth mental health. Addressing a Growing Youth Mental Health Challenge In recent years, youth mental health has become a major concern in France. Studies indicate that a significant proportion of 11–24-year-olds experience psychological distress, that is often under-recognized or detected too late. This has a serious impact on education, social life, and future professional life. Launched in May 2023 and running until 2026 Mentalo is France’s first major national study focused on adolescent mental well-being. It regularly surveys participants throughout the year: To track the evolution of their mental well-being over time; To identify influencing factors (school, family, social environment, digital life); To better understand protective and risk factors. The study was co-designed with young people themselves: more than 300 adolescents and young adults have contributed to shaping the questionnaires and approach, ensuring that the research truly reflects their experiences and concerns. From Data to MENTALO+: a New Tool for Prevention and Support The goal of Mentalo is to turn research into practical solutions. Using collected data, the Inserm team is developing MENTALO+, a digital platform designed to help young people better understand their mental health, access resources, and seek support earlier. MENTALO+ aims to: Provide personalized, easy-to-understand content (videos, quizzes, self-assessment tools) to help young people articulate their feelings; Offer practical exercises and tools (such as relaxation and stress management) to improve daily well-being; Connect users to local resources: health professionals, support services, and associations when more structured help is needed; Contribute to reducing severe outcomes, including suicidal behaviors among 15–25-year-olds. By supporting Mentalo and MENTALO+, we are building one of France’s most robust evidence bases on youth mental well-being, and accelerating the development of a science-based, co-created prevention tool. Our goal is to enable earlier intervention, better support, and improved life trajectories for a generation facing increasing mental health pressures.

### Protecting Endangered Cultural Heritage Alongside the World Monuments Fund

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/protecting-endangered-cultural-heritage-alongside-the-world-monuments-fund
Published: 2026-01-07

The AXA Foundation for Human Progress Becomes Lead Partner of the World Monuments Watch The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has protected over 700 sites across 112 countries, working with communities, authorities, and funders to safeguard heritage threatened by climate change, disasters, tourism, and urbanization. As Lead Partner, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress supports the World Monuments Watch, a biannual program that highlights 25 at-risk cultural sites worldwide. The program focuses on urgent threats and the potential for meaningful, long-term preservation impact for local communities. Through this multi-year partnership, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress provides seed funding for selected Watch sites and helps mobilize global attention and resources toward places where culture, social cohesion, and community well-being converge. Supporting Three Emblematic Sites on the 2025 Watch In 2026, our support will play a catalytic role at three emblematic sites selected by the World Monuments Watch 2025: Chapel of the Sorbonne, France Located at the heart of Paris, the Chapel of the Sorbonne is one of the most iconic works of French classical architecture. Closed to the public for more than 25 years, it is now undergoing major structural and artistic conservation work to stabilize weakened elements and safeguard its exceptional heritage. Together with WMF, the City of Paris, and the Chancellerie des Universités de Paris, we are helping to drive a large-scale restoration effort that will ultimately reopen the chapel as a living cultural and academic space for students, Parisians, and visitors from around the world. Noto Peninsula Heritage Sites, Japan The 2024 earthquake in Japan’s Noto Peninsula caused extensive damage to historic districts and religious sites, including Ipponsugi Street in Nanao City and the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine in Kuroshima. Building on work initiated by WMF in 2025, our partnership will help reinforce damaged heritage sites, support community-led recovery, and promote long-term revitalization anchored in cultural continuity. By investing in these sites, we aim to help local communities rebuild their built environment and their social and cultural fabric. Antakya Earthquake Heritage Sites, Türkiye In Antakya (ancient Antioch), the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquake devastated historic neighborhoods and landmarks, including the complete collapse of the Greek Orthodox Church and severe damage to the Synagogue. Since 2023, the WMF and local partners have documented losses, cleared debris, and carried out urgent stabilization efforts. Together, we are now supporting the next phase: comprehensive reconstruction and repair planning using seismically resilient approaches, alongside expanded community engagement to ensure that the recovery process is rooted in local needs and memory. Act for Human Progress by Protecting What Matters We aim to generate concrete impact for communities living in fragile environments and facing growing uncertainty by combining WMF’s heritage expertise with our focus on risk reduction and resilience. The AXA Foundation for Human Progress shares our belief that cultural heritage and community resilience are deeply interconnected. Their commitment to reducing risk and strengthening societies aligns closely with the purpose of the World Monuments Watch, which brings global attention and resources to sites where culture and community well-being converge. This partnership will allow the WMF to respond even more effectively to the challenges facing heritage sites around the world.  Bénédicte de Montlaur President and CEO of World Monuments Fund Supporting the restoration of culturally significant sites helps communities confront risks, reduce vulnerabilities, and build resilience. Through this collaboration, we strive to foster safer, stronger, and more connected societies, today and for future generations. Jan 2026

### Fighting Food Insecurity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/fighting-food-insecurity
Published: 2026-01-04

To address the growing challenges of food insecurity in France, the AXA Foundation for Human progress supports organizations that work every day to ensure everyone has access to decent food. This commitment is at the heart of our ambition to protect what matters and help build a more resilient and inclusive society. Across the country, we support a wide range of people, families, people living alone, people experiencing homelessness and students, by funding food purchases, social grocery stores, shared kitchens, reception centers, and logistical or digital solutions that strengthen food aid. Fédération française des Banques Alimentaires Supporting the frontline of food assistance The Fédération française des Banques Alimentaires is France’s leading food aid network, supporting 2.4 million people through 79 Banques Alimentaires (= Food Banks) across the country. Support from AXA Foundation, dedicated to the purchase of food and related logistics costs, enabled the funding of 137,000 additional meals in 2025 , with a particular focus on product quality (organic, local) and a fair distribution based on the needs of each region. Fondation de l’Armée du Salut Local responses for the most vulnerable Alongside the Fondation de l’Armée du Salut, the AXA Foundation supports food aid initiatives that combine access to quality food with social support and the creation of social ties. In 2025, this support helped to: Support families, especially single mothers, through shared kitchens and group activities, such as in Paris with La Cocotte / Ciney 18 ( 27 households supported, with a total of 47 children ); enable hundreds of households to access essential products at very low cost in social grocery stores, such as in Mulhouse with L’Essentiel ( 389 households, 232,284 meal equivalents ) and in Belfort with L’Épicerie des solidarités ( 116 households, 260 people ); develop welcoming, community-oriented spaces for people facing severe hardship, such as in Marseille with La Bonne Adresse , a new day center equipped with a kitchen. These initiatives are deployed at the heart of neighborhoods, as close as possible to local needs, to prevent people from falling into extreme poverty. COP1 – Solidarités Étudiantes So students don’t have to choose between eating and studying COP1 – Solidarités Étudiantes combats student poverty through a network of branches in France. The organization provides peer-to-peer support, free of charge and without means testing, in city centers and outside university premises. Thanks to the support of the AXA Foundation, COP1 has opened or strengthened branches in Besançon, Toulouse, Pointe-à-Pitre and Bordeaux , where it organizes: Food distributions, Social support activities (access to rights, employment, culture and sports), Community-building events (cooking workshops “Fest1”, breakfast gatherings). In 2025, this partnership made it possible to: Support 7,000 students , Distribute 20,000 food parcels within these branches and across the COP1 network. In a context where 2 out of 3 students skip meals for financial reasons, these actions help stabilize day-to-day life and enable students to continue their studies in more dignified conditions. Equipage Solidaire – Delivraide Digital technology supporting young people facing food insecurity Founded in 2020, Equipage Solidaire supports young people’s well-being by leveraging digital tools and a network of 2,300 volunteers across France. The association created Delivraide , a digital platform that delivers food and hygiene kits to students in need. Support from AXA Foundation (2024–2026) is specifically dedicated to funding the storage facilities used in the different cities where Delivraide operates. Impact in 2025 More than 300,000 meals delivered, 120 tonnes of food collected and redistributed, Over 8,000 students supported , Improved app and internal tools, making delivery and registration processes more efficient. By partnering with both major national networks and innovative local initiatives, the AXA Foundation is helping to strengthen the long-term fight against food insecurity: meeting urgent needs, preventing people from falling into extreme poverty, reducing isolation, and enabling children, families and students to focus on their health, education and future prospects.

### Decoding Baby Cries to Detect Early Developmental Risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/decoding-baby-cries-to-detect-early-developmental-risks
Published: 2025-11-29

A World-First Infant Cry Research Program The AXA Foundation for Human Progress is supporting groundbreaking research led by Professor Nicolas Mathevon , revolutionizing how we understand infant cries and their role in protecting children’s health. Building on over fifteen years of scientific work, the project investigates whether the acoustic features of newborn cries can help identify early neurodevelopmental risks and improve long-term outcomes. From Research Vision to a Global-Scale Data Resource The program, conducted at the University of Saint-Étienne, records and analyzes cries from 1,000 babies using advanced artificial intelligence methods. The goal is to determine wether specific acoustic patterns in crying can signal early developmental difficulties early on, such as issues with social interaction, autism spectrum disorders, language delays, or the effects of early neonatal brain injury. A major milestone has been reached: cries from the 1,000th baby have now been recorded. Over two years, two neonatal care assistants, supported by an acoustic engineer, worked daily with parents and newborns to build an unprecedented dataset. Key Figures of the Project so Far 1,040 newborns included in the study; More than 100,000 crying sequences collected; 40 babies who did not cry during the recording days after birth. This dataset is now by far the largest collection of infant cry recordings in the world. It will now be accessible to the international scientific community, enabling new advances in infant development and early diagnosis research. Next Steps Toward Earlier Detection and Better Care The research is entering into a new phase: long-term monitoring of all participating children, including those who did not cry during the initial recording period. The ultimate goal is to determine if reliable markers of neurodevelopmental problems can be detected in the acoustic structure of early cries and used as a screening tool. By supporting this work, we help accelerate the integration of AI and data science into pediatrics and child development. The ambition is: To enable earlier identification of at-risk children; To guide more targeted follow-up and interventions; To improve health and life trajectories from the very first days of life. This initiative shows how cutting-edge research can benefit newborns and their families, with the potential to transform prevention and care worldwide.

### Unlock Education: Rethinking School as a Driver of Social Cohesion

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/unlock-education-rethinking-school-as-a-driver-of-social-cohesion
Published: 2025-11-05

A Strategic Partnership to Adress Social Fragmentation In 2025, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress and Ashoka launched “Unlock Education”, a three-year global partnership that views education as a strategic tool to reduce social fragmentation and polarization. Together, we promote education as a powerful space where children and young people build the skills necessary to thrive, and where communities strengthen their social fabric. Ashoka, a leading NGO in social innovation, will collaborate with us to support 30 leading social entrepreneurs who are reimagining education to meet children’s fundamental needs. These innovators design scalable solutions that help young people develop core essential capabilities, such as empathy, resilience, collaboration, agency, and leadership, to help them navigate a complex, and polarized world. A Lifecycle Approach with Global Reach Over three years, we will identify, connect, and support 30 high-impact educational initiatives in seven countries: France, Belgium, and Türkiye in 2025, with plans to expand to Germany, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. Unlock Education supports children and youth from birth to age 18, starting with: Early Childhood (0–6) : Laying the foundations for curiosity, confidence, empathy, and school readiness; Middle Childhood (7–13) : Building norms of inclusion, respect, and effective collaboration in and around classrooms; Adolescence (14–18) : Turning these skills into civic engagement, leadership, and economic opportunities. We aim to develop evidence-based, adaptable models that deliver high impact while respecting local contexts by combining Ashoka’s global expertise in social innovation with our ability to mobilize resources and people worldwide. Engaging our People and Scaling Systemic Impact Our ambition extends beyond supporting individual projects. We seek to influence classroom practices, teacher leadership, family engagement, and local education ecosystems to generate lasting, systemic change. To achieve these goals, we will: Build a global community of changemakers to scale inclusive and systemic education models; Foster cross-sector collaboration with NGOs, governments, and private stakeholders; Engage our employees as Social Impact Champions through immersive experiences, skills-based volunteering, and co-action with leading social entrepreneurs. By 2027, we anticipate measurable improvements in social-emotional skills, reduced early school disengagement, and stronger trust between schools, families, and communities. Ultimately, we aim to redefine success in education, so that young people emerge as confident, empathetic leaders contributing to more resilient, cohesive societies.

### New Tech for NatCat: using AI and remote sensing for resilience

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/new-tech-for-natcat-using-ai-and-remote-sensing-for-resilience
Published: 2025-09-30

How Technology Transforms Natural Disaster Risk Management “New Tech for NatCat: Unlocking the Power of Remote Sensing & Artificial Intelligence to Anticipate and Mitigate Natural Disaster”. This report, published in 2025, brings together leading scientists supported by the science philanthropy of AXA, practitioners and decision makers from public institutions and AXA experts. Together they demonstrate how AI and remote sensing are already reshaping how we manage natural catastrophe risk, and how much further we can go. The report showcases how satellite imagery, LiDAR, drones, and advanced AI models are shifting our approach from a reactive response to a proactive prevention. It highlights concrete use cases worldwide, from coastal erosion and wildfires to floods, storms, tsunamis, and dust events. It also examines what is needed to responsibly scale these solutions. From Better Hazard Understanding to Impact Forecasting Revolutionizing Risk Assessment with New Technologies In the first chapter, we explore how remote sensing and AI are transforming the way researchers assess hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. Contributions from academic and AXA experts explain how these technologies improve the accuracy and timeliness of risk assessments, capture climate-driven dynamics like shifting coastlines and evolving storm patterns, and fill critical data gaps, particularly in regions where local measurements are scarce. This shift underpins a move from static, backward-looking models to dynamic, forward-looking risk assessments. Moving from Hazard to Impact Forecasting The second chapter examines the transition from hazard prediction to impact forecasting. By combining Earth observation, AI, and impact models we can predict not only where and when an event may occur, but also who and what will be affected. This enables more targeted evacuations, better emergency planning, and resource allocation, and ultimately reducing losses through early action. Strengthening Early Warning Systems and Societal Resilience Enhancing Alerts with New Data and Models Chapter three explores how AI and remote sensing improve early warning systems for hazards, such as tsunamis and dust storms. By integrating multiple data sources and automating analysis, these systems deliver faster, more reliable alerts, supporting decision-makers under time pressure. Supporting Risk Managers, Humanitarians, and Insurers The final chapter looks at societal risk management, and highlights new seismic risk approaches that improve protection standards. It also covers AI‑enhanced flood and cyclone forecasts designed for humanitarians in the field, and the use of remote sensing and AI within AXA to strengthen catastrophe risk modeling, support underwriting, and transform post‑disaster claims management. Throughout the report, we adress key challenges such as data quality, and access, model robustness, satellite miniaturization, governance, and ethics, as well as the conditions needed to keep the world insurable in the face of escalating risks. By convening a global network of experts and sharing their insights, we help accelerate the adoption of data-driven, preventive approaches to natural catastrophe risk. “New Tech for NatCat” is both a state-of-the-art overview and a call to action for public authorities, businesses, and communities to harness technology for a safer, more resilient future. Read New Tech for NatCat Download the Publication (new window)

### Protecting Mangroves and the Brazilian Amazon with Planète Urgence

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/protecting-mangroves-and-the-brazilian-amazon-with-planete-urgence
Published: 2025-09-30

A Strategic Collaboration on Climate and Forests The AXA Foundation for Human Progress is partnering with Planète Urgence, an international NGO with 25 years of experience working in countries highly exposed to climate risks such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and human vulnerability. Together, we aim to strengthen the capacity of local communities to protect forests and biodiversity and to test innovative, scalable solutions for climate resilience. Restoring Mangroves and Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods in Indonesia Through the MERCI II project in Indonesia, we are supporting the restoration of at least 100 hectares of mangroves in and around the Ujung Kulon National Park. This park includes both terrestrial and marine protected areas. Mangroves are vital ecosystems for coastal protection, carbon storage, and biodiversity. We collaborate closely with local communities to promote sustainable aquaculture practices, and address a major driver of degradation: around 80% of mangrove loss is linked to intensive aquaculture ponds. The model developed through MERCI II is designed to be replicable in other countries facing similar challenges, thereby amplifying its impact on biodiversity preservation. Laying The Groundwork for a High-Impact Project in Brazil Brazil is a priority for Planète Urgence’s geographic expansion. The partnership marked a decisive step as the world focused on the Amazon, at COP30 in Belém. Since October 2025, we have supported the deployment of a dedicated field expert to carry out an in-depth assessment of local needs and opportunities. Together with local partners and communities, the expert will co-design the first pilot project by mid-2026. This first phase will help define a robust, long-term strategy for action in the Brazilian Amazon, in close coordination with leading scientific partners such as CIFOR. The ambition is to launch Planète Urgence’s first high-impact forest and climate project in Brazil, directly contributing to the preservation and restoration of one of the planet’s key carbon and biodiversity reservoirs. Engaging Employees Through International Solidarity Volunteering Beyond project funding, we also support eight local organizations every year through Planète Urgence’s “ Congé Solidaire® ” program. This long-standing international volunteering scheme allows employees to dedicate two weeks of paid leave to support local NGOs in one of the eight countries of intervention. By combining ecosystem restoration (mangroves and forests), strategic scoping in the Amazon, and skills-based employee engagement, we contribute: To restoring critical ecosystems and improving climate resilience; To supporting local communities and partner organizations over the long term; To creating replicable models that can be extended to other vulnerable territories. Together with Planète Urgence, we leverage science and local action to protect vital natural capital, and support those on the frontlines of climate and biodiversity challenges.

### Tackling Violence Against Children, a Silent Global Emergency

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/tackling-violence-against-children-a-silent-global-emergency
Published: 2025-09-14

Providing Support to Break Cycles of Abuse In November 2025, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress launched an ambitious three-year international program to combat violence against children, endowing it with €10 million. This initiative embodies our conviction that protecting children is a fundamental condition for human progress and social cohesion. According to the World Health Organization, every year, 1 in 2 children worldwide experience physical, psychological, or sexual violence. Beyond the devastating long-term effects on health, education, and future opportunities, such abuse also undermines societal stability by fueling cycles of poverty, mistrust, and instability. Following a first call for projects that selected 13 projects in France, Spain and Colombia , a second call for projects to combat violence against children is now open in Italy and Senegal - applications can be submitted from 30 September to 30 November 2026 . Our calls for projects Discover (new window) Supporting Innovative, High-Impact Solutions We are supporting associations, NGOs, and foundations that have brought forward innovative, scalable, and evidence-based initiatives. The program focuses on two main forms of harm: Targeted Forms of Violence and Exploitation Violence: Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse; Exploitation: Economic exploitation, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, and involvement in armed conflict. Priority Areas for Action Supported projects contribute to at least one of the following priority areas: Prevention : Raising awareness among families, schools, and communities; promoting children’s rights and positive practices; Early Detection and Support: Developing alert systems, safe reporting mechanisms, and integrated support for child victims; Advocacy and Policy Change : Influencing public policies and systems to strengthen child protection frameworks. Proposals are assessed based on their level of innovation, strategic relevance, proven or demonstrable impact, methodological rigor, operational feasibility, and their capacity for active engagement of AXA employees. Our goal is to develop a high-value portfolio of scalable, replicable solutions capable of driving meaningful, long-term transformations in child protection systems. Driving Systemic Change for a Safer Future With this program, we reaffirm our belief that protecting children is a cornerstone of resilient, inclusive societies. We collaborate closely with frontline actors to: Break and prevent cycles of violence and exploitation; Address the long-term impacts on affected children and help rebuild their confidence and future prospects; Foster trust and cooperation between institutions, families, and communities. By 2028, we aim to achieve measurable improvements in prevention, reporting, and support mechanisms, contributing to the creation of stronger, safer environments for children. Together with our partners on the ground, we are committed to building a future where every child grows up safe, respected, and with dignity.

### Promoting Culture for All

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/promoting-culture-for-all
Published: 2025-08-06

Two Major Partnerships Bridging Culture and Youth Transmission Through its partnerships with Hugo Marchand pour la Danse and the Association pour le Rayonnement de l’Opéra de Paris (AROP) , the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is committed to making culture accessible to everyone . We support projects that eliminate geographical, social and economic barriers to the arts. By backing ambitious and inclusive initiatives, we foster encounters between outstanding works and audiences that are often far removed from them. In doing so, we promote equal opportunity, personal fulfillment, and social cohesion. Using Dance to Spread Culture Across France In collaboration with Hugo Marchand pour la Danse, we support the ambitious cultural decentralization project “Les Etoiles au Château” which brings exceptional performances by seven principal dancers from the Opéra de Paris to historic châteaux. These venues are transformed into artistic settings for a weekend, with single tickets available for just €13. Last year, 7,800 people attended; and for 2026, three weekends are planned, including at Chambord. By using dance as bridge to create connections, inspire wonder, educate, and foster collective experience - and sometimes even heal-, this initiative aligns with our goal of supporting artistic risk-taking and cultural innovation to address social, educational and economic issues. Opera as a Tool for Empowerment and Equal Opportunity Through the “Dix Mois d’École et d’Opéra” (DMEO) program, developed in collaboration with the Paris and Versailles education authorities, we promote the arts among younger generations. Each year, 1,000 students from priority education zones - and, since 2022, from the Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy and Corsica regions - follow a two-year, tailored pathway, from preschool to the final year of high school. This program combines artistic workshops, meetings with professionals, access to performances, guided tours and an introduction to careers related to opera. Through this partnership, we reaffirm our shared values including art as a means of social cohesion and transmission.

### Impact Report of the Fund's Third Mandate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/impact-report-of-the-funds-third-mandate
Published: 2023-09-26

The past five year (2018-2022) mark the third mandate of the AXA Research Fund, during which a total of 135 research projects were funded. The Impact Report underscores the financial, scientific, and societal impact of the Fund’s endeavours, aimed at addressing the major challenges in our society and aiding in informed decision-making. The report comprehensively reviews the influence of the AXA Research Fund’s support on academic research, the granted scientists, the broader scientific community and society as a whole. Drawing from bibliometric data analysis and interviews with scientists and experts, the publication provides you with a snapshot of our partnership activities and highlights tangible stories from outstanding researchers who are integral of the Fund's inclusive strategy designed to contribute to building a sustainable future.  Discover the full report A snapshot of the AXA Research Fund's impact over its third mandate (2018-2022) Download the file (new window)

### 2022 Activity Report

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/2022-activity-report
Published: 2023-03-15

2022 was an exceptionally active year for the AXA Research Fund, with research funding being focused on the impact of climate change on health, a new publication on societal resilience with a discussion by business, academic and institutional experts, a variety of outreach activities aimed at informing decision-making, and project funding partnerships with leading research-based public policy-making bodies such as IPBES, UNESCO, and the Geneva Health Forum. Lastly, the AXA Research Fund received approval for a new 5-year mandate starting in January 2023. Read more in this report, which provides a snapshot of the year’s achievements and an overview of supported research in health, climate and environment, and socioeconomic risks.  Discover the full report A snapshot of the AXA Research Fund achievements and activities in 2022 Download the PDF (new window) March 2023

### AXA-Bocconi Gender Equality Conference 2023

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/axa-bocconi-gender-equality-conference-2023
Published: 2023-03-07

The event organized by AXA Italy and Bocconi University is part of the annual activities conducted by the AXA Research Lab on Gender Equality . The lab, dedicated to promoting scientific research and raising awareness of the importance of gender diversity in society, was created in 2020 thanks to the collaboration between AXA and Bocconi University with the support of the AXA Research Fund. The conference will shed light on the results of the most recent research conducted by the Lab and will be an opportunity to foster public debate on the role of gender equality in building an inclusive and resilient society . It will be opened by the remarks of Francesco Billari, Rector of Bocconi University, and Giacomo Gigantiello , CEO of AXA Italia, followed by an international panel of discussion that will involve:  Prof. Paola Profeta, Full Professor at Bocconi University and Dean for diversity, inclusion and sustainability and Director of AXA Research Lab on Gender Equality – together with Professor Anne Boring , Director of the AXA-Sciences Po Women in Business Chair alongside  Monika Queisser , Head of Social Policy at the OECD, and Simone Innocenti , Chief HR, Organization & Culture Officer of AXA Italy. Eugenia Roccella , Minister for the Family, Birth and Equal Opportunities, has been invited for the Closing remarks. A remote connection link will be available to follow the Conference on this page or via our Twitter @AXAResearchFund, starting March 27th. test test test

### How Technology Impacts Young Minds

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-technology-impacts-young-minds
Published: 2023-02-27
Author: Jasmin Wertz

Dr. Jasmin Wertz, AXA Fellow now at the University of Edinburgh, shares her analysis on the 2023 AXA Mind Health study, discussing technology's role in driving mental health outcomes for young people. The AXA Mind Health study released in February 2023 highlights how 18-24-year-olds are more likely to experience higher levels of depression and anxiety, and are less likely to flourish, because of greater issues with loneliness, negative body image and worries about the future. According to Dr. Jasmin Wertz – a specialist in child behavioral and emotional problems – these have been issues for young people in previous generations. Still, recent external socio-economic factors have exacerbated them. Some young people were born into families dealing with the consequences of the 2008 financial crisis; most had their education and mind health disrupted by the pandemic and the enforced periods of isolation. However, Jasmin believes myriad structural factors also combine to help drive these mind health challenges, including shifts in what it means to be a young person or young adult in 2023: “There are much less prescribed life patterns for this generation. Previously, what was expected for you was clearer – you finish school, you get a job, or you go to university and then get a job. Today, we have this extension of adolescence. What used to end at 18 or 19 has been replaced by people up to 25 not feeling settled. This hasn’t been helped by high numbers of youth unemployment and challenges in the housing market. It’s difficult for young people to make their way the same way that previous generations did.” What role does technology play in driving worse mind health outcomes for young people? Jasmin supports the study’s finding time spent online contributes to negative sentiments, but calls for a nuanced interpretation of the findings: “There is a difference between how these young digital natives use technology and other age groups. Apps like Instagram and TikTok leave them exposed to ‘airbrushed’ constructions of others’ lives, and there are fears that this can increase body image issues and loneliness. Elsewhere, doom-scrolling may be potentially dangerous for young people who either don’t have the life experience to put click-bait stories into context – or who know they will bear the brunt of the fallout of climate change stories, for example.” According to Jasmin, technology is not uniformly or inherently bad. The danger is that it can make pre-existing issues worse: “Another way of looking at these results is that two-thirds of young people don’t have a problem with technology. But, if you’re already feeling lonely and isolated, you might be more negatively affected by what you see – because you’re already vulnerable. There is research to suggest that people who already have problems use social media in more destructive ways, making them even worse.” There’s even the potential for technology to be actively positive in the lives of the young people using it. “For some people, it can have many benefits, like connecting them with peers or friends and creating space to share and destigmatize their mental health problems. Some research shows that mental health interventions delivered via social media or online can potentially help young people.” Failure to support this generation to flourish will impact everyone, says Jasmin. We need a greater focus on mind health, specifically around prevention and intervention – a responsibility that falls on us all. “We don’t yet know what the impact of technology will be on this age group. The people in different age groups come from different cohorts, so we don’t know what the impact of technology will be when the people who are currently young get older. It’s an experiment happening right in front of us." “There’s a movement among some young people to ‘unplug’. But I can’t see it going away entirely. The technologies will improve, which will continue drawing people in." "But we do know that untreated mental health problems experienced as a young person can have lasting damage and can lead to lower employment and difficulties in relationships, among other things. It’s a negative consequence for us all. We depend on those young people to be productive young workers and keep up the economy. This is where our focus must be.” “Everybody can contribute here. Educators are trying to make schools more conducive to good mental health and make interventions possible in schools. There are efforts to make big technology companies more accountable and to redesign algorithms, for example, so the content young people are exposed to is more curated. And then, of course, it’s up to governments to invest in young people’s mental health by strengthening public health systems, so they aren’t waiting months for support.” March 2023 AXA 2023 Mind Health Report Read the full report (new window)

### Upcycling Plastic Waste by Using Excess Carbon Dioxide

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/upcycling-plastic-waste-by-using-excess-carbon-dioxide
Published: 2023-01-18
Author: Olivier Coulembier

Highlights Using organic catalysts, carbon dioxide could be used to transform plastic waste into new functional materials with superior properties Current recycling and upcycling processes are suboptimal, and even those with a “low carbon footprint” produce massive amounts of carbon dioxide Establishing a recycling process that has a “zero” or even “negative” carbon footprint could be possible using carbon dioxide-derived organic catalysts and tools already at our disposal By adding “anchor points” to plastic molecules, the ability to reuse and sequester carbon dioxide could be enhanced In a world of excessive plastic waste and carbon dioxide production, innovative solutions that have potential on an industrial scale are sorely needed. An estimated 1 million plastic waste products are thrown away every minute after an average use time of only 15 minutes; globally, around 250 million metric tons of plastic waste is generated each year, only 30% of which is recycled. Adding to this sad reality is the alarming production of carbon dioxide, which we know contributes to global warming and climate change. According to 2021 estimates, 1 million kg of carbon dioxide are emitted every second, and 39 gigatons were emitted that year. These figures are simply dizzying. The AXA Research Fund is supporting the new AXA Chair in Environment and Climate Research (2022-2027) that aims to address these two major environmental pollution issues in one fell swoop. The Chair is held by Professor Olivier Coulembier, senior researcher at the Fonds de la recherche scientifique (FRS-FNRS) within the Services des Matériaux Polymères et Composites (SMPC) of the University of Mons in Belgium. The official inauguration of the AXA Research Chair was held on 28th November 2022 at Mons University, during which Prof Coulembier introduced the exciting possibilities of his research. Industrial-Scale Viability Of Plastic Recycling In 2020, the estimated plastic production rate was 367 million tons worldwide, 55 million tons of which were produced in Europe. Why do we continue to produce such massive quantities of plastic, knowing full well the detrimental effect this has on the environment? Quite simply, producing plastic from fossil fuels costs practically nothing compared to valorization or recycling.  While a great many people insist that the way forward is producing biodegradable plastics, Prof Coulembier is not one of them. “Most individuals believe that biodegradable plastic is like a banana skin that you can simply throw away – this is not the case,” he explained. Biodegradable plastics require very specific conditions to decompose, and even if such polymers were truly biodegradable, their decomposition would result in the release of carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, which are three key gasses involved in the greenhouse effect. “This shows that we need to instead invest our efforts into the recycling of non-degradable plastic materials,” said Prof Coulembier. His research, therefore, focuses on the most polluting family of plastics: “polyolefins.” Polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene are produced in bulk by the food packaging industry, which produces the most plastics after the automobile and construction industries. Unfortunately, recycling these very long plastic macromolecules, made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms, is particularly difficult. Industrial Viability Of Carbon Dioxide Valorization Economically viable carbon dioxide valorization methods are already used in three noteworthy sectors. Namely, carbon dioxide is used in the production of soft drinks, in the simple reaction of ammonia-based fertilizers to produce urea, and in “enhanced oil recovery,” whereby carbon dioxide injected into oilfields facilitates oil extraction by increasing the pressure of oil reservoirs. The continued use of these valorization methods has been estimated to help us reach a carbon dioxide “recovery rate” of up to 272 million tons by 2025. “Alone, this figure is relatively high,” said Prof Coulembier, “but it is still a drop in the ocean compared to those estimated 39 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.” One way to offset the enormous excess of carbon dioxide waste is to set aside our concerns about what is “economically viable.” Several experts have agreed that many more gigatons of carbon dioxide could be valorized by targeting sectors that produce fuel, carbon dioxide-based polymers such as polycarbonate plastic, chemical products, and construction materials. Still, the carbon dioxide used to prepare these products and materials will, at some point, be re-released into the atmosphere. For fuel, this timeframe for carbon dioxide re-release is relatively short, at an estimated 1 year. However, polymers re-release carbon dioxide after around 100 years, and construction materials, such as cement or cement derivatives in which carbon dioxide replaces water, re-release carbon dioxide after an estimated 1 million years. “To have the least possible repercussions for the climate, we, therefore, need to invest efforts into the preparation of carbon dioxide-based plastic and of construction materials,” said Prof Coulembier. A further problem with existing industrial-scale processes that valorize carbon dioxide, such as the production of the common painkiller aspirin, is that they themselves produce excessive carbon dioxide. The high temperatures and high carbon dioxide pressures needed for these methods require the use of energy-hungry reactors that, in turn, emit massive amounts of carbon dioxide. “ So, we have to develop industrially viable methods that transform carbon dioxide, but which do not release carbon dioxide ,” said Prof Coulembier. The Carbon Footprint Of Plastic Recycling Another motivation of Prof Coulembier’s research is to address head-on the suboptimal, unsustainable, and even questionable recycling techniques currently in use. In 2018, around 17.8 million tons of plastic were treated and recycled, which is an increase of around 19% since 2006. These figures might seem promising, but delve a little deeper, and a different picture emerges. “All the existing treatment and recycling methods release variable yet massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere,” explained Prof Coulembier. Of the reported 17.8 million tons of plastic treated and recycled, 39.5% was incinerated to generate energy—In Europe, we don’t consider this to be recycling—and 42% was recycled through either pyrolysis or mechanical recycling. Pyrolysis involves heating plastic to thermally break down the macromolecules to create smaller molecules that can be recovered and potentially purified for use as, for example, synthetic fuels. Mechanical recycling—the most attractive method of the two—involves separating plastic by type, washing it, heating it, then reusing it. While mechanical recycling is simple and economically viable, it degrades and changes the properties of polymers over repeated recycling and so cannot be implemented indefinitely. Moreover, while mechanical recycling has what the media calls a “low carbon footprint,” it nonetheless releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. “ Mechanical recycling does indeed release less carbon dioxide than other waste valorization techniques, but still has a 50% production of carbon dioxide ,” explained Prof Coulembier. This means that with 2 tons of plastic, mechanical recycling releases 1 ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. PLUCO: Developing A Recycling Method With A Negative Carbon Footprint The purpose of Prof Coulembier’s research program, “preparation of new materials by synergetic treatment of plastic pollutants and atmospheric carbon dioxide” (PLUCO), is to develop a plastic recycling method with a low, zero, or even negative carbon footprint. A negative carbon footprint means that there is less carbon dioxide produced at the end of the cycle than the quantity used at the beginning of the recycling process, and the strategy to achieve this is, therefore, relatively simple: to use carbon dioxide for plastic recycling.  During the AXA Chair, Prof Coulembier will adopt a stepwise research approach in three complemental work packages, summarized as follows: 1)     Fundamental research on how to transform carbon dioxide into new organic molecules. For any such method to be taken seriously on an industrial scale and to have a real societal impact, it needs to be fast, efficient, economically viable, and with simple reaction conditions. 2)     Research on how to treat plastic materials to create new molecules. The hope is to develop a plastic treatment method that has a “gentler” transformation to avoid molecule degradation and enable “chain functionalizations.” This will require conditions that are low in energy, non-destructive, selective to plastic’s carbon and hydrogen bonds, and tolerant to additives, such as those found in most plastic. 3)     Optimizing the reaction between carbon dioxide-derived molecules and “functionalized” plastics to produce new materials. This process needs to have conditions that render it industrially exploitable and with real societal impacts, such as in the construction materials sector, to have the least possible impact on the climate. These three branches of the PLUCO project are firmly grounded in polymer chemistry, and aspirations to create a double-pronged solution for the plastic and carbon dioxide waste problems are by no means, said Prof Coulembier, “overly utopian.” For the first arm of the PLUCO project, Prof Coulembier’s lab has been focusing on a very simple reaction through which carbon dioxide is transformed into carbonate salts. This one-step process has been known for some time but is usually carried out in the presence of toxic metal catalysts and requires high temperatures and carbon dioxide pressures. But, with a different kind of catalyst—a non-toxic organic catalyst—the reaction conditions needed are milder, with lower ambient temperatures and “ridiculously low” carbon dioxide pressures, as well as short reaction times. Speaking about the second step of the PLUCO project, Prof Coulembier explained how adding anchor points could functionalize molecules made up of carbon and hydrogen—the atoms that also make up plastic molecules—through the application of an organic catalyst, and with unprecedented process improvements. “These reactions require only an ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, have a short reaction time, and a tolerance to a number of reagents,” he said. Work in the laboratory has demonstrated that this transformation was possible for molecules with 4 to 11 carbon atoms, i.e., liquids, as well as for molecules with 20 carbon atoms, i.e., solids. Prof Coulembier and his team will continue to investigate other ways to catalyze this reaction so that anchor points can be added to plastics, enabling them to react with carbon dioxide-derived molecules. Along with his international academic network, Prof Coulembier will work hand-in-hand with industrial partners to develop possible preparation techniques in the third stage of the PLUCO project. He explained that the proposed process is industrially viable given the tools already available to the SMPC, in particular their expertise and research in “reactive extrusion.” This is a manufacturing method that combines traditionally separated chemical processes, such as polymer synthesis, with extrusions, such as melting and blending, to create a single process. This, as well as “flow chemistry” methods, will be further studied in an inter-university collaboration, as will the feasibility of their application in industrial-scale polymer production. January 2023 Photo credit: Xavi Cabrera/Unsplash

### Trade Policy, Climate Change and Shifting Comparative Advantage

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/trade-policy-climate-change-and-shifting-comparative-advantage
Published: 2022-11-29
Author: Emilia Lamonaca

International trade is yet another area where resilience is being threatened by climate change. Indeed, for many countries, the ability to produce commodities that have been central to their comparative advantage is eroding. Adaptation policy is, therefore, necessary, and a uniform approach to standard setting could be an essential step towards both trade security and climate change mitigation. A bilateral relationship The relationship between trade and climate change is bilateral. Trade affects the climate through CO2 emissions resulting from the production, shifting and consumption of goods. On the other hand, long-term climate change can alter the comparative advantages of countries and shift trade patterns. As an example, the wine sector is strategic for countries such as Italy and France, as well as for “new world” producers including the United States, Chile, Australia, and South Africa. Grape production requires a specific set of climate conditions currently present in some regions of these countries. However, climate change has the potential to expand these favorable conditions to other countries. This could shape their comparative advantage and therefore alter trade patterns. By the same token, climate change may induce negative effects for current producer countries, who will need to adapt their production to be more resilient to these changing conditions and keep their comparative advantage. Unequal terms of trade From a trade perspective, a country can remain resilient in the face of climate change if it can produce a higher value of products as opposed to a higher volume of less-valued production. But this advantage tends to accrue to richer countries due to their starting point in development and knowledge. Simply put, it is easier for richer countries to adapt to climate change because they are more focused on the processing part of the international supply chain. In comparison, many developing countries produce agricultural commodities, which are already strained by changing climate conditions.  In theory, these countries should be taking steps to change their trade patterns by changing ways of production and planting crops that are resilient to new climate conditions. However, this is a long-term process and adaptation of this nature is neither quick nor simple to achieve in practice. How then can countries achieve a more advantageous trade architecture for building resilience, particularly in parts of the world where climate change will have a more dramatic effect? Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) A co-operative approach The key is international cooperation through the existing trade architecture and institutions such as the World Trade Organization. There is already scope for international agreements that allow developing countries to receive support from developed countries to adjust to changing climate conditions and knowledge on cleaner production techniques. However, the international trade system is inherently unequal. Developed countries tend to outsource their most polluting activities to developing countries while retaining the high-value ones, such as services and value-added processing. Since the effects of climate change are international, this is not a viable long-term approach. For the common good, cooperation must be achieved. However, multilateral cooperation is difficult and complex. Bilateral cooperation between regions is, therefore, more realistic. At this level, cooperation on cleaner standards would be an effective trade policy to mitigate climate change and build resilience. Setting new standards Harmonization of regulations is essential to achieve equilibrium between developed and developing countries. With international cooperation, developing countries could achieve trade resilience through homogeneous standards across countries. But what should this harmonization look like? It should not simply consist of pricing mechanisms. Although tariffs are the most common tool in trade, their effect is blunt and affects the price of goods rather than sets standards. One important tool to consider is non-tariff measures, such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures in the agri-food sector. These are complex, because they increase the cost of production, and thus the costs of compliance. But they could be very useful as a tool to promote both resilient trade and climate change mitigation by setting standards for cleaner production. The expansion of the agri-food trade in recent decades has boosted the market share of developing countries. This increase has taken place alongside the implementation of non-tariff measures, namely sanitary and phytosanitary measures. This suggests that such measures are indeed pro-trade and reduce the developed-developing divide by setting common standards and ultimately boosting the trade resilience of developing countries. There is clearly potential for non-tariff measures to yield further benefits. Let’s take the case of applying the same food safety standards in developed countries to developing countries. More harmonization of standards provides security to developing countries since they know their goods can be traded internationally, creating scope to pursue a higher-value approach rather than simple commodity production. Adaptations like these can boost trade resilience in a time of climate change. At the same time, this approach has the potential to set standards for cleaner production techniques to mitigate climate change, all while setting a path for cooperation on policies and standards to tackle climate change itself. For such uniform adaptation of standards to work to their full potential, they need to be adopted internationally. We are a long way from that. But if embraced, they could be trade policy’s key contribution to mitigating climate change and building resilience. November 2022 Marcos Assis/Unsplash

### Climate Urbanism: Building Resilience in Urban Contexts

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/climate-urbanism-building-resilience-in-urban-contexts
Published: 2022-11-29
Author: Vanesa Castán Broto

New and expanding urban areas concentrate vulnerabilities through their large populations, carbon emission sand assets but they also provide opportunities for action in the face of climate change notably through “climate urbanism”. Can you introduce us to the concept of climate urbanism and its importance for societal resilience? Cities have a large role to play in addressing climate change. They concentrate many of the activities that produce carbon emissions, as well as population and assets, thus concentrating vulnerabilities to climate impacts. Yet by virtue of this fact, they also offer many areas of possible intervention and mobilization – including the mobilization of every urban resident in climate action. Climate urbanism refers to the new ways of thinking about cities fostered by concerns about climate change. Climate change shapes not only the way people imagine the future of cities but also how people design and plan them, which in turn impacts our resilience. Many people fight daily for climate justice, that is, for climate action that redresses existing inequities in our societies. Unfortunately, much of the climate action taking place in cities tends to increase urban inequalities and create further injustice. Inequality compounds climate impacts. Marginalized people may be greatly exposed to climate risks and simultaneously impacted by them more (e.g., a typhoon may damage a well-built house but destroy a small hut). Marginalized people may also have limited capacity to respond to those risks if they have no access to resources or savings and lack a voice in the political process. This is particularly visible in informal settlements, where people lack access to good quality housing and services, land tenure, or livelihood opportunities and often struggle to make themselves heard in political debates. How does climate urbanism distinguish between cities? There are many types of urban areas, after all. The patterns of urbanization are varied and flexible. From forms of suburbanization to fragmented settlements where agricultural land use coexists with industrial ones, the urban landscape is changing rapidly. Some cities are completely new, while others are growing through the agglomeration of villages. Climate change responses will have to consider this spatial diversity. Planning responses such as densification, zoning, or compact cities may have their place, but they are certainly not the only means of intervention. Climate change action must consider the context and history of each urban area and must be developed with or by the people affected. Solutions parachuted from other locations have historically failed. Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) How does climate change affect urban resilience? The most common definition of resilience is the ability to bounce back from shock. A few years ago, some experts advocated redefining resilience as the ability to “bounce forward” – to take actions that create a society that can respond better to the next shock. Responding to the impacts of climate change is not sufficient. Climate action must also address the structural drivers of vulnerability. One question is how to respond to risks like extreme temperatures, flooding, drought, or food shortages. However, an even more difficult challenge is to respond to the uncertainty generated by the interactions between these phenomena and with the networked infrastructures that support urbanization. For example, in the case of cities dependent on long-distance transfers for their water supply, forest fires in remote areas could directly impact water access.   What about climate change and urban inequality? Central to climate urbanism is the idea that climate change represents a new moment for cities. What does this mean? It came from observing that actions to address climate change had a different impact on people’s lives in urban environments. Perhaps the most salient of these is “climate gentrification” and its sibling “green gentrification.” This is where development plans improve an area, reduce its vulnerability to climate change impacts, and raise property prices, forcing poorer populations out. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report explains that people living in informal settlements are the urban population most vulnerable to climate change. How do you build resilience in these areas? The IPCC report explains that adaptation may draw on different actions to improve physical, green, and social support infrastructures. In addition, harnessing the efforts of residents in informal settlements – rather than discounting them – is crucial to build resilience. In the Philippines, residents in informal settlements have shown that they can lead incremental housing efforts that build community resilience. In Mozambique, residents regularly organize themselves to provide services such as drainage and waste management that local governments or institutions cannot otherwise provide. Urban dwellers cannot build resilience alone, however. Building structures that support them is crucial to sustaining these efforts over time. The local government in particular, can play a key role in connecting community efforts with institutions that can sustain them.   What should be the policy responses? One current project, Community Energy and the Sustainable Transition, or CESET, concerns sustainable community energy in Mozambique, Malawi, and Ethiopia. The energy crisis in Europe has revealed the limits of current models of energy provision. Countries like Malawi and Mozambique are developing regulations to support the development of an alternative model of decentralized energy production. Community energy, where local residents play a role in project management, is a great strategy to build resilience as residents gain control of their resources and energy supply. A just transition depends on demonstrating how climate innovation works in practice and maximizing innovation locally by creating an atmosphere of experimentation. For example, my team is developing a laboratory in Mozambique to show the potential of community energy. There is a balance to be struck between using expertise that may not be available locally and developing skills at the local level. There are challenges, such as a lack of recognition of local capacity by sponsors and policymakers and the long-term sustainability of projects. Development aid tends to come through inconsistent, infrequent pots of money that do not necessarily reach communities. But as the pandemic has demonstrated, local governments and communities can effectively mobilize in a rapidly changing situation. There are many possibilities for building climate change resilience, but they need to put communities at the center of the action. Is there a role for the private sector in climate urbanism? What could be useful is developing a social enterprise model to provide insurance in informal settlements, for example. Families in these areas, if hit by a flood, for example, can very easily end up with nothing. Providing some security would create resilience. Communities have already led the way by creating savings groups that act as their own forms of insurance. Still, the private sector could help by developing models of insurance dedicated to improving people’s resilience. Climate change is highly unequal: the most vulnerable are the ones who suffer its effects the most. Cities are not and will not be resilient until every last citizen is resilient. If you have a city where every time there is a heatwave, many people die, which negatively impacts the entire city both morally and practically, that city is not resilient. Climate action should create resilience for everyone. If you improve things for just a minority, you make things worse for the whole. November 2022 Febiyan/Unsplash

### A Successful and Just Energy Transition to a Net-zero World

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/a-successful-and-just-energy-transition-to-a-net-zero-world
Published: 2022-11-29
Author: Mouez Fodha, Fanny Henriet, and Katheline Schubert

A just and inclusive transition to a net-zero emissions world by 2050 means supporting economically developing countries as well as industries that stand to lose toward a greener future. However, large-scale, internationally coordinated changes and funding have historically proven to be difficult to negotiate, incremental, and uneven. While resistance at the individual, industry, and political levels has remained persistent, the pandemic has shown that international action to address a major crisis is possible. What is the impact of climate change on resilience? The impetus for the energy transition comes from the need for revolutionary change to our relationship with energy, on the scale of the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. We urgently need to turn the page from depleting fossil fuels that are major contributors to climate change to carbon-free energy. The potentially catastrophic consequences of inaction were made clear in early 2022 by the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): the world is on track to reach average temperatures of 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels within two decades. The consequences of a changing climate and extreme weather events increasingly weigh on the developing world. The costs are likely to increase exponentially and unevenly if urgent action is not taken. Where resilience is concerned, the IPCC report is unambiguous on the damage to ecosystem resilience from climate change. Essentially, climate change will erode the capacity of ecosystems to function, and to adapt. This in turn erodes societal resilience, especially among the poorest individuals and societies. The energy transition has the potential to benefit societal resilience and the ability to recover from shocks by reducing damage from climate change – and consequent gains to health and life expectancy – as well as reducing dependence on finite fossil resources. However, this will require ensuring that energy sources are available to all populations, in both developed countries and emerging economies. Transfers of technological and financial resources from richer countries to poorer ones are an essential aspect of the transition. The energy transition is far from cost-free. There will be direct costs, for example developing infrastructure, and job losses and business shutdowns in fossil fuel-dependent industries. But these costs must be compared with the long-term benefits. Cost is one barrier to transition. What are the other main barriers to an effective energy transition? Cost is certainly an issue. There will be winners and losers from the transition, and some of the major costs will be borne by a few sectors, namely the fossil fuel industry and industries heavily dependent on fossil fuels, for example the steel industry. Thus, there is a lot of entrenched opposition to transition and expected resistance. There is also the issue of perception of higher domestic energy costs from green transition, which could lead to political pressure to delay moving away from fossil fuels. This is especially true in an inflationary era, although the surge in oil and gas prices as a result of the war in Ukraine may concentrate more minds on the need for transition. Another major challenge comes from the need to transition while still meeting the development objectives of the emerging world, which understandably wishes to catch up economically and socially with richer countries. The technologies that would substitute for fossil fuels here, such as hydrogen or carbon capture and storage, have a long way to go to reach maturity. This is linked with the difficulties of financing research and development with long-term aims and potential when investors expect short-term returns. Finally, there is an imagination barrier. How to measure the costs and benefits of the transition? We tend to see costs and benefits in market terms. What value is attributed to the climate, to health, to social justice? New instruments are needed to measure the non-market values of global commons, that have a clear benefit in societal resilience terms. A transition not just in energy, but to thinking in non-market terms, is a huge challenge in itself. Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) Coming back to the developing world, how can an inclusive energy transition be achieved there? How can we sync the development agenda with the transition agenda? To facilitate the transition in emerging countries, transfers and solidarity will be necessary – and are justified – because our planet is our common future. The tools exist: financial solidarity funds, fair trade agreements, technology transfer agreements, and debt relief to implement environmental projects.  These scenarios are not new. In late 2021, the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) saw a significant boost to adaptation funding from developed countries to developing countries; the pact at the end of the conference set the goal of doubling annual funding to US$40 billion by 2025, as well as significant funding for locally led adaptation approaches and specifically for adaptation in the least developed countries. Their implementation at the scale needed, however, is more uncertain. The criteria take into account historical responsibility, ecological debt, and the ability to contribute according to level of development. While it is important to consider all of these elements, it can also cause obstacle and delay. Briefly, what are the roles of the state, the private sector and civil society in the transition? The state must provide the impetus, the guidance, and the right incentives, with tools such as setting effective net-zero targets, carbon taxation, tax incentives for sustainable investment and research in clean technologies and developing infrastructure. The private sector should seize the right signals. We have seen BP, a big fossil fuel producer, be quite explicit in expressing ambitions for sustainable energy, although it is actions rather than words that count of course. Finally, civil society can do, and should be helped to do, what it is doing: pushing for change and helping change behavior by focusing on education and ideas and representing those for whom change is a necessity because of climate change and more. Looking forward, how has the pandemic affected progress and prospects toward an energy transition? And what does this suggest for future shocks? While coordinated international action to fight the pandemic was lacking in many ways, the pandemic did demonstrate that international cooperation can exist – that countries can work together to tackle a problem. Where the search for effective vaccines was concerned, countries more or less showed solidarity and collaborated to develop and produce immunizations. The same urgency needs to be applied to the energy transition. Moreover, this crisis has enabled political action to regain the upper hand over economics. Public debt has once again become a virtuous instrument of economic policy. However, there is a downside: countries that are heavily indebted after the pandemic may lose the ability to fight the consequences of climate change effectively. This especially concerns the poorest countries, the ones most exposed to climate effects. As for other shocks, the war in Ukraine, beyond the immediate human horror, is a huge blow to the energy transition, as the fight against climate change has been pushed off the political agenda and replaced by the objective of counteracting the increase in fossil fuel prices as much as possible.  However, it also highlights the fragility of dependence on fossil fuels in an unstable world and the need to transition away from fossil fuel energy. The hope is that this will give impetus to the transition. To build resilience in the face of future shocks, and the building slow shock of climate change, an energy transition to net-zero emissions is simply vital. November 2022 Jason Blackeye/Unsplash

### The Social Role of Money in an Age of Digitalization

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-social-role-of-money-in-an-age-of-digitalization
Published: 2022-11-24
Author: Tristan Dissaux

The digitalization of money and the move towards a cashless society brings significant efficiency gains. However, it also has a perverse impact on social cohesion and financial inclusion: as the scales tip further toward digital currencies, the payment system becomes more a private good than a public one – and one that risks leaving the most vulnerable behind. In the past few decades, monetary systems have transformed: in the developed world at least, it is digital money, not cash, at the apex of payment systems. The pandemic has turbocharged this, with card-only payments and online and mobile payment systems becoming ubiquitous, and cash being partly phased out. Without action, this is only going to increase and develop further. Yet while there are undoubted gains — in terms of efficiency, security, and ease of use — they come at a cost to social inclusion. On one level, digitization is a tool of inclusion in that it provides means that extend possibilities for transactions and creates financial histories. But the flipside is that it excludes those who cannot, or will not participate, in particular those on the financial margins who must rely on cash. This can deepen social fractures. For the vulnerable, the juggernaut of digitalization can feel forced. It is a particular manifestation of the wider “digital divide” that afflicts those without access to technology, the less technologically savvy and especially many elderlies. Many may struggle with digital payment tools and find themselves without familiar options, such as cheque payment systems for household bills, or the easy availability of bank branches for personal assistance. Erosion of the social role of money The analysis of the digitalization of money tends to be in economics terms, stressing costs and utility gains. But this overlooks the social role of money. Monetary systems are not just technical in nature, but vital tools of social cohesion, creating a “community of payment”. They embody shared values, legitimacy, and societal trust. Their functionality is vital for societal resilience. Digitization as it is developing also has implications for a sense of public ownership of the payment system. It is a critical infrastructure where the private financial sector is leading the way and owns the tools and networks. This increases a tendency of the payment system becoming more and more of a private good. Cash, as legal tender, is legitimized by the state and carries the sense of a public good. As cash is partly phased out, this sense recedes. Digitization has also curtailed the particular quality of cash—its anonymity—and enabled greater surveillance and analysis of financial transactions, by private institutions as well as the state. While this increases transparency and security, it also erodes freedom and institutional trust. The sense of exclusion is further eroded by the costs of payment systems disproportionately falling on the poorest. Those who cannot or do not use digital payment systems — often people on lower incomes — pay more when cash handling fees are attached to payment systems or they are unable to take advantage of digital rates for services. More and more, means of payment become positional goods, highly correlated with the socioeconomic status of each individual. Those at the lower end are restricted to cash and relatively costly prepaid or debit cards, while the better-off enjoy a wide range of services and advantages materialized by their glistening credit cards. Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) Money as a public good Since the pace of digitization will only increase in the face of further technological innovation in payment systems, the question then becomes how to address these drawbacks, and how to preserve the social role of money. It needs to be recognized that digitization has grown because it makes sense in cost and efficiency terms for the private financial sector to move away from cash. This led to the erosion of the cash infrastructure itself, which in turn incentivizes individuals to shift to digital. Therefore, to preserve cash for those who need it, cash needs to be recognized as a public good akin to a public utility. This requires the commitment of the state. In parallel, steps must be taken to minimize exclusion. These should include the guarantee of access to payment accounts, and effective help and training to those who need it in order to utilize digital tools. This will involve a cooperative approach between the public sector and the private financial sector, to be led by the state through legislation, regulation and incentivization. And as central banks develop digital currencies, it is important that we preserve the social legitimacy of money as a symbol of sovereignty that cash has for so long represented. Great care must be taken in designing public digital currencies in order to preserve the particular qualities of cash. A true public option for digital payments may be good in addition to existing solutions. The design of the “digital euro” is a case in point. It is intended to complement cash, not replace it, and to widen accessibility, choice, and inclusion. This is perhaps a heartening assertion of the public sector in the digital payments space. But care must be taken in developing user tools and their symbols — here the European Central Bank can take inspiration from China, whose digital yuan (e-CNY) utilizes in its apps the trusted iconography of the yuan bills. Reasserting the social role of money It is important not to lose sight of the positives of digitization. In the Global South, it has been a boon for financial inclusion as with the likes of M-Pesa, a mobile phone money transfer service originally launched in Kenya and now expanded around the continent. Yet its success has not necessarily translated in increased resilience for individuals: better connected to finance, they are also more exposed to shocks, indebtedness, fraud, or online gambling. As innovation is strongly associated with an ideal of progress, it takes some effort to confront its potential detriments. With a future including cryptocurrencies, machine-to-machine payments, central bank digital currencies, and more, money is only set to become ever-more digitized. A time of shock is a good time to collectively consider what we want money to be and what its qualities should be, as change is forced and accelerated. For the sake of societal resilience, the social aspects of money must be given equal weight alongside the economic and efficiency gains of digitalization. November 2022 Towfiqu barbhuiya/Unsplash

### Barriers to Women in Employment and Leadership

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/barriers-to-women-in-employment-and-leadership
Published: 2022-11-24
Author: Anne Boring and Paola Profeta

Gender equality has come a long way but pay gaps and barriers to women’s labor force participation and business leadership are sustained in many countries, despite women obtaining a larger number of higher-education degrees than men in developed nations. Fuller participation and representation of women in the workforce have tangible benefits for societal resilience. This makes addressing the gender gap a key element in policymaking. Can you describe the current gender gap in employment and leadership? Paola Profeta (PP) : There are many differences between countries, but it’s still an issue everywhere. The average female employment participation in Europe is around 62.8%. The pay gap is around 14%. Then there is the glass ceiling to women in leadership positions. That’s below 10% in some places. This is at odds with the level of women’s education. Anne Boring (AB) : In developing countries, women are getting less education than men, whereas in developed economies, women have been overtaking men in education status for the past few decades, and it was expected this would close the gaps. That didn’t really happen. In France, the wage gap has been stuck at around 16% for the past 15 years. Why does the gap persist? AB : There are several reasons. Although women study longer and earn more degrees, they tend to earn degrees in fields that lead to lower-paying jobs. More broadly on the labor market, women sort into firms, occupations, and industries that pay less. The so-called “child penalty” is also a very important factor. PP : Motherhood is a time of penalty for women’s resilience in the labor market, a big drop in earnings and prospects. We really have to address this at the firm and government levels. AB : High-paying professions demand time, and women suffer from having to reduce their hours when they have children. And the need for childcare affects job choice, as wages are traded for flexibility. We have not reached gender equality on sharing childcare. So, better measures for sharing childcare would help? PP : Paternity leave is important in order to entrench that children are a dual responsibility. Symmetry at the family level to nurture symmetry at the firm and society levels. But childcare policies are scarce in many countries. AB : Better access to childcare doesn’t only mean that women can work more. There are societal benefits to better access to childcare, as men and women come to believe in gender-equal norms. That’s good for children as well. That brings us to resilience. What are the societal resilience benefits of addressing the gap? PP : There are so many measurable benefits. Female participation is positively related to economic growth. As we said, women surpass men in higher education, so why waste talent and competence? It benefits fertility because two incomes encourage more children, which ties in with pensions, counterbalancing the effects of us all living longer. There are clear benefits to leadership. A larger pool raises the quality of candidates, and more women in leadership encourage other women and implementation of family-friendly policies. It’s a virtuous circle. AB : Economic power for women helps at the household level too. Research has shown it reduces domestic violence. The more women in leadership, the more stereotypes are reduced. And diversity in leadership teams tends to increase creativity within firms. Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) Women are more educated than men, but is it a case of what they are learning? You’ve both written about the importance of more women learning STEM [science, technology, engineering, mathematics] disciplines. PP : Women’s segregation into humanities, less rewarding on the labor market than STEM disciplines, is worrying for future gender gaps. We need to ask why women are so poorly represented, if they are discouraged away at a younger age. It’s a cultural problem. AB : Lack of STEM degrees means that women’s entry points to the labor market are not as good, and the high-career trajectory is harder. If we manage to close that gap to start out with, that would make a huge difference later. There is not necessarily a lot of gender discrimination, at least not in western and northern European countries, but small differences grow and grow. At maternity, they explode. PP : Context matters. For STEM disciplines, testing can be competitive and stressful, and we know this penalizes girls. In a more “normal” environment, they perform as well as boys. We need to build a more inclusive culture here. Let’s look at policy tools. How about quotasfor women in leadership, for example? AB : Quotas definitely work in bringing more women to leadership positions. When France and Norway introduced quotas on boards, firms were able to adapt very quickly. Some large firms are pushing for more equality as they see benefits to having more diversity in leadership positions. But quotas generally only work if there are strong incentives to implement them. There needs to be a cost to firms if they don’t generate more gender equality. Or no cost if they do. For instance, extending paternity leave. That could incentivize firms to hire more women because there will be a cost to replace men going on leave too, levelling the field. PP : Quotas are controversial. But sometimes they are the only way. In Italy, my country, there is a compulsory quota for boards of listed companies. And the qualification level increased, because men faced competition from women who previously wouldn’t have been considered. What other policy tools could be useful? PP : Transparency in the collection of data and information about gender pay gaps. In Europe, there is discussion about making it obligatory for firms to report pay data. Making firms responsible and taking action to recognize issues and improve things. AB : Where pay transparency has happened, the public sector in Canada for instance, it has helped to reduce the gap. There’s a stereotype that women are not supposed to ask for more money. So, if you increase information about wages, this really helps women. How about recognizing the unpaid labour that is typically mostly done by women? PP : The problem I have with this is that it risks backfiring on female participation, causing women to work less than they already do. If women don’t work, the problems remain. Much better would be to have policies that rebalance things. Better childcare, for example. Not reduce the incentives for women to work in the first place. What has the pandemic meant for female employment status, and how does this compare to the 2008 financial crisis aftermath? Then was called the “hecesssion” because it hit the male-dominated financial sector, whereas 2020 marked the “shecession”, since service industries disproportionately employ women. PP : 2020 was indeed a “shecession”, but since then, thanks to government support and the like, the level of female employment is not that different than before the pandemic. But there is another effect. The increase in family responsibilities through school closures and lockdowns impacted women more. The stereotypes around traditional gender divisions held true, even with more remote working for everyone. Men may have done more, but women did much more. The gap, if anything, increased. Having said that, if remote working is maintained as the new way of working, that will be good for women and everyone. I think it will be difficult to go back to the old ways. AB : After 2008, this narrative emerged that if Lehman Brothers had been Lehman Sisters, there wouldn’t have been such a crisis. There was quite a push for policies to actually close the gap, larger firms especially embraced the business case for gender equality in leadership positions. And in the past 10 years, this push has really accelerated. Covid-19 did see a “shecession” at first, but now women’s employment has gone back up. But there are longer-term consequences that could impact women more than men. It’s early days, but there are signs that women are going to be working from home more, be less present in the office, and this may lead to a setback in career advancement. More widely, we are still seeing a lot of sector gender segregation, female-dominated sectors and male-dominated sectors. That is what really created the difference between 2008 and 2020. There’s a lot still to do there, a need for public policies to improve diversity and reduce this segregation. It’s an obvious issue. So, for more progress, what is needed next? AB : What is missing in firms is solid research on effective strategies to close the gaps. There are inequalities within firms and across firms. There's a big role in public policies and a lot of political interest to increase gender equality. I think the trend is going in the right direction. But it's not a clear road. PP : It’s about changing culture. If there is a mindset not open to women's empowerment or women's participation in the labor force, then even the best policies can fail. November 2022 Christina @ wocintechchat.com/Unsplash

### Reducing Nitrogen-Based Fertilizer Emissions: Soil Microorganisms Could Hold the Key

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/reducing-nitrogen-based-fertilizer-emissions-soil-microorganisms-could-hold-the-key
Published: 2022-11-23

Steven Weeks/Unsplash To feed an ever-growing population, fertilizers are a necessity. Nitrogen-based fertilizers deliver essential nitrogen to the soil to help crops grow—that’s good—but also accelerate natural nitrogen cycle processes to exacerbate atmospheric and water pollution—that’s not good. This creates a dilemma: how do we produce enough food while minimizing the damaging effects of excess nitrogen? AXA Chair Professor Graeme Nicol of the Environmental Microbial Genomics Group at Ecole Centrale de Lyon has spent the last 5 years investigating how minuscule organisms found in the soil might hold the key to this puzzle. With more available nitrogen in the soil through fertilizer use, nitrogen-converting soil microorganisms go into overdrive, and this can cause an overproduction of various forms of polluting nitrogen. In uncovering the basic physiological characteristics of these microorganisms and their role in the nitrogen cycle, Prof Nicol’s work could help to drastically reduce the environmental pollution caused by nitrogen-based fertilizer use.   What are the consequences of nitrogen-based fertilizer use, and why is this research so urgent? Nitrogen, an essential component of all living organisms, helps crops grow. Artificial nitrogen-based fertilizer is the product of the “Haber-Bosch” process, whereby atmospheric nitrogen is “fixed” with hydrogen to produce ammonium, which farmers then add to the soil to stimulate plant growth. While an estimated 50% of the nitrogen that all humans eat is derived from fertilizers, fertilizer use also accelerates the natural processes of the nitrogen cycle, with harmful consequences. For example, putting more nitrogen in the soil by adding fertilizer means that excess nitrate—a mobile form of nitrogen produced by microbial transformation of ammonium—can get washed into waterways and the ocean, resulting in an overabundance of nutrients that causes algal blooms that kill fish or nitrate-pollution of drinking water. Also accelerated is the conversion of nitrogen into the gas nitrous oxide, which then gets released into the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide has an atmospheric lifetime >100 years—it has 265 times the greenhouse warming potential of carbon dioxide. It will also be the primary compound responsible for ozone depletion in the 21st Century. Our reliance on fertilizers will only increase with the growing global population, as will the contribution to global warming, so the situation is as imminent as reducing carbon emissions. We need to work out how to feed a growing human population while minimizing the negative consequences of using artificial nitrogen-based fertilizers. What has your work over the past 5 years revealed about the biogeochemical transformation of nitrogen? We’ve focused on understanding the relative contribution of different organisms in the soil to nitrogen cycle processes. Bacteria and archaea look the same through a microscope but are separated by 3 billion years of evolution, meaning that their evolutionary paths diverged a very long time ago. Scientists only discovered archaea in the late 1970s, prior to which archaea were simply thought to be bacteria given their similar appearance. More recently, only 17 years ago, we discovered abundant “ammonia-oxidizing” archaea, which can transform ammonia into nitrite, which is then converted into polluting nitrate by other soil bacteria. One of our major discoveries is that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria produce twice as much nitrous oxide than ammonia-oxidizing archaea , so contribute far more to atmospheric pollution. We also found that bacteria, the “bad guys,” use typical synthetic ammonium fertilizer, whereas archaea use more organic sources of nitrogen, such as decomposing material from dead plants and animals. This could potentially help to design fertilizer that pollution-producing bacteria can’t access as easily. What are the broader implications of your research? An overarching aim is to find a way to feed the human population with affordable, nutritious food while minimizing the production of nitrous oxide and nitrate. There are two potential ways to increase the ability of crops to take up the nitrogen fertilizer while simultaneously cutting down on fertilizer-associated pollution: by reducing the activity of ammonia-converting microbes and by using “smart” slow-release fertilizers . Slow-release fertilizers are fertilizers that are formulated to stop the fast release of ammonia in the soil but are added more slowly. This slow release reduces the ability of certain microbes to convert nitrogen into harmful forms that can leach into waterways as nitrate or be converted into nitrous oxide, and also means that plants are better able to take up nitrogen. How have your breakthroughs impacted the scientific community? Our work identifying principles of how microorganisms function could inform future systems-based and modeling research that tests our findings in different ecosystems and for different crops, for instance. On a methodological level, we’ve highlighted the importance of spatial scale when investigating ecological mechanisms that influence soil microbial community structures . We also demonstrated to the research community that one single test, or “assay”, shouldn’t be used to characterize very complex microbial communities because soils contain different organisms with different physiologies. How has the AXA Chair facilitated the acquisition of new knowledge via international collaborations? Most publications that have come out of the AXA Research Fund had an international collaborator. With colleagues in China at the Chinese Academy of Science, where there are many environmental problems, we’ve researched the nitrogen cycle in uniquely Chinese soils, such as tea soils, which are very acidic. We’ve also collaborated with the University of Vienna and the University of Aberdeen, who also study different representatives of soil ammonia oxidizers so that we can characterize and find a consensus of traits between different evolutionary groups of ammonia oxidizing archaea and bacteria. Through these collaborations, we now have a good understanding of the physiology of ammonia oxidizers from different soils. Has your work reached the industry or decision-makers? We haven’t moved into the industry yet, but we’re very conscious of it. What we have done is share our data on the potential of slow-release fertilizers to reduce nitrous oxide and nitrate emissions with companies that produce fertilizers. In our laboratory systems, we see a 50% reduction in nitrous oxide emissions when using slow-release fertilizers compared to traditional synthetic fertilizers. While these findings need to be validated in the field, they show the potential for huge reductions in emissions simply by understanding the physiology of organisms that transform nitrogen. How has this 5-year funding impacted your professional development? The AXA Chair has allowed me to relocate from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland to Lyon, allowing me to integrate my research into France and concentrate exclusively on research. I had a permanent position in Scotland and what was terrific was that I obtained a permanent position as director of research at the CNRS after coming to Lyon. Without the AXA Research Fund, I wouldn’t have been able to make that transition, so its fundamentally changed my career. How has the AXA Chair aided the development of early-career researchers in your lab? The Chair has enabled me to fund several postdocs and Ph.D. students, increased the exposure of my lab’s research through publications and conferences, and has benefited the careers of at least four people. Two are now postdocs in Berlin (Dr. Christoph Keuschnig) and at the University of Hanover (Dr. Linda Hink), one is now a project manager at a new biotechnology company involved in single cell analysis, and one of my Ph.D. students (Dr. Sungeun Lee) is now a post-doc in our group. Through the AXA Research Fund, I established a completely novel line of research—the work we’ve done on soil viruses—and obtained substantial pieces of equipment, such as our lab’s DNA sequencers, for performing cutting-edge genomics research. What’s next? Three new strands of research have come out of the research funded by AXA. First, we have recently received a €1.5 million grant with the University of Thessaly and the University of Vienna called ACTIONr, where we’re looking at the effect and safety of synthetic “nitrification inhibitors,” which are compounds that reduce nitrification activity. In the second strand of research funded by the Grantham Foundation , we’re trying to understand biological nitrification inhibitors produced by plants. Using these biological nitrification inhibitors would avoid the disadvantages of artificially synthesized nitrification inhibitors. Third, through a new ANR -funded program, we’re looking at the impact of native ammonia oxidizer viruses on nitrification in soil, which we know almost nothing about. Understanding these viruses could allow us to control nitrification activity using a natural and highly targeted approach without worrying about the impacts of chemicals on soil health. November 2022 Learn more about Prof. Nicol's research project AXA Chair in Ecosystem Engineering and Microbial Ecology

### Informal Networks in a Changing World

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/informal-networks-in-a-changing-world
Published: 2022-11-22
Author: Philip O'Donnell

In much of the world, informal networks are vital tools of societal resilience where more formal structures are weak or simply not present. Traditionally, these multi-generational networks create a support structure for the larger community, but as the world has become more urbanized, the structure of these networks has begun to break down. In urban environments, a more transitory population and lower social trust limit the impact of informal networks. With targeted help from the state and the private sector to provide social protections and enable households to create their own safety nets, the resilience effectiveness of informal networks can be improved. Informal networks — based on kinship, community, and relationships, and the financial assistance they may provide — are vital tools of societal resilience in the many parts of the world where institutional support networks are underdeveloped or absent. While they may be viewed as unorthodox in societies where the state and financial sectors lead the way in times of crisis, for much of the world, they are the norm and the primary instrument for coping with shocks. For those living with the “triple whammy” of poverty — low income, uncertain income streams and no access to financial products — informal networks are flexible safety nets. Subsistence-level entrepreneurs, for example, may need to call on them from time to time. Rural to urban: A changing context However, informal networks are not generic: context is vital. In urban environments, they are becoming less effective. While support networks in tight-knit rural communities may span generations, slum neighborhoods of large cities are a different story. There, many different backgrounds come together with higher levels of movement into and out of neighborhoods, which works against building the trust and solidarity that binds smaller and more established communities. This means that many of the most disadvantaged individuals, households, and small businesses may not even have access to the limited provision of informal networks. Furthermore, informal networks alone are nowhere near sufficient to provide economic security to the level of effective societal resilience. The question then becomes, how can we boost resilience where informal networks may be the only realistic option? An effective approach would be to build on informal networks: to sharpen their effectiveness by enhancing them with systems of formal social protection. We’ve seen that this can be done at the household level. Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) Building societal resilience: The private sector’s role So, how best to complement and strengthen informal networks? There are tried and tested tools like microfinance, but these work best for those who may already have some resilience — for example, small-scale businesses. The needs of the most disadvantaged tend to be quite different. For them, the process of resilience-building starts from a lower base. Interventions are sometimes needed to ensure that individuals or members of the household group are not experiencing acute or chronic hunger, debilitating medical conditions, abuse, or neglect. Often — and even in communities that are generally very poor — such struggles are accompanied by stigma, leading people to disengage from community life. This kind of social withdrawal inhibits people from developing the kind of local networks upon which they may be able to rely in times of crisis, exacerbating their vulnerability. Ensuring households can meet their most elemental needs with regularity is a prerequisite for their proper participation in society, and in turn, for the kind of resilience strategies which support people and families across the developing world. While providing basic forms of social protection is traditionally the role of the state, there is a need for the private financial sector to build on this foundation. In poorer countries, it is savings (and to a lesser extent loan products) that perform an insurance role in coping with risk and building resilience. By enabling access to and innovating the savings products that households in acute poverty need, the private sector can play a vital role — even more so by leveraging the power of technology (in particular smartphones) to widen these services’ reach. Back to the state: Targeting households Yet for all the innovation the private sector can bring, we can’t completely rely upon it to meet the needs of those in poverty. Ultimately, the state has bottom-line responsibility for the welfare of its citizens. Thus, it is a matter of how the state can best provide security for those at the bottom of the pyramid and improve resilience for those reliant on informal networks. An effective, affordable, and achievable approach by the state here could be to target major items of household expenditure vital for resilience, for example housing, healthcare, or energy costs. These are huge recurrent expense items, and assistance with any could help alleviate pressure on disadvantaged households. Looking ahead: A joint approach Coming back to informal networks, if both the private and the state sectors can take an innovative approach to the provision of social protection, this could enhance the resilience of those currently served only by informal means by sparking new possibilities for self-reliance and small-scale entrepreneurship. The economic activities between households and businesses at the micro level tend to be intertwined, so solutions that relieve financial pressure on households can actually help both. Informal networks as tools of societal resilience must be understood in the context of how they are changing and becoming more limited in an urbanizing world, where the breakdown of community ties is a real challenge. Yet for many they remain vital. Employing innovative social protection tools has a lot of potentials to boost the resilience of those facing the challenges of poverty, and their ability to cope with current and future crises. In short, a joint approach could maintain and build on the best features of informal networks — their flexibility and strong social roots — while also ensuring that they’re not the only game in town (or country, for that matter). November 2022 Adli Wahid/Unsplash

### Place-based Approaches for Tackling Regional Differences

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/place-based-approaches-for-tackling-regional-differences
Published: 2022-11-22
Author: Maria Lucia Villela Garcia

Recent shocks have resulted in uneven economic and social effects between and within countries. Already challenged or “left-behind” regions, even in richer countries, are testing their societal resilience. “Place-based” approaches create the empowerment and agency needed to build sustainable societal resilience. By involving the community both to generate solutions and contribute to execution, place-based approaches leverage local talent and expertise, along with expert advice and public and private sector involvement. In the United Kingdom, “leveling up” — a government-led ambition to boost productivity, living standards, infrastructure, community pride, and empowerment in areas where they are lacking – has become a constant in political debate. While the noise is not necessarily matched by the action or spending commitment, the discussion has drawn attention to the challenges of “left-behind” regions across the UK, often in post-industrial towns and fading coastal areas, and even in poorer neighborhoods of richer cities like London and Bristol. Broadly, left-behind regions are defined by poor socioeconomic outcomes and multiple deprivations (in skills and education levels especially), lacking investment and the cultural and social facilities that build a sense of engaged community and societal resilience. Healthy life expectancy is also strongly affected by levels of deprivation — according to recent Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures, girls born in the most deprived areas of England are expected to have almost 20 fewer years of good health than those born in the wealthiest areas. Boys will have almost 19 years less. Their challenges demonstrate how nation-based economic analysis can provide a misleading picture of a country’s well-being, where a country can appear to be relatively prosperous but with wealth concentrated only in particular cities and regions. The decline in certain regions, sustained and gradual, has been heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. In early January 2022, a parliamentary study found that residents of left-behind communities in England were 46% more likely to die from Covid-19, generally worked longer hours for less pay, and had shorter, less healthy lives than those living elsewhere. The question is how to build the societal resilience of left-behind regions by tackling social, economic, and environmental inequalities. One way of thinking has focused on the idea that “connectivity” — meaning the connection to good digital infrastructure (something often lacking in left-behind regions) and key services (such as transportation links) — is the solution. Certainly, this is important and necessary, but alone, it is insufficient to build deep societal resilience. Systemic crises, such as Covid-19 or the cost-of-living crisis, as well as highlighting problems, are an opportunity to examine how local economies and networks can be rethought and regenerated to build resilience. While many communities struggle, others have developed more resilient communities with inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable values through smaller, “place-based” projects that forge an identity and a sense of pride. Place-based approaches consider the complex mix of environmental and social factors in a particular area, or place, by engaging and empowering local people and communities as the main sources of knowledge on the issues at stake and leveraging their potential to drive change. They usually involve processes of collaboration between community actors and local institutions (e.g., anchor organizations, public authorities, universities, local businesses etc.) and are concerned with setting up democratic systems of governance in which communities can gain ownership over the future of their place. Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) Building resilience At its core, resilience is about the ability to recover from shocks and to prepare for future shocks. Markus Keck (University of Augsburg) and Patrick Sakdapolrak (University of Vienna) define resilience as having three dimensions: coping capacity to overcome adversities; adaptive capacity to learn from adversities for the future; and transformative capacity to craft institutions and welfare measures to build societal resilience for future shocks. Thus, resilience is a dynamic and adaptive process. For left-behind communities, building resilience is not a technical process but a political one. This is where a place-based approach is valuable. Looking at communities where this approach has been taken offers lessons and inspiration to local stakeholders — whether they are residents, local government, organizations, or businesses — to pursue innovative ways of building inclusion, sustainability, and thus more resilient futures. A place-based approach — the challenges So, how to use a place-based approach to build societal resilience in left-behind communities? It is important to inspire at the grassroots level so communities can pursue disruptive ways of shifting local economies toward inclusion and sustainability. This means both strengthening existing groups and enabling the formation of new ones aimed at representation of the diversity of the community and their issues. It could involve experimenting with different ways in which they can perform a central role in the local economy, such as through the community wealth-building model where councils commission local organizations to provide local services, thus using their procurement power to keep wealth within communities. It could also involve bringing communities to the forefront of decisions around planning, development, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability, such as through processes of co-production and co-design, where solutions are designed in close collaboration with community members. Social memory is also important to allow learning exchange about what has and hasn’t worked in the past — the best practices, successes and failures, and problems that remain. This is the inbuilt memory of community groups in a particular place which comprises of the knowledge, experience and wisdom accumulated over a period of time on the different attempts, solutions, and decisions involving their issues of concern. Then there is the relational aspect — how to create channels of cooperation and collaboration between the different actors from different sectors. The private sector and the public sector will bring their different skills and processes, as will experts from academia, civil society and elsewhere. Most crucial is that the community always has agency and is not dominated by other actors, since the impact of the changes will be felt most by them. A place-based approach is about creating a non-hierarchical process that works towards common goals. Therefore, particular care needs to be paid to governance and power relations throughout. Place-based approaches in practice Looking at place-based approaches in practice shows the challenges and the potential for building resilience in left-behind communities. The Rhondda Valley in South Wales was once an area at the heart of the coal mining industry. It has had to contend not only with decades of economic deprivation in the wake of that industry’s decline, but also a significant legacy of environmental degradation thanks to residues of pollutants from the industry still present, affecting rivers and forests. At the center of a local project is ecological sustainability, an important aspect of resilience in a time of climate change, which addresses the legacy of the coal industry’s past pollution of the valley while creating a new sense of pride. The aim is to create a future where sustainable development provides income, jobs, and social and cultural activity while also protecting and conserving nature by making use of hundreds of hectares of publicly owned land on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. In its progress, the project has shown adaptive capacity — an ability to cope with the constraints and limitations presented to their original dream. The dream involving an ambition for community ownership of the land foundered in negotiation with the public body. Instead, a co-production process between the community and the public body was proposed. A series of workshops led by a community social enterprise formed a long-term vision of the forest as a combination of nature reserve and a sustainable forestry enterprise to create jobs and sustainable energy, with the social enterprise leading on training and employing local residents. The process is ongoing, but the public body has signed an agreement with the community as a pilot and precedent to evaluate social value in commissioning contracts. This is promising: forestry experts from a government body could have easily drowned out community voices had the project been managed differently. One promising piece of the resilience puzzle Place-based projects are just one method of building societal resilience in left-behind areas. Larger government-led policies such as political devolution and decentralization and infrastructure development, in particular digital infrastructure, and transport, all have a part to play. But the signs indicate that the crises of our age have sharpened appetites for community-led collective action. To address the needs of left-behind communities, they must be taken seriously as truly locally led processes with much potential to forge grassroots societal resilience and give voice to marginalized communities. November 2022 Image by Daniel Funes Fuentes via Unsplash

### Building Resilience by Addressing Intergenerational Inequality

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/building-resilience-by-addressing-intergenerational-inequality
Published: 2022-11-22
Author: Tista Kundu and Ursula Melo

Intergenerational inequality, which refers to the inheritability of socioeconomic status and the difficulty of social mobility, is a major and persistent challenge to building effective societal resilience, even in the face of reducing poverty and improvements in other wellbeing indicators. Understanding how intergenerational inequality happens and creating effective policy tools to address it are needed. India and Brazil offer two case studies in how to approach this issue and the challenges it presents in different cultures. What is intergenerational inequality and why is it important? Tista Kundu (TK): Focusing on intergenerational inequality is important to be able to understand why inequality persists. Looking at India, economic growth has led to a remarkable reduction in poverty, with the poverty rate almost halving since the beginning of this century. Nevertheless, inequality has increased. Rather than thinking about poverty in absolute terms, we need to address the relative position of the poor and how inequality is generated. Another way of describing intergenerational inequality is inequality of opportunity. This is what Francisco Ferreira, an economist and director of the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics, calls the “bad cholesterol” of inequality, the factors beyond individual control that start before birth and have an effect throughout life. In India, it is generated by caste, sex, parental education, and occupational status, as well as other social circumstances that individuals are born with, allowing inequality to persist even while poverty reduces. Ursula Mello (UM) : The connection between intergenerational inequality, social mobility, and resilience is clear if you look at different countries. Countries like Denmark, Norway, and Finland have low levels of intergenerational inequality and high social mobility. Brazil has low mobility, high inequality, and high and persistent intergenerational inequality. This lowers aspirations, which leads to low social cohesion, low social trust, disenfranchisement, marginalization, and social conflict. These are all factors in low societal resilience. How should intergenerational inequality be handled? TK: To address inequality of opportunity, we must consider the wider factors behind it, for example, race or gender and other circumstances beyond an individual’s control. What studies show is that, in India, the most important factors behind inequality of opportunity are parental background, mostly the father's occupation, and even more important, the father's and mother’s education. UM: A large part of the cause of intergenerational inequality is inequality of opportunity early in life, which prevents many children from achieving their full potential. This affects their labour market prospects as adults. So, public policies to address this should be directly aimed at parents. For example, parental leave to allow parents to spend more time with their children, high quality childhood care, and high-quality public education, with policies inside of schools, but also outside that include nutrition, health, and poverty reduction. So clearly education across the generations is an important factor. How can education be used to break the intergenerational inequality cycle? TK : It is very important. But it can be very challenging to break the generational cycle of poor education in India, as one study that focused on lower-caste families in Mumbai showed. Lower caste parents intentionally send their children to low quality schools and eventually withdraw them from the schools, because they want them to take jobs to earn money. That is their choice, based on the reality of their circumstances. The jobs the children take tend to be low quality and earn poorly. But in the parents’ eyes, education has no immediate benefit to the financial survival of the family — instead it’s a huge opportunity cost. That’s a vivid demonstration of why intergenerational inequality persists and underlines the challenges of making policies to break the cycle. UM: It is challenging, but education is a very important tool, at all levels, from early childhood education to university. And research on its role is evolving. Policies to reduce intergenerational inequality have so far been focused on early childhood and adolescence, not so much on higher education. Recent research by economist Raj Chetty and coauthors, focused on the US, has found that higher education is very important for upward mobility. Whether the entrant has a poor or rich background, once they enter the same elite college, they have a high likelihood of having a similar income later on. This approach can be applied to other countries. Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) So, what are some policy tools that could be applied to higher education, in Brazil and in general? UM: There are many possible policy tools. Reduction of application costs through financial waivers, mentoring for low-income students, interventions that give information about the value of college that change aspirations. These are small-scale interventions that can easily be implemented. In Brazil, where inequality is so high, large-scale interventions are necessary and are beginning to be made: for example, the expansion of the public higher education system, and the expansion of financial aid through grants and laws. In Brazil, this has included affirmative action in admissions for low-income students and for black students, and a centralized admission system for federal universities. Before, each federal university had its own system, but now there is one exam that can be taken for multiple applications, for an easier process at less cost. Looking at affirmative action in education in Brazil, has that been an effective tool for addressing intergenerational inequality? UM : Affirmative action has been a federal policy since 2012, focused on public school students because as there is very high-income segregation between public and private schools. There are quotas of 50% public school students in each federal higher education institution, broken into percentages by income, gender and race. In combination with centralized admissions, it’s been transformative. Research shows it’s been really effective at increasing enrolment of low socioeconomic status students and their enrolment in the most prestigious majors. This is important for social mobility, and for the way students view higher education. It’s early days – the first cohorts are only just graduating. But the causal effects are visible in low-income high school students entering the best state universities and majors. And it has lifted enrolments across the board, not just for students that used to apply to higher education before, but also to some that thought that the college dream was impossible. How about affirmative action policies in higher education in India? TK: Where they have reached the targeted population, they have worked to some degree. But where they have not, they have actually caused harm, which is why they are so controversial in India. For example, when an academic job is advertised for candidates from so-called “backward” castes, if suitable candidates are not found, the job goes unfilled, which leaves gaps in the education system and causes resentment among candidates from nontargeted groups. What is needed is a lot more work in education policy so targeted groups can reach the level to be able to benefit, and a better understanding of how important timing is in policy design. Finally, what is the connection between intergenerational inequality and building societal resilience? TK: To build societal resilience, it is important to put inequality of opportunity and intergenerational persistence of inequality on the map in this debate on development. This is the first step. Let’s see how it overlaps with all the other factors behind inequality and poverty. When we assess all these things together, we can move towards more implementable socially resilient policies. The persistence of inequality at scale across generations is deeply harmful to societal resilience. We have never thought of inequality like this before. We are lifting the curtain of inequality and seeing what is happening behind it. What we see is that inequality of opportunity is negatively related with growth. If we reduce inequality of opportunity, we can actually increase growth. Inequality is not an inevitable consequence of growth. really effective at increasing enrolment of low socioeconomic status students and their enrolment in the most prestigious majors. This is important for social mobility, and for the way students view higher education. It’s early days – the first cohorts are only just graduating. But the causal effects are visible in low-income high school students entering the best state universities and majors. And it has lifted enrolments across the board, not just for students that used to apply to higher education before, but also to some that thought that the college dream was impossible. How about affirmative action policies in higher education in India? TK: Where they have reached the targeted population, they have worked to some degree. But where they have not, they have actually caused harm, which is why they are so controversial in India. For example, when an academic job is advertised for candidates from so-called “backward” castes, if suitable candidates are not found, the job goes unfilled, which leaves gaps in the education system and causes resentment among candidates from nontargeted groups. What is needed is a lot more work in education policy so targeted groups can reach the level to be able to benefit, and a better understanding of how important timing is in policy design. Finally, what is the connection between intergenerational inequality and building societal resilience? TK : To build societal resilience, it is important to put inequality of opportunity and intergenerational persistence of inequality on the map in this debate on development. This is the first step. Let’s see how it overlaps with all the other factors behind inequality and poverty. When we assess all these things together, we can move towards more implementable socially resilient policies. The persistence of inequality at scale across generations is deeply harmful to societal resilience. We have never thought of inequality like this before. We are lifting the curtain of inequality and seeing what is happening behind it. What we see is that inequality of opportunity is negatively related with growth. If we reduce inequality of opportunity, we can actually increase growth. Inequality is not an inevitable consequence of growth. UM: Policies on higher education in Brazil have demonstrated the societal resilience potential of policy tools to reduce intergenerational inequality. We need to care about intergenerational inequality because it is a matter of fairness. Inequality related to different opportunities at birth affects social mobility, which harms aspirations and creates animosity between groups, which as I mentioned earlier is harmful to societal resilience. The pandemic has heightened the need for policies targeting intergenerational inequality, because it has affected the poorer far more. Parents in richer families have more scope to help their children through school closures. In Brazil, it has exacerbated inequality in education, increasing school dropouts. We have not yet learned the extent of the damage. We know from research that more egalitarian societies are more resilient. There is more trust, more community, more happiness. And it is not just a matter of equity, but also a matter of efficiency and growth. If we have higher social mobility, there is a better likelihood of breaking the intergenerational cycle of inequality. The incomes of children of low-income parents are lifted and resources are allocated to enable individuals to achieve a higher potential. This leads to more growth and higher levels of equality, themselves beneficial for societal resilience. MD Duran/Unsplash

### What Is Societal Resilience?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/what-is-societal-resilience
Published: 2022-11-21
Author: J. Peter Burgess

The concept of resilience is today widely used across the natural, human and social sciences as well as in a wide range of commercial, social and political discourses. In an age of new global risks such as pandemics, financial crises, and rising geopolitical tensions, resilience is more important than ever. The concept of durable resilience also lies on the capability for all groups in society to move forward equally following a shock, making inclusivity an essential subject to tackle for a sustainable world. The origins of resilience as a tool of social adaptation and transformation Resilience as a concept emerged in the 1970s in the field of ecology, building on what is known as systems theory, a method used by scientists to understand and analyze phenomena in terms of the system they are a part of, be it mechanical, economic, or, in the case of ecology, environmental. Any system can be described as a basic equilibrium of all its components. The resilience of a system is its ability to return to that equilibrium after a disturbance. For example, an ecological system is considered resilient if, after a fire, flood, drought or other disaster, it quickly returns to its ecological equilibrium. More recently, the concept of resilience has been applied to the human systems in order to understand the dynamics of individuals in groups, organizations, and communities. The idea of ‘Social resilience’ emerged from this new way of thinking as a way of studying the behavior of a group as a function of the behavior of its individual members. In this context, it has become common to differentiate between the ways that social groups reestablish equilibrium after a shock and the ways that they evolve and change in response to shock. The concept of resilience has evolved and spread rapidly through the social sciences, but it retains the basic distinction, formulated by first-generation resilience thinkers between adaptation and transformation. As a consequence, resilience has become a common concept for analyzing the impact of a variety of forces on society. Would the group under examination responding to a crisis adapt to remain essentially what it was? Or would it be transformed into something new and different? Building Societal Resilience This article is part of an AXA Research Fund publication Read the publication (new window) From ‘social’ to ‘societal’: Resilience politicized On closer view however, the application of the notion of resilience to individuals in society has produced consequences different from those that are produced by its application to technical systems. For social systems, resilience quickly becomes a political question, a question about who needs to adapt their lives to the new conditions brought on by the shock, and who needs to transform their lives. It’s a question of whose life or what kind of life is worth preserving or defending against a given crisis, be it financial, climatic, or otherwise, and whose life must assent to transforming itself. In short, the use of the methods based on resilience puts into question what we imagine society itself to be. From this important and sensitive issue the idea of societal resilience developed, which has replaced social resilience in some contexts. Societal resilience refers to the resilience of society as a whole, rather than specific individuals or groups. This means the distinct values and traditions of societies: their customs, languages, religions and spiritual heritage, ethnic distinctions, and much more. The question of resilience becomes one of preserving the rights and privileges, dignity, and moral character implicit in entire societies. The dark side of resilience Despite increasing awareness of the complexity of resistance-driven social, political and commercial policies, resilience-based strategies for managing disaster risk often become problematic. Resilience-based policies can lean toward a politics of self-reliance, demanding a population with unevenly distributed resources, competence, and capabilities to respond equally to crisis and hardships. There is a clear danger of this thinking transforming into a set of demands on victims of catastrophes to simply ‘be resilient.’ For this reason, resilience strategies must be coupled with policies that encourage inclusive growth, in order to avoid it becoming a mechanism for separating the resilient from the non-resilient. Instead, the forces of cohesion and shared values should always remain in focus to make sure that resilience is a benefit for society collectively. Societal resilience in the new risk society Awareness of the societal character of resilience invites us to consider carefully our approach to the evolving risk landscape. The conclusion from this brief survey of the emerging concept of resilience is that the impact or risk management often reaches beyond the specific context in which it is carried out. The new risks — climate change, digitalization, energy insecurity, pandemic — all imply wide-ranging societal impacts and engage the societal values that we hold dear. Societal resilience can be maintained only by recognizing and addressing the deeply interlinked nature of contemporary society. Risk mitigation measures that impact one part of society, produces impacts across society. All of the major risks highlighted by experts today are systemic. It is impossible to treat individual occurrences without awareness of the general impacts of both the risks and the risk mitigation measures. The societal character of resilience shows us that we are a truly inter-connect world, for the good and for the bad. November 2022

### A Grain in the Climate System: The Emerging Threat of Sand and Dust Storms

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/a-grain-in-the-climate-system-the-emerging-threat-of-sand-and-dust-storms
Published: 2022-11-09

Over the last decade, scientists have discovered that dust and sand storms pose a serious threat to human health, the environment, and socio-economic sectors. While they are part of the Earth’s natural cycles, human activity and climate change have intensified their frequency and intensity. Prof. Carlos Pérez Garcia-Pando , AXA Research Fund Chair at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and ICREA , works on improving our understanding of the causes of sand and dust storms and their consequences. Discover the latest knowledge on predicting them and reducing their impact in the discussion moderated by Dr. Christelle Castet, Climatologist at AXA Climate. Watch the replay of the latest discussion organized by the AXA Research Fund in collaboration with AXA Climate , an immersive journey into climate change topics and deep dives into research projects with leading experts. Learn more about Prof. Carlos Pérez García-Pando's research project Understand and predict sand and dust storms to manage their impacts upon society and economy Sand and Dust Storms and Their Impacts on Health, Economy and the Environment

### Innovative Cancer-Fighting Gene Targeting Research

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/innovative-cancer-fighting-gene-targeting-research
Published: 2022-10-17

Sangharsh Lohakare/Unsplash Prof Mariano Barbacid, Permanent AXA Chair, aims to discover treatments for cancers with some of the lowest survival rates. In 1982, Prof Barbacid was among the first to discover the first human oncogene—a gene that can, under certain circumstances, transform a cell into a tumor cell. This led to the revelation that cancer is a genetic disease caused by mutations in key genes. Since being awarded the AXA Chair, he has continued to research the K-Ras oncogene, which is the most frequent mutation in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Here, Prof Barbacid shares some of his recent innovative gene targeting research, as well as the welcome news that we are slowly but surely winning the fight against cancer, even if the enemies are complex. Why is it so important to understand the underlying mutations of different cancers? Each cancer type has to be understood individually according to its pathology, stage, metastatic status, and underlying mutations. For instance, K-Ras is mutated in 20% of human tumors, and is the most frequent mutation in three of the big killers: lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Targeting K-Ras will be a major advance for the treatment of these tumors. In my laboratory, we work with lung and pancreatic cancer, for which K-Ras is the initiating mutation, so blocking K-Ras activity can be expected to have better therapeutic consequences than in tumor types for which K-Ras is not the initiating mutation, such as colorectal cancer. Ironically, K-Ras was thought to be undruggable just 5 years ago, and chemotherapy has been the standard of care for K-Ras mutant tumors for the past 39 years. In June 2021, the FDA approved the first selective inhibitor against K-Ras, Sotorasib (Amgen). This is the beginning of an explosion of new drugs to treat this cancer type. Unfortunately, Sotorasib is only active against one of the different types of K-Ras oncogenes. Therefore, its use is limited to some types of lung cancer and to a lesser extent, colorectal cancer. Yet, K-Ras inhibitors against the other mutations are currently being generated in several pharma companies. Indeed, we are witnessing the beginning of an explosion of new drugs to treat those cancers induced by K-Ras oncogenes. Could you describe some of your main findings? We use genetic manipulation to first define what’s relevant. For this, we create genetically engineered mouse models by introducing mutations present in patients into mice DNA, which causes the growth of tumors that are similar to human tumors. Mouse tumors are smaller and have fewer mutations than human tumors, but are the closest experimental models we can work with. We use these mouse tumor models to identify therapeutically relevant targets. Our strategy is, conceptually, relatively simple. Once the mice have developed the corresponding tumors, we use molecular scissors to eliminate potential therapeutic targets, that is, targets whose elimination will cause the tumor to either stop growing, regress, or even disappear. Needless to say, those targets whose elimination have little or no effect on tumor growth are no longer considered. In a mouse model of lung cancer, we found that elimination of one of the three direct downstream signaling targets of K-Ras, a protein named RAF1, resulted in the regression of almost two thirds of all tumors, including the complete elimination of about 10% of them. Hence, these studies have indicated that we should concentrate our future studies to selectively targeting RAF1. We have also carried our similar experiments with genetically engineered mouse models of pancreatic tumors. In this case, elimination of RAF1 did not produce any therapeutic benefit. However, when we combined RAF1 ablation with the elimination of a second target, the EGF Receptor, we observed the complete regression of these pancreatic tumors in about half of the mice. This is the first time anyone has reported the complete regression of pancreatic tumor s. How does this work facilitate the next stage of drug discovery? Our mouse tumor models have allowed us to identify potential therapeutic targets. Other than K-Ras itself, our studies have shown that RAF1 is the most suitable target by which to block K-Ras mutant cancers. Since RAF1 is a specific kind of enzyme known as a “kinase”, the pharma industry has developed kinase inhibitors—none of which have shown significant therapeutic activity. Last year, we provided a potential explanation for the failure of these inhibitors in the clinic. Unexpectedly, using our genetically engineered mouse tumor models, we discovered that RAF1 does not participate in tumor progression via its kinase activity. Hence, making RAF1 kinase inhibitors is useless for the treatment of K-Ras mutant tumors. These observations have forced us to change our drug discovery strategy and we are now concentrating on eliminating RAF1 itself rather than blocking its kinase activity. To try to unveil the best strategy to degrade RAF1 we decided to determine its 3D structure using cryo-electron microcopy in collaboration with Dr. Guillermo Montoya, Head of the cryo-EM facility at the University of Copenhagen. The results of this collaboration have been recently reported in Molecular Cell . We have identified some “structural vulnerabilities” in RAF1 that will allow us to start a drug discovery program to find ways to destroy the RAF1 protein in human cancers. How much closer do your findings bring us to new treatments for lung/pancreatic cancer? Science doesn’t always generate immediate results, as with K-Ras oncogene—the first drug came almost 40 years after its discovery. The good news is that there have been many advances in the overall treatment of cancer, and every year there’s a breakthrough in one type of cancer. The fight against cancer is being won slowly but steadily. Just 24 years ago, there were no targeted therapies, and cancer was treated with chemotherapies. In 1998, the first targeted product, Herceptin, was approved—a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of certain types of breast cancer. We now have targeted therapies for many different types of cancer. Still, the problem with precision medicine is that each target needs its own drugs. In just 20 years, pharmaceutical companies have used information generated by many translational research groups to develop selective drugs for more than two dozen oncogenes and their related products, thus providing useful and less toxic therapeutic options for many patients with cancer. Likewise, immunotherapy, which is a therapy that inhibits the ability of tumors to suppress the immune response of the patient, was an experimental therapy only 10 years ago. Today, immunotherapy has become the best therapy for many cancer types since it doesn’t depend on specific mutations, so the same drugs are active against many different cancers. We can say without any doubt that the last 20 years have seen incredible advances for the treatment of many cancer types, which is resulting in increased rates of survival for most patients with cancer and significant improvements in their quality of life. What’s next? Cancer research is a marathon, not a sprint. I will continue working on K-Ras, since the discovery of its first inhibitor is just the tip of the iceberg. The approved drug, Sotorasib, is only active against one of the multiple K-Ras mutations, so there are still many things to do. I hope no one will confuse our commitment to K-Ras research with a lack of innovation—with 1 in 5 patients with cancer still dying from this mutation, continuing to work on inhibiting K-Ras mutant cancer is a top priority, and an unresolved medical need. For instance, Sotorasib is not suitable for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We also need to identify additional targets to expand the therapeutic opportunities for those tumors that did not respond to our previous approaches. In addition, it is essential to identify drugs that are capable of eliminating RAF1 from K-Ras mutant tumors. This is not an easy task, especially as it will require the involvement of the pharma industry. However, we can now draw the road map towards reaching this goal, based on our pioneering results on the structure of RAF1. In summary, there is still a lot of work ahead of us. Fortunately, the scientific community is generating exciting breakthroughs that suggest that targeting K-Ras mutant tumors could be a reality in a not-too-distant future. October 2022 Learn more about Prof. Barbacid's research project AXA Chair in Molecular Oncology Early research shows a way to develop effective therapies against pancreatic cancer

### Quantifying and Understanding the Changing Risk of Climate on Water and Food Security in Southern Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/quantifying-and-understanding-the-changing-risk-of-climate-on-water-and-food-security-in-southern-africa
Published: 2022-10-03

African countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change. In the first of three successional 5-year AXA Chairs in African Climate Risk,   Prof. Mark New, Director of the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) at the University of Cape Town , has made strides in quantifying the changing nature of climate risk and the impact of human activity. Prof. New’s work has crucial implications for water and food security in southern Africa, the societal consequences of which are likely to snowball in the future, especially given the predicted doubling of the population in the next 25 years. Why are African countries among the most vulnerable to climate variability and change? Sub-Saharan Africa is not necessarily more exposed to climate hazards than other regions of the world. But, with some of the least developed and lowest income emerging economies, it has a lower capability to manage those risks. Much of my work during the AXA Chair was focused on demonstrating the links between a changing climate and food and water security. For example, heat stress means that many crops are at their thermal limits and reach lower yields. Rather than simply documenting climate change, this approach allows us to define its societal impacts. What has your work revealed about the changing nature of climate risk and how human activity affects this? The main focus of my Research Chair was quantifying how the risks of different types of climate hazard have changed because of human influence on climate, and how that “attributable change” in climate hazard alters risk on the ground. One focus has been water security, for which we used the 2016-2018 Cape Town multi-year drought as a case study. We found that while the likelihood of the rainfall drought had increased threefold, there was a four-fold increase in the risk of hydrological drought—so, the impact on the ground was amplified compared to the climate change signal. Another threat to water security in the Western Cape area is alien vegetation, such as the thirsty, non-native pine and acacia trees that are invading the mountain catchments and exacerbating the water security issue. Our modeling revealed that removal of alien vegetation would reduce, but not entirely offset, the water security risk. A second focus was on sovereign drought insurance. For this, I collaborated with the African Risk Capacity , which offers insurance to African nations to help them deal with the immediate response costs of drought on food security. Insurers use risk models to estimate the likelihood of particular perils using historical climate data, and then calculate a premium. When applying our attribution methodology to this risk model, we found that climate change has dramatically increased the costs of insurance in some countries. How have your findings helped southern Africa to build resilience and adapt management? As well as engagement with the African chapter of the Principles for Sustainable Insurance , we have shown that methods used to estimate perils need to be updated to better understand the risk that insurers are offering products for. More generally, quantifying how the likelihood of different perils have changed has helped to reflect on risk management approaches and whether they’re fit for purpose. Our Cape Town work, for instance, has implications for designing future water resource systems. Yet, it takes a long time for ideas to propagate through to action on the ground. In Africa, many countries have suboptimal or non-existent climate observation networks, which makes quantitative risk work difficult. Many countries in southern Africa are also reluctant or unable to invest in updating systems, especially as resources are already thinly stretched. Does your work have implications for human health? There’s been limited work done in Africa on climate-health relationships. Professor Lara Dugas, a new AXA Research Chair at UCT, and I are interested in whether it is possible to detect climate change signals within longitudinal human health data, as well as the effects of climate on nutritional status. This could have implications for managing food security. How has the AXA Chair facilitated climate change research in southern Africa? The AXA Chair enabled me to support the development of MSc and PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including Dr Romaric Odoulami, now a leading expert in assessing the risk and benefits of solar geoengineering of climate, Dr Petra Holden who is working on modelling trade-offs between Nature Based Solutions to climate, and Christopher Trisos who I have supported in building his own Climate Risk Lab at the ACDI in Cape Town . As well as being good leverage for additional research funding, the AXA Chair also enables ownership of the research agenda, and allows researchers overwhelmed with teaching commitments—which is common in Africa—to be more productive. How important is it to have long-term funding? Having that financial stability for 5 years allowed me to think strategically without worrying about salaries and short-term funding gaps. Importantly, having three 5-year periods for the successional chair program means that we can respond to the emerging research agenda as our understanding of climate risk and responses evolves. What are your hopes for your AXA Chair successors? Understanding climate risk is important, but I’d like the future AXA Chairs to focus more on solutions to critical vulnerabilities and high-risk settings in Africa, such as the growing population combined with levels of informality and lack of infrastructure. Food security and water security are also going to be ongoing issues.  How has AXA facilitated key collaborations within southern Africa and abroad? Another development in the last 5 years has been creation of the ARUA Centre of Excellence in Climate and Development , which is a partnership between the Universities of Cape Town, Nairobi, and Ghana. Climate risk is included as a strong theme in that. My involvement in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th Assessment report, published in 2022, also inspired fruitful collaborations and allowed us bring our climate change attribution work into the Africa chapter of the Working Group II IPCC report. How important has it been to communicate your research findings? Developing long-term relationships and trust is key. At the ACDI, we take a transdisciplinary approach, which involves bringing societal actors on board and consulting with them on an ongoing basis, such as engaging as an expert with resilience managers in the city of Cape Town or the local department of water affairs. In this way, we can help people to think about challenges and potential avenues for change. How has the AXA Chair contributed to your professional growth? Being freed up to focus on research was transformational for me, and I’m very grateful for that. Applying for the AXA Chair also meant I had to think carefully about the 5-year research plan, so it gave me real focus. October 2022 Understanding, Reducing, and Managing African Climate Risk Research Outcome Summary Find out more about Prof. Mark New's project (new window)

### Wildfires and Climate Master Class

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/wildfires-and-climate-master-class
Published: 2022-09-25

Wildfire is one of the most poorly understood “players” in our Earth system. While not all fire is bad, there is a rapid increase in devastating wildfires worldwide. On the occasion of the launch of the AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate at the Technical University of Crete, Dr. Apostolos Voulgarakis presented in a master class held on 21 September 2022, the main challenges that science and society face regarding future wildfires. After the introduction by Dr. Ioana Dima-West, Senior Science and Natural Perils Manager at AXA XL , Dr. Voulgarakis explained how fires could shape our climate, emphasizing on boreal and Arctic regions, where wildfires may have the ability to drastically impact Earth’s climate in the decades to come. The master class is available on replay below. Key takeaways There is an acute need to understand and model wildfire risks given the extensive damage they cause, their high intensity, and the places where they occur. Wildfires emit a range of key constituents into the atmosphere, leading to significant alterations in global atmospheric composition and, potentially, climate. However, these effects are poorly understood and not quantified systematically (e.g., in IPCC reports). High-latitude fires are one of the greatest unknowns for the future of Earth’s system. Peat fires are a particularly alarming aspect of high-latitude fires, as thawing permafrost leads to more organic soils being exposed to burning. Such fires can inject huge amounts of carbon and pollutants into the atmosphere. As part of his AXA Chair, Dr. Voulgarakis and his team have designed an innovative research program using a unique combination of novel fire modeling, state-of-the-art Earth system modeling, satellite and in situ observations, and suitable machine learning techniques, which will be a step-change in how we understand and model the Earth system. Learn more about AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate New Research Reveals That Wildfires Can Influence El Niño

### Functional Ultrasound Microscopy: Sensing the Whole Brain Neuronal Activity at the Micron Scale

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/functional-ultrasound-microscopy-sensing-the-whole-brain-neuronal-activity-at-the-micron-scale
Published: 2022-08-03

Ultrasound is transforming the field of neuroimaging with the technological advances achieved by the Physics for Medicine laboratory (Inserm, ESPCI Paris-PSL, CNRS) in the past decade. The introduction, in 2009, of functional ultrasound (fUS) provided neuroscientists with a unique technology – portable, easy-to-use, cost-efficient – to visualize the cerebral activity at high sensitivity. In 2015, another method, coined ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) produced unique images of the brain vascular network, revealing micron-size blood vessels. In 2022, researchers of Physics for Medicine are obtaining even more spectacular results by combining the best of both worlds: functional ultrasound localization microscopy (fULM) captures the cerebral activity at the micron-scale. The study is published in Nature Methods (Renaudin et al., Nature Methods 2022). It opens up major future clinical perspectives for the diagnosis of cerebrovascular pathologies, such as strokes, all diseases of small vessels, risks of aneurysm rupture or vascular alterations present very early in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Ultrasound scanners enable the observation of organs through the skin, and as such are widely-used in medical imaging, mostly in obstetrics or in cardiology. The use of ultrasound for neuroimaging remains so far limited to detecting large (several millimeter in diameter) blood vessels in the brain. There is however a major interest in looking more precisely at the cerebral vasculature, as many neurodegenerative diseases – Alzheimer, dementia – involve dysfunctions of the small cerebral vessels. Neurovascular coupling: a dialogue between neural and vascular networks A tight interaction occurs between the brain vascular and neuronal activities: blood vessels supply neurons in oxygen and nutrients, and therefore support the neuronal activity. This essential interaction, called neurovascular coupling, is exploited in neuroimaging: detecting blood flow variations allows to detect brain activation. Functional ultrasound (fUS) does so with a very high sensitivity: it is capable of detecting very subtle changes in the cerebral blood volume. And it provides imaging performances inherent to the use of ultrasound waves, i.e. a large field of view covering the entire brain, and a resolution of several hundreds of microns. To distinguish smaller vessels, researchers of the institute Physics for Medicine Paris have developed a technique called ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM), achieving a much better spatial resolution than standard ultrasound. Let’s imagine that you try to capture a satellite view of a narrow road. It might be challenging to distinguish a narrow path from afar. Now, if a motorbike travels on that road with its headlight on, you might see its halo and the center of the halo will inform you accurately on the motorbike’s position, and therefore reveal the narrow road’s position. Localization microscopy relies on that same principle: a bright, point-like object can be localized accurately by pinpointing the center of its halo. In ULM, the “bright” objects are biocompatible micron-size bubbles, injected in the blood circulation. Tracking these micron-size bubbles as they travel in the blood stream reveals the location of blood vessels with a micron-size accuracy, and across large fields of view using ultrasound imaging. By accumulating the tracks of millions of microbubbles, the researchers have reconstructed unique pictures of the microvasculature anatomy at the whole-brain scale in rodents and in human patients, as published in previous studies (Demené et al., Science Translational Medicine 2017; Demeulenaere et al., eBioMedicine 2022). However, this technique is not fast and sensitive enough to catch dynamically the local changes of blood flow induced by the neuronal activity. Non-invasively probing brain activity at the microscopic level In the current study, published in Nature Methods, the researchers solve this problem and go much further in the analysis of the microbubbles’ journey across the brain vasculature of a rat. Not only do they image the brain microvasculature, but they also detect the local brain activation by calculating the number and speed of microbubbles passing in each vessel: when a region of the rat brain activates, the blood volume increases locally as a result of the neurovascular coupling, dilating the vessels and allowing more microbubbles to pass. In other words, it becomes possible to extract dynamic information from ULM data. Tracking microbubbles does not serve only to localize micro-vessels, but it also enables to sense the functional activity at the micro-vessel scale. All the technical developments yield a new neuroimaging method, coined functional ultrasound localization microscopy (fULM), with a unique combination of three major advantages – non-invasive quantification of the brain activity, at microscopic resolution, and across the whole-organ scale – integrated in an easy-to-use and cost-efficient ultrasound scanner. Demonstrating the concept of fULM is a pivotal scientific leap, but yet it is only the first step into a new and vast research area in neuroscience. Each one of the millions of microbubbles captured during a fULM acquisition carries lots of biologically-relevant information to be explored. The upcoming tasks for the scientists will be to exploit, process and relate this enormous amount of information to the mechanisms involved in cerebro-vascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Full Publication The team is supported by the AXA Research Fund through the AXA Chair in Biomedical Ultrasound. Video information Credits: Alexandre Dizeux / Physics for Medicine Paris August 2022

### The Use of Virtual Reality for the Treatment of Mental Health Issues

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-use-of-virtual-reality-for-the-treatment-of-mental-health-issues
Published: 2022-08-03

The inaccessibility of timely mental health care services in Hong Kong, especially for individuals with a strong aversion to social interactions, has led researchers to look towards virtual reality (VR) as a viable mode of therapy. An innovative research project funded by AXA Hong Kong and supported by the AXA Research Fund has shown that VR therapy can reduce anxiety, depression, and social avoidance. These results could bring us closer to a “hybrid” model of healthcare, whereby an online or self-guided element could complement existing therapies. The joint research initiative included AXA Hong Kong’s Dr. Yi Mien Koh, Prof. Winnie Mak from the Diversity & Well-Being Laboratory at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Dr. Amy Chan, previously at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. How urgent is it to address social avoidance? Winnie Mak (WM): Social avoidance is a common manifestation of many mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety—an estimated 25% of people will experience anxiety and depression at some point in their lives. However, avoiding other people can worsen depression, loneliness, and low self-esteem, leading to further withdrawal from social situations and creating a vicious cycle. Yi Mien Koh (YMK): Waiting times to see a psychologist in the Hong Kong public health system are long, and private consultations are expensive. As a leading health insurer, AXA wanted to find affordable access to mental health support. The project name “ Yes I Can ” reflects the idea of self-efficacy and confidence that one can do it. As well as destigmatizing mental health issues, we wanted to explore how VR could help people feel safer and more confident in social situations. How has technology already been successfully used in mental health promotion? WM: Our trials with the WiseLiving, Living With Heart, and TourHeart online interventions have demonstrated that mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioral interventions can be successfully delivered online to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms and elevate well-being. And, VR has already been used to treat phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. Amy Chan (AC): While VR technology has become more realistic and sophisticated over the past 10-20 years, it hasn’t been fully leveraged to address depression, generalized anxiety, or social avoidance, so our work is pioneering in that sense. What were the major results of your randomized control trial? WM: Over the three VR sessions, we saw a significant reduction in social avoidance, and this effect was sustained at the 1-month follow-up. After the intervention, people had less social avoidance, social anxiety, depression, and fear of negative evaluation. AC: The self-guided VR program includes five scenarios to choose from: a convenience store, a café, a bus, a street, and a medical clinic. A “virtual coach” guides participants through a series of graded tasks, such as placing an order at a café or making eye contact. There are five levels of difficulty, with increasingly noisier scenes, more people, and more challenging tasks. Why does AXA Hong Kong find VR such an attractive tool with which to address mental health issues? YMK: Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are common in the general population, so simple and affordable digital tools are needed. Five years ago, very few people were looking at VR. After learning that the NHS was offering VR treatments developed by Professor Daniel Freedman of Oxford University, I thought it would be great to transport that into Asia. What was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your protocol studies? AC: The multiple suspensions and interruptions greatly impacted recruiting and retaining participants. Also, many participants told us that they felt less urgency to treat their social avoidance symptoms during the pandemic, as online meetings and social distancing meant they didn’t need to interact with people in person. At the same time, they told us that the absence of in-person contact limited the opportunities to practice skills they had acquired during the VR program. While VR technology has become more realistic and sophisticated over the past 10-20 years, it hasn’t been fully leveraged to address depression, generalized anxiety, or social avoidance, so our work is pioneering in that sense. What was the role of Oxford VR in designing the VR device? YMK: I visited Prof. Freedman’s lab in Oxford and was inspired by his results in people with phobias. We decided to bring Oxford VR’s commercialized technology to Hong Kong and localize it so that it was culturally relevant. WM: Hong Kong is one of the most crowded areas in the world, and even people with social avoidance are used to large crowds. So, in addition to changing the language to Cantonese, we needed the scenes to be more intense to fit with the local culture. AC: For this, there were some technical constraints, such as the VR hardware’s computing power. We worked with Oxford VR to overcome these constraints by increasing the background noise and adding more background objects to increase the feeling of busyness without draining computing power. Oxford VR also made the characters more Asian-looking and took references from Hong Kong social settings, such as mask-wearing, to create a more realistic virtual environment. How important is collaboration in interdisciplinary work? WM: Our team includes psychologists, engineers, researchers, journalists, people in marketing, and people with a business background. We need different perspectives to help us be more creative in our thinking. Even Yi Mien and I, while we share the vision of tackling stigma and promoting mental health, I come from an academic and psychological perspective, and she has a medical and business perspective. I appreciate the collaboration with academics and corporations like AXA because I think it’s important to have public and private partnerships to make things work. Strict lockdowns were imposed on millions of people worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. How do long periods of isolation affect mental health, and how might VR interventions be useful? WM: The lockdowns may have exacerbated psychological distress, and economic, employment, and political uncertainties may have worsened anxiety, especially for deprived and disadvantaged people. While they cannot “solve” sociopolitical issues, telehealth, VR technology, and online interventions could complement what wasn’t possible during the pandemic, such as face-to-face treatment. YMK: The average waiting time to see a psychologist in Hong Kong public health services is 18 months, and that’s after waiting for a consultation with a psychiatrist. Winnie and I wanted to work towards inexpensive, accessible, and sustainable services that could transform treatment. How soon can we expect to see immersive VR therapy in public healthcare programs? AC: Users told us that this kind of therapy would be effective because it was personalized, on-demand, and fit their needs and schedules. With progress in technology and as the device becomes more comfortable and affordable, there’s potential for widening the public’s access to evidence-based treatment. YMK: We’ve shown that VR intervention is clinically effective and can be used anywhere—even at home. The next step is to form an integrated care program with healthcare providers. Healthcare professionals may not know what VR can do, and most doctors adopt a traditional approach to mental health. The biggest challenge will be to educate them on how VR complements what has always been traditionally available. Due to our payor role, insurers can play a pivotal role in bringing ecosystem players together. WM: A hybrid model of online and offline interventions could be integrated into the mental health services system. For that, we need more advocacy with the government, funders, and healthcare providers. Some people wait years to receive treatment, so why not provide them with evidence-based digital tools with which they can help themselves in the meantime? August 2022

### Inflation and Interest Rates in the Time of COVID and War

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/inflation-and-interest-rates-in-the-time-of-covid-and-war
Published: 2022-06-29

Inflation and Interest Rates in the time of COVID and War Key Points In the first event of the AXA-BSE Talks on the Economy, James Bullard, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, spoke about steps towards meeting the 2% inflation target, and risks that stem from the Russia-Ukraine war and the pandemic. Inflation in the US is far above target, at levels last seen in the 1970s. Continued high inflation risks the Fed’s credibility and could result in unmoored inflation expectations. The Fed has taken more assertive action in 2022, including a series of rapid-fire policy rate hikes in efforts to facilitate a soft landing: the most recent 75 basis point move was implemented on June 15. The European Central Bank will also increase policy rates soon, according to Market Chatter. Quantitative tightening, passive runoff of the large balance sheet, and forward guidance have also been applied by the Fed. A lively discussion with commentators Chiara Osbat, Economics Adviser at the ECB, and Gilles Moëc, AXA Group Chief Economist, and moderator Professor Albert Marcet, AXA-BSE Chair on Macroeconomic Risk followed, covering issues such as rents, the labor market, excess demand, and subsidizing the cost of energy transition. Faced with pandemic-related shortages and soaring shipping costs, central banks around the world grapple with the acceleration in inflation, and brace for further stagnation of supply chains and raised oil and gas prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the COVID lockdowns in China. Price increases are now reaching the highest level in decades across many advanced economies. Navigating this new terrain is a challenge for central banks, who are tasked with finding the best ways to respond to inflation increases. To cope with the lingering high inflation, the Federal Reserve (Fed) applied a move of 35 basis points on 15 June 2022. As the first Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) member to speak since this latest development, James Bullard, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, was guest speaker of the first edition of the AXA-BSE Talks on the Economy, held on 20 June 2022. A panel discussion led by commentators Gilles Moëc, AXA Group Chief Economist, and Chiara Osbat, Economics Adviser at the ECB, was followed by a Q&A session with attendees. The event was organized and moderated by the AXA-BSE Chair on Macroeconomic Risk, Professor Albert Marcet , Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies-Centre de Recerca en Economia Internacional (ICREA-CREI), and sponsored by the AXA Research Fund. Video replay and conference transcript below. Disclaimer: The testimonials below were edited or shortened for the sake of brevity. James Bullard: steps towards disinflation At the end of 2019, the US enjoyed a growing economy at 2.6%, strong labor markets, a below-target inflation rate at 1.5%, and interest rates that were set for that scenario. Then, the pandemic hit, sending financial markets, business, households, and policy makers into confusion. “Now, inflation in the US is far above target, at levels last seen in the 1970s and early 1980s”, said Bullard. The 1970s, which saw some of the highest rates of inflation in the US, provides a model that might help us get our bearings amid the chaos. One surprise of the 1970s was not just the high inflation, but that high inflation bounced up and down between 5% and 10%. This disrupted the price signals, such that businesses and households were unsure what these prices really meant. Should they buy and invest, or not? This era also saw a lot of volatility in the “real economy”—the production, purchase, and flow of goods and services—accompanied by many recessions. “We don’t want any of that to happen again. That’s why we want to get inflation back to our 2% target as soon as possible”, said Bullard. The 2% inflation target The Fed has a statutory mandate to provide stable prices for the US economy, and has adopted the international standard 2% inflation target. This target is stated in terms of the Fed’s preferred measure, “Headline” Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), according to which the current inflation rate is at 6.3%. “This is almost same as the median Headline PCE inflation rate in the 1970s, which was about 6.4%”, said Bullard. The alternative inflation measures of “Core PCE inflation” and “Dallas Fed trimmed mean inflation rate” are at 4.9% and 3.8%, respectively. These indices yield lower inflation rates because they exclude some price changes, but, like the Headline PCE, have increased from around 2% in January 2021. “So, in macroeconomic terms, these changes in inflation rates have been sudden”, explained Bullard. Knock-on effects of high inflation Crucially, high inflation risks the Fed’s credibility with respect to its 2% inflation target and associated mandate to provide stable prices in the US. “Unless credible action is taken, we could see a new regime with high inflation, volatile inflation, and volatile real economic performance”, Bullard said. He also described inflation expectations as being “on the precipice” of becoming unmoored, as they were in the 1970s. In economic theory, actual and expected inflation are closely related, which is why economists are so attentive to inflation expectations. There is presently a divergence between actual inflation readings and market-based measures of inflation expectation, but these will inevitably converge at some point. “The high inflation readings seen currently could pull expected inflation higher, or, inflation will drop”, said Bullard. Steps already taken by the Fed Taking the view that “it is better to overdo it” when trying to take better control of inflation risks, the FOMC adopted a more hawkish direction in the second half of 2021. Under the advice of FOMC Chair Jerome Powell, inflation was dealt with more aggressively, and policy started changing quite dramatically in October and November 2021. As a first action, the FOMC has increased the policy rate level at the last three meetings: 25 basis points in March, 50 basis points in May, and another 75 basis points in June. The Fed is poised to make further increases. “Banks all over the world are simultaneously increasing their policy rates—perhaps also the European Central Bank (ECB) very soon, according to Market Chatter”, said Bullard. Second, the Fed has a very large balance sheet that was added to during the pandemic. In a process known as quantitative tightening (QT), the Fed has stopped purchasing assets and is now allowing passive runoff of the balance sheet. Passive runoff is the decline of income-producing assets when securities are left to mature and are not re-invested. “Many other banks worldwide are implementing QT and allowing their balance sheets to shrink”, said Bullard. Through “forward guidance”, a tool that central banks use to influence market expectations via their own forecasts, the Fed is able to move policy more quickly. “The forward guidance is already reflected in US market pricing, which should be helping us to stay ahead of inflation”, reported Bullard. This could put downward pressure on inflation, helping us get back to 2%. Looking ahead Happily, the US labor markets remain robust and expansion is continuing. Unemployment is low, and the number of job openings relative to unemployed workers is about 2:1. “In the macroeconomics world, the late 1990s were kind of a nirvana for US labor markets, and we’re now as good as we were at that time”, Bullard noted. Good news also for US GDP growth, with real output, total GDP, and total national income that appear to be growing at an above-trend pace, as well as indicators of continued above-trend growth in the quarters ahead. “Since the pandemic recession in January to March 2020, we’ve boomed back and US growth has been very strong”, said Bullard. He also noted that while this growth is slowing, it is slowing back to the trend pace of around 2%. “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are risks”, added Bullard. Some of these risks stem from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, others from the COVID situation in China, and still more from the ongoing supply chain issues worldwide. “However, the information we have indicate that there will be continued expansion in the US through 2022”. Panel discussion Chiara Osbat (CO): Rents and items affected by supply distributions contribute more to core inflation in the Euro Area (EA) than in the US. In the US, both rents and “imputed” rents—which are “rental-equivalent” costs for owner-occupied housing—are included in the Consumer Price Index. Imputed rents are not included in the EA’s indexes, yet there is a sense that it should be. Do you think rents have a special behavior? James Bullard (JB) : When the pandemic hit in March/April 2020, the intuition was that housing markets would be terrible. That intuition turned out to be wrong in the US: the pandemic did not slow down the housing market, and the Fed actually bought out mortgage-backed securities, which kept mortgage interest rates particularly low. These low mortgage rates combined with preferences for more housing farther away from city center drove a housing boom during 2020 and 2021—so much so, that measures of total net worth of households relative to disposable income are near all-time highs. The increased housing prices also meant that that rents, which were initially very depressed, are now rising rapidly in the US. In my understanding, the imputed rents factor wasn’t [NC4]  included in the EA Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices because markets are too different across countries, making a proper calculation difficult. They’re now looking to change it in the US direction, but even in the US the calculation has been considered somewhat controversial. CO: While the EA labor market has accelerated, it is far from the tightness seen in the US, with around half a job for every jobseeker. Moreover, job retention schemes pose problems for interpreting the usual indicators of wage growth, because while fiscal support offered to firms in the EA kept people attached to their jobs, this resulted in reduced working hours and hourly wages. For this reason, I and my colleagues have looked at another measure—negotiated wages. This relatively flat indicator is picking up, especially in 2022, with a sudden increase in new negotiations. Should we be worried that inflation will become more persistent because of wage price spirals? Is the situation now different from the 1970s, when there was no clear monetary policy framework and efficient targeting had yet to be developed? JB : While wages are very much related to the prices in the economy, I think wage spirals are a symptom of bad monetary policy, not a driver of inflation. If the monetary policy leads to a high inflation economy, then prices—and wages—are going to go up rapidly. This is a macroeconomics lesson that’s been learned since the 1970s. A success story in macroeconomics is inflation targeting, which came into force in the 1990s. Many countries around the world—all with different shocks and political systems— assigned inflation targets to their central banks. All were able to bring their inflation rates and inflation expectation rates to around 2%, and keep the variance of inflation low. This suggests that if you hold the central bank accountable to hit 2% inflation, you are going to get 2%. Gilles Moëc (GM): There may be a very specific situation in our economies that make the calibration of monetary policy unusually complex. The amount of excess income created during the pandemic is much higher in the US than in the EA. If this excess demand is allowed to continue, inflation will continue to accelerate. To nip this in the bud before inflation expectations increase too much, the Fed has to move very quickly, at the fastest pace of tightening in the US since the early 1980s. This is a little less obvious for the ECB, perhaps because excess demand is much less certain in the EA. Are there some specific factors in the current situation that make the calibration of monetary policy even harder than usual? JB : Pandemics don’t occur very often and we certainly don’t have one that we’ve had to respond to in the modern era, so this is a very special situation. The spearhead of the reaction to the pandemic in March and April 2020 was to do as much as possible to protect the economy, such as the big package from congress to try to replace income of disrupted workers in the US. When calibrating that, however, it’s not clear how much is going to be enough, what end date you should have, how long the pandemic will go on for, or when people will be able to go back to work. The spirit of the times was to overdo it, but now we have to mitigate the effects of that. GM: The average interest rate that investment grade businesses currently pay for debts on the disintermediated market has increased very quickly—the US is already slightly above where we were at the time of the March 2020 turmoil, and it’s actually the highest refinancing rate that we’ve had since the end of the great financial crisis in 2009. Moreover, the problem for Europe is that we are to some extent polluted by what’s going on in the US in terms of market pressure. Concerning the market reaction that we’ve had so far, isn’t there the possibility that the increase in funding conditions is a bit too fast, a bit too strong? JB : On the whole, the inflation we’re observing is a global phenomenon, and lots of central banks are moving quickly as we come out of the pandemic. So, we’re not the only central bank that has moved the policy rate quickly and in fairly large increments. In fact, many others have tried to anticipate Fed actions and move sooner. I’m hopeful that this concerted action worldwide will help contain the inflation that’s sweeping across the globe. Concerning the magnitude of the interest rate changes, we are indeed moving quickly, but we’re moving from a very low level that was put in place to try to deal with the pandemic. GM: There’s a structural long-term inflationary factor that could be a problem for us in the years ahead: the cost of the fight against climate change. At present, fiscal policy internalizes the cost of the energy transition. For example, electric cars are much more expensive than dirty cars before tax, so the government can simply tax dirty cars to subsidize clean cars. However, if a lot of people do in fact start buying electric cars, there’s less dirty cars to tax. So at some point you have to choose between running an ever-increasing deficit or allowing inflation—the price of cars—to go up. Hopefully, technological progress will mean the price of a clean solution will fall so quickly that we won’t need to subsidize it, or face a permanent drift in inflation. There’s a lot of discussion in Europe about “greening” the framework of monetary policy. How does the central bank take this on board for the definition of its monetary policy? Is it possible that we will see a permanent inflation drift due to the fight against climate change and the need to speed up our energy transition? JB : There have been long transitions in other areas of the economy, such as medical care inflation in the US, which is known to have run higher than overall inflation for many years. And, for decades, technology inflation has actually been deflation, probably mostly due to Moore’s Law—we’ve had phenomenal drops in the prices of technological goods. But it’s a good question—how should we think of that as far as managing inflation in the economy? Albert Marcet (AM): As you noted, central banks have more credibility than they did in the 1970s. Some people emphasize that the ECB’s task is much harder because they need to deal with each different country, yet having 24 different monetary policies for these different countries would generate a lot of uncertainty. The existing setup makes us much better equipped to deal with this crisis. Perhaps you’d like to comment on that. JB : An interesting idea was raised in some of the older literature: does every disinflation have to have a big recession and be very costly, or can we have disinflations that cost less, or nothing? According to the literature, the basic answer is that if you have a lot of credibility and you make an announcement, then expectations adjust immediately to the new situation and inflation goes away quickly without much in terms of real resource cost. For example, Raymond Poincaré, France’s Finance Minister in 1926, had so much credibility that he just announced what he was going to do and they got results right off the bat without much real cost. However, if a not-credible government or central bank is trying to get rid of inflation, like Volcker when he started, then every reaction is scrutinized and markets don’t believe anything that’s happening. As did Volcker, those central banks have to work very hard to gain credibility. Modern central banks such as the ECB and the Fed have far more credibility than Volcker had, and so there may be a softer landing for us. AM: One uncertainty you mentioned is something we’ve never had before—the huge balance sheet of the central banks. Is this really manageable? James Bullard: Yes, the balance sheet is very large, and we’ve added to it. We have started our passive runoff program, which is about a trillion dollars a year worth of runoff, a good pace to start with. This will contribute to tightening conditions and should help us to get inflation under control. Audience Q&A session Q: As policy makers, what have you learned about inflation in the past 15 months—or do we understand less than we thought? This pick-up in inflation has been very fast and to some extent unexpected, despite all the models. JB : In the first quarter of 2021 when we didn’t have any inflation, all the main theories were actually all pointing in the same direction, despite the fact these normally disagree. Pure monetarists saw that money supply growth was very high in early 2021, so were predicting inflation. Fiscalists saw big budget deficits and also predicted inflation. And Phillips curve -type people were worried about the very tight labor markets and boom economy. Q: It seems you’re having to engineer two soft landings at the same time: QT and inflation. Do you see some risks that could link the two? JB : I think unwinding QT is going to help us control inflation. If you consider the runoff in the balance sheet as inflationary, then certainly we’re allowing that to come down. The economy and the amount of reserves needed in the banking system would have grown during this period anyway, so we don’t have to come back down to the pre-pandemic level, but down to where the trend reserves would have been. So I don’t think we have as far to go in QT as it might seem. Q: Do you think that some mini technological bubbles have been created from this year’s negative interest rates, and could these now burst? JB : I do think that one side-effect of having very low policy rates, in the US and around the world, is that there seems to be a tendency to search for yield. Asset managers are worried about how to find income for their clients, and so they reach out to other types of investments that might have a more speculative component to them. When interest rates go up sharply, the incentive to do that gets reversed, so we’ll see if that’s what happens this time. About the AXA-BSE Talks series The AXA-BSE Talks are sponsored by the AXA Research Fund, established to address the most important issues facing our planet, funding research in key areas related to risk and helping inform public and private decision making based on science. The series is organized by the AXA-BSE Chair on Macroeconomic Risk, and is designed for a wide audience, including students and BSE alumni. In the AXA-BSE Talks, policy makers, economics researchers, and business leaders will discuss relevant policy issues related to macroeconomic risk.

### Sand and Dust Storms and Their Impacts on Health, Economy and the Environment

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/sand-and-dust-storms-and-their-impacts-on-health-economy-and-the-environment
Published: 2022-04-13

A remarkable springtime dust storm passed over Europe in March 2022. While this was a rare event, dust storms occur daily in other parts of the world. AXA Chair awardee, Prof. Carlos Pérez García-Pando at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center , has been engaged in extensive fundamental and applied research to better understand, predict, and manage the impact of sand and dust storms. Here, he explains how something so fine as dust particles can have mammoth implications for human society, and how his work steers forecasting into action. How important is it to predict sand and dust storms? Carlos Péres Garcia-Pando (CP): Dust storms are a vital part of the ecosystem, but can be a serious hazard for agriculture, transportation, the economy, and health in many countries, particularly in some of the least developed ones. We can’t easily avoid or control dust storms, so preparation for their negative effects is key. Yet, information from MET services is still not streamlined properly. For example, many terraces in Madrid were unusable after the recent dust storm over Europe, and bars and restaurants were asking why they hadn’t been properly alerted by the regional government How has your fundamental research contributed to new knowledge? CP: To understand and predict dust, we need models. However, a lack of knowledge means that these often contain uncertainties, a major one being the emission term—how much dust is produced, and where. To address this, through an ERC grant entitled FRAGMENT , I’m exploring fundamental aspects of the dust emission process in deserts across the world, as well as relationships between mineralogy and particle size. We are testing this in our models to better estimate the effect of dust on the climate. How important is multidisciplinary research in this field? CP: Dust has multifarious links to the natural environment and anthropogenic perturbations, so multidisciplinary research is absolutely critical. One potential paradigm shift is the EMIT Mission , in which I participate as a Co-Investigator. Using a spectrometer on the International Space Station, we will collect surface mineralogy data at a 60-meter resolution to obtain the first-ever mineralogy map of the Earth’s arid and semi-arid regions. The applications of EMIT extend beyond dust, such as obtaining data on vegetation type and color, which is currently an uncertainty, particularly in semi-arid regions. How does your work contribute to the issue of global health?  CP: I’m interested in the effects of pollutants and dust on respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Through different projects, I’m looking at chemical interactions of dust with anthropogenic pollutants and contributing to quantifying their health and socioeconomic impacts across Europe. Building on past research , I also plan to further investigate the effect of dust during meningitis epidemics, as dust could render people more susceptible to developing meningitis. Although not directly related to sand and dust storms, we have recently looked at air quality changes resulting from Covid lockdowns and assisted Copernicus to calculate associated emissions and health impacts. How have you supported technological advances? CP: Our WMO Regional Dust Center forecast model now includes state-of-the-art parameterizations that comprise the most recent scientific advances. Also, our new and unprecedented 10 km-resolution dust reanalysis dataset for Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe could be useful to health, solar radiation, transportation, and aviation communities. Our data could help optimize the life expectancy of plane engines, which can be sensitive to dust and minerals. We are also linking our forecasts to the operational maintenance software of solar power plants. Cleaning dust deposits from solar panels is costly, especially where water is scarce, so predictions could help to plan cleaning cycles. Importantly, our datasets and model are open sources to facilitate further progress and other applications. Other than through an open-access approach, how can industries be reached?   CP: We contribute heavily to CAMS-COPERNICUS to improve air quality forecasts in Europe, which can be adopted for commercial applications. In the AQ-WATCH project , we’ve established connections with providers of meteorological information, and have created forecasts for Chile, the US, and East Asia. We’ve been very active in getting feedback and recommendations from sectoral end-users about its envisioned output through the participation and organization of Training Schools and User workshops . How has AXA facilitated collaborations? CP: We now have the funding to invest in this core activity. We’ve put together a community of developers, modelers, and users across Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. As well as sharing methods between modelers and experimentalists, we have connected with users in companies, aviation, and the health sector to find out what they need. Dr. Sara Basart, a member of the AXA Chair and Chair of the inDust Cost Action , has been key in this effort. Another challenge is collaborative action—countries in the Middle East have different ways of dealing with things, so coordination isn’t easy when faced with a regional problem.  What are some of your knowledge-sharing and communication activities? Other than academic publications and conferences, we’ve produced informative videos for the public and content for children . We also engage with governments and policy-makers. As well as being the first official regional center of the WMO for dust prediction, members of our center sit in the Global Steering Committee and are involved in an advisory group on sand and dust storms within the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification . How has AXA contributed to your professional growth?   CP: I recently attained a permanent position as ICREA Research Professor; the AXA grant is quite unique, so I am pretty sure it helped a lot. The 15-year funding has been crucial for me to develop a long-term program and take risks. This, along with the flexibility to put resources where I need them, means that AXA has helped me create an impactful and comprehensive research group. Despite receiving other sources of funding, we have gaps between contracts, so without AXA’s support, these regional centers would not exist.   "Our WMO Regional Dust Center forecast model now includes state-of-the-art parameterizations that comprise the most recent scientific advances. Also, our new and unprecedented 10 km-resolution dust reanalysis dataset for Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe could be useful to health, solar radiation, transportation, and aviation communities." Other future directions? CP: One big question is what sand and dust storms will look like towards the end of the century. As well as wildfires and uncertainty in land management and vegetation, a warming world will impact dust storms—in turn, dust storms affect climate. Representing long-term changes comes with many challenges. We’re now developing Earth system models to include new processes that better represent long-term variability along with the associated effects. I’m also interested in the possibility of extending forecasting to sub-seasonal to seasonal scales. March 2022 Find out more about Prof. Carlos Pérez García-Pando's project Understand and predict sand and dust storms to manage their impacts upon society and economy How Can We Mitigate the Impacts of Dust Storms?

### AXA-Bocconi Gender Equality Conference 2022

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/axa-bocconi-gender-equality-conference-2022
Published: 2022-03-14

Gender equality: Challenges ahead. From She-cession to She-recovery The Covid-19 crisis has crippled female-dominated sectors, causing a “she-cession” that poses additional challenges to gender equality. During a conference held on 7 March 2022, following a presentation of research insights from Italy, Spain, the UK, and the US, industry leaders and policymakers discussed the steps needed and initiatives implemented for a “she-recovery”. The event was organized within the framework of the AXA-Bocconi Research Lab on Gender Equality and was supported by AXA Italy and the AXA Research Fund. Video replay and conference transcript below. PART 1: RESEARCH INSIGHTS After welcome addresses from Gianmario Verona, Rector of Bocconi University , and Giacomo Gigantiello, CEO of AXA Italia , institutional greetings were extended by Pina Picierno, Vice-President of European Parliament . “Gender equality is key for the future of our economies and for the future of Europe,” she said in a pre-recorded message. “No one denies the importance of gender equality anymore.” Italy The first to share recent research findings was Prof Paola Profeta, Professor of Public Economics and Director, AXA Research Lab on Gender Equality, Bocconi University . Her work has been conducted in Italy, which has one of the lowest female employment rates in Europe, at 49% pre-Covid. Moreover, 84% of female employment in Italy is in the service sector, which has been hardest hit by the pandemic. Women are the primary providers of informal care for children and older people in Italy. This is largely a result of stereotypical gender norms, as well as the inadequate provision of formal care for young children. Remote working during the pandemic has seen greater involvement of men in household and care activities—while the hope is that this will induce less traditional gender roles that could, in the long run, reduce the gender gaps, with remote working, women have taken on more household and care duties . “This means that the gender gaps are not really closing. Actually, they have increased slightly compared to before the pandemic,” said Prof Profeta. Prof Profeta also noted that while the policies put in place during the pandemic were meant to be gender-neutral, they were not. For example, schools closed for longer in countries with lower female participation in the labor market, such as Italy, and parental leave was primarily requested by women. According to Prof Profeta, “This means that these policies may have exacerbated pre-existing gender gaps.” Given the increased difficulty to find a new job, women are also increasingly exposed to toxic working environments. “We risk losing the improvements that we have experienced so far in the labor market, such as those seen as a result of the #MeToo movement and cultural changes within companies,” she said. Finally, Prof Profeta asserted that achieving gender balance in decision-making positions could facilitate a “she-recover y” by bringing a more balanced view on the priorities. In a large-scale study, she found that women are more likely to agree and comply with restrictive measures, which could predict more effective responses by female leaders. Indeed, Prof Profeta observed more promotion of income support and less school closures in female-led countries. “This has implications for gender equality, given that women are more affected than men in the way work is organized at home,” she said. In preliminary work, she also found that female mayors of small municipalities in Italy spent more on social policies. “The contribution of women will therefore be particularly relevant when it comes to how we plan to recover after the pandemic,” Prof Profeta concluded. Spain A more complex picture emerged in Spain. While 2020’s steep decline in employment was primarily seen in female-dominated sectors, the creation of new jobs meant that some sectors grew. Prof Libertad González, Associate Professor of Economics, Universitat Pompeu Fabra , joined the conference by video live stream to report her latest insights. “Some of the shrinking sectors were female-dominated, and some of the growing sectors were also female-dominated,” she said. For example, the hard-hit household sector is 88% female-dominated, and the growing health and social services sector is 76% female-dominated. Overall, “ the pandemic hit male and female employment very similarly,” said Prof González. “So in the case of Spain, can this really be called a she-cession ?” Nonetheless, more engagement in the informal care of children and relatives meant that women in Spain were working more as a result of the pandemic . Mirroring findings from Prof Profeta, Prof González found that while both men and women reported spending more time on childcare during the pandemic, this increase was greater in women, reaching 38.4 hours/week. Women were also more likely than men to work from home during the pandemic. “Women were affected similarly to men in the labor market but experienced greater increases in hours spent doing household work than men, so essentially had a double shift during the pandemic,” said Prof González. Prof González’s findings indicate that we are entering a more skilled, digital, and green economy. She, therefore, recommended we channel workers from low-skilled sectors, such as household services and hospitality, to some of the higher-skilled and growing sectors. “We should also continue to promote the presence of women in STEM , such that they can take advantage of the growing sectors in the digital economy.” Concluding her presentation, Prof González noted that policies that promote men’s increased contributions to childcare and housework are going to be crucial in promoting women’s attachment to the labor force . “Future policies should promote flexible work in both women and men. Failing to do so could result in a double-edged sword policy since we risk sending women back home while men stay in the workforce,” she said. US and UK Other than an “equity” point of view—what is “fair”— there is also an “efficiency” reason for striving for a more gender-balanced workforce . Addressing this point was Prof Almudena Sevilla, Professor in Economics and Public Policy, UCL . “If we are misallocating female talent, we’re not reaching our potential as an economy, as a company, or as human beings. There is now more recognition within mainstream economics that this is the case,” she said. For example, the 10-year increase in GDP in the US has been partly driven by more women and minorities entering the labor market. Analyzing vast data from parents in the US, Prof Sevilla found that men and women had the same number of jobs in February 2020, but by December that year, women had almost 1 million fewer jobs than men. “While the labor force rates of men and women have now converged, this doesn’t mean that women were not hit harder,” she explained. Pre-Covid, there was already a stark inequality in the division of household labor between men and women. Prof Sevilla’s research has shown that the greater effect of school closures in the US on women persists even now and that the pandemic increased housework and childcare hours for women . The story was the same in the UK: In Spring 2020, women’s housework and childcare hours were higher than those reported by men, and their paid work was half that of men. Prof Sevilla also raised the question of whether remote working is the way forward . She found that paid work, housework, and childcare were all being done at the same time of day by both men and women working remotely. “This shows that we need to devise new ways of thinking about how we manage to work from home,” she said. In financial workers, remote working did not change the work structure, but both men and women reported a more unpredictable workload. “ Workload unpredictability increased by 10%. Unpredictable work is associated with a greater willingness to leave the industry, particularly for women ,” Prof Sevilla said. A Note on Mental Health The socioeconomic inequalities brought by the pandemic also extend to mental health. Joining from video live stream, Antimo Perretta, CEO of AXA Europe and Latin America , introduced the new Mind Health Study 2022. The study, involving 11,000 participants, has shown that women face more challenges to their mental health than men —as well as lower salaries, they have more financial instability, are more likely to be unemployed, and have less downtime. Furthermore, “men typically make more money than women, so, for many, it made more financial sense for women to stay at home with the children during the pandemic. Therefore, knock-on effects for women’s mental health are a consequence of structural inequalities that existed before the pandemic ,” said Mr. Perretta. Building on AXA’s existing mental health services, Mr. Perretta reported the creation of a new tool that measures global well-being: the AXA Mind Health Index . The hope is that this index will assist companies, healthcare professionals, and governments to monitor and improve mental health, and engage in proactive and preventative activities. PART 2: TOWARDS A “SHE-RECOVERY”: ROUND TABLE In the second panel, business leaders and policymakers discussed what measures and actions are needed for a “she-recovery”. This round table was moderated by Dario Donato, Journalist at Mediaset TGCOM24, and the panel included: ·         Ginette Azcona. Research and Data Specialist, UN Women ·         Silvia Candiani, CEO, Microsoft Italy ·         Kirsty Leivers, Global Head of Culture, Inclusion and Diversity, AXA ·         Marina Mendes Tavares, Economist, International Monetary Fund Is there such thing as a gender-neutral crisis? Ginette Azcona: The impacts of crises are never gender-neutral, and Covid-19 is no exception. New projections show that women have been particularly hurt by the resulting economic and social fallout of the crisis in terms of global poverty, the fall in employment—4.2% compared with 3% for men—and broad measures of health and well-being, including access to family planning services. Reports of violence against women and girls—what we call the “shadow pandemic” to Covid-19—have also increased in many parts of the world. The gender and other enduring fault lines of inequality are not new but have been made worse by Covid-19. For this reason, governments and businesses need to respond to these issues with gender-sensitive policies. Could remote working be part of the solution? Kirsty Leivers: It could be the solution, or could make things worse. With the crisis, we had the chance to break our way of working, and now we can rebuild it while adopting the right habits. Smart ways of working will be different for everybody; for example, AXA is in 54 countries, so that’s a lot of employees in very different circumstances. When embracing the opportunity to build a more equal workplace, we have to be deliberate. For example, we must avoid creating a two-tier system, where men go to the office every day and women work remotely. Did the term “she-cession” come as a result of the Covid pandemic? Marina Mendes Tavares: The term “she-cession” was in fact coined during the global financial crisis of 2008. When we say “he-cessation” and “she-cessation”, it’s not that one gender is affected and the other not. These terms refer to the gap between men and women. In 2008’s global financial crisis, male-dominated sectors were hit, so it was a “he-cession”. The present crisis is of the female-dominated services sector, hence the term “she-cession”. What has the pandemic meant for the way people work in the technology sector? Silvia Candiani: Personal preferences differ. Around 76% of our Microsoft employees want to continue to have a remote option, while others want to return to the office. Similarly, some report being able to better concentrate at home, others in the office. We gave employees complete freedom to organize themselves at home or in the office, but do recommend some sort of team charter between the manager and the team on how to work effectively. We also need to ensure that home-based workers feel included and don’t miss out on opportunities. Despite seeing an increase of up to 20% in productivity at Microsoft, remote working can also cause a loss of sense of purpose and belonging to the organization. How did the pandemic impact the United Nations’ goals for achieving gender equality by 2030? GA: Unfortunately, the pandemic has stopped—and in some cases reversed—progress. Status assessments have revealed that the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. Progress has been made concerning discriminatory laws and practices, but this is deeply insufficient. Unfortunately, we’re also seeing some increases in child marriage actually as a result of Covid-19. It’s great to hear from the other panelists that businesses are taking concrete steps to address these issues because the data show that inequality in the home translates to inequality in paid work and career advancements. What could policymakers do to reverse this trend? GA: Making women’s empowerment central, because where women thrive, societies thrive. Companies can do much in terms of offering flexible working hours and locations, but also by promoting policies that make a difference, such as increasing maternity benefits, parental leave, and access to emergency leave. In many countries, we’re advocating reforming and removing discriminatory laws that stop women from working in certain sectors. Another “quick win” is promoting transparency in terms of how much money women and men are making. MMT: To add to this, in Spain, Italy, and the UK, women are back to work, but this is not the case in emerging markets and low-income countries, so there the situation is a little different—we need to bring women back to the workforce. How can we bring women back to the workforce in emerging markets? MMT: We need to invest in education and opportunity. In less-developed countries, girls need to go to—and stay in—school. For that, family planning and women’s health is key. These essential services were sometimes forgotten during the lockdowns, and many women suffered violence during the lockdowns and had no safe place to stay. This also adds to Professor Profeta’s earlier point: Because women were not part of the decision-making process, the services deemed essential were chosen with a man-lens. We need more equal participation in the private sector and policy-making. Is family decision-making also a cultural problem? MMT: In many countries, the lack of a care economy means that someone—usually a woman—must spend hours with the children. Also, an issue here is the division of labor inside the household. Men did engage in more housework during the lockdowns, but the data do not indicate that this has continued. GA: To add to that, many women decided to stay home, not necessarily because of cultural reasons, but because of the policies and inequalities that were already baked into those decisions. For instance, if the man made more money and was more advanced in his career trajectory, it made more sense for the higher-earner to continue working. So, unequal pay and access to higher-level management positions contribute to inequalities we see in the division of care responsibilities at home. Is there is a risk of an inversion in the labor market? KL: The next phase could prove even more difficult from a workforce point of view, and we’re making choices that could affect the next 50 years of the way that we work. As we rewrite our working model right now, there are three possibilities. First, we go back to how it was before; second, we accidentally create something worse and enforce those two tiers; third, we re-create a workplace that is more equal and offers a broader range of people access to employment opportunities. I think it’s a mistake to think that a “2 days in the office, 3 days at home” model is the solution. We have to test, try, talk, collaborate, and find the way that works. Can technology be an enabler of inclusion? SC: I believe so, especially because technology allows more flexibility, which women wanting to better manage their work and home life were requesting even before the pandemic. Also, we need to be intentional about how we connect and plan time, and technology can support this by offering new insights and tools. For example, data can help coach managers to ensure teams are at their best, and see how team members collaborate, perform, and spend their time. Always being “connected” is also associated with burnout, so having alerts that direct someone to take a break, exercise, and take time off could be useful, especially now that many people work from home and don’t benefit from in-person check-ins. Is there a bright side? GA: One bright side is that gender-based inequality is now receiving more attention. Covid-19 has also shown us that there are different, better ways of doing things, and people are now more open to potentially foreign ideas, such as salary transparency. Many governments are thinking seriously about how to support working parents—both men and women—and access to affordable and quality childcare and more inclusive paid leave provisions are now on the table for the first time in many countries. How important is education in creating equal opportunities? MMT: Education is vital in helping to close the gender gap. In advanced economies—and even some emerging market economies—girls are already more educated than boys. Coming back to Professor Sevilla’s presentation, we have a stock of well-educated girls and all this investment in human capital, yet—as Professor Profeta reported—a female labor force of only 49% in Italy. We now need to bring in women that are already prepared, encourage girls to think about their careers, and, in less-developed countries, provide support for families and basic infrastructure. SC: To add to that, STEM now has more jobs in high demand, and these sectors could offer women more opportunities and better-paid jobs. Because there aren’t enough STEM graduates, additional training could help people convert and adapt to the job market. We generally see a big gap between demand and supply in the labor force—in Italy, we have 150,000 jobs that cannot be filled because there aren’t enough people with the right profile. At the same time, we have a 35% unemployment rate in youth, so it’s a waste of talent. Could education in STEM disciplines be part of the solution? SC: It’s probably not enough, but we do need to get more people into STEM, specifically women. Only around 20% of STEM students are women, and this figure is not increasing. Girls need to have role models and understand that embarking on a career in STEM is about changing the world and making an impact. Companies should also be more committed to creating career paths and equal opportunities, and helping girls express their potential. How is AXA redesigning its spaces and workforce? KL: We had already started large-scale studies on remote working, but it would have taken us maybe more than 20 years to get to where we are now: We’ve had a break that has proven that we can work remotely. We now have to do that in a sustainable way—the pandemic situation was not really a hybrid model, it was people in a crisis. We’ve been given an opportunity with this “break” in the world of work, and we should now rebuild in a way that’s equitable and fair. Closing Remarks In her closing remarks, Elena Bonetti, Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities and Family , noted that while the pandemic may have created and worsened inequalities, it has brought an opportunity for recovery and growth. “Achieving full equality requires a global agenda and multi-lateral coordination,” she said. The Minister then described some of the actions being taken by the Italian government, including policies to support employment and female entrepreneurship, educational services, sharing of care responsibilities, and equal opportunities in the promotion of skills, particularly in STEM disciplines. “Our vision is clear: Making Italy, Europe, and our international community a place where people of all genders, ages, and background have the same opportunities for personal and professional growth and for access to education and employment, with no inequality in terms of income or dignity,” concluded the Minister.  

### Building Cities Resilience in Response to Droughts

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/building-cities-resilience-in-response-to-droughts
Published: 2022-03-09

After three years of its worst recorded drought, Cape Town narrowly avoided “Day Zero” – the day taps would run dry. On the brink of emergency water rationing, shortcomings in infrastructure and resource inequality lay exposed, and the City of Cape Town (CoCT) government was forced to re-examine its approach to water resilience. Supported by the AXA Research Fund, the University of Cape Town’s Prof. Gina Ziervogel has made far-reaching theoretical and social contributions to understanding disaster and resource management. Here, she shares her involvement in Cape Town’s governance, collaborative efforts with NGOs and community groups, and hopes for the future of urban resilience. Q: Cape Town narrowly avoided “Day Zero” in 2018. How important is it to prepare for a worst-case scenario?  GZ: Day Zero was a scary prospect for Cape Town, but also an important example for the rest of the world. We are acutely aware of the impacts of climate change, such as increasing variability in rainfall and increasing extreme events, and so cities around the world need to grapple with what it means to have extended droughts. However, cities do not always have the necessary capacities or resources in place before these events happen—this pushes the boundaries of what it means to manage water in a city. Q: Your research into the Cape Town drought has highlighted some key lessons. How can other cities use these to guard against future shocks and stresses when faced with severe drought? GZ: One wake-up call in Cape Town was that the water department alone could not deal with the drought, even though it was a water-related shock. Extreme climate events cause city-wide problems that call for cross-sectoral government approaches, but well-established governance mechanisms for multi-sector responses are lacking in Cape Town and many other cities. To set up systems that can manage a complex crisis, cities need to have strong leadership and flexible governance. Another lesson was the importance of establishing partnerships, networks, and alliances before a crisis, which Cape Town had not done. The importance of data also emerged quite strongly; as well as improved system modeling to understand climate scenarios and adapt to future events, there was also a clear need to better understand the lived experience of residents, particularly those in low-income areas. How do people on the ground actually experience the responses that the city is putting in place? Finding ways to input qualitative data—people’s stories—could become more important globally. Q: An area of interest for the AXA Research Fund is to better understand and support disadvantaged or voiceless communities. How does your work contribute to this? GZ: The inequality in access to resources in Cape Town emerged quite starkly during the drought. This inequality is undermining resilience in our cities, and the well-resourced do not understand this sufficiently—they want to continue their privileges, but by doing so, are undermining the socio-ecological basis on which everyone’s well-being rests. For example, many wealthy families put in boreholes during the drought to continue having water on their property, but the groundwater table was dropping. It also meant that these households were paying less for municipal water, which compromised Cape Town’s cross-subsidization system for poorer households. Understanding the lived reality of marginalized groups whose voices are not prioritized is also key to addressing inequality. Together with the Environmental Monitoring Group and Western Cape Water Caucus, my colleagues and I worked with low-income communities who are passionate about improving their local areas and, through our “citizen science” initiative, were able to advance their research skills. We worked together on the SenseMaker project (part of the Community Resilience in Cape Town project ) and produced “ Making Sense Of A Water Crisis ”, a documentary on the process used to capture residents’ stories. Through this work, local actors could build their voices and lobby the government with actual evidence. Q: How else might your research help local governments strengthen urban water resilience and adapt better to climate risk? GZ: The theoretical impetus of my work is that we need to strengthen multi-level governance around urban climate adaptation and resilience . For this, governments need to engage with citizens in more creative, inclusive, and intentional ways that move away from the tokenistic participation we have seen in the past. Out of my work in Cape Town has come a greater focus on co-production approaches, where different groups of actors tackle questions together. The importance of “learning” also emerged—when you start collaborating and listening, you begin to see things differently. For example, my theoretical concepts of resilience and adaptation have been useful for the CoCT’s internal learning, and my appointment to the CoCT’s Water Resilience Advisory Committee in 2017 has led to further partnerships and materials that include more diverse perspectives. Q: What are some of the other barriers to effectively responding to drought? GZ: Often, there is limited trust between the government and citizens in Southern Africa. To overcome this, governments need to communicate more clearly what is happening inside the government. My work, such as the book “ Day Zero ” I wrote with Leonie Joubert, has helped to open that up. Citizens also need to hold governments accountable, which is hard if they do not know what the government is actually doing. Another barrier is understanding water catchment from a broader systems approach that appreciates social, economic, and environmental aspects. For example, removing alien vegetation from our water catchment, including eucalyptus and pine, means more available water for the city, but this requires a collaborative approach that government systems are not necessarily set up for. Q: What meaningful changes would you like to see next? GZ: Part of the next step is building relationships in between extreme crisis situations. The CoCT is now reaching out to NGOs and local groups to actively listen to challenges and address these, but activists are suspicious as they feel that past requests have fallen on deaf ears. Increasingly, the CoCT is also trying to deal with the high level of informality in Cape Town . These challenges do not necessarily require technological responses, which is what the CoCT knows best, but rather a hybrid of social, political, cultural, and ecological ways of working, and the sector response needs to be broadened to a multisystem approach that enables innovation. Q: How can cities learn from each other? GZ: Understanding government responses in Australia, Singapore, and Mexico City was useful to the CoCT when they were deciding how best to respond to the drought, as were international experts who could share different ways of thinking with officials. Yet, during the drought, Cape Town government officials struggled to find information on how other cities had responded to city-wide drought crises in the past. This is partly because the available material is often an internal report or academic papers that officials do not always find accessible. We, therefore, need to create learning networks across cities. We also need to know how to take context-specific information from other places and make it work locally. For example, I recently spent 6 months in California—despite socio-economic differences, drought is a shared issue, and knowledge around groundwater could potentially be exchanged. Groups in Seattle and the University of California Santa Cruz were very supportive and interested in my work on governance and community engagement in South Africa, and I was able to strengthen relationships with people in the California water sector. Q: From a personal perspective, what has been the most rewarding part of this project? GZ: I have loved working in my home city to make it a better place for my fellow citizens. Really special has been working as an intermediary between academia and practice over the last few years, and I feel privileged to have supported and learned from the Western Cape Water Caucus and Environmental Monitoring Group, and from people who are exposed in ways that I am not. I won the University of Cape Town’s Social Responsiveness Award in 2020, which was wonderful because the socially responsive angle is what keeps me in academia. I also feel strongly about communication and presenting information in various formats. For example, I put together briefing notes to make the material more accessible to non-academics and was part of the Drought Response Learning Initiative , which filmed interviews of first-hand reflections of the drought from a wide range of perspectives.  Q: What role has AXA played in the success of the project?   GZ: The flexibility that AXA provides meant that when the droughts hit, I was able to throw myself into what was unfolding at the time. Being trusted as scientists without being micromanaged means we can go where the questions are and respond to those. Having the resources to support students and the freedom to fund other products, such as creative communications and transport for NGO members, has also been critical. I am also a big supporter of AXA’s new open access publishing offer , particularly as many of my colleagues across Africa have fewer resources and often struggle to access journals through paywalls. "Being trusted as scientists without being micromanaged means we can go where the questions are and respond to those." Q: How do you feel about the sustainability of recent changes in Cape Town? GZ: My report for the CoCT on building capacity to respond to city-wide stresses such as COVID remained internal, but informed their discussions on structuring the governance of disaster management to better cope with crises like this in the future. I have emphasized the importance of social issues while on the Water Resilience Advisory Committee, and am glad to see that these have been put on the agenda more—this is central to supporting transformative climate adaptation . It has been encouraging to see increased engagement between the CoCT and the Western Cape Water Caucus emerging from the SenseMaker project, but there is a long way to go until we see lives changed substantially for the better. March 2022 Find out more about Prof. Gina Ziervogel's project How Cities Can Better Adapt to Droughts in the Context of Climate Change Cities must listen to people to find solutions for climate impacts: stories from Cape Town What Cape Town’s drought can teach other cities about climate adaptation

### Building Cyber Resilience

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/building-cyber-resilience
Published: 2021-11-24

While cyberspace provides major opportunities for innovation, economic progress and access to information, it also entails new vulnerabilities. The volume and variety of cyber-attacks and costs of cyber-crime damage are increasing at a surprisingly rapid pace every year. The 2021 AXA Future Risk Report found that experts view Cyber the #2 top risk, second only to climate change. In this context, better understanding and estimating cyber risks is crucial to help develop informed strategies, coupling prevention with resilience to damage. The latest AXA Research Fund publication brings together perspectives from academics, business and organizations on the changing dynamics of the cyber landscape, with a view towards the mitigation of the associated risks and, in doing so, protect what matters. Read online Building Cyber Resilience: Threats, Enablers and Anticipation DOWNLOAD PDF (new window) Chapter 1: Security and Privacy: Friends or Foe? Our increasing dependency on technology makes us more vulnerable to cyber threats such as identity theft and email hacks. Solutions to these risks result in techniques that are often invasive and seem to compromise privacy. Are security and privacy opposing goals? Can we balance the dual-use character of cyber technologies? How should we address the societal impact of cyber security measures?  Read articles Chapter 2: Mitigating Cyber-Risk – from Critical Infrastructures to Quantum The future of cyber security is shaped by the ever-changing nature of cyber-space coupled with the computing speed of today’s machinery, and the acceleration of artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. This provides increased opportunities for malevolent attacks. In this environment, are we able to retrofit resilience into existing critical infrastructures built with traditional risk-based approaches? How can we tackle the security challenges linked to cloud-based operations?  Can we prevent our machine learning algorithms from being fooled by another artificial intelligence? Will our information still be secure once the quantum computational power becomes strong enough to decrypt every protection we set?  Read articles Chapter 3: Cyber-Resilience of Organizations and States Building cyber resilience entails action from all economic players – the private sector, states and international bodies. What does that mean for private organizations? How can the private sector partner to be collectively more resilient? How is cyber-space being regulated, if at all? What are the success factors to move forward collectively in the arena of cyber security? What is the role and stance of states? Read articles Chapter 4: Insuring Cyber-Risk – a Shift in Paradigm The insurance sector is as a key player in cyber-risk management and the goal of cyber resilience. What is the current state of cyber insurance market? What new challenges are new technologies such as connected and autonomous vehicles bringing into the insurance business? What are the major challenges for insurers and what are the current limits they need to supersede to succeed? Read articles Chapter 5: Future Scenarios and Trends What will cyber threats be like in a decade? How can science fiction and strategic foresight help us better envision cyber resilience for tomorrow and what, according to experts, are the future regional cyber trends? Read articles

### AXA & IOC-UNESCO Call for Research Projects on Coastal Livelihoods

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/axa-ioc-unesco-call-for-research-projects-on-coastal-livelihoods
Published: 2021-10-14

AXA & UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission are collaborating to improve awareness and solution building around the Ocean. Over 40% of the world’s population lives in coastal areas and three billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods. By 2050, an estimated 800 million people will be at risk of storm surge and over 570 low-lying coastal cities will face a sea level rise of at least 0.5 meters. As ocean health declines, the profile of hazards, exposure and vulnerability will change, likely creating more uncertainty and further risks for the stability of many countries. That is why it is critical to build resilience and protect oceans with the global financial community, governments and civil society having an important role to play to drive systemic change in a system that places a value on nature. Partnering for Coastal Resilience AXA as a global insurer and a leader in the field of corporate action for climate change is joining UNESCO, via its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, to align actions with and support the vision and goals of the UN Decade for Ocean Science and Sustainable Development (2021-2030), known as the Ocean Decade. AXA XL, a division of AXA Group, has already been engaged with UNESCO’s IOC since 2020 through the “Ocean Risk Initiative ”, developing a toolkit for governments to help increase ocean literacy across the world. Today AXA is extending its engagement with the IOC and coming onboard the Ocean Decade through a joint project with the AXA Research Fund , its global scientific philanthropy initiative on key societal challenges. The AXA Research Fund has earmarked 1M € to support 8 transformative postdoctoral research projects in the area of coastal livelihood preservation as part of the Ocean Decade . This call for research projects, which has been co-developed with the Ocean Decade Coordination Unit, forms a central part of the Ocean Decade Call for Actions No. 02/2021 which is soliciting research and solutions initiatives from around the world to meet challenges related to climate adaptation and mitigation, marine pollution and ecosystem management. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP26 and the launch year of the UN Ocean Decade offer a unique opportunity for the world to take a stand and make a step change both in how we treat the ocean and its resources and how we invest to protect its biodiversity and the lives and livelihoods of those who depend upon it. «  Research is critical to understanding evolution of the ocean and taking the right actions to preserve the livelihoods and ecosystems that depend on it – both of humans and nature. Our partnership with IOC-UNESCO aims to support transformational research in the area of coastal livelihoods and disseminate findings to better inform decision-making for true impact.” said Marie Bogataj, Head of the AXA Research Fund and Group Foresight. “ We are thrilled to announce this collaboration with the AXA Research Fund as part of the Ocean Decade Call for Actions. With its focus on coastal resilience and early career researchers this initiative is contributing to two major priorities of the Ocean Decade and we look forward to receiving a wide range of transformative solutions-oriented research projects from around the world.”  said Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), entity responsible for the global coordination of the Ocean Decade. Registration is open until November 8, 4pm CEST About the IOC of UNESCO The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.  About the Ocean Decade Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the Ocean Decade seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’, providing a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. About the AXA Research Fund The AXA Research Fund was launched in 2008 to address the most important issues facing our planet. Its philanthropic mission is to support scientific research in key areas related to risk and to help inform science-based decision-making in both the public and private sectors. Since its launch, the AXA research Fund has committed a total of €250M to scientific philanthropy and supported 665 research projects in the areas of Health, Climate & Environment, and Socioeconomics. This makes the AXA Research Fund a unique initiative in the financial sector in terms of mission and level of support to scientific research. October 15, 2021

### Coastal Resilience and the Role of Nature Based Solutions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/coastal-resilience-and-the-role-of-nature-based-solutions
Published: 2021-10-03

Climate change and infrastructure development are undeniably adding to the degradation of the coastal ecosystem such as mangroves and coral reefs, thus increasing the exposure of coastal communities to sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, and more.  In a recent Expert Series webinar, the AXA Research Fund brought together leading academic, government, and industry experts to discuss the challenges of coastal risk and the opportunities to accelerate investment in nature-based solutions.  Moderated by Maryam Golnaraghi Ph.D. , Director of Climate Change and Environment, of the Geneva Association, the panel included: Prof. Michael Beck , AXA Research Fund Chair in Coastal Resilience and Research Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Chip Cunliffe , AXA XL’s Biodiversity Director,  Shade Duffy , Director of Impact Management at AXA Investment Managers, Niels Holm-Nielsen , Practice Manager, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), World Bank.  In her opening remarks, Dr. Golnaraghi stressed that while climate change has had a profound impact on the coastal areas and ecosystems, the land use and development patterns in the coastal regions have led to the destruction of mangroves, wetlands, and other natural ecosystems, which serve as a buffer against tropical cyclones, storm surges, and floods, in addition to many other benefits such as carbon sequestration and habitat for a variety of species. For more than two decades, Prof Beck’s research has focused on rigorously quantifying the social and economic benefits of reefs and wetlands. Now, according to all the panelists, coastal resilience has become a core business and social issue in response to climate-fuelled disasters and risky development. “ While climate change has had a profound impact on coastal areas and coastal ecosystem[s], our development decisions and land use planning has led to degradation of coastal ecosystems, whose very function has been to protect and build resilience in the communities ,” noted Prof. Beck, mentioning the establishment of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure to bring the risk of nature-based system degradation into core business discussions by defining the related risks. According to Prof. Beck, “We need to rethink infrastructure investments.  We need to work with nature, not against it.  We need to allocate funds to repair these natural defenses when damaged by storms. We can build coastal resilience naturally to protect people, property, and nature.” In the webinar discussion that followed, our experts looked at how new risk management protections, increased investment opportunities, more data, and public-private partnerships could help move the needle in coastal resilience and community protection . Insurance solutions Nature forms a critical component of disaster risk management and climate adaptation in more vulnerable geographies, according to AXA XL’s Chip Cunliffe, and not investing in nature could result in significant risk. Insurance has a critical role in providing that safety net after a disaster strikes. Coral reefs, mangroves, etc, provide that resilience benefit, but they also provide economic and food security, and the tourism dollar. They sequester carbon. The impact of disasters can take years to recover without assistance. Mr. Cunliffe discussed the development of a few ground-breaking insurance solutions, including an ecosystem interruption insurance product for mangroves integrating the use of parametric coverage, that are being tested to see how they might support resilience and provide cover for the loss of those ecosystems. To help even more, he mentioned AXA XL’s work on a Blue Carbon Resilience Credits and separately on a Coastal Risk Index , currently being developed in partnership with scientific institutions, governments, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders, to quantify the protective benefits of coastal ecosystems and incorporate them into insurance risk models. Integrating nature-based solutions alongside more traditional coastal defenses will be a critical component of disaster risk management and climate adaptation. Investment opportunities Generating greater investment interest was also a topic of discussion.  According to AXA Investment Managers' Shade Duffy, “For many years, we've channeled capital to the most critical societal challenges and in the way that we and all the investors will measure our contribution. We measure it by the positive outcomes that we want to generate.  We also measured financial returns in terms of how we design solutions, the challenges have always been there. Now, we're really thinking about how to channel solutions.” From Ms. Duffy’s perspective and in terms of what investors want, there are some valuable lessons to learn but the knowledge base about these potential investment opportunities is growing.  “We need to learn from all the programs out there where issues that are not immediately investable,” she said, “but then we build a collaboration of participants around it to make them investable.” This panel is a very great example of how we need to start, Ms. Duffy said, mentioning previous research conducted that could help too. AXA IM released a paper , Defining strategic impact objectives: AXA Impact Fund – Climate & Biodiversity , which illustrated in quite considerable terms what it would cost us. “Increasingly, the Institutional Investor community is looking to channel capital to the right solutions,” Ms. Duffy added.  “What we need is to make sure that we are all working together to structure these programs, take lessons from other investments, particularly around climate change and mitigation that allow us to give a financial incentive to investors such as us to be active, and that is a very important point because we ought, we need to look at where the capital is coming from.” Development help The panel also discussed how nature-based solutions have the potential to bring not only development impact, but also improve the long-term financial performance of related investments through de-risking the climate hazards around the areas where these solutions are used. According to Niels Holm-Nielsen, Practice Manager for Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) at the World Bank, there has been an increase in demand from clients and donors for investing in nature-based solutions for coastal resilience and more broadly, for disaster risk reduction.  “We looked internally in our own World Bank portfolio over the last 10 years, we have financed about $5 billion in nature-based solutions with a quite rapid increase just in the last three years,” he said.  “While this is still a smaller, relatively small fraction of our total portfolio, it's a large chunk of money that goes into nature-based solutions worldwide in the development space.” He added that the World Bank’s focus to better invest in nature is reflected in the Climate Action Plan and its emphasis on a green, resilient, and inclusive development approach. Nature-based solutions and investments in climate resilience in general often remain a public good, so governments and development partners have traditionally played a leading role and will probably have to continue playing such a role. But as Mr. Holm-Nielsen explained, there is a potential to create the space for private sector engagement around elements of financing and de-risking. But it’s complex. It requires specialist technical knowledge and funding that has a longer-term willingness to stay involved because investments in nature-based solutions is also about management and maintenance after those mechanisms are put in place. Then, there is the aspect of the regulatory and policy level readiness of client countries. Many lack capacity, such as decision-making tools to interpret the potential for nature-based solutions. More data and collaboration needed There is also a lack of data around these nature-based solutions. While the work of Dr. Beck and others are contributing rapidly to close some of these gaps, the panellists agreed that a gap still exists. There is a limited amount of investment opportunities for the private sector to engage. The investor appetite is there, however, the mechanics and the flow of capital, are not there yet. “Investor appetite is clearly there from AXA's perspective,” admitted Shade.  “Next year, AXA doubled this budget. So, it's not really about the money. When we talk about nature, we're not just talking about land. It's about having the right investment opportunities.” All agreed that there is a need for the private sector to work alongside the government. Public-private partnerships will help drive progress.  No one can do it alone.  Greater collaboration is imperative. More work needs to be done on risk analytics and in a much more integrated cohesive way to bring the issues down to dollars and cents, which will make a huge difference in realizing the benefits of investing in coastal resilience. A forward-thinking perspective is also important.  Some investors such as those with in real estate in their portfolio, are starting to see this long-term risk on their balance sheet that they didn't realize.  Extreme events are starting to show on banks and on asset managers' balance sheets and now they are looking at what they can do about it. Moving the needle with Demonstration Projects The addition of more innovative demonstration projects will also be critical. In this regard, the World Bank's long-term leadership in catalysing nature-based solutions is critical as is AXA's accelerating leadership in this area. Interest in Nature-based Solutions is growing with a variety of government agencies supporting projects including the US Department of Defense, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), Transportation departments in a variety of countries, and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. All panellists agreed that there is a lot of new work developing around Nature-based Solutions, but much more needs to happen to help catalyse opportunities at scale. The journey has started but there is a long way to go. The right incentives are needed to give private investors a strong rational to invest in this space.  The World Bank will continue to play a big role and they have recently launched a global program focused on nature-based solutions for climate resilience. This initiative –will help connect science with action, bringing together technical and industry partners with governments and communities on the ground. In closing, Maryam Golnaraghi summarized that reconsidering our development choices along with restoring and conserving these ecosystems are fundamental to strengthening community resilience to extremes events as well as mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss. A number of key stakeholders from local and municipal governments, to insurers, investors, businesses and multi-lateral organizations by working together can offer the best chance to move the needle in building coastal resilience.      Full biographies of Pannelists Marie Bogataj, Head of the AXA Research Fund & Group Foresight  - Event Host Marie Bogataj is the Head the AXA Research Fund and the Group Foresight Teams. She started her career as an Economist at O.E.C.D. before moving to the private sector with the Boston Consulting Group. She has held Executive positions in the strategy and marketing field with major corporations such as Pinault Printemps Redoute (now Kering) and PayPal Inc. before joining AXA in 2015 as Group Digital Transformation Director. She has been leading the scientific philanthropy and foresights initiatives of the AXA Group since 2018 and is dedicated to supporting and disseminating knowledge in order to better inform public and private decision-making around the challenges and opportunities facing our planet today. Maryam Golnaraghi Ph.D, Director of Climate Change and Environment, The Geneva Association – Moderator During the last 20+ years, Maryam Golnaraghi has led and managed transformative multi-stakeholder climate risk initiatives in innovating risk management, finance, insurance and new technologies with significant global impacts. Working with C/suite executives and boards of the global insurance industry, institutional investors, government authorities, regulators and technologists, she mobilizes and aligns the private and public sectors to find strategies and solutions to enable scaled-transitioning to resilient net zero business models. In 2020, she was included in the list of those ‘Most Influential on Climate Change’ by InsuranceERM and was selected as the list of 100 most influential on “Resilience” by The Leaders’ Magazine. She has held senior executive and advisory positions in the private and public sectors, the United Nations and was the founder/CEO of a first-of-its kind start up in climate risk assessment. At the Geneva Association, Maryam works with the largest global insurance companies, leading strategic industry-level initiatives to boost insurance industry’s contributions as risk managers and investors to transitioning to resilience net zero economy. Michael Beck, Research Professor and AXA Chair in Coastal Resilience at the University of California, Santa Cruz Professor Michael W. Beck is the AXA Chair in Coastal Resilience in the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz. Mike aims to reduce risks to people, property and nature in his work across science, policy and practice. Mike served for 20 years as Lead Marine Scientist at The Nature Conservancy. He has advised government agencies in the US, Germany, UK, EU, Philippines, Jamaica, and Grenada among others. He has collaborated with many global agencies and companies including the World Bank, AXA XL, Munich Re, Swiss Re, Lloyd’s of London, Risk Management Solutions, and Jacobs. Mike has authored more than 85 peer-reviewed scientific papers and numerous Op-eds in the LA Times, NY Times, CNN, The Hill, and the Miami Herald. He has been a Fulbright Fellow and Pew Marine Conservation Fellow. Chip Cunliffe, Biodiversity Director at AXA XL Chip Cunliffe is Director of Sustainable development at AXA XL, a division of AXA. He established and manages AXA’s Ocean Risk Initiative which works to identify innovative insurance and finance solutions to the impacts and implications of ocean-related risk. He is leading the development of a Coastal Risk Index to integrate coastal ecosystems into insurance risk models, working with partners to develop a mangrove insurance product and a separate Coastal Resilience Bond, as well as identifying insurance pathways to prevent Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Chip co-chairs the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance that launched in 2019 to incentivise private investment and blended finance into coastal natural capital by pioneering ground-breaking products that help build resilience in vulnerable coastal regions. In 2012 Chip launched AXA’s Ocean Education programme - a curriculum-led syllabus for students aged between 7-16, designed to increase ocean literacy and capacity building around the world, and has so far reached 8.5m students. Shade Duffy, Director of Impact Management at AXA Investment Managers Shade is Director of Impact Management at AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM), where she leads the impact management and measurement practice for the AXA IM Alts Impact Investing Strategy and the identification of investment opportunities aligned with the strategy’s mission to empower underserved people and provide solutions that tackle climate change and protect the natural environment. Shade has more than 20 years’ experience in asset management, advising institutional investors on responsible investment, impact investing and corporate governance issues. She was previously Head of Corporate Governance, where she directed AXA Investment Managers’ investor stewardship strategy and worked with investment platforms to integrate ESG considerations across asset classes and multi-asset solutions. Shade is on the Advisory Board of the Operating Principles for Impact Management, an initiative focused on building the transparency and credibility of impact investing and providing a framework for investors to ensure that impact considerations are purposefully integrated throughout the investment lifecycle.  Niels Holm-Nielsen, Practice Manager, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), World Bank Niels Holm-Nielsen is the Head of the Secretariat for GFDRR, a multi-donor partnership that funds technical assistance and advisory services to improve climate and disaster risk management at country, city and community levels. He has over 10 years of experience as Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Specialist at the World Bank Group. For the past five years, he has been the World Bank’s Global Technical Lead for Resilience and DRM, a role which focuses on supporting task teams and managers across the World Bank to achieve highest possible technical quality of the services the World Bank offers its clients related to DRM. Niels joined the World Bank in 2006 as Junior Professional Officer in Middle East and North Africa Region and became Lead DRM Specialist for the Africa Region and Latin America and Caribbean region. Prior to the World Bank, Niels worked for the Inter-American Development Bank where he helped create the corporate policy on disaster risk management and establish DRM as a development practice. He holds a M.Sc. in Political Science from the University of Aarhus, Denmark. 15 October 2021

### Mental Health: Transitioning to a Sustainable Wellbeing Society

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/mental-health-transitioning-to-a-sustainable-wellbeing-society
Published: 2021-10-03

Mental illness has become one of the most important public health challenges, aggravated by the pandemic, which also has had a disastrous effect on many people’s health and finances. Watch the replay of AXA Life & Health International Solutions’ webinar with insights from two AXA-supported researchers In recent years, a higher prevalence of mental health problems has been reported among two groups of people: the young and employees . Every year the number of sick-listed employees rises. Common mental disorders, like depression or burnout, are among the most frequent reasons for long-term absence for sickness. Today’s young workforce will have a very different experience of entering the labor market than that of previous generations with later entry and a more uncertain working environment - including less job security and fewer job protections. The AXA Virtual Health Days organized by AXA Life & Health International Solutions brought together academicians and experts to discuss stakes and perspectives on mental health. During a 45-minutes webinar moderated by Nadia Charbit, alongside Thomas Wilkinson , CEO of AXA Global Healthcare, AXA Research Fund-supported scientists - Prof. Lode Godderis from KU Leuven (Belgium) and Dr. Jasmin Wertz from Duke University (US), discussed the specific issues related to young and employees Watch the replay of the webinar below. Prof. Lode Godderis from KU Leuven in Belgium seeks to investigates the impact of work on health and the reverse: how health can affect work (dis)ability and the possible significant predictors of sustainable return-to-work. Dr. Jasmin Wertz from Duke University (US) aims at examining youth's transition to work . Ultimately the goal of Dr Wertz’s research is to inform interventions ranging from employer initiatives aimed at reducing and improving mental health problems at work to public policy-making for the improvement youth’s mental health. Find out more about their research below. Mental Health: From individual stigma to societal issue

### Thinking About Security and Society

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/thinking-about-security-and-society
Published: 2021-07-05
Author: Prof. J. Peter Burgess

For most of us security is an everyday issue. It is an indispensable condition for life at nearly every level, from intimate interpersonal relations, to commercial interactions, to international geopolitics. Yet few of us actual realise where security comes from, what threatens it, and what side-effects it often brings. J. Peter Burgess is a philosopher and political scientist who holds the AXA Chair in Geopolitical Risks, at Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris. During AXA’s Security Days – an internal event that brought together AXA Group security teams to discuss the future of security – he discussed the relation between security and society, the recent revolution in security thinking, and how allusive the idea of security actually is.     Read below an abridged version of his remarks, and exchanges with the audience. Security and society  What are we talking about when we talk about ‘security’? Well, let's start with the ‘we’. Who is that is that is looking for security for whom is security an important question? Security is a question for all different kinds of people – not just philosophers and political scientists. It is important for individuals and families, for the different groups and associations in society, for businesses and organisations, for national politics, and international relations. Each of these levels of security has a different ‘we’, a different kind of actor looking for security. Each one has different needs, different objectives. But they all face the same kind of problem: how can I prevent bad thing from happening in the future?.  When we do research on security, we start by asking how people understand security in their particular social setting. What are the things they value and what are the dangers that threaten them? What kind of assumptions do they have—implicit or explicit—about what is threatened and what is threatening? What are the political, social, economic, even ethical consequences of these assumptions? In order to answer these questions researchers study the arguments and concepts people use, the try to understand how people perceive their world by examining how they talk about it, what ideas and facts are important to them, how they assess what is important or not, what they think is under threat or not, where they think they can find security, and how they think they can avoid insecurity. As it happens there are huge and often poorly grounded assumptions behind the idea of security: ask any two people on the street and you get different answers about what security is. It becomes clear that security is not an absolute. It is a matter of where you are in society.  This is why, in order to understand security, we need to ask  who  is under threat,  what  is the threat, from  what point of view  are we threatened? What is actually threatened? And what does this threat give us the right to do? These are all societal questions. Their answers depend on where we are situated in society, what social setting we find ourselves in, what kind of work we do, what kind of culture we come from, what language we speak, what religion we have, what region we live in, what country we live in, and what part of the world we are in. All these things, and many others have an impact on how we understand security threats, threats to our business, threats to our work unit, threats to our nation, and threats to our family. We quickly see that the question of security is a question of society.   The revolution in security thinking Until only recently, we thought of security as a matter of walls. Maintaining security was a matter of putting a wall—in one form or another—between us and what threatens us. The best image of this is the Medieval fortress. The massive fortress walls let us keep a sharp line between us and what threatens us. It was a bipolar kind of thinking based on a clear distinction between good and bad, right and wrong, beautiful and ugly, healthy and unhealthy, safe and dangers. This is essentially the security model we used until the end of the Cold War in 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, as did the great bipolar divide between East and West.  The convergence of the two sides led to the emergence of a whole different class of threats and a different way of thinking about them. Suddenly, instead of a wall that assured a divide between us and what threatens us, the threat was among us. The paradigmatic example is terrorism. The threat from terrorism does not respect borders, does not exist ‘over there’, cannot even be identified in a way that would let us build a barrier defence. The character of terrorism is that the threat comes from inside society, from our street, our neighbourhood, our business, etc. There simply is no ‘outside’. The major attacks on European soil in the last two decades have been carried out not by foreigners from beyond the border but by European citizens or by people with valid residence documents. COVID is another example of this kind of threat: it doesn’t respect national borders, even despite our border-closing reflexes. The same goes  with climate change, environmental threats, cyber criminality, etc. The idea of doing security by keeping security threats out, by building firewalls or granite walls or any kind of walls, just doesn't work in these cases. In short, Security is no longer a matter of us and them. It is a matter of how we live together in society. It is a societal question. So instead of building walls to keep up things out, we must think carefully and patiently about how to organise society to manage the unavoidable and enduring presence of threats. In other words, it is not about preventing threats; it is about managing our relationship to others in society so that when the security event occurs, we will be ready. We will be resilient and robust. On a national or industrial level, in small businesses, in commercial units, wherever we are, security is about living together in the presence of threats, not about prevent them enough certainty and consistency to call it security. This is our new security landscape. Security is not a fact For all these reasons we can never say, factually, that we are now secure. For people who work in security, this is the reality. Security is a never-ending task for security operatives and experts because we can never know for sure when we have it. We can never know for sure what is around the corner, what is possible, or what might happen. Security is always about the future and never about the present. It is about what might happen tomorrow, next week, next month. It is not what we know in the present; it is what we can imagine about the future.  That is why imagination has become extremely important in security at all levels. The most important conclusion of the 9/11 Commission’s report on the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US was that the most critical failure was one of imagination. Former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld once said that the attack Pearl Harbor in 1941 that brought the US into World War II was also due to a failure of imagination. Indeed we can go so far as to say that the ‘cause’ of insecurity is our inability to imagine the future.  Therefore, facts can only help us to a certain extent. Of course, we would like to know what the security threats are. We would like to know what measures should be taken, but we can never be 100 percent sure about them. Therefore, we must rely on our intuition, our culture, our experience – on things that do not boil down to factuality and absolute rationality. That is why foresight analysis is done – at AXA and elsewhere – by studying not only the facts, but also art and literature. Such analysis is often done by correlating two metrics: likelihood and (negative) consequences. I’ve argued elsewhere that this method is fallacious and problematic for reasons we can come back to. We can visualise this using a graph that shows undesirable consequences on the vertical axis and likelihood on the horizontal axis. Let’s situate some examples: paying taxes, for example is relatively likely and relatively unpleasant so we can place it in the middle. Death is highly likely and highly undesirable. Getting stale bread in the canteen is quite likely to happen but with very weak consequences, while inhaling dust at any time is moderately likely and moderately low consequence.  Then we have the famous Black Swan: these are occurrences with very undesirable consequences but an extremely low likelihood of occurring. Other examples are 9/11, a meteorite, the 2008 financial crash, and Fukushima: they were all very unlikely, but they all had very highly negative consequences. Naseem Nicolas Taleb wrote a book called The Black Swan, in which he talks about the impact of the highly improbable. His point is that even though these things do not happen, they change in their likelihood and undesirability when we start to think about them. The more we know about what a Black Swan is, the better prepared we are for it; socially, morally, and culturally, and thus the impact becomes lower. Security is the science of not-knowing, and this is my conclusion. Paradoxically, the threat we most need to plan for is the one we cannot plan for. We spend countless hours and resources planning for the event that cannot be planned for it. It is a dreadful paradox that security researchers and security operatives are forced to work in. What about an alternative approach? What about learning to live with the unknown? It is more effective and safer in the end to adopt a posture of non-knowing, of preparing society, our businesses, our communities, our families and friends to hold together when things get rough, on the quite responsable assumption that they will, at one time or another, indeed get rough. This might mean something like embracing more humility, embracing fallibility, embracing imperfection, embracing creativity, and embracing humanity.  Q&A session How much time, effort, and resources should we devote to each one of the specific points in the Black Swan Event graph? We do not want to spend all our resources on trying to find the black swan that never happens while overlooking something that might be more likely to happen. What is your recommendation for achieving balance on this point? We can think in terms of two approaches, which map onto the two axes. To address the ‘undesirable consequences axis, we would want to adopt the kind of approach I idealistically mentioned in my conclusion’, i.e., human preparedness. This involves getting ready as human beings to face unpleasant things, which in turn means cultivating human characteristics like humility, creativity, solidarity, etc. Humility means not being arrogant and believing we can and should master all the catastrophes that come but being prepared to absorb them when they happen, should they happen. And on the ‘likelihood’ axis, we can to a far greater degree use traditional methods for trying to reduce risk by assembling data about it, by noting which measures have reduced the likelihood of occurrence in the past. This can help us reduce the likelihood of specific catastrophic events. But we can only reduce undesirable consequences and their impact by preparing as human beings. These are two completely different ways of managing risk. Extending on your point and using this analogy, we cannot possibly put an infinite number of resources into looking at every single threat scenario available to us. Is the other side of the paradigm resilience? Is our Business Continuity Plan planning in effect to say we cannot address every problem. We cannot foresee every problem, but we know at some point we may need to use offsite backups or other emergency fixes. Is data resilience the other side of not being able to do that kind of infinite amount of risk analysis? That is an excellent operational question that I am not very often confronted with. In a situation of limited resources, which of course is the situation of any business, the typical recommendation would be that resources should be allocated to both approaches – reducing likelihood and increasing resilience. However, shifting more resources to the latter, increasing resilience, may be useful. One advantage of the increasing resilience approach is that it is far more transversal. A small amount of transversal increase in resilience can lower the undesirable or negative consequences of all these types of undesirable events. Conversely, if one chooses the approach of seeking to lower likelihood you must focus on each potential event. The bad bread in the canteen has one solution, the dust problem has another, death has another again. And that’s inefficient from a resource distribution perspective. It is less efficient than the globally preparing human beings to face bad things approach. I am not saying all resources should be put into that approach, but that we could increase our efficiency in the long term by moving in that direction. People have been predicting a major pandemic for quite some time. To what extent is the COVID-19 pandemic a failure of imagination as opposed to being a ‘grey rhino’ – i.e., something we knew was going to happen at some point but simply did not address?  This question has been debated among scientists and researchers. The answer is: it is both; there were all sorts of indicators out there, as well as smart people saying it was coming, including high profile people who had the microphones within reach. But there was denial as well. Not wanting to know or believe also represents a lack of imagination. I would call COVID-19 a Black Swan event in this sense. It was not real enough for us, even though as late as the early 20th century we experienced the third historical wave of the Bubonic Plague, and it looked very much like what we are seeing today, though it was (so far) worst. I would like to ask about what could be the driver behind us as a society reacting to threats that come our way. I would like to mention the Ebola crisis of not so long ago, where basically as a world community we hardly did anything about it. I believe this is because it was in Africa, which is perceived as far away from us and thus extremely low consequence for us. I share entirely your point of view. It is quite disconcerting, and a major reality supports your opinion. In the southern hemisphere, and in India, which lies between the north and the south, the effects of the pandemic are just starting. In Sub-Saharan Africa, there is not any kind of vaccination protocol in place. We have a global class system, and it is structuring the way we approach the pandemic. It is a matter of drivers or incentives. And of course, we produced vaccines for the US and Europe first. Once we were over the vaccination hump, we could start producing for others and address the needs of others around the world. It is a sad reality. And it is a senseless prejudice because pandemics are obviously global. If we do not battle it all around the globe, it can come back and hurt everybody. Even if you are not interested in the humanitarian aspect, it is not hard to see that we all benefit by making sure that Sub-Saharan Africa is also served. It is very much a question of the source of political will. Is it instrumental calculation or humanitarian conscience? I fear it is more the former and less the latter, for better or worse. How do you deal with politics in security in this case? This is related to the issue of political will and how to get past those challenges. This is the core question. In my writing and work I try to match my admittedly idealistic perspectives on the world and on security risks, which are hard to swallow for people who are worried about their bottom line or keeping political power. I try to pair a purely humanitarian approach with a pragmatic one: Your business well benefit if you give some space to a humanitarian approach. You will do better in your critical ambitions as a political leader if you give a humanitarian perspective some space. It is possible to make this argument. There is money to be made and resources to be saved by adopting a more humane approach to security risks, even in the very day-to-day work of insurance and investment management.   About Prof. J. Peter Burgess J. Peter Burgess holds the AXA Chair in Geopolitical Risks, at ENS Paris. He is a philosopher and political scientist whose research and writing concern the meeting place between culture and politics, with a special emphasis on the theory and ethics of security and insecurity. He has held positions at the Peace Research Institute Oslo; European University Institute, Florence; the Centre for Security Studies, Collegium Civitas, Warsaw; Sciences Po, Paris; the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU); the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo; and the Neubauer Collegium of the University of Chicago. Professor Burgess has developed and directed a range of collaborative research projects with Norwegian and European partners, has contributed to the development of research policy as a consultant to the European Commission, and has collaborated in the elaboration of public policy in Norway, France, and Poland.  

### AI Regulation and the Limits of Transparency

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/ai-regulation-and-the-limits-of-transparency
Published: 2021-07-04
Author: Dr. Joanna Bryson

Is there such a thing as trustworthy AI? Does anthropomorphism interfere with transparency? How can we improve system’s transparency? During AXA’s Security Days – an internal event that brought together AXA Group security teams to discuss the future of security – Joanna Bryson, Professor of Ethics and Technology at the Hertie School in Berlin and an AXA Award recipient for AI Ethics,  discussed the issues of AI Regulation and the Limits of Transparency. Read below an abridged version of her remarks. One of the original definitions of intelligence is from the 19th century, when we were trying to decide which animals were intelligent or not: It's the capacity of doing the right thing at the right time, which is a form of computation . It entails transforming information about context into action. This very general definition includes plants and thermostats. With this definition, it's easy to define AI as anything that behaves intelligently and that someone deliberately built . As a result, thermostat is in, and plant is now out. The important thing for transparency is that this deliberation implies responsibility , at least in human adults. We're only talking about human adults because only they can really be held legally accountable. Ethics is the way a society defines and secures itself, and the fundamental components of an ethical system are the moral agents. They are the ones our society considers to be responsible. Moral patients are the ones that they are responsible for, and that can include things like the ecosystem. Different societies define moral agents and moral patients differently. Some don’t recognize the moral agency capacities of women or minorities, for example. We construct our society out of the way we define these agents and these patients. These definitions only work to the extent that moral agents are roughly peers. There will be leaders – kings or presidents – but there is still more or less equality. Even an autocratic leader can't completely determine what people do. This is the key when we're thinking about how ICT is changing society. How are we going to handle enforcement when we enact laws? I don’t talk about trustworthy AI because it isn't the kind of thing you trust. You can only trust peers. We can exploit the psychological sensation of trust and talk about trust in governments or robots, but it's not coherent. Trust is a peer-wise relationship where you say I'm not going to try to micromanage you. When we think about enforcement, which is important for understanding transparency, then we must think about peers.  It's not that we should trust corporations and governments. We should hold them accountable . That's why we want transparency. And that's what the new digital services act is about: how can we make sure that we know what's going on with digital artifacts. AI is not a peer. The ways that we enforce, law and justice, have to do with dissuasion much more than recompense. If the robot itself or an AI company does something wrong, then it is just ordered to pay a fine, but discovering and proving the problem is unfortunately very unlikely. So, we must also dissuade, and this dissuasion is based on what humans do or do not like. We really care about not going to jail or not losing our money, but we can't build that into AI. We can't guarantee that a system we build is going to feel systemic aversion as animals do to isolation. Safe AI is modular. That's how we can make sure that we know how it works; we construct systems that allow us to hold accountable or trace accountability. If we let AI itself be a legal agent, it would be the ultimate shell company. But what about robots? This comes back to the work that AXA has been funding: not even your robots are your peers. And I find it astounding. Here’s one of the robots that AXA has funded for us. This robot cannot do anything to help this gentleman, for example, get up off the couch. It's too fragile. And it's amazing to me that we can even consider whether a robot could be left to take care of the elderly. Robots are designed and owned, which means we can't even think about consensual relationships. We're not talking about trust. A robot is basically an extension of a corporation with cameras and microphones in your home. Is that a good idea? Anthropomorphism means we see a thing and start thinking it's a person like us that we use. We accommodate the fact that we find it convenient and don't worry too much about security. We start thinking of it as a member of our household. This is not necessarily a conscious decision. Some natural language processing researchers believe we cannot put natural language into someone's house ethically, because all these language-speaking toys affect how families interact with each other. They affect the language we use because humans naturally anthropomorphize. We naturally try to accommodate. The flip side is dehumanization, which unfortunately we do too. When we feel threatened, we can decide we don't want to deal with something that's too different from us. Instead, we exclude. I got into AI ethics because I was astounded by this phenomenon and didn’t understand, as someone who built robots, why people felt that they owed ethical obligations to robots. It has to do with this inclusion/exclusion process. Does anthropomorphism interfere with transparency? Can we help humans understand that a robot is an artifact, that it's an extension of a corporation and how to ensure it is safe to have in their homes? Or is the bias too ingrained? We've played with this idea. Just putting a bee costume on a robot alters how people understand it. We have a system for showing people how robots work. We know this increases human understanding. Getting people to understand the goals of the robot helps them understand and reason about these, but not perfectly, unfortunately.  Digital systems are easily transparent. This doesn't mean every digital system is transparent. It's also easy to make them non-transparent. The point is that, since it's an artifact, we can design it and we can keep track of how we design it. What we're trying to audit is not the micro details of how AI works but rather how humans behave when they build, train, test, deploy, and monitor AI. What's essential is showing that humans did the right things when they built and deployed and tested the software. We're trying to maintain order within our own society. A good maintainable system that should be a legitimate product includes things like an architecture. We have an idea of what modules are in there and where they came from. As the Solar Winds example shows, you need to know the provenance of your software, but you also need to know the components. If you're planning a building or any kind of process, you design and document its components, processes for development, use, and maintenance. For a digital system including one with AI, you also have to secure it: this includes the development and operation logs, and provenance of software and data libraries . If you're using machine learning, you need to be sure about the provenance of the data. All these things must be cyber-secure and keeping this all straight is called development and operations. It helps us write our software better. Good software companies have been doing this for decades. But AI companies are often not doing it and it isn’t clear why. You can document with secure revision control every change to the code base. It’s helpful to programmers to be able to see who changed what and why. For Machine Learning, you need to keep track of your data libraries and the model parameters. Unbelievably, people in Machine Learning often cannot go back and replicate their own results. You also need to keep logs of testing. For the last several decades, we in software have been “programming to test.” You think beforehand how you want the system to work, and then you document whether you achieved those goals. You write the tests before you write the code. If you have a system that is not changing, neither through machine learning nor corrosion, then you may only test up front and then release. Otherwise, testing should be frequent, even continuous. Companies like Facebook have enormous numbers of processes running to make sure it doesn't look like something is going wrong in real time. Normally, testing is done in advance and monitoring/testing is continuous during deployment. Again, records should be kept for the benefit of developers as well as subsequent auditors. If you're good with digital technology, transparency should be easy. The best AI companies should have simple, transparent processes. At Google, people were brought in specifically to do ethics and they got fired for writing a paper about the ethics of natural language processing. The bigger issue about transparency for me, of course, was in ATEAC when Google put together a panel of external experts, and they couldn't even communicate internally about what they were doing and why. And they also had problems with external relations. It left me wondering why one of the world’s leading communication companies cannot do transparency! I have thought of three reasons. o-list-item o-list-item o-list-item What can we do? We are doing amazing things with combinatorics. It will never be perfectly solved, but the work we are doing in quantum and in bringing people together to be able to communicate is changing the world. With polarization, we need to reduce vulnerability. If people feel like they are going to go bankrupt, lose their home, or lose their children, it is plausible that reducing their risk profile is more important than having a riskier opportunity to do better, which is what comes from working with more diverse groups. This problem can be solved through infrastructure and investment. As for multiple conflicting goals, the best way to solve that is iteratively, through iterative design. This is what governance and politics are all about. People tend to think that we've done something wrong because we're in a broken situation. But it’s natural that innovations lead to new problems to solve. When we talk about regulation in biology, it is about keeping things going and it often involves oscillations. We aren't necessarily looking for a solution that’s going to last forever. We are looking for a solution that we can apply regularly. If it is every five years or every 10 or 30 years and we can keep ourselves in a more or less sustainable balance, then it is fine. Ultimately a perpetuation is also intractable, but let's just make it for another billion years.  About Prof. Joanna Bryson Joanna Bryson is Professor of Ethics and Technology at the Hertie School in Berlin. Her research focuses on the impact of technology on human cooperation, and AI/ICT governance.  From 2002-19 she was on the Computer Science faculty at the University of Bath. She has also been affiliated with the Department of Psychology at Harvard University, the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oxford, the School of Social Sciences at the University of Mannheim, and the Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy. During her PhD work, she observed the confusion generated by anthropomorphized AI, leading to her first AI ethics publication “Just Another Artifact” in 1998. In 2010, she co-authored the first national-level AI ethics policy, the UK's Principles of Robotics. She holds degrees in psychology and artificial intelligence from the University of Chicago (BA), the University of Edinburgh (MSc and MPhil), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD). Since July 2020, Prof. Bryson has been one of nine experts nominated by Germany to the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence. Professor Bryson  has received an AXA Award on Responsible Artificial Intelligence for her project about dealing with humanoid robots. 

### Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean Contributes to Antibiotic Resistance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/microplastic-pollution-in-the-ocean-contributes-to-antibiotic-resistance
Published: 2021-06-13
Author: Dr. Maria Belen Sathicq

In this article published in Polytechnique Insights, Maria Belen Sathicq, Post-doctoral fellow at the Institute for Water Research of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) tells us why and how microplastic pollution in the ocean contributes to antibiotic resistance. Source : Polytechnique Insights It is now well known that the widespread use of antibiotics – to treat patients, but especially to treat farm animals – has accelerated bacterial resistance to these treatments, rendering many ineffective. Also, no new antibiotics have been discovered in decades, putting us at risk of a future without them – leaving humans vulnerable to microbial infections. The growing phenomenon of antibiotic resistance therefore represents one of the most serious threats to human and animal health today. And a better understanding of the different drivers of this resistance is becoming urgent. Recently, researchers established a connection between this problem and another major issue of our time: the microplastic pollution in the sea. These plastic particles, less than 5mm in size, come from the degradation of plastic waste, or directly from certain products themselves, such as cosmetics. Because of their small size, microplastics found in water (oceans, lakes, rivers) are often ingested by aquatic animals, but also by humans since they can be present in tap water and bottles. They are suspected of having harmful effects on health, and studies to better understand the risks involved are currently being conducted.  Over the past decade, when microbial samples from microplastics floating in the seas and oceans were studied, pathogenic bacteria capable of infecting humans of the  Vibrio ,  Salmonella  or  Legionella  family were found. Furthermore, many of these bacteria carry the genes for antibiotic resistance. Normally, these bacteria are not present in marine waters because they cannot survive in water pH and salinity, or due to other environmental factors, but over time their presence in coastal waters has increased. This is mainly due to the discharge of domestic, industrial or agricultural wastewater in the sea… but also of microplastics. The association between microplastics and pathogenic bacteria seems to be responsible for the longevity of these bacteria in marine environments, their reproduction, and their transport to regions far from the place of discharge into the sea. Biologist Maria Belen Sathicq, post-doctoral fellow at IRSA (CNR), is studying this microbial ecology through the AENEAS research project. What are the main dangers of the microplastic/antibiotic resistant bacteria binomial for human and environmental health? Plastic pollution has a major impact on commercial fishing and aquaculture activities. When microplastics accumulate in the tissues of marine animals, they also contaminate all levels of the food chain, right up to our plates. But plastic debris also provides a floating substrate that acts as a carrier for harmful algae, organic pollutants and potentially pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, microplastics can facilitate the transfer of genes for antibiotic resistance to aquatic animals that ingest or filter them… and then to consumers of fish and seafood, especially when ingested raw.  Read the full article on Polytechnique Insights June 14, 2021

### Explainable Artificial Intelligence : a Key Enabler for Using AI in Healthcare and so Expanding Healthcare Access

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/explainable-artificial-intelligence-a-key-enabler-for-using-ai-in-healthcare-and-so-expanding-healthcare-access
Published: 2021-05-10
Author: Prof. Thomas Lukasiewicz

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise as a way to expand healthcare capacity and improve medical outcomes. It can also help predict and reduce risks. Through better medical outcomes, the potential for more effective use of healthcare resources, and greater understanding of healthcare risks, the benefits of AI can be harnessed to expand healthcare access. Prof Thomas Lukasiewicz, AXA Chair on Explainable AI for Healthcare at the University of Oxford tells us how in an article produced for AXA Virtual Health Days. Medical innovation powered by AI Progress in AI with applications for healthcare began to appear around 2017, when a system was developed that was able to detect skin cancer with the same level of accuracy shown by human experts in the field. Looking more closely at skin cancer detection, we can get an idea of where this progress could take us. There are now research prototypes that are better than human experts at detecting skin cancer. In fact, there are already apps that you can download on your smartphone and use to detect changes in your skin, whether they are skin cancer or not. Obviously, no one should forego expert advice, but these systems aregetting better and better. A number of other milestones have been reached in healthcare. For example, prostate cancer grading by AI is better than human experts, and in 2018, AI systems became better than humans at predicting the 3D structure of proteins. In 2019, they surpassed humans at detecting diabetes-related illnesses in the eye. The importance of explainability Despite these advances, being able to explain how they work is a very significant drawback in using neural networks, the technology underlying the current wave of AI systems. Neural networks are extremely powerful, but they are black boxes that turn an input into an output, and we are not able to explain how they work. If we want to make a diagnosis from structured data from the symptoms that a patient has, then we may just return the symptoms that were relevant for the decision as explanation. For example, the diagnosis is flu, and the system may return that thepatient was sneezing, had a headache but had no fatigue. So, that could be returned as an explanation. But there is still no guarantee that the data that is shown is used in a correct way to calculate the outcome. These obstacles are especially valid for healthcare. An incorrect diagnosis of a disease may lead to an incorrect treatment with life-threatening consequences for the patient. We would liket his black box of the neural networks to be explained in such a way that we know that the output is calculated in a correct way from the input. A way forward for AI healthcare applications In my AXA Research Fund project, I am building neural-symbolic AI systems that will help us to produce better and less expensive diagnoses, optimize and personalize the treatment of patients, and also preven diseases by collecting and using live data from humans (for example, via wearables) and then predicting the lifestyle and potential risks of these people. This in turn will substantially reduce healthcare costs while improving healthcare availability and reducing mortality and morbidity. We can obtain a more accurate risk prediction, concerning both lifestyle and treatments, and we can also act to reduce our risk. As a side effect of explainability, I also hope to improve the medical understanding of diseases and treatments. The potential of AI for disease prevention, early detection of diseases, better and more affordable diagnosis, and medical decision making in general to designing new pharmaceutical products and optimized treatments can help make healthcare more effective, and also more affordable. Through the use of AI, greater overall medical capacity is available, creating a pathway for expanding healthcare access. For the insurance industry, these benefits will also allow for a more accurate health risk prediction and the possibility for risk reduction- a win/win to create a healthier society.

### Machine Learning to Predict Health Outcomes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/machine-learning-to-predict-health-outcomes
Published: 2021-05-10
Author: Dr. Santiago Mazuelas

During the COVID-19 pandemic, machine learning was harnessed to help predict health outcomes. For a disease whose symptoms ranged from severe breathing problems and even death to asymptomatic infections, machine learning provides a valuable tool to best anticipate the health needs of a population and prescribe the best care for individual patients. Deployed at a wide scale, this technology can help healthcare systems better allocate their resources, which can be leveraged to increase access. AXA Award Santiago Mazuelas explains how this technology can help predict the severity of COVID-19 diagnosed patients. Differently from other diseases, COVID-19 infections result in particularly distinct outcomes: certain patients remain asymptomatic during the infection, some other experience moderate symptoms for a few weeks, and yet others suffer acute or even critical complications. Wrong assignments of care’s type for COVID-19 patients may cause fatal outcomes, and lack of isolation measures for asymptomatic infections may increase COVID-19 propagation among the population. These facts pose a key challenge for COVID-19 containment since the most pertinent countermeasures at the time of infection’s detection are markedly different for each type of patients. The project “Early Prognosis of COVID-19 Infections Via Machine Learning” develops machine learning techniques for the early prognosis of COVID-19 infections that predict infections’ future severity using health data obtained soon after the detection. This project has been funded by the AXA Research Fund under the Exceptional Flash Call “Mitigating risk in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic” and is being carried out at the Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (BCAM) from October 2020 to October 2023. The algorithms developed in the project can be used by medical personnel or public health stakeholders to taketimely decisions that result in favorable outcomes. For instance, an infected patient with a negative early prognosis who is predicted to have a positive response to treatment can be directly transferred to semi-intensive care before he/ she undergoes notable symptoms. In addition, the prediction algorithms developed in the project can also be used to closely monitor noninfected individuals with high probabilities of being asymptomatic or suffer complications in case they become positive for COVID-19. The techniques developed in the project utilize multimodal and information-rich health data to predict the future severity of COVID-19 infections. This health data is composed by clinical data such as age, sex, weight, blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and past medical history (PMH), together with more detailed metrics such as those obtained from biochemical tests. The learning techniques developed in the project use a large amount of electronic health records to learn the complex relationship between health data instances and COVID-19 severity. The project will address several scientific and technical challenges both for data processing and learning algorithms’ design including the usage of unbalanced training samples affected by selection bias, and the development of costsensitive techniques. One of our first developed algorithms is able to predict the risk of a fatal outcome when a new COVID-19 patient is admitted to the hospital with a 90% sensitivity (true positive rate) and 75% specificity (true negative rate). Algorithms like this one are designed to become a key aid for healthcare providers when assessing incoming patients. In addition to the prognostic component, machine learning based algorithms can also provide new working hypothesis on the pathogenesis of COVID-19. One example for us is the inclusion of various eosinophil blood markers (variety of white blood cell markers) as relevant predictors, unveiling the importance of these particular white blood cells in the protection against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several teams of researchers across the world are pursuing similar endeavors, with the hope that soon we could all exploit data from multiple countries and continents allowing the creation of more accurate and precise prognostic tools for COVID-19. The machine learning techniques developed in this project can enable remarkable improvements in the way healthcare systems operate. In particular, they can serve to improve they way in which medical and public health decisions are taken to treat and manage COVID-19 infections. In addition, the learning algorithms developed in the project can also enable healthcare systems to better categorize risks of individuals. More broadly, the learning methodologies developed in the project can be leveraged to develop machine learning methods that assess the likelihood of future adverse general events based on data obtained ahead of time. Dr Marzuelas March 2021

### Intelligent Fertilisers Reduce Agricultural Pollution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/intelligent-fertilisers-reduce-agricultural-pollution
Published: 2021-04-28
Author: Graeme Nicol

100 Million tons of nitrogen are added to soil in the form of fertilizers  every year, creating excess nitrate in the soil through the acceleration of microbial activity. This makes nitrogen mobile, allowing it to move out of the soil in water or even into the air, increasing its pollution potential. Graeme Nicol, CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research) Research Director in soil microbial ecology at Ecole Centrale de Lyon, leads an AXA project on Ecosystem Engineering and Microbial Ecology. In an article for Polytechnique Insights, he tells us how intelligent fertilizers can slow the distribution of nitrogen and limit many negative effects of fertilization on the planet.  Original source : Polytechnique Insight Since the 19th century we know that certain microorganisms play a key role in the nitrogen cycle. They are responsible for carrying out essential steps in the process, producing different forms of nitrogen that can be used by plants. Nitrogen-based fertilisers used in agriculture accelerate this cycle with major environmental and economic consequences. Thus, an ‘intelligent’, slow and progressive distribution of nitrogen could be used to limit many of these negative effects. Fertilisers put nitrogen into soil Plants need nitrogen to grow, using either ammonium or nitrate (nitrogen-rich molecules) as a source. Ammonium finds its way naturally into soil at a rate of 110 million tonnes per year. This happens through deposition after lightning and the death of organic material, but mainly via the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere such as in the nodules of leguminous plants. Nitrate, however, is the result of conversion from ammonium by microorganisms.  Even though plants can take up both, it is the conversion of ammonium to nitrate, which has major consequences on agricultural systems. Vast quantities of nitrogen (an additional 100 million tonnes per year) added to soil in the form of fertilisers accelerates microbial activity, resulting in the overproduction of nitrate from ammonium. This excess nitrate is responsible for the negative environmental impact because it makes the nitrogen more mobile, increasing its pollution potential by allowing it to move out of the soil in water or even into the air. Nitrate pollution in runoff water, groundwater and rivers encourages algal blooms and contaminates drinking water. It also leads to substantial increases in the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), the third most important greenhouse gas, concentrations of which have increased by 20% since pre-industrial times. N2O is also tipped as the compound primarily responsible for depletion of stratospheric ozone in the 21st Century.  Intelligent fertilisers: a smart solution Read full article in Polytechnique Insight April 22nd, 2021

### Putting a Dollar Figure on Protection From Coral Reefs

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/putting-a-dollar-figure-on-protection-from-coral-reefs
Published: 2021-04-14
Author: Pr. Mike Beck

Coral Reefs Prevent Over  $5.3 Billion in Potential Flood Damage for U.S. Property Owners Habitats, such as coral reefs, can mitigate increasing flood damages through coastal protection services. In a paper published on April 15th, 2021 in Nature Sustainability, a research team led by Professor Mike Beck, AXA Chair on Building Coastal Resilience Naturally, provides a fine-scale, national valuation of the flood risk reduction benefits of coral habitats to people, property, economies and infrastructure. This quantification of spatial risk reduction can help to prioritize joint actions in flood management and environmental conservation, opening new opportunities to support reef management with hazard mitigation funding. Watch the video from LA Times Studios April, 2021

### How Much are Invasive Species Costing Us?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-much-are-invasive-species-costing-us
Published: 2021-03-30
Author: Prof. Franck Courchamp

MEDIA RELEASE - PARIS - March 31st, 2021 Scientists from the CNRS, the IRD, and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle have just released the most comprehensive estimate to date of the financial toll of invasive species: nearly $1.3 trillion over four decades. Published in Nature (31 March 2021), their findings are based on the InvaCost database, which is financed by the BNP Paribas Foundation and the Paris-Saclay University Foundation’s AXA Chair of Invasion Biology. The annual expenses generated by biological invasions are only increasing, with no sign of any slowing. An invasive exotic species is one deliberately or unwittingly introduced by humans into a new habitat, where it becomes an environmental menace. In addition to the loss of biodiversity and other ecological impacts resulting from its presence, an invasive species can lead to economic losses in certain sectors, including agriculture, tourism, and public health. Though biological invasion is the second leading cause of species extinction, decision makers and the general public are still largely unaware of the issue. After five years of study, the international research team1 directed by scientists from the Écologie, Systématique et Évolution (CNRS / Paris-Saclay University / AgroParisTech) research unit have reached an estimate of the cost to human society of invasive species: at least $1.288 trillion in the period from 1970 to 2017. While this yields an annual average of $26.8 billion, the yearly bill actually tripled each decade. In 2017 alone, it hit $162.7 billion, or 20 times the combined budgets of the WHO and the UN Secretariat that year. Yet the costs of biological invasions remain vastly underestimated and under-reported. They have ballooned over the last decades, and no reversal of the trend is visible on the horizon since the continued expansion of international commerce and transport generally brings with it more invasive species. Furthermore, the researchers note that expenses associated with preventing, monitoring, or combating the spread of these species are trifling in comparison with the cost of the damage they cause. The ravages of biological invasions by exotic species as diverse as the Asian tiger mosquito, red imported fire ant, floating primrose willow, zebra mussel, and black rat each account for losses of tens of billions of dollars. This research has provided the first complete tally of reported costs resulting from biological invasions around the world, all species combined. It is based on the conservative analysis of 850 studies, covering 2,419 cost estimates that the team of scientists standardized to enable comparison and categorization, according to forty-some variables (e.g., species, region, habitat, and economic sector), within the  InvaCost database , whose ongoing development affords a real-time snapshot of the costs associated with biological invasions. The work of these researchers was made possible through financing of the InvaCost database by the BNP Paribas Foundation and the AXA Research Fund, via the Paris-Saclay University Foundation’s Chair of Invasion Biology . Their findings plea for implementation of management measures and international political agreements aimed at countering the uncontrolled dissemination of invasive species over the next decades.   Note 1- Scientists from the following French research units participated in this study: BOREA (CNRS / IRD / Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle / Sorbonne University), ISEM (CNRS / IRD / University of Montpellier), MIVEGEC (CNRS / IRD / University of Montpellier), and CEE-M (CNRS / INRAE / University of Montpellier / Institut Agro). Bibliography High and rising economic costs of biological invasions worldwide. Christophe Diagne, Boris Leroy, Anne-Charlotte Vaissière, Rodolphe E. Gozlan, David Roiz, Ivan Jarić, Jean-Michel Salles, Corey J. A. Bradshaw and Franck Courchamp. Nature , 31 March 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03405-6

### Gender Equality in Decision Making Positions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/gender-equality-in-decision-making-positions
Published: 2021-03-15

During a webinar held on March 9th, 2021, our panel assessed the progress that has been made towards achieving gender equality in decision-making positions across both business and the government, the issues and opportunities that have emerged from the Covid-19 crisis, and how they redefine the roles of all stakeholders. The webinar was held in the context of the launch of the AXA-Bocconi Research Lab on Gender Equality and gathered the following panelists: Prof. Anne Boring, Women in Business Chair at Sciences Po, co-funded by the AXA Research Fund; Georges Desvaux, Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer of the AXA Group; Prof. Paola Profeta, Associate Professor of Public Economics at Bocconi University, leader of the AXA Research Lab on Gender Equality; Monika Queisser, Head of Social Policy at the OECD. It was moderated by Francesca Donner, Gender Director and Editor at The New York Times.   Watch the video of the webinar (1 h) or read the testimonials extracted from the discussions below. Gender Equality in Decision Making Positions The testimonials below were edited or shortened for the sake of brevity. The year 2020 was marked by a global pandemic that led to loss of lives and loss of income, as the professional sphere became narrower while the domestic sphere became unsustainably broad for many. The ensuing childcare crisis has left mostly mothers to pick up the pieces as unpaid labor, already a burden for more women than men, has taken center stage. But without good solutions, many women may have stunted careers that will never get back on track. These issues existed long before Covid-19 hit, but the pandemic has thrown them into sharp relief, and may also provide an opportunity to address longstanding issues ranging from the role of unpaid labor in economic prosperity to the need for paternity leave and boardroom quotas, not to mention the economic rationale for gender equality and diversity. Is it true that the Covid-19 pandemic has driven women out of the labor market in far greater numbers than men? Monica Queisser: Some have called this a “ she-cession ,” drawing a contrast to the last financial crisis, where initially mostly men lost jobs in manufacturing and women joined the labor force to boost household income and compensate for male job losses. Economists thought more women's jobs would be lost this time because service sectors, like retail and hospitality, were shut down. But in many sectors where we thought there were more women, this turns out not to be true. In the food and beverage industry, for example, about 53 percent of the global workforce is female. In retail it's over 60 percent, far lower than very feminine sectors like long-term care, which is 90 percent female, or the global health workforce, which is 70 percent female . Jobs were added in the health sector. In OECD countries, on average, we haven’t seen a massive impact on women as opposed to men, though there may be a stronger temporary impact on women in some countries. New data from Italy show a high percentage of female job losses. Paola Profeta: In Italy, many of the jobs lost have been women's jobs. In December 2020, a massive reduction in female jobs was noted: 99 percent of the job losses were women and the female employment rate decreased in 2020 to 48.6 percent , which is low for Italy – the lowest reading in a decade. It suggests that women have been particularly affected by the pandemic. Also, the pandemic increased the amount of work at the family level – housework and childcare – and not just in Italy . The fact that schools closed for an extended period increased the amount of work that families had to do because their children were home. This additional workload has fallen on women more than on men because of the asymmetric division of labor within the family . Should governments start paying for unpaid labor? MQ: The international Commission on the Status of Women has discussed this issue for many years. The OECD is currently in the process of valuing unpaid work . Conceptually, it's difficult to determine what values to place on unpaid labor. Is it the price one would pay for childcare or housecleaning? Should we use the opportunity cost in some case, for example if a highly paid manager stays home to care for children? Should she be paid her hourly rate when valuing her work in the home? Are we at the point where governments will start paying people for unpaid work? That’s a stretch, but one thing we can all do is use the concept of the value of our unpaid work when we negotiate with our partners, our children, and our families . It is humiliating for women who do all this unpaid work that is not adequately recognized, exacerbated by the Covid crisis. Anne Boring : The issue of unpaid labor is related to that of low paid labor, and this crisis has intensified the debate about the appropriate wage for workers, such as nurses, who provide essential care . They are being paid for their work, but these jobs remain extremely undervalued. It is disheartening to observe that, despite the discussions and despite the applause for essential workers at the beginning of the crisis, not much has happened in terms of increasing pay for these workers. It is important to negotiate within families on the division of household labor, but during Covid, when couples couldn’t outsource services like childcare and had to find the time to provide care for their children, it was women who stepped up. The number of hours of childcare taken up by men has increased but, in terms of their share of work in the household, the situation remains very unbalanced. Families need to negotiate but there are also strong policy implications for governments and unfortunately, despite a lot of talk, I don't see much action. Are perceptions of unpaid labor changing? PP : Surveys show that men prefer childcare to domestic work but also that sharing domestic work is crucial for maternal employment and the fertility rate . We interviewed the same couples twice, both before and after pandemic. We asked these couples, who already had one child, how they share domestic work and childcare. In the first survey, they tended to share housework more than childcare. When we interviewed them again three years later, we found that a more balanced sharing of these responsibilities led to a higher probability of having a second child and the mother maintaining full-time work . What is particularly relevant here is that what happens within the family is reflected in the labor market. The family is where gender differences begin and then we see them in the labor market . Is there a role for employers to play? What about corporate leadership? Georges Desvaux: Yes. AXA’s 160,000 employees have been working remotely for a year, and we understand the importance of helping people working remotely manage their work-life balance. Before Covid, people went to the office and then went home to their personal space, but that boundary doesn't exist anymore. We are trying to help our employees set healthy boundaries . We have also offered resilience training to help individuals – men and women – because it all collides in the same sphere . It’s been a stressful year for everyone but it's an immense learning experience. At AXA, we got a head start on moving to “smart working” and we want to make this flexibility available to everyone. A large part of leadership is role modeling, showing people that everyone has a life. Thomas Buberl, our CEO, has talked about what he has learned working from home. The second element of leadership is that, as we move to more remote relationships, leadership becomes much more about empathy, about the ability to connect to create relationships beyond the task at hand, and this is a radically different leadership model.   Why have traditional gender norms – the belief that women belong at home and men should work – become more deeply entrenched post-COVID? AB : In one survey, we asked women to estimate the share of work they do on domestic tasks; they said about two-thirds. When men were asked, they said they do just under half. When we asked respondents about their beliefs in gender equality norms using questions from the European value study, we found that during the first lockdown in France respondents tended to agree more often with statements affirming unequal gender norms than in 2018. We hypothesized that when couples are not able to externalize services such as childcare and must do them at home, putting a time use constraint on couples, they might be more inclined to believe in more unequal gender norms . In France, people tend to be very gender equal in their beliefs, much more so than in countries like Italy, but nonetheless we saw a slight reversal of the trend, from both men and women. Women tended to have a mother's guilt effect when they were extremely time constrained because they were still working from home while taking care of their kids, who were also at home, and it became too much. This increase in the mental load led them to say that maybe children suffer when women work. Men with less education or lower incomes tended to agree more often with statements that affirm unequal gender norms. This is consistent with a conservative shift hypothesis, which is that when individuals are in a situation of economic uncertainty, it can lead them to fall back on more traditional and more conservative beliefs . What about paternity leave? MQ : Parental leave can help influence people's decisions on sharing work and family responsibilities, in particular childcare responsibilities after the birth of a child. Nordic countries and Iceland have led in reserving large parts of parental leave for fathers. If it doesn’t matter to an employer whether it hires a young man or a young woman because either of them will be taking six months of parental leave, then we will see a big change not only in the household share of work but also in the way employers view young women , making parental leave a powerful tool . But parental leave alone is not enough: it needs to be long; it needs to be mandatorily shared between men and women; and it needs to be paid, because if nobody can afford to take it that defeats the purpose. PP : It’s important to have mandatory paternity leave for fathers right after the birth of the child. Typically, it’s much shorter than parental leave, but it is highly relevant. If the father must stay home from work when a child is born, this means not only sharing responsibilities with the mother but also signals that the employer understands fathers can stay home too. This will help change gender norms, not only with respect to society but also in business, where the prevalent belief is that fathers who stay home with their children are not committed to their work. If everybody stays home following the birth of a child, then norms will change. MQ : The two OECD countries with the most and longest leave are Japan and Korea, yet fathers there are very reluctant to take it. This suggests that it is necessary but not sufficient to have the right government policy in place. We also need companies to show that they expect the fathers to take this leave to destigmatize the practice of paternal leave . In very conservative societies, the policy in not enough to change the social norms around it. What's the private sector's role in shaking things up? GD : At the end of the day, policies are policies, and the government needs to be thoughtful about this. It's terrific when you have the right policies but if companies don't help the change process along, it won't happen. You must translate policies into your own company policies and then make it acceptable including to leadership – walking the talk, role modeling, making it applicable. AB: There are three ways that firms generate change. They need incentives to invest the time and effort and the costs to generate change in corporate culture and how they foster gender equality. The first is government policy , and quota laws tend to work only when they have an enforcement mechanism. Soft quotas tend not to work. The second force shaping corporate behavior is investment firms asking companies to embrace gender diversity and diversity in general . This is a strong incentive for companies that want financial support. The third incentive is young graduates – especially young male graduates – who care about work-life balance . By offering a better work life balance, companies can attract top talent. Without these mechanisms, companies don’t move much. How are we going to bring more women into the room to leadership to the boardroom? Does it need to be mandated, penalized, or subject to quotas? PP : Gender-balanced leadership is beneficial for several reasons. First, because women are 50 percent of the population and are more educated than men right now in many developed countries. They have the right competences and talents. Excluding half the population from decision-making positions is a waste of talent resources and it's not efficient .  Second, gender-balanced leadership does not mean replacing men with women. It’s simply good strategy because men and women have complementary traits and perspectives: diversity adds value. Third, gender-balanced leadership means finally addressing issues and policies that promote gender equality. Gender-balanced leadership is one of the drivers of more open discussions about policies and measures at the firm or policy-making level that benefit gender equality. I have conducted many studies on quotas, and the general finding is that they have been beneficial. It’s difficult to find causal effects on performance and profits, but it's common knowledge that they increase the quality and the competence of boards.  On male-dominated boards, the main selection criteria were not only meritocratic.  Including women forced boards to look more carefully at the composition of their members and new women entering are better qualified than the older men exiting.  Many people say quotas are anti-meritocratic because people are chosen for belonging to a certain group and not for their merits, but this is not what has happened. Overall quality has increased. The soft quotas Anne mentioned are recommendations that lack strong enforcement.  Quotas are a shock policy designed to change an inefficient equilibrium. In an ideal world we don't need quotas, but we need them now because otherwise the process will not naturally evolve towards equality . GD : Fear of quotas is a fantastic way to make people move . At AXA, when we are appointing a new senior executive, we make sure there’s a pipeline of women as well as men to consider. We have progressed rapidly over the last two or three years, but we remain far from where we should be, and quotas can help us get there. AB : There is not as much trickle-down effect as we hoped for implementing gender quotas on boards. Now the question is should gender quotas be implemented at other levels, especially the c-suite, and it will be interesting to see which countries implement them and what the effects are. This is likely to have a stronger role model effect on women who are lower down in the hierarchy, knowing that if they make the effort and develop a career strategy, they have a good chance of moving up the ranks.   Is the move to the digital space the great equalizer or has it placed women at a greater disadvantage? PP : There are risks and opportunities. The risk is if we return to normal post-pandemic and women are the only ones who continue working remotely. The opportunity is that we will use this new flexibility to improve gender equality because household responsibilities are better shared. Flexible work arrangements can increase men’s share of housework by up to 50 percent. If flexibility benefits both men and women, then this is good. GD : I think flexible working, or smart working, is an opportunity that will benefit both men and women. I also think leadership capabilities will be more focused on how you lead people through and not about what they do every day as you supervise them. It’s about trust and empowering people to do things, and women seem to be more comfortable with this. There is a massive capacity for women as leaders and as colleagues to flourish in this environment. MQ : We must worry about a different divide, not only the gender divide. Some people have relatively comfortable living arrangements and space, maybe even a dedicated workspace. But not everybody does, and we must introduce more equality along socioeconomic and other lines: we know the world of work is in unequal and risks being more unequal in the future. It's great that women and men who are not in leadership positions, or who don’t do the type of work we do, have also been working from home. We are seeing that almost everybody can do it and that's positive. It’s good news for removing other inequalities from the world of work. AB : The quality of the space you have is important. Do you have a room of your own so you can focus on your work? A study by a French demographic institute shows that women, even high-end executive women, are less likely to have a space where they can work quietly and that being slowed down in your ability to focus can have long-term consequences on career trajectories. There are still challenges ahead, but many people have experienced some aspects of remote work positively and it will be interesting to see how firms adapt. This webinar is part of The AXA Research Fund Expert Series, which brings together experts in academia, business, and public policy to discuss key risks in health, the environment, and the economy to promote informed decision-making. 11 March 2021

### AXA Science Talk on Extreme Weather

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/axa-science-talk-on-extreme-weather
Published: 2021-03-10

Webinar Replay : March 11, 2021 – AXA Science Talk about Extreme Weather & Climate Change   A new AXA Science Talk series organized by AXA Germany with the AXA Research Fund kicks off with a webinar on extreme weather and climate change. Weather extremes have become more and more frequent in recent years. What findings do research and science offer on this development? What causes cumulative extreme weather events? How is nature affected by climate change – and how can it help us adapt? What is the interaction between our food system and climate change? These topics were discussed during the webinar held by AXA Germany on March 11, 2021, which gathered Dagmar Haase , Professor of Landscape Ecology at the Humboldt University in Berlin, Joaquim Pinto , Professor of Meteorology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Marco Springmann , Senior Researcher in the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford. These three scientists supported by the AXA Research Fund presented their research during the online live event moderated by Alina Schadwinkel, senior editor at Spektrum der Wissenschaft, and answered questions from the audience.   Watch the replay in German Watch the replay with live translation in English   About the AXA Science Talk Every quarter AXA Germany in cooperation with the the AXA Research Fund invites selected experts and scientists to pitch their research and engage in an open discussion during the AXA Science Talks. The events are moderated by Alina Schadwinkel, senior editor at Spektrum der Wissenschaft. Next events will cover Artificial Intelligence , Mental Health and Sustainability . Click here for more information about the AXA Science Talk in German. More about the three speakers

### Mountains, a Fragile Source of Life

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/mountains-a-fragile-source-of-life
Published: 2020-12-06
Author: Pr. Dirk Schmeller

"Mountains – a fragile source of life” is a series of short films where AXA Professor Dirk Schmeller explores different aspects of mountains and why they are important for human society. Pr. Schmeller discusses the threats of climate change and pollution, the functioning of mountain freshwater ecosystems, the importance of microbiomes, and provides insights in his team’s research. December, 2020 Pr. Dirk Schmeller Pr. Dirk Schmeller is a researcher, based at ENSAT at the Institut National Polytechnique in Toulouse. He works on wildlife diseases, biodiversity and the social aspects of conservation. For the past three years, he has coordinated the Belmont-Forum P3 project on mountain ecosystems. AXA Chair in Functional Mountain Ecology, EcoLab, ENSAT – Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse), France (2019-2024). Read more about his research (new window)

### New AXA Chair at UC Santa Cruz to Build Coastal Resilience Naturally

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/new-axa-chair-at-uc-santa-cruz-to-build-coastal-resilience-naturally
Published: 2020-11-30

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SANTA CRUZ - Dec 1st, 2020 AXA Chair at UC Santa Cruz Funds Efforts to Build Coastal Resilience Naturally Marine scientist Michael Beck was awarded the chair to support his work on natural defenses to enhance coastal resilience to flooding, erosion, and sea level rise   SANTA CRUZ, CA—Global insurance company AXA has established the AXA Chair in Coastal Resilience at UC Santa Cruz to support the work of Michael Beck, a research professor in the Institute of Marine Sciences and the Department of Ocean Science. The AXA Research Fund provides the award of €1 million ($1.19 million) over five years to support Beck’s efforts to advance the conservation and restoration of coastal habitats as natural defenses against storms and climate change . Climate change and development are degrading coastal ecosystems and increasing the exposure of communities to risks from flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. According to Beck, however, investments in coastal defenses have focused on construction of seawalls, breakwaters, and other artificial structures, while neglecting the value of reefs and wetlands as powerful natural tools for reducing coastal hazards. “Coastal habitats such as coral reefs, marshes, and mangrove forests can serve as a critical first line of defense,” Beck said. “Despite the valuable coastal protection benefits these ecosystems provide, they have been undervalued and lost at a rapid global rate. They are now some of the most threatened marine ecosystems on Earth.” For two decades, Beck has been leading groundbreaking research to rigorously quantify the social and economic benefits of reefs and wetlands. These efforts and the global partnerships he has built have influenced government agencies, the insurance industry, and development banks to begin considering how their funds could be invested in habitat conservation and restoration to reduce future risk and build resilience. “The AXA Chair in Coastal Resilience will allow me and my team to expand our research to identify the most cost-effective opportunities to invest in ecosystems for coastal protection and to provide valuable insights for influential organizations, from the insurance industry to the World Bank,” Beck said. The AXA Chairs are the premium funding scheme of the AXA Research Fund, and Beck is the first to hold such a chair at a U.S. university. “The new AXA Chair in Coastal Resilience will help mitigate the losses from major climate-related hazards and open the way to innovative approaches to better link insurance and the longer term conservation of ecosystems,” said Marie Bogataj, head of the AXA Research Fund and Foresight. With over $300 billion paid out by the insurance industry for coastal storm damage in the last ten years, protecting and regenerating existing natural capital is one of the critical components of disaster risk management and climate adaptation in countries that often lack the financial resources to fund relief, recovery, and post-disaster reconstruction efforts. Chip Cunliffe, AXA XL’s director of sustainable development, said, “For over a decade we have been focused on building resilience and understanding ocean risk. Mike Beck’s leadership and knowledge is second to none, and his expertise will help us integrate these protective ecosystems into our coastal risk index and aid the development of potential new risk transfer mechanisms.” An ecologist by training, Beck noted that it is not common for scientists in his field to work with the insurance industry. “I’m one of the few, but we really can do so much interesting work together,” he said. He first began working with the insurance industry after a policy colleague and negotiator at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change suggested that the insurance sector would be interested in his research on coastal protection. “A real turning point was when we went to the insurance risk modelers and said we want to understand your models and how to put habitat into them,” Beck said. “Instead of telling them to look at our new ecological model, we wanted to learn to use their models to speed up the acceptance of natural defenses by the industry.” Beck’s research as a marine ecologist led him to work increasingly at the interface between marine science, policy, and management action. He spent 20 years with the Nature Conservancy, helping to establish a global marine program and serving as lead marine scientist. He has held various affiliations with UC Santa Cruz over the years and now leads the Coastal Resilience Lab at UCSC. “Mike Beck’s work fuses a deep knowledge of natural systems and an understanding of policy and economics to offer tangible, sustainable solutions to the challenges facing coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. It’s emblematic of the work we aim to do at UC Santa Cruz and the type of training we seek to offer our students,” said Anne Kapuscinski, director of the Coastal Science and Policy Program and professor of environmental studies. In the past few years, Beck has led three global collaborations, producing several major reports and scientific publications that make a strong case for the role of natural habitats in providing coastal protection. This work has shown that the flood reduction benefits provided by coral reefs, mangroves, and marshes can be rigorously quantified and valued, that restoration of these habitats can provide cost-effective defenses, and that insurance products can be aligned with ecosystem-based strategies. For the World Bank, Beck led a team of economists, ecologists, and engineers to develop approaches for valuing the coastal protection benefits of reefs and mangroves. He also led a two-year working group on coastal defenses that quantified the annual benefits provided by coral reefs and mangroves at local, national, and global scales. With support from Lloyd’s of London, he led a work group to assess how nature could be incorporated in industry risk models. Building on this work with funding from the AXA Chair, Beck aims to bring about meaningful changes in the approaches to hazard mitigation worldwide. He wants to see hurricane disaster recovery funds support reef and wetland restoration, using new data on the cost-effectiveness of natural defenses. In working with the insurance industry, he aims to get nature better included in industry risk models and incorporated into innovative new products such as reef and resilience insurance to reduce risk with natural defenses. Beck also hopes to see the natural defense values of habitats included in national economic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP). “The good news is that reefs and wetlands can recover, and even adapt, if we identify the resources to manage and restore them,” he said. “Large-scale funding could be available for these coastal habitats if we can measure and communicate their benefits and cost-effectiveness for coastal protection.” VIDEO Presentation of the Coastal Resilience Lab Watch here (new window) PROJECT PAGE Find out more about the AXA Chair on building coastal resilience naturally Read here (new window)

### Mountain Research to Protect our Future

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/mountain-research-to-protect-our-future
Published: 2020-11-24
Author: Professor Dirk Schmeller

"Mountains – a fragile source of life” is a series of short films where AXA Professor Dirk Schmeller explores different aspects of mountains and why they are important for human society. Pr. Schmeller discusses the threats of climate change and pollution, the functioning of mountain freshwater ecosystems, the importance of microbiomes, and provides insights in his team’s research. Watch the first episode “Research to protect our future”. Read the transcript below : For many, Mountains are the go-to place to reconnect to Nature, to relax and to enjoy a clean environment and fresh air. Mountains also provide us with many important goods, which we need for our daily lives and our health. Those goods include construction wood, fire wood, pastures for livestock, clean drinking water and clean air, among others. All these goods are provided by mountain ecosystems, through complex processes, that are maintained by the community of different species and their interactions between them and with the abiotic environment. Those species are numerous. They comprise invisible microorganisms, tiny plankton species, small plants, trees, cryptic reptiles and amphibians, swift birds, and mammals. Altogether, those species produce organic matter, bind CO2, and produce oxygen. They destruct, rebuild, change, and shape the environment in so complex interactions that they are difficult to imagine. Generally, mountains are considered remote areas. We imagine them generally intact, little impacted by humans, and with no pollution. Unfortunately, this is not true. Human activities like mining, livestock, energy production and tourism impact on Mountains. Human activities pollute mountains, change them, and change the complex interaction network of the species communities living there. Mountains are very fragile environments and are among the regions that are most sensitive to climate change and to the impacts of human activities. They need protection, urgently. The project GloMEc I run, funded by the AXA Research Fund , will contribute to our understanding of mountain freshwater ecosystems, the services they provide to human society and the risks we face with future changes of these sensitive ecosystems. We will investigate patterns of pollution, pathogens, microorganisms and global changes in mountain ecosystems to understand the interlinkages between biodiversity change, ecosystem health and human well-being. Decision makers and stakeholders need to understand that even the most remote areas are strongly threatened by the dominant species of our planet, us.   October, 2020 Pr. Dirk Schmeller Pr. Dirk Schmeller is a researcher, based at ENSAT at the Institut National Polytechnique in Toulouse. He notably works on wildlife diseases, biodiversity and the social aspects of conservation. For the past three years, he has coordinated the Belmont-Forum P3 project on mountain ecosystems. AXA Chair in Functional Mountain Ecology, EcoLab, ENSAT – Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse), France (2019-2024) Read more about his research (new window) Biodiversity at Risk : Preserving the natural world for our future Retrieve Prof. Schmeller's contribution in our publication Biodiversity at Risk Read the publication (new window)

### The Effect of Invasive Species on our Health and Economy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-effect-of-invasive-species-on-our-health-and-economy
Published: 2020-11-23
Author: Pr. Franck Courchamp

Pr. Franck Courchamp has been heading the AXA Chair in Invasion Biology at the University of Paris Sud (Saclay), France since 2019. His interview is extracted from the AXA Research Fund publication  “Biodiversity at Risk: Preserving the natural world for our future” (see details below). Invasive species have been cited as one of the main causes of biodiversity loss – how big a problem is this? Pr. Franck Courchamp - This problem affects every region in the world, and, in addition to the impact on biodiversity and ecosystems, it causes damage to human health and to the economy. Every day, hundreds of species are introduced into areas where they are not native. Of course, not all are invasive. Generally, we reckon about 10% will become established in the new environment. Of those, about 10% will become problematic. These invasive species are being introduced mainly through trade or tourism. Given the scale of the phenomenon, the total effect is enough to represent a true issue. We are now working to find out what traits make species potentially invasive, and what makes certain ecosystems more resistant, so we can intervene earlier, before a species becomes problematic. You mention health and the economy – do we have any idea how much invasive species cost us every year? Pr. F.C . - There are various effects. We published a study three years ago on the economic costs of invasive insects and we came to an estimate of $70 billion a year. That represents a small part of the real cost. There are many costs that are not accounted for – species that have not been evaluated, and many countries with no data. How immediate is the impact of these invasive species? Pr. F.C. - The introduction of cats or rats on an island will very quickly kill the native vertebrates, such as birds and lizards, because these species have never been in contact with that particular predator and have not evolved to protect themselves. There are also less immediate effects, for instance invasive plant species that modify the soil composition, or the amount of available water or light. Studies show that, on average, there are fifty years between the establishment of a species and the appearance of impacts from that species. With climate change, species are gradually shifting towards the poles. The tiger mosquito is a good example: each year it is venturing further north due to warmer winters. The tiger mosquito carries possibly thirty different viruses – some of them lethal for humans. The impact may be rapid, but the process of invasion itself is relatively slow. How can we tackle this problem? You mentioned it was about acting before a species becomes invasive? Pr. F.C. -Generally, it is much cheaper and more efficient to prevent invasions – or at least to react quickly once they happen – than it is to manage already established invasive species. The Asian hornet, which invaded France in 2004, preys on honeybees. It is now all over France and in neighboring countries, and it seems unstoppable. This invasion appears to have stemmed from just one female hornet hidden on a container ship. Once a species is established, as is the case for the Asian hornet, it is almost impossible to remove. One solution is better biosecurity. In Europe, we have just started using a blacklist of about 50 species, compared with the 14,000 exotic species and hundreds of problematic invasive species we have there. New Zealand has developed a ‘white list’, which requires proof that a species is not potentially invasive before allowing it into the country. There is a switch in the burden of proof, and that is much more effective. A timber company, for example, should survey the insects present in the wood it trades and make sure the insects are not invasive or are removed before importation. It should not be scientists and NGOs trying to prove that species are problematic or not. Of course, there is resistance because it is costly to have these biosecurity measures and because companies would have to bear the cost. Currently, the cost is on society – on taxpayers. And the cost is much higher because of the damage involved. November, 2020 Biodiversity at Risk: Preserving the natural world for our future This AXA Research Fund publication is a collection of interviews, articles and desk research that discuss the critical nature of biodiversity, the interdependencies between nature, climate change, the economy and security, based on insights from AXA Research Fund supported scientists and biodiversity and climate change experts. The report also provides an overview of AXA’s commitments in the area of biodiversity loss mitigation and resilience strategies. Read the publication (new window) Pr. Franck Courchamp Pr. Franck Courchamp is senior researcher at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), specializing in population dynamics and conservation biology. He has published on subjects such as invasive species, climate change and the Allee effect10, and cooperative breeding. He has won the CNRS’s silver medal and is also a member of the European Academy of Science. AXA Chair in Invasion Biology, University of Paris Sud (Saclay), France (2019-2024) Read more about his research (new window)

### How Deforestation is Disrupting our Biodiversity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-deforestation-is-disrupting-our-biodiversity
Published: 2020-11-23
Author: Dr. Vincent Gauci

In this interview extracted from the  AXA Research Fund publication "Biodiversity at Risk: Preserving the natural world for our future” (see details below) , former AXA Fellow Dr Vincent Gauci currently Professorial Fellow at Birmingham University’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences discusses the interrelations between climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity. We have seen very significant deforestation in recent years to make way for crops such as oil palm or acacia. What is the effect on biodiversity? Dr. Vincent Gauci - The character of the landscape changes dramatically, from many hundreds of different plant species per hectare to maybe one or two. With oil palm, we have also seen proliferation of rats – so there is a whole range of other species coming in. We know there has been a 50% loss in orangutans over the last twenty years due to deforestation and we are down to the last 300 or so Sumatran tigers in the wild. It has a very disruptive effect. Forests, especially tropical ones, host a wide diversity of plant and animal species, and store large amounts of carbon taken up from the atmosphere. As a consequence, deforestation has serious impacts for both climate change and biodiversity loss. To better understand the processes at work, we spoke to two researchers studying tropical forests, deforestation and climate change. After deforestation, do these landscapes become more susceptible to climate change? Dr. V.G . - Yes – we are moving towards a system that does not have the same level of resilience and is not able to adjust to climate shocks. In south-east Asia, for example, we are talking about wet, carbon-rich ecosystems. They do not ignite, they do not burn. Once the trees are removed and the peat is drained for agriculture to make room for plantations, the peat becomes very dry and it becomes susceptible to fire. And this releases carbon and adds to climate change... Dr. V.G. -  Yes – peatlands are enormous stores of carbon. Fires occur every summer in south-east Asia. In 2015, during the last big El Niño event, there were huge fires across tracts of land in Sumatra and elsewhere. There is also carbon release just through drainage. When trees are cut down, channels are cut into the peat to drain the land, resulting in an upper meter or so of peat that is then exposed to oxygen, while it has not been exposed for thousands of years. Carbon and oxygen produce aerobic decomposition – when organic materials decompose in the presence of oxygen, and carbon rapidly disappears into the atmosphere as CO2 . How does deforestation affect the land? Dr. V.G . -  It can create artificial boundaries. The hydrology of peatland is such that, if a portion is drained, it will have knock-on effects many hundreds of meters or even kilometers away. This is not unknown to local land managers who will do their best to limit hydrology loss. The management of water in these landscapes is quite a challenge as water can be lost very quickly. Deforestation might also cause encroachment – for example, tigers moving out and seeking food elsewhere, leading to the additional challenge of human-species interaction. Around the world, the scale of deforestation has been enormous. Do you see attitudes changing? Dr. V.G. - The Amazon is being depleted at the rate of a football pitch of tropical forest every minute. This is very politically sensitive. In Brazil, some land users now feel they can deforest again because of the recent change of government. Elsewhere, in south-east Asia for example, there are moratoriums in place – ironically, some of the big landholders end up almost ‘policing’ the fragments of natural forest that remain. It is a very complex situation and tensions arise. For example If you build a road, for economic development so that a community can get greater access to markets, more people will come into the forest that the road cuts through; they may lay claim to the land through legal or illegal means with often little policing or resistance, and clear the forest for crops or other products. The challenge is really about people, their movement and livelihoods and balancing the needs for economic development with protection of the forest. And this crosses borders – commodities grown in tropical forests are part of international markets – with palm oil and paper, and so on. What are the possible solutions? How do we protect these forests? Dr. V.G . - There are efforts to reforest – that can be a solution. In Indonesia, after the 2015 fires, landholders were told to raise the water table in peatland to within forty centimeters of the surface. That provides an opportunity to go back to native tree species that do not grow as quickly, but that grow well in a high-water table environment. It is not easy to raise the water table, but it can be done by introducing dams and sluices and regulating flows through drainage canals. There are a lot of issues relating to this, but landholders are starting to realize that their long-term economic sustainability depends on not losing their peat. November, 2020 Biodiversity at Risk: Preserving the natural world for our future This AXA Research Fund publication is a collection of interviews, articles and desk research that discuss the critical nature of biodiversity, the interdependencies between nature, climate change, the economy and security, based on insights from AXA Research Fund supported scientists and biodiversity and climate change experts. The report also provides an overview of AXA’s commitments in the area of biodiversity loss mitigation and resilience strategies. Read the publication (new window) Dr. Vincent Gauci Dr. Gauci is Professorial Fellow at Birmingham University’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on how carbondense ecosystems, such as tropical forests and wetlands, interact with the atmosphere through the exchange of greenhouse gas emissions. AXA project funding at the Open University, United Kingdom (2012-2016) Read more about his research (new window)

### Pushing the Frontiers of Biomedical Engineering to Defeat Atherosclerosis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/pushing-the-frontiers-of-biomedical-engineering-to-defeat-atherosclerosis
Published: 2020-11-12
Author: Abdul Barakat

Medicine and engineering have long existed in separate silos, but the rapid growth of biomedical and digital health innovations has blurred this once impermeable frontier. Since then, the inclusion of engineering approaches and modern tools has influenced powerful changes in life sciences. In the ongoing battle against cardiovascular diseases, the world’s leading cause of mortality (1), this convergence of expertise bears tremendous promise. The bioengineering and biomechanics research carried out by Pr. Abdul Barakat within the AXA Chair for Cardiovascular Cellular Engineering at France’s Ecole Polytechnique has contributed new knowledge to the fight against atherosclerosis, a process known to cause coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Ten years on, he shares the main research findings of the program, the technological-transfer applications and his future projects pertaining to other diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.  Research-wise, the AXA Chair has followed three major areas of focus, one fundamental in nature, the other two applied. What were the major findings?   The first area of investigation where we have achieved success concerns vascular cells and how they respond to mechanical forces. The emerging field of mechanobiology stands at the interface of biology, engineering, and physics. It focuses on the idea that our bodies are  impacted by the mechanical environment in which we live. Using this approach, we were able to identify the involvement of a specific class of proteins, nesprins, in how mechanical stimuli are transmitted from the surface of endothelial cells to their nucleus (endothelial cells form the barrier between blood vessels and tissues and control the flow of substances and fluid that travels between the two). There was a gap in our understanding of why and how changes in blood flow impacted the subnuclear structures of these cells, a process known to be involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Having identified this protein as playing a fundamental role could lead to new avenues in treatment. Our second major research achievement is the development of artificial arteries . They are the same size as human arteries, they display the same flow, the same characteristics, and are very useful to test new medical devices and drugs. They are perfect for monitoring how interactions occur and how the cells react. Typically, medical researchers have to work with tubes, then run tests on animals, and eventually move on to human trials. We felt there was a need for another tool in between tubes and laboratory animals, to not only lower costs but also to address the ethical considerations associated with the use of animals in scientific research. This new platform has generated a lot of interest from companies making stents or blood pumps and even from more fundamental research groups studying blood clots. I should also add that we have recently developed a microvascular version of this artificial artery. Finally, the third finding I wanted to mention concerns the design of stents (metallic or polymeric wire-mesh structures that are inserted into a vessel to keep the passageway open). Using a biomechanical approach, we showed that the shape of stents, by disrupting the blood flow, affects the vascular healing process, as well as drug effectiveness. Based on engineering principles, we demonstrated that, compared to the traditional criss-cross design, a spiral stent design would lower these risks.   An important aspect of the AXA Chair concerns technology transfer activities. Can you tell us more about the Sensome start-up, formerly Instent, and the connected stroke guidewire you helped develop?   Out of the 7 million stents that are implanted in people’s arteries every year, ~10% or ~700 000 lead to complications. This observation led us, with a former student of mine, Franz Boszak, to the idea of connected stents, devices capable of detecting these complications and sending warning to the outside world. Together, we started the start-up Instent in 2014. We received a lot of investment at first, which allowed us to develop the stent and the sensors. However, because of the expected high cost of clinical trials, the project is currently on pause. This set-back led us to rethink our strategy, rename the company Sensome, and to converge on another highly promising application for our research: a smart guidewire to help in the timely treatment of strokes. The idea was simple: to use the same sensors as the ones developed for Instent, but this time to identify the type of blood clot blocking an artery in the event of a stroke. Did you know that only a third of stroke patients fully recover, another third die, and the rest suffer long-term disability, mostly due to the time it takes to identify the type of clot blocking the brain, which will require a different treatment approach. Our device, by considerably reducing the time it usually takes to determine the composition of the clot, can improve life and health outcomes. We are currently conducting animal trials and should be moving on to human trials at the end of the year 2020, for commercialization by early 2022.    Since you arrived at École Polytechnique, you have committed to launching of a BioMedical Biomedical Engineering (BME) program for students. How far are you in this process?  When I moved to France in 2010, I saw that a lot of the Polytechnique students were interested in biology and medicine, and I felt this was the best place to start a BME program in France, having observed its success in the US . I began by starting a new course, in 2010, and then another one in 2013. In 2015, we launched a master’s program. And now, at the end of 2020, we are launching an even broader 5-year program, integrating a master’s program and a PhD. In parallel, I am also involved in the creation of an Interdisciplinary Center for Bioengineering and Mathematical Life Sciences with IP Paris, a group of engineering schools..    Any link between your research and COVID19?  I have not worked on COVID-19 yet, but I am seriously thinking about it. Patients with the disease develop blood clot complications. Endothelial cells, and how they react to mechanical factors, must be playing a part in how the virus enters our system. It is something we at the laboratory have been really interested in, and we think we can shed some light on the mechanisms at play.   After 10 years in France, have you noticed a shift in how researchers and medical doctors perceive multidisciplinary research such as BME?   At the level of biologists, there is definitely more openness. Basic biology journals, like Journal of Cell biology, are now dedicating whole issues to mechanics. It has become one of the hot topics . It is also true for medical doctors. I have seen a difference in how open they are to working with physicists and engineers. Biomedical engineering, as an organized academic discipline, on the other hand, is still lacking in France, but this is where our program can change things  From a personal perspective, what achievement are you the proudest of?   The people that I have met and worked with, the graduate students and postdocs, in particular. They are our legacy. The human element of our job is the most important thing. Everything we do is about people. When you head such a program, you are entrusted with the future of the students you take in. They need to leave with as much as possible for the future, so that one day they can surpass us.   What role has AXA played in the success of the project?   The AXA Chair has been very critical to our research on atherosclerosis, providing us with resources that have been extremely useful . The AXA Chair program has also helped attract excellent students. They knew when they applied here, they were coming to a well-funded lab. It allowed them the flexibility and freedom that they would have had difficulty finding elsewhere . For that I am most grateful. The work that the AXA Research Fund is doing is essential.   What is next? Are you heading in any new research direction?   Everything we have done until now revolves around cardiovascular diseases, but we are now embarking on another huge healthcare issue: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) . Two of our PhD students are going in this direction. Up until now, we have mainly blamed AD on the proteins that form lesions in the brain. Over the past years, there have been a lot of efforts aimed at developing drugs to address this protein problem, but the truth is, they haven’t improved patient outcome. However, motivated by observations, a new vascular and mechanical hypothesis are emerging. It turns out that AD patients have reduced cerebral blood flow and mechanically softer brains. We think that our expertise can help shed light on the mechanical factors involved in neurodegenerative diseases including AD.    (1)  https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases/#tab=tab_1 November 2020

### Science and Policy Interaction to Fight Climate Change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/science-and-policy-interaction-to-fight-climate-change
Published: 2020-10-06
Author: Olivier Boucher

A discussion with Olivier Boucher Olivier Boucher, Climatologist, Deputy Director Institut-Pierre-Simon Laplace, Member of the AXA Research Fund Scientific Board and Isabelle Bergeron, Head of Communications at the AXA Research Fund share perspectives on Science and policy interaction with regards to fighting climate change. Hosted during AXA’s Corporate Responsibility Week by journalist Anette Burgdorf the talk discusses how science can provide the way forward on the issue of Climate Change and what role the private sector and private funding initiatives such as the AXA Research Fund play alongside public authorities to ensure climate change is top of the agenda. Watch the video : October 2020 Olivier Boucher Dr. Olivier Boucher's research focuses on the physics of climate change and bridges links to much-needed work on climate change impacts and mitigation pathways. Dr. Boucher is a specialist on atmospheric aerosols and how they affect meteorology and climate or can be used for geoengineering the climate system. His work received many awards from the Prix Prud'homme in 1995 and the CNRS Bronze medal in 2000 to the Outstanding Young Scientist Award of the EGU in 2004 and the Harry Otten prize in 2015. Olivier has been heavily involved in the International Panel of Climate Change, lastly as a coordinator lead author for the “Clouds and Aerosols” chapter of the IPCC fifth assessment report.

### Nature Under Threat : Interview with Sir Robert Watson

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/nature-under-threat-interview-with-sir-robert-watson
Published: 2020-10-04
Author: Sir Robert Watson

Sir Robert Watson is a leading international authority on climate change and biodiversity. He served as Chair of both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). His interview is extracted from the  AXA Research Fund publication "Biodiversity at Risk: Preserving the natural world for our future” (see details below). What is the extent of biodiversity loss? How serious is the situation? Sir Robert Watson : It is serious. The rate of loss of species is clearly increasing. It is running at tens to hundreds of times faster than natural evolution. In the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment, we said one million species were at risk of extinction – half of those are plants and animals, half are insects. However, if we start to manage biodiversity – if we start to protect our ecosystems, we can stop most from becoming extinct. That means reducing the drivers behind biodiversity loss: changing land use, overexploitation of resources, climate change, pollution, and the increase in invasive alien species. How accurate is our data in this area? Do we have clear projections for what is going to happen with biodiversity loss? Sir Robert Watson : There is a lot of work going on. We know what has happened and how – we know how we have transformed our environment. But what is going to happen in the next fifty years? That is more difficult. We need better models. To have a good projection of the future, we need to know the plausible changes in population, in wealth, in per capita consumption, in new technologies and social values. The question is, do we know enough to act? And the answer is: yes, we do. We should not use lack of knowledge as an excuse. Are we doing enough to stop biodiversity loss? Sir Robert Watson : Clearly, we need to do more. We are still changing land use. Deforestation is still occurring in some parts of the world, primarily in the tropics and sub-tropics. Air-borne and land-based pollution are still increasing. We are only making reasonable progress on four of the twenty Aichi targets. On some, we are actually losing ground. What is the role of the private sector in this ? Sir Robert Watson : A huge role. Governments can put policies in place, but it is the private sector that produces our food, that produces our energy, that runs our transport systems and controls tourism. Many companies are dependent on biodiversity – the food sector of course, but also aluminium producers or power companies, which are dependent on water for their business. The good news is there are companies out there showing that you can be economically viable, that you can make a profit for your shareholders, and still be sustainable. The private sector needs to take a medium and long-term view. Look at Newfoundland in the 1990s – overfishing was so acute that there had to be a moratorium on Atlantic cod. Twenty years later, the cod stocks are still not back to where they were. It takes time for ecosystems to recover. You mentioned climate change as a driver of biodiversity loss? Sir Robert Watson : With climate change, you get an acceleration of the pressure on biodiversity. Dry areas, on average, become drier; wet areas become wetter. But you also get changes in precipitation, leading to floods or droughts, and more extreme weather, such as heatwaves. Many of the coral reefs in the Caribbean have been wrecked in the last two decades by just a few major hurricanes. The fact is, we need to look at climate change and biodiversity together. They cannot be separate issues. Both are environmental issues, but they are more than that – they are both development issues. What do you mean by development issues? Sir Robert Watson : They affect food, water, energy, security – they are also economic issues. Losing biodiversity comes at a real economic cost. The poorer populations are affected most by biodiversity loss and by climate change. When we look at these ecosystems – forests, wetlands, grasslands, mangrove swamps – they all play a role in providing food and fibre, in providing water and medicine. They help control our climate. This is not just a matter of losing species – we are also seeing local conflicts as a result of biodiversity loss and climate change. How optimistic are you? You said we can stop biodiversity loss, if we act. But will we? Sir Robert Watson : We will continue to lose biodiversity and we need to understand the implications. How are we going to adapt to that future loss? How can we manage our agriculture, our energy, our water systems better? We are definitely moving too slowly, but hopefully there is enough common sense to draw back from the cliff edge – to realize that to continue along this path is economically stupid, socially stupid and will not be good at all for any of us – the rich, the middle classes or the low-income populations. Biodiversity at Risk: Preserving the natural world for our future This AXA Research Fund publication is a collection of interviews, articles and desk research that discuss the critical nature of biodiversity, the interdependencies between nature, climate change, the economy and security, based on insights from AXA Research Fund supported scientists and biodiversity and climate change experts. The report also provides an overview of AXA’s commitments in the area of biodiversity loss mitigation and resilience strategies. Read the publication (new window) Sir Robert Watson Sir Robert Watson is a leading international authority on climate change and biodiversity. He was formerly scientific advisor to the United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. He served as Chair of both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

### Explainable AI for Healthcare – Enabling a Revolution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/explainable-ai-for-healthcare-enabling-a-revolution
Published: 2020-09-23

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made great strides in recent years. In healthcare, which handles extremely large amounts of data – from routine patient information and diagnostic results to genetic and clinical studies – progress in AI is expected to offer substantial benefits. This pool of big data can be used to train AI systems to detect patterns and make predictions and recommendations, substantially reducing the uncertainties that professionals face and potentially making healthcare more efficient and affordable for patients. To support progress in the development of AI systems for healthcare, Thomas Lukasiewicz, a professor of computer science and the leader of the Intelligent Systems Lab at the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, was awarded the AXA Chair in Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare . As Jane Wakefield , a technology journalist for the BBC and the webinar moderator, notes, “AI is actually really starting to have an impact on our lives. There are very few people whose lives will not be touched by it in a few years. It's important that we have debates about what we want our AI to look like, especially when we consider the use of AI in healthcare.” Webinar speakers and panelists, in addition to chairholder Thomas Lukasiewicz and Claudio Gienal , CEO of AXA UK and Ireland, included Stephen Metcalfe , British MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence; Dr. Alexander Finlayson , from the University of Oxford Medical Science division; Professor Blanca Rodriguez , Head of Computational Biology and Health Informatics at the University of Oxford; Elan Raja , the founder and CEO of Scan Computers; and Professor Michael Wooldridge , Head of Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. Watch the replay of the AXA -Oxford Chair launch webinar  Introduction by Claudio Gienal and Professor Michael Wooldridge (00:00-11:48) Presentation by Doctor Thomas Lukasiewicz (11:49-37:21) Panel (37:22-1:28:57)   Dr Thomas Lukasiewicz An expert in AI and machine learning, Prof. Lukasiewicz is the recipient of the AXA Chair in Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. The aim of the research program is to develop a new generation of AI technologies, called neural-symbolic AI systems, tailored to the specific requirements of healthcare. Read more (new window)

### Biodiversity at Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/biodiversity-at-risk
Published: 2020-09-20

with Prof. Dirk Schmeller On the occasion of AXA’s Corporate Responsibility Week and the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity, the AXA Research Fund was pleased to host Prof. Dirk Schmeller's webinar: Biodiversity at Risk . Nature is declining at rates unprecedented in human history with severe impacts on biodiversity and human health threatening the livelihood of more than 50% of the human population. In this webinar, Prof. Dirk Schmeller helps us understand complexity of biodiversity , the services it provides , current threats and how they impact humankind . Prof. Dirk Schmeller answered your questions at the end of the webinar, but also below. How can we avoid best the pressure on biodiversity from a growing population? This is a simple, but difficult to answer question. The increasing human population asks for more resources and those will be harbored in nature, and leading to its destruction. In an urgent first step, we need to create absolute sanctuaries of key biodiversity hotspots to save these unique regions. We then need to rethink our exploitation strategies and need to transform our society to be sustainably using natural resources. The latter will ask for many sacrifices, but is necessary for a soft landing in the current slow motion crises climate change and biodiversity loss.   How could we educate the young generations? Do you think that courses and/or training could be proposed at school? There is already education in schools and universities around climate change and biodiversity loss, likely also the reason for the Fridays For Future movement. Generalizing such courses would be one course of action, but may also have the problem to cause dispair amongst our young generation. So, educational plans would need to be carefully balanced. However, what would be way more important is the education of 40 to 70 year old. Those are considered to having the strongest impact, but also the highest potential to make important decisions.

### Pandemic exposes vulnerabilities of world’s cities

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/pandemic-exposes-vulnerabilities-of-worlds-cities
Published: 2020-09-10

How has COVID-19 affected cities? Cities have been disproportionately affected by this crisis because they thrive on population density, which characterizes them economically and socially. It is also why they have been hit hard by this pandemic. Vulnerable groups in cities are particularly at risk. What happens, for example, to the homeless, to street vendors, and to informal settlements worldwide? How do they survive in a pandemic? In many cities, housing is inadequate, sometimes unhealthy. In less developed countries, there may be no easy access to water or other basic services. Social distancing is also much harder. In a COVID context, people are reluctant to use public transport. If this situation continues, cities will be less able to maintain their current transport infrastructure – simply because they will be losing income. At the same time, it is an opportunity to encourage other forms of transportation, particularly cycling and walking. Do you think lockdown measures have exacerbated these vulnerabilities? In a lot of countries, we have had severe restrictions. In Spain, during the pandemic, it was forbidden to go more than one kilometre from our homes. Often, that didn’t make sense because there were not enough services within that one-kilometer radius. Green spaces, for example, often lie outside the city, well beyond the one-kilometer limit, or are concentrated in specific parts of the city that not everyone can enjoy. The pandemic has definitely highlighted the need to rethink the way we see and plan our cities, in my opinion. With this pandemic, do you think we will see more people return to the countryside? Maybe – for those people that can afford to do so (higher income and access to homeworking) but, for others, it is not an option. The economic opportunities are in the cities and certain jobs can only be done in cities. This is one of the reasons why people most exposed to COVID are generally those on lower incomes. This has highlighted some very important systemic inequalities you find in cities. We may see some movement to rural or peri-urban areas, which will put urban sprawl in the spotlight. While urbanization will expand, we must manage the continued pressure it puts on eco-systems and improve the way cities are built and the way they function. Migration to cities will continue. Currently, we have 33 mega cities around the world. The solution to migration towards urban areas is not to build more or bigger mega cities, but to improve the conditions across cities of all sizes including revitalising degraded areas. Is there a risk, with this pandemic, that cities will pay less attention to climate change? That was my fear at the beginning of this pandemic. COVID, of course, is a much more immediate problem. But if in response to the pandemic we work to improve public spaces, housing and transport and reduce the vulnerability of certain groups, it will make a difference for climate change as well. There are a number of simultaneous issues, not only COVID and climate change, but also environmental degradation or poor air quality, which would benefit from these measures to make cities sustainable. Regarding climate change specifically, many cities are already reducing emissions, however, adaptation – such as making infrastructure more resilient – is harder to take due to a perception of uncertainty and long-term impacts. If you reduce emissions, there is an immediate economic benefit but, with adaptation, the benefits may take much longer to come through. Even if adaptation needs to be urgently tackled in cities in a specific way, any action towards sustainability will make a difference, especially those aiming to reduce vulnerability of populations, infrastructures or ecosystems. “A lot of cities are tackling climate change by reducing emissions, but adaptation is harder to accept. If you reduce emissions, there is an immediate economic benefit but, with adaptation, the benefits take much longer to come through.” Does this crisis confirm the need to rethink the way we govern cities? My hope is that more policy will be made at a local level, particularly when we face emergencies such as COVID. During this crisis, some cities had to lobby their national governments for key decisions while others were able to act independently, and they have managed the outbreak much better. Cities are very diverse places – you need local knowledge to manage local consequences, even with a global challenge like a pandemic or climate change. Local grassroots movements and traditional knowledge holders have not often been part of decision-making – that is something that needs to change. To reduce vulnerability, a top-down approach is not enough. Furthermore, services should be available across cities, not just in city centers. This will help to solve issues in a more integrated way, with a consideration for how education, culture, urban planning, environment, or health, can affect climate for instance. Marta Olazabal , AXA Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Basque Center for Climate Change, Bilbao (Spain) The future of cities in the face of twin crises Are our cities effectively planning for climate change?

### Confronting a Global Crisis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/confronting-a-global-crisis
Published: 2020-07-22

COVID-19 has shaken both our societies and economies. The repercussions from the pandemic are likely to be felt for years to come. Based on interviews with scientists, researchers and experts, we look at the prospects for healthcare, the global economy and the environment as we confront the worst public health crisis in more than a century. Confronting a Global Crisis Read the publication here Read (new window) A Global Health Crisis COVID-19 is above all a health crisis – by the end of June, more than half a million people worldwide had lost their lives to the virus. This section looks at the impact of COVID-19, the strain the virus is putting on our healthcare systems, how it is affecting the vulnerable in particular the elderly, and those with pre-existing illnesses, the consequences for our mental health, and how we may be able to use technology to advance new treatments and improve diagnosis. See articles Economic Shock and Implications COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on our economy. Since the start of the crisis, governments across the world have spent billions attempting to protect industries and jobs. This section explore the implications for financial markets, the prospects for a quick recovery, and why the pandemic is exacerbating existing socio-economic inequalities. See articles An Environmental Wake-up Call The current crisis reveals the critical connection between the environment, the economy and our own health. This section examines that connection in more detail: how invasive species are putting our health at risk, how we can make our cities healthier and more sustainable, the potential for a green recovery and why the concept of "One Health" is so important. See articles July 2020

### “The health effects of air pollution are more pervasive than we thought” - Prof. Sverre Vedal

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-health-effects-of-air-pollution-are-more-pervasive-than-we-thought-prof-sverre-vedal
Published: 2020-06-17

The work carried out by Prof. Sverre Vedal's AXA Chair aims to assess the effects of air pollution exposure on human health, focusing both on short-term and long-term consequences. During the 5-year program, he has conducted both experimental and observational studies in China to understand how air pollution affects the human body and which pollutants are the most harmful. The overall objective of his research is to provide a strong scientific basis for public health interventions. Prof. Sverre Vedal shares the progress of the Chair. What do experimental studies reveal about the role of volatile organic components in lung inflammation? It is the volatile organic compound (VOC) component of the traffic air pollution mix that is responsible for the effects on lung inflammation, rather than particles and other gases like nitrogen dioxide or carbon monoxide. Basically, VOCs are carbon-containing compounds that exist as vapors or gases. Common examples include gasoline fumes and solvents. We obtained this result following an experimental study on the physiological response of subjects near heavily trafficked roadways. We asked participants to stand by the side of the road, with each one wearing a different kind of respirator on each of several weeks to filter out various parts of the air pollution mix and then looked at markers of inflammation in the lung airways. We found that lung injury increased on exposure to traffic, continued when we removed only the particles, and was completely blocked when we removed both the particles and the VOCs. This was really a surprise because it goes against the prevailing opinion. It is generally agreed that particulate matter is the main problem. VOCs were suspected to play a role, but it was never previously shown . As a next step, we are going to complete our analyses of follow-up traffic intervention studies. We especially want to assess gene-environment interactions and effects on the heart. We also plan a new intervention study employing in-vehicle air filtration. To what extent can air pollution models contribute to identifying impacts on people as a whole? Observational studies, such as population studies, show impacts on people as a group. They usually address questions in particular relating to long-term effects, although short-term effects can also be investigated. Specifically, this type of traditional epidemiological research consists in comparing exposure and disease status of patients on a larger scale, so we absolutely needed a reliable tool to measure air pollution variability in China. That is another important contribution of the Chair: the development of advanced air pollution exposure prediction models for China. Using advanced methods, we developed a spatio-temporal air pollution model for Beijing to obtain precise estimates of exposure over time in the city. Similarly , we created spatial models nationwide capable of generating valid point predictions all over China . Using another of our exposure predictions, we were able to carry out a very innovative study of the effects of air pollution on miscarriages. Working with hospital obstetrics investigators in Tianjin, a large city near Beijing, we determined that early pregnancy exposure to air pollution increases the risk of miscarriage. This is the first study anywhere that identifies susceptible exposure periods, and is but one of several upcoming applications of our air pollution prediction models. We are now extending our analyses of the early pregnancy loss study data. We’re also implementing a mobile air monitoring campaign in Beijing to enhance our spatio-temporal model for application in the BABIES project (Beijing Air Pollution and Birth Weight Impacts Examination Study). This is a new collaboration we have with a US NIH-funded study in Beijing on birth outcomes and air pollution. What are the impacts of air pollution on the heart and on the brain? The whole issue of air pollution turns out to be a surprising area of research. We had a narrow vision before, but it seems that air pollution effects are way more pervasive. For instance, we’ve collaborated with the Tianjin Medical University and Nankai University on an experimental study looking at the effects of air pollution on cognition. We administered English language exams to university students in both air filtered and non-filtered classroom environments. Initially, I wasn’t convinced we were going to find anything, but our preliminary results show a relationship between clean air and higher test scores. As I mentioned, we’ve also continued the roadside experiments but looking at cardiovascular outcomes this time. We’re just completing a manuscript in which results show a clear impact on the heart. Also, in our recently completed nationwide study in China using our exposure predictions, more exposure to air pollution was linked to cardiovascular disease measured by advanced x-ray methods. There’s now good evidence that air pollution triggers biological mechanisms outside the lungs . What has been the influence of your research in the development of health and environmental policies in China? My research has provided a sound scientific basis to a very fractured debate. There are lots of interests at stake, with some trying to minimize the effects of air pollution and others trying to dramatize them. I try to bring a rational approach to the table by utilizing the best possible science in an area that is very controversial. Now, with the results we’ve obtained, and the numerous discussions we’ve had with researchers known to influence decision makers, we’ve strengthened the scientific basis for the effects of air pollution on health which is critical to public health policy , and we’ve helped put other pollutants and other health consequences on their radar . I think the area where we are most likely to see the impact of our work is on air quality control policies . Chinese air pollution regulations are not that strict, except for particulate air pollution, so there’s a good chance we’ll soon see changes there also. What impact have your activities had on strengthening the environmental health research in China? Professional and social interactions between all of the collaborators, administrators and staff at the institutions participating in my research program have proved to be very valuable professionally and have improved cross-cultural understanding and good will. The Chair enabled us to raise the profile of the University of Washington in China, highlighting its  faculty, student and technical resources to investigators and institutions in China. From the CRAES perspective, as a result of the close collaborations of CRAES investigators with the AXA chairholder, who brought a strong background in air pollution exposure estimation and health effects, the most immediate impact was on the published output of CRAES investigators.  The results of these collaborations are now disseminated in high quality journals in the field, with the work employing advanced methods for estimating exposure to air pollution and for making the link between exposures and health consequences. These new collaborations will further grow environmental health research in China and have a positive impact on higher education as well through the addition of well-trained environmental scientists. More about Prof. Sverre Vedal Professor Sverre Vedal is a pulmonary physician and an epidemiologist. He is a professor emeritus of environmental sciences at the University of Washington School of Public Health. In 2013, he was awarded the AXA Chair in Air Pollution and Health at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) in Beijing, China. He holds a medical degree (MD) from the University of Colorado, as well as a master’s degree (MSc) in Epidemiology from Harvard University. June 2020 | Photo: @photoholgic Find out more How research helps build more resilient cities Can facemasks help reduce the negative health impacts of air pollution?

### Climate Change, Loss of Biodiversity and Epidemics: Causal Effects and Lessons for the Next Global Crisis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/climate-change-loss-of-biodiversity-and-epidemics-causal-effects-and-lessons-for-the-next-global-crisis
Published: 2020-06-09

April 22nd, 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. This is the opportunity to think about how the current sanitary crisis and climate change are linked and how interconnected our world systems are – the economy, health and the environment. Covid-19 and climate change are both global issues that we have been warned about over the decades but have not prepared to confront – or little. How is the imbalance and loss of biodiversity and its ecosystems and the changing climate related to the emergence of new pathogens and what can we learn from this crisis to better mitigate the next one? “What the current crisis has shown, if it was at all necessary, is how interconnected every issue on the planet is today,” points out Marie Bogataj, Head of the AXA Research Fund. “One of these elements of interconnection is much less known than the others despite being absolutely vital: it is biodiversity. While health and biodiversity may sound unrelated, the COVID 19 crisis is deeply connected to climate change and biodiversity loss.” The AXA Research Fund has brought together nine of its most prominent chairholders to discuss the sanitary, economic, financial and environmental issues that will arise in the post-crisis world. In the second of a three-part expert series, three members of this COVID-19 Task Force provide insights into the inherent mechanisms that connect nature to human health, and the lessons that can be learned for the next global crisis. How are climate change and biodiversity loss driving pandemics? Should we expect more in the future? • Prof. Dirk Schmeller It is a numbers game, really. We need to realize that since 1970, we have doubled the world’s population, and by doing so, we have decreased the living space of wildlife. We have harvested forests, destructed many landscapes. And in those landscapes, there are plenty of pathogens. Pathogens are very natural components; they are there to select against weak individuals. The moment we destruct biodiversity, nature, the environment, we get in touch with those pathogens or animals carrying those pathogens. There was always bushmeat consumption, but it is the increasing number of contacts which is driving these spillovers. We need to be aware that the current crisis is minor in comparison to climate change and biodiversity loss. Why? Climate change is a stress factor for everything, for ecosystems, for humans, for animals… Given that stress, we can only expect that the frequency of zoonoses, infectious diseases that spread to humans from nonhuman animals, will further increase in the future. We continue to open doors very wide for new pathogens to come in and cause trouble. • Prof. Gerard Killeen The short answer is yes; we should expect more pandemics. What I would like to add is that this is not new. This problem has been going on for quite some time. History tells us as much. Take the emergence of HIV. Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), the primate version of HIV, has been regularly infecting individual humans in Central and Eastern Africa for hundreds of years. But it’s only really in the second half of the 20th century that it became established as a human disease, through human-to-human transmission. The lesson to learn from this is that, even though it didn’t happen for hundreds of years, when it finally did, it happened three times in a row! Once things start to happen, they are going to happen regularly. And that’s going to be the case for a lot of new pathogens, like COVID-19.   Is this crisis a wake-up call? Does it present an opportunity to rethink the nature of our relationship with the ecosystems that sustain us, and to release the pressure our activities exert on them? • Prof. Franck Courchamp This crisis has shown to be deeply related to the biodiversity crisis. In this sense, it is indeed an opportunity to realize not only that we are having a direct impact on the ecosystems, but that we are having indirect impacts that come back to hit us like a boomerang. The sheer sanitary costs that we are experiencing with COVID-19, as well as the enormous economic costs that follow, should really make us realize that habitat destruction, overexploitation and transportation of species, biological invasions, industrial farming, and the increase of worldwide travels – before the crisis, one plane was taking off every second – all destabilize our environment and favor the spread of diseases. There are experiences and lessons that can be learned. China, for example, has already announced that they will ban wildlife food consumption, which I think is a major step forward. Similarly, I think that we should promote laws that ban wildlife transportation to slow down biological invasions, but also wildlife illegal trade. We also need laws that regulate deforestation, mining, industrial livestock farming, the three of which are favoring emergence of new diseases and therefore pandemics for humans. • Prof. Dirk Schmeller   The issue of climate change has become more and more apparent to people, but biodiversity loss, not so much. This crisis could be an opportunity to bring the problem to the forefront. It could help people understand the One Health concept: everything is interconnected, the health of animals, the health of nature, the health of humans. Biodiversity is incredibly complex. Whatever state-of-the-art machines humans are building, they are always going to be simple in comparison. Today’s crisis shows the consequences of tampering with such a system, of not keeping it healthy. It is a clear demonstration that when species are lost, when natural barriers are eliminated, the whole engine that is biodiversity stutters, and with each shuttering, the risk of pandemics increases. • Prof. Gerard Killeen For many people on the planet, such pandemics have been somebody else’s problem until now. While this is the first time in a hundred years that an emerging pathogen has really reached out and touched all of us, there have been several such outbreaks over the last decade, like SARS1, MERS and Ebola, that were contained regionally before becoming global pandemics. Most of us have only been lightly brushed so far, but the worst may be ahead of us. There is a huge issue about how this challenges our humanity and the way we perceive what is important. This crisis once again shows us that we need to settle our national issues because we have a global challenge to undertake and we need to get on with it. We need to have international solidarity, which is difficult to reconcile with closing borders, but that is something we are going to have to do cooperatively. We also need to learn how to preserve biodiversity in manner that also minimizes risk of new pathogens emerging into humans. We need to adapt veterinary quarantine measures to human diseases; we need to control human pathogens at borders, and we need to be particularly careful of invasive species. The issue has been brewing for a long time, and it is just trouble waiting to happen.   What are the similarities between invasive species and zoonoses? • Prof. Franck Courchamp Both have a lot in common and can even be closely interconnected. As a reminder, invasive species are species that have been introduced by man, either accidentally or deliberately, outside of their native ecosystem, where they get established, spread and take over. Zoonoses are infectious diseases that spread to humans from nonhuman animals. Both invasive species and zoonoses have the same drivers. They are either driven by habitat degradation caused by human activities, or by the transportation of local species into new regions. The mechanisms are also similar. They are both characterized by the absence of common evolution between the newcomers and the local species, and therefore an absence of acquired defense mechanisms. There are similarities when it comes to consequences as well. Both have an ecological impact, and also dramatic sanitary and economic consequences. Both should be viewed as a consequence of our mismanagement of the environment and the deficiency of international trade regulations. There are lessons that can be learned, because both can and should be mitigated more efficiently with proactive planning and international collaboration. Another way to look at the link between the two is that invasive species can themselves contribute to the spread of zoonotic pathogens worldwide. Some invasive species even include pathogens. The COVID-19 can be considered as an invasive species, because by definition, it is a species that comes from another region and has spread to regions that have not evolved to cope with it. Pathogens have been historically invading ecosystems for a long time. The first were plant pathogens, crop diseases, for example, which have had disastrous consequences for agriculture. There are also cases of invading species that are not pathogens but can spread pathogens. The tiger mosquito, for example, which is invasive in the South of France, can carry up to 30 different viruses, including the Yellow fever, Dengue and Zika. It should also be said that zoonoses do not threaten only humans, they threaten other animals, as well. For instance, grey squirrels from the USA are healthy carriers of a pathogen that is wiping out red squirrels in the UK. Low and middle-income countries have more experience of such crises, what are the lessons we can learn from them? • Prof. Gerard Killeen It has been a huge privilege to work in Tanzania and other parts of Africa, and to learn the value of simply just not giving up. For people working in national malaria control programs and HIV programs all over Africa, the odds always act against them. If you come from the outside, and you are not used to it, you are tempted to give up, but, you know, I have seen 10 million bed nets distributed in a day; I have seen cholera outbreaks contained. It involved all restaurants and informal food outlets being shut, it involved bans on the serving of food outdoors… I am very conscious of the fact that the Nigerians saved the world from Ebola back in 2014 when they traced over 500 people across the huge metropolis and travel hub that is Lagos. All kind of things are possible. It is easy to find the empty half of the glass, but we really need to focus on the full half and look at all the great successes that have happened in public health. There is a huge number of success stories in global health, particularly in some of the poorest countries. They are used to hardship and know what a really big problem looks like. I will put it this way, this is not my first lockdown, but this is by far the most comfortable one. So, to answer your question, there is a lot to learn particularly from low and middle-income countries.   In what way is this pandemic different from others, and why was a global lockdown necessary? • Prof. Gerard Killeen I normally work on malaria, but I have put this on hold, and I am currently working on coronavirus pathogen transmission modelling. In many ways, there are challenges with the coronavirus that are familiar to us in the malaria field. The first is that an awful lot of people who have the disease, they either don’t know it, or it’s mild enough that they shrug it off. That causes a problem unlike epidemics such as Ebola. People with Ebola get very sick, and it’s easy to pick up cases through epidemiological surveillance. However, when most cases are very mild, or even have no symptoms, it means they tend not to be picked up, and even if you put in place a very active surveillance system, the problem is that these mild symptoms overlap with other very common pathogens. There were really great reports from our Chinese colleagues coming early in the epidemic to warn us about the very variable, non-specific nature of this pathology. If you wanted to trace even just the symptomatic cases, basically you would have to test everyone with any symptom of anything. What that means is that the interventions we normally think of – test, treat, trace contacts, etc. – are not going to work in this case. The same is true of malaria. The approaches we take have to be preventative and presumptive. They also have to be preemptive, meaning you have to stop the epidemic before it starts, to deal with the clusters before they arrive. If you cannot tell who is infected, you need to ask everybody to protect themselves and other people around them, the same way that we ask everybody to use a bed net to protect themselves and their neighbors against malaria. That means people are going to have to get used to doing weird things, like not going to the shop even though they feel fine, or not rubbing their eyes. These are conceptually difficult things to do. April 2020 Researchers

### Covid-19 - Health Systems Response, Role of Data and AI and Mental Health Effects

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/covid-19-health-systems-response-role-of-data-and-ai-and-mental-health-effects
Published: 2020-06-08

The COVID-19 pandemic is shaking our societies to the core. In no time, the virus has painfully brought to light insufficiencies and discrepancies in healthcare accessibility and quality around the world. As we move further into the crisis, other more insidious health implications become apparent, starting with the psychological impact of anxiety and social distancing on mental health. In the face of these challenges, innovative strategies are being put into place, among which data and artificial intelligence have a leading role to play. Joining international efforts to fight the current crisis, “the community of AXA researchers has pulled together, even closer than before, to inform and shed light on the pressing issues raised by the current crisis,” reports Marie Bogataj, Head of the AXA Research Fund. Among other initiatives, the fund has brought together nine of its most prominent chairholders to form a COVID-19 Task Force. In this third and last of a three-part Expert series, three top-tier AXA-supported researchers provide their multidisciplinary insights into health systems response, the role of data and AI and on mental health effects. preformatted What impact has the COVID-19 crisis had on healthcare systems and on other basic needs? Weaknesses and inequities in our social systems have existed for years. With the current crisis, they have become exacerbated and thus more visible. I will give you a few examples, first regarding global guidelines on how to prevent the spread. One recommendation is that people should stay at home. Not everyone can. In Mexico, for instance, 49% of the population does not have enough income for basic food security. For them, to stay at home, is to stay hungry. Many people say the COVID-19 crisis will be a hunger pandemic. Another example concerns education and the recommendation to follow courses online. Here in Mexico, only 56% of homes have Internet and the more disadvantaged students are likely to fall even further. Another recommendation is to wash your hands as often as possible. In Mexico, 54% of homes don’t have a daily supply of water. These guidelines have been designed for developed countries. They have not been adapted to other countries, or even to people within the developed countries who cannot follow them. They are exacerbating inequalities , and making more difficult to control the pandemic. In terms of health system, not all countries have universal health coverage. In Mexico, 58% of people don’t have formal coverage, public or private. In New York, the mortality is much higher in Latino and African American communities. This is due, among other things, to the differences in access to healthcare. This pandemic has also made very evident that parts of the health system are much more neglected than others. Nursing homes, for instance, were not prioritized even though we knew that the people in them were more at risk. How can the "One Heath" approach provide an analysis of the current crisis? I am a very strong advocate of this approach. "One Health" is officially defined as a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach—working at the local, regional, national, and global levels—with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. The spread of the coronavirus, which we know jumped from wild animals to humans, was made possible by environmental changes and interconnections between human societies and countries. The idea behind the "One Health" approach is that you cannot understand the crisis by just looking at human health. You have to look at all the other components and think of them collaboratively. Countries must acknowledge these facts. Economic and scientific collaboration between countries, not isolation, is the only way forward. We are currently urging government officials to consider the principle of One Quality for all types of health services, not just in terms of clinical care, but also in terms of public health services. Clinical care is just one part of the problem, like trees preventing us from seeing the forest. The forest is the One Health approach. Public health services are part of it all, and we need to apply the same quality requirements and quality improvement actions to them as well: one health, one quality. What can we learn from this modern pandemic? How can we prepare better for the future? To prepare for the next pandemic, I think there are five important things to think about. The first one is the most obvious: prevention. We need to commit to "One Health" initiatives and consider them as an investment for the future, and not so much as an expenditure. If we had invested in One Health prevention, the economic losses would not be as bad or may have even been inexistent, because the pandemic would not had happened in the first place. The second thing we need to think about is the protection of our health systems, and particularly human resources. In Spain, for example, 20% of front-line health professionals have been infected so far, probably due to inadequate or inexistent protection. The third is infrastructure. We have to anticipate what we may need if this type of situation happens again and think about what our responsibilities are as a health system. The shortage of protective garment worldwide is a striking example. Now that we are waiting for a vaccine, we need to make sure that it will be safely distributed everywhere and for everybody. Again, this is obvious, but are nations thinking about being prepared for it?  The fourth is ethics. Think of Italy. When they became overwhelmed with patients, they did not know what and who to prioritize. We need to agree, in advance, on an ethical statement establishing rules for prioritization. The case of health personnel makes this obvious; their safety should have been a priority. Fifth, and finally, the important issue of fighting inequalities: social inequalities such as access to clean water and education, and also health inequalities and universal access to quality services. Fighting social and health inequalities should become a real priority. preformatted The outbreak is a source of fear and anxiety, not only because of the virus, but also because of the unprecedented social situation of global lockdowns. What is the effect on our mental well-being? I think that the first thing that is important for us to discuss is why this period is so stressful. The thing we know about stressors is that they are especially dangerous to us if they are uncertain. Right now, we don’t know if we will get sick, if we will have a minor set of symptoms, or if we will be in the hospital struggling for our lives. We don’t know if we will lose our jobs, or if our basic needs will be met. The current situation is also what we call an uncontrollable stressor. Whether or not we are stuck at home is not up to us. We cannot do anything personally to remove that stressor. That is why you see people behaving in these odd ways like buying up all the toilet paper in stores. They are trying to get control over something. In the short term, stress is not that harmful for us. Our bodies are built for short-term flight-or-fight situations. But when the stress keeps going for a long-extended period, like what we are going through right now, what happens is our bodies start dysregulating. They fail to go into homeostasis and that’s when you start seeing both psychological, behavioral and physiological damage happening. We start engaging in unhealthy coping behaviors. We overeat, we smoke, we drink heavily…. And then, to make matters worse, we cannot engage in our good coping habits. For example, we cannot go to our gym and we cannot see our friends. We know the harms of smoking and drinking, but few people know the harms, for instance, of not taking a vacation, which literally can kill you. This partnered with our bad health habits, is what is leading us to a trajectory which absolutely can lead to clinical depression, and a lot of us are worried about suicidal behaviors going up. This pandemic is eroding our social relationships, not just outside the homes, but inside as well. Because we are stuck together all the time, our homes can become a source of stress as well. We know that, in some cases, these situations can result in violence. What would be the possible interventions to reduce the negative effects on mental health? I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the cure is worse than the disease, but we do have to think about the mental health consequences of the lockdowns. In order to adapt to the anxiety this situation is creating – that constant feeling like a lion is about to attack us – the best intervention is to try and release the energy our bodies are saving up, to release the adrenaline flowing through our bodies. We can do some exercise: find some high-intensity workout online or go for a run if we are allowed to. Another issue from a public mental health perspective is the inability of people to go for walks or let children outside. Nature and exercise are huge well-being predictors. Just being around trees can reduce your blood pressure. If you cannot exercise, because you are physically unable to, even simple breathing exercises can help. Paced breathing can activate the relaxation component of our nervous system and physically lower your heart rate and blood pressure. From the social relationship perspective, capitalizing on the relationships that we have can help, like reaching out to people online. I have been telling people to try and concentrate on the positive things they have now and the ones they can plan for. I would also recommend that people just look up positive psychology interventions online, there are so many great things out there. From the public health perspective, we could start thinking of slightly larger bubbles of isolation. We could let people quarantine together, in two-or three- family groups for example, in which people can share childcare duties across families. What is the link between positive emotions and our physical health? Our minds and bodies are not dual systems, which means that anything that we feel or think has the potential to alter our physiology. We have decades of research showing how our mood, our stress and our relationships affect our stress hormones, how our immune system works, how our cardiovascular works, whether or not we recover from an illness. We also know that protective factors, like social relationships and positive emotions, can undo those stress processes and protect us so that we don’t get sick. We really understand those mechanisms quite clearly. There are so many important psychosocial and behavioral things that we need to look at to predict COVID-19 outcomes right now. What this means for research is that, the huge variability we are seeing in how sick people are getting, beyond preexisting conditions or age, could be partly explained by psychosocial predictors. We need to understand to what extent the behaviors we are having at home right now, how we are acting in our relationships, our thoughts, our stress, are influencing not just whether we catch the virus or not, but how sick we will get. If we can figure this out, we can tailor psychosocial interventions over the coming year. preformatted Can AI play a role in identifying mental health issues and symptoms of distress? Prof. Thomas Lukasiewicz -  Yes, of course. AI can help to detect patterns that belong to certain mental health diseases, like depression. We often express our feelings in our face, but also our voice. These patterns of diseases can be detected. Wearable sensors can also help detect relevant variables. The same way, online activity can be used as a detection opportunity. Chatbots could also play a role, they could help provide support to people who have nobody to talk to, and, of course, help detect pointers of depression in the speech. Prof. Sarah Pressman -  I think what is going to be particularly useful is social media. Obviously, what we say online, the words that we use, are different than what we feel internally, but there has been so much exciting work showing that you can pick up distress by looking at the words that people use online, and even connect that to health. I know that places like Facebook have developed algorithms to scan posts for suicide risk using machine learning of unnatural language processing. Hopefully, we will see people partnering with public health organizations at some point to potentially intervene when we do start seeing these behaviors. Another thing that has been key is the deployment of telehealth approaches, both MDs and clinicians. Many people were able, almost right away, to move their practices online. It is going to be so important for us monitoring mental and physical health. Hopefully, it will become more and more available for everyone. How is AI currently being used to address the pandemic, and how can it be used to help detect and manage early symptoms of the disease? Prof. Thomas Lukasiewicz - There are several examples that illustrate how we can use AI and machine learning, more specifically deep learning and pattern recognition, to provide alternative ways for testing and diagnosing Covid-19. We have all heard of the Chinese clinicians using X-ray imaging and CT imaging to diagnose the virus. These images are currently being used in order to build AI systems capable of detecting it. Since the virus is affecting breathing, and contaminated people are often coughing, another idea is to use AI to detect the virus by identifying patterns in the voice. Wearable sensors could also be used, that record our life and mobility data. People with the virus might exhibit higher temperatures, they might not sleep well during the night or exhibit other deviations from their normal behavior. If we take a broader look at the problem, away from physical symptoms, AI can also be used to detect new outbreaks using people’s activity online. People may mention relevant information on social media, or they may research symptoms on search engines. Machine learning is also used for treatment. As of yet, there are not many possibilities for treatment, but AI can help decide if ventilation is necessary, when it is necessary, under which conditions. It may help predict and optimize outcomes to increase the chance of survival of patients. AI is also being used to design drugs and vaccines to try out different molecules and their effects. Later, for when we have tackled the pandemic, AI could also help us to monitor the long-term impact of the virus on the cardio-vascular system for instance. Tracing who is infected has been see as one of the ways to control the transmission of COVID-19. What are the issues when it comes to data privacy and tracking?  Prof. Thomas Lukasiewicz - The big questions are, first, which data to store and, second, whether to store it in a centralized or decentralized way. On the issue of what information to store, what we really need if someone gets infected and tested positive, is to inform all the previous contacts that they are at risk of infection. We need those contacts, but we don’t really need their locations. There are solutions that offer complete tracking of these people, including their locations. This is more information than we need at that point. Now, on the topic of where to store this information. If we stored all the information in a centralized way, we could use that information for other purposes, like exploring the most likely transmission circumstances, but that would also open a way for misuse. That is why people, and scientists, would prefer to decentralize the information. April 2020 Researchers

### Harnessing genomic information to create Green Super Rice - Prof. Rod Wing's research outcomes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/harnessing-genomic-information-to-create-green-super-rice-prof-rod-wings-research-outcomes
Published: 2020-06-02

The combined effects of population growth and climate change pose major threats to food security, biodiversity and the environment. Both trends are intrinsically linked, adversely impacting one another and creating a vicious circle of intensive agriculture, deforestation, increased carbon emissions, severe climate alterations, and ultimately food insecurity. But this is not inextricable. According to professor Wing, the wide genetic diversity of rice varieties carries a sustainable solution in the battle against world hunger. Holder of the AXA Chair in Genome Biology and Evolutionary Genomics at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), he has spent the last 5 years harnessing valuable natural variations in the wild relatives of domesticated rice to ultimately enable their breeding into sustainable crops known as Green Super Rice. Looking back, he tells us about the progress achieved, the prospects opened up and the road still ahead. How far along are we on the path to cultivating Green Super Rice? In the 5 years I have been leading the AXA Chair at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), we have gone a long way towards our common objective: to leverage the genomics of rice in order to produce enough rice to feed an expanding world population. To reach this end, we first needed the highest quality reference genomes possible for all 27 known species of rice across the genus Oryza , as well as for some of the subspecies (subpopulations inside species). Reference genomes are representative examples of a species set of genes. They are crucial because they serve as baseline for identifying genetic variations from one variety to another. Each variety (species or subspecies) has evolved to survive in different environments, and these capabilities are reflected in their DNA (i.e. their genomes). Out of the 27 known species of rice we just mentioned, only two are domesticated (Asian and African). Asian rice ( Oryza sativa ) is by far the most commonly consumed species of rice. This is why one of the most significant achievements reached, so far, in the frame of the AXA Chair program is the generation of high-quality reference genomes for representatives of all 15 subpopulations of Asian rice. Let me explain, inside this one very important species, we identified 15 distinct populations, kind of like races. Sequencing all of them was relevant to our project, because despite the fact that they belong to the same species, they display vastly different genetic structures and properties. Another very important aspect of the work we carried out, concerns wild varieties of rice. The cultivated varieties (Asian and African) are not the only reservoir of natural variations we can use. The 25 remaining species are not domesticated, they are what we could call weeds, but they constitute a huge untapped reservoir for crop improvement. We are talking about 15 to 20 million years’ worth of evolutionary history. When it comes to these varieties, my lab’s most significant contributions to science have revolved around the International Oryza Map Alignment Project (I O MAP). The premise of I O MAP, initiated in 2003, was to develop a set of high-quality genomic resources for wild species of Oryza . The term designates the genus of plants that has given rise to cultivated rice. The IRRI gene bank, called the International Rice Gene bank Collection (IRGC), stores and preserves countless seeds and living specimens of these varieties. Our collaboration has allowed me to tap into this potential gold mine and to sequence the genomes of some of these varieties. In 2018, we published a landmark paper in Nature Genetics which analyzed the reference genomes of 13 domesticated and wild rice relatives, 9 of which were newly sequenced reference genomes. Among other things, we were able to identify many new genetic determinants of potential use for future crop protection. How exactly are these reference genomes going to help with food safety in the future? The high-quality genomes we are producing will be mapped against each other to identify natural DNA variations (novel genes, traits and/or genomic regions) accounting for their different observable characteristics (phenotypes). For instance, some varieties display remarkable resistance to disease, others can grow in saltwater, etc. Our goal is to capture these differences and use them to create what we call ‘Green Super Rice’. These varieties will have improved yield potential, higher nutritional quality, better ability to grow in problem soils, and improved tolerance of pests, diseases, and the stresses, such as flood and drought, that will be inevitable with future climate change. They will also help reduce risks in general, in terms of crop loss, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions or in terms of health. It will have an impact on the livelihood of farmers, as well. How will Green Super Rice be bred? The data we have produced in the frame of the AXA Chair, and that we are still generating now, will serve to create publicly available ‘digital gene banks’. This online data will allow breeders to create tailored ‘Super Green Rice’ varieties according to their needs and growing environments. Current breeding practices typically consist in making crosses between different varieties with the hope that the offspring will show an improvement of the desired traits. However, breeders often have to resort to time-consuming trials and errors over multiple generations to obtain satisfactory results. Digital gene banks will provide a major step forward by helping breeders make better informed decisions. By having access to information about the genetic markers related to specific traits, they will, for instance, be able to make more efficient crosses . They will also have the possibility to resort to gene editing, a process that consists in inserting, deleting, modifying or replacing particular locations in the genome. Both techniques will result in much faster development of new varieties. Why the focus on rice? Today, Asian rice is the staple food for half the world, contributing an estimated 20% of human dietary calories. As the global population is projected to increase by almost 3 billion by 2050, rice is bound to play a key role in food security. But to meet the combined challenge of population growth and climate change, breeders urgently need to develop new and sustainable varieties. The genus Oryza is not the only staple food that stands out in its significance to human civilization; soybeans, wheat or maize also play a critical role. We are paving the way for other similar initiatives. Another reason why we chose rice, and were able to lead the way, is that the rice genome is small relative to many other crop genomes. In fact, at an estimated 400 million DNA base pairs, it has the smallest genome of all the cereals . In comparison, maize stands at 3 billion base pairs, approximately the same as the human genome. Even more striking is the wheat genome with 15 billion base pairs. Rice was thus an obvious choice for the first whole genome sequencing project published in 2005, where I led the USA’s effort to sequence 2.5 of the 12 rice chromosomes. Has this AXA Chair opened doors for you in the future? The AXA Chair has helped me develop my collaboration with IRRI, of course, but it has also helped me internationalize my research and my contacts. Every year, I participate to international conferences; I give talks all over the world. It has placed my research and myself at center stage and opened the way for new opportunities, new collaborations and new grants. By December 2021, our Christmas present to the world will be the release of our entire genome database: 42 high quality reference genomes in total. That is reference genomes for each of the 25 wild species, 1 for the African rice species, 15 for the subpopulations of Asian rice, and the original O. sativa Nipponbare genome that was generated in 2005 by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP ). This will only be the beginning of our journey. My end customer is actually the breeder. If I had to start all over again, I think I would be a breeder. Their work is crucial, and I am really glad I get to help. More about Prof. Rod Wing Regents Professor* Rod A. Wing is a world-renowned expert in plant genomics, bioinformatics and evolutionary biology for crops such as rice and corn. AXA Chair in Genome Biology and Evolutionary Genomics at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) from 2014 to 2020, he is currently Director of the Center for Desert Agriculture at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, Founding Director of the Arizona Genomics Institute, and a member of the BIO5 Institute and the Bud Antle endowed Chair of Excellence in Agriculture and Life Sciences at the School of Plant Sciences of the University of Arizona (USA). * The title Regents Professor is awarded to faculty members with the highest academic merit. May 2020 | Photo: @chema_photo More information about the subject How are we going to feed the world without destroying it? Biodiversity at Risk : Preserving the Natural World for our Future

### Launch of the AXA-UCC Chair to fight malaria at University College Cork

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/launch-of-the-axa-ucc-chair-to-fight-malaria-at-university-college-cork
Published: 2020-05-11

Photo: @syedmohdali121 Malaria affects millions of people worldwide every year. To support the fight against this infectious parasitic disease, AXA inaugurated in April a Chair at the University College Cork (UCC) : "Fighting Malaria and Preserving Biodiversity in Africa" headed by Professor Gerry Killeen, a renowned specialist and a contributor to WHO malaria prevention policies. Aware of the role played by the environment in the adaptation of mosquitoes to circumvent the measures deployed to eradicate them, Professor Killeen aims to characterize the opportunities and obstacles arising, including various efforts to conserve biodiversity in Africa. The dual objective of his AXA-UCC Chair is to accelerate the eradication of the disease, while promoting better management of nature reserves. > Read the UCC release > More information on Prof Gerry Killeen’s AXA project > Researcher’s profile > Read the article on Gerry Killeen's research from The Lancet   Partners of this Chair: University College Cork (UCC) in the Republic of Ireland is an internationally competitive, globally focused, research-led university. It is Ireland’s first five-star University with internationally recognized research in science, food, engineering, medicine, business, law, social sciences and the humanities. The institution is ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide based on the quality of its research outputs and peer esteem indicators. UCC has also received the European Commission’s award of HR Excellence in Research, recognizing institutional support for researchers and on-going commitment to the European Charter and Code for Researchers. The Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Tanzania is a leading African health research organization, with a strong track record of developing, testing and validating innovations for health. It is driven by core strategic mandate for research, training and services. The institute’s work spans across the full research lifecycle from basic science to policy and translation. IHI work is organized in three research departments, six research units and seven technical units. The research departments are: Environmental Health & Ecological Sciences, Interventions & Clinical Trials, and Health Systems, Impact Evaluation & Policy. May 2020

### Keeping it real: reliable, robust predictions for the future of ecosystems - Prof. Colin Prentice's research outcomes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/keeping-it-real-reliable-robust-predictions-for-the-future-of-ecosystems-prof-colin-prentices-research-outcomes
Published: 2020-05-04

Earth system models have contributed invaluably to our evolving understanding and awareness of climate change. Yet, fundamental limitations to these mathematical tools remain, not the least of which is their tendency to deliver contradictory results. Pointing the finger at their unnecessary complexity, Prof. Iain Colin Prentice and a number of other world-renowned scientists have undertaken the mission to produce a new generation of models of the global land surface, resting on secure theoretical and empirical foundations. The overall objective is to develop robust, quantitative knowledge about the impacts of environmental variability and change on land ecosystems, as well as their interactions with the atmosphere. Prof. Iain Colin Prentice looks back on the achievements of the Chair, on the role of AXA and on the impacts his results have had already. How can the progress made during your time in the Chair contribute to the improvement of Earth System models? And what are the new developments exactly? If we are to understand and predict what will happen to our planet in the future, being able to measure and predict carbon uptake by plants is an absolute prerequisite. However, we lack firm knowledge on this topic. For that reason, our main achievement, I would say, is the development of a satellite-based model that does a good job of predicting the total uptake of carbon in photosynthesis (aka "gross primary production" or GPP) across the ecosystems of the world. The model is remarkably simple, yet it performs much better than many models that are far more complicated. Basically, it just analyzes data and necessitates minimum added parameters. Part of the model development was theory – I showed that the "light use efficiency" formulation (which means GPP is proportional to the amount of light absorbed by leaves) has a sound basis when allowance is made for the way properties of the leaves change over time. I have shown how the temperature of leaves (provided the plants have sufficient water supply) is buffered, so leaves in cold climates tend to be warmer than the air while those in hot climates tend to be cooler than the air. I have shown how this can be predicted, and that it is true based on an analysis of satellite observations of the temperature of the land surface. This is crucial information in regard to climate change and predicting how vegetation will respond to the shifts in temperatures. What is more, I have developed a model that correctly predicts how the thickness of leaves (leaf mass per area, LMA) relates to their lifespan, and how this relationship shifts according to light intensity, the length of the favorable growth season, and other aspects of climate. These mechanisms are all cogs in the ecosystems machine, and what we are doing is reassessing them, finding simple ways to explain and predict them, to make sure that our vegetations models are based on sound information . I have also shown how the new GPP model can be adapted with minor additions to predict the grain harvest in wheat crops, how they vary from year to year and how they may change under different scenarios of changing CO2 and climate. Have you discovered anything you were not expecting? In 2017, I published a paper on the predictability of nitrogen in the leaves of wild plants. One implication is that leaf nitrogen does not determine photosynthetic capacity, as many models assume, but rather, photosynthesis is optimized at the leaf level, and the metabolic component of leaf nitrogen simply follows from it. In other words, plants are smart! This is a very controversial paper, because it goes against a commonly assumed principle. In total, I have published almost 100 peer-reviewed journal articles since the start of my AXA Chair. Is your research going to change the way in which plant ecology and land ecosystem modelling are currently approached? As far as the research community is concerned, another crucial output of the research I’ve conducted with the help of my AXA Chair is the setting up of an international consortium to pursue the development of “next-gen” vegetation models, based, in part, on the work I’ve just mentioned. The consortium includes members from UC Berkeley, Texas Tech, Reading University, ETH Zurich and Tsinghua University. It has also extended to include participants from the Universities of Pittsburgh and Utrecht. We meet monthly by Skype and also communicate via a Slack group. Slowly but surely, my research is changing plant functional ecology and land ecosystem modelling. Ideas once considered "left-field" are becoming accepted, and new directions in land-surface modelling for weather, climate and Earth System applications are being pursued based on my recent research. How is your research likely to impact our lives in the future? It will come more slowly, through the general adoption of more reliable models for the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and how ecosystem processes influence the carbon cycle and climate. With better models will come a new-found ability of science to deliver actionable information on climate-change adaptation in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. I’m hoping that the whole issue of climate change and impact on biosphere will become clearer. When you have a lack of firm knowledge, or agreed knowledge I should say, there is space for all kinds of opinions. It creates room for politicizing, which is very unhelpful when it comes to moving things along. We need another paradigm shift in Earth system modelling. There was time when we thought global Earth system models weren’t even possible. Now, we need to prove that reaching firmer accuracies is within our grasp, that we can develop models that don’t contradict each other. We couldn’t before, mainly because of the scarcity of data, but this is no longer the case. Data is the key issue here. Now that we have access to precise measurements on a lot of parameters, the situation has changed radically. We can use this data to validate our models. This is what I’m doing along with the next-gen vegetation models consortium, and I have no doubt that these ideas will be accepted. It’s all about the consolidation of knowledge. What role has AXA played in the success of the project and in your career? The AXA Chair has allowed me the freedom to pursue research leading to important recognition both for me personally and for Imperial College. Since the start of my AXA Chair, I have received funding from the European Space Agency for the TerrA-P project, a global monitoring system based on satellite data, and a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant for the REALM project (Re-inventing Ecosystem And Land-surface Models). What is more, I have been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society and taken up a new leadership role as Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society. I have also been appointed as a High-End Foreign Expert at Tsinghua University. What are your next major projects? I am on course to create, in collaboration with colleagues in the next-gen vegetation model development group: a comprehensive "optimal trait theory" linking all the most important properties of plants in a common theoretical framework. We also aim to improve our understanding of the global-scale coupling between the carbon and water cycles, which is largely regulated by plants; as well as our understanding of the past, present and future of the global carbon cycle and fossil-fuel CO2­ uptake by ecosystems on land. Who is Colin Prentice? Professor Iain Colin Prentice is a world-renowned expert in climate sciences, ecology and environmental biology. From 2012 to 2019, he held the AXA Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts at the department of Life sciences, Imperial College, London. He is currently the director of the Leverhulme Center for Wildfires, Environment and Society and holds an honorary professorship in Ecology and Evolution at the Macquarie University in Sydney. He has a PhD in botany (pollen ecology) from the University of Cambridge. April 2020 | Photo: @viniciusbenedit Know more about Prof. Prentice's project

### The AXA Research Fund supports the Billion Molecules Against COVID19 Challenge

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-axa-research-fund-supports-the-billion-molecules-against-covid19-challenge
Published: 2020-04-06

As the world faces one of the most challenging crises in modern history, radical new methodologies are needed to tackle the exponential threats of our times. The AXA Research Fund has committed to support the Billion Molecules against COVID-19 Grand Challenge, launched by the Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI), the major European Initiative for disruptive innovation. This challenge, launched on May 4th, open to the best scientific & technology teams in the world, has one objective : to screen billions of molecules with blocking interactions relevant to SARS-CoV-2, and fast-track the route to a therapeutic treatment . This is the first-ever DARPA-type (Advanced Research Projects Agency) challenge in Europe at the intersection of epidemiology, high performance computing, molecular biology and artificial intelligence.     “The support for JEDI was unanimous within our Advisory Board and we are very excited to be supporting the Billion Molecules against Covid-19 Grand Challenge. At the AXA Research Fund, we believe in open science and collaboration to confront the issues our societies face today. The Billion Molecules Grand Challenge brings together the health and technologies research fields and private sector assets to help accelerate treatment responses to COVID-19, our single most pressing issue today.” Marie Bogataj, head of the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Foresight. Funders and researchers, join us in this challenge: You can apply to stage 1 (May 4th – June 6th)   here Read the project launch press release Help promote the initiative, following #JEDICovid19challenge or on JEDI Linked In & Twitter accounts April 2020 – updated May 5 

### How to restart the COVID-Lockdown Economy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-to-restart-the-covid-lockdown-economy
Published: 2020-04-02

As the toll on human health and lives caused by the novel coronavirus increases daily, economy-wide lockdowns are severely impacting the economy. Professor Lily Fang, who heads the AXA Chair in Financial Risk at INSEAD , argues that to mitigate the economic crisis, lockdown periods  should have well defined horizons – three to four weeks. In her recent article, Professor Fang  advocates mass antibody testing as the way to allow for the recovered and newly immune population to go back to work and restart the economic engine. The resumption of economic activity, according to Professor Fang, should be accompanied by other policy pillars such as the protection of vulnerable populations, stay-at-home policies for the sick and lost income support. Strategic long-term investment in infrastructure, both physical and intellectual, would also allow policymakers to turn a crisis into long term growth.   You can read Professor Fang’s full article here & watch her interview with CNN Money here April 2020

### 5 tips for our mental health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/5-tips-for-our-mental-health
Published: 2020-04-01

Feeling good can reduce your stress and improve your health. “Most people don’t realize that stress has objective negative physiological effects,”  Dr. Sarah Pressman  says, including bodily changes that are linked to disease morbidity, severity and even survival: “That said, researchers have shown that even during major life stresses, like what we are all facing now with this pandemic, raising positive emotions is still possible, and their presence is an important determinant of stress reduction and future well-being.” Rewarded in 2015 by the AXA Research Fund, Dr Pressman’s research project aims to identify specific positive emotions that are most powerful against the negative stress impacts.  Today, she gives us 5 tips to manage stress and be happy.   1. Spend time with people that you like and love . Social relationships are absolutely central to feeling positive, but can also be quite toxic to well-being when they are bad. Spend time cultivating relationships with the people who energize you and who are supportive of you, and positive emotions will certainly raise your well-being and help you in times of stress. What matters most for stress is your perception that people are there for you. That means that even in these times of social distancing, just sending someone a note that you are there for them, sharing distress over a video conference, or actually helping someone by dropping off something they need at their apartment or ordering something for them online.  2. Savor the good things! Often times, positive experiences happen during the day, but are gone and forgotten in a blink! Think of how quickly you drink your delicious morning coffee, or how quickly a piece of chocolate disappears from your mouth. Taking the time every day to  truly notice  the positive things that happen can help you remember them and carry them with you throughout the day. We are always in a rush, and it is so much easier to focus on the bad things that are happening and let them invade our thoughts, as opposed to letting the small positive uplifts stay in our minds. A good example that I use of this phenomenon is to have students in my classes do a  chocolate meditation . It really shows how we can take something positive that is normally over in a second and forgotten immediately, and make it  last.  Savoring positive events helps fights the natural tendency to over focus and ruminate over all of the negative things going on right now, and provides your body with a much needed break from stress. 3. Do Good! Along the same lines as #1, spending time trying to make other people happy is one of the best ways to improve our own mood. Volunteering your time for a charity, helping a friend who needs something, spending time with people worst off than you in some way...these are all ways of not only momentarily improving your mood, but also increasing your sense of life purpose and potentially your life meaning. These deeper cognitive constructs can improve your well-being over the long run and have a slew of long term wellness benefits. Helping those that are having a hard time can activate something called a "downwards social comparison" which can also help you realize how good your life situation is, and make you more grateful for what you have now. Even in times of social distancing, you can volunteer to help someone who lives alone get what they need, you can donate your skills to various online projects going on, or even donate money to a cause that aligns with your personal values. You will be amazed at how good this will make you feel. 4. Spend your money on experiences and not things . Despite the materialistic messages we regularly get advertised to us (e.g., you need this new car, you need a new iphone, your house should be bigger!), research has shown that time and time again, the most "bang for your buck" for happiness occurs when you spend money on experiences. Why is this? Most things that we buy are quickly adapted to (this is called "hedonic adaptation") such that the excitement we felt at first, quickly dissipates. Experiences (e.g., going on exciting trips, going to cultural events, spending times with a loved one in a new place), however, are part of who we are, they contribute regularly to social relationship quality, and can even define our passions and life purpose. Right now, our ability to spend money on experiences is limited, but you can start planning your dream vacation for when the COVID crisis is over, and you will be amazed at how looking forward to that positive experience will lighten your mood. You can also spend money on things that will be a source of joint entertainment and social connection by purchasing games and puzzles you can play with the other people you are living with. Finally, for parents or caregivers, if there is a way to spend money on something that will give you a break while your kids are out of school, take it. Is there an online tutor who can buy you an hour of time? A new educational game or show that will allow you a second to breathe? Leisure is critical for reducing stress and enhancing well-being, so finding a way to purchase a few minutes of restoration time would be money well spent in a time when parents likely have almost no free time, especially those balancing homeschooling and working. 5. Prioritize your Health. Even as a health psychologist, it's still a shock to see the strong interconnections between our minds and our bodies. Think about how hard it is to be happy when you haven't gotten enough sleep, when you eat poorly, or when you haven't been active recently. On the flip side, can you think of a time when you had a rush of endorphins from a great workout? A time you woke up feeling perfectly well rested and how you carried that happy feeling with you all day? Our health behaviors and our health are intimately connected to our happiness. Researchers regularly cite exercise as one of  the best  ways to fight depression, but of course, it's hard to make someone exercise. Thus, along with the message of spending money on experiences, I think it's critical that people spend time, money and resources on their health in whatever ways they need to. If getting fitness in requires a personal trainer or a fancy gym membership, that is money well spent (or given the closure of gyms, consider buying a nice piece of home exercise equipment and/or live streaming fitness classes). If it takes paying for someone to make your meals to eat healthy, consider it. Feeling sleep deprived? Prioritize your rest, cancel your evening's plans, and get the  Zzz  that your body and mind need. Your health is something worth being selfish about for the sake of living a long and good life, but also for the sake of your happiness. Beyond that, positive psychologist experts are working their way into many domains to introduce activities like practicing gratitude, savoring, goal setting, etc. in workplaces, schools, and at home because of the ample work showing that these positive activities are good for many wellness outcomes, for example, increased immune function critical for protecting us against illness. One group I've been especially impressed with is the " Doctor Payaso " group who is bringing much needed joy and humor into hospitals all over Mexico, and convincing medical administrators on the value of this effort. At this point, however, no broad application has been made at governments level to work, health and education locations. That said, considering the growing focus on happiness, for example, in global happiness reports, as well as the focus on "Gross National Happiness" by many countries, and some places instituting social wellness approaches (e.g., the UK hire of a "minister of loneliness"), there might be more to come soon. March 2020 How to fight stress with a smile? How to cope with stress and live happier, healthier lives?

### Fighting an emerging invasive pathogen from Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/fighting-an-emerging-invasive-pathogen-from-asia
Published: 2020-04-01

Professor Dirk Schmeller, who heads the AXA Chair on Functional Mountain Ecology at Toulouse INP-ENSAT , sounds the alarm on the near-extinction of entire amphibian populations due to a wild pathogen that originated in Asia and spread worldwide. In a recent article, he highlights some similarities between this largely unknown pathogen devastating amphibian populations and the covid-19 virus claiming the lives of humans, both in terms of drivers and mitigation strategies. Ultimately, he raises awareness on the fragility of natural ecosystems and the role played by each animal and plant species to keep these ecosystems healthy to allow us to thrive. For more info, read Prof. Schmeller’s  article [5 minutes read]. April 2020 The AXA Research Fund commits to the COVID-19 effort Biodiversity at Risk : Preserving the Natural World for our Future

### OpenCOVID-19: a pluri-disciplinary, open-source response to the crisis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/opencovid-19-a-pluri-disciplinary-open-source-response-to-the-crisis
Published: 2020-03-31

Thomas Landrain , AXA Fellow in 2009, is a fervent defender of open science and a pioneer of a "Do It Yourself" approach of science .  Thomas is the founder of La Paillasse, the first community laboratory in France. He is also co-founder and president of JOGL (Just One Giant Lab) , the first research and innovation laboratory operating as a distributed, open and massive mobilization platform for collaborative task solving of general interest issues. To face the challenges of COVID-19, JOGL launched the OpenCovid19 initiative in February 2020 with a goal to find fast, efficient and low-cost solutions in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID19 with the collaborative input of engineers, researchers and computer scientists. One of the immediate projects is to provide solutions in the development of equipment such as protective masks or respirators. The AXA Research Fund is specifically geared to the operation of the open research platform and the prototyping of promising equipment. By the end of March, the platform had received over 3,000 contributions from all over the world and around fifty prototypes of masks that could be produced at low cost were offered for testing to users. More information : More about the OpenCOVID-19 initiative More about JOGL (Just One Giant Lab) Read Thomas Landrain's interview on axa.com April 2020 Discover the other AXA Research Fund supported COVID19 initiatives READ THE ARTICLE (new window)

### How does mercury end up in our plates?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-does-mercury-end-up-in-our-plates
Published: 2020-03-04

In the midst of growing concern about the impact of human activities on our oceans, Dr. Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida answerssome of our most pressing questions about the presence of toxic mercury in fish, how it ends up there and how to minimize the effects on human health and the environment. Photo: @jakobowens1 - “To fight mercury poisoning, there are two ways to go. We can either change the way we eat, but not everyone has the freedom to do so, or act on our mercury emissions. Either way, we have no choice, we need to reduce our environmental footprint and we need to do it now. ” Dr. Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida - Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida is a chemical oceanographer with the CNRS based at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Aix-Marseille University. He was awarded an AXA fellowship in 2015 for his research on marine mercury dynamics, followed by an Outreach grant in 2016. Specifically, his investigation relates to how mercury transforms into its most toxic form, methylmercury, which ultimately ends up in the fish we eat. How does mercury get into fish? That is the whole question. There are still knowledge gaps in our understanding of the whole process by which mercury enters the food chain. We know that human activities are responsible for most of the mercury in the atmosphere and which sources are to blame, but human and fish exposition to mercury is not directly related to these sources. Let me explain: the only form of the metal that is found in fish is called methylmercury (MeHg). The problem is, we don’t know exactly what causes the presence of this type of mercury in the ocean. We know that somewhere deep within the ocean, mercury transforms into this highly toxic compound, which is then bioaccumulated by phytoplankton, which is then eaten by zooplankton, and so on, all the way to the big predatory fish, and ultimately to us. We think that bacteria known to produce such a chemical change are probably involved in the transformation process. But the precise way it happens and how it enters the phytoplankton remains mysterious. It seems that there remain many questions around the production of methylmercury, how so? We have known about the presence of mercury in fish for at least 50 years now, but still this one blind spot remains. Why? Mainly because the amount of methylmercury found in the oceans is minuscule. Concentration is around 0,5 mg per 50 million liters of sea water. Imagine what it is like to make precise measurements in a glass of water. It is worse than looking for a needle in a haystack! Thankfully, we have developed novel techniques that allow us to work at the picogram per liter range. With such infinitesimal amounts, you would think methylmercury would not pose a threat to our health. Well, that is where the food chain comes into play. As the compound travels through the food chain, its concentration soars literally. In big predator fish, it is frequent to find up to 0,5 mg per kg. That is 50 million times the initial sea water concentration. Tunas and swordfish, for instance, eat a lot of medium size fish, which eat a lot of small fish, which in turn eat enormous amounts of zooplankton and phytoplankton. The higher we go in the food chain, the higher the concentration becomes. When it reaches a certain level, it becomes a health hazard. What are the consequences of mercury poisoning for humans? The most common type of mercury poisoning occurs by ingestion of contaminated fish, and thus of methylmercury. Toxicologic studies show that children who have been exposed to methylmercury during their mother’s pregnancy have IQ deficits of about one or two points. How is your research contributing to find solutions to this important issue? If we don’t understand a problem, how can we expect to fix it, or to minimize the adverse impacts? Sure, we can avoid eating too much tuna and swordfish, but what about populations for whom this is not an option? The kind of investigation I am leading on metal cycling in the ocean will bring insight into the exact causes for the presence of this type of mercury in the water, and by extension on which strategy to put into place. Human activities contribute to the largest portion of mercury release, that much we know. Hence, global responses are beginning to emerge to reduce anthropogenic mercury emissions by sources like coal combustion, gold mining and metal and cement production. The Minamata Convention on Mercury came into force in 2017. This global treaty aims to protect human health and the environment from human-produced mercury and mercury compounds. As encouraging as this global effort is, our lack of understanding about methylmercury raises doubts about the usefulness of the measures that are being put into place. What role exactly does anthropogenic mercury play in the marine environment? How much does it contribute to the production of methylmercury? We know that there is ten times more mercury in the atmosphere today, than in the past, when it was only naturally released from volcanic activity. However, we don’t have this kind of assessment for oceans because we only started taking measurements from 1990s onwards, and haven’t even visited every ocean basin. We have no pre-industrial benchmark for the ocean. Thus, we are not sure what the extent of our impact on oceans is, and which sources affect the most methylmercury production. These are questions we still desperately need answers to. Does climate change have an impact on the production of methylmercury? It is very likely. That’s another aspect of the issue that we can help shed light on. We know that generally, an increase in temperature will increase bacteria activity. With the ongoing rise in ocean temperature around the globe, it is reasonable to expect some changes in the marine environment, and maybe in the behavior of those bacteria suspected of playing a role in the production of methylmercury. The most important changes will occur in the Arctic Ocean and the Mediterranean, that’s why we work there. What is it we should do to fight mercury poisoning? There are two ways to go about this. We can either change the way we eat, or act on our mercury emissions. Either way, we have no choice, we need to reduce our environmental footprint and we need to do it now. At the food level, we should make better choices, at least when we can. I recommend eating big predator fish no more than three times a week. Fish is important for our health: it is an excellent source of protein and omega-3s. Pregnant women need this intake but should favor smaller fish. Stopping fish altogether is not a solution. We should also be more careful where the fish we buy come from, check if the fishing zone is sustainable and what fishing techniques were used. This way we can avoid putting too much pressure on marine ecosystems, which is also likely to play a role in mercury dynamics in fish. We can also favor organic farmed fish, which contain lower levels of mercury and other pollutants. I believe the initiative has to come from the consumer, because fishermen, well, they respond to demand, that’s how they make their living. At the emission level, we need a better understanding of what is causing what. As I said, the efforts put into place by the Minamata Convention on Mercury are going in the right direction, but are they enough? China and Vietnam are building an insane number of coal-fired plants at the moment. For instance, China has a number of coal power plants under construction nearly equivalent to the existing coal power capacity of the European Union (1) . While we do everything possible to reduce mercure sources, the impact of climate change and overfishing might outweigh our efforts and we might still have methylmercury in fish and probably more. Recent research suggests MeHg concentrations in fish have increased as a result of dietary shifts initiated by overfishing and increases in sea water temperatures (2) . We need a comprehensive approach to the problem if we want a chance to mitigate it. I am convinced that we have to continue to develop new methods, experiments and model to understand the marine mercury cycling under the influence of changing climate and emissions. (1)    Global Energy Monitor (we couldn’t be sure what figures you gave us for China, so we looked for another one, but feel free to use the one you prefer). https://endcoal.org/global-coal-plant-tracker/reports/out-of-step/ (2)    Climate change and overfishing increase neurotoxicant in marine predators - Amina T. Schartup, Colin P. Thackray, Asif Qureshi, Clifton Dassuncao, Kyle Gillespie, Alex Hanke & Elsie M. Sunderland. March 2020 Know more about Lars-Eric's project Mercury’s mysteries in the Arctic Ocean PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### Getting East Asia ready for the Realities of Climate Change - Prof. Gabriel Lau's research outcomes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/getting-east-asia-ready-for-the-realities-of-climate-change-prof-gabriel-laus-research-outcomes
Published: 2020-03-03

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) launched the remarkably pro-active Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability (IEES) in 2011, aimed at advancing the University’s cross-disciplinary educational and research agendas in the environmental field. Professor Gabriel Ngar-Cheung Lau, who has served as Director since 2013, has assumed a 6-year AXA professorship in Geography and Resource Management. The research he has conducted in the framework of the program focused on the forecasting and understanding of the impact of climate change in East Asia. He looks back on the achievements of the Chair, on the role of AXA and on the impacts his results have had already. What are the main conclusions you can draw from the research you have conducted on climate change in East Asia? What have we learned?  Research-wise, the objective of the Chair was to help launch a comprehensive research program targeted at expanding our knowledge of the climate system in East Asia. The topics we are particularly interested in, include the characteristics of the current state of this system, the manner in which its various components fluctuate in time and space, and the projected behavior of this system in response to external, human-induced changes. In particular, one chief focus of my work is to perform data analysis with the goal of understanding the system’s behavior and evaluating model projections of future climate variations. We have reached two major objectives during the course of the program. First, we have shown that climate change signals are very strong in East Asia, especially when it comes to heat waves . This was notably possible thanks to the very complete records kept by the Chinese meteorological service from the 1950s onward. We have collected data from more than 2 000 stations all over China. The trends are clear: there is no question that global warming is already happening in China. The occurrence of the heat waves, their intensity, how they change with time, everything is on the rise. Using this information, we modelled how many more heatwaves to expect in the future, and the figures are alarming. What is more, we have outlined the forefront role of rapid urbanization and the depletion of vegetation in the impacts of climate change . The data we analyzed clearly shows that warming is most obvious in urban centers. This is, in part, due to a phenomenon called the urban dry island (UDI), characterized by reduced humidity in the urban core area.  We found a prominent UDI effect in Chinese urban agglomerations, and it has been significantly intensifying in the past decades with rapid urban land expansion. Urban expansion contributes to around half of the decrease in atmospheric humidity in urban areas and we’ve suggested that the UDI effect should be considered in future urban planning and climate change impacts assessment and mitigation. Has the AXA Chair fostered interest in climate research in Hong Kong? Absolutely. Aside from bringing scientific evidence of climate change, the causes and the implications, another major objective of the Chair is to help breed new doctoral and post-doctoral scholars. Actually, a lot of the research conducted in the framework of the Chair was done in collaboration with other scientists, in particular young researchers from the Department of Geography and Resource Management of the IEES. As the leader of this department, part of my job consists in teaching, passing on knowledge and awareness of climate change to the younger generations. The topics we study include introduction courses, but also more specialized classes like methodologies for analyzing data, which is of the utmost importance in climate research. I often say that analyzing data is like tuning in to a radio station with an old transistor. If you only listen for a few minutes, all you will hear is noise. To make out the whole story, you need to tune it very well, spend time on it. In other words, we are overwhelmed by the sheer number of data to analyze, so we use tools, in this case numerical models, to remove all the noise, find patterns. Moreover, the goal of the Institute is not only to train the experts of tomorrow, but also to educate as many as possible about the reality and the scale of the environmental crisis. We have had very positive reactions, many of the classes and seminars have become very popular, even among non-environmental students. Our classes are advertised all over campus. We have even had a legislator come to one of them! Are you getting attention from researchers in other fields, as well? The chair gave me the opportunity to meet with experts from a very broad specter of domains, from agriculture to economics, politics and health sciences. Our work is very multidisciplinary. It broadened my horizon. Many domains are and will be directly impacted by climate change, and they are asking for our expertise on what to expect in the future. For instance, by talking to people from the medical field, I realized how important it is for them to understand the impact of heat waves on humans. Actually, for most of my tenure, the president of CUHK was a medical doctor, so we exchanged a lot about this. In the construction field, also, the topic is crucial. Specialists need to know what kind of building they should design. And the list goes on… Has the project had societal impact yet? Definitely. A few years ago, the scenery was quiet on climate change. People were not excited about getting involved in environmental research and seminars would typically attract a small audience. Since the beginning of the Chair, however, things have changed significantly. We now have a group of very involved researchers . Many people are curious about our work. The message is getting through, and not just around campus. Throughout the program, I have regularly been in touch with the media, but also external stake holders, green groups, etc. In Hong Kong, I have particularly strong ties with the media and the government, the Environmental Protection Department and the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO: the lead scientific agency of the Hong Kong Government responsible for local weather and climate operations). They really want to change things, so we work hand in hand. In fact, most of my energy is invested in dissemination of the work that is being done in the framework of the Chair. I have been invited to talk shows, had articles published in newspapers and magazines… I feel there is now a general atmosphere of openness towards the scientific community and this gives us a voice on the public affairs. You helped establish the Hong Kong Climate Forum. What is its purpose? About 4-5 years ago, at my personal urging to the top leadership of the Hong Kong Observatory, a Hong Kong Climate Forum was established . Participants in this activity consist of scientific staff members of the HKO, as well as research personnel at various universities in Hong Kong. The Forum has been convened regularly at the premises of the HKO on a seasonal basis. During such meetings, the seasonal outlook for Hong Kong weather and climate, as prepared by the HKO and announced to the general public, is presented, and the scientific justification for these extended-range forecasts is reviewed. University investigators contribute to such discussions by sharing their expertise and insights on various aspects of climate variability in the East Asian sector. In addition to analyzing the seasonal and annual prediction products, the Forum also considers various issues affecting weather and climate in the Hong Kong region, including long-term climate change, potential maximum precipitation, heat waves, storm surges accompanying invasion of tropical cyclones, etc. Overall, the Forum has served its original intended purpose of fostering a vibrant community on climate and weather research in Hong Kong. Are you collaborating with international assessment programs, such as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC)?  We anticipate that our published findings on trends of heat waves throughout China (and southern China in particular) will be cited in the next round of assessment reports. As a matter of fact, I was a lead author on the Fifth assessment report (AR5), the one that led to the Paris agreement . Precisely, I was part of the first working group which assessed the physical scientific aspects of climate change. We published our report in September 2013.  What role has AXA played in the success of the project and in your career? I am very grateful for the chairmanship. It offered me a platform to talk about climate change to a larger audience. A person’s title is very important, it confers more weight to what is said and facilitates the work extensively. Because of it, people listened with more attention to our results. The government now seeks advice from me , and I am closer to the Chinese science community that I’ve ever been. The professorship allowed me to push ahead with my research agenda, to bring forward unambiguous proof that climate change is real, and to have the opportunity to share this information and my expertise with a young community. More about Gabriel Ngar-Cheung Lau Professor Gabriel Ngar-cheung Lau is a world-renowned climate scientist, and the director of the IEES. He holds a PhD in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington (1978) and is considered an expert in the diagnosis of atmospheric circulation system, large-scale air-sea interaction and regional phenomena related to climate change. He is also a lecturer in Geosciences and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences with rank of Professor at Princeton University and was the lead author on the 5th assessment report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). January 2020 | Photo: @axkoon Know more about Prof. Lau's project

### Half of our beaches to disappear by 2100

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/half-of-our-beaches-to-disappear-by-2100
Published: 2020-03-03

Bad news for our planet: half of the world's sandy beaches could disappear by the end of the century – but with the right steps towards climate mitigation, this threat could be reduced by up to 40%. Most of these beaches are in high density population areas. This erosion is caused by human activity and aggravated by climate change. A Nature Climate Change article has been released on March 4th, showcasing the findings that emerged from a world first effort that combined 35 years of satellite observations with 82 years of state-of-the-art climate and sea level projections. It was carried out by a group of leading scientists including Prof Rosh Ranasinghe, holder of the prestigious AXA Chair in Climate change impacts and coastal risks . Rosh also heads IHE Delft’s Department of Coastal & Urban Resilience & Risk and coordinates lead author of Chapter 12, Working Group I of IPCC AR6. Source: Press release from IHE Climate mitigation and adaptation challenges ahead The study shows that without climate mitigation and adaptation almost half of the world’s sandy beaches are under threat of near extinction by the end of the century. In addition to the loss of valuable ecosystems, the associated socioeconomic implications would be severe, especially in tourism-dependent communities where sandy beaches are the main tourist attraction. Small Island nations are among these more vulnerable regions. In most parts of the world, the projected shoreline dynamics are dominated by sea level rise, meaning that moderate greenhouse gas emission mitigation could prevent up to 40% of the projected shoreline retreat globally. Different challenges for different countries Discussing the significance of the findings, Prof. Rosh Ranasinghe highlights their importance at both global and national levels. “This is the first time fully probabilistic (as opposed to deterministic) projections of future coastline change have been provided at global scale, and as such the utility of the projections are high for emerging risk-informed coastal management/planning frameworks.” He added that in addition to the global outlook, the group’s findings also provide country-by-country analyses that indicate major coastal adaptation needs for different countries. “By the end of this century several countries, including Congo, Suriname, Comoros, Benin, Pakistan, Guinea and El Salvador could face losing more than 80% of their sandy coastlines. In terms of total length of coastline, Australia emerges as the potentially most affected country with 12,324 km – 15,439 km of sandy coastline threatened by erosion.” You can read the Nature Climate Change article  here . Taking action The projections detailed in the Nature article are expected to contribute to Chapter 12 of the Working Group I contribution to the sixth assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR6) , which will be released in 2021.   Authors Dr Michail Vousdoukas  is a Scientific Officer in the Disaster Risk Management Unit of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Professor Rosh Ranasinghe  is the Head of IHE Delft’s Department of Coastal & Urban Resilience & Risk and holder of the prestigious  AXA Chair in Climate change impacts and coastal risk . He is also coordinating lead author of Chapter 12, Working Group I of IPCC AR6. Dr Arjen Luijendijk  is an expert in the field of modelling morphological impacts of coastal developments at Deltares. Luc Feyen  is a researcher at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Lorenzo Mentaschi  is an oceanographer at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Theocharis Plomaritis  is a coastal oceanographer specialized in sediment transport, coastal morphodynamics and associated hazards during high energy low frequency from events at the University of Cadiz. Panos Athanasiou  is a PhD candidate working on coastal hazards and coastal risk assessment at Deltares and the University of Twente. March 2020 Know more about Prof. Rosh Ranasinghe’s project AXA Chair in Climate change impacts and coastal risks PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### Biodiversity at Risk : Preserving the Natural World for our Future

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/biodiversity-at-risk-preserving-the-natural-world-for-our-future
Published: 2019-12-09

The AXA Research Fund has just launched its latest publication " Biodiversity at Risk: Preserving the natural world for our future" . This is a collection of interviews, articles and desk research that discuss the critical nature of biodiversity, the interdependencies between nature, climate change, the economy and security, based on insights from AXA Research Fund supported scientists and biodiversity and climate change experts. The report also provides an overview of AXA’s commitments in the area of biodiversity loss mitigation and resilience strategies. Biodiversity at Risk : Preserving the Natural World for our Future READ THE GUIDE Biodiversity is the network of animals and plants that produces oxygen, regulates water, retains soil and provides flood protection – amongst other vital services of considerable value and on which life depends. Research has recently shed light on the severity of biodiversity loss, with one million of animal, plant and insect species at risk of extinction (IPBES, 2019). It has also stressed its relationship with climate change and the urgency to address this global issue of far-reaching socio-economic and geopolitical consequences. Biodiversity & Climate change Climate change is causing widespread damage to ecosystems and has been identified as one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, behind habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution and overexploitation of natural resources. While plants and animals have adapted fast to previous periods of warming on Earth, the current acceleration of temperature rise in a very short timeframe (+1°C since pre-industrial times) represents an unprecedent challenge for the resilience of plant and animal species, altering their lives in ways we are only just beginning to understand. Alongside oceans, forests and soils represent major carbon sinks that significantly mitigate climate change. In addition, tropical forests are critical biodiversity areas. Deforestation, driven by economic development and international trade, therefore threatens both the stability of the global climate and the survival of species: when trees burn down, they release the carbon they have stored, hence contributing to warming. Deforestation also destroys habitats and removes the bridges connecting the different ecosystems. Initiatives bringing together the private sector, governments, local communities and NGOs – such as reforestation, raising the water table in peatland, and moving to lower-intensity agriculture – have the potential to reduce deforestation, thereby helping mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. Biodiversity & Security Natural resources are dwindling due to the unsustainable exploitation of ecosystems to meet the demand for energy and raw materials of an increasing world population, with a projected ten billion people on Earth by the middle of this century. The rarefication of resources increases risks to health and food security. An estimated 20%-30% of the world’s land is degraded – much of it by crop production, livestock and other forms of agriculture; over 33% of world fish stocks were being fished at unsustainable levels as of 2015 while global food production will have to increase by an estimated 50% by 2050 (compared with 2005) to feed the world’s growing population. Pressures on natural resources favor social unrest and can trigger or magnify conflicts. Migration has increased of nearly 50% over the past two decades and 40% of all conflicts within states in the last 60 years can be linked directly to natural resources. In this context, potential solutions to ensure the food safety of a growing world population include moving away from intensive agricultural practices – using less pesticides, changing the way fertilizers are applied, reintroducing more flowers into the countryside and developing ‘green’ crop species. Biodiversity & the Economy Biodiversity provides the natural capital that is fueling our economic growth. However, the negative environmental externalities of growth are undermining the sustainability of our economic model and are calling into question traditional measures of wealth and development, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Measuring the monetary value of biodiversity in spite of methodological uncertainties – especially when it comes to the cultural and spiritual benefits of biodiversity – is a way of conveying the economic argument of biodiversity protection to decision-makers. Based on current estimates, the world’s ecosystems provide benefits worth an estimated $125 trillion to $140 trillion a year – the equivalent to more than one-and-a half times global GDP. Biodiversity loss will come at a high cost for our economies – habitat loss, pollution, the rise in pests and other invasive species will affect sectors from agriculture, fisheries and forestry to real estate development, tourism and public health. Most at risk will be low-income populations, which rely more widely on natural resources for their income and livelihoods. Changing the way we do business The decline in the “natural world” has several implications for the insurance business: In recent years, the stronger intensity of storms, hurricanes, flooding and forest fires, coupled to urbanization, has resulted in more damage and an increase in claims. It also has implications for our health, since biodiversity loss translates into reduced quality and variety of our diets, diminished stocks of natural resources for our medicines, and weakened capacity of ecosystems to provide us with fresh air and clean water. Finally, biodiversity loss is a material issue for the complex supply chains of companies operating in diverse sectors, such as food, agriculture, retail or pharmaceuticals. Through insuring and investing in these companies, the insurance industry is also indirectly exposed to the issue of natural resources. In the face of these challenges, AXA’s strategy operates on several fronts: Insurance: AXA works directly with customers on environmental risk – the Group provides coverage for companies’ liabilities, parametric solutions to the physical impacts of climate change, and offers advice on risk mitigation. AXA is now also looking to develop new, innovative products which include blue carbon credits and insurance for natural systems such as coral reefs and mangroves. Investment: Biodiversity will be increasingly built into AXA’s approach to responsible investment, via the companies the Group invests in and through the launch of an a €200 million impact fund for climate and biodiversity towards projects that protect natural habitats and deliver economic and social benefits to local communities. Research: AXA is committed to scientific research through its scientific philanthropy initiative, the Research Fund, and supports over 60 projects related to biodiversity, for a total of €10 million. Corporate responsibility: The fight against biodiversity loss will need broad action and requires stronger collaboration between the private and public sectors, as well as NGOs, which often have the expertise and local knowledge necessary for effective policy. In May 2019, AXA issued a series of recommendations jointly with WWF France and urged governments to set clear priorities. This has resulted in a G7 charter on intensified efforts to respond to the biodiversity loss challenge, and efforts are ongoing to provide additional commitments and goals. Biodiversity at risk Preserving the natural world for our future AXA RESEARCH GUIDE (new window)

### How to cope with stress and live happier, healthier lives?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-to-cope-with-stress-and-live-happier-healthier-lives
Published: 2019-09-10

Work, school, university... Stress is a familiar feeling for many of us. Though inevitable, it can be accommodated to avoid undue hardship and to prevent long-term damage to our health. Two AXA Research Fund grantees, psychologist Dr. Annie Ginty, from the Baylor University, and Dr. Sarah Pressman, from the University of California-Irvine, have brought together their expertise to produce a series of three short videos on how to cope with stress , based on the experience of students. The three short videos produced are primarily intended for students going through the stressful transition from high school to college, but the coping mechanisms hold for everyone going through a period of adjustment. Part 1: The Impact of Stress on our Health Part2: The effects of Stress on our Body Part 3: Coping with Stress There is good stress, and then there is bad stress. The psychological kind, as opposed to the physical kind, takes a genuine toll on the body. Loss of sleep, bad diet, muscle tensions, skin problems, migraines… The immediate negative effects are just the tip of the iceberg. In the long run, it can lead to more serious conditions, including cardiovascular disease.   The good news is that by understanding the impact stress has on our body, we can take the necessary steps to develop coping mechanisms and thereby reduce stress. Such is the line of reasoning and motivation behind Stress and your Health . The scientific ground on which the short video series is built stems from the research both Dr. Annie Ginty and Dr. Sarah Pressman , conducted in the context of the AXA grant. Their complementary approaches – the first covering student’s physiological reaction to acute stress, the other investigating the positive emotions that can serve as buffer against negative impacts –, brought them naturally to collaborate.

### It’s a Risky Life! Understanding the Math behind risk and decision-making

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-understanding-the-math-behind-risk-and-decision-making
Published: 2019-08-27
Author: Prof. David Rios

We make decisions about risk on an everyday basis, even if not consciously. Most of the time, we do so intuitively. But when things take an unexpected turn, our greatest ally is Math! In the web series It’s a Risky Life, presented by Professor David Ríos, holder of the AXA Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis at the ICMAT, learn about the basic mathematical concepts that help us cope with risk properly. Humankind has always had to cope with the concept of risk and return, were it only to seek food and protect against predators and natural hazards. Modern society, while creating new opportunities, has also brought about additional and increasingly complex risks, such as Climate change, nuclear energy, financial crisis or terrorism, to name a few. To deal with such threats, which entail potentially catastrophic losses due to uncertainty, mathematicians have, throughout human history, developed a set mathematical concepts to help take the best possible decision. The basic concepts behind the complex Math Today’s highly complex field of risk management, a crucial component of many industries, may seem like a lot to handle for a non-academic audience. But don’t let words like Bayesian statistics, utility function or game theory scare you off. Behind these technical terms are some basic easy-to-grasp concepts, of which illustrative examples can be found in our everyday lives. Want to know how drunk driving and breathalyzers help explain the Bayes rule? Or how football can help you grasp the concept of subjective probability? In just over two minutes each, the eight episodes of It’s a Risky Life will help you understand some of the most essential notions underlying risk: how to deal with uncertainty? How to interpret probabilities? How to evaluate the consequence of our decisions? How to design counter measures taking into account uncertainty and constraints? How to measure risk coming from intelligent adversaries? About the project Spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, the project It’s a Risky Life is part of the AXA Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis. Held by professor David Ríos, this Permanent Chair is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### AXA Research Fund works with the Red Cross Foundation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/axa-research-fund-works-with-the-red-cross-foundation
Published: 2019-08-19
Author: The Red Cross Foundation

Since 2016, the AXA Research Fund has partnered with the French Red Cross Foundation, which supports francophone research in the area of humanitarian action. Through this partnership, AXA and the Red Cross Foundation have supported eight young researchers working to advance action in service of the most vulnerable. The goal of the French Red Cross Foundation is to mobilize the scientific community to work with suffering populations in both the North and South of Africa, in order to develop concrete, sustainable responses. Within these parameters, it funds and assists independent francophone researchers, prioritizing those originating from the areas involved, by providing postdoctoral grants. These one-year grants are awarded to researchers from different social science disciplines, such as sociology and anthropology, to study common social and humanitarian action issues. The support of the AXA Research Fund makes it possible to fund two grants for work related to “Risks, Health and Humanitarianism” each year. The grants are intended to improve our understanding of effective humanitarian action in response to the health needs of vulnerable populations in crisis situations such as epidemics and natural disasters, or when facing global and systemic risks such as climate change, migration and malnutrition. Researchers supported by the AXA Research Fund are working on the following projects: Communication, education and behavior in combatting the plague in Madagascar. Dr. Alexandra Razafindrabe, Doctor of Economics (Université de la Réunion) – Class of 2019 Dr. Razafindrabe’s research focuses on improving the impact of public measures for preventing plague outbreaks in Madagascar in great part by raising awareness so that populations in areas at risk make changes in behavior. She is building on an analysis of plague prevention activity conducted in Madagascar in 2017 that raised many questions among both citizens and stakeholders in health, education and the environment. This research into the efficacy of measures taken to raise awareness, along with their long-term effects on the behavior of local populations, takes into account the socio-cultural, economic and environmental contexts that, to date, have not been adequately considered. Socio-ecological resilience in vulnerable communities of the Senegal River delta in the face of climate change. Dr. Djiby Sambou, Doctor of Geography (Université Abomey Calavi, Bénin) – Class of 2019 The purpose of Dr. Sambou’s research is to study the socio-ecological vulnerability of the Senegal River delta to natural disasters and climate change, including the coastal Saint Louis communities’ perceptions of vulnerability, their means of adaptation and the likely scenarios of change. Strengthening the socio-economic health subsystem at the local level and combatting health insecurity and difficulties accessing childcare and health services in the Central African refugee reception areas of Cameroon. Dr. Joséphine Lemouogue, Doctor of Geography (Université de Dschang, Cameroun) Class of 2019 The purpose of Dr. Lemouogue’s research is to study how public and humanitarian stakeholders approach the local integration of Central African refugees and manage the delivery of basic services in refugee reception areas in order to improve their capacities. She is specifically studying how the needs of children ages 0-5 are met. Economic assessment of climate risk management tools: the case of drought risk in Niger. Prof. Mariama Nouhou KOUTCHA, Doctor and Professor of Agricultural Climatology and General Agronomy in the Faculty of Agronomy at the Islamic University in Say, Niger – Class of 2018 Prof. Mariama Nouhou KOUTCHA is developing an economic assessment, with a comparison between populations, of existing and prospective tools for protecting against climate risks in Niger, in order to determine the optimal combination. Her work involves identifying all mechanisms and stakeholders involved in climate risk management in Niger, micro-economic analysis of the impact of the mechanisms identified and recommendations for improvement. The fight against malnutrition in Ivory Coast: measurement of and perspectives on use of the WASH and ATPC projects by local stakeholders in Bounkani. Dr. Edouard Kouadio KOUASSI, Doctor of Sociology and Researcher at the Center for Development Research (CRD) at the Université Alassane Ouattara in Bouaké, Ivory Coast – Class of 2018 The purpose of the research conducted by Edouard Kouadio KOUASSI is to assess the impact of the PADEHA program on malnutrition in the Bounkani area in Ivory Coast. The Ivorian government and its partners initiated the “Program to Support Accelerated Sustainable Access to Water, Hygiene and Purification” to reduce water-related health risks. It includes the presentation of a PADEHA assessment of malnutrition in the area and a recommendation of strategies for comprehensive adoption of means of sustainable population behavior change. NGO responses to failures in the health system in northern Ivory Coast: palliative or substitute? Prof. Toily Anicet ZRAN, Doctor and Professor-Researcher of History, attached to the Center for Research on the History of the People of the African savanna (CRESHA) of the History Department of the Université Alassane Ouattara in Bouaké, Ivory Coast – Class of 2018 Access to health care remains very difficult in the former rebel-held areas of Ivory Coast, particularly in rural areas of the North, where the few dilapidated health facilities are now at crisis point. In these conditions, NGO support continues to be crucial to the health of the population. Toily Anicet ZRAN is focusing research on the impact and issues of NGO activity in the health sector in northern Ivory Coast in response to the lack of state health care delivery. Projects for the class of 2020: Daniel Valérie Baska Toussia - Doctor of Health Geography, Professor-Researcher in Geography attached to the Ecole Normale Supérieure graduate school, Université de Maroua. Country of nationality: Cameroon Scientific discipline: Geography Country of research: Cameroon The concentration of Nigerian refugees in the Minawao camp and internally displaced people in Zamay and Gawar is a result of rampant insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin. The situation compelled the Cameroonian government and its international partners to set up the Minawao camp in Mayo Tsanaga in order to deliver adequate humanitarian aid. Internally displaced people, who left their villages due to the insecurity perpetuated by the Boko Haram sect, are living around the camp in Zamay and Gawar. There are huge challenges with access to adequate healthcare for the various strata of this very vulnerable population that includes children, women, pregnant women, widows and orphans. The research is intended to assess the health problems of refugees living in the Minawao camp and internally displaced persons living in Zamay and Gawar, near the camp. Annabelle Moatty - Doctor of Geography, Researcher attached to the UMR LGP (the joint research lab and physical geography unit - 8591), of the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université Paris Est-Créteil and the French national center for scientific research (CNRS). Country of nationality: France Scientific discipline: Geography Country of research: Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Guadeloupe Dr. Moatty is conducting a project called "Characterization and Analysis of Mechanisms of Solidarity Following Cyclone Irma" (CASCIRA). The purpose of the project is to characterize and analyze solidarity mechanisms implemented after Cyclone Irma passed through the northern islands, in order to understand their significance in the post-disaster resilience and adaptation process at different levels (from collective to individual). The novelty of this research lies in its comparative approach to solidarity mechanisms on the two French Antilles territories, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, and their relationships with France and Guadeloupe. Such analysis is particularly relevant for these insular islands, where socio-cultural and territorial differences are both levers of action, and obstacles, if not taken into consideration, to the optimal reconstruction the government wants to achieve. This partnership includes support for the Foundation’s Research Prizes of €5,000 each awarded to young doctoral students and more established researchers whose work or studies demonstrates bold, original ideas. The awards recognize basic or applied research on humanitarian or social action, regardless of discipline or nationality.

### Silver Age : Aging better

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/silver-age-aging-better
Published: 2019-06-26

What are the health challenges associated with increased longevity? How can we ensure better aging, even when living with chronic diseases ? How do science and innovation provide new therapies ? How is fundamental research opening new perspectives ? After focusing on the issues of resilient cities and artificial intelligence, the AXA Research Fund is publishing its third “AXA Research Guide”: “Silver Age : Aging Better”. This book aims to help us to improve our understanding of this crucial issue, and to shed light on the insights provided by AXA supported scientists and AXA experts. By 2050, according to the UN , the number of people aged 80 years or over will triple and nearly a quarter or more of the population will be over 60 (in all regions of the world except Africa). This “silver tsunami” is first and foremost the result of progress: in hygiene, health, technology; or in a word, science. However, there is a drawback associated with this increase in longevity: a risk of disrupting individual lives – that of senior citizens, their families, their caregivers... – and which translates at the collective level by its economic, social and financial impact on health systems. Because longevity is not synonymous with an increase of years spent in good health. An increase in lifespan... and duration of disease Longer life expectancy is accompanied by an increased risk of critical diseases that persist for the long term. A number of serious diseases that used to be often fatal, have become chronic (cancers, stroke, but also Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), due to advances in medicine and prevention; leading to the “chronicity” of critical diseases. For example, it is no longer rare to survive for many years after cancer or a heart attack – but this often goes hand-in-hand with lifelong after-effects. In addition, aging increases the risk of suffering from several pathologies simultaneously – a situation called “multimorbidity”. These trends related to the prolongation of life therefore put pressure on healthcare pathways, care provision, the adaptation of facilities, support, family help, the economic balance of health systems... One question becomes crucial: how can we live longer, while staying healthy? The contribution of Science to meeting this individual and collective challenge After focusing on the issues of resilient cities and artificial intelligence , the AXA Research Fund is publishing its third “AXA Research Guide”: “Silver Age : Aging Better” . This book aims to help us to improve our understanding of this crucial issue, and to shed light on the insights provided by AXA supported scientists and AXA experts. It is an opportunity for researchers to showcase work that is supported by the Fund, in fields as varied as medicine, economics, demography, epidemiology, biology, physics, engineering, neuroscience, genomics..., and to present their contributions on : the organization of care today, which must resize and redistribute the roles of the patient, health professionals, and all health system actors (public, social protection, insurers...); the benefits of transversality and multidisciplinarity to create innovative treatment approaches in the rapidly expanding field of chronic diseases; fundamental research avenues to further explore the complexity of life, and to open new perspectives for care. All these lines of research have a single common goal: to reduce the risks related to the aging population, and to transform them into opportunities for individuals and society. Chapter 1 - Caring today New ways towards better aging Read (new window) Chapter 2 - Curing tomorrow Tackling critical diseases through science and innovation Read (new window) Chapter 3 - Fostering new perspectives Fundamental research in aging and critical disease Read (new window) Silver Age Aging Better

### Silver Age : Caring today – new ways towards better aging

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/silver-age-caring-today-new-ways-towards-better-aging
Published: 2019-06-25

How can we ensure better aging, even when living with chronic diseases ? Researchers and AXA experts share their insights in this first chapter of the AXA Research Guide “Silver Age, Aging Better”. Caring Today – New ways towards better aging The increase of life expectancy is a fact. In Western countries, the over-85s are the fastest growing segment of the population. Aging well, however, represents a complex challenge: that of the increasing need for healthcare to cope with the “chronicity” of critical diseases – often cumulative – associated with aging. Indeed it is no longer rare to live for many years with medical support following cancer, stroke or heart attack, or when diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. More, better, cost-effective care This reality faces another: that of the growing economic pressure on health systems, that are required to care for more people, for longer periods, to offer better care, and to do so under budget pressure. For example, the UN estimates that by 2030, 65 million people will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease worldwide, with an estimated cost of 3,000 billion euros. More broadly, this new demographic and economic situation is causing upheavals at all levels of society: systems of social protection, pensions, long-term care, the need to create inter-generational solidarity that is sustainable for young generations... Such perspectives call for the rethinking of the organization of health systems, most of which were conceived when life expectancies were lower. This should focus on one key question: how can we cope with demographic changes and economic constraints, while improving the care and support for aging persons? A three-pronged approach to create today the right conditions for healthy aging In this context, the AXA Research Fund supports scientific projects to bring new perspectives on better aging, both at the level of the individual and society. at the patient level Thanks to the research of Professor Evrim Didem Günes , from the College of Business Administration and Economics, at Koç University (Turkey). The focus of her work: optimizing the organization and management of chronic care through a better understanding of patient and caregiver behavior. Particularly around the patient “activation” concept – i.e., the patient’s involvement throughout the course of their care pathway. at the care system level With Professor Carol Jagger , a leading researcher on healthy life expectancy, holder of the AXA Chair on Longevity and Healthy Active Life at the University of Newcastle, UK. At the interface between demography and epidemiology, her research focuses on future aging trends and their multiple factors. In particular, she advocates a holistic approach to caring for seniors who often suffer from several pathologies, which are treated separately, without overall risk factors being taken into account. at the health system level Based on the research of Dr. Milena Pavlova , Health Economist at the Department of Health Services Research at Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Her project involves the study of long-term care systems for older people in Europe. In particular, she focuses on the possible areas of innovation to foster more sustainable, accessible and better quality health systems - for example: digitalization, big data and shared medical records. Caring Today – New ways towards better aging Discover the first chapter of the AXA Research Guide on page 11 Read (new window) Silver Age Aging Better

### Silver Age : Curing tomorrow – with science and innovation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/silver-age-curing-tomorrow-with-science-and-innovation
Published: 2019-06-24

How do science and innovation help providing new therapies for healthy aging ? Researchers and AXA experts share their insights in this second chapter of the AXA Research Guide “Silver Age, Aging Better”. Curing tomorrow – tackling critical diseases through science and innovation As life expectancy increases, so too are certain critical diseases that are often very debilitating for the elderly - cardiovascular, chronic, neurodegenerative diseases … Scientists and doctors face a major challenge: how can innovation foster better aging ? Exploring and innovating through transdisciplinarity What if transversality held one of the keys to innovation? The exponential advances in science and technology today will undoubtedly change the understanding of these diseases and erase the boundaries between science and medicine. The AXA Research Fund supports projects at the interface of several disciplines, which focus on both fundamental research and technological innovation, and which combine the expertise of biologists, doctors, physicists, engineers... With a common goal: to provide innovative responses to new health issues related to aging. Whether related to the creation of new approaches to care, or to the design of new medical tools that are ever more precise and efficient. Through the “Silver Age: Aging Better” guide , the AXA Research Fund presents the work of three researchers : Professor Luisa De Cola , holder of the AXA Supramolecular Chemistry Chair at the University of Strasbourg. Prof Da Cola is working on the design of new materials – especially using nanoparticles – that help to better understand, and thus cure, diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s or other neurological conditions; Professor of Mechanics and Biology, Abdul Barakat , Director of Research at CNRS and holder of the AXA Chair in Cardiovascular Cellular Engineering at the École Polytechnique. Prof Barakat is putting his engineering expertise into practice designing innovative devices to optimize the administration of treatments (more effective stents, designing artificial arteries…); Professor Mickaël Tanter , Director of Research at INSERM and Director of the Physics for Medicine Laboratory of the Industrial Physics and Chemistry Higher Educational Institution, Paris, holder of the AXA Chair in Physics for Medicine and Biology. Using innovative technologies invented by physicists, Prof. Tanter is developing cutting-edge medical imaging concepts, smart sensors and new therapeutic approaches to cancer, cardiovascular disease and neuroscience. All this research will help deliver renewed innovation perspectives for a more personalized, precise, targeted, connected and scalable medicine. Curing tomorrow – tackling critical diseases through science and innovation Discover the second chapter of the AXA Research Guide on page 21 Read (new window) Silver Age Aging Better

### Silver Age : Fostering new perspectives

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/silver-age-fostering-new-perspectives
Published: 2019-06-23

How is fundamental research opening new perspectives ? Researchers and AXA experts share their insights in this third chapter of the AXA Research Guide “Silver Age, Aging Better”. Fostering new perspectives – fundamental research in aging and critical disease “Aging is a process of progressive generalized impairment of bodily and mental functions that eventually results in a growing risk of illness and death.” Thomas Kirkwood, President of the AXA Research Fund’s Scientific Board, Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Aging at Newcastle University (UK), thus describes the biological reality of aging. Behind such a definition hides a formidable challenge for scientists: to improve the understanding of this mechanism to better treat diseases related to old age, and thus create the conditions for better aging. Deciphering the biological workings of healthy aging What is the link between age and critical disease? Do genes or lifestyles have more of an impact on healthy aging? Will it ever be possible to repair brain cells to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s? ... All these fields, which are at the heart of the complexity of life, are being explored in fundamental research. In this context, two lines of research prove particularly promising: understanding the genetic causes of aging and those of brain development. The AXA Research Fund’s guide “Silver Age: Aging Better” presents several particularly promising research fields. The secrets of longevity at the heart of the genome … … thanks to the work of Dr. Peter Joshi , from the Usher Institute and the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom). His approach? To study the still largely unknown genomic and biological bases of longevity to better understand the genetic determination of aging. Dr Joshi’s team has identified twelve DNA regions (including five new ones) that have an impact on longevity and play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, tobacco-related cancer and cardiovascular disease. Also thanks to the research of Dr. Maria Blasco, Director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Head of Telomères and Telomerase Group and former member of the AXA Research Fund’s scientific board. Convinced that studying aging at the molecular level will enable the process to be delayed, she is particularly interested in telomeres, the nucleotide sequences located at the ends of chromosomes that have a high impact on health and longevity. Dr Blasco believes that a better understanding of their functioning will help develop therapeutic strategies against age-related diseases such as cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases. Towards brain repair Unlike other cells in the human body, neurons do not regenerate. With age, they lose connection plasticity, or are even destroyed by the phenomenon of “neurodegeneration”, which remains incurable. This mechanism is studied by Professor Pierre Vanderhaeghen , AXA Chair in Neuroscience and Longevity at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium). Prof. Vanderhaeghen explores the development mechanisms of higher brain functions and how their alteration leads to human diseases. His objective: to develop innovative approaches to brain repair - for example, through his work on the possibility of replacing lost or dysfunctional cortical neurons. Fostering new perspectives Discover the third chapter of the AXA Research Guide on page 27 Read (new window) Silver Age Aging Better

### What works best to efficiently improve the health of slum children ?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/what-works-best-to-efficiently-improve-the-health-of-slum-children
Published: 2019-06-16
Author: Dr Sophie Goudet

While obesity rates are on the rise worldwide, many poor populations still struggle with malnutrition. Dr Sophie Goudet was supported by the AXA Research Fund at Loughborough University to investigate what are the most successful interventions against malnutrition in children living in urban slums. Today, she publishes a global review of what works best to improve child health and development. In 2018, malnutrition still affected almost 1 out of every 4 of children (22%), and was responsible for half of all deaths among children under 5 worldwide. When not fatal, malnutrition can cause a range of health issues for affected children, like stunted growth and reduced cognitive abilities : malnourished children are not only smaller, they also do less well in schools. Consequently, undernourishment-caused stunting is also a key driver of intergenerational poverty, since stunted children then suffer from more health issues in adulthood, and stunted women give birth to smaller babies. Photos taken by Dr. Goudet on the field Understanding what works and doesnt work to effectively reduce malnutrition in very young children is thus key to improve not only the health, but also the economic outcomes of millions of children worldwide. Today, Dr.Goudet publishes a Cochrane Review that investigates the efficiency of nutritional interventions for preventing stunting in children under 5 living in urban slums. Cochrane Reviews are systematic reviews of primary research in human health care and health policy. By identifying and synthesizing the results of all available studies that directly relate to the chosen research question, systematic reviews provide a complete, exhaustive summary of current evidence relevant to a research topic. They offer a global overview of the current state of research and provide key evidence-based insights for health practitionners, governments and NGOs. Dr Goudet and her team examined in this systematic review 13 studies that focused on evaluating the impacts of different nutrition interventions oh the health of children under 5 living in urban slums in low and middle income countries. The effects of interventions such as nutrient supplementation for pregnant women, for infants and children or nutrition education for mothers were evaluated to assess what improves children’s weight and height the most effectively. Current nutritional interventions are not as effective as they should be Dr. Goudet’s team chose to focus on urban environments, since urban slum populations of low- and middle-income countries are expected to reach two billion people by 2030. Unfortunately, she found that there are currently an extremely limited amount of rigorous studies which have evaluated the effect of nutritional interventions on the studied population. Furthermore, the existing studies showed that these interventions in slums did not decrease stunting among children as they should have. Dr Goudet believes that it is because the specificities and complexities of slums have not been sufficiently taken into account, and that what has been proven to work in rural environment is not similarly effective in urban dwellings. She now calls for better nutrition education for pregnant women, a holistic approach to the urban environment and its people, creative approaches combining multi-sectorial components, innovative population targeting and long term follow up to design more effective policies that will help millions of children worldwide grow healthily. And through their development, to allow the best economic development of their environment, too. Read Dr. Goudet’s Cochrane review here   June 2019 Dr Sophie Goudet Know more about her project : Providing evidence to reduce risk of malnutrition in infant and young children in uncertain urban slum environments PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### The human impact on the future of our oceans

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-human-impact-on-the-future-of-our-oceans
Published: 2019-05-26

In partnership with Sky, AXA UK has developed a documentary to pay attention to the human impact on the oceans. A focus on Dr Cosima Porteus , an AXA Research Fund post-doctoral fellow at the University of Exeter (UK), allow us to understand how increasing levels of carbon dioxide is making sea water more acidic, affecting fishes’ sense of smell. Fish using smell to find food, find a mate and avoid predators, any impact on their sense of smell could directly impact fish stocks and may even wipe out entire species, eventually diminishing global food supplies. The plastic pollution crisis is another stressor on the ocean environment discussed in the documentary. It also reveals ways we can all play our part in helping to protect the oceans for future generations. Watch the web-documentary to find out more about what is happening in our oceans and possible actions to mitigate it. May 2019 - Photo : @cristianpalmer Dr Cosima Porteus You can find out more about Cosima’s research : Sound and Smell in an Acidified Ocean PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### AXA rallies its customers and employees to support medical research

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/axa-rallies-its-customers-and-employees-to-support-medical-research
Published: 2019-05-21

The AXA Research Fund and AXA Banque’s wealth management arm joined forces in 2016 to implement their first joint philanthropic project. The aim is to rally AXA Banque Patrimoniale clients and AXA employees around the financial support of a researcher, and raise their awareness of the issues involved in medical research. Thanks to this partnership, three researchers have already been selected. The AXA Research Fund has provided its expertise to a unique initative in the AXA Group. Indeed, since 2014, AXA Banque Patrimoniale (AXABP) sollicits its employees input in the choice of an area of medical research that they believe is important to support. AXABP customers as well as employees commit to donate funds for the research. These funds  are matched by the company and complemented by AXA Research Fund financial and operational support :  the AXA Research Fund manages the call for applications and supports the evaluation and selection process. As a result of this initiative, in 2017, Dr. Stéphane Bancelin (Université de Bordeaux) benefited from € 130,000 to carry out a research project aiming to better understand how the brain functions during memorization. Ultimately, he hopes to better treat dysfunctions, particularly in the case of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. In 2018, Dr. Luc Dupuis (INSERM) received the support of AXA. Dr. Dupuis aims at better understanding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – better known as Lou Gehrig’s or Charcot’s disease -  to better fight it. He is particularly interested in the role of the hypothalamus in the process of weight loss in people with the disease. By stopping the phenomenon of weight loss, he hopes to extend patient life while improving their condition. A 200,000 € support has been provided for this research. In 2019, the area of support chosen by AXA Banque employees was "rare childhood diseases". Dr. Stéphanie Baulac, Research Director at Ecole des Neurosciences, was been selected by the AXA Research Fund and the AXA Banque Patrimoniale earlier this year. Dr. Stéphanie Baulac works on rare forms of epilepsy in children. This philanthropic initiative has created a strong momentum within AXA Banque Patrimoniale, at both customer and employee engagement levels, and provides areas that are less funded with support to further advance research.

### Dealing with Risk & Uncertainty – a 30’ read

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/dealing-with-risk-uncertainty-a-30-read
Published: 2019-05-19
Author: Dr Massimo Marinacci

Do you know the difference between risk and uncertainty ? Or that uncertainty is a core feature of human societies, compared with the natural world that is « just » risky? And that uncertainty is what makes economics different from physics ?  Prof. Massimo Marinacci is the holder of the AXA Chair in Risk at the Bocconi University since 2010 and is one of the leaders in decision theory – an area of economics at the intersection between psychology and statistics that studies economic choices under uncertainty. In recent years, he has published with his team fascinating scientific articles around the mathematics and statistics behind decision models, developing relevant knowledge to create more accurate ways to model uncertainty, and to train future leaders to react in risky or uncertain environments. Sounds interesting, but your notions of probabilistic mathematics date back to your high school days and you don’t have the time to enroll in a PhD at the moment ? Prof. Marinacci has recently published a free, high-quality and easy to read 30 min ebook. Illustrated by animated videos, it digests the top-notch research behind the latest developments of risk science, and aims at providing non-mathematicians with a condensed but thorough summary of the science of decision-making modeling. Drawing on real-life examples, such as the Belgian election outcomes or the 2008 financial crisis, Prof. Marinacci e-book offers the conceptual tools to understand crucial but complex aspects of decision-making, as well as a few pointers on how to make the most of living in an uncertain world. Download his ebook (available in epub format) May 2019 - Photo : @grizzlybear Discover Dr Marinacci's project : The Beauty of Incertainty

### How can we help manage non-communicable diseases?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-can-we-help-manage-non-communicable-diseases
Published: 2019-05-14
Author: Dr Martin Heine

Photo : @aggergakker In many high-income countries, standard care for the long-term management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) includes rehabilitation. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), however, such activities as rehabilitative medical care, physical, psychological, speech, and occupational therapy are often very limited. In response, Dr. Martin Heine at the Stellenbosch University in Cape Town is studying their feasibility in a low-resource setting. His objective is to build the necessary evidence and understanding for the implementation of cost-effective rehabilitation care and research in LMICs. January 2019 Discover Martin Heine's project "Non-communicable diseases : making rehabilitation possible in low-resource settings"

### How will climate change impact pollination ?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-will-climate-change-impact-pollination
Published: 2019-05-09
Author: Dr Coline Jaworski

Dr. Coline Jaworski's project research aims to use floral scent as an effective tool for investigating the impact of climate change on pollinator networks. She conducts her research in the surroundings of Marseille, on the Mediterranean coast of France, with the Mediterranean Institute for Biodiversity and Ecology (IMBE). Coline tells you more about the field work of her project OBSERVING BEES IN THE FIELD In each of the 20 plots per study site, once a week, each observer watched pollinators coming to its assigned bush of flowers for five minute per plot. We also caught visiting pollinators for the next five minutes. Watching bees  (A, B, C) , catching bees with sweep nets  (A, B) , and counting flowers  (C) throughout the season, with contrasted meteorological conditions... MEASURING FLORAL TRAITS (A) Measuring the size of tiny flowers  of thyme,  Thymus vulgaris . (B) Collecting nectar  with a capillary. (C) Measuring the amount of sugar in the nectar  : after the nectar had been collected (B), we had to blow the content of the capillary on the refractometer’s glass. (D) Measuring the colour of flowers in the field  with a spectrophotometer. The measure is highly sensitive to ambient light, so we had to hide from the sun light as much as possible by putting the flower and the probe in the shadow. Measuring floral odour in the field. An inflorescence is enclosed in a teflon bag (E) with connections to pump air throughout the bag with long tubes (F, G) ; air is pushed inside the bag on one end, and pumped out at the other end. The box in (G) contains pumps, flow-meters and batteries to create an airflow. May 2019 - Photo : @maurotandoi Dr Coline Jaworski Know more about Dr Coline Jaworski's project PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### Towards better predictions of local storms

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/towards-better-predictions-of-local-storms
Published: 2019-05-06

AXA Research Fund’s team caught up with Prof. Joaquim Pinto, holder since 2016 of the AXA Chair in Regional Climate and Weather Hazards at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. He was in Paris to co-host a NatCat workshop with AXA GRM experts.  It is no secret that, as an insurer, AXA has a lot to gain in better understanding winter storms, those that affect temperate countries: indeed, winter storms are a leading cause of damages in Europe, which represented in 2018 60% of AXA’s revenue. The associated losses can occur both through heavy rains and strong winds. The AXA Research Fund supports Prof. Joaquim Pinto’s Chair in Regional Climate and Weather Hazards at KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), a leading German institution in meteorological and climate science. Prof. Pinto’s research is focused on better understanding and predicting the occurrence of extreme weather events, as well as their possible variations in frequency and intensity, linked both to natural variability and a changing climate. While current climate models are useful to give broad, global, long-term previsions, it can be difficult to translate the identified trends into applicable, practical knowledge for the near future. Compared to pre-industrial levels, global climate models tell us that tomorrow’s climate will be at least 2° hotter on average, and that extreme weather events like windstorms and heavy rains, might become more intense or more frequent by the end of this century. But from the point of view of a local or regional public decision maker, like a Mayor, this type of information is too unspecific and too far away in time to command action. Prof Pinto explains: “Science is currently very good at predicting weather at the local level very short term, like hours to a few days, or climate in very long term, like a few decades. What is still difficult to predict is the time in between those extremes, namely on the seasonal to decadal scales”. He adds “One of our goals is obtain medium-term predictions at the local level that are useful for politicians and policy planners” As part of his AXA Chair research program, Professor Pinto has been contributing to the German project “Miklip – decadal climate preditions”, a project whose goal is specifically to develop a prediction system for a ten years horizon, with the granularity of a few square kilometers. Initiated by the German Federal Ministry of education and research, the MiKlip project focuses both on offering better meteorological predictions through collaborative research, associating 16 universities, research institutions and federal agencies, and on transferring those research findings onto the German weather service for practical use. The ultimate goal is to inform policy-making and prevention measures by offering more precise, relevant models. For example, while it is common knowledge that globally, average temperatures are rising, “but concretely, in the next five summers, how many heatwaves will you see, right in your town or village? How many drought periods? We know there will be probably more extreme weather events, but what policy makers want to know is: how many extra bags do I need to purchase to salt the roads in my city next winter?”, breaks down Prof. Pinto. He has been developing with his colleagues at KIT improved models to better translate, at the local and regional level, the global climate trends into actionable predictions. Another important aspect is the interactions with and dissemination of results to stakeholders, particularly in the insurance industry.  For example, Prof. Pinto and his team were the main organizers of the 7th European Windstorm workshop in 2018, a 2-day event that gathered 60 participants from 10 countries, of which over a third of participants came from outside the academic world, such as insurers and consulting companies. Dr. Madeleine Sophie Déroche, Head of Natural Perils R&D and Model governance within AXA’s Group Risk Management P&C department, was part of the workshop’s organization team and lead one session. “Since the beginning of the Chair, we have had regular meetings with Prof Pinto, either at AXA or at KIT, to share expertise and get his first-hand account of latest research,” Dr. Déroche explains. “His academic challenge on our modelling approaches is key to defining our own view of the risk and ensuring solid scientific grounds to our stochastic models.” Most recently, on February 27th and 28th 2019, AXA’s NatCat (Natural Catastrophes) teams organized a workshop with Prof. Pinto at AXA headquarters in Paris. Sessions dealt with topics such as clustering of European winter windstorms (a phenomenon where two or more windstorms hit an area in a short period of time, causing a lot of damage to an already fragile area), hail modelling and stochastic weather generators. Key objectives of the seminar were to get a better understanding of weather-related modelling issues and to keep AXA activities, such as stochastic model development and evaluation, weather impact monitoring and pricing, at pace with state-of-the-art research. Overall 30 AXA experts coming from 7 departments participated to the event. More information about Prof. Pinto’s research program is available on his project page. Photo : @photobyte_sm Dr Joaquim Pinto Discover Dr Pinto's project on Regional climate and weather hazards PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### Dr Anne Boring's interview: Breaking down gender barriers

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/dr-anne-borings-interview-breaking-down-gender-barriers
Published: 2019-04-28

We met with Dr Anne Boring, holder of the Women in Business chair at SciencesPo Paris and supported by AXA, to discuss what is really holding women back when it comes to entrepreneurship and leadership.  Dr Anne Boring recently started her work at Sciences Po Paris to understand the root causes behind the lower rates of female entrepreneurship or why there are so few women sitting at company boards of top companies. “We need to change the idea that it’s women’s fault if they don’t get equal treatment", she asserts, explaining that the usual advice given to women (learn to negotiate, be more assertive…) is rooted more in stereotypes than in evidence. In this video interview, she explains why urgent action is needed to bring forth gender equality, and how her research program at Sciences Po aims to offer insights on why fewer women take up leadership or entrepreneurship roles, and what skills would we need to teach women to bridge the gap. Dr Anne Boring To know more about Anne Boring research project: Project Page (new window)

### The science of change : helping Africa weather future risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-science-of-change-helping-africa-weather-future-risks
Published: 2019-04-24

The AXA Research Fund has supported the AXA Chair in African Climate Risk since 2016. At the University of Cape Town in South Africa, Jorisna Bonthuys, a science journalist, met with Prof. Mark New. Improving our understanding of the changing risk of extreme weather and climate events is crucial to robust climate-change responses in Africa. “It is becoming ever more urgent to improve our understanding of the changing nature of climate risk on the continent – and humans’ role in it,” said Professor Mark New, AXA Chair in African Climate Risk at the University of Cape Town (UCT). “Much of the impact of climate change will occur through extreme events such as drought and flooding.” New is director of the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) and has held the AXA Chair in African Climate Risk at UCT since 2017. AXA, a global insurance leader, has committed – through its AXA Research Fund – to support this position for 15 years. It will fund three successive scholars in total, with a new chair-holder appointed every five years. Chair-holders will undertake research in their relevant domain of expertise, aligning it with the university’s research priorities. “AXA has provided long-term, predictable support for a succession of innovative blue-sky projects and research themes related to climate risk in Africa,” New said. “This allows us to ask the questions that the usual [climate research] funders haven’t thought about or don’t want to think about.” New holds a permanent academic position in UCT’s Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, while being seconded to the ACDI for the duration of his term as an AXA chair-holder. The ACDI is spearheading the university’s response to Africa’s climate and development needs: It generates innovative research to provide solutions-orientated knowledge in service of society. New’s area of expertise is climate attribution science. This field of focuses on quantifying whether, and to what extent, human-made greenhouse gas emissions contribute to the probability of an extreme weather event occurring. His research as AXA chair-holder is helping to fill a significant gap in this field as it enables him to drive a step change in attribution science that focuses directly on African case studies. New’s chair programme brings together African and international researchers to accelerate this African focus. It combines the strength of local and global experts, including emerging researchers from Africa. Prof. Mark New , AXA Chair in African Climate Risk. A new climate for risk research New is on a mission: He wants to understand how the risk of extreme climate events is changing in southern Africa and how much of the change is caused by greenhouse-gas-induced warming of the climate system. “The heat is on to generate new knowledge regarding the changing nature of climate risk, given our need to adapt to the planetary changes already underway,” New stated. “Nature has been sending us warning signs that the planet is warming at an unprecedented rate. “Climate change is underway and society needs to adapt to it.” Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, yet there is still no clear scientific picture about what the effects of anthropogenic climate change are on a regional or local level. “What we do know, however, is that in many areas extreme weather events – like droughts and floods – are associated with greater loss and damage,” he said. New is quantifying the human influence on these extreme events and their impact on hydrological and agricultural systems in the region, among other things. This work, based on well-established methods of attribution science, has a southern African focus – and potential application across the rest of the continent. The Western Cape Province in South Africa provides the ideal backdrop for New’s work. Between 2015 and 2017, the province experienced the most severe drought in a century; Cape Town nearly became the first developed city to run out of water. To provide fresh insight, New is also looking at other extreme events, such as the disastrous fires that in the area and recent flooding in Kenya. For this, he is working closely with the ACDI’s network of experts and partners.   How are humans to blame? New’s research involves simulating past and present extreme weather events with the aid of climate models and a multi-method approach. Through their modelling, the research team is able to add or remove human contributions over time, thereby switching the modelled effect of humans “on” or “off”. This enables him to model, for example, the role that human land management has played in increasing fire and water-shortage risks, in comparison to how climate change factors contributed to these extreme events. Explaining the link between extreme climate events and human activities is like explaining the link between smoking and the risk of developing lung cancer. “Medical researchers know that smoking is an undisputed cause of lung cancer, and by comparing cancer frequency between those who do and do not smoke they can estimate the added risk from smoking,” New explained. “As climate researchers, our work is to accurately explain the link between the human contribution to climate change by burning fossil fuels – equivalent to smoking – and its effect on our planetary health and systems.” New is also analysing the effects of adaptation and management responses to changing climate risk in rural and urban settings. His models also allow him to switch different responses “on” and “off”, such as a government response to remove alien vegetation from water sources. This enables him to see how a specific on-the-ground action can mediate the impact of extreme weather. This could help planners and politicians devise relevant adaptation responses. Already the results of this research are paving the way for changes in water management, water conservation and disaster insurance. The team’s latest research has shown that human-induced climate change and its effect on rainfall patterns rendered the recent drought in the Western Cape about three times more likely to occur than would have been the case in a world without human impact. It is the cross-over between natural science and socio-economic science that has captured New’s imagination. “It’s time to mind the gap,” he emphasised. “Policy-makers must aim to avoid a dangerous temperature rise by reducing emissions, but plan to adapt to the inevitable climate-change-related changes that are already underway.” New concluded, “Using simulations of climate change [effects] in the region can help planners cope with the unthinkable and learn from it. “Our work can help unravel climate risk and ensure a step change in attribution science as well as adaptation responses in Africa. Brace yourself for increasing climate risk in our region.” Read more about ACDI . Photo : @finding_dan Prof. Mark New Find more about Prof. Mark New's project research on African climate risk. PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### Why access to healthcare is not enough

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/why-access-to-healthcare-is-not-enough
Published: 2019-03-14

While providing access to healthcare globally to as many people as possible is widely recognized as a priority, improving the quality of healthcare, especially in low and middle-income countries, should be seen as equally as important. Indeed, it is currently is bluntly acknowledged than access without quality is an empty vessel. Professor Pedro Saturno is the holder of the AXA Chair for the Improvement of Healthcare Quality at the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico, where he directs an ambitious research and formation programme designed to address the multiple aspects of healthcare quality improvement. He aims to improve the accessibility, quality and equity of health systems with a strong focus on vulnerable populations, like women, children or the elderly.  Healthcare quality relies on numerous factors: contrary to a widespread idea, monetary investment in health systems alone is insufficient to ensure quality of care. Prof. Saturno works on designing low-cost, simple integrated solutions to improve quality of care that are highly accepted by local communities and services providers alike. It is widely recognized that there are actually at least six aims for a population-centered healthcare system. While some are obvious, all are important to ensure quality for all: the provided services should be safe and effective, not harming patients and providing care based on scientific evidence. But it should also be patient- centered, respecting each patient’s preferences and values: for example, it is important that patients understand well their conditions, treatments and procedures so they can accept and be partners in their own healthcare. Care should also be timely, avoiding harmful delays, as well as efficient, in order to cut waste of resources, supplies, time and energy. Lastly, healthcare should be equitable, providing equal access and quality regardless of gender, ethnicity, geographic location or socioeconomic status. Thus, improving healthcare quality, especially with limited resources, is more complex than it looks. Prof. Saturno is working on three intertwined areas: first, he is looking to improve the quality throughout the health system. Then, he aims at achieving universal and equitable, effective access. Finally, he wants to find better ways to measure vulnerability, both in individuals and in groups. Vulnerability, defined by the OECD as a product of risk exposure and the capacity to confront negative events, is an important tool for policy makers to identify issues and know where to focus their efforts. To tackle these very wide topics with limited resources, Prof. Saturno and his team conduct a lot of implementation research. Implementation research aims at understanding and overcoming the obstacles to the systemic application of scientific research findings in practice. For example, why does a hospital have better results that its counterpart in a different municipality, with equivalent human and monetary resources? Why are science-based findings not always put in place, with well-wishing guidelines ending up collecting dust in a cupboard?  Working directly with municipalities and districts, Prof. Saturno’s goal is to understand the way that care is offered in practice, in order to bridge the gap with what should theoretically be done.  For example, the infant mortality rate is relatively high in Mexico, with a national average of 16.76 deaths per 1000 infants. But this average data covers strong disparities both among and within different Mexican states. To better understand which strategies work and why, Prof Saturno’s team is looking at communities in different states, each representing the national average or the most extreme situations regarding health indicators. Indeed, comparatively small actions may have a lot of impact regarding quality improvement. For example, Prof. Saturno’s team is leading research projects focusing on maternal and child health, which is implemented in the states of Puebla and Chiapas. This research programme applies simple methods to data that was already collected by hospitals and care providers to offer new insights on perinatal deaths and how to prevent them. For instance, by creating a simple matrix that compares the moment of death of the fetus or baby, from conception until birth, and its weight or size, they were able to put to light important issues that were “hidden” in the overall infant mortality rate. Notably, they found that in some areas, there were many stillborn babies in the third trimester of pregnancies. Weighting over 1.5 kilos, these babies are theoretically viable. This high rate of preventable deaths indicated issues in the care provided during the pregnancy and around delivery.  Prof. Saturno’s team is working to implement this simple statistical matrix as a routine tool in many hospitals, in order to focus efforts and resources where there are most needed and to uncover previously unseen problem areas. In the same project, the process of care for childbirth and postpatum and neonatal care, is designed and standardized using integrated clinical pathways, which translate scientific evidence to the local context, with the participation of the mothers and all the health practitioners involved.  The idea that simple tools and practices may have big impacts is found throughout all the research and formation programmes developed by Prof. Saturno, in conjunction with community involvement. Indeed, community involvement, through communication activities, workshops, etc.  plays an important role to improve acceptance and use of new tools or protocols on the healthcare providers’ side. On the side of patients, it helps strengthen care-seeking and knowledge of healthcare rights, as well as the adoption of risk-prevention measures. In the Chair research programme, this care to involve communities in order to best suit their needs can be found in the bottom-up design of the different training programmes created and offered by the Chair. For example, Prof. Saturno and his team have designed and implemented in the state of Guerrero a ‘Diploma on Improvement of Healthcare Quality’ focused on human rights, in collaboration with the National Commission of Human Rights and the University Loyola del Pacífico, and the support of “Acción Ciudadana Frente a la Pobreza” (Citizens’ Action Against Poverty), a coalition of over fifty NGO´s advocating for universal and equitable access to health services. This diploma, aimed at managers and health professionals of the public healthcare system, was designed to help tackle the issues that the human rights practitioners have identified in the field, such as insuring informed consent for all medical procedures, in particular those related to women´s reproductive health, or preventing the mistreatment of marginalized groups. In the future, Prof. Saturno wishes to deploy the tools and processes that were proven effective from his pilot tests in many more health facilities and networks, while involving local authorities, the civil society and the patients to ensure the durability of the projects. Four methodological manuals, created by Prof. Saturno, are available for download [in Spanish]. These manuals cover three key areas for the improvement of quality in health services: Quality improvement cycles or “ciclos de mejora” ; Quality monitoring or “monitorización de la calidad”; Quality planning or “planificación de la calidad” ; The last one covers a specific quality planning tool, Integrated clinical pathways or "Vías Clínicas”.

### Marine fish may soon lose their sense of smell. Here is why it matters

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/marine-fish-may-soon-lose-their-sense-of-smell-here-is-why-it-matters
Published: 2018-12-27
Author: Dr. Cosima Porteus

A new study demonstrates how marine fish* could soon lose their sense of smell, due to climate change- induced higher levels of CO2 in the oceans.  This would negatively affect species conservation, fish stocks and the global food supply. Supported by the AXA Research Fund, marine biologist Dr Cosima Porteus and her team at the University of Exeter published their findings in July 2018 in the prestigious science journal Nature . The Canadian postdoctoral researcher, supported financially by AXA’s scientific philanthropy initiative and working at the University of Exeter, explained her findings in a CBC article . As CO2 levels rise in the atmosphere, due to human activities, about 25% of this CO2 is then absorbed by the oceans. This rise in CO2 levels in oceans causes a phenomenon known as acidification. " Changes in water chemistry that are happening in the ocean are likely affecting the way small molecules bind to the receptors in the nose of the fish, and therefore decreasing how much fish can smell ," Dr. Cosima Porteus explained to CBC. The problem? Fish don’t rely on their sight as much as we think: indeed, they use their sense of smell for many tasks, to find food, but also to spot potential mates, find a suitable habitat, and avoid predators. Conducting research on the beloved European sea bass (an economically important species, with 160 000 tons sold annually), Dr Porteus and her team found that the fish’s behavior was severely affected when exposed to the CO2 levels that are expected in our oceans around 2100. For example, “ They responded less to predator smell and tended to freeze more ". At such levels, their overall sense of smell is reduced by 50%. As the processes involved in the sense of smell are common to many aquatic species, the effects of rising CO2 levels on aquatic species’ sense of smell could threaten a broad range of natural ecosystems and, ultimately, affect our food supply. Dr Cosima Porteus concludes: " There's hope in our study because this is a warning for the future," she said. "It's not happening yet, so if we can reduce carbon emissions, this is preventable in a way. But we have to act soon. " Read Dr Porteus full article in Nature Climate Change here . Watch a video by Dr Cosima Porteus below: *As opposed to freshwater fish

### How Does Your Brain Process and Create a Vision of the World?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-does-your-brain-process-and-create-a-vision-of-the-world
Published: 2018-12-27

285 million people live with visual impairment worldwide. Valentina Emiliani’s pioneering research project is aimed at developing visual impairment cures through the regulation of visual circuits ⬇️ Credits: @chaseelliottclark Valentina's research project:

### How much does clean air cost?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-much-does-clean-air-cost
Published: 2018-12-19

A biodiversity toolkit provides new ways to value environmental services. Developed by Dr Kelvin Peh, former AXA Research Fund grantee, now at Southampton University, TESSA is a low-cost but scientifically sound tool for non-experts to assess the monetary value of services offered by local ecosystems, and their sensitivity to land-use change. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been front and center in the global efforts to fight climate change. However, decision-makers are now also increasingly recognizing the need to protect biodiversity. Indeed, properly functioning ecosystems freely provide many benefits and products to humans, that are difficult and costly to replace once lost. The AXA Research Fund recently launched a call for projects to support research on marine biodiversity, to strengthen its portfolio in this specific area, in line with AXA’s corporate social responsibility strategy. However, since its creation in 2007, the AXA Research Fund has already supported many projects that aim at better understanding and preserving biodiversity. Kelvin Peh is a Doctor of Physical Geography and currently at the University of Southampton, UK. He was supported in 2011 by the AXA Research Fund for a post-doctoral fellowship at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. We recently caught up with him in November 2018, as he was invited to intervene as an expert in the panel “Saving Biodiversity from the cliff” at the Paris Peace Forum, which was sponsored by AXA. Five years after being supported by the AXA Research Fund, Dr Peh’s project has blossomed into a renowned tool for the evaluation of ecosystem services: TESSA. TESSA, which stands for “Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessment”, is a guidebook to help non-experts, such as NGOs or local communities, to measure and monitor ecosystem services on a given natural site, in a way that is at the same time quick, cheap, and scientifically robust. AXA Research Fund’s grant was key in giving Dr. Peh sufficient time to further develop and enrich this project, helping launch his career as an internationally renowned scientist. The benefits stemming from healthy ecosystems are varied. The FAO proposes different types of ecosystem services: supporting services (like recycling nutrients or soil formation), provisioning services ( like providing raw materials and food), regulating services (like climate regulation or water purification), and cultural services (like using nature for recreational activities and tourism).TESSA is designed to guide non-specialists, who do not have an extensive scientific training, through state-of-the-art methods for the rapid estimation of a few of these ecosystem services: climate mitigation services through carbon capture, hydrological services, nature-based recreation and tourism, the harvest of wild goods and cultivated goods, coastal protection services, pollination services and cultural ecosystem services at their site of interest. These ecosystem services, which are sometimes taken for granted, would be costly and difficult to replace. Knowing how to estimate their monetary value aids policy-makers and local communities take better decisions regarding land use. Using TESSA, conservation practitioners can both measure the current value of the services provided by the natural site as-is, but also conduct an evaluation of the likely value of these services if the site is transformed, into farm land for example. In the United Kingdom, the National Trust used TESSA to calculate that each hectare of Wicken fen, a natural area in Cambridgeshire, is worth €145 more per year to the community as wetland than as arable farmland, thus providing evidence for supporting the creation of a 53 km2 nature reserve. Wetlands and marshes offer invaluable ecosystem services like water filtration Credits: Adam Grabek @agmakonts The value of TESSA to assist communities with decision-making is widely recognized by the scientific community: indeed, it is currently recommended by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services ( IPBES ), an equivalent to the IPCC for biodiversity, as a tool that can help develop and implement better policy instruments to protect nature. Today, Dr Peh and his project partners are further spreading TESSA across the globe, training an extensive network of conservation practitioners in many countries, such as Nepal or the Dominic Republic, to use the tool. Relying on strong partnerships with NGOs such as Birdlife International or the Tropical Biology Association has helped Dr. Peh and his team at Southampton University to apply TESSA in many different types of natural habitats around the world, thereby establishing a unique community of TESSA users – particularly in developing world contexts– to support biodiversity conservation. Currently, the tool is globally-used in more than 45 protected areas. So far, TESSA has received more than 1650 download requests from 69 countries, of which a third of the requests are from NGOs, a third from Universities, 10% from commercial entities, and 10% from governmental organizations. The goals for tomorrow are to further the global use of the toolkit, but also to analyze the data thus collected by TESSA users. This data will help to understand which natural ecosystems provide which services and in which proportion, to better protect the most biodiversity-rich natural zones, which are also the most critical for key services. Discover Dr Kelvin Peh's project : "Quantifying the risks caused by habitat loss: a practical toolkit for informed decision-making"

### Will we ever be able to breathe pure air?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/will-we-ever-be-able-to-breathe-pure-air
Published: 2018-10-02
Author: Dr. Fulvio Amato

According to the WHO, nine out of ten people breathe polluted air around the world. Indoor and outdoor air pollution can lead to serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with fine particles being among the most harmful pollutants. Heating homes, industrial establishments and transport vehicles, including metro trains, are the main sources of these harmful particles. Dr. Fulvio Amato Watch the video Dr. Fulvio Amato, researcher at the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville, is interested in air pollution in the metro and its harmful effects on humans. With the installation of measuring instruments, it is possible to identify the role played by brake and wheel friction on the toxicity of the air in the underground and to reduce their impact. His work has been used to develop measures to improve the air quality in Barcelona's metro. Understanding of Best Ways to improve Air quality in the subway Dr. Fulvio Amato project page (new window) Commuting by subway? What you need to know about air quality Dr. Fulvio Amato Read the article (new window) How research helps build more resilient cities Dr. Fulvio Amato Read the guide (new window)

### Will paralysed people be able to walk again one day?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/will-paralysed-people-be-able-to-walk-again-one-day
Published: 2018-10-02
Author: Prof. Maurizio Prato

Some medicine specialities are more reminiscent of science fiction than reality, but the tremendous progress of the past decades is blurring the boundaries between the two and opening new and exciting perspectives for the future. This is particularly the case of nanomedicine, the medical application of nanotechnologies, and its promising applications in the fields of drugs, vaccines, imaging and regenerative medicine products. Prof. Maurizio Prato Watch the video Hundreds of thousands of new cases of spinal cord injury occur each year, disrupting the lives of patients and their families. There is currently no cure for damaged nerve functions, but promising new medical approaches are emerging. A pioneer and eminent figure in nanotechnology applied to neuroscience, Italian professor Maurizio Prato explores the possibility of constructing a prosthetic bridge in carbon nanotubes connecting the affected ends of the spinal cord. With the support of AXA Research Fund, he and his team have already achieved remarkably encouraging results: "We have shown that these tiny cables, 50,000 times smaller than a human hair, are able to effectively restore the electrical connection between whole pieces of spinal cord ". Finding a cure to the irreversible damages caused by spinal cord injuries Prof. Maurizio Prato Project page (new window) The Future of Medicine Prof. Maurizio Prato Watch the video (new window)

### Centre for Global Finance Seminar Series

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/centre-for-global-finance-seminar-series
Published: 2018-09-30

The Centre for Global Finance Seminar Series provides a platform for speakers to present their work to an audience of fellow academics and students of Finance and Management. These seminars are open to members of SOAS and the wider academic community. Prof. Victor Murinde full programme available here The seminars are supported by three research projects and programme: AXA Chair in Global Finance research programme hold by Professor Murinde and supported by the AXA Research Fund ; The DFID-ESRC Growth Research Programme (DEGRP) Call 3 under research grant ESRC Ref ES/N013344/2; and The ESRC-NSFC research project, ESRC Ref  ES/P005241/1 Seminars are normally held on Wednesdays at 13:00 -15:00 in SOAS University of London. The venue for each seminar is stated here on the CGF website.  26/09/2018 03/10/2018 10/10/2018 17/10/2018 24/10/2018 31/10/2018 14/11/2018 21/11/2018 28/11/2018 05/12/2018 12/12/2018 09/01/2019 16/01/2019 23/01/2019 30/01/2019 06/02/2019 20/02/2019 27/02/2019 06/03/2019 13/03/2019 20/03/2019 01/05/2019 08/05/2019 13/05/2019 Diversification strategies in banking: like lemmings falling off a cliff Gerhard Kling Financial Technologies Paving a Bright New Path For the World’s Unbanked Population Victor Murinde Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not: the calculation of abnormal stock returns in applied research Mark Tipett It's the macroeconomy stupid! Not the banks Ciaran Driver Pan-African Banks on the Rise: Does Cross-Border Banking Increase Firm's Access to Finance in WAEMU? Desire Kanga Financial Inclusion and Risks Ayse Demir The Power of Networks: Evidence from the UK Hisham Farag TBC Andreas Hoepner Chinese bank efficiency Jacob Schumacher Regulatory Policy-Making in Emergent Industries: The Rise of Decentralized Cryptocurrencies (2009-2018) Alberto Asquer Inventory investment and the choice of financing in China: Does city-level financial development play a role? Alessandra Guariglia Financial Inclusion, Financial Diversity and Institutional Quality Christine Oughton TBC Sumon Bhaumik Cross-border banking, credits cycles, commodities prices and effectiveness of macro prudential policies Francois Bationo Intertemporal Consumption and the Measurement of Inflation: A Dynamic Inertial Price Index Pasquale Scaramozzino Headquarters Relocation, Advanced Producer Services and Firm Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms Hong Bo Reappraisal of debt sustainability and development nexus Machiko Nissanke Market Crashes and the Capital Asset Pricing Model Chris Adcock Uptake and impact of Islamic savings accounts in Pakistan Robert Lensink Lessons of capital account management from emerging economies for African low income countries Stephany J. Griffith-Jones The Fear of the Queen: Directors' Reputation and Earnings Quality Tolulola Lawal Congestion Externality and Autonomous Vehicles Alberto Izzozi The structure of trust in the UK and China Meng Xie TBC Laurence Harris Global finance: avoiding risks by updating our understanding of today's mega trends Prof. Victor Murinde More info (new window) Ensuring Financial & Political Stability Prof. Victor Murinde Read the article (new window)

### Geopolitical risk: technologies & uncertainties

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/geopolitical-risk-technologies-uncertainties
Published: 2018-09-27
Author: Prof. J. Peter Burgess

Discover the new conferences seminar organized by Prof. J. Peter Burgess, Chair holder of the AXA Chair in Geopolitical Risks, at ENS Paris. Each wednesday from 5:30pm to 7:30 pm join us at ENS Paris to attend fascinating conferences on "Geopolitical risk: technologies & uncertainties" to discuss major topics with professional speakers & experts. Find the detailed calendar of these great conferences below and don't forget to register here . In a New Age of Risk, Exploring the Social Side of Uncertainty Prof. J. Peter Burgess More info (new window) Exploring the Social Side of Uncertainty Prof. J. Peter Burgess Read the article (new window)

### Artificial Intelligence: fostering trust through research

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/artificial-intelligence-fostering-trust-through-research
Published: 2018-09-24

How can we ensure data security and privacy for all at a time of democratization of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? How can we adapt a relevant ethical and regulatory framework vis à vis this technological revolution? How can we increase algorithm transparency? Around the world, researchers are working on these issues and raise, more broadly, the question of trust. In order to share the latest thinking on this fundamental subject, the AXA Research Fund has dedicated its latest Research Guide to AI and Trust. AI provides recommendations, guides us through the online world and helps us manage our personal finances. It translates our ideas into multiple languages simultaneously,  automatically improves our photos and answers the practical questions we may ask ... “ Even though we may not always be aware of it, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already part of our daily lives ”, explained Jad Ariss, AXA Group Head of Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility. “ And its future potential is improving every day: for example, in the field of health we are finding that AI is capable of detecting certain cancers with a success rate comparable to - or that surpasses - that of radiologists. In the insurance sector, AI also offers many opportunities to create new services and to better meet the needs of our clients. ”  Download the guide Moving beyond the polarized debate Security, privacy, access to data, algorithm transparency... AI is also capable of generating concerns: “ We realize that the public debate around AI has become polarized. On one side are the advocates of a ‘solutionist’ approach, who expect AI to solve all of society’s problems; while on the other side are those with a more ‘apocalyptic’ vision, in which AI threatens human autonomy”, according to Cécile Wendling, Group Head of Foresight at AXA and Member of the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI .  “ However, we must avoid shortcuts: the subject is complex, multifaceted, and must be addressed in a truly holistic manner. ” With potential impacts on many aspects of our lives, it is essential that we have a societal and collective debate on AI, both politically and ethically, according to Lawrence Lessig, Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School and Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the AXA Research Fund:   Informed discussion to ensure responsible Artificial Intelligence “This is where science comes in,” said Jad Ariss. “It gives us the tools for an informed discussion, and helps us better prepare for the AI revolution in a responsible way.” It is with this in mind that the AXA Research Fund has recently published a Research Guide on the subject, giving voice to leading figures such as Lawrence Lessig and Raja Chatila, as well as to several AXA-supported researchers around the world (Antonio Acin, Alexandre d'Aspremont, Dominique Boullier, Joanna Bryson, Robert Deng, Maurizio Filippone, Phillip Hacker, Christophe Marsala and Paul Ohm), and to AXA experts. These viewpoints provide us with a snapshot of the latest research on the subject, and enable us to question a concept that is central to the reflection on AI: trust. “ Supporting research helps us to better understand the world around us and the key issues we face, now and in the future”, said Marie Bogataj, Head of the AXA Research Fund. “ Artificial Intelligence is one of these issues. It is paramount that we give researchers a platform: their work will help us build an informed path towards responsible AI.” Discover the Research Guide on Artificial Intelligence: Ensuring data security and privacy How can we ensure data security and privacy in a world where the use of data is increasing? Tailoring the ethical and regulatory framework How can we adapt ethical rules and legislation to AI developments while innovations in the field continue to accelerate?  Strengthening accountability through transparency How can we ensure the auditability and transparency of code, which is the only way to guarantee the legal responsibility of Artificial Intelligence?

### Understanding ice melting

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/understanding-ice-melting
Published: 2018-08-13
Author: Dr. Alison Cook

Ice melting is one of the most global concerns related to climate change, leading notably to sea level rise and loss of biodiversity. To limit its impact, we need first to better its causes and mechanisms. Out of 200 environmental projects supported over the last 10 years, of which 7 on melting glaciers, discover the work of Dr. Alison Cook, conducted between 2010 and 2013, at Swansea University, Wales. While a doctoral student, the young British woman conducted research on how and why Antarctic glaciers have changed over the last century. " With the AXA fellowship I attended courses and conferences and met with scientists internationally in this field of research. The funds have also allowed purchase of the equipment, software and data required for the interpretation of the glacier changes ," says the young researcher. " My research focuses on the extensive glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsula that are retreating rapidly and contributing to sea-level rise. We need to understand the processes controlling the changes ," she explains. By analyzing spatial patterns of change over the recent past, combined with information on changes in geometry and dynamics of the glaciers, and comparing them with historical meteorological and ocean temperature records, Dr. Alison Cook has produced results that have helped to determine the main drivers of glacial retreat. This has improved predictions in likely future changes of ice shelves and marine glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsula, a region that is thought to be one of the largest contributors to current sea-level rise. Watch the video:

### Maximizing the extraordinary potential of artificial intelligence

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/maximizing-the-extraordinary-potential-of-artificial-intelligence
Published: 2018-08-13
Author: Dr. Joanna Bryson

Artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionizing our lives. A source of extraordinary hope, as well as nightmarish predictions, the reality of these technologies and their disruptive potential is still relatively unknown to the public. How can we ensure that they are appropriately integrated into our societies? The AXA Research Fund is supporting 5 research projects on artificial intelligence, such as that of Dr. Joanna Bryson from the University of Bath, UK, on the appearance of robots. The American researcher Joanna Bryson explores the ethical issues of AI through experiments on how people behave and interact with robots. Since 2016, the researcher has also been a consultant to the OECD, an international organization whose mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. "People tend to both be afraid of these technologies and to expect too much of them. They have in mind what movies show, but that's science fiction. In reality, AI is very different – it’s a tool, it’s a way of programming" . Her project aims to provide solutions that make the robot’s machine nature explicit, without compromising potential therapeutic uses. Watch the video:

### Supporting science to help our wishes come true

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/supporting-science-to-help-our-wishes-come-true
Published: 2018-08-08

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the AXA Research Fund renews its commitment to science by pledging a further €50millions to its philanthropic fund. For this occasion, a booklet called: “ Supporting science to make our wishes come true ” has been released to remind and illustrate AXA’s commitment to supporting science, based on the profound belief that it plays a determining role to answer to the great issues of our century, and help everyone to build a better life. Testimonials book Read the book Science has the power to change everything. It can help improve our health, protect the environment, and better understand our societies. Tomorrow cannot be written without it. That is why, for the past 10 years, the AXA Research Fund has provided a € 180 million support to 563 researchers from 58 nationalities, in 35 countries. The funded research projects are in four different fields: health, environment, new technologies and socio-economic issues. With this booklet, the AXA Research Fund renews it commitment to disseminating scientific projects with societal value, and continue to showcase the scientific work done by the best researchers in their fields. 10th anniversary book Discover AXA's commitment to supporting science over the past 10 years through various testimonials from researchers and partners.

### Living longer, but better

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/living-longer-but-better
Published: 2018-07-29
Author: Pr. Miia Kivipelto

Increasing longevity is an opportunity, as long as those extra bonus years are healthy ones. We need to be able to make the most out of them, with best mental and physical capabilities. And a little help from science. The AXA Research Fund supports more than 220 research projects in the field of health, including circa 50 on longevity and healthy ageing. The work of Professor Miia Kivipelto on the role of lifestyle in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases illustrates the critical importance of science to empower us to build better futures. Elderly populations today are growing faster than any other age group. Unfortunately, the number of people with dementia is therefore also increasing. According to the WHO, dementia could affect more than 75 million people worldwide by 2030. These figures underline the importance and urgency of implementing and supporting research initiatives like that of Professor Miia Kivipelto, from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The Swedish neurobiologist developed the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), which evaluated the effects of some of the most important risk factors for late-onset dementia (such as high body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular health) on the functioning of the brain. The overall results showed a significant improvement in the cognitive abilities of people who adopted a healthier diet and did physical and cognitive exercises several times a week. "What's good for the heart is also good for the brain," explains the researcher. "In other words, a healthy lifestyle based on physical activity, low cholesterol, the absence of excess weight and normal blood pressure at midlife, not only protects against heart disease but also dementia." Watch the video: Related content Slowing Mental Decline In The Elderly The Science of ageing How Can We Live Longer and Healthier Lives?

### Why Your Phone Shouldn’t Cost the Earth?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/why-your-phone-shouldnt-cost-the-earth
Published: 2018-03-27
Author: Pr. Kerry Edward Sieh

Mining the components that go into our smartphones is adding to the likelihood of earthquakes. In the final episode of this series of the AXA Research Files, science presenter Greg Foot travels to the mountains of California and uncovers how the mining of the rare earth minerals that go into our mobile phones and tablets adds to the human activity that increases the chance of earthquakes. Along the way, Greg meets AXA-supported researchers Kerry Sieh at Nanyang Technological University, Thomas Chartier at l’Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) and Georgios Michas at the School of Applied Science Technological Educational Institute of Crete, to find out more. We talked to Kerry Sieh in more detail about his research. You can find that video here .

### How Can We Live Longer and Healthier Lives?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-can-we-live-longer-and-healthier-lives
Published: 2018-03-22
Author: Dr. Francesca Baggio

The ageing process leads to the increased likelihood of contracting diseases like cancer or dementia. What can we do to reduce the chances? In this episode of the AXA Research Files, science presenter Greg Foot travels to Cologne to find out if it's possible to reduce the likelihood of being more prone to disease as we age. Greg meets AXA-supported researcher Francesca Baggio at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing to find out more. Francesca introduces us to mitochondria and explains how the mistakes that occur during the replication of these cells leads to ageing. Greg also chats to another AXA-supported researcher,  Miia Kivipelto  at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, to look into how we can live healthier lives as we age (through exercise, better diet, etc.) and slow down mental decline in the elderly. We talked to Francesca Baggio in more detail about her research. You can find that video here . Brain and metabolic health are key to slowing down the onset of age-related diseases. For more tips on how to develop brain plasticity to live healthier for longer, click here .

### How Can You Give Your Baby the Best Start in Life?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-can-you-give-your-baby-the-best-start-in-life
Published: 2018-02-27
Author: Dr. Sabine Langie

Taking the best possible care of our children, both before and after they’re born, will give them the best hope for a healthy life. In this episode of the AXA Research Files, science presenter Greg Foot travels to Antwerp, Belgium to meet AXA-supported researcher, Sabine Langie at VITO (the Flemish Institute for Technological Research) to find out how the urban environment (particularly air pollution, but also diet and lifestyle choices) affects unborn and new-born babies. Greg also chats to Nadia Chanzu at the University of Cape Town, another AXA-supported researcher, who’s looking into improving the health of pregnant women and aiming to reduce the incidence of preterm births. Greg highlights the importance of the first 1000 days to giving your baby the best start in life. This period starts at the point of conception with the baby’s nine months in the womb and continues until their second birthday. We talk to Sabine Langie in more detail about her research. You can find that video  here . For more information about the environmental exposures to unborn children, watch our video  here .

### Paving the way for the development of responsible AI

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/paving-the-way-for-the-development-of-responsible-ai
Published: 2018-02-12
Author: Dr. Sarvapali Ramchurn

AXA Research Fund recognises Southampton expert’s contribution to responsible artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence expert Dr Sarvapali (Gopal) Ramchurn has been awarded a grant from the AXA Research Fund, becoming only the second UK-based academic to ever be supported by the initiative in the field of Responsible Artificial Intelligence. The AXA ReSearch Fund, the philanthropic initiative of the AXA Group is dedicated to boosting scientific discoveries that contribute to societal progress will provide him with €250,000 to further investigate how AI can be responsible and accountable. The award recognises the Associate Professor’s innovative contributions to his field, which includes over a decade’s work at the University of Southampton’s renowned Department of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS). “We are at a critical point in time where key questions are being asked about how AI will change people’s lives for better or worse,” Sarvapali says. “It’s an honour to have been granted this award, and it reflects how the research in our Agents, Interaction and Complexity (AIC) Group is truly world-leading. It is recognition of not just my work but also the current and past colleagues, researchers and students that I’ve been fortunate to work with.” Sarvapali’s research has largely centred on the development of intelligent software and robotic agents, with a focus on how such agents are designed to work alongside humans and other agents. His next steps will focus on the design of interactions with AI that ensures that humans have reasonable expectations about the behaviour of intelligent agents and supports rather than hinders their daily activities. “My goal is to develop some of the underpinning technology that will ensure AI remains safe and responsible,” Sarvapali explains. “Some of the targets will be to look at how we can design AI systems to cope with varying degrees of user understanding and how we can design interactions with AI to make sure that control is given to users when it most matters, while the complexity of decision making is dealt with by the AI when the user does not need to be involved. We will also be establishing new methodologies derived from a user-centred approach to the design of AI. A key part of the work will also involve tracking the provenance of AI and human decision making to ensure that systems are accountable.” Researchers from the University of Southampton have previously worked on the design of responsible AI in a number of projects funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. These include ORCHID, a programme grant that investigated the notion of Human-Agent Collectives, and the A-IOT project which looks at developing the Autonomous Internet of Things.

### Can We Train Our Brains to Become Safer Drivers?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/can-we-train-our-brains-to-become-safer-drivers
Published: 2018-02-11
Author: Pr. Frédéric Dehais

Decision making : in this episode of the AXA Research Files, science presenter Greg Foot explores why, wherever there is potential for danger, we often make the wrong choices. Greg chats to AXA-supported researcher Frederic Dehais from Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE) to understand the impact of stress, uncertainty or fatigue on our ability to make the right choices and why we pay more attention to visual warning notifications rather than auditory ones. Greg also meets Donghyun Ryu from Bangor University, another AXA-supported researcher, looking at how we can lead safer lives by training our brains to better react to hazards. We talked to Frederic Dehais in more detail about his research. You can find that video  here . Also discussed in the film: did you know that horses have almost 360° vision? Discover what we should learn from horses to become safer drivers  here .

### It's a Risky Life Ep#8

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-ep8
Published: 2018-02-07
Author: Pr. David Rios

Discover the Episode 8 of It's a Risky Life A series that help you make decisions involving risk from a mathematical perspective It’s a risky life! is a series of videos available on YouTube that will explain concepts of probability and uncertainty, decision-making under conditions of risk and the role of insurance.  The tone is informative and entertaining, the content is aimed at everyone and sets challenges with a prize to be won at the end. The initiative is spearheaded by AXA Research Fund in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CSIC-ICMAT) and the Fundación General CSIC. Everyone has trouble making decisions; more so when confronted with a situation involving some level of risk. In such cases, intuition is not always the best tool. But mathematics IS. It's a risky life! is a series of videos that take a humorous look at essential mathematical concepts associated with risk and its influence on modern society. They will explain the notion of risk in our day-to-day lives in an informative and entertaining way, covering topics such as security, decision-making, uncertainty and risk aversion. This project, spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, is part of the AXA Permanent Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis, which is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. The videos are presented by the Chair holder, Professor David Ríos, a researcher at ICMAT and a permanent academician at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.

### How research helps build more resilient cities

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-research-helps-build-more-resilient-cities
Published: 2018-02-05

Faced with rising pollution, flooding, epidemics and other risks of natural and manmade disasters, researchers around the world are working hard to make cities more resilient. How are they going about it? What results have they achieved? As the 9th World Urban Forum explores this topic in Malaysia, let’s take a look at the current state of research supported by the AXA Research Fund. More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas.  By 2050, this proportion will climb to 70%. Increasing the density of the world’s cities will bring about a range of new issues – such as worsening pollution – which will come on top of existing natural disaster risks such as earthquakes and floods. But that is no reason to throw up our hands in resignation: there are many ways to help cities organize their future and protect their inhabitants. First, that means expanding our  understanding of risks so that we can better prepare for them . Next, we need to continue raising awareness about resilience so that populations, governments  and businesses can make the right decisions in light of all pertinent information . Finally, we need to share our research results to help governments, decision-makers and civil society to  craft appropriate solutions . For all these reasons, the  AXA Research Fund , which has supported research since 2007 by funding researchers worldwide, decided to publish its  Resilient Cities Guide . The publication’s goal is to inform a wide audience about the current state of scientific knowledge concerning resilient cities. At AXA, our actions are guided by one core belief: that to build more resilient cities, we need to have a firm grasp on the full spectrum of risks and how they are interconnected. As explained by Jad Ariss, Head of Public Affairs & Corporate Responsibility of the AXA Group, and member of the Scientific Board of the AXA Research Fund, “ research is key to effectively tackle the global challenges facing our societies. Scientists are central to the production of knowledge that is essential for the design and implementation of successful prevention and mitigation strategies. That’s why we are supporting around twenty best-in-class researchers working on this topic through the AXA Research Fund. ” Take a look at the topics discussed in the guide: Floods 3.4 mm per year : this is the average rate of sea level rise since 1996. A 2.000-year record. (Source:  NASA ) Through their research work, Vazken Andréassian, Luciano Raso and Roshanka Ranasinghe aim to prevent flood risks and to promote efficient mitigation and management efforts.  Infrastructure failure 80% : 8 out of 10 cities around the world are likely to suffer significant damages from earthquakes.  (Source: UNHabitat ) Preventing risks and ensuring the longevity of infrastructure is an absolute necessity for Athanasia Manou, Giovanni Sansavini, Peifeng Ma and Iunio Iervolino, who devote their research supported by the AXA Research Fund to this topic. Pollution +60% : this is the evolution of CO2 emissions around the world between 1990 and 2013. (Source:  World Bank ) What can we do to keep pollution from suffocating urban populations? Research by Magali Dreyfus, Sverre Vedal and Fulvio Amato aims to deepen our understanding of this phenomenon, while also proposing concrete initiatives.  Epidemic 44% : this is the percentage of countries around the world with less than one doctor for every 1,000 inhabitants. Africa is the continent where the lack of doctors is most striking. (Source:  WHO ) How to keep cities from becoming hotbeds for epidemics: that is the topic researched by Simon Cauchemez and Petra Klepac, both supported by the AXA Research Fund.  Vulnerable populations 1/3 : since 1990, 33% of the world’s urban population is estimated to live in slums or precarious housing. (Source:  PwC ) How can we protect and support our most vulnerable populations? Field research by Cassidy Johnson, William Donner and Katrina Brown has helped to launch local initiatives, which may be replicated in other areas around the world.  Want to discover the leading researchers and research projects in the field of resilience?Want to learn more about the various initiatives in place around the world? More info Download the Resilient Cities Guide(4.1MB) Discover all the AXA Research Fund’s actions and the projects it supports Follow the AXA Research Fund on Twitter

### It's a Risky Life Ep#7

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-ep7
Published: 2018-01-30
Author: Pr. David Rios

Discover the Episode 7 of It's a Risky Life A series that help you make decisions involving risk from a mathematical perspective It’s a risky life! is a series of videos available on YouTube that will explain concepts of probability and uncertainty, decision-making under conditions of risk and the role of insurance.   The tone is informative and entertaining, the content is aimed at everyone and sets challenges with a prize to be won at the end.  The initiative is spearheaded by AXA Research Fund in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CSIC-ICMAT) and the Fundación General CSIC. Everyone has trouble making decisions; more so when confronted with a situation involving some level of risk. In such cases, intuition is not always the best tool. But mathematics IS. It's a risky life! is a series of videos that take a humorous look at essential mathematical concepts associated with risk and its influence on modern society. They will explain the notion of risk in our day-to-day lives in an informative and entertaining way, covering topics such as security, decision-making, uncertainty and risk aversion. This project, spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, is part of the AXA Permanent Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis, which is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. The videos are presented by the Chair holder, Professor David Ríos, a researcher at ICMAT and a permanent academician at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.

### Can Big Data Help Beat Diabetes?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/can-big-data-help-beat-diabetes
Published: 2018-01-28
Author: Dr. Alessandra Petrelli

We ask the question: can big data help in the fight against diabetes? Did you know that obesity kills more people than starvation? Over 90% of Type 2 diabetes sufferers are obese. In this episode of the AXA Research Files, science presenter Greg Foot rides with Brian Kamstra of the Novo Nordisk cycling team (a team made up purely of riders with Type 1 diabetes), to understand the kind of fitness data that cycling teams can collect from wearable devices. Greg also meets and chats to AXA-supported researchers Alessandra Petrelli and Helen Colhoun, to find out if data collected from sources such as electronic healthcare registers and wearable devices can be the driving force for new treatments of diabetes. We talked to Helen Colhoun, Medical Informatics Researcher, in more detail about her research. You can find that video  HERE . Cycling is one of the best forms of low-impact exercise, making it easier on your body to keep fit and prevent obesity. For more on why cycling is good for you, watch our video  HERE .

### How to fight stress with a smile?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-to-fight-stress-with-a-smile
Published: 2018-01-16
Author: Dr. Sarah Pressman and Dr. Enzo Tagliazzucchi

A smile, even a fake one, can help reduce your stress levels In this episode of the AXA Research Files, science presenter Greg Foot travels to the University of Irvine in California to look at new research into whether people who smile more are healthier and happier than those who don’t smile so much. Greg meets and chats to AXA-supported researchers Sarah Pressman and Enzo Tagliazucchi to find out more. Surprisingly, Greg discovers that even faking or pretending to smile still sends a message to the brain that will have some of the same physiological benefits as real smiling. Not only do smilers have a more proactive behavior towards healthcare -they are more likely to seek preventive healthcare-, but all smilers (even fake ones!) will produce more cortisol or catecholamines, anti-stress hormones that have real benefits on the immune system function, cardiovascular system, and can increase the pain threshold. We talked to Sarah Pressman in more detail about her research. You can find that video here.

### Best-Of Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/best-of-internet-of-things-data-protection-conference
Published: 2018-01-09

Conference Summary Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and the Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th at AXA Group Corporate Offices.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explore how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect IoT data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties.

### It's a Risky Life Ep#6

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-ep6
Published: 2017-12-06
Author: Pr. David Rios

Discover the 6th Episode of It's a Risky Life ! A series that help you make decisions involving risk from a mathematical perspective It’s a risky life!  is a series of videos available on YouTube that will explain concepts of probability and uncertainty, decision-making under conditions of risk and the role of insurance.   The tone is informative and entertaining, the content is aimed at everyone and sets challenges with a prize to be won at the end.  The initiative is spearheaded by AXA Research Fund in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CSIC-ICMAT) and the Fundación General CSIC. Everyone has trouble making decisions; more so when confronted with a situation involving some level of risk. In such cases, intuition is not always the best tool. But mathematics IS.  It's a risky life!  is a series of videos that take a humorous look at essential mathematical concepts associated with risk and its influence on modern society. They will explain the notion of risk in our day-to-day lives in an informative and entertaining way, covering topics such as security, decision-making, uncertainty and risk aversion. This project, spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, is part of the AXA Permanent Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis, which is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. The videos are presented by the Chair holder, Professor David Ríos, a researcher at ICMAT and a permanent academician at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.

### Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/internet-of-things-and-data-protection-matchmaking-conference
Published: 2017-12-05

Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th 2017 at AXA Headquarters.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explored how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect our data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties.

### Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference Q&A Panel

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/questions-answers-panel
Published: 2017-12-03
Author: Pr. Deng, Pr. Ohm, Pr. Ford

Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th 2017 at AXA Headquarters.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explored how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect our data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. Internet of Things and Data Protection - Questions & Answers Panel: with Prof. Deng, Prof Ohm and Prof. Ford.

### Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference Concluded by Thomas Buberl

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/roundtable-discussion-with-conference-speakers
Published: 2017-12-03

Internet of Things and Data Protection Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th 2017 at AXA Headquarters.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explored how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect our data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. A roundtable discussion with all the speakers from the conference on the Internet of Things and Data Protection.

### Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference Roundtable

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/thomas-buberl-axa-ceo
Published: 2017-12-03
Author: AXA CEO, Thomas Buberl

Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th 2017 at AXA Headquarters.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explored how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect our data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. Thomas Buberl concludes the days event by looking at the opportunities that surround the Internet of Things.

### Cyber Insurance, Scott Sayce

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/cyber-insurance-scott-sayce
Published: 2017-12-03
Author: AXA Expert, Scott Sayce

Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th 2017 at AXA Headquarters.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explored how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect our data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. In this video discover Scott Sayce's approach to: "Cyber Insurance and the Internet of Things".

### Information Security, Laurent Bénichou

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/information-security-laurent-benichou
Published: 2017-12-03
Author: AXA expert, Laurent Bénichou

Fizzy - Parametric Insurance by AXA, Laurent Bénichou Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th 2017 at AXA Headquarters.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explored how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect our data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. In this video discover Laurent Benichou's approach to "The Challenges for Information Security".

### Legal & Ethical Challenges, Cecile Wendling

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/legal-ethical-challenges-cecile-wendling
Published: 2017-12-03
Author: AXA Expert, Cecile Wendling

Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th 2017 at AXA Headquarters.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explored how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect our data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. In this video discover Dr. Cecile Wendling approach for: "Legal and ethical challenges: A European-American comparative approach".

### Data Security & Privacy, Pr. Robert Deng

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/data-security-privacy-pr-robert-deng
Published: 2017-12-03
Author: Pr. Robert Deng

Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and the Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th at AXA Group Corporate Offices.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explore how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect IoT data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. In this video discover Pr. Robert Deng's approach on: "Data security & privacy risks".

### Security Information, Pr. Bryan Ford

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/security-information-pr-bryan-ford
Published: 2017-12-03
Author: Pr. Bryan Ford

Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and AXA Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th 2017 at AXA Headquarters.  During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explored how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect our data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. In this video discover Prof. Bryan Ford's approach to "The Challenges for Information Security"

### Legal & Ethical Challenges, Pr. Paul Ohm

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/legal-ethical-challenges-pr-paul-ohm
Published: 2017-12-03
Author: Pr. Paul Ohm

Internet of Things & Data Protection Conference Jointly organized by the AXA Research Fund and the Group Information Risk Management team, the Internet of Things & Data Protection Matchmaking Conference has been held on October 6th at AXA Group Corporate Offices. During this conference, researchers and business experts have tackled topics of mutual interest and explore how scientists, insurance industry and society can work together to address IoT related challenges in order to better protect IoT data in the future, while creating value for all concerned parties. In this video discover Prof. Paul Ohm's approach for the first mastercall on : "Legal and ethical challenges: A European-American comparative approach". Article Source : Le Figaro (in French) Protéger les données ne veut pas dire protéger la vie privée

### It's a Risky Life Ep#5

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-ep5
Published: 2017-08-21
Author: Pr. David Rios

Discover the 5th Episode of It's a Risky Life ! A series that help you make decisions involving risk from a mathematical perspective It’s a risky life!  is a series of videos available on YouTube that will explain concepts of probability and uncertainty, decision-making under conditions of risk and the role of insurance.   The tone is informative and entertaining, the content is aimed at everyone and sets challenges with a prize to be won at the end.  The initiative is spearheaded by AXA Research Fund in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CSIC-ICMAT) and the Fundación General CSIC. Everyone has trouble making decisions; more so when confronted with a situation involving some level of risk. In such cases, intuition is not always the best tool. But mathematics IS.  It's a risky life!  is a series of videos that take a humorous look at essential mathematical concepts associated with risk and its influence on modern society. They will explain the notion of risk in our day-to-day lives in an informative and entertaining way, covering topics such as security, decision-making, uncertainty and risk aversion. This project, spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, is part of the AXA Permanent Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis, which is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. The videos are presented by the Chair holder, Professor David Ríos, a researcher at ICMAT and a permanent academician at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.

### It's a Risky Life Ep#4

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-ep4
Published: 2017-08-21
Author: Pr. David Rios

Discover the 4th episode of It's a Risky Life! A series that help you make decisions involving risk from a mathematical perspective It’s a risky life!  is a series of videos available on YouTube that will explain concepts of probability and uncertainty, decision-making under conditions of risk and the role of insurance.   The tone is informative and entertaining, the content is aimed at everyone and sets challenges with a prize to be won at the end.  The initiative is spearheaded by AXA Research Fund in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CSIC-ICMAT) and the Fundación General CSIC. Everyone has trouble making decisions; more so when confronted with a situation involving some level of risk. In such cases, intuition is not always the best tool. But mathematics IS.  It's a risky life!  is a series of videos that take a humorous look at essential mathematical concepts associated with risk and its influence on modern society. They will explain the notion of risk in our day-to-day lives in an informative and entertaining way, covering topics such as security, decision-making, uncertainty and risk aversion. This project, spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, is part of the AXA Permanent Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis, which is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. The videos are presented by the Chair holder, Professor David Ríos, a researcher at ICMAT and a permanent academician at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.

### It's a Risky Life Ep#3

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-ep3
Published: 2017-08-20
Author: Pr. David Rios

Discover the 3rd episode of It's a Risky Life ! A series that help you make decisions involving risk from a mathematical perspective It’s a risky life!  is a series of videos available on YouTube that will explain concepts of probability and uncertainty, decision-making under conditions of risk and the role of insurance.   The tone is informative and entertaining, the content is aimed at everyone and sets challenges with a prize to be won at the end.  The initiative is spearheaded by AXA Research Fund in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CSIC-ICMAT) and the Fundación General CSIC. Everyone has trouble making decisions; more so when confronted with a situation involving some level of risk. In such cases, intuition is not always the best tool. But mathematics IS.  It's a risky life!  is a series of videos that take a humorous look at essential mathematical concepts associated with risk and its influence on modern society. They will explain the notion of risk in our day-to-day lives in an informative and entertaining way, covering topics such as security, decision-making, uncertainty and risk aversion. This project, spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, is part of the AXA Permanent Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis, which is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. The videos are presented by the Chair holder, Professor David Ríos, a researcher at ICMAT and a permanent academician at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.

### It's a Risky Life Ep#2

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-ep2
Published: 2017-08-20
Author: Pr. David Rios

Discover the Episode 2 of It's a Risky Life! A series that help you make decisions involving risk from a mathematical perspective It’s a risky life!  is a series of videos available on YouTube that will explain concepts of probability and uncertainty, decision-making under conditions of risk and the role of insurance.   The tone is informative and entertaining, the content is aimed at everyone and sets challenges with a prize to be won at the end.  The initiative is spearheaded by AXA Research Fund in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CSIC-ICMAT) and the Fundación General CSIC. Everyone has trouble making decisions; more so when confronted with a situation involving some level of risk. In such cases, intuition is not always the best tool. But mathematics IS.  It's a risky life!  is a series of videos that take a humorous look at essential mathematical concepts associated with risk and its influence on modern society. They will explain the notion of risk in our day-to-day lives in an informative and entertaining way, covering topics such as security, decision-making, uncertainty and risk aversion. This project, spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, is part of the AXA Permanent Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis, which is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. The videos are presented by the Chair holder, Professor David Ríos, a researcher at ICMAT and a permanent academician at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.

### Insurance : enabling resilience for Cities

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/insurance-enabling-resilience-for-cities
Published: 2017-07-18
Author: Pr. Deborah Balk

Resilient Cities | Insurance : enabling resilience for Cities Ep#5 | AXA Research Fund Understanding the impact population growth is having on cities, the vulnerabilities they face and how through research we can help build resilient cities, in partnership with National Geographic.  In the next 35 years, India's urban population is predicted to grow by over 400m China's by over 300m and in Nigeria by approximately 250m.  Cities are at constant risk of flooding, earthquakes and air pollution. It is of vital importance to understand these risks and why they are growing.  In this film we talk to Prof. Deborah Balk (City University of New York) who is working with the AXA Research Fund, to understand city growth and their vulnerabilities to help understand which areas are most at risk to natural or man-man hazards and events. Prof. Balk exchange her expertise with Corinne Vitrac an insurance specialist at AXA. Data supports the view that land will become scarcer in the future. Land is under pressure due to climate and population change.  It is now important to work with cities to evaluate risk, put in place some prevention measures and insurance solutions and support the resilience of cities. 

### Earthquakes: Exploring Early Warning Systems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/earthquakes-exploring-early-warning-systems
Published: 2017-07-18
Author: Pr. Lunio Lervolino

Resilient Cities | Earthquakes: Exploring Early Warning Systems  Ep#4 | AXA Research Fund Exploring how early warning systems can help in cities situated on active earthquake areas can help build resilient cities, in partnership with National Geographic.  15 of the worlds largest cities are situated in earthquake active areas. There have been more that 850,000 casualties as a result of earthquakes and their related effects in the last 35 years, costing the global economy over $750 billion. Whilst new building design is built to withstand earthquakes we must still look at the vulnerability of existing buildings.  You cannot prevent the damage caused earthquakes, but we can reduce it and more importantly reduce the number of casualties that arise because it.  This film talks to Prof. Iunio Iervolino (University of Naples Federico II) who, with the support of the AXA, is looking at developing early warnings systems for earthquakes, detecting in them real-time and alerting communities and cities at risk, helping to reduce casualties and damage. Prof. Iervolino exchange his expertise with Fabio Petruzzelli an earthquake specialist at AXA.

### Air Pollution: Exploring the Impact on Health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/air-pollution-exploring-the-impact-on-health
Published: 2017-07-18
Author: Dr. Fulvio Amato

Resilient Cities | Air Pollution: Exploring the Impact on Health   Ep#3 | AXA Research Fund Exploring the impact of air pollution of human health to help build resilient cities, in partnership with National Geographic.  7.7m people die each year due to air pollution! It is thought that over 200billion dollars are lost every year in the economy because of pollution There is data to support the rise in cancers diagnosed in certain cites of the world which a like to be linked to air pollution.  In this film we talk to Dr Fulvio Amato (IDAEA-CSIC) whose research, supported by the AXA Research Fund, looks at developing measure to improve air quality for cities. His research breaks down the origins of the pollution and helping to understand the difference in air quality a varying distances from sources of pollution. Dr Amato exchange his expertise with Jean Kramarz an heath specialist at AXA. In practice he shows that moving the position of a bike lane by 10m away from a road could reduce pollution levels by as much as 50% making it safer and healthier for the cyclists. 

### Flooding: Exploring Early Warning Systems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/flooding-exploring-early-warning-systems
Published: 2017-07-18
Author: Dr. Vazken Andreassian

Resilient Cities | Flooding: Exploring Early Warning Systems  Ep#2 | AXA Research Fund Exploring the impacts of flooding and the benefits of early warning systems to help build resilient cities with National Geographic. Current projections are that global average sea level rise will double by 2100. Inland cities are also equally under threat from river systems by extreme weather events.   Flooding and its destruction can costs billions to put right. In 2016, flooding in Paris and the surrounding region, cost over 1 billion euros. Flooding effects everyone, all over the world, from personal homes and transport to hospitals, schools and businesses. Many cities were built by coasts or rivers to allow for transportation of goods to and from their ports and it is therefore vital that we increase our knowledge about floods to allow better information to be provided to city populations to help improve the resilience of the cities.   The film features, Dr Vazken Andreassian (IRSTEA Paris) whose research, supported by The AXA Research Fund, looks at developing models for flood early warning systems. Dr Andréassian exchange his expertise with Simon Blaquière a floods specialist at AXA. If warnings are provided, resulting damage can be minimised. In practice this could mean flood defences are built around vulnerable cities or critical infrastructure (such as transport systems), or could allow residents to move their belongings upstairs and out of harms way, or ensure a farmer moves his livestock to higher ground before a flood hits low lying ground.  Early warning systems provide time to minimise potential impact and help build resilient cities. 

### Exploring Future City Growth & Urban Landscapes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/exploring-future-city-growth-urban-landscapes
Published: 2017-07-18
Author: Dr. Cassidy Johnson

Resilient Cities | Exploring Future City Growth & Urban Landscapes  Ep#1 | AXA Research Fund Exploring the future of global city growth and urban landscape development to help build resilient cities with National Geographic.  The global population is rising. in 1950 there were 700 million people on earth. It is predicted that by 2050 this number will rise to over 6 billion. City populations are expanding ever faster with people arriving for economic opportunities, but few consider the risks they face.  Cities are expanding beyond their original boundaries and people are now living in areas that are more exposed to some kinds of natural hazards.  In this film we talk to Dr. Cassidy Johnson , (University College London), a researcher supported by the AXA Research Fund and Simon Clow, an expert in social responsibility at AXA.  Data is key to understanding risk in growing cities - Dr. Johnson's research looks at'Metrics and measurement for urban resilience', helping to understand who is in an area and what their vulnerabilities are. This in turn allows Governments and planners to build the infrastructure needed to support them.  Awareness is key to making the right decisions and populations, governments and private organisations can change the way they act on a daily basis.  Over population in cities is not an inevitable outcome. Understanding risk and planning for growth will help plan city development and it's infrastructure and help build resilient cities. 

### Scientists uncover the effects of volcanic ash on jet engines

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/scientists-uncover-the-effects-of-volcanic-ash-on-jet-engines
Published: 2017-07-10
Author: Volcanologist Corrado Cimarelli

Ep#7 | AXA Research Files In this episode of the AXA Research Files, Greg Foot goes volcano chasing in Japan to see one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Sakurajima. But how might the volcano’s spewing ash affect his flight back home? He travels with Volcanologist Corrado Cimarelli to experience the thrill of the explosion. Once the dust has settled, Corrado explains the science behind the ash, why it’s so dangerous to jet engines, and vital to understand more about its properties. Greg has a blast of a trip.

### New AXA Chair in African Climate Risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/new-axa-chair-in-african-climate-risks
Published: 2017-04-26
Author: Pr. Mark New

Brace for frequent extreme weather Professor Mark New, holder of the recently launched AXA Chair in African Climate Risk, a first of its kind in Africa, warns that climate change has loaded the dice in favour of disastrous weather. The severe two-year drought that is currently laying waste to the Western Cape’s water supply might see its ilk visit twice as frequently as before, thanks to the destructive consequences of global warming and climate change. This is according to Professor Mark New , the newly appointed head of the AXA Chair in African Climate Risk at Cape Town University (UCT). Ominous preliminary data suggests that extreme weather events might be twice as likely to occur, with an intense drought like this landing once every 25 years rather than once every 50 years, says Prof New. If these readings are confirmed, the Western Cape water supply system will need to be rethought. Currently, it’s designed with two disastrously dry seasons per century in mind. “ Climate change has loaded the dice ,” says New, who directs UCT’s African Climate and Development Initiative.When we’re thinking about risk management and water resource system management, it’s based on those kinds of probabilities, says New.“If your input data to the design of your water system is wrong because the dice has been loaded, then you need to change your input data.” That’s where New and his colleagues come in. The AXA chair, which was launched on 6 April 2017, is the first of its kind in Africa. The global insurance leader AXA supports this Chair for 15 years of research that will inform better management of resources to cope with climate change risks. New is the first holder of what AXA calls a successional chair – a new scholar will be appointed every five years.It would help entice the best climate change researchers to set up shop at UCT. “ It’s an opportunity to develop the careers of researchers who are close to being at associate professor level ,” says New. What can we blame climate change for? Professor New’s area of climate science expertise is called attribution. “ It’s basically asking to what extent greenhouse gases are changing the climate risks that we’re exposed to,” New explains. “Say we have a heavy rainfall event that causes a lot of flooding in Cape Town. Is that climate change? ” The simple answer, says New, is not so simple. There have been extreme weather events since before greenhouse gases began polluting the atmosphere. “ What we can say is how global warming is changing the frequency and intensity of those events ,” he says.”If the risks are changing – and the research suggests that they are – the way we manage those risks must change, too. Evolvoing risk landscape demand different management of resources Take the Western Cape’s water supply as an example. The province draws the bulk of its water from a man-made confluence of the Berg River, the upper Breede, the Steenbras and the Palmiet. This system assumes a catastrophic drought every 50 years. It’s thus designed for 49 reliable yields every half-century. But with more frequent droughts a real possibility, especially when these droughts last for two years, the system might be in need of rethinking, says New. “ We talk about distil and proximate risk s,” says New. The distil risk is global warming changing climate and rainfall. The proximate risks involve the ways that people-made landscape systems affect our sensitivity to the global-scale risks. When flooding is on the table, think roofing on houses, drainage and storm-water systems, whether rivers are in concrete canals or natural channels, and so on. “ My house on the slopes of Table Mountain would never get flooded because the extreme rainfall just goes underground ,” he says. Somebody in an informal settlement on the Cape Flats will most likely see their home flooded, because the groundwater table rises and floods. “S o we’re interested in how the human management of the landscape is changing the sensitivity to those external rainfall events and how we can change the landscape to reduce that risk. That then helps the people who have to manage the risks to figure out how they need to change their risk-management strategies to ensure safer and better life conditions .” The big question New’s big question, then, is how exactly the risk has changed, and they’re working towards a final answer. “ We need to do a lot more work to get to a much more robust statement of how the risk of an event of this magnitude has changed, but it looks like the risk has changed because of climate change,” says New. “We are extremely proud to support this unique research programme, Mark New and the team of researchers, who are actors of change regarding climate science in Africa, and working for a better future, ” said Raphaël Gusdorf, Acting Head of the AXA Research Fund. The AXA Research Fund, the science philanthropy initiative of the AXA Group, is also supporting key health research being conducted at the University of Cape Town: Nadia Chanzu working on improving mothers’ immune system regarding HIV and preterm birth, and Abhimanyu Abhimanyu who aims at predicting tuberculosis in populations at risk. Story Yusuf Omar. Photos Michael Hammond / Robyn Walker.

### Improving Healthcare Systems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/improving-healthcare-systems
Published: 2017-04-19

This film introduces 5 new research projects granted by the AXA Research Fund to help secure a sustainable future for our healthcare systems. Globally ageing populations, the rise of chronic diseases, or even new technologies are among major global challenges facing healthcare systems. At AXA we believe that access to quality care for all is essential. How to ensure healthcare system's sustainability and allow each of us to live a better, healthier life? To answer this question the AXA Research Fund has granted 5 new research projects in 2016, with a total commitment of over €1M, specifically: Dr Pavlova 's research will identify the best innovative practices in Europe Dr Günes  will help identify the best care models for chronic diseases Dr Grépin  will help improve healthcare systems in low and middle income countries Dr Kim  will help eldercare systems in East Asia be as robust as possible Dr Pivodic  will focus on improving the management of chronic diseases in old age Your well-being and future rely on the power of research. The AXA Research Fund is dedicated to promoting discoveries that help us understand and better prepare against environmental, life and socio-economic risks.

### It's a Risky Life Ep#1

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/its-a-risky-life-ep1
Published: 2017-01-23
Author: Pr. David Rios

Discover the Episode 1 of It's a Risky Life! A series that help you make decisions involving risk from a mathematical perspective It’s a risky life!  is a series of videos available on YouTube that will explain concepts of probability and uncertainty, decision-making under conditions of risk and the role of insurance.   The tone is informative and entertaining, the content is aimed at everyone and sets challenges with a prize to be won at the end.  The initiative is spearheaded by AXA Research Fund in collaboration with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (CSIC-ICMAT) and the Fundación General CSIC. Everyone has trouble making decisions; more so when confronted with a situation involving some level of risk. In such cases, intuition is not always the best tool. But mathematics IS.  It's a risky life! is a series of videos that take a humorous look at essential mathematical concepts associated with risk and its influence on modern society. They will explain the notion of risk in our day-to-day lives in an informative and entertaining way, covering topics such as security, decision-making, uncertainty and risk aversion. This project, spearheaded by AXA Research Fund, the AXA Group's global scientific philanthropy initiative, directed by Filmociencia and produced by the ICMAT communication unit, is part of the AXA Permanent Chair in Adverse Risk Analysis, which is structured around a collaboration between CISC (higher council for scientific research), ICMAT and the Fundación General CSIC. The videos are presented by the Chair holder, Professor David Ríos, a researcher at ICMAT and a permanent academician at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences. Serious content presented in an entertaining way Problems with nuclear energy, climate change, financial crises, cybersecurity and terrorism are some of the threats of modern times that create risky situations in which decision-making is very important. Mathematics plays a fundamental role in helping us make the right choices. However, not everyone understands the underlying concepts or their relevance to everyday life. In  It's a risky life!  they are presented in a fun way that anyone can understand. “The aim of the videos is to inform the viewer, in an entertaining but serious way, about some important mathematical concepts related to risk that are also relevant to everyday life”, explains Ríos. In  It's a risky life!  he explores the notion of risk, decision-making, uncertainty, probability and utility, and how it can be modelled”. They will also talk about the role of insurance, a service that all citizens know about but not everyone understands. “If someone realises that they have risks and needs to manage them, there are several ways to reduce the likelihood of the threat being played out and/or its impact. One way is to transfer part of the risk to an insurance company”, says the researcher. “It’s important to know about the phenomena associated with risk because they are all around us, and yet they are not always well understood. With the concepts explained in the videos, you can learn to make better decisions”, adds Ríos. There will be eight videos each lasting around two minutes, one published approximately every three weeks, with both Spanish and English versions. The first can already be viewed on the ICMAT , AXA Research Fund and AXA España YouTube channels. Solve a challenge As well as making people think, this initiative rewards them for taking part. At the end of each video, a challenge addressing the misconceptions about the perception of risk is proposed. The participant with the most correct answers at the end of the series can win an Aisoy programmable social robot. To keep track of subsequent challenges, each time a video is released it will be announced on social media, namely the ICMAT and AXA Twitter accounts ( @_ICMAT  and  @AXAsegurosEs ) using the hashtag #itsariskylife. 

### “Long-term care…short-term challenges?”

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/long-term-careshort-term-challenges
Published: 2016-12-13

“Long-term care…short-term challenges?”  Whether someone will need long-term care (LTC) in their old age is one of the most difficult risks to calculate, given its complexities. It is a very long term risk and it is hard to predict what the world will be like in 50, or even 20, years from now, when people who have taken out policies today will begin to make their claims. Will life expectancy continue to increase at the rates we see today? Will diseases be better managed in the future thanks to further advances in medical technology? Will dependent people live longer thanks to these advances? On October 26, 2016, AXA Experts and Researchers met for a day-long conference entitled “Long-term care…short-term challenges?” The goal of this conference was to bring together leading academics and insurance experts from around the world to discuss the fundamental questions and difficulties surrounding long-term care and how this care will be financed in the future as the world’s population ages and existing public insurance schemes are no longer adapted. Discover the welcome remarks by Alban de Mailly Nesle, Chief Risk Officer of AXA Group. Watch the live testimonials of academics an AXA experts. Discover the closing remarks of the conference with Mohamed Baccouche, Life, Savings & Health Chief Risk Officer of AXA Group, and Christian Thimann, Group Head of Regulation, Sustainability and Insurance Foresight of AXA Group. Three main questions  AXA as an insurer has a key role to play in developing LTC funding solutions but it needs to better understand and anticipate the risks specifically related to LTC, and price its policies accordingly. It also needs to make sure that it offers cover to its policy holders that will be effective and affordable in 20, 30 or even 50 years down the road.  There are three main questions to answer in this context, explained Alban de Mailly Nesle in his conference opening talk. The first is: how should we deal with the different definitions of LTC, which vary from country to country and sometimes even between public and private sectors in the same country? The second is: what are the risk factors associated with regards to cognitive impairment (CI) in a population that is living ever longer? Will neurodegenerative diseases occur later on in life or at the ages that we see today? Thirdly: what can we learn from existing public policy models of funding LTC around the world and the impact of advances in science and technology in improving these models?  These three questions were addressed in three separate workshops that brought together AXA experts and academic guests representing various disciplines that included demography, economy, sociology, gerontology, neurobiology and psychology.  Workshop 1: Speaking the same language: LTC definitions and cross-country relevance What is available in terms of LTC funding solutions in a given country today is complicated given that definitions can change over time - either for economic reasons, or as perceptions of what dependency entails change. As mentioned, LTC itself needs to be defined, and insurers then need to be able to put a price on such a definition. The insured also needs to know what criteria he must meet to be adequately covered. Disparate assessment grids Although Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) are consensually used in the literature, each country also often has its own assessment “grid” – for what constitutes loss of autonomy or partial autonomy – and for insurers these grids can be difficult to follow, leading them to use other standards. Cognitive impairment is even more difficult to assess and how to predict the amount of benefit that will be paid out to a person so impaired in the future even more so. In the complex, evolving world that is ours, how can we predict the cost of care in decades from when a policy is purchased? We do not know what type of care we might need or, as mentioned, to what extent medicine and technology will have advanced to help us. As a result, it is impossible at the present time for an insurer to guarantee the full costs of any LTC. Hybrid models, profit-sharing schemes, indexed benefits and graded products? One solution to this problem might involve a hybrid model that takes into account short, medium and long-term risks, suggests Prof. Tom Kirkwood of Newcastle University and Chairman of the AXA Research Fund Scientific Board . These would be, for example, the probability of getting cancer, cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s diseases respectively. “Events such as hospitalization also need to be taken into account, so should part of the insurance product be given over to hospital stays?” asks Prof. Dorly Deeg of VU University Medical Centre Amsterdam in The Netherlands.  Sometimes, top-ups to a cash payout might be needed, and these might be easier to implement in the future if interest rates were to rise from the very low rates we see today. Benefits might also be indexed (to take into account inflation) and longevity as a whole over the population better modeled too. The amount paid out when needed might also be graded according to the degree of a person’s disability, says Prof Kirkwood.  “ One way to overcome this problem would be to provide different products for different stages across a person’s life,” he adds. “Medical diagnoses would be crucial here but would not be sufficient on their own to assess whether someone requires LTC or not. What is more, assessment has become more aggressive in recent years in many countries, and people who would have been previously entitled to a LTC cash payout or reimbursement for medical treatment or care no longer are. ” This produces another source of heterogeneity in longitudinal studies.  Workshop 2: Insights into Cognitive Impairments What are the risk factors associated with cognitive impairment (CI)? And as people live longer, will we see an increase in the prevalence of such impairment?  To answer these questions, we first need to clearly define what CI is (be it moderate, severe or mild). This is no easy task since there are many methods to assess whether a person has CI or not. It is much easier, for example to define what cancer is, now that we have better diagnostic processes and understanding of this disease. One such measurement is the MMSE Examination/Folstein’s test, which includes around 30 questions relating to reasoning and understanding, memory, orientation in time and space, problem solving, attention, language and counting. Another is the Blessed Test B and involves a 36-point questionnaire.  These tests are consensually used and they are the only ones available today for longitudinal studies that last a long enough period of time. However, many medical professionals consider these tests as imperfect: half of the people diagnosed as mentally impaired are actually suffering from severe depression – a disease that can be treated. The assessments also need to be repeated many times to be meaningful, but the problem here is that as people re-sit the tests, they begin to answer “by rote” and their feedback becomes less objective. CI is a heterogeneous, multifactorial disease area   The goal of this 2nd workshop was also to discuss the global trends in CI that we are currently observing. For example, data from Prof. Carol Jagger’s Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS) project at Newcastle University in the UK show that cognitive decline is on the decrease in many countries thanks to improvements in lifestyle, overall health, levels of education and wealth.  However, the problem here is that the positive changes we are seeing today may not continue into the future, or at least not to the same extent, so, again, this uncertainty needs to accounted for. One example is the positive effect that higher education has had on cognitive health over the last hundred years or so. Will this effect continue, or will it level out as the “education gap” decreases across society? Environmental factors, such as whether a person has diabetes or high blood pressure also need to be taken into consideration since disease increases the risk of CI. Other risk factors include lack of physical exercise, depression, smoking and low education  CI is such a heterogeneous disease area and involves so many factors that it is difficult to predict future trends - although the most advanced models using population data and scenario analyses have begun to provide valuable insights into possible tendencies.  Precision medicine and “biological signatures” Genetic and blood testing could come into their own here. Precision medicine could revolutionize our way of thinking about disease and will focus on prevention as well as cure. “Every patient is unique and not everyone benefits from the same treatment for a particular disease in the same way,” explains Prof. Harald Hampel who anticipates a paradigm shift from an outdated ‘one size fits all’ medical approach to one that will be safe, precise and “molecularly” tailored to each individual. Workshop 3: Integrating advanced technologies, sociology and economics in LTC funding What models could we foresee for funding LTC that take into account technological, social and economic factors? The discussions during this workshop focused mainly on preventing dependency and the need to focus on a person’s function rather than on the disease they have - or might develop in the future. The governments of most countries have some sort of healthy-lifestyle message – for example, eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, or doing more exercise to remain fit and healthy for as long as possible. New technologies, and in particular mobile applications that encourage a good lifestyle (for the old and young alike) are already on the market and there are also applications that can monitor the physical and mental health of dependent people. In this context, could AXA improve its role as an insurer by providing health services in general as well as offering LTC insurance products? Prevention policies – what part can an insurer play? Although policy makers are aware of the future financial burden of LTC and the great need for prevention, these policies will not be easy to put in place because they are sometimes seen as intrusive and a curb to personal freedom. One way for an insurer to play an important part in prevention might be to partner with external organizations that, for example, are developing programs for older, and by definition, frailer, people – by having them do daily exercises to make them stronger overall and so less dependent or frail.  Frailty, as opposed to complete dependence, is an important area to focus on as the The Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT) by Bruno Vellas in France and the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Decline (FINGER) by Miia Kivipelto in Sweden attest. These studies confirmed that memory stimulation, physical activity and nutritional advice indeed had a positive effect for when it came to preventing frailty and CI.  Other programs being developed aimed at helping the relatives of patients, as well as the patients themselves, manage specific diseases (cancer and diabetes notably) could also help delay the onset of severe dependency and the total time spent needing LTC.  Electronic coaching and home-aid robots The questions we need to ask here are; how much will these new technologies cost to put in place and who will pay for them? Will people be connected enough to use these electronic “coaches”? And how can they be encouraged to use these applications in the first place without encroaching too much on their personal freedom. Advances in robotics (as home/hospital aids) and prostheses (such as “exoskeletons”) that assist people in their everyday movements should not be neglected either as these are likely to play an important role in LTC in the future – for both individuals and their carers. “ At the end of the day, would I as a customer not be happier to buy an insurance that helps me stay in good health and independent for as long as possible rather than one that provides a lump sum for when I am in a nursing home and completely dependent?” asks Pierre-Yves Director of the Paris School of Economics. “So what I am asking is: can AXA enhance its products and develop new services that will help prevent and delay dependency for its clients in the future? ”  These three workshop topics were also the subject of academic presentations and round tables in the afternoon: o-list-item o-list-item o-list-item o-list-item All this said, the good news is that only one in four people will need acute LTC at some point in their lives. So even though everyone might not be concerned, everyone should think about taking out some sort of private insurance (and the earlier the better) for their later years, because the longer we live, the more likely we are to have LTC needs.  And as health, social and economic conditions continue to evolve, a close, open and transparent dialogue between insurance experts and academic specialists from all fields involved has a promising future.

### Exploring the Social Side of Uncertainty

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/exploring-the-social-side-of-uncertainty
Published: 2016-12-08
Author: Pr. J. Peter Burgess

We are living in a new age of risk. Never before has uncertainty so governed our lives. Globalization has spawned new risks and intensified others, like future environmental concerns that affect our car-buying decisions or the fear of terrorism and its influence on elections. Philosopher and political scientist Prof. J. Peter Burgess is leading a new research program designed to reveal how this uncertainty impacts and politicizes life today. He believes that traditional approaches to risk analysis overlook fundamental aspects of what it means to be human in the face of uncertainty. To help change that, his interdisciplinary network of researchers will work together to develop new methodologies for understanding and evaluating risk. By combining analyses of religion, media and ethics with studies of human geography, international law and decision theory, he hopes to make risk assessment a more human endeavor. “My hypothesis is that risk needs to be seen as more of a cultural, social and even moral matter,”Prof. J. Peter Burgess explains. His team of six research groups will focus on specific areas in those realms. Religion, for one thing, has rarely been more important to global politics than it is today. One team will concentrate on the uncertainty for individuals that stems from the unknowns of another belief system, its goals and motivations. The new media relationship to risk will be a focus, too. Traditionally a provider of expert knowledge, the media tends now to add to our uncertainty: too much information comes too fast for media outlets to evaluate it effectively. This flood of facts without interpretation contributes, in turn, to altering our behavior, Prof. J. Peter Burgess explains. “An increased experience of uncertainty, intensified since the end of the Cold War, changes our values, our ideas of right or wrong.” He gives the example of police arrests, noting that society is more willing today to arrest people based on appearance, without real evidence of wrongdoing. “Our threshold for action is significantly lower now,” he says. “We act on weaker evidence.” What does all this tell us about the impact of uncertainty on society and the geopolitical climate? Traditional academic approaches don’t seem equipped to handle such questions, making Prof. J. Peter Burgess’s program especially necessary. This research could have concrete outcomes for policy makers, the insurance sector and others evaluating risk. Insurance, specifically, takes a mathematical approach to determining the value and risk to insurable objects, but this misses the important contribution of cultural values. It can’t capture, for example, the tendency in Northern Europe to trust in the State’s institutions, while Southern European cultures rely on family for security in the face of an uncertain future. “These so-called softer dynamics really have a lot to say about how people experience risk.” Letting a more complete picture of that human experience inform risk management could certainly lead to better solutions for individuals, institutions, commerce and beyond.

### As Cities Grow and the Climate Changes, New 21st Century Risks Emerge

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/as-cities-grow-and-the-climate-changes-new-21st-century-risks-emerge
Published: 2016-12-05
Author: Pr. Deborah Balk

Two trends are now converging on the planet, with the power to alter many human lives around the world. These are climate change and urban population growth, both of which will be felt more intensely by the world’s poor populations. In order to prepare accordingly, we need to understand more about the impact this may have, in terms of water availability, spread of disease, sea-level rise, and more. Current methods for studying urban growth, based mainly on census information, are limited by their lack of spatial data. Forecasts of urban growth do not address where it will occur – if this growth will happen on the edges of existing, expanding cities, in new cities, or in slums. The exposure of people and infrastructure to the risks of climate change cannot be assessed if we don’t even know where they are. Prof. Deborah Balk , of the City University of New York’s Institute for Demographic Research and the Baruch School of Public Affairs, and her colleague, Prof. Mark Montgomery, of the Population Council, are taking a novel approach to the problem. They are adding spatial information to the field by combining satellite images with social science and demographic data (such as those from censuses and surveys). This will allow them to identify how manyurban dwellers live at risk from climate change; where, precisely, they are; and how this is likely to evolve. For instance, in her earlier work (with colleagues at the International Institute for the Environment and Development and Columbia University), Prof. Balk found that cities are disproportionately located in coastal regions, even in big countries like the United States. Within coastal cities throughout the world, people tend to live in lower-lying areas, too. While such large-scale observations have been established, it is still uncertain how large cities differ from mid-sized cities; little is known about those with populations under half a million. Prof. Balk and Montgomery’s current research is not only an assessment of where people are now, but an effort to predict where they will be in the future, as climate change progresses. They are examining how cities grow, considering not only the basic equation for natural increase (fertility minus mortality), but also migration. Until now, both episodic and long-term migration—a factor well understood in  national  population accounting, in large part because the migration is international—have been neglected as a source of  city-level  population growth. This is partly because migration that is largely internal to a given country is much harder to measure. Getting City-Specific, When Social Science and Satellites Meet To address these gaps in the current knowledge, Prof. Balk is taking the new approach of combining multiple sources of data that inform the question of where, how, and how fast urbanization is happening around the world, in cities of different sizes. Most often, researchers in the field remain within their own specialty; to achieve this novel combination, she is integrating existing tools from multiple specialties. The data she uses include different kinds of satellite imagery, like nighttime light datasets for a broad view, or the new Global Human Settlement Layer (classified images of built-up areas versus land cover); census or survey data on populations; and climate factors. She starts by spatializing the demographic and social science data (which tend to reported at many different levels such as province, county over time and place), and overlays and refines it with spatial information about the built (or likely urban) environment (which are consistently reported) in order to create a spatial rendering of cities of all size from small towns to large urban agglomerations; where possible, these data are compiled for several time points in order to evaluate change in urban areas over the past few decades.Once these data are spatially consistent, information about climate or environmental characteristics may also be summarized. With the summary statistics produced from this technique, Prof. Balk has been able to draw conclusions about factors like the fraction of a coastal city’s population living within a strip called the Low-Elevation Coastal Zone and exposed to related climate change risk. Her results show that, overall, 360 million urban dwellers around the world—one out of every eight—live in this zone, the large majority of which (240 million people) are in Asia. This kind of information is essential for governments and policy makers on climate mitigation and adaptation, and this new class of methods is slowly becoming an important part of the research tools used by those studying economic development, urbanization and related subjects. Until now, most research on urbanization has looked at these issues on a large scale, not in a city-specific way. Climate modelers, for example, have traditionally considered only what fraction of the world is urban. Today, this is changing in their community, as they become increasingly concerned about climate impacts and knowing which cities will be hardest hit by sea-level rise or temperature increases. Those questions cannot be addressed by a model that looks only at the global scale. With its strong focus on cities in the developing world that the AXA Outlook Award allowed her to maintain, Prof. Balk’s research is very well placed to contribute to this shift in the research field. An important step in that transition will be educating future analysts and policy makers. Prof. Balk has been able to take on and train students and junior researchers in the context of her AXA project, helping to make a new generation aware of the research issues for which she earned the Award. This is especially important for interdisciplinary work of this kind, because training for that usually takes place outside of the classroom. A Piece of the Adaptation Puzzle Deborah Balk’s work contributes a piece of the puzzle in the much larger effort of groups like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Her research was used in their Fourth Assessment Report, in reference to a database that she created on low-lying coastal urban dwellers facing risks from the sea. Her current AXA-supported studies build on this previous work, all of which helps provide the hard numbers that move abstractions into practical measures. She notes that the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment took a much more urban focus, and expects the Sixth to contain even more areas where her work may again come into play. Prof. Balk’s goal for her research is “to get tools and data into poor countries’ hands.” The practical knowledge she can obtain from her novel methods integrating multiple data types includes information like where most Asian cities are really situated, the percent of their population in the low-elevation coastal zone, the population density in the highest-risk zones and the percent living in poverty. These sorts of very specific, local results will be essential for preparing cities to adapt to climate change and other environmental disasters. Vulnerability is not uniform within a city or between urban areas, Prof. Balk has found. City and regional planners and decision makers will need her detailed findings to know when and where to act, for the best possible adaptation to future climate challenges.

### Controlling the World’s Epidemics with Mathematical Tools

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/controlling-the-worlds-epidemics-with-mathematical-tools
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Dr. Simon Cauchemez

To prevent the spread of diseases like Ebola, dengue or Zika, the people we count on to respond to outbreaks—researchers, public health workers and government decision makers—need to understand more about how transmission happens in each new context.  Dr. Simon Cauchemez ’s group at the Institut Pasteur develops advanced tools for the study of epidemics that help reveal their risk factors, transmission dynamics and drivers, all with a view towards developing better prevention actions and robust predictions. Recognized by the AXA Research Fund in 2014 with an AXA Award grant, Dr. Cauchemez develops mathematical models to better understand epidemics, their risk factors, drivers, and how they progress. While such models are often used for forecasting, these researchers are even more concerned with “now-casting”: analyzing data coming out of an ongoing epidemic—be it influenza, Ebola, Zika, or others—in order to identify the key mechanisms and help with prevention. Their work breaks down into two main themes: improving emergency response by revealing the dynamics of epidemics, and understanding what determines the spread of pathogens. From Uncertainties to Robust Estimates There are many challenges to getting a clear picture of each new epidemic that emerges and the specific risks involved, including uncertainties in the data, biased samples, and the like. Dr. Cauchemez’s models are designed tobetter understand these problems, take them into account, and produce the most robust estimates possible. End of 2015, for instance, the Zika virus came to the world’s attention, due to outbreaks in Brazil and the link observed between infection during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects (specifically, microcephaly). In this case, the unknowns included the number of pregnant women infected and the number of microcephaly cases, which could only be confirmed with time. Dr. Cauchemez was able to turn to a different data set for help, one from a large Zika outbreak that occurred two years ago in French Polynesia. Based on analyses of this more complete data, their models were able to estimate that, if infection occurs during the first trimester, the risk of microcephaly is 1%. This was a high-impact contribution to the field: the study, published in  The Lancet  in March 2016, was the first to estimate the risk of microcephaly per infection and received a great deal of media attention. Long-Term Impacts on Transmission Much of the team’s work involves emergency situations, whenever a new epidemic crops up. Other projects are more long-term, looking at how human mobility or environmental factors affect transmission. A Bangladeshi study of chikungunya had found that a very high rate of transmission might exist in a village, but fall off rapidly beyond its limits (in contrast to a scenario where it spreads broadly across the country). With the support of the AXA Research Fund, Dr. Cauchemez was able to fund a collaboration with the  ICDDR,B , an infectious disease research institute in Dhaka, to investigate this phenomenon. Their partners in Bangladesh collected data on the density of the vectors (the mosquitos that carry the virus) and gave people GPS devices to track human mobility. They are now analyzing this countrywide data to test the influence that both factors have on transmission. Across the Indian Ocean, the island of Madagascar provides Dr. Cauchemez with the ideal ecosystem in which to study spatial dynamics of disease. Working with the Institut Pasteur of Madagascar, he is testing assumptions about island populations—their relative isolation from exposure to influenza versus the potential lack of immunity among the people. He can compare the spread of the disease in a well-connected location like the capital, Antananarivo, with that in very isolated villages. Dr. Cauchemez’s collaborators have begun studies measuring levels of antibody in the blood for different strains of the flu virus that have circulated over the past five decades. With data on each person’s age, location and exposure to different strains of influenza, he will be able to determine the intensity of past epidemics, detect patterns and observe if these have changed. His team will also investigate whether the arrival of the first direct air connection between Madagascar and Bangkok, at the beginning of this century, has had an effect. New Tools Yield Deeper Insight Into Epidemics The mathematical models developed and used by the Cauchemez team represent new tools for the study of risks in epidemics, offering deeper insight into their dynamics. Their innovative methods are not trivial, Dr. Cauchemez explains, and allow for more subtle interpretations of the data than are possible otherwise. These sophisticated analyses complement the work of other epidemiological and disease-modeling teams by allowing for a better understanding of the factors involved in specific outbreaks, leading to better interventions and quantification of the outcomes. Dr. Cauchemez explains that his work is collaborative, by nature. His role is not to run a study in the field. Rather, others come to his team to make use of their tools for the analysis of epidemic data. These collaborations—with the ICDDR,B in Bangladesh, with any of the 32 institutes of the Institut Pasteur’s international network (that, often, are located near sites of emerging outbreaks), or even with the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia—also offer his team an opportunity to calibrate their models against real-life data. Dr. Cauchemez is further helping to improve the data collected on epidemics, thanks to his grant from AXA that allows him to strengthen collaborations around the world. He sees this as a fantastic opportunity: “It’s one thing to share their data, and quite another to be able to say, ‘I can fund this study’,” and ensure that it happens. Impacting Pandemics, People and Policy Dr. Cauchemez’s work is extremely relevant to public health practitioners and decision makers grappling with the risks of pandemic spread today and planning for the future; to health care workers and residents of affected areas; and to travelers assessing the risk of entering a current or potential outbreak zone. His research also holds clear interest for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. A company interested in developing a Zika vaccine would need to know that it would be worth the investment: What are the chances of it reappearing in the Americas in the next 10 years? An insurer may want to assess the risk of it reaching Africa or Asia and the impact it could have there. Dr. Cauchemez is currently addressing these questions. On the policy side, he also advises the French government on Zika-related concerns in Martinique, one of its overseas territories. Guillain-Barré syndrome is another complication of Zika infection that leads to complete shutdown of the nervous system. Its victims must be put on ventilators and, with only eight ventilators on the island at the start of the epidemic, the government needed to assess whether this would suffice. The number of ventilators has since been increased. While the link between modeling and policy is well established in the UK, Dr. Cauchemez sees a great need in France to develop this connection, to maximize the impact they can have on policy. To that end, he is beginning work with  Santé publique France  (the French equivalent of the Unites States’ CDC) and with animal health agents at ANSES ( Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail ). Meanwhile, his work continues. Since taking up his position at the Institut Pasteur, Dr. Cauchemez has worked on the emergence of chikungunya in the Americas, the Ebola crisis, and now Zika. This kind of work, occurring in an emergency context, “does not correspond to the kind of standout ways to get funding,” Dr. Cauchemez explains. The time scales are always very short, requiring the team to provide their analyses within weeks or months. Obtaining more traditional forms of funding could never happen quickly enough; having the AXA grant, which can be applied flexibly, is “exactly what we need.”

### Personalized Care for Ovarian Cancer

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/personalized-care-for-ovarian-cancer
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Dr. Parvin Tajik

There is no such thing as a mammogram for ovarian cancer, no means of catching it early, before the cancer has really taken hold. This is one reason why ovarian cancer presents a specific challenge: most patients—as many as three-quarters of 225,000 new cases per year—are diagnosed at a late stage, when the cancer has already spread. In pursuit of new therapies and personalized treatments, a large number of studies over the past two decades has focused on biomarkers for ovarian cancer. These are clinical characteristics associated with the disease that could indicate which treatment will be most effective for an individual patient. Yet, despite all this effort, the survival rate has not much improved in the last decades. In contrast, breast cancer research has made great strides in successfully using biomarkers to predict outcomes and improve treatments. So, why has progress on ovarian cancer stalled? Dr. Parvin Tajik , an AXA Research Fund fellow at the University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Center, is working to change this situation, to help medicine move past the roadblock and provide doctors and patients with the necessary tools to make more informed and personalized decisions about cancer treatment. Approaching a Multifaceted Disease from Multiple Angles The field of ovarian cancer research and treatment is coming around to the idea that this is not just a single disease, but a heterogeneous condition. By simultaneously exploring multiple aspects with an interdisciplinary team of gynecologists, oncologists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians and pathologists, she is painting a more complete picture of ovarian cancer. Dr. Tajik’s strategy relies, first, on the power of statistics. She is developing methods to assess a host of biomarkers for their ability to predict the benefit and harm for individual patients of the treatment alternatives available to them. Any number of characteristics have the potential to serve as a useful marker, like patient age; tumor size and stage of the disease at diagnosis; presence of genetic changes in the tumor (like the BRCA mutation, well-known in breast cancer and also involved in ovarian cancer); the presence of certain proteins in tumor cells or in the blood; and more. The multi-marker assessment system developed by the researchers is a statistical program in which the user defines different biomarkers and treatment options to consider. Taking advantage of pre-existing data from large (e.g. 800-patient) clinical trials and the statistical power these numbers bring, her method is able to seek out correlations between the markers and the eventual outcome of patients: people with these clinical characteristics, receiving this treatment, most often sees this much benefit—or, on the contrary, these undesirable side effects. The model can then be used to predict the outcome for future patients. Meaningful Markers Dr. Tajik’s team in Amsterdam has performed a systematic review of research published on biomarkers in ovarian cancer over the last five years, which yielded a full 4,000 abstracts. Yet, despite all this research, only two biomarkers have been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the last decade. In collaboration with researchers in Paris and Toronto, they are also trying to understand why most biomarker studies in the field of ovarian cancer have not been successful in translating findings into clinical applications. After evaluating the entire process undertaken in these studies, from sample preparation to analysis, the results showed that most claims about markers in ovarian cancer are likely based on false discoveries (i.e. the markers identified can’t truly predict patients’ response to specific treatments), or markers with insufficient performance to be useful. This shows there are methodological problems that future biomarker studies need to address, in order to improve care for women with ovarian cancer, Dr. Tajik says. In the same vein, the researchers are compiling a list of promising ovarian cancer biomarkers—those with the most evidence backing them up—to be used in their comprehensive, multi-marker model. Personalized Medicine: More Than a Patient’s Genes Having created the tools to analyze the predictive power of any given biomarker and revealed the ones most likely to be meaningful, Dr. Tajik is now moving on to the prediction of different treatment outcomes of options for individual patients. While her methods will be relevant to any decisions around choosing a medical treatment, she remains focused on oncology. When a diagnosis of late-stage ovarian cancer arrives, both doctors and patients are faced with difficult decisions about which treatment or combination of treatments to use, without knowing the likely outcome of any option for a given individual. Dr. Tajik’s work has the potential to make their care more personalized, and not only by identifying genetic determinants for treatment selection. The tools developed will put the patient’s diverse needs at the center, many of which are often overlooked. For example, patients have different perceptions of the burden of treatment. When cancer patients are debating surgery versus chemotherapy, some have a strong psychological need to get rid of the tumor and want to remove it before undergoing chemo. On the other hand, certain patients want to avoid the possible complications of surgery, at all costs. By showing them the objective benefits of a treatment—as assessed for their particular case by Dr. Tajik’s model—they can evaluate those relative to their perception, assess the trade-off, and feel as comfortable as possible with their decision. Personalized medicine should be about much more than one’s genes and Dr. Tajik’s tool should help keep it focused on benefits for patients and reducing the burden of treatments. This tailoring of medical treatment should also improve the efficiency of the health care system, by identifying the most appropriate therapy before treatment even begins. Dr. Tajik’s tools could also aid decisions about whether a new drug can be marketed, or if it should carry the stipulation that the patient must exhibit a specific marker. Professional guidelines could be developed for doctors, as well, advising them on how to help patients choose the best treatment, in a shared decision-making scenario. Dr. Tajik is pushing for a view of personalized medicine that is much broader than the hunt for genetic indicators. Her message is that it can and should apply to all treatment selection questions in medicine. This could mean mother/child health, for example, and choices about when to opt for a caesarian, when to induce labor, and more. For the research experience it enabled, Dr. Tajik credits the support of the AXA Research Fund with essentially defining her professional future, which will see her pursuing the goal of more patient-centered medical care. AXA’s backing has allowed her to take strides toward a better understanding of markers of ovarian cancer, and she intends to continue advancing down this path. 

### Building a Better Flood Forecasting Tool

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/building-a-better-flood-forecasting-tool
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Dr. Christophe Josserand

In December 2015 parts of the United Kingdom came to know the power of flash floods. Consequences in the region of Carlisle included two meters of water covering the roads, people trapped in submerged cars, and significant damage to infrastructure, while power outages made emergency responses that much harder. In this case, assessments of the flash flooding hazard had not identified a significant risk. Dr. Madeleine-Sophie Déroche and Dr. Florent Lobligeois, two risk analysts with AXA, wondered if a different type of model could be created that would be more accurate in predicting flash floods impact and could be used by insurance companies. They had the chance to explore that possibility through a Joint Research Initiative (JRI), an AXA Research Fund program that aims to foster collaboration between a team of academic researchers and a team of AXA experts to jointly address research questions. Led on the academic side by Dr. Christophe Josserand at the University Pierre and Marie Curie (UPMC), the project “Modelling the Flood Peril” aimed to develop new, high-performing technology that could one day provide flood forecasts and help everyone prepare. Available models of flood risk that are currently used by (re)insurance companies have the advantage of being fast, but, in some contexts, their statistical approach may not be the most appropriate. What they are good at, and what is useful for the insurance business, is producing risk statistics based on modeling thousands of events that represent all kinds of potential flood-related phenomena for a given location. But they can’t provide simulations of actual events, they can’t provide simulations for flood forecasting and that leaves us underequipped to prepare for major floods. One reason for this shortcoming concerns the multiple factors these models are not able to capture—for example, if there is mud in the river under study. This is a big challenge for risk analysis, because the presence of mud can completely change a river’s flow or the impact a flood will have on affected houses. Back to Basics with Advanced Techniques With their expertise in fluid mechanics, Christophe Josserand’s research group hoped to create more comprehensive flood models by putting the fundamental physics of fluid mechanics back into the question. The field had gotten away from this, because of the challenge of the necessary calculations—specifically, in scaling up from a system you can describe in detail on the microscopic level, to achieve a description of the full flow of a river. “In the past, these calculations weren’t possible,” Dr. Josserand explains, “and, in the end, what matters most to hydrologists is the height of the top level of the river. The flux [or rate of flow per unit of area] is dependent on and can be deduced from this.” So, earlier flood modelers could satisfy themselves with this information. Times have changed, though, and both the needs of flood prediction and calculation methods have progressed. “AXA is asking us to solve the equation for the full Parisian basin. It’s too much for the old methods.” The researchers thus adapted their existing model, incorporating advanced numerical calculation methods, to produce a tool that is able to take into account more parameters than ever before. River mud is but one example; things like rainfall and ground infiltration play a role, too. The researchers have also added a very accurate database of soil and flood defense information (walls along rivers, dikes, etc.) to their model, in contrast to today’s approaches that can only make assumptions about this information. The ability to model dynamic behavior is particularly relevant for flash floods, a phenomenon that is very difficult for current models to handle. The JRI team tested their method on realistic cases, like the 2016 Carlisle floods in the UK. Their results showed that, with information on the weather and the hydraulic states of the waterways, Dr. Josserand’s model would indeed have succeeded at predicting the risks involved. Tests following a flash flood in Cannes (France) showed that, although not fast, compared to statistical models, the Josserand team’s solution performed very accurately. For AXA’s Florent Lobligeois, this represents a big improvement for business and a good compromise between their operational needs and the complexity of the model. All together, this makes the new AXA JRI model a truly novel tool that complements existing models in flood prediction. It is able to model historical flooding events—important for insurers and citizens alike, as the impact today of similar events would be much greater—and to map out worst-case scenarios for future floods. More Physics in Flood Modeling’s Future AXA’s natural disaster experts, Déroche and Lobligeois, expect this powerful tool to become widespread in their industry in five years’ time. Market models in the area of natural disaster risk assessment are moving toward such physics-based methods, as is already the case for wind modeling. With its results, the JRI project is well positioned to prove that a return to flood models based heavily on fluid dynamics is achievable and likely to have benefits for the field. Describing complex systems with detailed calculations is now possible with numerical methods, making the goal to “untangle [today’s empirical solutions] from a more fundamental, theoretical approach,” Josserand says. The researchers are helping to spread this message by posting preprints of their publications to the open access server arXiv.org, and making their model’s code free to use. Sharing their code with the community also ensures its quality, as others who use it can submit corrections. Videos of their flood simulations  are available on YouTube, and JRI team member Dr. Geoffroy Kirstetter has been invited to create a class on the new methods of numerical flood risk modeling, at the engineering school of the University of Nice–Sophia Antipolis. Recently, the academic team organized a  conference  that was particularly successful for bringing together different disciplines working on related topics around a single theme—floods—but who do not usually interact: physicists, mathematicians, hydrologists…and members of industry, as well.Some of these experts were other current and former AXA grantees working on relevant flood topics, connected to the JRI team’s community by the AXA Research Fund. Summing up the experience, Christophe Josserand reports that his team accomplished things they would not have undertaken without AXA’s partnership, and the collaboration helped them see what the industry users of their models really need. “I have to thank AXA,” he says. “It was a bit risky what they let us try, since we’re not hydrologists, but we were able to go back to the beginning of these models and rebuild them from the start.” From the company’s point of view, numerous discussions with the research team allowed the JRI participants to have an impact on the project design, targeting it to meet their practical needs for a fast, high resolution, business-relevant model. The experience was eye-opening at times: “Working in an operational setting, you don’t believe you need research – it’s too long-term,” explains Dr. Lobligeois from AXA. The JRI offered both sides the opportunity to explore and define solutions that would strike the right balance.

### Addressing the gaps in the current knowledge on geohazards in Southeast Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/addressing-the-gaps-in-the-current-knowledge-on-geohazards-in-southeast-asia
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Pr. Kerry Sieh

When the 2004 earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit Southeast Asia, no one had known that a 9.2 magnitude earthquake was even possible in the region. It served as a wake-up call for Singapore: the state of knowledge on geohazards in Southeast Asia was hugely insufficient. To address the issue, Prof. Kerry Sieh founded the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) in 2009, with the support of the AXA Research Fund. The EOS is an autonomous research institute that promotes research on the five main geohazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, sea-level rise and climate change, and will likely add floods in the future. To ensure the translation of research results directly into practical applications for populations at risk, Prof. Kerry Sieh helped AXA and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) design the AXA Chair on Natural Hazards at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, a long-term successional position which Prof. Sieh is the first to hold. Researchers under the AXA Chair are working on understanding the controls, evolution and probabilities of geohazard-related events and developing ways to monitor and forecast geophysical activity in the region. Among the most telling examples of their projects is a multi-hazard assessment in Thailand that will increase disaster resilience in key tourist destinations. Another is an evaluation of Singapore’s earthquake risk that will yield probabilities important for the insurance sector and recommendations for seismic building codes, non-existent in the country today. Numerous, significant contributions Created in 2009, the Earth Observatory of Singapore has already made numerous, significant contributions to the research community. On earthquakes, Prof. Sieh's team members have, for instance, made progress understanding large fault ruptures, and mapped out historical and modern incidences, as well as the patterns and likelihood of their occurring again. For tsunamis, too, they have identified recurrence characteristics, and their research on the Sunda Arc subduction system, the convergent boundary between the East Eurasian plates,has produced a body of work receiving attention from the international research community. Their work on volcanoes has also contributed to increasing understanding about the behaviour of the region's 500 volcanoes known to have erupted in the last 10,000 years. EOS researchers have developed more complete knowledge of the way different types of volcanoes evolve toward eruption. They have also created a pioneering tool to provide probabilistic estimates for eruption forecasts, called WOVOdat. On the subject of climate change and the sea-level rise it will induce, the EOS has established two labs to investigate the paleoclimate of Southeast Asia and its implications for the future. Another lab studies atmospheric pollution, and a fourth seeks out clues about tsunamis and typhoons in coastal sediments. Impact-focused projects Adding to these government-funded research ventures, AXA is funding impact-focused projects that answer practical questions. Among these are investigations that would not typically be compelling for academics, yet are supremely important to other fields. For example, one looming question is whether a big earthquake could occur beneath Singapore. The issue is crucial to the financial world, given the city-state is ranked among the top financial centers in the world. The project will produce concrete numbers—like the probability of a magnitude 5 quake within 30 kilometerrs of Singapore—that will be very important for the insurance industry. In Phuket, Thailand, which suffered many deaths in the 2004 tsunami, post doctorates from the AXA chair are conducting a multi-hazard assessment. This region is also at risk for earthquakes, but has not experienced any within collective memory, leaving ample time to forget the threat. Working with stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society, results here are being translated into concrete risk-planning and preparedness efforts for residents to increase their safety, for example, by improving the resilience of their buildings. EOS researchers associated with the AXA Chair have also turned their attention to seafloor geodesy— measuring the shape and deformation of the ocean bottom. A challenge for the research community trying to understand powerful subduction zone earthquakes is that these zones are underwater, so taking GPS measurements of the sea floor requires a sort of acoustic relay at the surface. Japan is doing work like this, but the research vessels needed to make the rounds of the surface sensors can cost $50,000 a day. Instead, the EOS team is developing wake gliders – like small, self-propelled surfboards – that could do the same job for 50 to 1,000 times less. Giving direction to geohazard research In contrast to the more typical academic approach, where the work may end with the publication of a paper, the type of support and follow-up that the AXA Chair brings to EOS projects promises to have a great impact on the populations concerned. The AXA/EOS team will not only deliver the science, but help local actors interpret it and put plans into action. The project to assess the tsunami and earthquake risks in Phuket, for instance, will yield guidelines for local hotels, businesses and visiting tourists, helping to increase resilience and the safety of the people. In addition to carrying out projects that bring relevant research results into the communities at risk, the AXA Chair on Natural Hazards has had other impacts on the EOS and its host institution, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Primarily, the AXA Chair has helped give weight to the institution, as well as to its vital fields of research. The association with a large, international company has encouraged the Singaporean government in its decision to back the initiative and provided the institute with more political leverage. For instance, Prof. Sieh is confident that the Singapore earthquake risk project will significantly affect how the country views this hazard, which, in the future, will promote the inclusion of seismic provisions in its national building codes. But one of the most important impacts for NTU of the AXA support is the Asian School of the Environment (ASE), created by Prof. Sieh. “In the long run, this could be our most important contribution and the AXA Chair is responsible for this,” he says. The first institution to offer undergraduate studies in the earth sciences in Singapore, the school is attracting the most highly qualified students and producing future government workers, insurers, teachers, etc., who will understand the nature of geohazard risk. 

### Extreme rainfall : how to better prevent it ?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/extreme-rainfall-how-to-better-prevent-it
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Pr. Adam Sobel

On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall, with serious consequences for parts of the northeast United States, including New York City. Prof.Adam Sobel is a researcher in earth and environmental sciences there, at Columbia University and, in the wake of the storm, he was called upon many times by members of the media asking the local hurricane expert to weigh in. He saw in this both a need and an opportunity to build up a center of expertise at his institution. Early in the development of what would become the Columbia Initiative on Extreme Weather and Climate , the AXA Research Fund recognized the importance of the work Prof. Sobel was doing and brought their support to the project through the AXA Awardin Climate and Extreme Weather . Armed with the credibility and momentum that the Award provided, Prof. Sobel took off developinghis innovative research program, focusing on the development of a novel method for understanding and predicting extreme rainfall events. With AXA’s support, this project has been able to depart from traditional climate modeling approaches, and the truly new science it is developing is beginning to bridge the gap between academic climate science and its critical applications in the world. Physics to Predict Extreme Precipitation What makes this approach special is that any extreme rainfall event results from the interaction of many different meteorological phenomena happening in the atmosphere at once: temperature gradients, heat transfer, condensation of water vapor in clouds… There’s a lot to untangle if you want to work out how they come together to produce the severe precipitation that has equally severe consequences. Concentrating on subtropical to midlatitude regions, Prof. Sobel and postdoc Ji Nie developed a new way of modeling extreme rainfall using the fluid dynamics of the weather systems, rather than statistical approaches. This allows them to tease apart the different physical factors involved in the weather event and to better understand the basic physics governing extreme precipitation. The unconventional approach has proven very successful. The model yields realistic simulations of past storms, based on the input of partial data that might typically be available before such an event. In one case, Prof. Sobel’s team studied a major past flooding disaster that took place in Pakistan in 2010. Using their innovative model, the researchers were able to understand the relative importance of the different meteorological factors involved and identify the two most significant: the very moist air from the tropical oceans, and the winds steering it toward the Himalayan plateau. This technical achievement reveals a solid theoretical understanding of how such rainfall events work. The method can now be applied to future precipitation scenarios, letting the model serve as a tool for understanding and predicting how much the intensity of heavy rainfall could increase in a warming climate. Groundbreaking Results Impact Academia and Government This new research represents the first significant extension of Prof. Sobel’s groundbreaking earlier work. Focused on tropical regions, it was widely adopted by the field as a framework for future studies. The AXA Research Fund project has allowed him to build on that success and adapt the model for the subtropics and midlatitudes. Based on early responses to this new work, it stands to have a similarly large impact in the academic community today. This is because the liberty to create such an innovative research program enables groundbreaking results—one reason why Prof. Sobel believes the true influence and value of his AXA Research Fund grant will exceed what a simple publication count can measure. Beyond academia, the knowledge they are producing may be used by government policy makers who are starting to take climate projections into account. In Prof. Sobel’s state of New York, for example, the Department of Environmental Conservation issues building permits for new facilities. To obtain federal funding for such a project, applicants must show that the construction will be resistant to climate change—that a building on the coast, for instance, will not be overtaken by sea level rise. The same will be true for extreme rainfall and his research could contribute to informing city planners of what to expect from future precipitation events and how best to prepare. Through Sobel’s activities in both research and public communication, he has come into better contact with such potential users of climate risk information, including developing a new collaboration with the New York City Office of Emergency Management to better assess the potential economic damage from future Sandy-like events. Climate change attribution—identifying climate change as a factor contributing to a specific climate event—is another area where this research is beginning to have an effect. Prof. Sobel’s results help make it possible to identify when climate change has made a given event more intense than it would have been otherwise. The field is relatively new and in 2015 the U.S. National Academy of Sciences convened a group of experts to issue a report on the agreed-upon science, expert assessments and specific objectives. Prof. Sobel was asked to join this Committee on Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change Attribution, something he attributes in part to his visibility, which had only increased with the recognition of the AXA award. Prof. Sobel is very well aware that not only expert committees and government agencies need to know about the threat of extreme weather events. He actively reaches out to public audiences, producing op-ed pieces, writing a book and speaking at events, like an  AXA roundtable discussion on climate risks . Receiving the AXA Award has provided him with a certain obligation and justification for committing time to these activities. It has also assisted him with this outreach through new opportunities offered, such as a video on  better prediction of extreme weather events , produced with National Geographic. In the research as in the outreach, Prof. Sobel found the AXA funding scheme more conducive to creativity than most programs. The new science it makes possible is a very important specificity of the AXA funding, he believes. In contrast to grant proposals written for other agencies, where peer reviewers seek assurances that a project will work in the end, with the AXA Award Prof. Sobel was able to pitch a research program that did more than just play it safe. Though difficult to quantify, he says, this “freedom factor” cannot be overestimated.

### Simplicity Yields More Powerful Predictions for the Biosphere

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/simplicity-yields-more-powerful-predictions-for-the-biosphere
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Pr. Colin Prentice

How exactly do plants work? How do they interact with their environment, and what does this mean on the scale of an ecosystem or the planet? Prof.  Colin Prentice  aims to answer aspects of these big questions, to develop better ways of predicting how these phenomena will change. As climate change progresses and it becomes ever more urgent both to limit and prepare for its consequences, scientific models that forecast the behavior of Earth’s systems are becoming essential tools. Methods do exist for this purpose, but Prentice— holder of the  AXA Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts , at Imperial College London (ICL)—was dissatisfied with the current mathematical models; they are overly complex and so full of uncertainties that their performance suffers. It doesn’t have to be this way, he thought. Making use of abundant, good quality data that had already been collected, his team was able to create a simpler, more accurate way of modeling the terrestrial biosphere. A flaw in today’s land models is their reliance on simulations that offer very little agreement on the predictions they produce. Using real satellite data and atmospheric measurements for their models’ calculations, the Prentice team is combining the strength of observation with the latest knowledge in ecology and environmental physics. To understand changes over time in the global primary production of plants, for instance, the new model performs calculations using remote sensing data on greenness, rather than simulations. From Better Climate Models to Food Security With their interdisciplinary approach, they are advancing understanding of how plants operate and how their function scales up to ecosystems and regions. This will help scientists predict how plants will respond to a changing climate and what the impact will be for different ecosystems, for agriculture, and more. The sort of knowledge produced by the fundamental science of the AXA Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts is well placed to find applications. One of Prof. Prentice’s students is now working on the security of the food supply, for example, in collaboration with the  Global Landscapes Initiative . They are exploring multiple factors that lead to food price shocks, including not only direct effects of extreme climate events, but also how the markets respond to and even anticipate these events. Sharing Knowledge, Quickly and Often Prof. Prentice’s research team has already answered several longstanding questions. They have clarified the role of air pressure in the effect of altitude on plant physiology, for one, and helped to finally explain the prevalence of large leaves in tropical forests: leaves stay cooler than air at high temperatures, suggesting a way these forests may prove somewhat resilient to global warming. Further discoveries may well occur—at ICL and elsewhere—as the work of the AXA Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts contributes to changing the research field. Traditionally, experimental and observational scientists have worked quite separately from climate and carbon cycle modelers. Prof. Prentice’s research is helping to change that by developing models that incorporate far more information from current observations – which also strengthens the science underlying their approach. To ensure that other scientists have quick access to the knowledge produced, the Prentice group is committed to publishing preprints of their articles. These make an early version of a study available online, before official publication in a journal. Prof. Prentice feels this is important, both to get the information out there and for the high-quality feedback they receive via readers’ comments. Interactions like these also contribute to their efforts at building an international scientific community, including many young researchers, who all believe in the need for better, more complete, more interdisciplinary ecosystem modeling. Science for Effective Climate Policy It’s a tall order to use that next-generation modeling to impact climate policy on a global level and Prof. Prentice can’t predict how far their influence will reach, but he knows their work is relevant. Reliable models able to predict climate change consequences will be vital for decision making around adaptation measures, food policies, species conservation and more. He is confident that, during his time as an AXA Chairholder, he will have the opportunity to interact with the people capable of effecting change. This is important, given all the work to come. The agreement signed at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris demonstrated a real political will to limit global warming, but Prof. Prentice emphasizes the amount of knowledge still needed to work out the practicalities. In terms of adaptation, for instance, assessments are being done to determine how much crop yields may realistically rise due to increases in CO2 concentration. Even if higher levels of atmospheric CO2 can benefit plant growth to some degree, climate change will also increase the need to develop more heat- and drought-resistant crops. The science behind all of these elements needs to be understood in order to inform effective policy. A “Lifeline for Science” in AXA Research Fund Support Tackling all this will mean departing from the typical ways of doing things, but Prof. Prentice is good at thinking differently. In his role as the AXA Chairholder in Biosphere and Climate Impacts, the academic freedom offered by the Research Fund gave him the opportunity to rethink his research and propose a program well beyond the status quo. He describes the challenge faced by this kind of novel science as government funding falls: Researchers are forced to play it safe with their proposals, reinforcing narrow specializations that can’t deliver the major advances needed to solve pressing problems in environmental science. Fortunately, he says, “the AXA Research Fund and other out-of-the-box funding agencies can be a lifeline for science.”

### Rethinking the architecture of data privacy : a key role for insurance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/rethinking-the-architecture-of-data-privacy-a-key-role-for-insurance
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Pr. Dominique Boullier

The privacy of our personal data is a major concern that is only becoming more serious. While we share more data than ever before, fraud cases are increasing and data breaches becoming more spectacular. Speed of design having been favoured in the past over security, the architecture behind data-sharing systems needs to be fundamentally reconsidered. Prof. Dominique Boullier of Sciences Po’s médialab, in a Joint Research Initiative (JRI) with the AXA Data Innovation Lab, is exploring how insurance could offer the means to increase trust in data-sharing systems. Personal data has always been a focus of Prof. Boullier's work and for many years he has been studying the topic in relation to the credit card system and users’ trust. He arrived at the conclusion that, in terms of protecting the privacy of our personal data in many different contexts, economic incentives are missing from the field and that, furthermore, this is a new, key role that insurance companies could play. He shared this idea with the AXA Data Innovation Lab, and discovered the possibility of a close collaboration. Prof. Boullier is exploring the credit card system as a model that has managed to build confidence with users on both sides. Using social science approaches to understand people’s perceptions of risk and their behaviours around data privacy, and by studying the detailed evolution of the credit card system, the JRI teams aim to redesign the way personal data is managed. They will recommend a distributed architecture featuring privacy-by-design and making use of new blockchain technology – a system involving distributed databases. A multidisciplinary approach to building an architecture of trust The JRI research project is broken down into several modules, all contributing to the question of how to create innovative systems allowing the market, and insurance in particular, to play a role in enabling Big Data by increasing trust. In Prof. Boullier's view, trust involves awareness and concern: one must feel a little concerned about data privacy in order to follow advice on security best practices. The usual belief is that needing to be vigilant is contradictory to trust, but he believes this shouldn’t be the case; we just need to find the right balance between trust and worry. Part of that will come from understanding the landscape on the community level, the reach of different actors (institutions, businesses and tech actors), and how they interact, which is what the JRI research program is working to do. Prof. Boullier’s first step was a long and in-depth study of the credit card system and how it evolved. User trust is built into this system and he says the same needs to be done today for banking, for instance, to help distribute the risks involved. The sector is on the verge of very important change with the arrival of big new players like Google and Apple, and innovations like blockchain technology. Adding an anthropological level to this work, Prof. Boullier conducted interviews with 80 people from four countries (France, USA, Russia, China-Hong Kong), some of whom had experienced a data breach, gathering information on their perception of risk, their behaviour following the event, whether they were hacked in a professional or personal environment, and more. Another module of the JRI project is controversy mapping, a technology developed by Sciences Po for monitoring issues by harvesting and analyzing activity on the web. This allows the user to monitor trends, and identify points of agreement or conflict on different sides of a controversy. Dr. Marcin Detyniecki, Head of Research at AXA's Data Innovation Lab describes the overall goal here as identifying the pinpoints in terms of building trust, in general, around privacy and personal data. The insight made possible will help in identifying new risks around the sharing of personal data and in positioning AXA on these fronts. Getting the redesign of data privacy into the spotlight Raising awareness has been the biggest impact of the JRI, so far. The collaboration has allowed for active exchanges between the research team and numerous AXA experts, including top privacy officers, lawyers, strategists, cybersecurity specialists, marketing and public affairs officers… By adding the economic angle to the story, and assembling inputs from a multidisciplinary team of specialists, the AXA JRI is helping to clarify the landscape of data-sharing and trust and allow for the design of better strategies. With time, they may well be used to influence policy. Prof. Boullier hopes especially that it will contribute to stopping the “regulation frenzy, where people want to create more and more rules without understanding the architecture”, and instead create what he calls a permanent preoccupation among all actors concerned. This would be the first step to creating a system for protecting our personal data that is self-sustaining in its incentives and where people are genuinely interested in improving its quality.

### Prepare for Landing: The Neuroscience of Flight Safety

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/prepare-for-landing-the-neuroscience-of-flight-safety
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Pr. Frédéric Dehais

Modern aircraft are so complex that even expert pilots can become overwhelmed in crisis situations. In fact, as many as 70% of aviation accidents are down to human error. In such moments of high stress and uncertainty, pilots may unintentionally ignore warning signals and carry on with actions that aren’t rational, given the circumstances. The AXA Chair in Neuroergonomics for Flight Safety was designed to unravel what’s going on here, which brain mechanisms are involved and what researchers and aviation experts might be able to do about it. The work of  Prof. Frédéric Dehais , the first Chairholder, and his team is attracting considerable interest from flight safety boards, commercial airlines, the space industry and medical fields, alike. In-Flight Brain ImagingThe researchers are developing novel, highly portable brain imaging methods for the study of the neural mechanisms underlying human error. The multidisciplinary department established by the AXA Chair at the  Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace  (ISAE-SUPAERO), an engineering school in Toulouse, France, includes experts in neuroscience, signal processing, and computer science. This diversity has enabled them to use existing brain imaging techniques, and to develop the necessary algorithms to analyze—in operational situations—brain activity related to attention and to decision making. This research investigates how the two are integrated into neural mechanisms, and how their disruption may lead people working under intense stress to maintain their course of action, even when literal warning bells are going off. Their results so far indicate that the phenomenon of inattentional deafness plays a role. This is found in contexts where the brain has to prioritize where to distribute a person’s limited attentional resources. In an aviation scenario where pilots are overwhelmed, their brain may give priority to visual stimuli, to the point that they fail to hear a very loud alarm signaling trouble with their current strategy. Prof. Dehais’s team began with experiments in the lab using the brain imaging techniques offunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional near-infra red spectroscopy (fNIRS). These helped establish their protocol for the analysis of brain activity during inattentional deafness, before moving on to its use in flight simulators. For the very first time, they have now applied the method aboard an aircraft, under real flight conditions, with different types of trained pilots as their experimental subjects. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to design solutions that will act as cognitive countermeasures capable of correcting a person’s behavior when it may be leading to disaster.  A New Generation of Cockpit Design Members of the aeronautics industry, flight safety boards, like the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and commercial airlines are following Prof. Dehais’s research closely. Recently, his team’s eye tracking experiment revealed that pilots were not monitoring their cockpits sufficiently, leading the Neuroergonomics Department to make recommendations on pilot training to the French air safety board. He is confident this work will have broad impact, quickly: the US Federal Aviation Authority, for example, has already developed legislation giving commercial airlines three years to define new training programs to enhance pilots’ ability to monitor the flight deck. On top of that, the results of this research have begun to demonstrate for aircraft manufacturers that there are explicit measures of air safety parameters, like eye-tracking studies, which will now enable a new generation of cockpit design. Applications from Nuclear Safety to Brain Injury The results of the AXA Chair in Neuroergonomics for Flight Safety will be used, first of all, to make aviation safer, but the research methods will also be applicable to any critical system with human operators vulnerable to uncertainty, fatigue and stress—for example, the nuclear industry. Taking the program’s impact further, Prof. Dehais is collaborating with AXA teams on the organization of an international conference for October 2016. The event, the  1st International Neuroergonomics Conference: The Brain at Work and in Everyday Life , will gather researchers spanning many fields in basic neuroscience research. Even outer space is not beyond the scope of this line of inquiry: Prof. Dehais is also exploring applications in the space sector for the study of the brain in microgravity. In the medical sphere, the technology developed by the neuroergonomics team is being applied to the diagnostic imaging of brain-injured patients, in contexts that previously were not possible. In some cases, such as with dysexecutive syndrome, the impairment may not be observable when the patient is lying down in an fMRI scanner. Now, thanks to the portable nature of the new devices, the brain activity of patients can be measured when they are actively moving about. The neuroergonomics team is about to start a new collaboration with a rehabilitation institute in Toulouse, France to provide the methods for taking such measurements. A New Paradigm for Flight Safety Prof. Dehais’s work has received significant attention from both the press and television media, allowing his lab to become a reference in the field. Stimulated initially by the efforts of the AXA Research Fund to share this research with a wider audience, both general and popular science news outlets now call spontaneously, seeking their expertise. As the impact of his work with the AXA Chair continues to grow—leading to the development of a new master’s-level teaching module in neuroergonomics, collaborations with other high-profile academics and research opportunities with institutions like NASA—Prof. Dehais emphasizes the unique and important advantages AXA’s support offers the researcher. Compared to the length of industry contracts (6-8 months) or to most French or European grants (2-3 years), he says, the 20-year funding of the AXA Chair reflects a long-term outlook. This puts the focus squarely on the research, and allows the researcher to take some risks, Prof. Dehais says. Both the timeframe and AXA’s desire to support truly novel work are two essential ingredients in his exploration of a new paradigm in the study of flight safety.

### Breaking the Vicious Circle Around Undocumented Migration

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/breaking-the-vicious-circle-around-undocumented-migration
Published: 2016-12-04
Author: Dr. Ruben Andersson

While the themes he addresses are as old as time, Dr. Ruben Andersson ’s research on migration and conflict has never been timelier. An anthropologist and AXA Research Fund fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE), he is studying these topics from the point of view of the people directly involved. He believes that the current debate, based on arguments for or against migration, leads to simplistic discussion of the issues, with no understanding of the realities on the ground. “People say Let’s close the borders! , but can we even do that?” he asks. Dr. Andersson’s specific ethnographic methods provide this ground-level knowledge and a new angle on the matter. By understanding the perspective of the people directly involved – the migrants and border guards and others – his method is providing the start of a shift in the way researchers, governments and society understand migration. Dr. Ruben Andersson Migration “Medicine” Makes the Patient Sicker The Syrian crisis is currently of prime concern and, as in other conflict zones, there are questions about what is really happening in the region and how the world can intervene in a better way—“better”, because the current way isn’t working. Through ethnographic and field research, Dr. Andersson has examined the methods employed in an attempt to counter the flow of undocumented migration from Africa towards southern Europe. His findings insist on the fact that the approach taken by the EU and European states has been very counterproductive. “They treat the symptoms, but the medicine only makes things worse”, resulting in a vicious circle at the borders. The more that governments and the media fan the flames of migration drama in the Mediterranean, the more investments are made in border controls, in blocking migrants, monitoring their movements and building fences. But interviews with border guards show that these efforts only push migrants to turn to riskier routes and smuggling networks, all of which fuels more fear. Dr. Andersson emphasizes that this is not just a question of states failing to manage migration, but a situation in which “the threat of migration is maintained, because there is no interest in stopping it.” The many players with a stake in the “medicine” being applied include agencies needing to justify their work during times of austerity; the private defense sector providing surveillance technology; smugglers who have become increasingly professionalized as a result of shifting migration routes; and neighboring countries that receive political and financial concessions from European governments. In Libya, this situation gave Gaddafi incentive to drum up trouble around migrants, Dr. Andersson explains, and the mistake is now being repeated in Turkey. “If we want to shift the dynamics, we need to look at the incentives. Recommendations may or may not be taken up, but we have to try and build momentum.” Intervention in a No-Go Zone Migration frequently drives the events underlying Dr. Andersson’s second research theme: how the world manages conflict and crisis zones. This might be through the deployment of peacekeepers, disbursement of funds, or launch of diplomatic missions. He is looking at the response to governmental and humanitarian crises, terrorism and, more particularly, conflict in Mali and the wider sub-Saharan Sahel region, a focus that was made possible by his grant from the AXA Research Fund. When Jihadist groups extended into northern Mali, making it a no-go zone for Westerners, Dr. Andersson was forced to adapt his ethnographic methods to a situation that made his physical presence impossible—the same problem faced by the interveners he was studying in this high-risk region: humanitarian workers, peacekeepers, the UN. The question of how to engage under such circumstances thus became the starting point for his project. In Mali in 2014, Dr. Andersson conducted interviews with different groups to learn how they operate under the constraints of a conflict zone. He found that various parties—even humanitarian missions—act from a distance, using subcontractors or various kinds of technology to gain information and an understanding of these regions. He also concluded, though, that these measures can magnify the sense of remoteness of the conflict in question. Taking a broader view on the phenomena he observes in Mali, he is also conducting comparative studies with other locations. In Afghanistan, security restrictions are leading to tensions when international aid workers are forced to stay “bunkered up”, instead of conducting their missions. A similar situation has been emerging in Mali since terror attacks in 2015. In Somalia, where the African Union is taking the lead in running a peace mission funded by international parties, Dr. Andersson is studying the “Africanization” of interventions. Unfortunately, he finds this division of labor is not as empowering as planned and can even be counterproductive. The African troops are underequipped and undertrained for dealing with terrorism, for example, leading to an Africanization of fatalities, too. Dr. Andersson is comparing the parallel problems faced by Somalia and Mali over the years. The theme as a whole is the subject of his forthcoming book,  The Danger Zone . Towards a More Humane Migration This research program is sending a message to the research community about the need to understand, from the bottom up, responses to migration around the world and how migrants are interacting with interventions. The AXA Research Fund postdoctoral fellowship has allowed Dr. Andersson to establish his research program and his network, which includes top figures in migration policy at the UN and for the EU. This has left him well placed to make policy recommendations at the national and European levels for a broader, longer-term approach to migration strategy. With the important insight provided by his ethnographic approach, Dr. Andersson aims to contribute to alleviating conditions leading to forced migration in the face of violence or repression, as seen in Syria and Libya. Dr. Andersson knows that achieving an impact on migration will be a complex, long-term process. The general public has a part to play in this, but is often extremely uninformed. He is helping to change that “drip by drip”, through publishing commentaries and giving interviews for major newspapers and media outlets, and on a  website dedicated to his work . In fact, in his view, the most important impact of his work so far has been to help stimulate lasting public debate on specific issues around migration. He is grateful for the AXA Research Fund’s initiative to help its fellows gain skills for that very purpose. By  participating in the AXA Pop Days  science communication workshop, he was able to build a new skill set for reaching audiences outside the ivory tower. With time, Dr. Andersson’s findings from the front lines of migration should make it possible to work against the vicious circle that exists between the drivers of undocumented migration toward southern Europe and the methods put in place to stop it. “Migration will keep happening,” he states simply. It has been a fact of life throughout human history and will only increase with the effects of development and of climate change. Through better understanding of its drivers, stakes, and the consequences of interventions, he hopes to help create alternatives to the current responses to different types of migration flows. “We have a choice of how humanely and rationally we organize it,” he says. “Today, in the European case, it is neither of those things.” Discover Ruben's project The risk crucible: managing multiple insecurities in the western Sahel PROJECT PAGE (new window)

### Living Longer In Good Health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/living-longer-in-good-health
Published: 2016-11-20
Author: Pr. Carol Jagger

While increases in life expectancy are good, increases in “healthy life expectancy” are better. Unfortunately, health does not generally improve with age.  Life expectancy is generally increasing around the world, which is good. But, it would be better if “healthy life expectancy” (the years we spend in good health as we get older) increased too. Carol Jagger, AXA Professor of Epidemiology of Ageing at Newcastle University in the UK is studying the factors that could help us live both longer and healthier. We have a certain amount of control over some of these factors – for example, having an upbeat attitude to life, eating better and exercising more. Some others, of course, are not always in our hands – examples here include socioeconomic factors like education and wealth. Jagger’s research is based on analyzing data from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS) project, which followed people aged 65 years or above in three centers in England (Cambridgeshire, Newcastle and Nottingham) between 1991 and 2011. There were 2500 participants in each center. This data provides prevalence estimates for three health measures: self-perceived health (defined as excellent-good, fair or poor), cognitive impairment (moderate-severe, mild or none – as assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination score); and disability in daily living activities (defined as none, mild, or moderate-severe). She calculated health expectancies for the three regions combined using the so-called Sullivan method. Carol Jagger answers our questions: Why is studying healthy life expectancy, as opposed to just life expectancy itself, important? “The last century saw huge changes in life expectancy around the world. The result is an increasingly ageing population and particularly numbers of very old people – that is those aged 85 years and over, who are the fastest growing demographic in many countries. We know that getting older means more health problems but life expectancy is only a measure of the quantity of life lived. Healthy life expectancy (HLE) on the other hand gives us information on both the quality as well as the quantity of years lived. This measure is especially useful in answering the important question of whether those extra years of life we are seeing are good/healthy or not.” Living healthier as we age is not only important for us as individuals, but also as a society. Ill health places a burden on families and caregivers, the social security and healthcare system of a country, as well as pension funds, both public and private. Your studies show some important differences between men and women when it comes to HLE? “In most countries, women live longer than men. However, since women’s HLE is generally on a par with that of men’s, women tend to spend a greater proportion of their remaining years unhealthy. What is more, recent research from both the UK and US suggests that, at least in terms of disability-free life expectancy, women are losing ground to men. “Over the 20 years between the two CFAS studies (CFAS I and II), we found that men’s LE at age 65 increased by 4.5 years and women’s by 3.6. However, for men, over half of this increase was in years free of disability (2.6 years) whilst women saw only a 0.5 year increase in these years. “In a similar US study that reported changes over a 30 year time span from 1982 to 2011, men’s overall LE at age 65 increased and the proportion of life spent free of disability rose from 78% in 1982 to 81% in 2011. In contrast, women enjoyed much smaller increases in LE and the proportion of life lived without disability remained at 70% over the whole 30 years. Between CFA I and CFA II - Period of 20 years US Study : Proportion of life spent free of disability “Some of this increased disability for women comes from the fact that they tend to suffer from more diseases and health conditions, particularly non-fatal ones like arthritis. Another study in Newcastle, the  Newcastle 85+ Study , recruited a cohort of over 1000 men and women born in 1921, aged 85 years at first interview, and followed them up for five years. At age 85, women had on average five diseases compared to men who had four. “But it’s not all doom and gloom. For both the UK and US, however, increases in disability were, at least, in less severe form. Our study also showed positive results for mental health in that, for women, all the extra years were free of cognitive impairment.” Are cognitive and physical disability related as we get older? We generally measure disability by the degree of ability to perform daily life activities (ADLs) without difficulty or help. Basic ADLs involve personal care, such as bathing, going to the toilet, dressing and getting in and out of a bed or a chair. Activities that tap less severe disability, and known as instrumental ADLs, are those required for maintaining a household – for example, doing the shopping, laundry or making a hot meal. Many of these require both mental and physical function, but activities related to cognitive abilities are typically managing money and medications. Someone who cannot dress unaided, for instance, might be cognitively impaired, which means they might dress inappropriately without help, or have arthritis, which means they cannot do up buttons or zips. But, cognitive and physical function are also related because they share common risk factors. One good example is obesity, which increases the risk for both dementia and arthritis. Importantly, cognitive disability or dementia are not inevitable as we get older. Research from the CFAS studies has shown that not only has the prevalence of dementia reduced over the last 20 years but the most recent work finds the incidence (the proportion of people developing dementia in a given time period) has fallen by 20%, albeit mostly in men rather than women. Dementia incidence rates in CFAS I and CFAS II. (a) Incidence rate of dementia per 1,000 person years in CFAS I and CFAS II by age at baseline interview. Natural scale. (b) Incidence rate of dementia per 1,000 person years in CFAS I and CFAS II by age at baseline interview. Logarithmic scale. Credit: Nature Publishing Group Dementia incidence rates in men and women. (a) Incidence rate of dementia per 1,000 person years in men for CFAS I and CFAS II by age at baseline interview. (b) Incidence rate of dementia per 1,000 person years in women for CFAS I and CFAS II by age at baseline interview.Credit: Nature Publishing Group What role does a person’s education play in their HLE? Early life circumstances, including education and even parental education are known to influence life health and mortality. People with lower levels of education tend to have more disease and disability and die earlier and some, but not all of this comes from later life disadvantages. In CFAS I, almost 75% of participants had only a basic education (0-9 years) with just 9% going onto to higher education (12 or more years of age). At age 65, men and women with the lowest education lived on average a fewer 0.8 and 1.4 years respectively and 0.9 and 1.9 years less free from disability when compared to people with the highest level of education. Things appear to improving though, since in the CFAS II, only 27% had 9 or less years of education and 22% had benefited from higher education. But education has a long-lasting effect. In the Newcastle 85+ Study, education was the only socio-economic measure that differentiated the different disability trajectories that 85 year olds had over the next five years,  those with higher education being much less likely to be in the most disabled trajectories . It will be interesting to see whether these inequalities in HLE continue as more data comes in. Jean-Marie Robine, Research Director at INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, who also studies human longevity, is very pleased with the outcome of Jagger and colleagues’ research so far: “The CFAS study is remarkable because it spans a period of over 20 years and concerns thousands of older people. The collected data suggest that over time people older than 65 live longer with good cognitive abilities. This is very good news and obviously related to the improved education levels of successive birth cohorts.”  Source : Scientific American Full article available here

### Unlocking The Secrets of Longevity in Japan

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/unlocking-the-secrets-of-longevity-in-japan
Published: 2016-11-20
Author: Pr. Manami Inoue

Understanding the factors that allow Japanese people to live so long will be useful for global health policies, and especially for countries struggling to improve public health. Japan has the longest life expectancy at birth in the world (86.6 years for women and 79.6 years for men in 2013) and researchers would like to understand why. Manami Inoue , professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Tokyo and Project Professor, AXA Department of Health and Human Security , is trying to find out how selected risk factors (and especially those we have some control over) and various diseases are related. Using comparable methodology and other statistical analysis techniques, she is investigating how these risks vary across the Japanese population, depending on people’s age, gender and socio-economic status. Identifying risk factors and pathologies Inoue and her research team are monitoring more than 100 000 Japanese residents over their lifetimes to identify the interlay between certain risk factors and pathologies in later life. “We look at whether people become ill during the study, and if so, with which disease. We also put a questionnaire to them, asking them about their general lifestyle. We obtain hazard ratios *  from this data using statistical techniques like Cox proportional hazard modeling.” This study started in the 1990s and is following people who were between 40 to 69 years old at the time. They are re-contacted every 5 and 10 years for a follow-up survey and are monitored regularly for major diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, and death from all causes. “In our research, we focus primary on premature death, and which factors increase this,” explains Inoue. Smoking, drinking, and green tea Some of the main results from this work so far indicate that smoking pushes up the so-called hazard ratio for premature death by 1.5 times compared to not smoking. The researchers have also found that the hazard ratio for colorectal cancer for Japanese people who drink alcohol is higher than that of their western counterparts. This is because an estimated 50% of the Japanese population lacks the enzyme to metabolize acetaldehyde. On the plus side, they found that regularly  drinking green tea , and to some extent  coffee , reduces the relative risks from dying from major diseases, like cardiovascular disease. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of cardiovascular disease (A), all strokes (B), cerebral infarction (C), and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH; D) for green tea and coffee consumption. Data were expressed as multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol, body mass index, history of diabetes mellitus, medication for antihypercholesterolemia and antihypertension, sports, dietary intake of fruits, vegetables and fish.Credit: The Impact of Green Tea and Coffee Consumption on the Reduced Risk of Stroke Incidence in Japanese Population DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.677500 Could lifestyle be more important than genetic factors? “Genetic factors appear only to play a small role when it comes to life expectancy, and lifestyle seems to be much more important,” says Inoue. “For example, Japanese women live longer thanks to their healthy lifestyle, which includes a better diet – especially for those over 50. The Japanese also consume less meat and animal fats than Westerners in general and eat more fish. “Japanese women over 50 also drink much less alcohol than their male folk, and hardly ever smoke, which means that they are half as likely to develop stomach or liver cancers compared to men. Drinking less alcohol also reduces the risk of developing colorectal and breast cancers for women.” Obesity is still rare in Japan In general, Inoue’s work has revealed that the incidence of cancer in Japan overall is much lower than in European countries and that obesity there is still rare since Japanese people generally have a lower body-mass index, or BMI (mass in kg/height in cm2). This is especially true for younger age groups, and in particular for women. “This low BMI could also help explain future projections of diabetics in Japan,” says Inoue. “We only see a serious increase in diabetes in people over 60, even though the number of diabetic patients in Japan is increasing too and will continue to increase in the future – perhaps because people are simply living longer and because  diabetes prevalence  increases with age anyway? Until now, our studies have mainly focused on people who were born in the 1920s and 1930s and we haven’t really studied those born after 1960. This population group is more familiar with fast-food, for example, and, in general, drinks more alcohol than previous generations and has a more western-style diet.” Future research must focus on younger populations too Hiroshi Noto, MD, Director of the Endocrinology Department at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo, who was not involved with this work, says that it is crucial to distinguish between life expectancy at birth and the average age of death when interpreting data on longevity. The former means "how long people are expected to live" and the latter "how long they have actually lived". “In addition, life expectancy at birth significantly affects the death rate in childhood and this is not always correlated with that at older ages. For instance, the life expectancy at age 80 for Japanese women was 11.3 years in 2011, which is shorter than that in some other countries. Therefore, while Inoue and colleagues’ findings are pertinent and important for elderly people, studies on younger populations would indeed be good too, as the researchers rightly mention . Establishing lifestyle recommendations Such studies are important for health policy makers to establish lifestyle recommendations, she adds. “Japan will lead the way here. Since we have the longest life expectancy in the world, the recommendations put forward by our health policy makers will be keenly followed by the global community. What is more, neighboring countries, like Korea, China and Taiwan, which have similar lifestyles to Japan’s, will also be keeping a close eye on our guidelines.” Inoue’s team is now turning its attention, among other subjects, to the increase in the cases of observed dementia in Japan. As ageing increases, so, unfortunately, does the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, but the problem here is that people suffering from the condition are difficult to quantify. “It is not at all like cancer, where the illness is well diagnosed,” explains Inoue. “Using general population research, we will now try and create a good way of identifying dementia and this work will be critical for predicting what happens in future generations. Ultimately, we hope to be able to answer the question: what actions can we take now to protect ourselves from dementia in the future?” *hazard ratioshazard ratios  In cancer research, hazard ratios (or relative risks at a particular moment in time) are often used in clinical trials to measure survival at any point in time in a group of patients who have been given a specific treatment compared to a control group given another treatment or a placebo. A hazard ratio of one, for example, means that there is no difference in survival between the two groups and a hazard ratio of greater than one or less than one means that survival was better in one of the groups. Source : Scientific American Full article available here

### Scientists Repair Damaged Brain Tissue

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/scientists-repair-damaged-brain-tissue
Published: 2016-11-20
Author: Pr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are emerging as promising tools for modeling and treating human neural diseases. IPSCs have two main and unique properties: they can self renew indefinitely and they can become any type of cell of an organism - this is why they are called pluripotent. They have properties similar to those of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) but they are produced from adult cells (such as skin cells, for example) rather than from embryos. Indeed, when skin fibroblasts are cultured in a petri dish under the influence of adequate reprogramming factors, they can be reprogrammed into cells that look like ESCs, but which are pluripotent. This seminal discovery by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2012. “It’s a bit like taking adult cells and making them travel back in time so that they behave like embryonic cells again,” explains Pierre Vanderhaeghen, professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, AXA Chair in Neurosciences and Longevity . “We can maintain these cells in culture, (suspend them in time if you will) and then allow them to differentiate into other types of cells, such as liver, brain or muscle cells, by placing them in a dish containing specific morphogens (peptides secreted by surrounding cells).” Credit: L'agence Ody.C for AXA Research Fund 1st surprise: iPSCs can “automatically” transform into cortical cells  The major challenge here is to make iPSCs become a certain type of cell rather than another by using the right culture conditions, but Vanderhaeghen and colleagues discovered that iPSCs and ESCs can differentiate into cortical cells, without being exposed to any particular type of morphogen (Ref: Nicolas Gaspard et al.,  An intrinsic mechanism of corticogenesis from embryonic stem cells  / Ira Espuny-Camacho et al.,  Pyramidal Neurons Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Integrate Efficiently into Mouse Brain Circuits In Vivo ) “The cerebral cortex is the most complex structure in our brain and the nerve cells (or neurons) that make it up are crucial elements for its function,” explains Vanderhaeghen. “Indeed, loss of cortical neurons can lead to many neurological diseases, including stroke and Alzheimer’s. You would think that making structures as complicated as cortical cells from iPSCs would require very sophisticated cultures, but, to our surprise, we found that doing this was in fact very simple and that the IPSCs can transform into cortical cells through a ‘default’ pathway. This is because they need to receive little or no molecular signals from morphogens - and this is indeed the way that cells in the embryo become neural cells in nature.” More surprises: forebrain and cortical cells appear and generate neurons of all six layers of the cortex  The neural tissue formed in this way is, in fact, forebrain tissue (rather than mid- or hind-brain) and this is the tissue from which the cortex emerges. But there were more surprises in store for Vanderhaeghen’s team who also observed that the cells in this tissue could then automatically start to divide into neurons that make up all six layers of the cortex. “We do not yet know how they do this,” says Vanderhaeghen, “but we do know that they do it in a sequential way, and thus in the same way as the process naturally occurs in the developing embryo. It is important to say that although we can generate neurons corresponding to all six cortical layers in a dish, they do not actually form regular layers (as  in vivo ) but are rather arranged in a disorganized fashion.” Nevertheless, we can now study these cortical cells in real time and look at some aspects of cortex development in the lab, he adds. We can also study cortical cells that have been produced from the skin cells of patients suffering from diseases of a genetic origin, such as microcephaly or from neurodegenerative or psychiatric diseases. “All these diseases are little understood because we sometimes lack the right models to study them, which makes it difficult to find a cure.” Better understanding how the human cortex evolved and developed  The cortical cells produced could also help researchers better understand how the human cortex evolved and developed and why it is so different from that of primates and other animals. (The cortex is said to be divergent – that is, it changed a lot between species during evolution). For these studies, the researchers transplanted mouse-derived and human-derived induced pluripotent cortical cells in a pup mouse brain. They found that the cells can indeed integrate into the animal’s cortex, in very much the same way as they would naturally. Human cortical neurons transplanted in a mouse brain.Credit: Courtesy of P. Vanderhaegen et al. “When we transplanted human-derived neurons into the mouse brain, however, we found that they also integrated well, but that they developed at a much slower pace. The mouse neurons took around three weeks to develop whereas the human ones took around nine months. This is strikingly similar to the situation we see in nature: human brains, which are said to be neotenic, develop over decades, unlike mice or ape brains that develop quickly and in the baby animal. This result suggests that the rate of development of neurons is intrinsic to each particular species.” This slow pace of development could explain why we as humans are good learners and continue developing our intelligence throughout childhood and into adulthood. This is not the case for apes, who although certainly outperform human babies when they are born, quickly flail behind since their development stops early on. Vanderhaeghen believes that some diseases like autism might be caused by impairments in this natural “clock”, but cautions that “this remains speculative at this point”. Towards brain repair? The most recent aspect of the group’s work is concerned with potential brain repair – for instance following a stroke or trauma. Here, the researchers transplanted induced pluripotent cortical cells into an adult mouse brain presenting lesions (damage) in the visual cortex and found that the new cortical cells connect to (some extent) the damaged host brain. (Michelsen KA et al., Area-Specific Reestablishment of Damaged Circuits in the Adult Cerebral Cortex by Cortical Neurons Derived from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells ) . Transplanting neurons into a host brain.Credit: Michelsen KA et al. “Promising though this result is, there is a lot of work still to be done before we can say for sure whether the new cortical cells could actually repair the damaged regions,” stresses Vanderhaeghen. “We observe that the new neurons are present and connected, and that some of the host cells even respond to visual stimuli (as the visual cortex does) but, since our cortex has not evolved to integrate new neurons, we do not yet know to what extent the new cells will be able to interact with the old ones. Although there is evidence that this is possible in some species (amphibians and fish, for example), there is yet no evidence for this happening in mammals. “This work is still at the experimental animal model stage and whether the strategy can indeed work in real clinical settings will require a lot more research,” says Vanderhaeghen. Nonetheless, the experiments have successfully proved that nerve cells can be engineered under controlled conditions and that these cells can be transplanted into damaged cortical circuits. These breakthroughs could ultimately lead to new therapies for patients that have had an ischemic stroke or who are suffering from age-related brain illnesses. Source : Scientific American

### Slowing Mental Decline In The Elderly

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/slowing-mental-decline-in-the-elderly
Published: 2016-11-20
Author: Pr. Miia Kivipelto

Could there be some simple ways to reduce dementia risk? The answer is yes. As the number of older people increases worldwide, so unfortunately does the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Based on current trends, the number of individuals with dementia is expected to nearly double every 20 years, with nearly 60% of those affected living in low and middle income nations. By 2050, dementia could affect over 130 million people worldwide and could become a trillion dollar disease by the end of this decade. A great deal of funding has been invested in developing medications that could prevent the progress of neurodegenerative diseases, but this is proving more difficult than first thought since these diseases are so complex and depend on a multitude of factors. But are there some simple ways to reduce cognitive decline in older people? Miia Kivipelto, professor at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden certainly thinks so. Kivipelto is also an AXA research fellow and one of the researchers to have authored the recent Lancet Neurology report “Defeating Alzheimer’s diseases and other dementias: a priority of European science and society” . She and her colleagues are developing models to assess a person’s risk for developing dementia, which mechanisms drive the disease and how these can perhaps be mitigated through a range of simple measures such as changes in lifestyle. Such changes include a healthier diet (to normalize blood pressure and blood lipids, for example), physical exercise and mental training. PUTTING THE FINGER ON IMPORTANT RISK FACTORS FOR LATE-ONSET DEMENTIA Kivipelto led the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) , which assessed the effects of some of the most important risk factors for late-onset dementia (such as high body mass index, BMI, and cardiovascular health) on how the brain functions. FINGER was the first ever large multi-domain randomized controlled trial of its kind in the world and we assessed several risk factors simultaneously to determine the optimal preventive effect, explains Kivipelto. We studied 1260 individuals from across Finland aged 60-77 over a period of two years. Half of these individuals were randomly allocated to an active study group and the other half to a control group. All of the study participants were judged to be at increased risk of dementia, that is, they scored more than 6 on the Dementia Risk Score and had a cognition level that was equal to or slightly lower than the mean expected for their age. CERAD=Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease. mITT=modified intention-to-treat.Credit:The Lancet. HEALTHY EATING The control group only received “regular” health advice while the active study group benefited from a comprehensive program of healthy eating, muscular and cardiovascular training and brain training exercises. For example, healthy eating advice was based on the Finnish Nutrition Recommendations (which are happily very similar to the Mediterranean diet) - see table If participants were deemed to be overweight at the start of the study, they were advised to lose between 5 and 10% of their body weight by reducing the number of calories they consumed. All subjects were also told to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and chose wholegrain cereal products over refined ones, low-fat milk and meat products. They were also advised to limit their sugar intake to no more than 50g/day and use vegetable margarine and rapeseed oil instead of butter. Fish was to be consumed at least twice a week. Table: Testing the Finnish Diet PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXERCISE As for physical exercise, participants followed a modified version of the Dose Responses to Exercise Training (DRs EXTRA) regime (another large randomized controlled trial in Finland that focused on the effects of exercise) and were monitored by physiotherapists in the gym. The exercise included progressive muscle strength training (1-3 times a week) and aerobic exercise (2-5 times a week). The strength training exercise focused on the main muscle groups (knee, abdomen and back, upper back and arm muscles and lower extremity muscles). Cognitive exercises, led by psychologists, focused on addressing age-related intellectual changes - that is, memory and reasoning applied to everyday activities. Individual sessions included computer-based training at home or at a study site, conducted in two periods of six months with each period comprising 72 training sessions (three times a week with each session lasting around a quarter of an hour). “Executive” functioning (how the brain organizes and regulates thought processes) was also assessed and tests here included mathematical and verbal, working memory (maintenance tasks), episodic memory (relational and spatial tasks) and mental speed (participants were asked to match shapes, for instance). Kiitos=Thank you!Credit: National Institue for Health and Welfare (THL) THE MAIN RESULTS Doctors, nurses and other health professionals met regularly with the study participants over the two years. At the end of this period, their mental abilities were measured using the Neuropsychological Test Battery – a standard test for testing various cognitive domains. Their blood pressure, weight and BMI, and hip and waist circumferences were also measured. Overall test scores showed an impressive 25% higher improvement in global cognition as compared to the control one, report the researchers, and for some parts of the test, the difference was even more dramatic. For example, executive functioning scores were a staggering 83% higher for the intervention group and thought processing speed was 150% higher. The researchers also saw improvements in participants’ blood pressure and BMI. The figure shows estimated mean change in cognitive performance from start (or baseline) until 12 and 24 months (higher scores suggest better performance) in the participant population. NTB=neuropsychiatric test battery.Credit:The Lancet RISK FACTORS ARE DIFFERENT IN MIDLIFE AND OLDER AGE GROUPS Carol Brayne of Cambridge Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge in the UK, who was not involved in these studies, says that quite a few of the risk factors for developing dementia appear to be most important in midlife, with changing patterns of risk as people enter the older age groups. “ Modeling studies , which attempt to analyze the top risk factors and their interrelationship suggest that 30% of clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease could be accounted for by the top seven risks that recently emerged from a large systematic review. We also have empirical evidence that the prevalence and incidence is decreasing in some age groups in certain countries, but the reasons for this decrease have not yet been directly explained by research. The only way to test at what life stage and in what way risk and protective measures are important for developing (or not developing) dementia is to bite the bullet and have a go at trials. “These trials might be individualized traditional trials as in Kivipelto’s group’s work, or they could be whole populations/communities looking at changing the behavioral environment. Trials in later life, like the ones described in this article, can be done within reasonable timeframes and can look at proximal risk profiles and then dementia progression with a little longer follow-up. A range of experimental designs is needed and Kivipelto and colleagues, along with those in the  European Consortium for Prevention of Dementia , have been pioneers here. It is not easy: the studies can be criticized, and their findings challenging to fully interpret (as there are still relatively few yet), but they are really important for the future. I would also like to add that the differences across generations in some countries' patterns of dementia might also be related to earlier life investment in factors such as maternal health, improved nutrition and health care throughout early life in combination with increased educational levels. These factors are much more difficult to research and we have to look for comparison across geography, time and cultures to see how we can get a handle on these.” Michael Valenzuela of the Regenerative Neuroscience Group at the Brain & Mind Centre & Sydney Medical School adds: “The FINGER trial was important because it showed that lifestyle modifications can, in principle, slow the rate of cognitive decline in those at risk for dementia. However, that is not the same as preventing or delaying dementia, and longer term follow up and results from other trials will help clarify this key issue. Interestingly, FINGER outcomes were much weaker than anticipated from studies of individual lifestyle interventions, and so it also begs questions about how to best combine different lifestyle interventions in a way that harnesses their benefits." GOING FURTHER Kivipelto and colleagues, who reported on their  FINGER study in The Lancet , are now following up the participants (and will do so for at least another six years) to see whether reduced cognitive decline actually leads to fewer of the participants being diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s. They say that they are also looking into the various mechanisms behind the observed improvements in brain function. The researchers have also developed  the first dementia risk App  based on the results of a previous study known as CAIDE (Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia). The App, which calculates the risk of getting dementia within the next 20 years based on a person’s weight, cholesterol level, blood pressure, physical activity and years of education, can be downloaded for free for use on an iPhone or iPad. It comes in two versions: one for physicians and one for individuals. It is available in five languages: German, French, Spanish, Russian, and English as default. Other languages will be available soon. “The biggest risk factor for developing dementia is advanced age. Large epidemiological studies have demonstrated that what is good for the heart is good for the brain,” says Kivipelto. “In other words a healthy lifestyle with physical activity, low blood cholesterol levels, not being obese, and having normal blood pressure at midlife protect not only against cardiac disease, but also against dementia.” AWARDS FOR MIIA KIVIPELTO Kivipelto has received numerous  prestigious awards , including the Waijlit and Eric Forsgren’s award for outstanding dementia research (2015), Best PI at KI award in collaboration with Nature (2014) and the AXA Research Award (2014). In 2016 she received the  Alzheimerfonden’s award  for excellent research. Source : Scientific American

### Micro-Sensors Monitor How Arteries Heal After Surgery

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/micro-sensors-monitor-how-arteries-heal-after-surgery
Published: 2016-11-20
Author: Pr. Abdul Barakat

New connected devices could help doctors prescribe anti-coagulant medication for just the right amount of time. Researchers in France are developing a new smart, connected stent containing sensors that can non-invasively monitor how an artery heals after stent implantation. The sensors can analyze whether the stent is becoming covered with too many smooth muscle cells, which can lead to potentially fatal restenosis, or if blood clots are forming on the device, which can lead to a fresh heart attack. The sensors will wirelessly transmit their data to the outside world so that it can be consulted by both patients and their doctors. The two leading cardiovascular killers today are coronary heart disease and stroke. Both occur when endothelial cells, which line the artery wall, start to chronically dysfunction. The arterial wall thickens (known as arthrosclerosis) and the artery itself may eventually become blocked entirely. Coronary stents are the main way of treating this problem. These mesh-like scaffolds, usually made of metal, are threaded into blocked arteries and the structures are then expanded, generally by inflating a balloon inside the stent, to hold the vessel open. Stent can help observe endothelial damage. The animation shows how the stent is inserted into an artery and the arterial wall with its endothelial cells can be clearly seen.Credit: Courtesy of A.Barakat ANTI-COAGULANTS, YES, BUT FOR HOW LONG? The problem is that when a stent is placed in an artery, it damages the arterial wall (and in particular, completely obliterates the endothelial layer). One of the consequences is that blood coagulates on the surface of the stent. Clots formed during this process can lead to the opposite of what is intended – that is, a new heart attack or stroke. To overcome this problem, patients are given anti-coagulants but it is difficult to know how long to prescribe this medication. Some patients heal within a matter of weeks, while others (especially very old patients) can take years to do so. And worryingly, during treatment, the patient cannot undergo any other surgical or dental procedure. ENTER CONNECTED STENTS “The connected stents could come into their own here,” explains Abdul Barakat, professor at the Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau near Paris and holder of the  AXA Chair for Cardiovascular Engineering , who is helping to develop the devices in collaboration with Instent , a start-up created in 2014 with his former PhD student Franz Bozsak. “The stents contain electronic sensors that can send information as to how quickly the artery is healing, so a doctor can stop the anti-coagulants at the right time.” Professor Abdul Barakat.Credit: Courtesy of A.Barakat The sensors, which can be made from metals or other materials, are powered by induction (think of your bus or train pass, which works by swiping it across a magnetic support) and are placed on the different struts on the stent, which are roughly 80 μm thick. They measure around 50 μm x 50 μm x 10 μm and are embedded in a biocompatible 10 μm-thick film. An image of the smart connected stent.Credit: Courtesy of A.Barakat SENDING THE APPROPRIATE SIGNAL When covered with arterial tissue, the sensors can distinguish between three different possible scenarios and send the appropriate signal. The first, as mentioned above, is thrombosis, or blood clotting. The second is normal arterial wall healing, which is characterized by the stent being covered with new endothelial cells. The third is restenosis, or the uncontrolled proliferation of smooth muscle cells on the stent that can re-block the artery. “The key thing for us is to be able to establish whether the sensors are covered with endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, a blood clot or nothing,” says Barakat. “ In vitro experiments, and preliminary  in vivo  testing in pigs, indeed show that different signals are sent depending on the type of situation present and that the signals are sufficiently different to be distinguished.” TOWARDS A BETTER STENT DESIGN Beyond continuous stent follow-up, the data produced by the sensors will also be important for understanding which stent types and designs work best for particular patients, he adds. “This ‘big data/machine learning’ aspect of our work will help us to move towards a patient-specific approach to stenting – something that is lacking right now. Ultimately, we may even be able to design better stents and move away from designs that cause the most problems. Instent now has seven employees and its mission is to get these smart connected devices to the patient, ideally by integrating the biocompatible film that goes on the stent and the associated wireless communication system with existing stents of large manufacturers. We hope to have a fully operational prototype by the end of this year and the first clinical trials in humans could start in 2018. If all goes to plan, patients could see the first connected stents by the end of this decade.” The approach is so promising that Ulrich Sigwart, one of the first physicians to have implanted stents into patients and who is now honorary professor at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, has decided to invest in the new project himself. "Stents have fundamentally changed the way that patients with coronary heart disease and other arterial diseases can be treated without major surgery,” he says. “Up to now, there was only one way of finding out how the body had accepted the implant, and this was in an invasive way. What is more, the duration of drug treatment to inhibit thrombosis was vaguely defined. I find the concept of monitoring proper endothelialization of stents from the outside most attractive as it allows us to keep an eye on such implants so that we can make clinical decision without bothering the patient." Deploying the sensor on the stent. The stent wire, monitoring system and drug layer can be clearly seen in the blow-up.Courtesy of A.Barakat A CONNECTED FUTURE The new stents follow the trend for connected medical devices in general, and we need to prepare ourselves in the best way possible for this new era, says Barakat. There is huge promise, but we need to be conscientious and responsible. Patient privacy is crucial and the data from these technologies will need to be protected. Source : Scientific American Full article available here

### Facing New Risks with Big Data and the Cloud

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/facing-new-risks-with-big-data-and-the-cloud
Published: 2016-11-08
Author: Pr. Bryan Ford

A Holistic Approach to Data Security. By Bryan Ford, AXA Chair in Information Security and Privacy, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. While exciting progress in computer science opens so many new venues, the growth of cloud computing also introduces new risks—and the well-known ones may be only the tip of the iceberg, Prof. Ford says. It’s not the problems tied directly to your cloud provider, like outages cutting off your access, that worry him, but the second-order risks. These include cloud services that may appear independent, but actually share resources behind the scenes, undermining the safety usually conferred by redundancy in a system. “This could create unexpected and potentially catastrophic failure correlations, reminiscent of financial industry crashes,” Prof. Ford explains. Also requiring urgent attention is the challenge that cloud computing adds to the preservation of digital artifacts. Technology changes rapidly and versions become out of date, putting long-term availability at risk. With cloud-based applications, users are never in possession of a complete, functional copy of the item to store in a repository—think search engines or mapping applications, versus word processing software installed directly on your computer. How, then, can digital archivists file away historically significant cloud artifacts for long-term cultural preservation? Prof. Ford’s research project will provide, first of all, a much deeper understanding of the questions like this that must be asked in a new era of cloud computing. In response to the risks exposed, he will also design new system architectures capable of facing the problems involved. He aims to develop methods of quantifying the risk of compromised privacy or failure in a system. Then, he’ll create protoypes capable of using this measurement to reconfigure cloud systems at risk. By getting started now, Prof. Ford hopes to understand the risks and devise solutions “ before  our socioeconomic fabric becomes inextricably dependent on a convenient but potentially unstable computing model,” he says. Apple, FBI, and Software Transparency * * From Freedom to Tinker, Princeton's Center for Information Technology Policy, march 10th 2016,https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2016/03/10/apple-fbi-and-software-transparency The  Apple versus FBI showdown  has quickly become a crucial flashpoint of the “ new Crypto War .” On February 16 the FBI invoked  the All Writs Act of 1789 , a catch-all authority for assistance of law enforcement, demanding that Apple create a custom version of its iOS to help the FBI decrypt an iPhone used by one of the  San Bernardino shooters . The fact that the FBI allowed Apple to disclose the order publicly,  on the same day , represents a rare exception to the government’s normal penchant for secrecy. The reasons behind the FBI’s unusually loud entrance are important – but even more so is the risk that after the present flurry concludes, the FBI and other government agencies will revert to more shadowy methods of compelling companies to backdoor their software. This blog post explores these software transparency risks, and how  new technical measures  could help ensure that the public debate over software backdoors  remains  public. The Decryption Assistance Order Apple and other technology companies regularly comply with government orders for data in their possession. The controversial order’s key distinction, however, is that the data is  not  in Apple’s posession but on an encrypted iPhone, and the order requires Apple to create  new software  to help the FBI circumvent that iPhone’s security. While Apple is probably  technically able to comply with the FBI’s order , it is  fighting the order  on the grounds that “the government demands that Apple create a back door to defeat the encryption on the iPhone, making its users’ most confidential and personal information vulnerable to hackers, identity thieves, hostile foreign agents, and unwarranted government surveillance.” Indeed, demanding that a private company  create a new forensic instrument  to the government’s order, weakening the security of Apple’s own devices and  exposing their users’ innermost secrets , may  violate the first amendment . At any rate, the order is “ like asking General Motors to build a new truck with a fifth wheel by next month. ” The FBI could probably create their own backdoored version of iOS. However, Apple’s devices accept only software updates digitally signed with a secret key that presumably only Apple controls.  Presumably . We’ll come back to that. Why All the Publicity? One of the most interesting and unusual features of this particular case is how quickly we, the public,  learned about it from Apple . The FBI could have quietly delivered this order under seal, as it has done with  similar decryption-assistance demands to Apple  – as well as to other companies such as Lavabit, the  now-defunct  E-mail provider that Edward Snowden used. Apple even  reportedly requested that the FBI’s order be sealed , but the FBI wanted the public showdown. The facts of the case  undermine the FBI’s claims  of urgently needing this iPhone’s contents: the killers were already long dead, the mountain of metadata the FBI already had about the killers revealed no hint of connections to other terrorists, and the iPhone in question was an employer-provided work phone that the killers did not bother to destroy as they did their two personal phones. The Occam’s Razor interpretation of the facts suggest that the FBI is far less interested in the data itself than in  the court precedent  a legal win would establish. In short, it appears the FBI is “ playing politics ” via a “ carefully planned legal battle…months in the making. ” The iPhone in question represents a strategically-chosen battleground on which the FBI thinks it can  win using the terrorism card  – even if this particular iPhone in fact has  little or no intelligence value . Lining up in Apple’s defense are  a plurality of the American public ; public-interest organizations such as the  ACLU ,  EFF , and  CDT ; many  technology giants  including Google, Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, and Amazon; newspapers such as the  New York Times  and the Wall Street Journal, the  UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ; even the  former NSA director  and  other former top US government officials . The Secrecy Alternative, Past and Future Important as this public battle is, the FBI and governments around the world can and often have pursued the same goals in secret: Apple versus FBI is more the exception than the rule. Recall the result of  the first Crypto Wars , in which the US government attempted to mandate key escrow encryption embodied in the infamous  Clipper Chip . While the government lost that public battle, they did not give up but merely  shifted their efforts to compromise encryption back into the shadows . For example, the NSA apparently  slipped a backdoor into a NIST standard for random number generation , allowing the holder of a secret to compromise all cryptographic algorithms on a device. Demonstrating the perils of trying to keep a backdoor accessible only to “the good guys,” an unknown attacker recently managed to “re-key” and take over a latent copy of this backdoored random number generator  in Juniper Networks routers . Even if sanity prevails in this new round of the Crypto Wars, we can count on continued attempts by the US and governments around the world to aquire secret backdoors. Governments can of course exploit  software bugs  or  physical vulnerabilities  to break into personal devices, but secret backdoors will remain an attractive Siren song. It is easier, cheaper, and less risky to exploit a known backdoor than to “ reach into the treasure chest…and engineer a custom exploit .” The Software Update Backdoor Nearly all of today’s personal devices, including Apple’s, already have a ready-made “backdoor” ripe for exploitation, in the form of  automatic software updates validated by digital signatures . One way the US government could acquire a universal backdoor to Apple’s devices is simply by demanding a copy of Apple’s secret software signing keys. The government already showed a willingness to do exactly this, in demanding the  master keys to Lavabit’s encrypted E-mail service  while investigating Snowden. This might not be entirely trivial if Apple’s software signing keys are  held in hardware security modules  designed to thwart the extraction or cloning of secret keys. In that case, however, the government could still simply demand that Apple use its secret key to produce a valid digital signature for the FBI’s backdoored version of iOS, while keeping this process and the existence of this backdoored iOS secret. Even if Apple wins this public battle, therefore, they will still face well-founded post-Snowden fears and suspicions – from companies and governments around the world – as to whether Apple can be coerced into secretly helping to sign backdoored software and firmware images. This risk is by no means specific to Apple, but faced by  any  organization that creates and releases software. Even open source software is not immune, because you cannot be certain whether a software update represents a correctly-compiled or backdoored version of a source release  unless you build it yourself , which precious few users do. Software Transparency via Decentralized Witness Cosigning In  IEEE Security & Privacy 2016  we will present a paper ( preliminary draft available here ) introducing  decentralized witness cosigning , a technological means by software makers such as Apple could protect their users from secretly backdoored versions of their software – and in turn protect  themselves  and their financial bottom lines from worldwide fears and suspicions about the possibility of backdoored software. With conventional digital signatures, as currently used for most software and firmware signing processes, a single party (e.g., Apple) holds the secret key needed to produce valid software images that devices and their software update systems will accept. Any well-designed update system refuses to accept any software image unless it has been authenticated using a  digital certificate  embedded in the device, which cryptographically identifies the software maker via a mathematical relationship with the secret signing key.  Best practices for software signing  are already to keep particularly sensitive signing keys offline, perhaps in HSMs or even split across multiple HSMs,  as ICANN does  in its ornate  DNSSEC key signing ceremony . But as noted above, such measures do not prevent the  organization  from being coerced into secret misuse of these signing keys. With decentralized witness cosigning, a software maker imprints their devices and software update systems with a digital certificate corresponding not just to their own secret key but also to secret keys held by a group of independent  witnesses . These witnesses might include other cooperating software companies, public-interest organizations such as the ACLU, EFF, or CDT, or major corporate customers or governments around the world desiring not just verbal but also technological assurances of the software maker’s commitment to transparency. In turn, before accepting any software image the device’s update system verifies that it has been signed not only by the software maker but also by a threshold number of the designated witnesses. In essence, the device does not accept any software image unless it arrives with a cryptographic “proof” that this  particular  software image has been publicly observed by – and thereby placed under the scrutiny of – a decentralized group of independent parties scattered around the world in different jurisdictions. The Scalability of Witness Cosigning Technically, it is quite easy to implement witness cosigning if the number of witnesses is small. A software maker could simply gather a list of individual signatures for each new software release, in much the same way people have handled  public petitions  for hundreds of years. If we want the group of witnesses to be large, however – and we  do , to ensure that compromising transparency would require not just a few but hundreds or even thousands of witnesses to be colluding maliciously – then gathering hundreds or thousands of individual signatures for each software release could become painful and inefficient. Worse, every device needing to validate a software download or update would need to check all these signatures individually, causing delays and consuming battery power. The key technical contribution of our research is a distributed protocol that automates this process and makes large, decentralized witness cosigning groups practical. I will spare you the details, but those interested can  find them here . The oversimplified summary is that the protocol involves compressing hundreds or thousands of signatures into a single one that can be verified almost as simply and efficiently verifying a normal individual signature. For illustration, a traditional many-signature petition handled this way might look as follows: SHAPE\* MERGEFORMAT What a classic petition might look like as a cryptographic multisignature Superposing standard pencil-and-paper signatures this way would of course offer little or no security, but such superposition  can  be made secure with modern digital signatures. This is one of the remarkable properties of modern cryptography, and is a well-understood property that  long predates our work . Again, our main contribution is to make witness cosigning scale. How Does Anyone Know If There’s a Backdoor? Unfortunately, independent witnesses cannot necessarily determine immediately, during the witness cosigning process, whether or not a particular software image actually contains a backdoor. This is especially true in the common case where the source code is proprietary and the software maker signs and releases only binary images. Nevertheless, the witnesses can still proactively ensure  transparency  by ensuring that  every correctly-signed software image in existence  has been disclosed, cataloged, and made subject to public scrutiny. For example, if future Apple devices adopted decentralized witness cosigning, and a government attempted to coerce Apple secretly into signing a backdoored version of iOS version 11.2.1, then the only way Apple could do so would be to submit the backdoored iOS version to the independent witnesses for cosigning. Even though those witnesses could not necessarily recognize the backdoor, they could immediately notice that two different iOS images labeled “version 11.2.1” have been signed: the standard one and the backdoored one. This inconsistency alone should immediately raise alarms and draw the attention of security companies around the world, who could carefully inspect the differences between the two software images. A government could of course coerce Apple to give the backdoored image a different version number that most of their customers never receive: e.g., “11.2.1fbi” – or a more anonymous “11.2.1.1.” However, the witnesses would still be able to tell that an iOS image  exists  that has been signed but not widely distributed, again likely drawing suspicion and careful scrutiny by security experts. Of course, Apple – or a malicious Apple employee – could still slip a subtle backdoor or security “bug” into the standard iOS releases that  everyone  runs. Accidental bugs and backdoors alike can persist for years without being noticed, as  the Juniper incident  amply demonstrates. Open source software offers a transparency advantage, especially with  reproducible builds  – but even source-level backdoors can be  devilishly   tricky . Nevertheless, techniques and tools for analysing both source and binary software are constantly improving, and decentralized witness cosigning can ensure that  all  releases of a software distribution are publicly known and exposed to this analysis by talented security researchers and white-hat hackers around the world. An attacker who slips a backdoor into a public software release inherently faces a risk that the backdoor could be discovered at any time. Witness cosigning prevents attackers from sidestepping that risk of discovery, even by secretly deploying the backdoored software only on targeted devices under attacker-controlled conditions. Proactive versus Retroactive Transparency Approaches Decentralized witness cosigning is by no means the first cryptographic transparency mechanism. For example, the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) used to secure Web connections  has similar weaknesses . PKI transparency mechanisms such as  Convergence ,  Sovereign Keys ,  Certificate Transparency ,  AKI , and  ARPKI  chip away at this problem. Certificate Transparency is now  standard in the Chrome browser .  Application Transparency  is a proposed variant of Certificate Transparency adapted to software downloads and updates. Related proposals such as  Perspectives  and  CONIKS  address closely-related problems for Secure Shell (SSH) connections and end-to-end encrypted messaging, respectively. These prior transparency mechanisms have two crucial weaknesses, however: they do not significantly increase the number of secret keys an attacker must control to compromise any personal device, and personal devices cannot even retroactively detect such compromise unless they can actively communicate with multiple well-known Internet servers. For example, even with Certificate Transparency, an attacker can forge an  Extended Validation (EV) certificate for Chrome  after compromising or coercing only three parties: one Certificate Authority (CA) and two  log servers . Since many CAs and log servers are in US jurisdiction, such an attack is clearly within reach of the US government. If such an attack does occur, Certificate Transparency cannot detect it unless the victim device has a chance to communicate or  gossip  the fake certificate with other parties on the Internet – after it has already accepted and started using the fake digital certificate. Gossip Mechanisms Can’t Guarantee Software Transparency These weaknesses are especially severe in the domain of software transparency, the central issue in the Apple versus FBI case. First, if a personal device accepts and starts running a backdoored software update before the device has had a chance to gossip information about the update with other parties on the Internet, then the backdoored software can evade transparency simply by disabling gossip in the updated code. Second, even if for some reason the attacker cannot or neglects to take this obvious step, the attacker can still evade transparency by controlling either the device or its Internet access paths. In the FBI versus Apple case, for example, the FBI could trivially evade gossip-based transparency, and keep its backdoored iOS image secret, by keeping the device disconnected from the rest of the Internet after installing their backdoored software update. (They probably plan to anyway, to ensure that no “ cyber pathogens ” escape.) This weakness of gossip-based transparency also applies to attackers who may not control the device itself but control the device’s Internet access path. For example, a compromised Internet service provider (ISP) or corporate Internet gateway can defeat gossip-based transparency by persistently blocking a victim’s access to transparency servers elsewhere on the Internet. Even if the user’s device is mobile, a state intelligence service such as China’s “ Great Firewall ” could defeat gossip-based transparency by persistently blocking connections from a targeted victim’s devices to global transparency servers, in the same way that China already blocks connections to many websites and  to the Tor anonymity network . Conclusion The noisy Apple versus FBI battle is merely the visible tip of a looming software integrity iceberg, illustrating both the importance of software transparency mechanisms and the technical challenges in securing them. Current gossip-based methods cannot actually guarantee transparency if an attacker is in control of the target device or its Internet access path, as in the current FBI versus Apple scenario. Even if software updates were guarded by  Certificate Transparency  or  Application Transparency , the FBI could still secretly force Apple to sign a backdoored software update, coerce two US-based log servers to sign fake log entries while keeping both the software update and the fake logs secret, and isolate the targeted device offline so that it cannot gossip the fake update metadata with anyone. Decentralized witness cosigning is currently the only known method of ensuring transparency and public accountability in such situations. Taking a proactive approach, witness cosigning provides devices with a standalone cryptographic proof that a software update has been observed by many independent parties,  before  the device accepts or runs the software. In this way, companies such as Apple could offer their customers a strong guarantee that every valid software image in existence has been publicly disclosed before any of their devices, anywhere, will consider it valid – even if the device and/or its network is controlled by an attacker who does  not  exhibit the FBI’s fleeting taste for publicity. The present public debate over backdoors in personal devices is of critical importance to our security, privacy, and personal freedom. But equally important is ensuring that this time the debate  stays  public.

### When Animal Diseases Spread to Humans

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/when-animal-diseases-spread-to-humans
Published: 2016-11-06
Author: Dr. Frédéric Keck

The distinction between human and animal is not always as clear as we make it, the barriers that seem to separate us from the natural world not as impermeable as we tend to believe. That division is actually a very fluid notion that changes from culture to culture and over time. It becomes quite artificial, even, in the face of certain diseases, called zoonoses, that can spread between species - from other animals to humans and vice-versa. And the majority of new diseases in people, like HIV, Ebola and avian flu, are all zoonotic. Many indigenous populations around the world have lived in contact with pathogens that, only more recently, have led to pandemic outbreaks. “ Zoonoses are a product of urban societies who have lost daily contact with animals ,” explains Frédéric Keck, researcher the Laboratory for Social Anthropology at the Collège de France in Paris. “ The question is how to benefit from the knowledge of the populations that live with them, how to translate this knowledge into effective public health response .” To address that question, with the support of the AXA Research Fund, he designed the project “ Social Representations of Pathogens at the Frontiers between Species ”. Keck assembled a team of anthropologists, experts on their particular region of study, who, today, have returned from their fieldwork in Laos, Australia and Mongolia. Their analyses of how zoonotic outbreaks are viewed and managed, the roles, perceptions and interactions of governments and local indigenous cultures, will help reveal how traditional knowledge can be used to its fullest extent to improve pandemic preparedness across Asia. Interspecies Kinship, Domestication and Disease Zoonoses involve complex relationships: between pathogens and their host, between humans and animals, and between globalized knowledge and indigenous know-how. Improving this last relationship was just one aspect of Keck’s project that interested Arnaud Morvan. He brought to the table his expertise on the analysis of totemism in Australia. A totem is an animal or another element of the natural world that serves as a spiritual representation of a group of people, like a family or a tribe, and speaks to the relationship between humans and other species in the cultures that use them. To explore ideas about interspecies kinship and zoonotic outbreaks he went to northern Queensland, one of the only places where the Australian indigenous people retain their traditional language and knowledge, as well as the northernmost reach of the Hendra virus outbreak. It is one of the most lethal viruses out there, although not very easy to catch. Carried by a large bat commonly called a flying fox ( pteropus ), the virus spread to horses, first, and then to humans. When Morvan first began his investigation of the Aboriginal community’s handling of Hendra, he quickly hit a roadblock: They had always been left out of the government’s official response and were hesitant to talk about their own. Then, he hit upon a revealing fact: bats are used by this community both as bush meat and as a cure for certain illnesses. In their mythology, bats are associated with the afterlife and regeneration. “ The indigenous perception of the species reverses the typical narrative of the zoonotic process ,” Morvan points out. Although the Hendra outbreak was recent, and researchers had only discovered the virus in 1994, genetic studies revealed that it is actually quite old. The flying foxes carrying it have also been used for a long time as food and medicine by Australian indigenous people, meaning that they had long shared the same environment with the virus, with few ill effects. This suggests that the virus jumping the species barrier to infect horses was a key step in it taking on epidemic proportions in the human population. (It also speaks to the dangers of introducing non-native species into any ecosystem.) It may have been a matter of proximity: most people have far more contact with horses than bats, and vets are likely to come into contact with the blood of horses. Indigenous people, in contrast, do not raise livestock. Their rejection of the domestication of species may help them avoid zoonoses: while maintaining spiritual closeness, they keep a physical distance. What’s certain is that the region’s zoonotic outbreak of Hendra reveals that preventing and controlling such diseases is not as simple as throwing up mental barriers between people and the natural world.  Species Conservation or Public Health Time Bomb? This question of human-animal proximity reappears throughout the team of anthropologists’ exploration of zoonoses. Nicolas Lainé explored its complexities concerning tuberculosis (TB) carried by elephants in northwestern Laos. During his PhD work on the human-elephant relationship in Eastern India, he had noticed a growing number of health alerts and studies pertaining to the surveillance of TB in these animals. This paralleled the emergence of a new conservation strategy for this endangered species, featuring tourism to elephant camps, where the animals are used in the logging industry. Tuberculosis being the second deadliest disease in Asia after HIV, Lainé wondered if bringing more people into close contact with the elephants was unintentionally creating a public health time bomb, waiting to explode. Lainé quickly noticed that the elephants’ caretakers, called mahouts, were at the center of disease surveillance policies, ultimately responsible for implementing orders of the state. Veterinarians do routine visits, he explains, but they can’t access all elephants and, so, rely on the mahouts to report on their animals’ health. For the latter, the relationship with their elephants is very strong: they consider them part of the family, watch them grow up, and can observe the smallest changes in their health that could indicate disease. A mahout may notice, for instance, that the color of an elephant’s skin has changed, something that a vet making a rare visit would be unlikely to see. To the mahouts, the risk of tuberculosis is a modern problem. As they pointed out to Lainé, they have lived closely with their elephants for a long time, without catching the disease. However, it’s not that TB in the elephant population is new, it’s that the relationship with humans has been altered through the growth of logging and tourism to the camps. The mahouts’ relationship with the elephants has been so changed under these circumstances that at least one man the researcher encountered had left his job at the camp. But Lainé believes the very emergence of the zoonotic pathogen presents an opportunity to valorize local knowledge and to take steps for the conservation of the species. Every group involved – from international health agencies down to Laotian families with their elephant – has a conception of the species barrier, but each one differs from the next. The question is how to translate each of these and mobilize the knowledge it contains for the sake of public health. Integrating Knowledge, Local and International In Mongolia, another complex interaction between animal and human disease has seen success in balancing traditional knowledge and the modern, globalized system of public health. Here, Dr. Sandrine Ruhlmann focused her study on groups of nomadic herders. In addition to a centralized, state-run system of vaccination and culling of infected livestock, a new method of disease surveillance was established in Mongolia on the level of its nomadic communities. Like the mahouts in Laos, the herders were the best placed to take on the role of sentinels: taking care of their herds, watching their animals for signs of zoonotic diseases, like the bacterial infections brucellosis and anthrax, and taking the first steps to prevent their spread, as for the rapidly growing foot-and-mouth disease. For this, they need to tap into traditional knowledge about their animals, as well as adhere to international regulations about animal care and disease surveillance. “ Considering herders as sentinels integrates their perceptions and treatments of animal diseases with international standards of animal diseases surveillance ,” Ruhlmann writes. Indeed, in response to a zoonotic outbreak, most herders combine traditional strategies like fumigation of affected spaces with modern tools like vaccination—when they trust the veterinarians providing the service. Some are able to identify the mistakes of less capable vets who inoculate animals incorrectly or use spoiled vaccines. Ruhlmann concludes from her work in Mongolia that the herders’ worldview as it relates to humans, animals and disease does not conflict with official policy or scientific knowledge. The animal surveillance system works here, in fact, thanks to their daily involvement. By taking into consideration the knowledge the nomadic people have to offer, Mongolia has found an effective way of distributing the roles necessary for the management of pathogens and disease. Frédéric Keck explains that this anthropological fieldwork for the study of zoonoses is very new, and challenging, but the field is growing. Following recent pandemic outbreaks, there was a call for more collaborative, interdisciplinary research projects, in an effort to disentangle the many different mechanisms at work in these public health crises. “ We arrive after the crisis ,” Keck points out. “ We don’t help to solve it, but we bring messages to help anticipate the next one. ” The anthropologists making up his team hope they will have set a precedent for their peers to follow.

### First International Conference in Neuroergonomics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/first-international-conference-in-neuroergonomics
Published: 2016-08-04

Conference presentation Join hundreds of scientists, leading researchers, and interested industry colleagues for two full days of high-value and exciting presentations from the community’s world-leading scientists on the cutting edge of exciting new areas of Neuroergonomics research. Discover full Academics talk Prof. Raja Parasuraman This conference is dedicated to Professor  Raja Parasuraman  who unexpectedly passed on March 22nd 2015. Raja Parasuraman’s pioneering work led the emergence of Neuroergonomics as a new scientific field. He made significant contributions to a number of disciplines from human factors to cognitive neuroscience. His early work included important contributions to topics such as vigilance and human interaction with automated systems. He later consolidated his interests in human factors and cognitive neuroscience to develop a new discipline called Neuroergonomics, which he defined as the study of brain and behavior at work. Neuroergonomics Conference 2016 - Paris Main topics Innovative methodologies and protocols using brain imaging techniques and psychophysiological measurements in realistic operational settings Formulate neurobiological models to better understand risky decision making Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) and human performance monitoring in ecological conditions Cognitive countermeasures, augmented cognition, and brain stimulations to enhance performance and mitigate human error Virtual Reality and Serious Gaming Cognitive Performance in Psychological and Neurological Disorders Affective processing and emotion recognition from neural and physiological measures Genetic, personality and neurobiological factors influencing cognitive performance Assessment of cognition in various neurological disorders and in real-time settings and home environments Memory, skill acquisition and training assessment Ergonomics and Motor Control Source : ISAE-SUPAERO See the website

### PILI: HIV from the female perspective

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/pili-hiv-from-the-female-perspective
Published: 2016-07-27
Author: Dr. Sophie Harman

Dr Sophie Harman, in charge of AXA Outlook project on raising awareness on social risks faced by women of Tanzania living with HIV treatment , reveals in an article from the Huffpost the approach of her film PILI that aims to put light on the conditions faced by these women. PILI has been nominated at the 2018 BAFTA. Discover PILI's trailer : Source : Huffpost The last International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa was a reminder that HIV and AIDS remains at the forefront of the global health agenda. One of the critical issues as governments and NGOs develop strategies to counter HIV/AIDS is gender inequality: a major topic throughout the first few days of the conference. In sub-Saharan Africa, where two thirds of those affected by HIV/AIDS live, 56% of new infections among adults and 66% of new infections among young people are women. In rural Tanzania, the concept of the "left ones" is often used to talk about women whose husbands abandoned them following their HIV diagnosis, leaving them to support families and raise children in the face of the social and economic exclusion. It was in this context that I embarked on a project to provide a voice for these women and to gain a greater understanding of the socio-economic risks they face on a day-to-day basis, supported by the AXA Research Fund. PILI, a feature length drama, is a film based on the testimony of 85 local women from the Pwani region of Tanzania. The women all had a worryingly similar story to tell when we asked them to articulate their experience of HIV. Lack of formal employment, social stigma, problems with access to treatment, and poverty were the experience of almost all of the women along with the daily pressures of trying to raise their families alone. Rather than professional actors, the stars of PILI are the real women of rural Tanzania who are managing HIV and the challenges that go alongside it. As 65% of PILI's cast members are HIV positive, we wanted their experience, challenges and emotion to drive the film. PILI provides an opportunity for these marginalised women to tell their own story, in their own words, in their own language. The protagonist of the film, Pili, played by Bello Rashid, captures the grievances of the women from the local community. Pili's life is restricted by the structures of poverty, gender and her HIV status, much like many of the women with HIV/AIDS we spoke to from the Pwani region. Pili is also self-stigmatizing; ashamed of her HIV Positive status and keeping it to herself. Instead of accessing the free anti-retroviral drugs at local clinics, Pili chooses to pay the local dispensary for under the counter drugs with the little money she has in order to hide her disease from her community. In Africa, free treatment and care is often available however a mere one-third of those eligible are able to access it. The film follows Pili over a four-day period as she tries to better her life, for herself and her children, by attempting to rent a market stall, and the problems she faces trying to do so. This is reflective of Bello's dream; to go back to school and study to become a nurse, driven by the desire to show someone from her background can achieve more than working in a field. Making PILI was a challenge. The team failed to secure a film permit ahead of shooting, despite submitting paperwork, and the required £1,000 fee, months ahead of time. This set the scene for a filming process fraught with risks, with the crew facing illness, an extortion attempt, local government corruption and a near miss with a ravine. Support from the community, regional and local health workers and the local women who feature in the film was the only reason we were able to finish this film. The consistent determination of the women involved in the project, who face daily hardship, put our grievances into perspective. PILI provides a platform for the story of these marginalised women. The film aims to emphasise the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS on women in one community in rural Tanzania, unravelling perceptions of the virus through personal experience. This film is not just Pili's story but the reality for thousands of woman in rural Tanzania who are struggling with the daily impact of the disease, poverty and their determination to do the best for their family. PILI is currently in final edit and will be premiering in the new year. Follow the progress of PILI on Twitter @PiliFilm and Facebook . This project has been supported by the AXA Research Fund. Dr Sophie HARMAN Discover Sophie HARMAN's project : "HIV Treatment & Social Risk: Women of Tanzania Tell Their Story". READ MORE (new window) Article Living as a woman with HIV/Aids in rural Tanzania READ MORE (new window)

### Organ donor research shows how Tardigrades could save lives

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/organ-donor-research-shows-how-tardigrades-could-save-lives
Published: 2016-07-10
Author: Molecular Biologist Daiki Horikawa

Ep#6 | AXA Research Files In this episode of the AXA Research Files,  Greg Foot  links up with Molecular Biologist  Daiki Horakawa  for a close up and personal introduction to the toughest creature on earth, the Tardigrade. Daiki reveals the science behind its extraordinary ability to survive extreme temperatures as well as no water, and how his research might one day help prolong the storage of human organs – vital for the progress of transplant surgery.

### How learning styles can influence what kind of leader you are?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-learning-styles-can-influence-what-kind-of-leader-you-are
Published: 2016-07-10
Author: Psychologist Jennifer Cook

Ep#4 | AXA Research Files In this episode of the AXA Research Files,  Greg Foot  meets Psychologist  Jen Cook  to investigate how our personality types – social or individual – determine how we learn, and lead. His journey takes in a Gorilla pen at a zoo, a kid’s art group, a corporate bonding session, and Jen’s brain-test in an MRI scanner. What are the implications for all of us, for the board rooms and class rooms of the future? And is he accessing his own silver back gorilla leadership skills?

### What effect could a solar flare (or CME) have on the earth?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/what-effect-could-a-solar-flare-or-cme-have-on-the-earth
Published: 2016-07-10
Author: Solar Physicist Miho Janvier

Ep#5 | AXA Research Files In this episode of the AXA Research Files, Greg Foot meets Solar Physicist Miho Janvier to discover how coronal mass ejections from the sun can impact the earth. It’s his worst nightmare – potentially a total power down of everything that relies on our satellite and power-grid infrastructure. Miho explains how her research of the sun looks at mitigating those effects of such destructive storms.

### Studies of panicking crowds help shape building evacuations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/studies-of-panicking-crowds-help-shape-building-evacuations
Published: 2016-07-10
Author: Mathematical Engineer Nikolai Bode

Ep#3 | AXA Research Files In this episode of the AXA Research Files, Greg Foot investigates how Mathematical Engineer Nikolai Bode is working to understand more about crowds behave, especially in states of evacuation and panic. After a trip to a football stadium on a crowded train, Nikolai demonstrates some of his research with a crowd-evacuation experiment. Then it’s time to go and see a band – in a packed auditorium.

### How airplane technology can help prevent heart attacks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-airplane-technology-can-help-prevent-heart-attacks
Published: 2016-07-10
Author: Cardiovascular Engineer Pr. Abdul Barakat

Ep#2 | AXA Research Files In this episode of the AXA Research Files, Greg Foot meets Cardiovascular Engineer Professor Barakat to investigate how the mechanical principles of flow-dynamics inform his research into improving the life-saving design of heart stents. Starting his journey on the wings of a bi-plane, it’s an adrenalin fueled mission!

### Scientists reveal how much water you consume daily

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/scientists-reveal-how-much-water-you-consume-daily
Published: 2016-07-10
Author: Esther Delbourg

Ep#1 | AXA Research Files The supply of fresh water is running out! In this first episode of the AXA Research Files, our Science Presenter Greg Foot explores the astonishing amounts of water we all use in our everyday live, with the help of expert Water Economist Esther Delbourg, supported by the AXA Research Fund. How do we consume it? Where that water comes from, and what are the simple things we can all do to reduce our consumption? Find out more...

### Thomas Landrain : The Soul of a Biohacker

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/thomas-landrain-the-soul-of-a-biohacker
Published: 2016-07-10

At 31 years old, Thomas Landrain is certainly unusual in the world of biology. A fervent advocate of open science and a form of "Do It Yourself" science, a few years ago he founded La Paillasse, the first community laboratory in France. We review the career of this young prodigy of biohacking whose potential was nurtured by support from the AXA Research Fund in 2009. "If I had to sum up my career in a sentence, I would say that I am passionate about science and was unable to find an environment in the traditional academic world in line with my approach to research, so I decided to found my own laboratory, in collaboration with other individuals who wanted to contribute to a collective undertaking, producing scientific knowledge." Thomas Landrain has always demonstrated strong independence in respect of scientific institutions and the often very well-defined path available to young researchers. Having obtained a degree in biology and worked as a researcher for a year in Finland – in partnership with the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris – he decided to study synthetic biology, a new and complex discipline, combining biology, IT, physics and mathematics. This gave him a problem, as no synthetic biology lab yet existed in France. Thomas Landrain's career in eight key dates 17 November 1984: Birth 2002 to 2005: Biology degree from the Institut Catholique d’Etude Supérieur in La Roche-sur-Yon 2005: Accepted into the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris January to September 2006: Time spent in Finland working on a research project into regulation of stress at cellular level in mammals 2007: Won "iGEM" award for best fundamental research project (awarded by MIT) with the synthetic biology club he founded 2009: Awarded an AXA Research Fund grant to produce a thesis on bioreceptors 2012: Opened the first la Paillasse in a squat in the Paris suburbs 2014: La Paillasse moved to 750 m2 premises in the centre of Paris A pioneer in synthetic biology in France The student therefore decided to set up a club with his friends dedicated to advanced research in this field. Their work on multicellular bacteria even led to them winning an award for best fundamental research project from the highly prestigious MIT in Boston. This was a seminal experience for Thomas Landrain, reinforcing his belief in what science should be – open and multidisciplinary. He went on to found the first fully-fledged synthetic biology lab in France with Dr Alfonso Jaramillo. As part of this new initiative, funded by the AXA Research Fund and with all the resources required to complete his research, that he devoted himself to his thesis. His objective was to use synthetic biology to create smart biosensors within micro-organisms such as bacteria, to allow them to analyse their environment for humans' benefit. The example he gave in his AXA Research Fund application was detecting anti-personnel mines. Valuable support from the AXA Research Fund "The approach I proposed to my work fitted at that time into the fund's 'aging' category. This raises the question, "What is the relationship between this phenomenon and bacteria?" In reality, although I wasn't studying humans, I was analysing a very basic process linked to living things which could therefore apply directly to humans. And that is where I believe the AXA Research Fund was very far-sighted. They were able to be that open-minded. And I am certain that by adopting that method, they will really contribute a lot to science over the long term." In addition to funding, the AXA Research Fund supported the researcher with his international collaboration initiatives, enabling him to travel and organise conferences abroad. This help was vital in the young man's integration into the scientific community: "I am extremely grateful to the Fund's teams, who helped me a lot. As a PhD student, I benefited from a friendly human presence throughout my guidance. At events organised by AXA, I even had an opportunity to meet other researchers supported by the Fund – international scientists with a wide range of projects and indisputable talent." Founding of La Paillasse It was in 2009 that Thomas Landrain's destiny took a twist. At the time, the "Do It Yourself" movement was in full swing and the scientist soon came to hear about biohackers, individuals promoting the practice of biology outside of its traditional confines. These amateur and specialist scientists meet in makeshift laboratories to work on independent projects. It was in the context that the idea of founding La Paillasse arose. "I wanted to explore what a 21st century laboratory could be, in this era famous for collective intelligence, and literally set up an open and collaborative laboratory." The first Paillasse was created in 2012, in a suburban squat. It stimulated innovation by facilitating the link between a range of different profiles, from the world of science as well as art and design. Above all, it provides its members with all the equipment they need to carry out their research. The initiative has been a success, to such an extent that NASA itself has assigned the La Paillasse teams to carry out an open source bioreactor project. Five terms to know before visiting la Paillasse Open science : A movement which aims to make scientific research and its interaction with society more transparent and collaborative. It is based on use of the web, collaborative working tools and social networks to maximise information exchange between researchers who are often from different disciplines. Biohacker : Individual promoting the practice of biology outside of traditional frameworks. These amateur and specialist biologists meet in makeshift laboratories, such as squats, to work on independent, generally open-source projects. Open source : Describes software – or other type of industrial/intellectual property – for which all the source code is accessible and royalty free. The open source universe is based on sharing and based on the central premise that everyone can contribute something to improving a product. Big Data : This term refers to all data produced worldwide. Its volume is exponential and the possibilities it offers are infinite… providing we can learn how to exploit it. Do It Yourself : This is a movement promoting a non-conformist lifestyle in which day-to-day objects, as well as artistic and intellectual production, is the result of individual creativity. The three main laws of DIY are ingenuity, resourcefulness and self-reliance. A flag-bearer for biohacking Two years later, the City of Paris granted them a new 750 m2 site in the Le Sentier district. The group of French biohackers is now well-established and has even formed a real network: following Bordeaux and Lyon, Les Paillasses are now opening in the Philippines and Ireland. The numerous projects carried out by this new breed of scientist include biodegradable ink, a low-cost genetic test and a tool for viewing DNA. "One of La Paillasse's main missions today is to explore all the new scientific research and technology transformation practices through our very low-cost laboratories," says Thomas Landrain, "as well as our scientific programmes which enable us to allocate resources, which would normally only be allocated to researchers, to any member of the community who wants to take part." Thomas Landrain is now one of the leading lights of open science – a principle he strives to promote as much as possible. At a recent conference organised by the AXA Research Fund to examine data challenges, he declared: "Science essentially revolves around information. In the research ecosystem, what allows you to succeed is access to the right information. Open science and open data therefore enable us to be more efficient as researchers." The biohacker's long-term goal is to create a vast international network allowing projects to be carried out at European or even global level. Three major projects conducted with la Paillasse Organic ink What if everyone could produce the own environmentally-friendly ink? The idea is to create a pen generating its own ink using natural bacteria which produce pigments and which individuals could grow themselves at home using fun kits. Open source bioreactors Bioreactors produce large quantities of biomolecules able to detoxify polluting waste. These bioreactors are central to any laboratory but remain extremely expensive. La Paillasse received a donation of $7,300 from the SpaceGambit programme for space exploration, to produce an affordable open-source bioreactor. Low cost DNA barcoding  DNA barcoding is a method of biological analysis allowing identification of a genetic signature, e.g. species of plant, animal, fungus, bacteria, etc. It can even tell whether food is organic or inform consumers on the precise content of an agri-food product.  Until now, DNA barcoding has been a long and costly method of analysis since it cost around €200 per sample and took three days to obtain the results of an analysis. Teams at la Paillasse have managed to cut the analysis time to four hours for a cost of around €3 to €5 per sample. The future of data On 8 April 2016, the  AXA Research Fund invited five specialists in data to its premises to attempt to unravel the main issues . Four principal focuses were developed: Antoine Denoix, Digital, Multi-Access & CRM Director at AXA France immediately mentioned the immense opportunities offered by Big Data to the world of insurance including, for example, the possibility for insurers or refining their models and cover and offering their clients increasingly tailored policies. Dominique Boullier , sociologist and director of the Media Lab at the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL) then stressed the importance of developing solutions allowing users to re-appropriate use of their personal data. Professor Antonio Acín  then presented quantum cryptography, which protects data against intrusion by hackers using the physical properties of infinitesimals. Finally, Romain Tales, head of public data collection for the  data.gouv.fr  platform and Thomas Landrain, co-founder of la Paillasse, widened the debate by invoking open data and the question of data sharing.

### Launch of the Research Program in Information Security and Privacy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/launch-of-the-research-program-in-information-security-and-privacy
Published: 2016-05-17
Author: Pr. Bryan Ford

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and AXA announce the creation of a Research Program in Information Security and Privacy. Bryan Ford, a world-renowned expert in information security, has been named an Associate Professor at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland thanks to the support of the AXA Research Fund.Through a holistic approach where availability, integrity and privacy of data are inseparable security properties, Prof. Ford’s research aims at developing a framework for privacy-preserving “big data”. He will also explore cloud computing emerging risks, aiming for better data protection in a world where cloud computing may become the dominant paradigm. The AXA Research Fund, AXA’s scientific philanthropic initiative dedicated to support fundamental research on risks engaged 1.5 M euros to support this 12 years-project with Prof. Ford at EPFL. The increase of data circulating on the internet never ceases to grow. The information ranges from trade secrets to personal data. We want the data to be available at all times but safe from corruption, unavailability, and the risk of falling into just anyone's hands. The AXA Research Fund has granted a research program at EPFL in the search for solutions to these problems. AXA is supporting the work of Bryan Ford, who recently joined the faculty at EPFL after starting his career especially at Yale University (USA). Ford, who was born in 1973, is an up-and-coming researcher and internationally recognized specialist in data security and privacy protection. Ford is working on solutions that bridge the gap between data security and availability, while protecting users’ privacy and corporate confidentiality. According to Ford, “the goal is within reach thanks to recent advances in the areas of cryptography, verifiable computing and homomorphic encryption.” "There is actually no necessary tradeoff between security, availability and privacy", explains Ford. "We do have the required knowledge and technologies. What we need is further development as well as incentives." This field of research is of growing importance for companies. In 2015 the global information security market was worth more than 75 billion dollars, and the spread of cloud solutions in particular suggests that this market will show strong growth in future years. At a time when demand is accelerating and solutions are quickly rolled out, technology transfer from research institutes to business and government must keep pace. "The stakes are high both for the economy, for society and for individual citizens,” said Daniele Tonella AXA Tech CEO and Sponsor of this research program. “The future of companies, individual privacy, civil liberties and questions of data security are all in the balance. We’re very proud and excited to support Bryan Ford, who will bring his leadership on this research field to one of the most dynamic European institutions in basic and engineering sciences." Ford has worked in three key areas of research: decentralized and distributed systems, security/privacy, and anonymous communication. He will continue his work at EPFL with the support of the AXA Research Fund. Currently, AXA’s financial commitment to Swiss universities amounts to EUR 6.3 million. In addition to the EPFL professorship, this contribution is used to support 18 other life sciences, socio-economic and environmental projects. Antimo Perretta, CEO of AXA Winterthur, adds: "We are convinced that a better knowledge and understanding of the risks facing societies is crucial and that it is our responsibility to ensure the protection of the general public. That is why we are proud to support 18 research projects in Switzerland“.

### What do we mean by 'Science Communication'?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/what-do-we-mean-by-science-communication
Published: 2016-05-16
Author: Greg Foot

Greg Foot's Masterclass

### Science & the Data revolution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/science-the-data-revolution
Published: 2016-05-16
Author: Lawrence Lessig

Keynote speech by Lawrence Lessig

### Personalized approach to treatment for women cancer

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/personalized-approach-to-treatment-for-women-cancer
Published: 2016-05-05
Author: Dr. Parvin Tajik

Going for the best treatment, thanks to advances in data, genetic and molecular biology techniques Conventional medical interventions for treatment of cancers include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These interventions tend to impose high risks of side effects, while they are typically beneficial in only a small proportion of patients. With recent advances in genetic and molecular biology techniques, a huge number of novel and promising risk markers are identified. Now is the time to evaluate these novel makers and combine them with the conventional risk factors, for a better selection of treatment for patients. If we can develop and validate such multimarker treatment selection rules, only those patients who are likely to benefit will be exposed to the risks of treatment, while alternative interventions can be offered to those unlikely to benefit. In collaboration with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) we have recently developed a multi-marker treatment selection rule for a better choice of treatment in ovarian cancer patients. Within my AXA project, I will work in partnership with EORTC, Institut Curie and Oxford University to validate and extend this decision rule with novel genetic and molecular markers (e.g. folate receptor alpha (FRA), BRCA1 and BRCA2, copy number alterations, and epigenetic changes). Development of this multi-marker treatment selection rule improves the choice of treatment for ovarian cancer patients and avoids exposing them to unnecessary treatment risks, eventually resulting in a better health outcome and quality of life in these patients.

### Launch of the AXA Chair on Quantum Cryptography

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/launch-of-the-axa-chair-on-quantum-cryptography
Published: 2015-12-14
Author: Dr. Antonio Acín

Data Security: The AXA Research Fund Awards EUR 1.7 million to ICFO of Barcelona for a Chair on Quantum Cryptography The   AXA Research Fund has awarded to ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences a Chair, which is both permanent and pioneering on a global scale, for a quantum information technology project that will focus on risks associated with data privacy. The Chair has a budget of EUR 1.7 million, bringing AXA’s support to science in Spain to approximately EUR 10 million. With the rise and acceleration of data usage, transmission and mining in a growing number of economic sectors, data security has become an issue of the utmost importance for governments, the private sector as well as civil society. Several recent cases revealed weaknesses in security protocols used to transmit data over the networks, but also in the trust we place in our service providers. ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences is the most recent recipient of a permanent AXA chair in Spain. The chair holder, who will lead this project for the first five years, is ICREA (Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies) Professor at ICFO Antonio Acín . A pioneer in the field of quantum cryptography, leader of an ICFO research group and winner of three prestigious European Research Council grants, Professor Acín studies quantum cryptography protocols that ensure the non-violability of data communications. Encryption Codes Through the AXA Chair, ICFO will conduct research focused on developing and implementing encryption systems based on quantum devices, with the aim of 100% secure data communications. Based on the use of quantum particles, these devices are able to code information in a way that is impossible to hack. As Professor Acín states, "To break these protocols would be to go against the laws of quantum physics, which is something that has never been achieved." Jean-Paul Rignault, CEO of AXA Spain and the AXA Research Fund’s representative in Spain, declared: "We are convinced that better knowledge and understanding of the risks facing societies is essential for their development; hence our commitment to providing the academic world with the means and freedom they need to conduct research in these areas. Supporting them is our responsibility and a unique opportunity to enhance general knowledge and contribute to better protecting the general public." For ICFO’s founder and director, Professor Lluís Torner, "The AXA chair is excellent news because it will allow us to provide new and important training opportunities for young scientists in a research area with great potential. It will also allow us to communicate the results of this research throughout society." As the first holder of the chair, Antonio Acín added, "Security, in today’s age of reliance on information, is of vital importance to everyone. This chair will allow us to delve into our research with the aim of obtaining high-impact, innovative results for the future of society." Professor Acín joins the AXA Research Fund’s scientific community in Spain, which already includes internationally recognized researchers such as  Mariano Barbacid ,  Joan Esteban ,  Albert Marcet ,  Ben Lehner  and  David Rios .

### Climate change discussion with Henri de Castries, Pr D. Balk & Pr A. Sobel

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/climate-change-discussion-with-henri-de-castries-pr-d-balk-pr-a-sobel
Published: 2015-12-09

Two AXA Research Fund grantees discuss Climate Change with Henri de Castries, AXA Group CEO, in a webcast hosted by AXA US CEO Mark Pearson. Prof Deborah Balk  and  Adam Sobel ’s projects are 2 of the 100 researches supported by the AXA Research Fund in climate risks in 2015.  Indeed Protecting its clients and the community from risks is at the core of AXA's purpose. That is why, convinced that researching today will help better protecting tomorrow, the AXA Group has created the AXA Research Fund in 2007.

### How are we going to feed the world without destroying it?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-are-we-going-to-feed-the-world-without-destroying-it
Published: 2015-10-21
Author: Pr. Rod Wing

In less than 50 years, the planet will be home to nearly 10 billion inhabitants. How to sustainably feed such a growing population, in a context where the increase of extreme weather events brought by climate change is already a challenge for food yield? For Prof. Rod Wing , Researcher in genome biology and evolutionary genomics, the solution is rice. By harnessing the natural variation in rice’s wild relatives, he will be able to provide public breeders around the world with varieties of rice that are higher yielding, more nutritious, and that have less of an environmental footprint - thus playing a major role in making our planet more sustainable.

### How to improve safety of our food and water ?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-to-improve-safety-of-our-food-and-water
Published: 2015-10-21
Author: Dr. Sophia Hansson

What if we told you even a wonderful landscape could potentially reach dangerous levels of pollution? In some regions, human activity has left over invisible harmful elements from as early as Antiquity. Le Dr Sophia Hansson , Researcher in Geochemistry, studies mercury and lead poisoning in mind-blowing stetting of French Pyrénées : with a view to expand her results to other similar environments worldwide, she works onrisk assessment to prevent this legacy pollution from progressing in the food chain - ultimately protecting humans and societies . 

### How can we reduce irrational and risky eating behaviors?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/how-can-we-reduce-irrational-and-risky-eating-behaviors
Published: 2015-10-21
Author: Dr. Esther Aarts

Who never strived to resist an appetizing hamburger or chocolate bit? With more than 40% of the world population overweight, high-caloric foods can be considered as a real addiction. Dr Esther Aarts , Researcher in cognitive neuroimaging, investigates deep down in our brains to determine how our reactions to food are triggered. Focusing on individual differences, she opens the way to tailor-made treatments having the power to prevent diseases such as obesity or diabetes. Follow Esther in an emphasis on our health and well-being, including with new alternative methods such as mindful eating…

### Soils Pollution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/soils-pollution
Published: 2015-10-19
Author: Veronica Morales

Veronica Morales, AXA Research Fellow Veronica Morales is studying the risks associated with nanosilver contamination of the soils and tries to understand the processes responsible for the dispersal of nano-contaminants in groundwater and soils. 

### Is science always the environment's best friends?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/is-science-always-the-environments-best-friends
Published: 2015-09-09
Author: Bastiaan Rutjens

Want people to care about the environment? Don’t overplay the power of science When people are presented with a picture of rapid scientific progress, they are less likely to engage in environmentally friendly behaviours. This is the conclusion reached across a series of experiments in which students were presented with a short newspaper article on science’s achievements and future prospects. The news article came in two flavours. Participants in the “progress” condition read a uniformly positive perspective, lauding medical advances and new technologies to combat climate change. In the “undermine progress” condition, the article emphasised how killers such as cancer remain insoluble and the limited nature of technological solutions to environmental problems. Of more than one hundred students from the University of Amsterdam, those who read the pessimistic article subsequently agreed more with the idea that “our lives are ruled by randomness”. Researchers  Marijn Meijers  and  Bastiaan Rutjens  say this attitude has consequences for how we act. We relax when the world appears well-ordered and the future predictable, whether thanks to our own efforts or because we trust others can manage things. These agents could be family, government, or God; and according to this new research, “scientific progress” can now be added to the list. In another experiment with more participants, those who read the scientific progress article went on to report fewer pro-environmental attitudes and intentions than those in the undermining condition, agreeing with statements such as “I believe waste sorting is unnecessary”. Yet more participants were confronted with hypothetical decisions. In this case, students who read about scientific progress chose to spend less money on factory air filters, and were less likely to select organic options when shopping (although note that the comparison for this latter result only reached a marginal level of significance). “If they’re doing something, I don’t have to” is a lazy rubric in most situations, but it’s hard to think of a more misguided application than to the maintenance of our living environment. Science cannot fully mitigate the ongoing environmental crises, so – whether through the day-to-day habits of energy efficiency or one-off decisions to invest in a home away from a flood plain – we need to be prepared to get stuck in ourselves. To support this, science communicators should be wary of presenting science as an unstoppable force, and instead highlight the fascinating truth: it’s a process of inquiry that makes no promises. Source : The British Psychological Society Full article available here 

### #COP21 Climate change & extreme weather

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/cop21-climate-change-extreme-weather
Published: 2015-07-14
Author: Pr. Colin Prentice

AXA Futures Plenary Session on Climate Change, July 1st, hosted by the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London In December 2015 the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) will take place in Paris and is widely expected to see countries pledging to introduce more stringent cuts in carbon emissions and debating how to control global warming. The scientific community is broadly in alignment that global temperature rises need to be kept below 2°C if catastrophic climate change is to be averted and the COP 21 Conference is seen as a critical step in achieving global agreement to meet this goal. AXA, as one of the world’s leading risk underwriters, has developed insurance products and parametric insurance products to protect individuals and businesses from extreme weather and climate risk and it funds academic research in this area through its AXA Research Fund. To date the AXA Research Fund has provided grants worth €131 million to 449 projects globally. As part of our ongoing work to develop greater understanding and insight into climate change risk and mitigation, AXA hosted a plenary session with a panel of leading climate change scientists and influencers debating how to manage climate change and what COP21 should seek to achieve. The AXA Futures event ‘Climate Change and Extreme Weather – How Do We Protect Communities at Risk?’ took place at the Imperial College, London Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment and featured a prestigious panel including:  Chair: David Williams, Managing Director Underwriting, AXA Insurance Professor Martin Siegert, Co-Director, Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College, London Professor Colin Prentice, Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts, Imperial College, London  Richard Aylard, External Affairs and Sustainability Director, Thames Water  Professor Paul Bates, Professor of Hydrology and Head of School in Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol Professor Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology and Director of Water@Reading, University of Reading World Meteorological Organisation figures show that weather and climate-related disasters have caused $2.4 trillion in economic losses and nearly 2 million deaths globally since 1971 and the panel agreed that climate change will continue to get more serious and cause more damage unless action is taken to cut emissions.  However while it was broadly agreed that COP21 will be of critical importance in creating the political framework to manage emissions, the panel agreed that many countries are not well prepared to deal with the extreme weather and impact of climate change that we are experiencing today. The risks associated with climate change are something that the world has to deal with now, not in the future. This video highlights the key views and conclusions of the AXA Futures debate and we hope it provides further insight and food for thought as preparations for COP 21 progress.

### AXA Award “Modelling the Spatial Spread of Infectious Diseases”

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/axa-award-modelling-the-spatial-spread-of-infectious-diseases
Published: 2015-03-29
Author: Dr. Simon Cauchemez

Dr. Cauchemez develops state-of-the-art mathematical methods to better understand and anticipate the spread of infectious diseases in human populations. Through the development of innovative modelling techniques and the collection of original epidemiological data in Bangladesh, India and Madagascar on influenza, dengue and chikungunya, he aims to unravel the spatial determinants of spread to support policy making and improve control strategies. 

### Understanding Transmission of Influenza Viruses in Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/understanding-transmission-of-influenza-viruses-in-asia
Published: 2015-03-29
Author: Dr. Hui-Ling Yen

Dr. Yen's purpose is to evaluate the rate of transmission efficiency of influenza viruses via aerosols or droplets of different particle sizes, both in the laboratory and in the field. Understanding the significance of different modes of transmission is critical in developing effective control measures for influenza. Her results will help reduce the life risk of influenza under epidemic or pandemic settings. 

### Antitumor gold nanoparticles

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/antitumor-gold-nanoparticles
Published: 2015-01-28
Author: Pr. Emmanuel Fort

In some ways, modern medicine is like mending a moth hole in a knit sweater; you need to see each individual strand of yarn in order to precisely map damage and replace only the exact portion of each strand that’s been eaten away. In medicine, rather than strands of yarn, it’s about seeing individual molecules within individual cells and intervening at that extremely precise level. That’s what makes nanotechnology and nanoparticles such exciting new frontiers. Situated at the intersection of quantum physics and biomedicine, nanotechnologies offer promising new directions for medical imaging for application in diagnoses and therapies. Renowned for his research into the nature and behavior of wave/matter interactions, Prof. Emmanuel Fort is the newly appointed holder of the AXA-ESPCI Chair in Biomedical Imaging at ParisTech, the Paris Institute of Science and Technology. His lab is searching for ways to use nanotechnologies to make biomedical imaging much more precise than existing methods such as MRI. Gold nanoparticles have been known for their healing properties since ancient Greece. The odd qualities of these nanoparticles are rich in possibilities for medical research for two reasons. For one, they serve as antennae, which capture and focus waves. Then, they scatter back the energy of these waves in the form of light or convert the absorbed energy into heat. The medical challenge is to exploit these features, especially the strong interaction with light. Part of Fort’s research uses the unique properties of these nanoparticles to image and destroy cancer tumors. When exposed to a particular wavelength of light, the particles emit light back. This enables a non-invasive, extremely high-definition biopsy, for example. What is more, because the nano-scale emitters can also produce heat, they could conceivably be used to very precisely “bake” cancerous cells, without affecting healthy ones. Fort’s research also focuses on cellular ultramicroscopy in which live cell activity can be observed with a nanometric resolution and a sensitivity down to a single molecule. Reaching these ultimate detection limits is most challenging but crucial to understanding the mechanisms involved in numerous diseases, such as Alzheimer's. Fort uses innovative principles to specifically improve the axial resolution and obtain 3D images of cells with a nanometer resolution. Overall, Fort’s goal is to create new types of imagery that marry diagnosis and therapy techniques into a single, unified form of treatment.

### Cure cancer with gold particles

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/cure-cancer-with-gold-particles
Published: 2015-01-04
Author: Pr. Emmanuel Fort

Discover Pr. Emmanuel Fort's innovative and promising research to fight cancer in this new comics, in partnership with @Chercheursdactu . World Cancer Day Discover 23 research projects supported by AXA to fight cancer

### The Science of ageing

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/the-science-of-ageing
Published: 2015-01-04
Author: Pr. Tom Kirkwood, Pr. Harald Hampel, Pr. Miia Kivipelto

Will we be old and healthy? Longevity is increasing and that's great news. Yet, how can society face the challenge of an ageing population, with increased risks of Alzheimer's disease, dependency issues, and the costs they all imply? Pr Tom Kirkwood , Dean of Ageing and Director of the Changing Age Initiative at Newcastle University, President of the AXA Research Fund's Scientific Board,  Pr Harald Hampel , Holder of the AXA-UPMC Chair on Alzheimer’s disease, and  Pr Miia Kivipelto , from Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm), recipient of an AXA Award on the role of lifestyle in cognitive and everyday functioning at older ages, give research tips on staying healthy over 80 -and tell you about ageing research needs. "The Science of Ageing", a cartoon with  L'Express, Chercheurs d'Actu   @chercheursdactu .

### Preparing pilots for critical situations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/preparing-pilots-for-critical-situations
Published: 2014-12-23
Author: Pr. Frédéric Dehais

Accidents analysis reveals that the complexity of modern transportation aircraft can overwhelm the most experienced crews when something goes wrong. The purpose of my research is to uncover the underlying neural mechanisms of human error that lead pilots to persist in irrational behaviors. Our approach combines cutting edge brain imaging, signal processing, and artificial intelligence techniques as well as a unique methodology "from basic protocols to ecological experiments". Results from this research will be strongly beneficial to aviation safety leading to implement innovative solutions to mitigate human error.

### Risks of climate change & coastal communities

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/risks-of-climate-change-coastal-communities
Published: 2014-12-23
Author: Pr. Roshanka Ranasinghe

In this ambitious scientific program, Professor Ranasinghe will be pursuing three separate research lines. While studying the impacts of climate change on the coasts, he will also model climate change driven coastal hazards and develop innovative coastal risk assessment methods and tools. His research outcomes will enable science-backed, efficient cost-benefit assessments of both hard adaptation strategies like engineering structures for example, but also of softer options such as spatial planning, innovative architecture and construction. Ultimately, these would represent a major advancement in coastal risk mitigation.

### We need a completely new approach to caring for older people

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/we-need-a-completely-new-approach-to-caring-for-older-people
Published: 2014-10-23
Author: Pr. Carol Jagger

Someone retiring tomorrow could expect to live another two decades - but will they be good years? Robert Louis Stevenson wrote:  “There is only one difference between a long life and a good dinner: that, in the dinner, the sweets come last.” Long life was a dream for many in Stevenson’s time – as indeed was a good dinner. These days, with life expectancy for men in the UK nudging 80 and for women over 82, it’s the norm. If the historical trends continue, someone retiring tomorrow could expect to live another two decades on average. But will they be a “good” two decades? Will we enjoy the sweets at the end of our meal? The truth is that old age brings a great deal of uncertainty. We know it brings a reduction in activity, a reduction of both physical and cognitive functions  and a greater dependence on someone to help you do the things you used to do for yourself – from cooking to getting around to even going to the lavatory. But we are only just learning about how fast some people’s lives changes, why they change and importantly, how we as a society need to adjust to help people enjoy their later years. Supported by the AXA Research Fund, I have been working on a study, the Newcastle 85+ Study, of over 1000 individuals born in 1921 and registered with GPs in the local area, and this is augmenting an increasing body of research going into the issue of healthy ageing. One thing this work is telling us is that the structure of how we care for the older people in our society needs a radical rethink. For example, GPs surgeries are set up for an individual to see the doctor with one complaint and be treated in an average of seven minutes. In the 85+ study we looked at 18 chronic diseases – from hypertension to dementia. None of our cohort was free of any of these complaints, and the average number of diseases was four for men and five for women.  Interestingly some of these diseases can directly feed the development of others – there is a direct link from hypertension to dementia for example. How can you treat four or five often interlinked problems in a seven minute consultation? This has major implications for the NHS, but also for health insurers and pharmaceutical companies. It’s not just the NHS that needs to change. Caring for older people needs a completely new approach. As people age, it becomes harder for them to perform daily functions, from cutting their own toenails to light housework, to getting dressed or feeding themselves. And eventually many will need carers, whether they come from local authorities or from their own families. Two major issues have emerged. We found that the main carers of the people in our study were their children who were themselves around 60 years of age. These are more likely to be women. Like everybody, these people will be required to work longer to fund their retirement. Regardless of whether they are men or women, if they are in full time employment and caring they are two or three times more likely to report ill health. The other issue is that the onset of increased disability is predictable – we first have difficulty cutting our toenails and shopping and the last function we lose is to feed ourselves. Eventually we deteriorate more rapidly as one problem compounds another. At present local authorities provide services for the more critical cases – which is understandable as the need is obvious. But providing some element of support earlier could slow the development of more critical problems later. The Care Act may force councils to focus on earlier action, but with limited budgets and resources, the money we fail to spend now will bring greater misery and cost in the future. Back in 1997, the then Director General of the World Health Organisation, Hiroshi Nakajima said: “Increased longevity without quality of life is an empty prize.” He should know. Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world and is  putting a great deal of investment and effort into promoting healthy old age and ensuring all people in Japan, regardless of where they live and what their background is or personal circumstances are, benefit equally. By contrast in the UK there is a shocking discrepancy in the number of healthy years lived at age 65. If you are in the South East of England, you are likely to have at least eight more years of life free from disability than if your home is in the North East. Why is this? Social class and education are undoubtedly contributing factors but others that we might be able to address today are critical – smoking, drinking and activity, both mental and physical. Cutting down on drinking and smoking, walking the dog, filling in crosswords - these can all help you have a healthier old age and postpone the onset of chronic diseases such as dementia. We all enjoy a good meal and we all would like to enjoy a good life. Yet to enjoy our old age we need to think urgently about how we care for the elderly, how we treat their illnesses and how we live our lives. The sweet at the end of our lives is, if you forgive the pun, our just deserts.

### Jean Tirole awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/jean-tirole-awarded-the-nobel-prize-for-economics
Published: 2014-10-12

AXA is proud to have supported Jean Tirole, Chairman of TSE, who has just been awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics French economist Jean Tirole, Chairman of TSE, has just won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on market regulation theory. The AXA Research Fund has endowed TSE with € 3,000,000 in 2008, to fund the AXA Chair on Economics and Finance. Tirole and his team have shaped the debate in competition policy, financial regulation and environmental policies, with impressive record of policy-relevant work in collaboration with regulators, corporations and public institutions. Tirole has been influential in the theoretical and practical application of game theory and information theory to industrial organization and regulation. His research interests also include finance, macroeconomics, international finance and economics and psychology. AXA is proud to support independent academic research on risks with top-tier institutions and researchers, contributing to understand them today to better protect tomorrow.

### Read Explorer Jon Waterman's insights

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/read-explorer-jon-watermans-insights
Published: 2014-09-30

Explore/Protect: How can we Better Protect People From Extreme Weather Events? After a recent fact-finding trip to New Orleans, I was shocked to learn how the decade old, moderate-sized Category 3 Hurricane Katrina has scarred the city.  Seeing neighborhoods in ruins and meeting survivors still too traumatized to talk about the floods is a wake-up call into the socio-economic costs that we will confront in a future of global warming amplified natural disasters.  Adapting to this challenge defines the work of the three researchers—atmospheric scientist Adam Sobel, social scientist Katrina Brown, and meteorologist Uwe Ulbrich—with whom I traveled to New Orleans.    Those who understand the science of changing climate know that natural disasters are expected to become more destructive by century’s end, as rising oceans, river floods, and extreme weather can increasingly turn ordinary storms into survival dilemmas for coastal communities.  Tapping into the knowledge bank of these three scientists’ missions will allow engineers and other community leaders to safely develop vulnerable cities, build sustainable protective infrastructure (such as levees and pumps), design proper early warning evacuation systems and help vulnerable populations better adapt.  So, in April, as I came to understand the essential work of these three scientist-professors, the four of us (trailed by the talented filmmakers Andy Maser and Hayden Peters), familiarized ourselves with the city known as the Big Easy. Founded in 1718 by the French on the Mississippi River Delta, New Orleans is surrounded by the tidal waters of Lake Pontchartrain   and is perched on a high river bank that protected early settlers from floods.  However, over the next few centuries, settlement spread out onto more flood-prone and sub-sea-level ground. More recently, oil development cut thousands of miles of canals into the delta—which meant that New Orleans lost its most valuable defence against tidewater storm floods: the Mississippi River Delta. Since the 1930s, the city has lost as much delta land as that contained in the whole state of Delaware (1,900 square miles, or 1,216,000 acres). It is continuing to vanish, we learned, at the rate of two acres per hour.  And although the city had been ringed with levees, mistakes in the design and construction of these concrete walls were to prove deadly. After Hurricane Katrina passed and ocean water surged against these walls, most of them collapsed, flooding 80 percent of the city.  So, inexcusably, it was faulty human actions–destruction of the delta, lack of evacuation preparedness, and improperly built levees–rather than the hurricane–that caused the catastrophe. Before visiting New Orleans I was inclined to view Katrina’s fading footprint as yet another natural disaster amid a cacophony of increasingly severe storms, possibly related to climate change. But in New Orleans I learned that it was more complex, and that the damage was directly tied to what experts call “the largest civil engineering disaster in the history of the United States.” As Adam (47 ,  U.S.), Kate (52 ,  U.K.), and Uwe (55 ,  Germany) and I walked, rode boats, and drove around the Gulf Coast, I discovered that all three are devoted parents, showing that their climate change work today is directly related to their children’s future, even though (as Kate adamantly believes, speaking for her two colleagues) that you don’t need to become a parent to be concerned about climate change. Strikingly modest, they were unwilling to generalize that Katrina was caused, let alone heightened  by climate change. The three also exhibited great senses of humor—Uwe’s delightful smile, Kate’s characteristic laughter, and Adam’s unassuming nature—and willingness to listen to live music in the back alleys of the French Quarter, sampling alligator cheesecake, jambalaya, and crawfish  étouffée  that are the culinary hallmarks of a Big Easy visit. Together, we observed the Hurricane’s lasting impact, still patently obvious nine years later. We learned to decipher the tic-tack-toe -shaped, spray-painted symbols adorning numerous houses, signed and dated by rescue teams and denoting whether human or animal corpses were inside. We heard the clang and roar of heavy machinery throughout the city as construction continued on levee walls, homes and schools.  Stove-in boats and flood debris still littered what seemed like high ground. And in the surrounding bayou, where rooftops could be seen poking out of the waters, those newly built and surviving houses were recently raised up on high stilts, anticipating the next flood. According to FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency), Hurricane Katrina remains “the single most catastrophic natural disaster in U.S. history.”  Eighteen hundred and thirty-three people lost their lives.  And over a million people were displaced from their homes; many have not returned. Clearly, Uwe, Adam, and Kate represent the vanguard of modern scientists whose work could save both lives and billions of dollars in federal aid and insurance costs (it’s no coincidence that all three scientists receive research support from the AXA Research Fund, a science philanthropy initiative of the global insurance leader, AXA).  Hurricane Katrina cost insurance companies $41 billion, while the National Flood Insurance Program paid out $16 billion amid  $108 billion in other federal government relief funding, making it the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. More than anything else, I learned that we can minimize future natural disasters related to climate change. Provided, as Adam wrote in his forthcoming book  Storm Surge , that our leaders can separate “the practice, conscious or unconscious, of basing one’s understanding of the science on one’s political views.”

### Debate: Floods, a new landscape

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/debate-floods-a-new-landscape
Published: 2014-09-30

At the occasion of the 2014 Annual Ceremony, AXA and academic experts from around the world tackle the question of flood risks management. Discover their insights and perspectives on a major threat to our societies.

### Uwe Ulbrich

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/uwe-ulbrich
Published: 2014-08-05
Author: Pr. Uwe Ulbrich

Uwe Ulbrich in Conversation with National Geographic Building bridges between different scientific fields, different communities of experts, is key to protect individuals from future extreme weather events and climate change. Working out the right degree of resilience for infrastructures against floods, setting up the best plans to develop communities' capacities for adaptation...Starting from New Orleans' Hurricane Katrina event, these are some of the challenges outlined by meteorology scientist Uwe Ulbrich, and Professor at the Freie Universität Berlin. Prof. Dr. Uwe Ulbrich advocates for closer collaboration between meteorology, hydrology, physics and risk assessment, in order to help local authorities and civil society get a better approach to climate change adaptation and a broader picture of what is at stake in terms of damage for coastal communities. Watch the third episode of EXPLORE / PROTECT Series of conversation between AXA Research Fund & National Geographic Explorer Jon Waterman Watch the 1 minute version Watch the trailer version

### Pr. Peter Carmeliet

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/pr-peter-carmeliet
Published: 2014-07-17
Author: Pr. Peter Carmeliet

AXA Project in Exploration of Endothelial cell metabolism As of today, aging and its associated progressive loss of physical integrity remains the prime risk factor in cancer development. As refined parasites, developing tumors hijack the vascular system of their hosts in order to promote their own growth. Prof. Peter Carmeliet aims to explore this from a rather novel angle. Indeed, a large number of cancer therapies inhibit the creation of new blood vessels caused by chemicals released from tumors; however, these strategies are reaching their limits. In particular, they present serious side effects, such as toxicity and resistance incurred by patients. Carmeliet suggests reversing the process: what if, instead of starving tumors by blocking their blood stock, we starved the blood vessels themselves by cutting off their power supply?

### Katrina Brown

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/katrina-brown
Published: 2014-07-10
Author: Dr. Katrina Brown

Katrina Brown in Conversation with National Geographic Protecting individuals from extreme weather events and climate change is the joint responsibility of governments, other agencies in civil society and communities. All have different roles to play in building capacity to respond to those challenges; they should work together and be mutually supportive. Starting from New Orleans' Hurricane Katrina event, meet with local communities and let Dr. Brown, Social Scientist and Professor at the University of Exeter, discuss how those communities can build resilience, and work together to enhance their capacities to adapt to change. Dr. Katrina Brown's genuine hope is for her research to help feed local policy and empower poor communities in the face of climate change. Watch the second episode of EXPLORE / PROTECT Series of conversation between AXA Research Fund & National Geographic Explorer Jon Waterman Watch the 1 minute version Watch the trailer version

### Katrina Brown (1)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/katrina-brown-1
Published: 2014-06-30
Author: Pr. Katrina Brown

AXA Outlook "You, Me and Our Resilience: Cross-cultural Insights on Resilience, Poverty and Climate Change" Climate change is not experienced in isolation. It coincides and collides with other underlying risks and uncertainties that define the lives of poor communities. Professor Brown will work in partnership with a Kenyan Charity, S.A.F.E. Kenya to involve communities from coastal Kenya to Southwestern UK. Using participatory drama she will facilitate their shared experiences of coping with, and building resilience to extreme weather events. Emphasizing cross-cultural learning, she will bring in researchers, inform policy making and help shape risk analysts perspectives in order to identify appropriate mechanisms to support and empower poor communities.

### Adam Sobel (1)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/adam-sobel-1
Published: 2014-06-26
Author: Pr. Adam Sobel

Adam Sobel in Conversation with National Geographic Researchers supported by the AXA Research Fund discuss with National Geographic Explorer Jon Waterman how to better protect people from extreme weather events. Reflecting on the case of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, they share their views on trends, learnings and approaches with respect to better predicting those events in the context of climate change and protection approaches at individual and public levels. Watch the first episode of this new EXPLORE / PROTECT Series, with Prof. Adam Sobel , Atmospheric Scientist and Columbia University Professor, who just received an Award from the AXA Research Fund for his work on Climate and Extreme Weather. Let him take you through the various approaches to reduce risks related to extreme weather, and discover the surge barrier that has been designed to protect New Orleans from hurricanes, an example of a long-term initiative to protect people from the risks we know are there... Watch the 1 minute version Watch the trailer version

### Pr. Harald Hampel

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/pr-harald-hampel
Published: 2014-06-26
Author: Pr. Harald Hampel

A presentation by Prof. Harald Hampel, Chair Holder (February 2014) Finding new Alzheimer's biomarkers for an earlier diagnosis and therapy The recently evidenced existence of a silent stage of the disease, with no clinical symptoms expressed, yet biological markers observable, creates opportunities for improving and accelerating diagnoses. The reasonable hope of treatment in a near future urges the need for enabling diagnoses of Alzheimer at a totally asymptomatic stage, particularly for individuals nearing conversion state - when Alzheimer's effects will become evident. Prof. Hampel and his multi-disciplinary research team in Paris endeavours to characterize the full disease "roadmap" in the brains of living people with all available biological indicators to provide effective early solutions for diagnosis and therapy for affected patients.

### Pr. Emmanuel Fort

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/pr-emmanuel-fort
Published: 2014-06-26
Author: Pr. Emmanuel Fort

A presentation by Professor Emmanuel FORT, Chair Holder, at Paris City Hall (October 2013) At ParisTech's Langevin Institute "Waves & Images", Professor Emmanuel Fort contributes to a better detection and representation of bodies, vessels and human tissues, to pave the way for less invasive and traumatic surgeries and therapies for patients...

### Pr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/pr-pierre-vanderhaeghen
Published: 2014-06-17
Author: Pr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen

The AXA Chair in Neurosciences and Longevity  aims at uncovering the mechanisms underlying the development of higher brain functions, how its alterations can lead to human diseases and how to use this knowledge to design innovative approaches towards brain repair. The ambitious aims for the Chair will be implemented in the frame of the newly created ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), bringing together ULB scientists covering all aspects of brain and mind research, from neurogenetics to cognitive neurosciences, with great potential impact on healthy ageing, prevention, understanding and treatment of brain diseases (including neurodevelopmental autistic syndromes and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and stroke).

### Adam Sobel

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/adam-sobel
Published: 2014-06-16
Author: Pr. Adam Sobel

AXA Award in Climate and Extreme Weather The purpose of Prof Sobel's research is to understand more deeply the relationship of extreme weather events to the climate in which they occur. One facet of the research involves detecting predictable global patterns of multiple types of extreme weather events. He also uses a novel method to untangle the interaction of clouds and the large-scale circulation in computer model simulation of heavy precipitation. In their research, Adam and his team aim both to increase fundamental understanding of atmospheric processes, and to better quantify the societal risks from extreme weather events in a useful way.

### Discover our Book of Knowledge on Life risks!

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/discover-our-book-of-knowledge-on-life-risks
Published: 2014-06-16

Will we be able to get rid of cancer with nanoparticles? Are we condemned to a lonely life to avoid diseases? Can we now know our chances to have Alzheimer's later? Discover the 3rd volume of the AXA Research Fund's "Book of Knowledge" series! The perfect tool to discover all funded researchers working in LIFE RISKS. Chapter 1: Aging & Longevity Chapter 2: Healthy Lifestyle Chapter 3: Non-infectious Diseases Chapter 4: Infectious Diseases Chapter 5: Neuroscience, Risky Behaviors & Addictions Chapter 6: Health Policies

### 2014 Annual Celebration & Thematic Conference

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/news/2014-annual-celebration-thematic-conference
Published: 2014-06-15

The AXA Research Fund celebrated its new Grantees and discussed Climate Risks... The 38 projects selected in 2013 include 7 research chairs, three AXA Awards, 1 "AXA Outlook" and 27 post-doctoral fellowships. They encompass major issues and challenges of interest to society at large, such as air pollution and human health, neuroergonomics for flight safety, and climate change impacts and coastal risks. The Annual Ceremony was also the opportunity for academics and AXA Experts to cross views and expertise on the theme "Floods, a New Landscape" . Watch the ceremony's best of and round table!

## Funded projects

### Predicting the most unpredictable volcanic hazards

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/predicting-the-most-unpredictable-volcanic-hazards
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marina ROSAS-CARBAJAL

Some volcanoes are like pressure cookers, but without a safety valve. The hydrothermal activity within can result in dangerously unpredictable hazards, like devastating laterally directed explosions or collapse of the volcanic edifice. The 2014 non-magmatic (phreatic) eruption of the Japanese volcano Mount Ontake, which showed no precursor signs and claimed the lives of 63 people, is a stark example of how sudden and unforeseeable such events can be. Dr. Marina Rosas-Carbajal is leading a project to investigate the still opaque subsurface dynamics at work in these so-called 'wet’ volcanoes. A post-doctoral researcher at the Institut de Physique du Globe in Paris, she chose to focus her study on the La Soufrière de Guadeloupe volcano (Lesser Antilles), an archetype of explosive subduction volcanoes, which holds one of the most hazardous volcanic hydrothermal systems in the world.  In simple terms, hydrothermal eruptions occur when an underground reservoir of water is heated by the volcano and violently explodes. « In most cases of volcanic eruptions, we are able to provide some forecast for the event, albeit uncertain, from months to days in advance, thanks to precursor signs such as earthquakes, ground deformation or gas emissions, explains Dr. Marina Rosas-Carbajal. But with this type of explosions, there are generally no warning signs.» While quite limited in magnitude, and non-magmatic, these explosions can generate a diversity of hazards, such as ballistic showers, small pyroclastic flows, partial edifice collapse and debris flows. In addition,they sometimes precede more devastating magmatic eruptions. « This was, for example, the case with the infamous 1902 Montagne Pelée eruption, in Martinique ( which killed as many as 30,000 people), and was preceded with a few small phreatic explosions ». « On the other hand, the last phreatic eruption of La Soufrière, in July 1976, resulted in complex crisis response that included a 6-month evacuation of 70,000 people that was perceived as 'unnecessary’ by the population and engendered severe socio-economical consequences for months to years thereafter». The controversial management of this non-magmatic eruption reflects the need for adequate data and models, not only to better forecast hydrothermal explosions, but also to interpret them in terms of other hazardous outcomes. «An in-depth understanding of the physical processes that control volcanic hydrothermal systems is thus critical for developing efficient monitoring strategies and forecasting models,» the Argentinian researcher concludes.

### Listening to buildings: towards reliable early warning for structural failure and collapse

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/listening-to-buildings-towards-reliable-early-warning-for-structural-failure-and-collapse
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jordi BARO-URBEA

Environmental conditions, both normal and extreme, can stress natural and man-made structures beyond their stability limit. In 'sensitive' constructions such as oil and gas pipelines, artificial dams, nuclear power-plants, or bridges, structural failure can have devastating consequences. A most dramatic example occurred during the summer of 2018 in Genoa, Italy: the collapse of the Morandi bridge, which claimed the lives of 43 people. To avoid such disasters, uninterrupted structural health monitoring (SHM) is essential. With a mind to facilitate such supervision, Dr. Jordi Baro-Urbea, of the Centre for Mathematical Research of Catalonia, is developing models that will help interpret recorded acoustic emission events as a measurement of the internal state of a building. The overall project, called RheMechFail, aims to complement and improve current models for monitoring the resilience of structures under severe conditions. «The collapse or failure of man-made structures is difficult to forecast at a reasonable mid-term without the persistent monitoring of the internal structure of its parts, Dr. Jordi Baro-Urbea explains. The deformation leading to failure is predicted to follow an avalanche process, consequence of microscopic mechanical instabilities, that can be detected by the recording of the released acoustic waves». To give us some context about the challenges in this field of engineering, the researcher adds that «because the internal state of the material is rarely accessible, active and passive acoustic emission techniques are among the most common methods of non-intrusive structural health monitoring ». In this research project, Dr. Baro-Urbean’s focuses on the passive techniques, which consists of the monitoring of the acoustic waves spontenously generated by the 'breathing' of the hidden internal cracks.

### Unlocking the mystery of how the brain sees : paving the way for visual impairment cures

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/unlocking-the-mystery-of-how-the-brain-sees-paving-the-way-for-visual-impairment-cures
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Valentina EMILIANI

The brain reconstructs the visual world around us too fast for us to even realize. In that instant, signals are sent from neuron to neuron in an intricate, and still partly mysterious, arrangement of connections across the brain’s visual circuits. As a result of this complexity, numerous disorders can affect vision; these can be caused by genetic abnormalities, congenital problems, disease, trauma or ageing. Globally, it is estimated that 285 million people are visually impaired, amongst who 39 million are blind. As a result of demographic growth and ageing populations, the World Health Organization warns these figures may double by 2025. The recipient of an AXA Chair at Sorbonne Université in Paris, Dr. Valentina Emiliani, a CNRS research director, is leading a pioneering research project aimed at developing advanced optical methods for the investigation of the visual circuits functioning. The overarching aim of the program is to shed light on the mechanisms and dynamics involved in the regulation of visual circuits, so as to pave the way for new strategies for vision restoration. « The Chair’s project comprises a technological and a biological part », Dr. Emiliani specifies « and this is the reasons why my team of researchers is composed of both physicists and neurophysiologists.»

### Abolishing frontiers between fundamental science and medicine : building on the potential of biomedical ultrasound

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/abolishing-frontiers-between-fundamental-science-and-medicine-building-on-the-potential-of-biomedical-ultrasound
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Mickaël TANTER

Throughout history, proximity between physics and medicine has led to major discoveries and profound societal revolutions. Among the numerous examples, is the discovery of radium by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1905, which paved the way for the development of radiotherapy. The AXA Chair on Physics for Medicine and Biology, created at the French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), aims to improve fundamental knowledge in medicine and biology using groundbreaking technologies invented by physicists. Because the path from these discoveries to the benefit of patients is long and complex, the other major objective of the program is to foster their translation to research labs and clinics. Incidentally, the first holder of the chair, physicist Mickaël Tanter, is conducting his research in the same engineering school where Marie Curie and her husband began their work on radioactivity : the ESPCI (Superior school of Physical Physics and Chemistry of Paris). More precisely, his team is based in the Paul Langevin Institute, named after yet another ESPCI physicist who contributed to a major advance in medicine: ultrasound. Indeed, professor Tanter is leading worldwide research on this medical imaging technology for health. His objectives are to develop disruptive imaging concepts, new therapeutic approaches and smart sensors for healthcare, focusing on three major areas of medicine: cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neuroscience.

### Alzheimer’s disease : pushing the frontier of in vivo neuroimagining

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/alzheimers-disease-pushing-the-frontier-of-in-vivo-neuroimagining
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Stéphane BANCELIN

The elucidation of how memory formation happens in the brain is one of today’s biggest challenges in biomedical research. Success in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s (AD), is conditional on acquiring this fundamental knowledge. Let’s remember that 50 million people worldwide are affected by dementia, and that there are nearly 10 million new cases every year. One of the main reasons the mechanisms underlying memory remain partly obscure is the limited spatiotemporal resolution of existing optical techniques. « Our view of the dynamics at play remain woefully fragmentary », as Dr. Stéphane Bancelin, from the Interdisciplinary Institute of NeuroSciences (IINS) in Bordeaux, explains. To remedy this problem, the researcher is working on an innovative super-resolution microscopy approach to enable live-cell observation of memory processes at the nanoscale. Specifically, his project focuses on changes happening to key components of neuronal communication : dendritic spines. In the brain, information from one neuron flows to another neuron across a synapse. In the hippocampus, the archetypical memory center of the brain, neurons receive this synaptic input via tiny protrusions called dendritic spines. « These structures dynamically regulate synaptic transmission and, predictably, dysfunctional spines are involved in some of the most prevalent brain diseases such as AD », the head of the project summarizes. Indeed, it has been speculated that the morphological plasticity of dendritic spines is important for learning and memory, but the molecular mechanisms involved remain mysterious. « Our aim is to be able to visualize hippocampal spines in vivo through a cranial window and to look at how their structure changes during memory acquisition ».

### Towards reducing air pollution toxicity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/towards-reducing-air-pollution-toxicity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sarah STEIMER

Air pollution from particles has been identified by the WHO as a global public health emergency. According to the organisations' latest estimates, around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air. «While it is known that airborne particulate matter causes serious health effects, the underlying reasons for its toxicity are still not clear», explains Dr. Sarah Steimer, researcher in Atmospheric Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. « To reduce the health effects of air pollution, it is essential that the most toxic particle sources are clearly identified.». In line with that reasoning, Steimer is exploring an alternative metric for measuring particle toxicity, one that is likely to be more precise and more revealing than the current method of simply measuring the particle mass per volume of air. Her ultimate objective is to allow policy makers a much more targeted and effective approach for reducing particulate toxicity in the future. Her novel measurement approach will focus on a particular type of chemical species, called reactive oxygen species (ROS). «Present in the particles, or generated upon entry in the human lung, ROS are widely thought to be one of the main contributors to particle-related toxicity», reports Steimer. Such highly reactive species are known contributors of oxidative stress which leads to various diseases and disorders such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. But proving the direct correlation between particle-bound ROS and pollution-related health effects is challenging. « Due to their high chemical reactivity, particle-bound ROS have a very short lifespan», explains Steimer. « Current methods for measuring ROS take too long. 80 to 90 % of species are lost in the process.» « The Department of Chemistry of the University of Cambridge has recently developed a unique instrument, capable of measuring ROS in the ambient atmosphere online and with a high time resolution to quantify also the short-lived ROS components»,she continues. «My project consists of taking it out and doing measurements in the field. I’m also developing a smaller, simplified, more field portable version of this instrument, which will allow deploying multiple instruments simultaneously to set up a network of ROS sensors.»

### Liquid biopsies : a promising alternative for cancer detection

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/liquid-biopsies-a-promising-alternative-for-cancer-detection
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: João MIGUEL ALVES

Cancers display a startling degree of diversity. This heterogeneity is not only observed between patients but within individuals as well. A single tumour can be composed of a genetically diverse population of cancer cells. Yet, traditional tumour biopsies, because they only allow the sampling of a small piece of tissue, fail to reflect this diversity. Dr. João Miguel Alvès, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Vigo, in Spain, is evaluating the potential of blood-based “liquid biopsies” as a more refined method for cancer diagnosis. More specifically, he aims to investigate how the information derived from tumour cells circulating in the blood stream (CTCs) can be used as an indicator of tumour aggressiveness in colorectal cancer. In exploring the clinical significance of CTCs, his project ultimately aims at paving the way for more precise and more efficient patient-specific therapeutic strategies. «The research community has only recently discovered that cancer is very heterogenous in terms of genetic composition, reports Dr. Alves. The whole field is all very new, just a few years old». «This realization reduces the value of traditional single tissue biopsies, he goes on to explain. Because by capturing just a fraction of the tumour’s characteristics, they lead to inadequate treatment strategies». Cancer is a dynamic disease. With time, cancers generally become more heterogeneous. As a result of mutations, cells within the tumour can harbour distinct molecular signatures with differential levels of sensitivity to treatment. «A consequence is that heterogenous tumours account for more mortality», explains the researcher. Capturing this diversity is thus essential, but how? What diagnosis method can be used? «We know that cancer-derived materials travel in the blood of patients. Among them are intact tumour cells, called CTCs, shed from primary or metastatic tumour deposits.» In other words, a simple non-invasive blood test could perhaps allow for a much more representative sampling of cancer diversity than a traditional invasive biopsy. Building on the availability of new technologies, the present project aims to put this hypothesis to the test by providing answers to the following questions: can CTCs be used to show the actual diversity of cancer cells within a patient? And if they can, can we correlate this information with the overall survival rates, to use as an indicator of the patient’s level of risk?»

### Towards simpler numerical methods for the management of assets and liabilities

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/towards-simpler-numerical-methods-for-the-management-of-assets-and-liabilities
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Aurélien ALFONSI

Insurance companies deal with risk on a day-to-day basis. One of most critical they are exposed to is the eventuality of a mismatch between assets and liabilities, or in other words, between what they own and they owe. In the European Union, to reduce this risk, insurance and reinsurance companies are required at all times to hold a certain amount of funds called the Solvency Capital Requirement (SCR). This capital is calculated on a yearly basis, and is intended to ensure that claims can be met when they are due. But the determination of the required capital is really complex. In a Joint Initiative with AXA, prof. Aurélien Alfonsi, of the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, in Paris, aims to develop numerical methods that reduces computation time for the calculation of SCRs. The overarching objective is to enable the optimization of overall models for the management of assets and liabilities (ALM) in insurance companies. Indeed, insurance companies must rethink their long-term investment strategy periodically. To do so, they increasingly rely on large-scale, sophisticated asset-liability models that carefully consider current and long-term potential earnings, balance them with the need to maintain adequate liquidity and attempt to take into account all significant quantifiable risks. «This type of study requires many simulations and results in significant computation time. Thus, a real challenge is to propose a synthetic model that takes into account the main sources of risk, with a quite minimal parametrization, explains prof. Aurélien Alfonsi. And in order to keep run times manageable, some approximations have to be made, especially on the Solvency Capital Requirement.» This is where this expert in stochastic calculus and finance comes in: developing new numerical methods to simplify SCR calculation. « The challenge is to do so without extrapolating, which is what insurance companies are doing at the moment, he specifies. This leads to inaccuracies. Instead, the idea is really to capture the essential, and it doesn’t necessarily involve going into too many details. The goal is not to get an ultra-realistic model, but instead to propose the simplest model possible that does not discard the main risks in ALM », he summarizes.

### Financially empowering women farmers in Southern Nigeria

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/financially-empowering-women-farmers-in-southern-nigeria
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Vivian UGWUJA

In Sub-Saharan Africa, less than one adult in five has a bank account. Financial exclusion – a broad term used to describe lack of access to financial services –, significantly increases the risk of social exclusion. Social justice is not the only strand in the argument for financial inclusion, for it also brings economic benefits to low-income communities, not to mention commercial advantages for financial institutions. Among those most affected by financial exclusion are marginalized segments of the society e.g. lower income strata, rural producers, workers in the informal sector, and first and foremost women. In Nigeria, a whopping 84 % of women have no bank accounts, and thus, despite the fact that many of them are key players in the country’s agricultural economy. With the long-term goal in mind of improving the financial inclusion of female farmers in Southern Nigeria, Dr. Vivian Ugwuja, a post-doctoral researcher in Agricultural Economics at the University of Port Harcourt, has undertaken a review of this segment of the population’s specific relationship with microfinance. More specifically, she is investigating whether the use of online banking services addresses access problems. Her objective is to inform the design of effective and sustainable online banking policies tailored to the specific needs of female-headed farm households in this region. How Can We Empower Women's Financial Inclusion in Nigeria?

### Encouraging financial inclusion in Nigeria

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/encouraging-financial-inclusion-in-nigeria
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Muhammad BELLO

In Sub-Saharan Africa, a large portion of the population operates in the cash-only informal economy. In Nigeria, approximately 84% of women and 74% of men have no bank accounts. Financial exclusion – a term used to describe lack of access to financial services –, significantly increases the risk of social exclusion and poverty. These marginalized segments of society – mostly comprised of lower income strata, rural producers, workers in the informal sector, and women –, are also more vulnerable to the looming impacts of Climate change in Africa, as they are not covered by long- or short-term insurance products. Aware specifically of the precarious situation in which many Nigerian smallholder farmers find themselves, Dr. Muhammad Bello, a post-doctoral researcher in Economics at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, in Ibadan, aims to inform efforts directed at designing suitable financial products tailored to the needs and demands of this segment of the population. «Nigeria has had significant problems with flooding in the past few years, particularly in the Northern part of the country, Dr. Muhammad Bello reports. Because of political problems, government help is insufficient. In such a context, it is paramount for farmers to have an alternative kind of support, like group insurance for instance or individual insurance». The issue here is therefore to try and encourage uptake. One major hindrance to financial inclusion, the researcher reports, is «the paucity of suitable financial products that are tailored to the demands of the targeted population.» The rationale of the project is that by identifying individual’s preferred combinations of the different attributes of financial services offered, uptake will be facilitated. Basically, what I’m trying to do in this project is determine what is putting rural farmers off from getting insurance. What is it that has excluded these vulnerable segments of the population? What is it that insurance contracts should include in order for them to be more attractive and more efficient? ». In his analysis, Dr. Bello will not only be looking at characteristic features of insurance policies, like price or duration, but also at other more impalpable issues, namely risk perceptions and subjective beliefs. For instance, his experience has shown him that, «most Nigerian farmers believe that even if they pay for the insurance, they won’t receive help if they experience a shock.» «Better understanding of how individuals perceive risks and behave in settings of uncertainty is critical for designing insurance policies and outreach programs,» he insists.

### The (dis)value of risks and chances

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-disvalue-of-risks-and-chances
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: H. Orri STEFÁNSSON

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Banksters - Attribution of Responsibility in the Financial Crisis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/banksters-attribution-of-responsibility-in-the-financial-crisis
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Olivia NICOL

Found guilty by public opinion, banks today have to contend with much criticism over their role in the financial crisis. But rather than focusing on the roots of the financial crisis, Nicol is fascinated by the power game of accusation and defense. “My work looks at individual as well as collective behavior in the face of responsibility,” she explains. Who are the actors involved? What social processes lead to singling out those to blame? How to do the blamed actors respond to these attacks? By analyzing news articles, congressional hearings and interviews held since September 2008, she explores the production of discourse from both sides of the blame game in the United States. “These processes are partly responsible for shaping the regulation of the banking system, which is why it’s important to better describe them.”

### Reasoning in Risky Environments: Fuzzy Logic and Information Fusion

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/reasoning-in-risky-environments-fuzzy-logic-and-information-fusion
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Andrea ZEMÁNKOVÁ

Too much information to decide? Rely on an automatic system! Related Documents Curriculum Vitae - Mgr. Andrea Zemánková, PhD. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Inflation and the term structure

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/inflation-and-the-term-structure
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Stéphane GREGOIR

Professor Stéphane Gregoir is calling for a radical change in the way we think about inflation. “Over the past 30 years, inflation dynamics have been changing. Institutional modifications, globalisation as well as monetary, trade and competition policies have all affected its causes, magnitude and spread,” he says. “We must take into account these changes in the way we react to and design policies to contain inflation, especially given its current upsurge. If we don’t rethink inflation dynamics, we risk suboptimal real and financial asset allocations and major welfare losses.” Leading a team at EDHEC Business School, Professor Gregoir is developing a more structural model of inflation that accounts for changes in its volatility over time as well as developed countries’ increasing economic openness and deregulatory policies. The second part of the project explores the implications of this new modelling strategy for bond pricing. “While traditional models were only based on financial information, recent research has linked the bond market to the dynamics of macroeconomic variables,” he explains. “Rather than describing or forecasting term structure’s movements, this new approach aims to understand how it is influenced by the economy. Inflation is key to such modelling.” The two-part research project aims to benefit institutions as well as financial and insurance firms. “Our goal is to give practitioners a better understanding of inflation sources’ propagation mechanisms so they can design short- and long-term hedging strategies against inflationary risks,” says Professor Gregoir. “This work may help monetary authorities formulate more effective policies by providing them with an econometric modelling of the consequences of inflation changes.”

### Theoretical study of plasma expansion into a vacuum and of the acceleration of high energy ion

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/theoretical-study-of-plasma-expansion-into-a-vacuum-and-of-the-acceleration-of-high-energy-ion
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Cédric THAURY

Radiation therapy using X-rays to kill cancer cells has disadvantages, like the inability to penetrate very far into the body. Dr. Cédric Thaury is working on alternatives: beams of high-energy particles—electrons or protons—that are fired at a tumor to destroy the cancerous cells. He is developing new tools, based on laser-plasma interaction, to produce and control these beams for precise, effective treatment of tumors with fewer side effects. Developing less costly systems would also allow for greater use of these therapies.

### Evolution of tree distribution under global change: colonisation dynamics of Holm oak populations at the Northern edge of the distribution area

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/evolution-of-tree-distribution-under-global-change-colonisation-dynamics-of-holm-oak-populations-at-the-northern-edge-of-the-distribution-area
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Morgane URLI

How will trees be able to cope with the current rapid rate of climate change? They have two solutions: migrating towards more favorable habitats or adapting to new environmental conditions often characterized by more severe droughts. “Scientists, managers and policy makers need to gain a better understanding of these processes in order to appropriately manage tomorrow’s forests,” stated Morgane Urli. The originality of her project lies in the combined use of two complementary disciplines. Biogeography is based on field observations used to verify whether the direction and speed of migration of the species are consistent with predictive models, while the ecophysiological approach aims to better understand the mechanisms of drought resistance in trees. My research focuses on the dynamics of Holm oak at the leading edge of its distribution area under global change. We aim at quantifying its colonization during the last century using the Management archives of coastal forests, located from Bordeaux to Nantes (France). We will establish the relationship between the speed of species expansion and climatic changes. The functional strategies of Holm oak and its coexisting species in response to water shortage are characterised to understand the demographic processes of colonization (regeneration, seedling survival and growth) and connect them to the environmental conditions.

### Magma Dynamics at Erebus Volcano, Antarctica

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/magma-dynamics-at-erebus-volcano-antarctica
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Tehnuka ILANKO

Feel like swimming in a lake? Make sure it's not made of lava! Lava lakes are absolutely not a paradise for swimmers, but they are for volcanologists and in particular for Tehnuka Ilanko! They are rare, but they offer a unique window into the volcano plumbing system. Ilanko will work on unraveling all the secrets of the Erebus volcano lake in Antarctica. She will endure strenuous fi eld conditions to collect data about the lake’s properties. Back at the lab, Ilanko will develop a numerical model to complete her data. One of the goals of her PhD is to better understand the transition from quiescence to explosive activity, which is a key problem in volcanology. Her results on the Erebus might then be extended to volcanoes that are considered highly hazardous because of the proximity of large cities and help improve risk assessment for these cities. My research focuses on the Erebus lava lake, Antarctica. It provides a stable window into a convecting magma system and exhibits a range of eruptive behaviour from passive degassing to Strombolian explosions. My project investigates degassing at the lava lake, including changes in gas composition associated with the transition from passive to explosive degassing. Open-path FTIR spectroscopy, measuring gas emissions from the Erebus plume, is combined with theoretical modelling to give an insight into the links between degassing, eruption styles and conduit magma flow.

### Pharmacodiversity Oriented Synthesis: A New Tool For The Rapid Discovery Of Treatment For Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/pharmacodiversity-oriented-synthesis-a-new-tool-for-the-rapid-discovery-of-treatment-for-multidrug-resistant-bacteria
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Andrew Christopher SILVANUS

The threat posed by drug-resistant bacteria and other microbes is increasing as new strains emerge. Yet, major pharmaceutical companies are not seeking new drugs to fight back. Dr. Andrew Silvanus is developing a faster, easier method of screening candidates for potential new “superdrugs”: starting with natural substances containing molecular structures already known to fight infection, tweaking them in a variety of ways, and testing the results. Silvanus's work has the potential to accelerate vital antibiotic discovery.

### Reconfiguring the mirror neuron system: individual differences and influences of social attitudes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/reconfiguring-the-mirror-neuron-system-individual-differences-and-influences-of-social-attitudes
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jennifer COOK

Learning from trial and error can be slow and error-prone. In contrast, social learning (learning by watching others) can help us to pick-up new information quickly without repeating mistakes that others have made. Despite this little is known of the mechanisms that underpin social learning. Using brain imaging, Dr Jennifer Cook investigates brain regions involved in social learning. For the first time, she studies how a person’s social status and their genetic make-up influence social learning, and whether temporary attitude inductions can speed it up. Dr Cook’s discoveries could be applied to traditional teaching (how to improve it), decision-making in the workplace or even to the treatment of people affected by Autism Spectrum Conditions, who may have difficulties with social learning."

### A hybrid physical / statistical model for predicting the probability of very extreme rainfall

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/a-hybrid-physical-statistical-model-for-predicting-the-probability-of-very-extreme-rainfall
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Rachel WHITE

Water more valuable than oil? This may become true as water demand increases rapidly due to population growth. The urgent need to have accurate estimates of water availability was one of the motivations for Rachel White’s PhD. She worked with a widely used regional climate model to simulate rainfall and runoff, which control water availability. She focused on the case of the Olifants Basin in South Africa, an area under severe water stress. White noticed strong discrepancies between the runoff calculated by the model and the runoff observed. By implementing a new method to describe water penetration into the soil and its evaporation, she obtained results much closer to her observations. White's work might now be used for studies of water availability around the world, which are essential for enabling nations and NGOs to design water management solutions. I am using the WRF regional climate model to study the relationship between rainfall and runoff at the river basin scale (4km resolution), in particular studying the seasonal change in the runoff coefficient (ratio of runoff to rainfall). We aim to model the probability of extreme rainfall and extreme runoff events under possible future climate change conditions. Extreme runoff events are likely to lead to flooding and we distinguish between surface runoff events, affecting the local area where rainfall occurs, and groundwater runoff extremes which can affect an area away from the rainfall event.

### Modelling the Spatial Spread of Infectious Diseases

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/modelling-the-spatial-spread-of-infectious-diseases
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Simon CAUCHEMEZ

Dr. Cauchemez develops state-of-the-art mathematical methods to better understand and anticipate the spread of infectious diseases in human populations. Through the development of innovative modelling techniques and the collection of original epidemiological data in Bangladesh, India and Madagascar on influenza, dengue and chikungunya, he aims to unravel the spatial determinants of spread with a view to support policy making and improve control strategies.

### Fields and Flares : understanding the complex magnetic topologies of solar active regions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/fields-and-flares-understanding-the-complex-magnetic-topologies-of-solar-active-regions
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Sophie MURRAY

Cell phones, Internet, TV, GPS, weather forecasting. These technologies are now fundamental pillars of our societies. Losing them, even for a few minutes, could literally paralyze our society and cost enormous amounts of money. And yet, since these technologies are relayed by our satellites, they are threatened by our Sun. Our star regularly sends toward us huge amounts of energetic particles during solar eruptions to which satellites are very sensitive. While we are not yet able to predict these eruptions, Sophie Murray is studying their cause: sunspots. These are small dark spots that appear on the surface of the Sun, which can create violent and sometimes huge ejections of matter. Murray’s objective is to get closer to understanding them in order to be able to predict solar eruptions someday and thus prevent the risks of communication and electricity disruptions.

### SEDIMER - Sediment-related Disasters and Hazards following the 2010 centennial eruption of Merapi Volcano (Indonesia)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/sedimer-sediment-related-disasters-and-hazards-following-the-2010-centennial-eruption-of-merapi-volcano-indonesia
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Franck LAVIGNE

We all know about the destructive power of volcanoes, yet did you know how much damage a simple word like Lahar can carry? Most widely used in Indonesia, it first described water-saturated mass flows of volcanic debris before being applied as a general term for rapidly flowing, high-concentration, poorly sorted sediment-laden mixtures of rock debris and water from a volcano. Because they pose a constant threat to downstream villages and towns, lahars are one of the most destructive phenomena associated with composite volcanoes all around the world. What is more, despite their regular occurrence, the behavior and propagation of rain-triggered lahars are poorly understood, thus impeding any consistent assessment of their political and socioeconomic costs for local residents. Yet, that was before Prof. Lavigne set out to study one of the most active volcanoes in the world: Mt. Merapi in Indonesia. Indeed, due to a devastating eruption in 2010, it is now crucial to determine what may happen in the next five years to the river valleys downstream from Mt. Merapi. Prof. Lavigne and his team are seizing this unique opportunity to compile a database on lahar occurrence thanks to a collaborative and multi-disciplinary study gathering experienced international experts and young scientists from seven countries including Indonesia. Their innovative methods rely on a combination of high-tech instrumentation and socioeconomic calculations to model and quantify the impact of lahars on local populations. Thanks to this integrative approach, Prof. Lavigne seeks to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the occurrences and impacts of lahars with results which may immediately be used by policy makers for land use and emergency response planning. Eventually, his work might help reduce exposure and improve the resilience of local populations to threats from lahars.

### Chair AXA - IHES in Mathematics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/chair-axa-ihes-in-mathematics
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Maxim KONTSEVITCH

Going beyond the intersection of mathematics and theoretical physics What are the fundamental, indivisible components of the world around us? This question has obsessed physicists since Einstein spent the last 30 years of his life searching for a “unified field theory”: one master equation to explain all of nature’s forces. One candidate for the “theory of everything” is string theory, which posits that our universe is made up of vibrating filaments of energy whose various frequencies produce electrons, quarks and all other particles. Professor Maxim Kontsevich has opened up radically new perspectives in string theory through his work at the intersection between pure mathematics and theoretical physics. His mathematical proof of physicist Edward Witten’s amazing conjecture based on string theory was one of the topics for which he earned the Crafoord Prize in 2008. Yet the interests of this 1998 Fields Medallist and Institut de France member go far beyond string theory. “I’m really interested in mathematical physics, but I also work on algebra, geometry, number theory, dynamical systems and other fields,” Professor Kontsevich says. “Mathematics is a very beautiful world, full of very remarkable objects and structures. They behave in a perfect way, something that is not obtainable in the real world.” For almost 20 years, his work has focused on the concept of homological mirror symmetry. “This extremely rich subject is one of the most wonderful things to happen in mathematics in decades,” Professor Kontsevich explains. “It unites dozens of different areas and related subjects, such as symplectic geometry, algebraic geometry, triangulated categories and cluster transformations.” Homological mirror symmetry is so complex, however, that even many mathematicians do not understand it. “When I came up with this idea, it was very hard to explain it to other people. Nobody was fluent in all these areas simultaneously,” he says. “It took several years for homological mirror symmetry to gain ground, and then some young people came along who learned it very easily. Now we have quite a big community.” Currently, Professor Kontsevich is exploring the relationship between homological mirror symmetry and classical objects such as integral systems in mechanics (e.g., rotating bodies like tops). He is also looking at the concept’s implications for quantum mechanics problems such as how to calculate spectrum. “I’m interested in these nice topological and homological mirror symmetry interpretations for completely classical questions,” he says. Professor Kontsevich joined the faculty of France’s Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques (IHES)—an institute for advanced research in mathematics, theoretical physics and any related scientific field—in 1995, after two years at the University of California, Berkeley. He credits the institute for enabling him to pursue such a wide range of subjects. “IHES is a fantastic place, one of the two best in my profession,” he says. “Freed from most of the usual pressures of academic life, I can concentrate entirely on the research topics of my choosing.” Founded in 1958, the institute offers exceptionally talented scientists a place where they can devote themselves to their research and invite visitors to come and work together. It is dedicated to the liberty of research, the quest for excellence, interactivity, and scientific and human diversity. With a permanent faculty of five professors and 250 visiting academics per year, IHES has become a reference point for greatness in the international scientific community. Among its significant achievements are its researchers’ seven Fields Medals, a total unequalled by any other institution or indeed by many countries: Germany and Italy, for instance, only have one each. IHES benefits from its location in the Ile-de-France region, which has the greatest concentration of mathematicians in the world (1,500 out of 80,000 globally). The region is also home to a number of other world-class academic institutions, including Ecole normale supérieure – Paris, Ecole normale supérieure – Cachan, and Ecole polytechnique. By creating the permanent AXA Chair of Mathematics, the AXA Research Fund helps ensure the continuing eminence of IHES and supporting the work of one of the world’s top mathematicians. “The Chair contributes greatly to the financial stability of the institute, which is very important,” Professor Kontsevich says, “and it enables me carry out my research under the best possible conditions.”

### Bayesian data fusion for the space-time forecasting of precipitations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/bayesian-data-fusion-for-the-space-time-forecasting-of-precipitations
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Dominique FASBENDER

Should you take your umbrella with you today? Rain forecasting is not always accurate as you may have noticed... but researchers are working on it! During his postdoctoral research, Dr. Dominique Fasbender developed an innovative statistical approach aimed at predicting precipitation at a local scale. The challenge of rainfall prediction is that multiple parameters need to be accounted for, including atmospheric conditions but also topography. Dr. Fasbender's approach allows the integration of all these parameters. In the future, it could be useful at several levels. It might help improve early warning systems* in the case of extreme rainfall events. His work might also be used to study how climate change may increase the risk of local extreme events happening. It would then help provide recommendations to private and public authorities in charge of land-use planning.

### Responses of Diatoms and Coccolithophores growth, productivity and metabolism to pCO2 and metal levels (Zn, Co, Cd) and set up of chemostats

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/responses-of-diatoms-and-coccolithophores-growth-productivity-and-metabolism-to-pco2-and-metal-levels-zn-co-cd-and-set-up-of-chemostats
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Amandine COZIC-HOULY

Reproducing the impact of climate change on marine phytoplankton in a laboratory setting was the aim of Dr. Cozic-Houly’s postdoctoral research. The change in atmospheric CO2 concentration will alter phytoplankton productivity by affecting the bioavailability of trace metals and could, through feedback, result in major effects on the composition of the atmosphere. Dr. Cozic-Houly evaluated the effects of a change in the concentration of certain trace metals considered to be micronutrients in the physiology of microalgae. In order to do so, she developed bioreactors in order to cultivate, in a controlled setting, various species of phytoplankton. The ultimate aim of these experiments was to design new models capable of simulating the effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms.

### Fixing Inflamed “Pipes” Could Reduce or Prevent Diabetes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/fixing-inflamed-pipes-could-reduce-or-prevent-diabetes
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Rafael Arrojo E DRIGO

Each of us faces the risk of diabetes as we get older, even when otherwise in good health. Normal aging is associated with the disease, which represents a very heavy burden on individuals and health systems and is among the top ten causes of death worldwide. Diabetes mainly arises within the pancreas, the organ that regulates blood sugar levels by releasing insulin into the body. When something goes awry with the insulin-producing cells, called β-cells, the body has trouble managing its blood sugar. This is what we see in aging: β-cells start to fail and malfunction, with dangerous consequences for the body. Dr. Rafael Drigo believes this failure has to do with the interaction between β-cells and neighboring blood vessels through, specifically, vascular inflammation. His research aims to reveal the underlying cause of that inflammation and the hope for controlling diabetes it might offer. The β-cells of the pancreas are organized into structures called islets of Langerhans. In aging adults, the blood vessels lacing the islets become inflamed. This may eventually trigger problems for the β-cells that, like a repetitive stress injury, worsen with time. However, reversing the inflammation of the vessels, or giving the structure brand new vessels, can rejuvenate the islet. As Dr. Drigo says of the diabetic pancreas, “This means the structure of the house is intact, it just needs new pipes.” To make the necessary renovations possible, he needs to identify the cause of the harmful inflammation. Dr. Drigo’s hypothesis involves a pro-inflammatory molecule called ApoC3. A lifetime of ApoC3 circulating in the blood could contribute to accumulated injury to blood vessels—and subsequent negative effects on β-cells. This makes his next move clear: “If I can significantly reduce the amount of ApoC3, I may be able to decrease inflammation and ameliorate or even prevent β-cell failure with age.”

### Long-term effects of early life nutritional modulation of aging

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/long-term-effects-of-early-life-nutritional-modulation-of-aging
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jose Carlos NOGUERA

You are what you eat, they say, and, according to José Noguera’s research, what you eat may also affect how you age. Not in terms of wrinkles or gray hairs, but on the level of your cells. Inside every one of them, your chromosomes—those dense packages of DNA—come with protective caps at their ends, called telomeres. Over a lifetime, these tips get shorter and shorter, which is thought to contribute to cellular aging and disease. Dr. Noguera is investigating this process and how micronutrients in the diet may affect the life span of telomeres themselves. Damage is caused within cells by the activity of highly reactive, oxidizing molecules, which is why we hear about the antioxidant benefits of certain foods. There is evidence that telomeres are worn down by this activity, leading José Noguera to ask if increasing intake of antioxidant micronutrients, like selenium and vitamins C and E, can help protect telomeres and defend against disease. His research on zebra finches suggests this could be the case in males, especially, if a diet rich in micronutrients is available early in life. This helped prevent telomere loss later, during particularly demanding periods for the body, like sexual maturation and reproduction. If Dr. Noguera’s results prove applicable to humans, a better understanding of the way diet influences aging could bring valuable information to improve quality of life as we get older.

### Chair on Longevity and healthy active life

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/chair-on-longevity-and-healthy-active-life
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Carol JAGGER

Unlike wine, health does not tend to improve with age. That is why today’s challenge is not just to increase life expectancy, but more to increase “health expectancy,” the years of life that we spend in good health. Prof. Carol Jagger, holder of the AXA Chair on Longevity at the internationally renowned Newcastle University, is studying multiple factors that contribute to successful aging: the way we cope with events, a positive attitude towards life and socioeconomic factors such as education, wealth, etc. She is particularly interested in diet, exercise and social interaction. Her research program aims to fully understand the mechanisms through which these good habits improve our healthy life expectancy. Being free from diseases is a common measure of successful aging. However, one may argue that it is not realistic to think we can be completely free from diseases in our old years. Jagger has shown from the Newcastle 85+ Study that the reality is that, in late old age, people may have four or five diseases but can still live independently and have rich social lives. This highlights the importance of including the views of older people when defining health. Nowadays, life expectancy is increasing, but life expectancy free of disability is increasing at a slower rate and appears to be declining in some European countries. This means that years with disability are increasing, resulting in an expansion of disability. Jagger states that just extending life in good health isn’t enough. What matters more is that we extend life in good health by more than the increases in life expectancy in order to reduce unhealthy years. That is why she is focusing on a better understanding of factors that have a positive impact on aging. Jagger’s research will help establish future trends in aging in Europe, with an emphasis on finding the reasons for the large inequalities in healthy life expectancy that exist both between and within European countries and providing a vivid picture of population health over the coming two decades. Her findings will be relevant to public-policy planners who need to know whether extra years of life are healthy in order to plan to meet the demands that an aging population will make on health services, long-term care and pensions.

### Underwater acoustic sensing for detection, early warning and increased risk awareness of storm surges with application to Ireland

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/underwater-acoustic-sensing-for-detection-early-warning-and-increased-risk-awareness-of-storm-surges-with-application-to-ireland
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Emiliano RENZI

Hurricane Katrina: 1,200 dead. Typhoon Hayian: 6,241 casualties. These storms offer just two examples of the damage caused around the world by storm surges, unexpected increases in sea level caused by storms. Resulting in abnormally large waves striking the coast, this threat occurs much more frequently than the more famous tsunamis, yet the public and policy makers are considerably less aware. In addition, current detection systems operate on a global scale, missing local events, and have failed to provide early warnings in the past. A perfect storm surge of problems. Doctor Emiliano Renzi has always been fascinated by the sea and, today, is putting his training in engineering and mathematics to use in developing a pioneering technology to warn of approaching storm surges. Surprisingly, his tool for predicting extreme ocean waves depends on sound waves! The same weather phenomenon that kicks up such events at the water’s surface creates a fast-moving acoustic wave that travels ahead of the surge. Dr. Renzi plans to use underwater microphones to pick up this signal that a dangerous storm surge is coming. He is currently testing his mathematical models on real-life situations and expects his hydrophone detection system to be ready in a few years’ time. The advance warning this could provide will aid in evacuation decisions and allow threatened coastal residents to reach safety.

### Assessing the combined effect of climate change and herbivores' activities on the tundra

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/assessing-the-combined-effect-of-climate-change-and-herbivores-activities-on-the-tundra
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Guillermo C.BUENO

From a plant’s point of view, what exactly will happen as the climate changes? Depending how its neighbors fare, one species might be more successful at grabbing space and resources. But, as conditions warm and the range of herbivores is altered, this will affect the plant community, too. The overall effect of climate change will surely be a combination of both factors, as Guillermo Bueno set out to test for the first time. Studying Alpine plants of the Canadian Yukon, he is assessing the effects on plants of removing their neighbors, pruning a full third of their leaves to simulate grazing, and examining the impact of actual grazing by small mammals called pikas. Pikas live only about 5 years, but, across generations, their grazing can go on for decades. Measuring plants’ total biomass in the end reveals who is “winning” this complex competition. Dr. Bueno’s approach combining climate- and herbivore-induced changes goes further than past studies by identifying the precise mechanisms at play. His work could help predict for this and other ecosystems the risks of a changing climate.

### Nanoelectrochemical Sensor For The Detection Of Toxins In Infant Formula

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/nanoelectrochemical-sensor-for-the-detection-of-toxins-in-infant-formula
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Karen DAWSON

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Catastrophe, emergency and social mobilization: an ethnography of post-disaster in Haiti

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/catastrophe-emergency-and-social-mobilization-an-ethnography-of-post-disaster-in-haiti
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Giovanna SALOME

On January 12, 2010 an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 on the Richter scale struck the Republic of Haiti. After the disaster, authorities and local residents were faced with a high number of casualties and missing persons as well as the destruction of a great number of houses and public buildings in the country. Within this context of prolonged emergency, the reconstruction process is slow to show progress. Earthquake and post-disaster emergency management have revealed some previous issues inscribed in the socio-political system of Haiti. This system has already been affected by previous natural disasters and is characterized by social and political instability and a pressing need for humanitarian assistance. In particular, the daily interaction of these humanitarian actions with local reality and the context of emergency have produced a laboratory of experiences which are connected, at various levels, to the housing crisis issue that Giovanna Salome aims to investigate. Starting from this premise, Salome decided to conduct an anthropological survey to explore the logic and practices that accompany the housing crisis caused by the earthquake in the urban context of Port-au-Prince. She aims to explore, in particular, how inhabitants have coped with the housing crisis and to examine the different social actors engaged in the reconstruction process. As part of her research, Salome is analyzing accounts given by beneficiaries of the humanitarian projects, relating to resettlement. Her analysis focuses on the needs, representations and spontaneous practices of the population. Salome will then reflect on the encounter between the assistance provided by international organizations and the informal reconstruction process followed by the population. Her findings will contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of social reactions to disasters and violent crisis. Identifying the factors that influence local social response to catastrophes may help define and design future aid programs. It could also be helpful for staging humanitarian operations based on the specific needs and behaviors of local populations.

### Towards Understanding the Sources of Risk in Exchange Rates

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/towards-understanding-the-sources-of-risk-in-exchange-rates
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Irina ZVIADADZE

Irina Zviadadze studies regular and crash risks in global foreign exchange (FX) market. The first part of the project is a joint work with Professor Mikhail Chernov (LSE) and Professor Jeremy Graveline (Minnesota). Authors are interested in quantifying sources of risks in currency returns as a first step towards understanding excess returns to currency speculation. They identify three distinct types of jump (crash) risks – depreciation jumps, appreciation jumps and jumps in variance, and relate them to important macroeconomic and political news in case of jumps in the level of exchange rate and to market anxiety in case of jumps in variance. In the future research, Irina aims to provide economic explanation of Foreign exchange anomalies by identifyng sources of crash risks in a structural setting.

### Fast Solar Wind From Coronal Holes to Interplanetary space

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/fast-solar-wind-from-coronal-holes-to-interplanetary-space
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Judith DE PATOUL

The fast solar wind, which originates from coronal holes, leads to geomagnetic disturbances on Earth with effects on our modern technologies. Space weather risk is now included in the UK national risk register and is well recognized at the European and international level. The project aims are to elucidate the relations between solar coronal structures associated with the source of the fast solar wind, i.e., coronal holes and polar plumes, and to explore forecasting potentials of these structures on the properties of the fast solar wind. The investigation will combine the development of novel advanced data analysis techniques and the understanding of the underlying physical processes. It will be based on timely high-resolution observations from a comprehensive suite of multiwavelength remote-sensing solar data (obtained from the space missions SOHO, SDO and STEREO). We have a unique opportunity to get a thorough understanding of the magnetic structures composing the coronal holes and their role into the fast solar wind formation. The innovative aspects in this project are to apply, for the very first time, recently developed data analysis techniques on a large series of images from multi-spacecraft instruments, and also to study the temporal evolution of the coronal structures over several phases of the solar cycle. The main scientific challenge of this project will be to tie up remote with in-situ observations. We anticipate that our results will enable us to validate existing space weather models and make significant improvements to day-to-day forecasting, while giving impact to fundamental research directly relevant to the future European space mission Solar Orbiter. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Air security: explaining the European Union decision-making after 11 September 2001

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/air-security-explaining-the-european-union-decision-making-after-11-september-2001
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Xiana BARROS-GARCIA

The stages and rules of EU decision-making are quite intricate and many actors take part in it. Xiana Barros studies the EU measures agreed upon after September 11, 2001 in view of preventing illegal acts against air transport committed by terrorist groups and individuals. One salient case study of her project is the EU decision to ban the possibility for air passengers to bring on board most liquids in their hand luggage. Another relevant case is the debate at the EU level on the possible installation of body scanners in EU airports. Her research could bring forward greater societal transparency on how and why European governments take decisions that affect citizens’ daily lives. Her findings might contribute to some air passengers’ better understanding of why certain counter-terrorism measures are needed, which may result in greater public support.

### Genetic abrogation of the amplifying pathway in pancreatic ß-cells: effects on diet-induced obesity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/genetic-abrogation-of-the-amplifying-pathway-in-pancreatic-ss-cells-effects-on-diet-induced-obesity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Melis KARACA

Dr. Melis Karaca is using mice to study the role of the pancreas in regulating the glucose content in blood (glycemia) and in overweight gain. Her results indicate that one specific protein, called GDH, is essential in pancreas function. She is investigating the importance of GDH regarding insulin secretion and the onset of obesity and type 2 diabetes. She aims to understand how efficient an insulin-secreting pancreatic cell should be to maintain normoglycemia and what adaptations of peripheral organs are induced by low cell efficiency. The role of mitochondrial enzyme GDH in the pancreatic ß-cell using mice with ß-cell-specific GDH deletion (ßGlud1-/-) developed in the lab. Our results indicate that GDH is essential for the amplification of the secretory response in ß-cells. Remarkably, such limited ß-cell function, established prior to initiation of high-calorie feeding, protects against overweight gain. We will further characterize ßGlud1-/- mice and explore a new tamoxifen inducible model in the β-cell to investigate the importance of ß-cell GDH-dependent amplifying pathway in the etiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In particular, we aim at addressing the following questions: How efficient ß-cell should be to maintain normo-glycemia? Which adaptations of peripheral organs are induced by lower ß-cell efficiency? Is there a threshold for ß-cell efficiency necessary for maintenance of normo-glycemia?

### Assessment of flood embankments integrity using Geophysics and thermographic techniques combined with tracers

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/assessment-of-flood-embankments-integrity-using-geophysics-and-thermographic-techniques-combined-with-tracers
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marcin ZIELINSKI

If you are lucky enough to own a house by the riverside, you may still be worried about the solidity of flood-defence embankments. Ask Dr Marcin Zielinski what he thinks about it! Dr. Zielinski developed novel methods allowing high-resolution imaging of fissure networks in earth embankments and dams. The stakes are high: for example, the 1959 Malpasset dam break caused 423 fatalities and devastated thousands of hectares of agricultural lands. For his study, Dr. Zielinski used a multidisciplinary approach including laboratory experiments, field work and technical developments of imaging methods. He focused on British embankments, but his results could be used anywhere. His work might help local authorities in charge of flood defences to design more efficient maintenance strategies, which could significantly reduce the risk of embankment failure. Dr Zielinski is AXA Post-doc Fellow in Geotechnical Engineering working in the Infrastructure Group at Strathclyde University. He graduated with Master’s of Science - Engineer degree from Gdansk University of Technology, Poland in 2005. He did his master’s dissertation project in Grenoble at Université Joseph Fourier, France. Dr Zielinski worked in industry before starting PhD in 2006 at Strathclyde University and from where he was graduated in 2009. His exceptional research during his PhD was highly appreciated and in 2008 he was invited as a geotechnical expert to work in the Large Wave Flume (Großer Wellenkanal) in Hannover, Germany on the EroGRASS project led by Danish Coastal Authority. He has also been working as a Research Assistant within Flood Risk Management Research Consortium. Dr Zielinski is actively collaborating with various research institutions and Universities, such as: Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (Spain), Université Joseph Fourier (France), Texas A&M University (USA), Gdansk University of Technology (Poland) and Pure and Applied Chemistry Department form his own University. In 2009 Dr Zielinski was awarded two prestigious Post-doctoral fellowships, one funded by AXA Research Fund and the second EC/Marie Curie Fellowship which will commence in July 2011. In addition to that, in June 2010 he was awarded Dragons’ Den Style Prize for the best multidisciplinary project presented at the University of Strathclyde. Dr Zielinski's main research interests are flood embankments. In particular, he has been working on development and investigation of non-invasive and invasive tools for the assessment of embankments integrity and detection of desiccation cracking. The approaches used involve geophysics and advanced embankments monitoring using geotechnical sensors. His research also focuses on the implementation of detection tracers and improvement of the electrical resistivity scanning using Electrical Resistivity Tomography. Recently, he has become interested in applications of the new remedial solutions, such as polymers that can be used for the improvement of embankments integrity.

### Climate change and flood hazard in the Western European Alps: a millennium-long perspective

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-and-flood-hazard-in-the-western-european-alps-a-millennium-long-perspective
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Bruno WILHELM

On the short scale of a human lifetime, sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing. Extreme natural disasters, like enormous floods, happen rarely—possibly not within living memory or even historical record—but they have occurred and will again. The frequency and severity of river floods are expected to increase with climate change and Dr. Bruno Wilhelm understands that the ability to predict them is crucial: a growing population and all of its infrastructure send the potential costs skyrocketing. The trouble with predicting an extreme flooding event, though, is that they occur too rarely to observe any trends in the relatively recent data from our modern-day instruments. Dr. Wilhelm goes beyond this observational data to look at the history of such events that is recorded, in fact, at the bottom of lakes. The layers of material collected there serve as a “flood archive”, preserving information from past occasions when the enormous flow of a surging river carried larger-grained sediments into the lake. The distinct layers of foreign material allow him to reconstruct this history and identify characteristics of historical severe floods. Focusing on Alpine lakes of Western Europe, Dr. Wilhelm found flood frequency and magnitude varied a great deal over the last 1,000 years, but one thing is certain: the region has definitely witnessed more intense floods than we have experienced in recent decades. Across all the zones tested, he found that flooding was more common during extended (centuries-long) cold periods. The most severe floods, though, happened in both warm and cold periods, varying from north to south along the Western Alps. Next, Bruno Wilhelm will analyze the complex relationship between large-scale environmental factors driving changes in the climate and the flood patterns he has observed. By pinning down this relationship in a quantifiable way, a very important element could be added to predictive models of flood risk. Knowing the likely influence of global warming on hydrological extremes will be a vital part of plans to mitigate the very real impact of such dramatic floods in the future.

### Cerebral mechanisms underlying cognition-related time-of-day modulations in healthy ageing: a functional neuroimaging approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/cerebral-mechanisms-underlying-cognition-related-time-of-day-modulations-in-healthy-ageing-a-functional-neuroimaging-approach
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Christina SCHMIDT

Spending nights working to meet a deadline is a situation most of us have experienced. However, being efficient the following day can be challenging. To unravel the mechanisms underlying this process, Dr. Christina Schmidt is investigating how sleep pressure and aging interact to alter cognitive performance by monitoring elderly people. Her results may affect the way our society schedules cognitive tasks throughout the day and, in the long run, help older people suffering from sleep-related issues." In humans, homeostatic and circadian sleep-wake regulatory processes are continuously working in harmony or in opposition to each other to allow maintenance of sleep and wakefulness states at appropriate time points within the 24 hour light-dark cycle. Importantly, sleep patterns change substantially and continuously with age across adulthood. Our proposal aims at combining signals from a series of techniques for an integrative understanding of the cerebral mechanisms underlying age-related alterations in circadian arousal promotion directly impacting on higher order cognitive behaviours. The investigation of such mechanisms may appear decisive in our aging society in which flexible working hours outside of the normal “day work” hours are increasingly required. Dr. Schmidt’s project has the potential to open up new areas of research, affect the way our society schedules cognitive tasks throughout the day and, in the long run, provide help to older people suffering from sleep-related issues.

### Paleoseismology, seismic cycle and tectonic coupling of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone based on coral microatolls

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/paleoseismology-seismic-cycle-and-tectonic-coupling-of-the-lesser-antilles-subduction-zone-based-on-coral-microatolls
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Belle PHILIBOSIAN

Powerful earthquakes have rocked the Earth since time immemorial. Today, though, they pose an even greater threat than ever, as population growth has put many more people in harm’s way. Dr. Belle Philibosian is bringing much needed attention to the at-risk region around the islands of the Lesser Antilles. Here, the North and South American plates of Earth’s crust are sliding under the Caribbean plate, in the type of interaction (subduction) that produces the most severe earthquakes on the planet and accompanying tsunamis. To assess the risk, it is necessary to know the seismic track record of the region and, for this, she is looking back in time with the help of a surprising partner, marine coral. This is because a powerful quake can transform the topography, uplifting previously submerged areas above the ocean surface. The remains of coral colonies on dry land bear witness to such violent movements of the Earth, going back hundreds or even thousands of years. Similarly, less extreme position changes are observed in coral microatolls – colonies that, on top, are exposed to air and have died, but continue to grow horizontally beneath the water’s surface. These are natural records of relative sea level change, which can reflect deformations of the Earth’s surface that occur as the two plates struggle to move past each other. Dr. Philibosian’s results show this currently happening in the Lesser Antilles, the strain building up until it is released in some future earthquake. Her conclusions so far are consistent with the idea that a major quake in 1843 occurred deep along the boundary between the two plates. From such information allowing her to characterize the Earth’s activity in this region, Belle aims to produce models capable of estimating the earthquake risk, as well as the location and size of coming quakes. The catastrophic consequences of such events, like those that occurred along similar plate boundaries in Japan and Sumatra in recent years, make the stakes of such research all too clear.

### Glaciological Balance of the Glacial Arctic Ocean in the context of the International Polar year

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/glaciological-balance-of-the-glacial-arctic-ocean-in-the-context-of-the-international-polar-year
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Pascaline BOURGAIN

You are certainly aware that polar bears are threatened by the Arctic sea-ice loss caused by global warming. This debated topic is being investigated by Pascaline Bourgain, who is studying the effects of warm water entering the Arctic Ocean. One of the strengths of her study is that she analyzed huge amounts of data as well as obtained new measurements during an unforgettable three-month icebreaking expedition in the Arctic. At a global scale, sea-ice loss is a serious threat to ecosystems (disturbance of fauna and flora) and physical systems (e.g. ocean circulation). It affects the entire human population, particularly the Inuits, who are forced to adapt their way of life to changing sea-ice conditions. My research focuses on the Arctic Ocean and its interaction with sea ice that has strongly retreated, showing evidence for current global warming intensification in the Arctic. I am particularly interested in the halocline layer, located between 50 m depth and 200 m depth, and its spatio temporal variability. This layer is of first importance as it separates the surface from the main Arctic ocean heat reservoir located around 300 m depth.

### Low Flows and Stream Temperature: Towards an Integrated and Uncalibrated Model for Future Risk Assessment

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/low-flows-and-stream-temperature-towards-an-integrated-and-uncalibrated-model-for-future-risk-assessment
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Matthias RITTER

This project seeks to understand the effects of vegetation (meadows, mixed forest, coniferous forest) on the hydrological dynamics of slopes, that is to say to better understand rainwater runoff according to the different types of vegetation present in the field. Indeed, topography, geology and soil quality play an important role in hydrological dynamics, but so does vegetation, by slowing down or accelerating the absorption and runoff of rainwater. However, the vegetation cover is very variable in space and time, which can therefore distort the models available to insurers and decision-makers. By conducting controlled experiments that eliminate other possible explanatory factors on three types of vegetation cover, this project seeks to understand the exact role of vegetation in hydrologic dynamics. The goal is to develop more accurate predictive models to better anticipate the consequences of heavy rainfall, such as floods.

### Dementia in Central African countries: epidemiology, follow-up and perspectives

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/dementia-in-central-african-countries-epidemiology-follow-up-and-perspectives
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Pierre-Marie PREUX

Dementia is a loss of global cognitive ability that is severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living. It can affect various cognitive functions including memory, attention, language and logic. “Considering the aging population worldwide, dementia constitutes a major public health concern”, states Prof. Pierre-Marie Preux. Both developed and developing countries are affected; however, few studies have been carried out in Africa. In the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo, Preux seeks to estimate the prevalence of dementia and its related syndromes and cognitive disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease). Preux also seeks to evaluate the risk factors associated with dementia (e.g., increasing age, hypertension, depressive symptoms, nutritional factors and lack of a primary education) and to determine whether genetic variations modify the risk of dementia in African populations. This is a transdisciplinary project that involves epidemiology (identifying the risk and protective factors, medical surveys, screening the markers of dementia), genetics (analyzing blood samples) and anthropology (observing the autonomy of the elderly, interviews, and studying how dementia is perceived by the surrounding people). Preux will compare the situation in rural and in urban areas in order to identify the specific risk or lifestyle factors involved in dementia. “Understanding what causes the differences between dementia in developed and developing countries is a major challenge. However, it could enable us to determine new risk or protective factors as well as the history of these disorders and therefore help us establish appropriate strategies for care and control worldwide,” explains Preux. This transdisciplinary study (epidemiology, neurology, genetics and anthropology) will contribute to developing new hypotheses for the prevention of dementia. It could therefore be useful for informing policy makers and the general population—a perfect example of protection through research!

### Macroenvironment influence on stem cell aging through circadian clock desynchronization

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/macroenvironment-influence-on-stem-cell-aging-through-circadian-clock-desynchronization
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Guiomar SOLANAS

Stem cells are reserve cells that repair the tissues when they are damaged, like laying new bricks on a broken wall. Inside of them, the molecular machinery of the circadian clock coordinates their function. Dr. Guiomar Solanas is one of the few scientists studying how the circadian clock progressively becomes uncoordinated in stem cells, shifting its accuracy as we age. Using transgenic mice models, molecular techniques and in-depth bioinformatics analysis, Dr. Solanas is trying to identify a stem cell aging signature associated with clock malfunction. Dr. Solanas also seeks to establish a possible link between clock phase shifting and caloric restriction, which is known to delay aging. Finally, Dr. Solanas aims to identify the messages sent by the whole organism to the stem cells, how these cues are read and how they affect the functioning of the clock. The results of these studies could help us better understand the complex process of aging and how to age better.

### Effects of Stress on Social and Non-Social Risk Taking

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/effects-of-stress-on-social-and-non-social-risk-taking
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Frances CHEN

Are you a risk taker? That probably depends on both the situation and your biology. Dr. Frances Chen compares whether being alone or in a group when a stressful event occurs triggers different kinds of risk taking. She is also investigating whether oxytocin—a hormone relating to social interaction—influences people’s willingness to take social risks. The knowledge gained from this rare pairing of complementary approaches may prove useful for medical professionals, managers faced with employee stress, or even people working with risk in their jobs. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Assessing the Consequences of Global Warming for The Structure and Functioning of Freshwater Ecosystems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/assessing-the-consequences-of-global-warming-for-the-structure-and-functioning-of-freshwater-ecosystems
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Matteo DOSSENA

Freshwater ecosystems play a key role in the global carbon cycle. They process huge amounts of carbon and can either act as sinks, sequestering CO2 and driving it to the sea, or sources, emitting CO2 into the atmosphere. Matteo Dossena is investigating how global warming may affect these processes. He has demonstrated that the 4°C rise in global temperatures expected by 2100 will increase the rate of decomposition mediated by communities of aquatic organisms. For his PhD, Dossena will investigate how structural changes in the community affect the processing of carbon at the level of an ecosystem. If a rise in temperatures alters the sink/source capacity of freshwater ecosystems, more carbon could be released into the atmosphere, thereby increasing the current rate of global warming. His work may help understand links between temperature rises and carbon cycles, which will be crucial in predicting future changes in the climate.

### Preventing preterm birth: The pathogenic role of oral microbes in preeclampsia and intrauterine infection

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/preventing-preterm-birth-the-pathogenic-role-of-oral-microbes-in-preeclampsia-and-intrauterine-infection
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Sizzle VANTERPOOL

One reason for preterm birth, the main cause of perinatal death, could be maternal periodontitis, an oral infection, spreading to the uterus and placenta. Sizzle Vanterpool aims to develop a vaccine against the bacteria so dangerous for the unborn child.

### Scientist-Community Engagement to reduce Risk of zoonotic Infection

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/scientist-community-engagement-to-reduce-risk-of-zoonotic-infection
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Ngo HOA

Dr. Hoa studies Vietnamese local communities’ perceptions and activities in relation with zoonosis, infections caused by the pathogens transmitted from animals to humans. Her study will include biological and social studies together with artistic activities in order to ensure an effective engagement of key stakeholders, such as farmers, consumers, scientists, human and animal public health experts. Specific interventions will be designed to prevent zoonotic infections.

### Characterization of a new sub-cellular compartment involved in the production of biologically active Hedgehog, a molecule necessary for stem cell homeostasis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/characterization-of-a-new-sub-cellular-compartment-involved-in-the-production-of-biologically-active-hedgehog-a-molecule-necessary-for-stem-cell-homeostasis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: TANVI GORE

In industrialized countries, half of the people diagnosed with cancer are older than 65. Tanvi Gore decided to tackle both cancer and aging at the same time, combining genetics, electron microscopy and live cell imaging.

### Smart Biosensors through RNA computing: Computational design of RNA networks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/smart-biosensors-through-rna-computing-computational-design-of-rna-networks
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Thomas LANDRAIN

What tool could be useful for both cancer diagnosis and detection of explosives? The answer is biosensors made of circuits of the genetic material RNA. Landrain is building platforms to design these tools that could be triggered by signals in the environment. Molecules specific to a tumor could alert the biosensors to destroy these cells. Chemicals found in landmines could be detected and reported by the circuits. Thanks to RNA, his systems could be adaptable to many different environments, just like life. My research focuses on creating RNA-based synthetic bio-molecular tools that enable the control of gene expression in living cell. RNA is a very versatile molecule, able of holding genetic information, of interacting and assembling with other molecules in the cell, and of catalyzing very diverse molecular reactions necessary for life. I have created an efficient computational methodology for designing synthetic RNA systems that perform as logic gates in the cell. The designer RNAs can then sense specific molecules and act on specific targets in he cell, making them very promising components for the future of molecular diagnostic and synthetic biology.

### Understanding lung dendritic cell function in resistance to influenza: from mouse to human

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/understanding-lung-dendritic-cell-function-in-resistance-to-influenza-from-mouse-to-human
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Matthew COLLIN

Three times over the last century, the influenza A virus has caused major global pandemics with significant rates of disease and death. Even the less fierce, seasonal flu epidemics have their cost: recent estimates show that, in the United States, they cost the economy some 100 billion dollars. What’s more, since small changes to the virus’s genetic makeup occur constantly, our vaccines must be updated every year as we try to stay one step ahead of this pathogen. Understanding better how the flu virus interacts with the human immune system would answer questions about how it manages to evade our defenses. This is the goal of a team led by Prof. Matthew Collin of Newcastle University. They started their investigation at the virus’s first point of contact with our immune system: the lung dendritic cells. The main role of dendritic cells (DC) is to take up foreign particles invading the body and process them for presentation on the cell surface—a signal that will activate other cells to launch an immune response. Using innovative bioinformatics tools, Collin’s lab identified two subsets of human DC that appear to have distinct functions in resisting infection with influenza A. This was first observed in mouse models, which will also make it possible to determine the exact role of the DC subsets in fighting off the virus. To accomplish this, Collin will use a method called inducible depletion, meaning he will artificially trigger the regression of each of the mouse dendritic cell subsets in question, to determine the effect their absence may have on the immune response to influenza A. The conclusions drawn from such mouse studies will need to be translated back into humans in order to shed light on the virus’s ability to cause disease in people. Additional tests to achieve this important step will be carried out on human DC grown in the lab, as well as an innovative “humanized” mouse model with human lung DC grafts. Ultimately, Collin’s research should clarify to a much greater extent the precise role of our lung dendritic cells in launching a defense against influenza A infection. With this knowledge, more relevant strategies could be developed for designing vaccines—a current need that is sure to remain with us into the future.

### Financial decision-making under ambiguity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/financial-decision-making-under-ambiguity
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Yehuda IZHAKIAN

Which job opportunity is more likely to yield the best result for career growth? One may consider an array of criteria in making such a choice and be influenced by subjective biases. But the real question is: how can alternatives be ranked by the criterion of ambiguity?* Shadow probability theory captures the multidimensional nature of uncertainty by assuming that probabilities of events are themselves, random. This model, introduced by Dr Izhakian, allows us to make a distinction between subjective aversion to ambiguity and objective degree of ambiguity. The objective degree of ambiguity can be tested empirically with data, while preferences toward ambiguity can be easily monitored in laboratory experiments. By challenging the conventional wisdom of financial theory, Dr Izhakian shows that once ambiguous probabilities are incorporated into asset-pricing models, full diversification may not necessarily be optimal. My research focuses on the implication of ambiguity on financial decision making. During the recent decade it has become commonly agreeable that existing financial models cannot explain many observable phenomena in the financial world. One flaw of the existing models is that they do not capture the entire picture of uncertainty. My research generalizes models of asset pricing to accommodate additional tier of uncertainty, called ambiguity. Namely, it models financial decision making in a more realistic manner by dropping the standard and restrictive assumption that economic agents know the precise odds of possible events.

### Social evolution of microbial heavy metal bioremediation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/social-evolution-of-microbial-heavy-metal-bioremediation
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Angus BUCKLING

Human-imposed heavy metal contamination of soils and groundwater is a major problem both for natural ecosystems and the development of brown-field sites. Conventional physico-chemical methods of heavy metal removal from contaminated sites are too expensive to be carried out on larger scales, and may themselves have adverse effects on soil structure and function. A particularly promising and cost-effective approach is phytoremediation - the use of heavy-metal tolerant plants to absorb the heavy metals. However, the success of phytoremediation is dependent on the microbial community producing extracellular molecules, siderophores. While the primary role of siderophores is to scavenge iron, they also bind toxic heavy metals. Heavy metals are more readily taken up by plants when bound to microbial siderophores, and siderophore production in contaminated sites detoxifies the environment for the microbial community, which in turn promotes increased plant growth. Maximising microbial siderophore production will therefore greatly increase the success of phytoremediation. Unfortunately, evolution does not always work in our favour, and both theory and our test-tube experiments suggest that microbes rapidly evolve to make less siderophore in metal-contaminated sites. This is because siderophore production is metabolically costly to the individual cell, but provides a benefit to all individuals in the environment through heavy metal decontamination. As such, non-siderophore producing “cheats” will have a fitness advantage over siderophore producers, at the expense of the community as a whole. While the problem could in principle be solved by the continual addition of high siderophore-producing bacteria, this is not practical outside of the lab. There is a solution: change the environment so that siderophore production is directly beneficial to the producing individuals, hence preventing cheats from evolving. Siderophores are directly beneficial to individual producers when iron is insoluble, and iron is insoluble in non-acidic environments. Fortunately, soil acidity can be easily and cheaply reduced by the addition of lime. We will determine if our in vitro findings, that heavy metal contamination results in the evolution of siderophore cheating, also applies in natural populations by measuring microbial siderophore production in heavy-metal contaminated (through mining) or uncontaminated sites across Cornwall. We will then determine causal links between metal contamination, acidity and the evolution of siderophore production by evolving natural soil communities in real-time under controlled conditions. Finally, we will determine how these evolved communities that differ in siderophore production affect the ability of a metal hyper-accumulating plant to suck up the heavy metal contaminants. To achieve our goals, we have assembled a highly interdisciplinary team specializing in high throughput genome sequencing, microbial experimental evolution, physical chemistry and mathematical modeling. The study has the potential to pave the way for highly effective phytoremediation of heavy metals. Moreover, the study will be the first application of the rapidly expanding field of microbial social evolution to a real problem; and the first studied example of social evolution within the context of whole communities, rather than simply within species. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Evolution of Hail Storms over Europe in a Changing Climate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/evolution-of-hail-storms-over-europe-in-a-changing-climate
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Michael SANDERSON

A few years ago, in the town of Ottery St Mary in Devon, a localized but very intense hail storm left cars and buildings buried in up to nearly one meter of ice. Heavy rain accompanied this storm, which caused widespread flooding. Although it was a rare and unusual event, will such events become more severe and frequent in the future? There may be fewer storms, but they will likely be much more intense or, because the climate is warmer, hail reaching the ground may be smaller due to increased melting. Dr. Michael Sanderson, senior climate researcher from the MET Office, will work in collaboration with the European Severe Storms Laboratory using a regional climate model in order to understand how the characteristics of hail storms may change over Europe between the present day and the 2050s. This regional climate model will be used with a well-established model of hail formation to understand how the frequency and severity of hail storms and the size of hail stones will evolve under a changing climate. He has already assessed the hail model consisting of observed and simulated meteorological data from across the UK, which is an effective proxy for all of Europe. Dr. Michael Sanderson also measured this model’s ability to reproduce individual hail storms and compared the number of hail storms and hail stone sizes. Overall, the distribution and seasonality of hail storms were reasonable; however, the frequency turned out too high. He is now working to improve this model to take into account the disagreement between observations and hail databases as well as to test it on a number of observed hail storms. Finally, to enhance the level of certainty in the projections of hail storms, the improved hail model will be used with three new regional climate model simulations for the period from 1990 to 2060 in order to evaluate how hail storms will evolve across Europe under a changing climate. His study of the evolution of hail storms across Europe and the resulting modeling tools will help build a greater understanding of the future impact of these destructive weather events.

### Unraveling the molecular basis of a Synuclein Dysfunction and the Impairment of Neurogenesis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/unraveling-the-molecular-basis-of-a-synuclein-dysfunction-and-the-impairment-of-neurogenesis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Susana GONCALVES

In Parkinson’s disease, alpha-synuclein protein, whose normal job is unknown, accumulates in neurons, affects their functioning and impairs the communication between neurons. Susana Gonçalves aims to discover its role, hoping to unravel a new treatment strategy. The aggregation of alpha-synuclein (a-syn) on neurons is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most common age related neurodegenerative disorder. We have been investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the initial steps involved in a-syn aggregation through bioimaging based- and molecular techniques. We identified 17 genetic modifiers of a-syn oligomerization, an early event in the protein aggregation cascade, including genes involved in intracellular trafficking, and in signal transduction pathways. The identification of those genetic modifiers of a-syn aggregation will represent a significant advance for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for PD and related diseases.

### Effects of global changes on the vegetation management plan of the Ibity protected area, Madagascar

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/effects-of-global-changes-on-the-vegetation-management-plan-of-the-ibity-protected-area-madagascar
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Swanni Tatiana ALVARADO-ROMERO

Madagascar is one of the largest reservoirs of biological diversity in the world. Yet in the last 50 years, its ecosystems have suffered from great pressures, leading to a profound modifi cation of natural processes (e.g. fi re regimes), contributing to environmental and, ultimately, to socio-economic and cultural impoverishment of the island and its inhabitants. As part of a prospective conservation project, Swanni T. Alvarado has joined forces with local institutions and communities in an effort to better manage and protect the vegetation of the Ibity Mountain from its greatest threat: fi re. She is combining data on the effects of fi re frequency on Ibity’s biodiversity, climate and annual burned areas with ecological and sociogeographic analyses in order to propose an appropriate vegetation management plan. Besides its paramount importance for local actors, Alvarado’s work may inform land-use management policies.

### Temporal and epigenetic regulation of neural progenitor plasticity in Drosophila

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/temporal-and-epigenetic-regulation-of-neural-progenitor-plasticity-in-drosophila
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Cédric MAURANGE

The discovery of stem cells in the adult brain has triggered new hope for replacing neurons in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. However, compared to the embryonic kind, adult neural stem cells (NSCs) multiply less and can mature into fewer cell types. Dr. Maurange’s work sheds light on the signals regulating an adult NSC’s fate. If this control system can be unraveled, the manipulation of adult stem cells to effectively treat neurodegenerative disorders may, indeed, prove possible.

### Dynamics of the re-mobilisation of silver particles in porous media by chemical and physical perturbations: role of solution chemistry and flow velocity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/dynamics-of-the-re-mobilisation-of-silver-particles-in-porous-media-by-chemical-and-physical-perturbations-role-of-solution-chemistry-and-flow-velocity
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Veronica MORALES

The fate and transport of colloid and nanoparticle contaminants in environmental porous media is a topic of significant interest because soils are the primary filter for water resources. Traditionally, soils are managed as natural filters that efficiently and permanently remove particles from infiltrating groundwater or landfill leachate. Nevertheless, disturbances to the flow hydrodynamics or solution chemistry can induce significant colloid and nanoparticle remobilization in porous media. Intermittent high-rate well pumping episodes and rain/irrigation infiltration events can produce such physico-chemical disturbances, therefore management strategies that control soil-water flow rates and chemistry in the field can help minimize groundwater contamination risks. This project will investigate the dynamics of particle remobilization by coupled physical and chemical disturbances through a combination of laboratory transport experiments and numerical simulations. Experimental data will be gathered using a novel 3-Dimensional Particle Tracking imaging technique. With this method, Lagrangian trajectories of numerous individual particles can be recorded simultaneously as they move through the porous medium, become deposited, and subsequently get remobilized following systematically executed disturbances. A novelty of this approach is the use of a transparent soil surrogate that permits optical access to all pore-spaces of the medium, which is impossible in real soils. Numerical simulations will combine particle attachment and detachment kinetics with near-solid surface hydrodynamic forces derived from the expected flow field to describe transport and remobilization of silver particles in a mechanistically correct manner. The objectives of this work are to: i) quantitatively understand the effect of physical and chemical disturbances on remobilization of particles in contaminated soils, ii) develop a predictive tool that can accurately forecast the magnitude and duration of particle remobilization occurrences under a broad range of disturbances, and iii) ultimately use this information to regulate land management activities that affect particle remobilization. From a fundamental perspective, the new insights gained from this work will elucidate remobilization kinetics and space-dependent conditions that make porous media susceptible to release colloids and nanoparticles. From a practical application, this knowledge can be used to develop land management strategies that minimize physico-chemical disturbances known to inadvertently mobilize contaminants into flowing groundwater. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Study of the motor correlate in the functional model of empathy for pain

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/study-of-the-motor-correlate-in-the-functional-model-of-empathy-for-pain
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Giulia BUCCHIONI

We all know there’s a link between our bodies and our emotions, but much remains to be understood. The most innovative aspect of Bucchioni’s project is her search for correlations between empathy for pain, bodily posture and a host of physiological indexes. The idea is that by measuring such factors as heart and breathing rate and electrical activity in muscle, she will help neuroscientists better understand the interactions between motor systems and emotional control.

### New technologies to tackle the risks of our power-hungry society: getting closer to room temperature superconductivity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/new-technologies-to-tackle-the-risks-of-our-power-hungry-society-getting-closer-to-room-temperature-superconductivity
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Isabel GUILLAMON

Superconductivity, discovered one century ago, is one of most exciting phenomena in Condensed Matter Physics by its intrinsic scientific interest and by its potential importance for electronic applications. Superconductors have zero resistance and cables made out of these materials can carry electrical currents with zero losses. This makes it possible to build the most powerful magnets, which are used in magnetic resonance imaging and to guide particles in accelerators such as LHC, to fabricate electric generators and motors that reduce emissions, to make fault current limiters to avoid blackouts, and a long etcetera of applications which are under continuous development. Superconductivity appears at low temperatures, which implies that all applications of superconductors require cooling. Particularly interesting for applications are those showing superconductivity above some tens of Kelvin, the socalled high critical temperature (HTc) superconductors, where cooling requirements are much more affordable. However, the current carrying capability of these materials is limited by the motion of quanta of magnetic flux, called vortices, which form inside the superconductors under the action of a current. To stop vortex dissipation is, hence, a primary requirement to achieve any practical application of superconductors. Within this project, advanced nanofabrication tools will be used to improve vortex pinning through nanopatterning in HTc superconductors. This novel approach will allows us to best optimize their ability to carry electrical current with zero resistance. To achieve this objective, I will combine macroscopic transport and local measurements of the critical current as a function of the temperature and magnetic field. For the local measurements, I will use extremely sensitive microscopes (Scanning Tunneling Microscopy), available at the Low Temperature Laboratory of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. I will visualize a large number of vortices in a single image and track them one by one as a function of the temperature, magnetic field and current. I will correlate these results with current carrying experiments and provide engineers with new means to improve applications based on HTc superconductors and better utilize their potential.

### Enhanced molecular Breast Cancer imaging : 1 mm resolution positron emission tomography

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/enhanced-molecular-breast-cancer-imaging-1-mm-resolution-positron-emission-tomography
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Virginia SPANOUDAKI

Mammography is a widely used method for the detection and screening of non-palpable breast cancer; however it has a very high rate of false-positive detection (around 80%). Dr. Virginia Spanoudaki has worked on designing a high spatial resolution, breast-dedicated nuclear medicine imaging technique which provides three-­dimensional images. This technique promises to improve breast cancer management and can be used in conjuction with existing breast imaging methods. The system is currently under evaluation. My research focuses on developing novel, high resolution imaging instrumentation for organ or patient specific Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a non-invasive, in-vivo molecular imaging technology. Currently efforts are focused on constructing a high-performance, low cost, portable camera dedicated to the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

### Agile Application Management

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/agile-application-management
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Jochen WULF

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Network of general practitioners and specialists: Profiting from the knowledge about their professional interaction

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/network-of-general-practitioners-and-specialists-profiting-from-the-knowledge-about-their-professional-interaction
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ágnes LUBLóY

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### How accurately can we predict species extinction and reintroduction? Embracing ecological complexity to assess risk in ecosystems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/how-accurately-can-we-predict-species-extinction-and-reintroduction-embracing-ecological-complexity-to-assess-risk-in-ecosystems
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Phillip STANICZENKO

Have you thanked your local ecosystem today? Through the intricate web of interactions that exist within a community of many species, ecosystems provide services that humans depend on. Pollination, soil formation, nutrient cycling, pest control: remove one link in the chain – if a given species goes extinct, for instance – and processes as vital as these could fall apart. As human activities alter ecosystems by accelerating climate change, deforestation and more, the ability to predict the consequences, and in a dependable way, becomes crucial. Dr. Phillip Staniczenko is a physicist who uses mathematics to study ecology, applying network science to the vast amount of data collected by ecologists about the natural world. He is creating innovative methods that paint a more complete picture of ecosystem interactions, thus yielding more reliable predictions. For example, most estimates of a species’ extinction risk focus on environmental conditions, without taking into account the full range of interactions it is involved in. Phillip’s new approach makes it possible to include such fundamental factors as the presence or absence of a predator’s prey. His work goes further, too, in considering the relative strength of these connections. Information like this will help ecologists know what data is most essential to obtain meaningful predictions. With the methods he is developing, Dr. Staniczenko has already successfully predicted the effect of deforestation on a community of insects in Ecuador that serve as important agents of pest control. Next, he plans to investigate what effect omitting ecosystem interactions has had: Has it led us to consistently overestimate species extinction risk, or under? The stakes could be significant – for those species, their ecosystems, and for us.

### Adolescent substance use: assessment of risk factors and risk prevention in a comparative perspective

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/adolescent-substance-use-assessment-of-risk-factors-and-risk-prevention-in-a-comparative-perspective
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nicoletta BALBO

Alcohol, tobacco, drugs: many people first try them as teens, which is also the age when substance abuse problems may begin. But the social and psychological factors behind them are unclear. Dr. Nicoletta Balbo is measuring teens’ evalution of risk and identifying causes of substance use through statistical analyses of interacting risk factors. Rigorous, quantitative comparisons of multiple European countries like this are rare. Yet, identifying “universal” elements could lead to effective prevention strategies.

### AXA Award on Big Data, Privacy, and Discrimination

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-award-on-big-data-privacy-and-discrimination
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Paul OHM

New big data computational techniques promise to disrupt our expectations of privacy in an unprecedented way. We need to understand their power and limits and to think about how the law should respond, if at all.

### Assembly, function and maintenance of olfactory circuits

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/assembly-function-and-maintenance-of-olfactory-circuits
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Cameron WYATT

Fishing for clues in neuronal activity Zebrafish are gentle, silent, easy to keep, and fun to watch. The perfect pet. Like many neurobiologists, Dr. Cameron Wyatt likes them for another reason: they are a powerful model system for the study of vertebrate development and disease. He will use them to understand how neurons born in the olfactory system mature and integrate into the developing brain. One of the aims of the experiment, which studies both larvae and adult fish, is to see how the fate of the neurons is reflected in zebrafish behavior. Extended to humans, the results could help develop treatments for the repair of brain circuits involved in memory and learning. Disruption of these brain circuits is common in the elderly and in people with neurological disorders. The findings could then be useful for research on Alzheimer’s, which currently affects 850,000 people in France.

### Particular methods for the statistical analysis of mixtures of distributions and of hidden Markov chains

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/particular-methods-for-the-statistical-analysis-of-mixtures-of-distributions-and-of-hidden-markov-chains
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Pierre JACOB

Predicting the weather, anticipating fluctuations in stock prices, assessing seismic risk… Although these tasks are very different, they all have one thing in common: time series analysis. The distinctive feature of these types of models is that the value of each observation depends on previously observed values. This makes time series analysis a powerful tool for describing chronological events, but up to a certain limit. “These models can become so complex that it is sometimes difficult to integrate all the data streams, mainly due to data processing capability,” explains Dr. Jacob. The core aim of his research is to develop new effective methods based on an iterative selection of the most credible models, in order to predict the evolution of time series. In this respect, finance will be a key object of study. My research focuses on Bayesian Inference in state space models, applications to stochastic volatility estimation and forecasting, model selection in time series, Monte Carlo methods.

### Deficient memory processing during sleep: A possible factor in age-related memory impairment

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/deficient-memory-processing-during-sleep-a-possible-factor-in-age-related-memory-impairment
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Delphine OUDIETTE

As we grow older, memory and sleep quality usually decline. Due to the lack of studies on the correlation be-tween these two phenomena, Dr. Delphine Oudiette decided to investigate whether memory loss during aging reflects (even partially) a decline in sleep quality. Oudiette is using novel methods to manipulate memory processing during sleep. An advance in the understanding of the relationship between memory, sleep and aging could contribute to improving memory in normal and pathological aging."

### Empowering Community Resilience Towards Climate Change Impact in Central Africa Using Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/empowering-community-resilience-towards-climate-change-impact-in-central-africa-using-technology-enhanced-learning-tel
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Sandrine MEGUIENG SIDZE

Researchers monitoring the effects of climate change in central Africa could benefit from a mobile phone app allowing locals to record data on water collection points…but would it help Cameroonian women carry that water home for their families? Clearly, the objectives of different parties faced with a changing climate are not always aligned. This could account for the inefficiency of many actions deployed with the intention of reducing climate risks, as seen in Cameroon. The missing element that could help line things up, says Sandrine Sidze, is education, specifically designed for the audience in question and its technology tools of choice. Sidze’s research has already revealed a lack of knowledge about climate change among rural communities in her native country. The absence of meaningful exchange and collaboration between the population, NGOs, decision makers and other stakeholders is the inevitable result. Her research thus focuses on designing and disseminating a model for technology-enhanced public education that empowers the learner. Importantly, it will be adapted to the specific contexts found in Cameroon: the needs, culture, language and capacities of the different stakeholders. Her method will take advantage of technology tools already popular in the country, such as radio stations broadcasting in national languages and community media centers facilitating internet access for rural populations. Sandrine Sidze aims not only to increase the local community’s knowledge on climate topics, but to help them, their governments, universities, NGOs – in central Africa and elsewhere – better grasp the connection between their local environment and global issues of climate change and development. The ultimate goal: the collaborative creation of sustainable new habits for all.

### Understanding Transmission of Influenza Viruses in Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/understanding-transmission-of-influenza-viruses-in-asia
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Hui-Ling YEN

Dr. Yen's purpose is to evaluate the rate of transmission efficiency of influenza viruses via aerosols or droplets of different particle sizes, both in the laboratory and in the field. Understanding the significance of different modes of transmission is critical in developing effective control measures for influenza. Her results will help reduce the life risk of influenza under epidemic or pandemic settings.

### Does shareholder voting reduc the risk of destruction of value in acquisitions?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/does-shareholder-voting-reduc-the-risk-of-destruction-of-value-in-acquisitions
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Andrea POLO

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Climate change and extreme weather events

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-and-extreme-weather-events
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Rita YU

In addition to floods, droughts are one of the most damaging natural hazards in human, environmental and economic terms. Climate change is stimulating demand from decision-makers and other stakeholders for better understanding of potential future drought characteristics, in order to identify effective measures to reduce drought risks and the associated impacts. Our incomplete understanding of the behavior of the climate system has led to the development of various emission scenarios and climate models. Uncertainties arise also from the different types and definitions of drought. Rita Yu seeks to examine the effects of climate change on European drought, and to illustrate the robustness of these projections by quantifying the effects of using different emission scenarios, GCMs and drought definitions, specifically meteorological and hydrological droughts." As climate changes, an increase in frequency and/or intensity of extreme weather events can seriously impact on lives and livelihoods. Better estimates of potential future extreme weather are therefore essential for national and international policy makers, businesses, and particularly the insurance industry. My research focuses on the development of improved projections of heatwave and intense precipitation events, with a particular focus on droughts, in various world regions for a range of 21st century future climate change scenarios, and to understand the robustness of these projections to use of varying methodologies.

### Protecting Brains from Stroke’s Cellular Stress

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/protecting-brains-from-strokes-cellular-stress
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Benoît ROUSSEL

Across populations, the single greatest cause of disability, and second cause of mortality, is stroke. Half of the 16 million stroke victims worldwide become disabled when blood flow to their brain is interrupted, starving neurons of the oxygen and glucose they need to live. The health and economic burden on society is huge. It is remarkable, then, that just one drug is available to treat the cerebral blood clots behind most ischemic strokes, and this is only appropriate for use in 5-8% of patients. Called tPA, this substance naturally produced by the body is a complex character, whose effects are sometimes beneficial, sometimes harmful, likely depending on dose, form and context. At the same time, the death of brain cells associated with stroke is known to take place via many different routes. Dr. Benoit Roussel hopes to capitalize on that fact by gaining a precise understanding of one such chain of molecular events. This could open doors to developing new treatments that operate in the same way to save brain cells. His preliminary results are both surprising and promising. He explains that, in stroke, cells starved of energy activate a cellular stress response; if this goes on too long, it will trigger the program for cell death. Dr. Roussel wondered what role the stroke drug tPA might play in this specific, little-studied scenario. To simulate the conditions of stroke, he grew mouse neurons in a chamber without oxygen and deprived them of glucose, then observed what happened when he added tPA. It turned out the drug was able to decrease the cellular stress reaction that would eventually have proven deadly to the cells. He is now picking apart the mechanisms that make this happen. Different steps along the path could become targets for new drugs with very precise action, capable of reducing cellular stress brought on by stroke and potentially avoiding the harmful effects of tPA. In a world where populations around the globe are getting older, increasing the risks associated with stroke, additional treatment options would make a critical difference. Scientific title: Neuroserpin and the ER Stress Pathway: Two Ways to Investigate the Effects Of tPA in Cerebral Ischaemia

### AXA Chair in Molecular Oncology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-chair-in-molecular-oncology
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Mariano BARBACID

Intermediary Research Outcome Report Permanent AXA Chair Professor Mariano Barbacid is continuing his fascinating 40-year journey with K-Ras, an oncogene he discovered in 1982. Like all oncogenes, K-Ras has the potential to transform a cell into a tumor cell. Professor Barbacid’s pioneering work has paved the way for targeted therapies for some cancers, and more recent research efforts have led to the identification of druggable targets in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. With 1 in 5 cancer patients still dying from the K-Ras mutation, his continued devotion to this field of research could not be more precious.

### Receptor signalling coupled to antigen presentation in dentritic cells

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/receptor-signalling-coupled-to-antigen-presentation-in-dentritic-cells
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Eik HOFFMANN

Vital to our immune defense is the role of dendritic cells (DC) in capturing foreign particles, such as pathogens, in our tissues. They process the debris and display fragments on their surface— a signal that activates the next line of defense. Dr. Eik Hoffmann is studying detection molecules, or receptors, on the cell surface to show how DC trigger an immune reaction. His results show that both the type of receptor activated and the efficiency of pathogen processing dictate the immune response that follows. My research focuses on investigating the role and importance of cell surface receptors involved in phagocytic pathogen uptake leading to dendritic cell maturation programs, which represent the key step of an initiation or repression of immune responses in the human body.

### Increasing Longevity in Vietnam: Strategies for Long-Term Care - the Intergenerational Contract

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/increasing-longevity-in-vietnam-strategies-for-long-term-care-the-intergenerational-contract
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Matthew TYE

As older populations continue to grow, we must better understand the factors that affect the well-being of the elderly. Matthew Tye will examine formal and informal care and support structures in Vietnam, including intergenerational relationships. Examining the effects of individual ageing on the well-being of older people and their households in Vietnam, with a view to informing appropriate strategies and policies to address the challenges of accelerated population ageing. Good Long Term Care requires a synthesis of activity from many spheres. Publicly-funded LTC is provided to an extremely limited extent in Vietnam. Household dynamics are of importance to the processes of healthy active ageing especially intergenerational relationships and informal care.The project hypothesises that the contribution that older people make to social and economic development is a primary factor determining the dynamics of their, and their households’, well-being.

### Mapping Cultural Heritage Risks: from beauty to fragility

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/mapping-cultural-heritage-risks-from-beauty-to-fragility
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Tiziana BELTRAME

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Generation of tsunami waves

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/generation-of-tsunami-waves
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Leonardo GORDILLO

Tsunamis have reminded us of their devastating power more than once in recent years. Usually the result of an earthquake rapidly deforming the ocean floor and moving a massive volume of water, the exact process that triggers such extreme waves is still not well understood. Leonardo Gordillo knows that identifying the precise mechanisms leading to a tsunami would help predict how its story will unfold. Current predictive systems are too simple: they assume the ocean floor is flat or that the surface moves in the same way as the seabed following an earthquake. Through tsunami experiments in the lab, using a long tank of water with a moveable bottom, Dr. Gordillo was able to characterize and model the transfer of motion from the seabed to the surface, taking into account the underwater topography and seabed dynamics. This tool can now be used to add data on the local sea floor terrain to help warn of impending tsunamis, as well as predict the consequences for the threatened coastline – a significant improvement for tsunami predictions in the real world.

### Marine aliens and climate change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/marine-aliens-and-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Christine MAGGS

Survival of the fittest! This is what evolutionary theory has taught us. Yet did you know that this could result in full-fledged wars in the marine world? The proliferation of invasive marine species to new geographical areas has become a wide-spread and expanding phenomenon which now endangers the capacity of native species to face genetic drifts. In addition to this new weakness, the increase of water transport has contributed to the multiplication of pathways and points of entry for marine aliens and biological colonization. Serious economic damage has been an inevitable result, thus making Invasive Alien Species* (IAS) the second most important cause of global biodiversity loss. Currently Head of the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Christine Maggs’s project aims to provide extensive and valuable knowledge on the status of coastal marine invasions in Europe, with a view to identifying and monitoring the impact of climate change and human pressure on the dynamics of coastal marine ecosystems. In the face of alarming rates of IAS spread in recent years, Professor Maggs’s initiative is an innovative response to biodiversity loss, as it brings together a consortium of multidisciplinary stakeholders, researchers and decision makers at the European level. Indeed, Professor Maggs’s strategy, which has been further strengthened by collaborations with Spanish, French and British research institutions, manages to combine top-down (ecological theory-based) and bottom-up (collation of novel and historical data sets of invasion) approaches in a dual model-fitting view. This method facilitates comparison between different invasive species and has potential applications for managing invasions and policy-making. In addition to reducing the threat of marine biodiversity loss, Prof. Maggs’s results could be crucial for the elaboration of management guidelines, in keeping with the European Strategy on IAS, to preserve biodiversity.

### Human Disturbance, Climate Change and Macroalgal-Driven Feedbacks on degraded coral reef Ecosystems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/human-disturbance-climate-change-and-macroalgal-driven-feedbacks-on-degraded-coral-reef-ecosystems
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Andrew BAUMAN

Coral reefs are in decline worldwide with many being overgrown by large fleshy macroalgae. While the causes of reef degradation are relatively well established, there is an absence of information on how key ecological processes respond to this degradation. This project aims to understand the role of macroalgae in shaping ecological processes on degraded coral reefs. This research will determine how the foraging behavior of fishes capable of preventing and reversing macroalgal overgrowth, and the replenishment of fish and coral populations are influenced by the composition and density of macroalgal beds. The outcomes from this research will provide a framework for predicting future changes in key processes on coral reefs and will identify temporal windows in which management actions may be most effective; leading to more effective protection of coral reefs. In doing so it will not only identify the processes that maintain and reinforce macroalgae dominance on coral reefs, but also identify ways to reverse such states. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### High-pressure studies of molecular hydrides

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/high-pressure-studies-of-molecular-hydrides
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Petra SZILÁGYI

Fed up with paying too much at the gas pump? Alternative forms of energy carriers are emerging, just be patient! One may be hydrogen: when hydrogen is combined with oxygen in a fuel cell, electricity is produced. Dr. Petra Szilágyi works on potential solutions for a safe, reversible and economical storage of hydrogen. Indeed, this is a major issue to resolve prior to any extensive use of this new technology. What makes the storage of hydrogen challenging is that, in its natural state, hydrogen is a gas. Dr. Szilágyi carries out state-of-the-art high-pressure experiments to find solutions for solid-state storage. For on-board, automotive applications, her research could help hydrogen energy become a replacement for fossil fuels, which are limited and polluting. Ultimately, this could have a profound impact on the global economy, as we take one more step towards a new “hydrogen economy”.

### Studying and forecasting the climate change using novel methods of statistical analysis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/studying-and-forecasting-the-climate-change-using-novel-methods-of-statistical-analysis
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Valerie LIVINA

Small changes in the climate may have serious consequences for our planet. Whether we can predict them or not is what Dr. Valerie Livina is studying. Due to human-induced global warming, several components of the earth’s system could cross critical thresholds and switch to different states. For instance, in the future, the Arctic sea ice could entirely melt during summer. The West African monsoon could be strongly disrupted, inducing severe droughts. Dr. Livina is developing novel statistical methods for the analysis of time series of data in order to identify potential indicators of the approach of critical thresholds. Dr. Livina's work might help anticipate, detect and forecast them, which is crucial for the development of sustainable strategies by policy makers. It could therefore have significant consequences for the future evolution of the climate on our planet. My research focuses on studying bifurcations and transitions in the climate system using novel methods of statistical analysis: modified degenerate fingerprinting and potential analysis. The approach employs (i) derivation of potential from time series; (ii) study of possible bifurcations of the potential; (iii) projection of the time series according to the estimated transition. The objectives are to examine whether any components of the climate system have already passed a bifurcation point under anthropogenic forcing, and to explore which components may pass a bifurcation point this century.

### Environmental Risks and Collective Action in Urban China

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/environmental-risks-and-collective-action-in-urban-china
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Xiaoyi SUN

Constructions such as infrastructure of waste management and power consumption often trigger reaction from local residents, who perceive such facilities as posing health and safety hazard to their neighborhoods. Yet, scholarly understanding of the political and social consequences of environmental risks in China is generally inadequate - most of the governments’ measures focus only on the technical aspects of the issues, but often fail to address the political aspects of the issues like environmental justice, equity and mechanism of consultation and participation. This leads to increasing incidence of environmental activism of affected urban residents in voicing their demand for politically viable solutions. Frequent and large-scale environmental activism, however, has been perceived by the party state as posing threat to social stability and triggers resistance within the local government in opening up the public policy decision process. Against this backcloth, this project aims to explore the ways citizens perceive and act collectively towards locally unwanted environmental risks in urban China from a social movement perspective. It has two research purposes. First, it aims to examine citizens’ perceptions towards environmental risks from locally unwanted land use projects. The way people perceive them is a crucial driving force for their collective actions. The second research purpose of this study is to examine how different risk perceptions and framing strategies lead to different forms of collective action. The interviewees will include activists, residents, NGO leaders, journalists, experts, government officials and other stakeholders.

### Individual-specific risks in evacuation: women and children first?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/individual-specific-risks-in-evacuation-women-and-children-first
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nikolai BODE

In Nikolai's own words... Crowd disasters, for example during the evacuation of crowds from enclosed spaces, claim many victims every year. Previous research has largely investigated crowds as a whole. In contrast, I focus on the individual-specific risks posed by the crowd dynamics of evacuations. For example, accidents could occur as a result of differences in behaviour, physical, cognitive or social circumstances. I address the following questions: How does crowd composition affect individual and group movement decisions in the context of evacuations? How and why do physical, mental or social circumstances, such as age or the presence of family members, increase the risk to the well-being of individuals in evacuations? What is the effect of initial conditions (e.g. position of seating) on the individual-specific risk during evacuations? What is the effect of evacuation strategies, such as evacuating women and children first, on the general and individual evacuation?

### Corporate default prediction & Credit Risk chain modelling

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/corporate-default-prediction-credit-risk-chain-modelling
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Yangzhengxuan WANG

Yangzhengxuan (Monica) Wang is on a mission. While most credit risk studies ignore systemic risk, Wang believes this approach is unrealistic and potentially dangerous: “The sub-prime credit crisis perfectly illustrates the importance of this issue,”she says. “Traditional credit risk analysis led to inaccurate credit ratings and the consequent negative impact on mortgage lenders, major banks, and ultimately, the entire global financial market!” Wang posits that credit risk can be more accurately measured by considering the system as a whole. To create a quantitative model for the credit risk chain between all the counterparties in the system, she has identified an optimal set of corporate default drivers, using them to evaluate 12 corporate default models and to improve the prediction ability of two random default measurement models: mixed logit and frailty. Her strong background in financial mathematics has played a key role in Wang’s research. “My mathematical modelling skills have significantly helped my project, which covers 12 quantitative models with five model evaluation methods,” she says. “My maths background is the rock of my work: it has deepened my understanding of previous research and has driven me to go further in default risk prediction.” Wang’s work is beneficial to a broad range of actors in the financial sector and society at large. “The findings from this project may help regulators and policymakers to better assess financial stability, creditors and bankers to maximise profits, auditors to more accurately evaluate firm health, investors to reduce portfolio losses, and shareholders to optimise returns,” she concludes. “Default risk is a risk for society, so developing better ways of measuring it benefits us all.” My research focuses on investigating the factors which lead to default risk. Those factors include not just firm based information, but also macroeconomic indicators. The second part intends to explain and capture the default cluster and correlated default risk with advanced random models. Unobserved factors are tested and the default cluster is divided into industry, macroeconomic and calendar scope. The last part concentrates on evaluate prediction ability for varying models and suggest the best prediction model for further application.

### Combining Risk Assessments for Optimal Group Decisions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/combining-risk-assessments-for-optimal-group-decisions
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Thomas BOYER-KASSEM

When a new product—a drug or a pesticide, say—is deemed safe and released on the market, someone has decided to give it their seal of approval. More likely, a group of people have come together, evaluated the risks involved, and made a collective decision. This makes Dr. Thomas Boyer-Kassem wonder how they went about it, if they pooled their risk assessments in the best way, and if there even is a “right” way! Originally trained in physics, today he is applying mathematical tools to philosophical questions to understand the best ways for groups to make collective judgments. His theoretical work aims to answer questions that are relevant to expert committees, corporate boards, political bodies—any group of individuals charged with making decisions together about risks. “Aggregating judgments is no simple matter,” says Dr. Boyer-Kassem, and no one has yet addressed how risk assessments, specifically, should be handled. His work will identify whether they are different from other judgments and require specific rules or methods to be aggregated. To illustrate the point, he imagines a committee debating whether to authorize a new pesticide, given the guideline that the health risk must be lower than 5%. If four experts evaluate the risk at 4% and another at 14%, how should their assessments be combined? Should it be a four-against-one decision and, so, the product is approved? Or is it more appropriate to calculate the average of their votes (6%) and, thus, reject the pesticide? “Two plausible procedures to collectively assess a risk and decide on its acceptability lead to two different outcomes,” Dr. Boyer-Kassem observes. It only gets more complex if the threshold of acceptability (the 5%, in this case) is not pre-determined. Each person will have his or her own definition of “acceptable risks” to the table. This begs the question, then, of when to aggregate their positions: before they’ve each applied their acceptability limit and drawn a conclusion? Or is it better for each to come to a conclusion before aggregation, leaving out their individual thresholds? Or maybe something in between…?

### Investigating the mechanisms regulating recombination during meiosis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/investigating-the-mechanisms-regulating-recombination-during-meiosis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Rajeev KUMAR

Meiosis is essential for fertility in sexually reproducing organisms. During meiosis, recombination between the mother’s and father’s chromosomes is critical for the faithful segregation of chromosomes. Dr. Rajeev Kumar’s research aims to understand how the initiation of recombination is regulated in mammals. His work has identified key factors whose genetic ablation in mice leads to infertility. This study may provide a basic framework for delineating the molecular basis of certain cases of infertility and genetic disorders. Sexual reproduction relies on the production of gametes (sperm and egg) containing one copy of the genome. Meiotic recombination is crucial for this reduction of genomic content in gametes. Errors in recombination have been linked with infertility and developmental disorders in humans. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) initiate meiotic recombination. How DSB formation is regulated is currently unclear. My postdoctoral work is focused on understanding the regulation of DSB formation in mammals. We recently identified MEI4 and REC114 orthologs from higher eukaryotes, and showed that MEI4 is essential for DSB formation and fertility in mouse.

### Insurance for building trust and enabling Big Data

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/insurance-for-building-trust-and-enabling-big-data
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Dominique BOULLIER

Despite efforts of data administrative agencies (CNIL in France), and development of data protection legislation, the huge extension of personal data circulation is not under control. This concern is not shared by the public and every individual contributes to the flaws of the system through their own negligence so that we might face a “Fukushima of personal data”. The project will redesign the conceptual framework of personal data by moving towards a deeper understanding of what the relationship to one’s data is constituted. Personal data must be considered as a/ flows and not stocks, b/ transactional and not personal, c/ distributed and not located, d/ embedded in specific social worlds and not general and e/ regulated and not owned. The objective of this project is to study what could be the role of insurance products in enhancing trust while Big Data Technologies are expanding their reach. The project will address the complete set of conditions required for an insurance policy to enter the business of personal data by providing a guarantee on the quality of information systems using personal traces data. The project aims at providing a full understanding of 1) risks related to data, 2) qualities and loopholes of insurance offers, social networks policies and CGU about personal data management, 3) perception of risk of the layman along with his/her experience related to personal data hazards, 4) controversy on privacy and personal data, 5) actors and stakeholders involved in the resolution of the dispute about privacy in the digital world.

### Modeling evacuation and land-use planning for volcanic emergencies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/modeling-evacuation-and-land-use-planning-for-volcanic-emergencies
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Susanna JENKINS

Volcanic crises can continue for years or even decades and have global socioeconomic implications that are not yet well understood. Dr. Susanna Jenkins decided to focus her research on this largely unappreciated risk. In addition to scientifi c information, Dr. Jenkins emphasizes the importance of physical, socioeconomic and political factors for timely and effective risk-reduction decisions, such as evacuation. Using an inclusive Bayesian* approach, she aims to integrate infl uential factors such as human behavior and vulnerability into a robust decision-support framework that is capable of assessing the risk for populations exposed to volcanic hazards and quantifying the consequences of potential risk-reduction decisions. The framework could have wider applications and become a valuable tool for supporting evacuation protocols and reducing risk to natural hazards.

### The in vivo role of the RNA-binding protein SLIRP in mitochondrial function

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-in-vivo-role-of-the-rna-binding-protein-slirp-in-mitochondrial-function
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marie LAGOUGE

Just as a computer needs electricity, our cells need energy, which is provided by mitochondria. Dr. Marie Lagouge is exploring the molecular machinery involved in mitochondrial production of energy, with a focus on mitochondrial genome expression, by studying the health condition of mice with disturbed machinery. Her research will improve the understanding of the mechanisms underlying many diseases linked to decline in cellular energy, such as age-related metabolic, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders.

### An economic assesment of the role of climate change and transboundary cooperation in hydropower production in the Niger Basin

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/an-economic-assesment-of-the-role-of-climate-change-and-transboundary-cooperation-in-hydropower-production-in-the-niger-basin
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Esther DELBOURG

The risk of conflict over water in Africa depends on a multitude of human (economics, politics, culture and history) and natural factors (geography and climatic uncertainty). Esther Delbourg is studying a critical component in water negotiations: hydropower, an energy that requires high investment costs as well as a proper geographical setting and is highly dependent on climatic features. She has set out to assess the economic impact of climate change on hydropower production using the various relations between hydro-investment, past climatic data and climatic scenarios, cooperation and economic performance. By estimating the impact of hydropower variations on countries’ GDP, her results should help better understand whether climate change will signifi cantly impact future cooperation or conflict between African transboundary countries.

### Genuine Artifacts, or Forgeries Good as Gold?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/genuine-artifacts-or-forgeries-good-as-gold
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Verena LEUSCH

Gold, the most timeless of precious metals, has actually evolved through the ages. Modern gold objects differ in craftsmanship and even composition from the gold worked by the Ancients. And it’s a good thing, too: Dr. Verena Leusch relies on this fact to carry out her chemical detective work, to the benefit of both today’s art world and archeologists studying the past. Her research contributes to the authentication of artifacts, a crucial service for museums, historians and society’s understanding of the past. Because, as she puts it, “All that glitters is not antique gold.” Knowledge of ancient cultures contributes to our ability to date artifacts. For example, natural gold is actually a mixture of gold, silver and copper, and it is thought that people learned to refine their gold starting in the 6th century BC. When an excavation reveals a find that appears to be well older, yet is made of particularly pure gold, archeologists must question their assumptions about the skills of past civilizations—or the authenticity of the find. By analyzing a panel of artifacts from museum collections, like coins and ornaments, Dr. Leusch will address whether high purity gold can be used as a marker of forgery. Her work is unique for the number and variety of objects she will study: around 200 known authentic artifacts from across Europe and the Middle East, spanning the millennium up to 500 BC. Because gold does not corrode, an artifact’s composition can be measured directly on its surface. Dr. Leusch will use a quick, precise technique called x-ray fluorescence analysis to obtain this information that speaks to the purity of the gold used in different places at different times. She will next look at the trace elements present in the gold, like platinum or tin. These are simply relics of the original geological source or the production process, like a “workshop fingerprint”. The profiles of these elements are significantly different between original antiques and forgeries, she says. By going beyond isolated analyses of single objects, she will be able to take a broad view on ancient gold processing, providing necessary insight for the authentication of potentially high-value pieces of cultural history. The issue is of significant concern for museums and their funders, since costly showcases and facilities are created to display artifacts believed to be genuine. Telling forgeries from originals is essential for the insurers who provide coverage for the items of our collective heritage. On top of that, an important side effect of her work, Dr. Leusch explains, is that such conclusions affect everyone’s understanding of the past. Scientific title: All That Glitters Is Not Antique Gold: Scientific Investigation On Ancient Gold And Modern Forgeries

### Structural Role of the Brca1-Palb2-Brca2 Complex in Dna Repair

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/structural-role-of-the-brca1-palb2-brca2-complex-in-dna-repair
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Wilson LAU

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Host factors involved in Chikungunya virus infection

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/host-factors-involved-in-chikungunya-virus-infection
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Delphine JUDITH

Climate change may impact certain diseases, carried by insects to new regions of the planet. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), for example, is poised to spread globally via its mosquito vector, now present on nearly every continent. Judith studies the precise mechanisms of CHIKV infection. She has revealed how parts of our cellular machinery can block or actually encourage virus replication. This knowledge could improve lab models of the disease, enhancing the search for new treatments and prevention methods.

### Sources of Risk in Developing Economies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/sources-of-risk-in-developing-economies
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Martina KIRCHBERGER

Developing countries are well known both for their huge economic growth potential and for often being hindered on their way to development by natural disasters or civil wars. What if besides humanitarian support, economists could help too? Building on solid training in economics during her PhD at Oxford University and field experience, which included working for the United Nations in Africa and advising the Guinean Government, Martina Kirchberger is investigating the economic consequences of three types of risk in low income countries: environmental, political and socio-economic risk. With natural disasters expected to increase because of climate change, understanding their effects on communities is a burning question. In her first chapter, Martina shows that earthquakes have affected labor markets and income growth in Indonesia for more than a decade, notably due to the destruction and sudden drop in demand in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, but also through medium-term reconstruction efforts and increased investment in affected areas. Martina then concentrates on political risk and costs in the construction sector, a key sector for job creation and post-conflict recovery. Using a unique data set of road construction projects across countries and time, she has found that construction costs increase steeply in the 5 to10 years following a peace settlement. Policies aimed at bringing down costs in the construction sector are vital to remove this bottleneck for economic recovery, in turn fostering political stability. Finally, she researches child labor, which is frequently used by families in response to shocks, but little is known about whether child labor affects children's bargaining power within families. Martina illustrates that families resemble small market economies in which children who work longer hours are rewarded with higher expenditures.

### A quantitative sociobiological approach to fluctuating stress and resource management

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-quantitative-sociobiological-approach-to-fluctuating-stress-and-resource-management
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Darja DUBRAVCIC

Darja Dubravcic is studying how organisms deal with stressful situations and make decisions in an imperfect environment. Understanding their strategies may enable us to discover new means of adaptation and their costs and benefits. Nature is full of social systems; humans live in societies, birds in flocks, ants in colonies, bacteria in biofilms. Within the group individuals cooperate and compete. The cooperation assures group strength and ability to outcompete other groups. On the other hand competition serves to get the highest self benefit/interest from the group. The more diverse the group is the stronger is the competition. But diverse groups are known to be stronger in fighting agains environmental changes and give higher productivity. So, how is diversity maintained despite between individual competition? I am studying this problem on microorganism called social amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum. The cells of this amoeba spend part of their life as asocial individuals and part as part of the social group. I am looking competitive and cooperative interactions between different individuals in order to explain the diversity observed in the nature.

### Sustainable chemistry from alkanes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/sustainable-chemistry-from-alkanes
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Zuo WEIWEI

Plastics, synthetic fibers, pharmaceutical drugs: a few among a wealth of added-value products that are now born out of an alkane-based chemical synthesis. Indeed, alkanes or hydrocarbons, are the primary constituents of clean-burning fuels and natural gases, coveted by chemists. Yet, due to the generally unreactive nature of alkanes, chemical syntheses do not automatically yield the best possible results, with significant quantities of alkanes left unused. Besides ruining the latter’s ecological virtues, this is an undeniable loss for the economy. Thus, to overcome the problems of such methods, Dr. Zuo Weiwei, by developing new dehydrogenation catalysts, chose to make better use out of cheap alkanes that were not properly converted, to form a new higher-added value chemical, the olefin. This process would represent a particularly important step toward an optimal use of natural resources, thereby answering society’s desire to find cheaper and cleaner sources of materials and energy.

### Is the Ocean to Blame for Extreme Heat Waves?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/is-the-ocean-to-blame-for-extreme-heat-waves
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Aurelie DUCHEZ

During a severe heat wave, while you’re longing to be at the beach, the ocean itself might be causing the extreme hot spell! This is because the circulation within the planet’s largest masses of water is intimately linked to conditions in the atmosphere—and changes to either may drive extreme climate events, resulting in huge economic and human losses. However, assessing the potential feedbacks of the ocean on the atmosphere and on climate is a new topic of research. Dr. Aurélie Duchez’ research aims at understanding the links between altered ocean circulation and severe weather events, such as droughts, intense rainfall, severe winters and heat waves. This knowledge is the first step toward her ultimate goal: to improve weather predictions and prepare for these devastating weather events. The oceans’ influence should not be underestimated: they store 1,000 times more heat than the atmosphere and large-scale circulation patterns transport it around the planet. Northwest Europe would become considerably colder if climate change caused these ocean currents, carrying heat northward from the equator, to slow. Using data from the RAPID array, a series of sensors spanning the Atlantic from Morocco to Florida, Aurélie Duchez and her team showed that a 30% slowdown of circulation in the North Atlantic did, in fact, precede the extremely cold European winters of 2009-10 and 2010-11. Then, in the first study of its kind, they have established the role of anomalously cold North Atlantic Ocean temperatures as a precursor to the highest temperatures ever recorded in Central Europe during the summer of 2015. Since the 1980s, the appearance of the same exceptional cold patch has preceded several extreme heat waves. This points to “a previously unknown role of the Atlantic Ocean as a driver for these devastating events,” she explains. Next, she will work on understanding how, specifically, this oceanic phenomenon might lead to such intense hot spells. Understanding the mechanisms that link oceanic conditions to extreme climate events—which are expected to increase with climate change—would reveal if the latter can be predicted. This knowledge could yield improved forecasting of severe weather and sufficient lead-time for governments, health services, insurers and citizens to prepare. Scientific title: Dynamics Of European Extreme Weather: A Climate Model Intercomparison

### Anti-oxidation protection in Deinococcus radiodurans

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/anti-oxidation-protection-in-deinococcus-radiodurans
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Dea SLADE

Some organisms are extremely good at fighting oxidative stress, which is the main cause of aging. One is Deinococcus radiodurans, a tough bacterium that shows an impressive resistance when exposed to stressful events such as radiation and extreme dryness. By testing its antioxidant properties, Dr. Dea Slade is trying to understand its secret defense strategy. Her results may be of considerable help in uncovering the fundamental processes of cellular aging, with a potential impact on medicine and public health."

### Corporate governance and ethics management in professional service firms

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/corporate-governance-and-ethics-management-in-professional-service-firms
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Michel LANDER

Serving clients and making profits as a firm are two objectives that can sometimes be at odds, yet professional service firms (PSFs) have to do both. “Today there has been a shift in the law and accounting industries, traditionally infused with a dominant professional logic, toward a commercial ethos,” says Lander. Due to changes in their business environment, PSFs tend to behave more like regular business organizations, with a primary goal in mind: improving economic performance. Unfortunately, however, Lander warns that this new logic seems to result in more professional misconduct. The practices that improve performance (strategiz-ing and formal governance) replace social controls, eventually leading to misconduct. His research aims at providing insights into the relationship between performance and misconduct. His findings may be relevant not only for PSFs, but also for policy makers in drafting future regulations on professional misconduct. My research focuses on contributing to our understanding of the corporate governance and ethics management practices of PSF’s. More in particular, the following research topics will guide the different research projects that jointly constitute this PhD proposal:

### The Basis of Individual Risk-Taking, Using Bats as a Model

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-basis-of-individual-risk-taking-using-bats-as-a-model
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Arjan BOONMAN

Why are some people more prone to taking risks? By observing a community of bats, Dr. Arjan Boonman is studying the combined influence of the four possible factors that drive risk taking: genetic, social, physiological and past experience. Bats, like humans, live in social structures where each of them makes individual behavioral decisions. Boonman will create a portrait of the typical risk seeker, providing a better understanding of the causes of risk taking in bats and therefore in humans.

### Tumor and micro-environment, role of pressure in tumoral growth

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/tumor-and-micro-environment-role-of-pressure-in-tumoral-growth
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fabien MONTEL

To fight tumors use the force, you shall Cells feel stress too! Mechanical stress, that is. Physicist Fabien Montel is working in collaboration with biologists to study living tissues. A consistently inventive researcher, Dr. Montel has designed a system that uses liquid to apply pressure to tumors, which slows their growth. He has even discovered why: in the center of the tumor, cell multiplication decreases. As soon as pressure is relieved, growth resumes. Understanding the exact mechanisms of this process could lead to crucial discoveries. Dr. Montel will also investigate how pressure applied by tumors to their environment affects the surrounding healthy tissues. He is currently developing an innovative culture chamber that will allow all pressure parameters to be controlled directly and can even hold battles between malignant and healthy tissue. This will enable him to determine whether the force exerted by the malignant tissue affects the health tissue, which could give tumors a way to spread.

### New technologies - new uncertainties:the impact of emerging technologies in the management of infectious disease outbreaks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/new-technologies-new-uncertaintiesthe-impact-of-emerging-technologies-in-the-management-of-infectious-disease-outbreaks
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sophia LATHAM

In an increasingly connected world, infectious diseases can spread rapidly amongst populations. Dr. Sophia Latham is studying how new technologies impact the decision-making process to restrict the impact of emerging infectious diseases. She has decided to focus on the additional uncertainty brought by new technologies, which can make decisions more complex and the outcomes less predictable. Her findings may facilitate better decision making, thus improving health, welfare and trade conditions.

### Dynamics of the RNAi-mediated antiviral immunity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/dynamics-of-the-rnai-mediated-antiviral-immunity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Juan Alberto MONDOTTE

Why exactly would anyone want to keep insects healthy? Malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, sleeping sickness: these are but a few examples of diseases transmitted by insects. Yet Dr. Juan Alberto Mondotte could hold the key to making insects more resistant to the viruses they infect thousands with. After deciphering several crucial mechanisms of the relationship between viruses and their hosts during his PhD in Argentina, he came to France to investigate the immune system of insects. Potent and rapid, their immune system works very differently from that of vertebrates. Remarkably, insects use RNAi, a RNA based mechanism capable of preventing the expression of foreign genes. Genes that are not expressed cannot build new proteins, and viruses that cannot use their host cells to make their own proteins cannot multiply. Understanding the dynamics of insect immunity may open a whole new range of perspectives for controlling both diseases and pests in agriculture.

### Identification and manipulation of molecular pathways relevant for age-dependent tissue regeneration

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/identification-and-manipulation-of-molecular-pathways-relevant-for-age-dependent-tissue-regeneration
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Maria BLASCO

The somatic cells that constitue all tissues of the human body are specialized cells that have acquired a proper identity (blood cells, neurons…) during the embryonic development. Despite this specialization, all our cells have the same genetic information in their nucleus. The differences between cells lie on the presence of kind of tags called « epigenetic marks» that can turn genes « on » (expression) or « off » (silence) in a way that is passed on during cell division. All cells of a tissue bear the same epigenetic pattern. It was admitted that differentiation was an irreversible process till the birth of Dolly in 1996, the first mammal to be cloned with a somatic cell and the living proof that differentiated somatic cells can revert back to an embryonic state. Ten years later, Japanese scientists proved it was possible with a genetic cocktail to revert human somatic cells to cells that have properties of embryonic stem cells, the so-called « induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells ». Pluripotent means that these cells have the potential to give rise to any cell of the body. This breakthrough has great clinical implications, since these cells can, in principle, be produced from the patient’s own cells thus avoiding cloning of embryonic stem cells and the risk of immune rejection. It opens the way to personalized regenerative medicine and disease modeling. The reversal of adult cells to iPS cells goes through nuclear reprogramming, a very complex process that implies to erase or reset all the previous tags specific of each tissue. How is this achieved is largely unknown. Unraveling the age-related barriers to efficient reprogramming is the main objective of this AXA project structured into four independent subprojects led by Maria Blasco (Principal Investigator, CNIO), Manuel Serrano (CNIO , Madrid, Spain), Maria Pia Cosma (CRG, Barcelona, Spain) and Maria Carmo-Fonseca (MMI, Lisbon, Portugal). The research concerns the role of several factors during nuclear reprogramming mainly, the length of telomeres (the ends of chromosomes), the gatekeeper genes whose mutations predispose to cancer, the original reprogramming cocktail of genes, the gene silencing pathways. All this knowledge should improve the regeneration of tissues from older individuals, thus creating novel opportunities for the prevention and treatment of aging-associated diseases.

### On some problems of rough path theory:Partial differential equations and cubature methods

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/on-some-problems-of-rough-path-theorypartial-differential-equations-and-cubature-methods
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Khalil CHOUK

Taking the path less travelled: rough paths and perturbations Khalil Chouk is deliberately going through a rough patch. “The application of rough paths to partial differential equations (PDEs) is still not well developed,” he explains. “Building on research in stochastic PDEs and the theory of rough paths, I am proposing an original approach to understanding the behaviour of the Korteweg-de Vries equation—a mathematical model of waves on shallow water surfaces—in the presence of noise.” The goal is to answer questions ranging from the basic (the existence and uniqueness of solutions) to the more complex (such as effective numerical schemes and long-time behaviour). “This study offers promising perspectives in a variety of exciting areas such as environmental models. For example, it can be used to develop a more realistic model for climate change-related risks such as flooding,” Chouk says.

### Bacterial Armor Provides Protection, but Possible Treatments, Too

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/bacterial-armor-provides-protection-but-possible-treatments-too
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Roman THIBEAUX

Some bacteria can build their own suit of armor. Recently, researchers discovered the use of this protective structure in a new type of bacteria, Leptospira, that causes disease in humans and whose impact is likely to grow. This is important, because it could explain how the bacteria are able to survive for months in the environment and inside animal hosts. Leptospira is transmitted to humans mainly through water contaminated by the urine of other infected mammals. This environmental exposure is expected to grow as climate change brings heavier rainfall and increased flooding to the tropical zones where the disease is most prevalent, making it essential to understand how Leptospira circulate and what allows them to survive and multiply. Dr. Roman Thibeaux believes the previously unknown defensive structure used by the bacteria, called a biofilm, may be providing them with a safe haven that urgently requires further investigation. If he can understand its composition, formation and function, he may also find ways to create a chink in this bacterial armor, providing new ways to fight transmission. Bacterial biofilms are multicellular communities of bacteria that are stuck together, and often to a surface, via a matrix they produce collectively themselves. This protective covering surrounds and defends them against both the immune system of their host and harsh environmental conditions, like UV exposure, dehydration, salinity and lack of nutrients. To begin his investigation, Dr. Thibeaux will search for Leptospira biofilms in natural habitats in New Caledonia, in the South Pacific. Leptospirosis is especially common to humid tropical zones and he will focus on “hot spots”, where infection rates are as much as ten times higher than other areas in the region. Water and soil samples will allow him to explore the environmental conditions that favor biofilm development, like temperature, pH, oxygen levels and more.

### Malaria vaccines: a rational path toward identification of protective pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine candidates

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/malaria-vaccines-a-rational-path-toward-identification-of-protective-pre-erythrocytic-stage-vaccine-candidates
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Robert MENARD

While malaria has been wiped out in many parts of the world, the disease continues to ravage and kill victims in Africa and Southeast Asia, causing an estimated 627,000 fatalities a year according to the World Health Organization. The complexity of the life cycle of the malaria parasite helps explain why scientists have not yet developed a vaccine to protect malaria victims, some 80% of whom are children. Now though, a research team headed by Prof. Robert Menard is seeking to uncover the still mysterious workings of the malaria parasite and in so doing, provide the fundamental understanding needed for vaccine development. Widely recognized for his groundbreaking work stalking and even filming the malaria parasite in real time as it invades the human body, Menard is now focusing on the critical first step of the disease, when the Trojan Horse of malaria has entered the body but not yet launched its destructive cycle. This is when the malaria parasite is injected in the skin and enters the human bloodstream from a mosquito’s saliva, but before it has reached the liver. Once the parasite reaches the liver, it infects and kills liver cells, then returns to the bloodstream to infect and kill red blood cells and the disease takes its often deadly toll. Research has shown that it is possible to disrupt the parasite’s life cycle during the relatively short first stage, and therefore prevent the ensuing attack on the red blood cells. But existing research results are merely empirical; no one yet understands how the mechanism works. This is what Menard and his team want to figure out and why their approach is so interesting. Understanding exactly how and why certain antigens protect against the malaria parasite would provide the fundamental knowledge needed to develop a vaccine. What’s more, using powerful molecular genetics and imaging techniques, Menard aims to take the process even further by actually testing antigens individually and evaluating their respective effectiveness. The goal is to identify the most effective antigen for use as the foundation for the malaria vaccine that has eluded medical science for so long.

### Phenotypic heterogeneity in isogenic cell populations mechanisms and consequences

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/phenotypic-heterogeneity-in-isogenic-cell-populations-mechanisms-and-consequences
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Guillaume CORRE

The Strength of Diversity Differences between cells that share the same genes occur as a consequence of random molecular events. Diversification can improve adaptation to the environment but can also impact cell function and lifespan if the changes are inappropriate. My research focuses on understanding the sources of stochasticity of gene expression in higher eucaryotic cells; experimentally modulating the level of stochasticity in gene expression in these cells; investigating the impact of this modulation on the process of cell differentiation and the senescence of the population.

### Assesing the risks of civil conflict

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/assesing-the-risks-of-civil-conflict
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Joan ESTEBAN

What are the roots of conflict? While some researchers claim that social struggle is driven by inequality or irrationality, Professor Joan Esteban posits that it is primarily caused by polarisation. “Social antagonisms are fuelled by individuals’ sense of identification with their own group, combined with alienation regarding members of other competing groups,” he says. “The closer a society is to being perfectly bipolar, the more conflictual the situation will be.” Jointly with Laura Mayoral, Professor Esteban is continuing at the Instituto de Análisis Económico CSIC the work he began as head of the European Commission’s “Polarisation and Conflict” project from 2004 to 2008. Using a quantitative approach combining formal modelling with empirical research, the team is analysing polarisation as a determinant of social conflict. They are testing the hypothesis that the characteristic (ethnicity, class, etc.) with the highest degree of polarisation cleaves a specific society. They are also developing a model of conflict-triggering decisions and constructing an index of low-level social strife such as crimes, strikes and demonstrations in order to test the role of polarisation. Additional research goals include integrating existing explanations of rational struggles, and studying leadership’s role in groups’ behaviour and goal selection during conflict. “This project is a multi-disciplinary, cross-institutional effort to better understand the origins of social conflict and develop risk indicators,” says Professor Esteban. “We will provide the research community with the indices of economic, political and ethnic polarisation for all the countries in the World Values Survey. We hope that this information will help societies to avoid conflict and its costly effects.”

### Evolutionary consequences of global warming on molluscan communities

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/evolutionary-consequences-of-global-warming-on-molluscan-communities
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Elodie CHAPUIS

The impact of global warming goes far beyond melting ice. Entire ecosystems could potentially be altered, and the living things making up these environments will have no other choice but to adapt. The method implemented by Dr. Elodie Chapuis aims to assess these changes over the short term. “My work is based on community genetics, a new discipline that examines the evolutionary processes that occur among interacting populations,” she explained. Applied to freshwater snails in Guadeloupe, her work will be used to develop new strategies for protecting natural habitats affected by drought and hurricanes in tropical areas through better management of the interaction between native and invasive species.

### A proteomic approach to study cell migration during metastasis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-proteomic-approach-to-study-cell-migration-during-metastasis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Matis MAJA

Cells exhibit two opposite poles which direct vital actions. One of them is movement, which participates in metastasis in cancer. Dr. Maja Matis is exploring polarity by analyzing the proteins in fruit-fly cells. She aims to identify which proteins create polarity. It is likely that acting upon these proteins will impede migration and, in tumor cells, metastasis. Her findings may help identify which proteins are potential new targets for efficient and less toxic pharmaceutical treatments.

### Tempting Marketing Cues And Risk Behavior

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/tempting-marketing-cues-and-risk-behavior
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anouk FESTJENS

Previous research showed that marketing campaigns promoting tempting products (such as high-calorie snacks, cigarettes, luxuries, or alcohol) increase the extent to which consumers engage in risky behaviors (such as overeating, smoking, overspending, or drunk driving). The mechanisms through which tempting marketing cues (e.g., advertisements for high-calorie snacks) increase risk-taking are however never empirically tested. The objective of this research is to systematically test how tempting cues influence risk-taking. Prospect theory (the dominant theory of decision making under risk) shows that there are two pathways through which the cues may influence risk-taking: through their effect on the (un)desirability of the outcomes or/and through their effect on the perceived probabilities of the outcomes. To illustrate, advertisements for high-calorie snacks may not only increase the desirability of these snacks (or decrease the undesirability of health problems), but may also decrease the estimated probability that health problems may occur (or increase the estimated probability that high-calorie snacks will be acquired). Prospect theory indexes these two components in a value function and a probability weighting function, respectively. We will use a controlled laboratory experiment to test how tempting marketing cues influence these two different functions. The experimental paradigm involves the completion of an elicitation task while being exposed to either tempting or neutral cues. The elicitation task uses the state-of-the art technique to measure prospect theory’s value function and probability weighting function for each participant in the sample. Up until now, risk-reduction campaigns are built on the assumption that tempting marketing cues increase the desirability of temptations, and that this dynamism can be offset by imposing taxes. The campaigns often do not take into account that tempting cues may also influence the other component of risk preferences, namely probability perception. This may have substantially undermined the effectiveness of the campaigns carried out so far. The results of this research can thus be used to further optimize the effectiveness of social marketing campaigns. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Early Diagnosis and Preventative Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes: Novel Immune-based Approaches

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/early-diagnosis-and-preventative-therapies-for-type-1-diabetes-novel-immune-based-approaches
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Emanuela MARTINUZZI

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Effects of light on cognitive performance, circadian markers, autonomic nervous system and sleep homeostasis in healthy elderly men and women with different PER3 genotypes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/effects-of-light-on-cognitive-performance-circadian-markers-autonomic-nervous-system-and-sleep-homeostasis-in-healthy-elderly-men-and-women-with-different-per3-genotypes
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Antoine VIOLA

Scientists have proven that exposure to bright polychromatic light at night can increase alertness and cognitive performance. Dr. Antoine Viola is among the first to investigate how people react to exposure to bright light based on their genetic predisposition. The PER3 gene comes in two forms: people with the longer version are more affected by sleep deprivation. The results could provide a means to enhance alertness and performance, but also new treatments for certain sleep disorders.

### Modelling the flood peril - coupling multi-scale fluid dynamics with weather and rainfall statistics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/modelling-the-flood-peril-coupling-multi-scale-fluid-dynamics-with-weather-and-rainfall-statistics
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Christophe JOSSERAND

A proper modelling of flood risk involves the understanding and description of complex physical processes that need to be resolved at the finest scale. The dynamics of rivers has to be investigated for complex geometries involving both river bed variations, natural and urban landscapes. Moreover, these dynamics have to be coupled with input and output conditions corresponding to rainfall and storm surge events in particular. In extremely violent cases, the river beds and surrounding landscape can face rapid and important variations due to erosion processes and transport of different materials. The erosion dynamics of flood protection infrastructures (dams, dykes etc...) must also be taken into account. Specific properties of the soil may complicate the modelling even further: in particular, the drainage capacity of a soil will depend strongly on its location (urban or agricultural) but also on its wetting state (already saturated with water or dry soil for instance), which will influence the flooding process. Finally, modelling the risk of flooding requires a statistical and probabilistic analysis of the range of weather events and their consequences. The proposed research project aims at developing a finer flood modelling methodology that will be used to generate risk statistics and geographical risk ratings based on captured exposure data. The modelling approach proposed is new as it seeks to develop a dynamical flood model coupling a wide range of physical processes. More precisely, the model will couple statistical models of spatial and temporal rainfall distribution, soil-dependent processes such as run-off, percolation and evaporation, river flows and erosion of flood defenses and tides/storm surges. Instead of creating static flood footprints (most common existing approaches), the goal is to dynamically simulate water precipitation and run-off. A key element of this approach will be the complementary expertise of the participants in developing physical and mathematical fluid dynamics models of shallow-water flows, coupled with external forcing. The academic team will bring its expertise in physical modelling of the different mechanisms and in developing adapted numerical method and codes, the AXA team will support and have depth of experience of dealing with large datasets and undertaking reviews statistical reviews, both for the analysis of weather events and for the probabilistic treatment of the modelling output. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Optimizing Pricing in the Insurance Industry : Towards transparent Machine Learning

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/optimizing-pricing-in-the-insurance-industry-towards-transparent-machine-learning
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Alexandre D'ASPREMONT

In the last two decades, Big Data has brought revolution to the long-standing approach and increase its efficiency by ten-fold. The availability of large-scale datasets, and the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), are offering powerful capacity to classify risks and produce more accurate predictive pricing models. However, the opacity of current ML algorithms, often described as ‘black boxes’, is posing a challenge to the industry. “Conventional ML techniques rarely provide explanation on why a client is considered as lower risk than another. This makes them less reliable, less flexible, and less actionable”, explains Guillaume Beraud-Sudreau, Head of R&D from AXA Global Direct and now leading the actuarial team at Akur8. Together with Prof. Alexandre d’Aspremont, from École Normale Supérieure, they have decided to carry out a collaborative project to design robust and ‘transparent’ algorithms capable of addressing the complex subject of insurance pricing. The previous JRI focused on prediction models regarding the likelihood of a website visitor to sign a contract based on different factors, namely behavior on the site, answers to a questionnaire, and proposed price. “People have been making predictions like this for a long time. But in our case, we wanted to see what the drivers were to the decisions. This is crucial because we wanted to make a ML system whose decision is easy to understand, so that actuaries can actually use it and incorporate their expertise in the model”, explains Prof. Alexandre d’Aspremont. “A key component of the project was to test and implement these new algorithms that could be included in a core open source ML library called SCIKIT-LEARN. This was an important academic contribution. It also has direct industrial applications as AXA uses this software.” Thus the new JRI aims to convert the insight gained from these new prediction models into the design of new pricing models.

### The fragile nature of Near Earth Objects – studying how a single impactor can become a multi-threat to Earth

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/the-fragile-nature-of-near-earth-objects-studying-how-a-single-impactor-can-become-a-multi-threat-to-earth
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: David POLISHOOK

You think that asteroid impacts on Earth are only seen in movies? This is not true! The risk is real, and that explains why Dr. David Polishook is working on the assessment of this threat coming from above. Recent observations have shown that asteroids approaching our planet are not made of one big rock but rather of a collection of small-sized rocks. This raises new questions about the potential consequences of asteroid impacts. To learn more about the shattered nature of asteroids, Dr. Polishook will carefully analyze a large number of observations from space and ground telescopes. His work should provide a fine description of the properties of potentially hazardous asteroids, which might help develop appropriate mitigation strategies. Dr. Polishook's work might also contribute to the definition of new targets for NASA's future missions.

### The role of reward in sleep-related memory consolidation and brain plasticity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-role-of-reward-in-sleep-related-memory-consolidation-and-brain-plasticity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Kinga IGLOI

Every day, an enormous amount of information reaches us, but only a tiny portion is incorporated into our memories. During sleep, recently acquired memories are strengthened through a replay mechanism. Dr. Kinga Igloi is investigating how motivational factors (i.e., rewards) influence the selection of newly memorized information for further consolidation. As lack of sleep is an increasing trend in our fast-paced society, Igloi’s findings could also have major implications for public health. Doctor Kinga Igloi’s host research group has proven that brain regions activated while learning a task are reactivated during sleep: memory is consolidated and its performance can be improved. They have also demonstrated that the brain circuits involved in sleep-wake regulation exert a strong influence on reward-related brain regions.

### Pushing the Frontiers of Biomedical Engineering to Defeat Atherosclerosis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/pushing-the-frontiers-of-biomedical-engineering-to-defeat-atherosclerosis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Abdul BARAKAT

Intermediary Outcome Summary of the Chair [2min read] Medicine and engineering have long existed in separate silos, but the rapid growth of biomedical and digital health innovations has blurred this once impermeable frontier. Since then, the inclusion of engineering approaches and modern tools has influenced powerful changes in life sciences. In the ongoing battle against cardiovascular diseases, the world’s leading cause of mortality (1), this convergence of expertise bears tremendous promise. The results achieved by the AXA Chair for Cardiovascular Cellular Engineering since its creation in 2010 are testimony to that. In the past 10 years, the bioengineering and biomechanics research carried out by Prof. Abdul Barakat at France’s Ecole Polytechnique has contributed fundamental new knowledge to the fight against atherosclerosis, a process known to cause coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.  

### Tracking of magnetic nanoparticle biodistribution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/tracking-of-magnetic-nanoparticle-biodistribution
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lucia GUTIERREZ MARRUEDO

Nanotechnology holds great promise for medicine, but there are also many unknowns. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), for example, can carry drugs directly to a tumor, but we don’t know their ultimate fate in the body. Dr. Lucia Gutierrez Marruedo uses their magnetic properties to quantify MNPs in tissue and measure how they degrade over time. Knowing how they interact with the body could tell us about their performance and potential side effects and lead to tailored treatments for disease.

### The Dynamics of Explosive Volcanism

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/the-dynamics-of-explosive-volcanism
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Euripides KANTZAS

Just like the pop of a Champagne bottle, the power that drives volcanic eruptions comes from gases contained in the magma. However, such gas measurements are inherently diffi cult to obtain and suffer from poor resolution. That’s why Dr. Euripides Kantzas and his colleagues pioneered the use of a revolutionary ultraviolet digital camera to measure volcanic gas and, in particular, sulfur dioxide. He then spent months on the volcanic island of Stromboli, where he used his camera to capture a truly unprecedented gas-based record of explosive volcanism.* This data was then combined with simultaneously acquired geophysical information in order to model the observed explosive behavior in far more detail than previously possible. Dr. Kantzas also developed a freely downloadable software interface to monitor his camera, an enormous benefi t for many developing countries where volcanic risks are high, yet monitoring budgets, low. My research focuses on the use of state-of-the-art sensor technology in order to measure for the first time high temporal resolution sulphur dioxide volcanic emissions which can be correlated with geophysical data in order to better understand the underlying magmatic processes. Such insights will greatly contribute to the end-goal of volcanology which is the accurate forecasting of eruptions especially regarding volcanoes at close proximity to densely populated areas such as the volcanoes of southern Italy where the bulk of my field campaign will take place.

### Tracking intracellular nanoparticle dynamics and cytotoxic/epigenetic signatures both in vitro and in vivo using advanced cytometry and multimodal imaging

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/tracking-intracellular-nanoparticle-dynamics-and-cytotoxicepigenetic-signatures-both-in-vitro-and-in-vivo-using-advanced-cytometry-and-multimodal-imaging
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Oscar SILVESTRE

The frequent questions about nanoparticles are: can they be useful for us and are they toxic? Dr. Oscar Silvestre is testing the therapeutic potential of nanoparticles to treat cancer and their influence on cell function, detectable through gene expression, but also the influence of cells on these nanoparticles. Thanks to advanced tumor imaging and biological analysis, this study evaluates the application of nanoparticles in tumor therapy and may help predict eventual long-term health risks of their use.

### Critical influence of alcohol consumption and withdrawal on brain outcome following ischemic stroke and thrombolysis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/critical-influence-of-alcohol-consumption-and-withdrawal-on-brain-outcome-following-ischemic-stroke-and-thrombolysis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marina RUBIO-GOMEZ

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the number one cause of acquired disability in adults. Dr. Marina Rubio is exploring the relationship between recovery and previous alcohol consumption as well as the impact of previous alcohol consumption on the only acute treatment for stroke — thrombolysis. Her results show, first, that chronic alcohol consumption provokes bigger stroke lesions and, second, that the beneficial effects of thrombolysis are lost after chronic alcohol exposure. "

### Mass action and contact network models for social mixing in infectious disease transmission modeling

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mass-action-and-contact-network-models-for-social-mixing-in-infectious-disease-transmission-modeling
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nele GOEYVAERTS

The way people interact is crucial to understand the path taken by a disease in order to assess efficient con-tainment strategies, according to Dr. Nele Goeyvaerts. She will link for the first time two different mathematical models to simulate person-to-person disease spread, one assuming people mix completely and randomly and one where each person becomes a node in a contact network. Her innovative approach may help to improve models of epidemic dynamics and produce effective tools for intervention. My research focuses on dynamic transmission models for infectious diseases. I am currently working on several topics. One study focuses on modeling the decay of maternal antibodies against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella in infants. Further, I am developing a model for household contact networks that can be used in individual-based models of epidemics. It is important to assess how the assumptions about within-household mixing influence the predicted course of an epidemic. Finally, I am developing a transmission model for seasonal influenza to offer guidance for prioritising influenza vaccine target groups in Belgium.

### 3D simulation of magnetic islands dynamics during solar flare events

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/3d-simulation-of-magnetic-islands-dynamics-during-solar-flare-events
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Miho JANVIER

The whims of a star Yet, the start of a new solar cycle in 2008 marked the beginning of a three-year period of intense activity, which is of major interest to Dr. Janvier. Indeed, with heightened solar activity, the number of unpredictable magnetic disruptions is bound to increase, and this is where her work on 3D simulation steps in. First, Dr. Janvier is investigating and performing 3D modeling of the dynamics involved in magnetic reconnection—the crucial point where magnetic field lines come so close to each other that they connect and release a massive burst of energy. This “reconnection” phenomenon is the focus of her work and, in the long run, the key to a better understanding of space physics as well as plasmas involved in the generation of nuclear fusion power. Secondly, this highly transient “reconnection” episode is believed to be one of the most efficient ways to convert stored-up magnetic energy into heating and thermal energy. Considering that her achievements cover both fusion science and astrophysics, Dr. Janvier’s work may not only lead to better predictions of space weather and a better understanding of nuclear fusion, but it also may result in better prevention of the consequences of geomagnetic storms on human lives and infrastructures. Related documents Research Mission Statement To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### AXA Outlook "You, Me and Our Resilience: Cross-cultural Insights on Resilience, Poverty and Climate Change”

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-outlook-you-me-and-our-resilience-cross-cultural-insights-on-resilience-poverty-and-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Katrina BROWN

You, Me and Our Resilience: Cross-cultural Insights on Resilience, Poverty and Climate Change Climate change is not experienced in isolation. It coincides and collides with other underlying risks and uncertainties that define the lives of poor communities.

### Host factors for influenza A virus entry as novel drug targets

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/host-factors-for-influenza-a-virus-entry-as-novel-drug-targets
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Marie POHL

Despite the use of seasonal vaccines against influenza A virus (IAV), the threat of pandemic remains real and resistance to existing drugs is increasing. This is partly because they act on proteins of the virus itself. Pohl’s approach is to target, instead, the human factors necessary for the virus to enter our cells. Her work focuses on identifying and trying to block these partners of IAV. As many viruses use similar infection routes, such treatments could be effective on other viruses, too.

### Aids immunotherapy by t-cell vaccination (TCV)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/aids-immunotherapy-by-t-cell-vaccination-tcv
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ilana BLECH

Today, more than thirty-four million people are infected with HIV worldwide. Despite major progress, antiretroviral therapies do little more than slow down the development of the disease. Dr. Ilana Blech’s research brings a fresh perspective on potential AIDS treatments. Supported by recent findings, she is exploring the role of patients’ destructive autoimmune response to their own CD4 T-cells. Essential to the immune system, these cells are depleted in AIDS. In fact, the autoimmune response Dr. Blech is investigating seems to destroy uninfected CD4 T-cells, thus accelerating the progression of the disease. The vaccine she is developing against this autoimmune response has already brought some improvement in the symptoms of volunteer AIDS patients. Devoid of undesirable side effects, this vaccine might soon prove an invaluable new ally in the AIDS-cure toolkit, in association with the usual antiretroviral therapies.

### Study of endocytosis mechanisms on an experimental system that mimics a cell

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/study-of-endocytosis-mechanisms-on-an-experimental-system-that-mimics-a-cell
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Joël LEMIERE

How do cells move and change shape? Joël Lemière aims to understand cell behavior using a biomimetic system that artificially reproduces cell movement under controlled conditions. His results could be helpful in treating metastatic cancer.

### Quantifying the risks caused by habitat loss: a practical toolkit for informed decision-making

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/quantifying-the-risks-caused-by-habitat-loss-a-practical-toolkit-for-informed-decision-making
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Kelvin PEH

Managing losses in ecosystems: a practical toolkit How should we determine the value of nature ? To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Bile acid signaling and age-related diseases: role of TGR5 in atherosclerosis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/bile-acid-signaling-and-age-related-diseases-role-of-tgr5-in-atherosclerosis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Nomura MITSUNORI

As the population becomes older, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases increase. Dr. Mitsunori Nomura has studied the role of the bile acid membrane receptor TGR5 in macrophages and its therapeutic potential to prevent atherosclerosis. My research focuses on the impact of TGR5 (G protein-coupled cell-surface receptor) on atherosclerosis, by determining the relevance of TGR5 signaling in macrophages. If confirmed, the results of my project may open new ways for therapeutic strategies that target TGR5 to prevent atherosclerosis.

### Flammability Parameters for Forest Fire Fuels for an Improved Risk Index

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/flammability-parameters-for-forest-fire-fuels-for-an-improved-risk-index
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Adam COWLARD

Do you feel like more and more forests go up in flames every year? You’re right! This is yet another devastating consequence of global warming: hotter and dryer conditions increase the risk of forest fires. Dr. Adam Cowlard’s postdoctoral research aims at anticipating the impact of fire outbreaks on forests and the environment in general. Using facilities at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Adam will conduct laboratory experiments to study the flammability parameters of various fuels. He will focus on species that are representative of the forest floor where fires start and spread. Dr. Adam will also test construction materials to determine the impact of fire spread to urban areas. His results may lead to an improved definition of the traditional fire risk index used by fire fighters to minimize the devastation caused by wildland fires.

### Migration and Human Rights in the Wake of Climate Change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/migration-and-human-rights-in-the-wake-of-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Cosmin CORENDEA

The agreement signed in Paris by 195 countries at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference is without precedent. For one thing, Dr. Cosmin Corendea says, it contains the strongest human rights language of any international environmental treaty yet. The legal scholar has long worked to raise awareness of the connection between climate change and human rights. After an extreme climate event, like a major flood, the first thing to occur is a violation of someone’s basic rights, he says, like the right to clean water, education, work or housing. Soon thereafter, the people affected must make a decision: adapt or migrate? In his research, Dr. Corendea explores this relationship between environmental triggers, human rights violations, and migration decisions, in order to develop legal approaches where the focus is on the vulnerable people affected by climate change. Already, the percentage of climate victims choosing to migrate has risen to over 30% and the number is expected to increase, bringing both benefits and risks for the countries involved. A legal framework is needed to manage those risks and Dr. Corendea is investigating how international law could address both human rights and help the most at-risk to respond to climate threats. Specifically, his study will focus on the Pacific Islands, in particular Fiji and Vanuatu, two of the countries affected by climate change in the region. Considered to be “a way of life”, migration in the Pacific has its own particularities in relation to law, in general, and does not benefit from any domestic or regional policies to regulate the process. People move frequently among the islands in search of new opportunities, but studies show that there is no data collected for countries to better understand people’s needs. Dr. Corendea’s work could lead to policy recommendations in this regard, also taking into consideration the impacts of both international and traditional law in the Pacific.

### Deciphering the role of active remodeling of cortical actin on the spatiotemporal organization of cell surface molecules using an in vitro assay

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/deciphering-the-role-of-active-remodeling-of-cortical-actin-on-the-spatiotemporal-organization-of-cell-surface-molecules-using-an-in-vitro-assay
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Darius KOESTER

As the door of your house, wide open to welcome friends but closed to prevent unexpected visits, the membrane opens to import nutrients into the cell, but stays closed to avoid infections. Dr. Darius Koester is working toward understanding its door code. Koester’s project aims to rebuild and understand the machinery controlling the local membrane structures, and its changes over time. His work may help to develop efficient drug delivery systems or prevention treatments against pathogens that exploit membrane defects.

### A Synthetic System of Molecular Co-evolution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-synthetic-system-of-molecular-co-evolution
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Dipanwita BISWAS

It is difficult to develop vaccines for human parasites such as HIV, influenza and hepatitis C because both the parasites and the immune system of the host evolve quickly. Dr. Dipanwita Biswas seeks to quantify the degree of predictability of this co-evolution by setting up a controlled model system that mimics the evolutionary dynamics between influenza and its host. Her results could help advance the development of vaccine design strategies that take viral mutations into account before they actually occur.

### Assessing the threat of severe convective storms across Europe

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/assessing-the-threat-of-severe-convective-storms-across-europe
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Bogdan ANTONESCU

“Tornado destroys major European city!” We may not expect this type of headline in Europe, but tornadoes likely happen in this region more than we realize. The severe storms that create these conditions, as well as fierce hail, wind and lightning, are responsible for some 8 billion euros in damages across the continent, yet basic knowledge about them is lacking. How many such storms occur, where and under what conditions do they form? Without this information, the true extent of the risk posed by large thunderstorms is unknown. Dr. Bogdan Antonescu is changing that. He realized that the first problem was a lack of storm data, as every country maintained its own records. Using information from the new European Severe Weather Database, he is developing a storm model covering the whole continent. So far, his estimates show about 400 tornadoes per year occurring across Europe. These can be even more costly than stronger storms in other parts of the world, due to the density of the European population. As Dr. Antonescu takes his analysis of severe storms further, his results could help improve weather forecasts, insurance estimates of storm risk, and provide a baseline from which to predict the effect of climate change on tornadoes. From better predictions comes better ability to prepare.

### International cooperation in desease control in the face of evolutionary risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/international-cooperation-in-desease-control-in-the-face-of-evolutionary-risks
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Petra KLEPAC

CONTROL OF IMMUNIZING INFECTIONS Immunization Week: What is the purpose of vaccination? Interview by Olivier Monod, published on 25/04/2014 at 16:20 Should everyone be vaccinated or only the most contagious? How can countries cooperate? For Vaccination Week, Petra Klepac, a researcher from the University of Cambridge supported by the AXA Research Fund, answers a few questions for “Chercheurs d'actu.” In French: https://www.lexpress.fr/sciences-sante/sante/a-quoi-sert-la-vaccination_1511433.html Can vaccines help completely eradicate diseases ? It mostly depends on the characteristics of the pathogen responsible for the disease. Smallpox could be eliminated because it was a disease that only affected humans. However, it is more complex to eradicate a disease whose vector spends part of its life cycle in other species, such as malaria for example, which is transmitted by mosquitos. What percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated to prevent a disease like the flu from spreading? It depends on the rate of transmission. A person with the flu will infect fewer than 2 people. Statistically, it is therefore enough to protect half of the population to prevent an epidemic. Measles poses more of a threat. A person with measles will infect up to 15 people. This means that 14 out of every 15 people in the population need to be vaccinated. However, these calculations assume that the vaccine provides lifelong immunity. But reality is not as simple. Sometimes several doses of the vaccine are needed, sometimes boosters are necessary, sometimes the pathogen mutates ... Ultimately, fighting a disease is a balance between the cost of the disease and the cost of protection… Any less costly strategies for fighting a disease? Is it better to protect people in whom the disease is more severe or people who are the most likely to contract the disease and spread it, without it necessarily having any serious consequences for them? In the case of the flu, children spread the virus, but the symptoms are particularly severe in the elderly. Models show that we can stop the disease with less vaccination if we focus on protecting children. So the rationale applies at the national or international level, rather than the individual level… Indeed. At the individual level, vaccination is an excellent way to protect yourself from a disease. At the population level, it is a weapon for fighting a pathogen and achieving “collective immunity.” Diseases are transnational phenomena. How can countries collaborate in terms of vaccination? Policies are implemented at the national level. Models show that it would be more effective and less costly to pool efforts and resources. However, there is no supra-national structure to provide overall coordination. The problem is actually the same for climate issues… This can have harmful consequences . The influx of migrants caused by the Syrian conflict has led to a return of polio in areas where it had previously disappeared… Right now, I am working with Bryan Grenfell and Ramanan Laxminarayan to determine whether the “theory of international agreements,” developed for environmental matters, can be applied to international health policy The path to research Petra Klepac could never decide between mathematics and biology. “That explains why I work on biological questions with mathematical tools. Disease dynamics uses concepts from several disciplines, which makes it very interesting.” In a context of restricted funding for research, Petra deems herself “fortunate” to be supported by the AXA Research Fund. “Today, research is an uncertain and competitive field. We need to be very mobile and ready to move to another continent if necessary to pursue our work.” International cooperation in control of immunizing infections Control and elimination of infectious diseases requires coordination of efforts on international, regional and global levels. This is particularly the case in an increasingly interconnected world where human mobility could promote free-riding in vaccination efforts between populations resulting in a below-optimal vaccination coverage. Without an international body that can impose and implement a control strategy on a global level, the enforcement of control efforts is left to individual countries, but little is known about how these might function in the context of control of infectious diseases on a large spatial scale. My research combines epidemiological dynamics with the game theory of international agreements to find ways to increase cooperation and reach the regional vaccination coverage necessary for efficient control of infectious diseases and possibly their elimination. Specifically, I look at whether formation of voluntary coalitions can utilize the transnational benefits of infectious disease control in order to enhance regional and global elimination interventions. Indeed, with the help of international agreements, countries can achieve higher, more consistent, and more uniform vaccination coverage even in the absence of external enforcement. Surprisingly, this higher vaccination coverage in the coalition is achieved at a lower cost than when countries are acting independently. In the second part of the project I will shift the focus on international control and improvement of interventions for pathogens in the face of evolutionary risks, where selection for resistance or higher virulence can undermine the control efforts in the long run. This project provides a novel framework for evaluating regional control and elimination strategies and has results that have important implications in the public health context, with relevance for both human and animal diseases. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### New hopes if counting sheep is not working for you

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/new-hopes-if-counting-sheep-is-not-working-for-you
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Enzo TAGLIAZUCCHI

If you find yourself counting sheep every night in a desperate attempt to fall asleep, you are probably suffering from primary insomnia disorder. Sleep of short duration or poor quality has well-known negative impacts as it affects our physical and mental health. Firstly, it increases our unhealthy and impulsive behaviors. Secondly, it increases a wide range of risks, such as the risk of accidents, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, stroke, cancer, cognitive impairment and dementia. It is also the causes of chronic healthcare expenditures and absenteeism at work. Improving sleep is nowadays a health imperative, particularly in modern industrialized societies, However, since little is known on what happens in the brain that prevents people to have good quality sleep, Enzo Tagliazzucchi has decided to find out which part of the brain is not working properly in people affected by insomnia disorder. Collecting information on a wide range of patients, both “bad sleepers” and “good sleepers”, he will study the mechanisms that prevent the brain to pass from wakefulness to recuperative sleep. Through the use of a web platform, the Netherlands Sleep Registry, he will access information voluntarily provided by patients on their quality of sleep through an online questionnaire. He will originally combine this information with data collected through psychological and neuroimaging techniques, such as electrophysiology and functional magnetic resonance imaging, never been used before to understand anatomical and functional causes of sleep disturbance. Tagliazucchi’s findings will be useful to characterize different profiles of sleepers and how likely they are to develop correlative disorders such as depression. His results could provide a strong basis to design both specific pharmacological treatments and recommendations on behaviors that can have a positive impact on sleep quality, ultimately leading to avoiding impulsive and risky behaviors that prevent from a healthy lifestyle. Finally, by providing a better understanding of causes and consequences of inadequate sleep, his results could help optimally implement and evaluate sleep-improving interventions, useful for a wide range of actors, from policy makers, health organizations and healthcare providers, to private companies. Scientific title : The Neurophysiology And Epidemiology Underlying Health Risks In Populations Suffering From Sleep Disturbances To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Environmental effect on animal development with special focus on chordat neural patterning

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/environmental-effect-on-animal-development-with-special-focus-on-chordat-neural-patterning
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Atsuko SATO

Transformation under stress: Darwin against Kafka Environmental effect on animal development with special focus on chordat neural patterning In Franz Kafka’s book « The Metamorphosis » a man found himself turned into a giant insect one day. Atsuko Sato argues that this is no fiction: environmental changes can be drivers for the evolution of new forms and not only a major cause of species extinction. A genome can indeed accommodate multiple evolution paths, and life can adapt itself to its surroundings. For example, butterflies have seasonal polymorphism, and snails can change the shape of their shells as a defense mechanism. Sato focused on ascidians to investigate how temperature changes could alter morphology and gene expression pattern during development. Ascidians are settled marine invertebrates, having simple and small genome, yet the closest invertebrate relatives of vertebrates. Therefore ascidians provides excellent simple model to study impact of environmental stress on our genome. Sato’s work is unique since there has been almost no study on the effect of rising temperature on the development of marine organisms at genomic scale, despite the fact that rising temperature is now a considerable problem for the marine environment. Before coming to Oxford, I studied the developmental biology of crinoids (sea lilies and feather stars) as an MSc student in the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo and as a JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) postgraduate student at the Seto Marine Biological laboratory, Kyoto University. My interests include developmental biology, evolutionary biology and the philosophy of biology. During my D.Phil., I studied hemichordates, close invertebrate relatives of vertebrates, to investigate origin and evolution of vertebrate body plan in Peter Holland’s lab in Oxford. I successfully defended my DPhil in April 2008 and after a 5-month Ray Lankester Investigatorship at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, UK, and returned to Oxford as an AXA Research Fellow to join Dr Seb Shimeld’s lab. Project December 2008 to December 2009 : Environmental changes are a major cause of species extinction, but it should also be noted that environmental changes can also be drivers for the evolution of new forms. This idea is not just a speculation; it is known that a genome can accommodate multiple developmental paths, and life can adapt itself to the surrounding environment, to some extent, by choosing the developmental path. For example, butterflies have seasonal polymorphism, and snails can change their shape of the shells for defence. How can such flexibility, termed developmental plasticity, react to environmental change and what sort of consequences would be brought about to development by environmental changes? In this project, I will focus on ascidians, the closest invertebrate species of vertebrates, to address how changes of temperature could have been affected to the evolution of the chordate body plan. Ascidians are marine settled species, but their larvae represent simple model of vertebrate body plan. In addition, they have much simpler genome than that of vertebrates, which facilitates to investigate how genome could alter the developmental paths by environmental changes. Using an ascidian species Ciona intestinalis, I will investigate how temperature changes could alter morphology and gene expression pattern during development. This project aims is relevant to AXA research topic « Climate change: associated risks and impacts »; although extremely unique in investigating the effect of rising temperature on development of marine organisms not only as a risk but also as a cause of evolution. This project is particularly important, since there has been almost no study on the effect of rising temperature on the development of marine organisms, despite the fact that rising temperature is now a considerable problem for the marine environment. To sum up, my project will provide knowledge of broad interest on both risks and contributions of the environmental change. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Knowledge and Action Bridge Towards Risk Assessment and Resilience Building

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/knowledge-and-action-bridge-towards-risk-assessment-and-resilience-building
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Siddharth AGARWAL

India’s future growth will largely be concentrated in urban areas, and fastest in slums where poor and vulnerable communities reside. Social cohesion, capacity-building and education will be key to ensure those communities’ resilience. Dr. Agarwal works on health, socio-economic risks prevention and mitigation action plans with local women’s groups to alleviate urban poverty. His approaches could be adapted to other slum community groups in developing countries.

### Global network for secure data transfer

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/global-network-for-secure-data-transfer
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Matthaeus HALDER

Have you ever wondered what the data inside your computer really “looks like”? It is only a collection of bit strings (0’s and 1’s) represented by an electrical signal. Unfortunately, this data can be very easily accessed by malicious people. To secure data transfers, the laws of physics on the tiniest scale now allow us to embed those 0’s and 1’s in the smallest quantity of light: particles called photons. Quantum physics has therefore played a central role in Matthaeus Halder’s postdoctoral research on data transfer. Using a specific branch called quantum information science, Halder is about to change the way in which we exchange data ‒– and in a much more secure way. He aims to develop tools to create a global network that will provide absolute security for data transmission ‒– a key issue in our information society. This new technology has shown to be secure, even if future hackers are quantum physicists!

### Going for the best treatment, thanks to advances in data, genetic and molecular biology techniques

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/going-for-the-best-treatment-thanks-to-advances-in-data-genetic-and-molecular-biology-techniques
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Parvin TAJIK

Conventional medical interventions for treatment of cancers include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These interventions tend to impose high risks of side effects, while they are typically beneficial in only a small proportion of patients. With recent advances in genetic and molecular biology techniques, a huge number of novel and promising risk markers are identified. Now is the time to evaluate these novel makers and combine them with the conventional risk factors, for a better selection of treatment for patients. If we can develop and validate such multimarker treatment selection rules, only those patients who are likely to benefit will be exposed to the risks of treatment, while alternative interventions can be offered to those unlikely to benefit. In collaboration with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) we have recently developed a multi-marker treatment selection rule for a better choice of treatment in ovarian cancer patients. Within my AXA project, I will work in partnership with EORTC, Institut Curie and Oxford University to validate and extend this decision rule with novel genetic and molecular markers (e.g. folate receptor alpha (FRA), BRCA1 and BRCA2, copy number alterations, and epigenetic changes). Development of this multi-marker treatment selection rule improves the choice of treatment for ovarian cancer patients and avoids exposing them to unnecessary treatment risks, eventually resulting in a better health outcome and quality of life in these patients. thanks to the analyses of data combined with recent advances in genetic and molecular biology techniques, Parvin Tajik, Iranian woman scientist, working at the Academic Medical Center in the Netherlands, helps improve the choice of treatment for cancer patients and avoids exposing them to unnecessary treatment risks, eventually resulting in a better health outcome and quality of life in these patients.

### Challenging addictive behaviours in mouse models with abnormal corticostriatal projections

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/challenging-addictive-behaviours-in-mouse-models-with-abnormal-corticostriatal-projections
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Elia MAGRINELLI

Our genes may make us more or less vulnerable to neuronal plasticity addiction. Elia Magrinelli is testing the role of a gene in the brain that may determine this risk and could serve as a predictor of susceptibility to addiction and a potential target for treatments.

### Exosomal Communication: Identifiying novel biomarkers/targets in multiple myeloma

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/exosomal-communication-identifiying-novel-biomarkerstargets-in-multiple-myeloma
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Eline MENU

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### Effects of early-onset obesity on brain inflammation and cognitive abilities in rats

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/effects-of-early-onset-obesity-on-brain-inflammation-and-cognitive-abilities-in-rats
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Chloë BOITARD

Chloé Boitard is investigating the impact of high-fat diet exposure on memory. Early obesity impedes brain function more drastically than adult obesity, suggesting vulnerability of the young brain to the detrimental effects of obesity. Obesity is a new pandemic known to be associated with cognitive and memory impairment in human. This can be problematic in the young population as childhood and adolescence are periods of important learnings and brain reorganization. After giving a high fat diet to rats during adolescence, we obtained memory impairments. Our main finding is that this impairment does not appear after the same diet given during adulthood, meaning that adolescence is a sensible period to high fat diet effects on the brain. We are now trying to understand the mechanisms in charge of these diet due impairments, in order to better prevent them. Over the past twenty years, the number of children who are overweight or obese has risen by 60%. High-calorie, high-fat diets are often held responsible. Chloé Boitard is investigating the impact of early exposure to a high-fat diet on the development of skills and learning abilities. Indeed, besides being a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, just to name a few, obesity also impedes cognitive functions in adults. During her master’s thesis, Boitard established that in juvenile rats fed a high-fat diet certain forms of long-term memory were impaired. She will now investigate the causes of such results. Inflammation, which always occurs in obese individuals, is known to disrupt normal brain functions. Finding out the exact role played by inflammation in the brains of juvenile rats could be the first step towards developing pharmaceutical and nutritional strategies to protect children from the harmful effects of high-fat diets.

### The reduction of interpersonal risk: Social basis of apology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-reduction-of-interpersonal-risk-social-basis-of-apology
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: ASUKA KOMIYA

Trustful relationships are at the heart of fruitful cooperation within groups of people. But you’ve probably hurt a friend before, either accidentally or intentionally. Such repeated situations will create distrustful agents who will destroy any possibility of cooperation. Dr Komiya investigates the role of apology, with or without compensation, in the way people protect their relationships. For example, if you pour coffee on a book you have borrowed from a friend, a way to compensate is not only to apologize but also to buy another copy of the book. Such an act of compensation surely facilitates the victim’s forgiveness, but its mitigating effect seems to vary across cultures. The findings of Dr Komiya’s research will bring new data on how people overcome interpersonal risks*. Her result could be of interest to managers of international companies and lawyers, as well as people who are concerned with general resolutions of conflicts within and across cultures.

### Computational design and engineering of RNA-based decision-making genetic programs in bacteria

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/computational-design-and-engineering-of-rna-based-decision-making-genetic-programs-in-bacteria
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Guillermo RODRIGO

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### A geospatial analysis of the environmental impacts of the UK consumption: analysing the triangular trade between UK, China and Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/a-geospatial-analysis-of-the-environmental-impacts-of-the-uk-consumption-analysing-the-triangular-trade-between-uk-china-and-africa
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Dabo GUAN

When Dabo Guan began his research on emissions embodied in international trade, he quickly realized an “inconvenient truth”. 200 years ago, slavery was organised in a triangular trade pattern. Consumers in Britain traded slaves from Africa to cultivate the American soil in order to obtain raw materials back to Europe for processing and consumption. Today, he says, similar trade patterns exist, but production factors are changed from free labour to free natural resources, which are responsible for a massive amount of human CO2 emissions. Dabo Guan is studying one of such patterns, between UK, China and Africa. This is no coincidence that China is both the most important CO2 emitter in the atmosphere and the largest global manufacturing hub, connecting resource providers from Africa to OECD countries with their enormous needs of consumption. If many developed countries are already trying to reduce their carbon footprint, some developing countries are more reluctant to take new actions as their production destined to satisfy the huge needs of developed countries is the driving force of their economies. According to Dabo Guan, national efforts are only part of the story. It is not enough for a country such as UK to reduce its CO2. emission It should favour a responsible consumption of its citizens for less carbon-consuming products. Now international expert on environmental economics and governance, Dabo Guan is bringing his knowledge to the front line. Not only he is a Senior Member at St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge as well as Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds. But he is also involved in international collaborative projects including the lead authorship to the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). My research focuses on, I specialise in international climate change policies for mitigation, climate change adaptation, scenario analysis on environmental impacts, water resources accounting and management, input-output modelling and their applications in both developed and developing countries.

### The role of IGF signalling in tissue homeostasis during aging: studying stem and progenitor cell behaviour using mouse models of IGF1-R conditional mutagenesis and systems analysis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-role-of-igf-signalling-in-tissue-homeostasis-during-aging-studying-stem-and-progenitor-cell-behaviour-using-mouse-models-of-igf1-r-conditional-mutagenesis-and-systems-analysis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Zayna CHAKER

We age mainly due to a decline in the regeneration of our tissues. Insulin seems to contribute to cell renewal, maintaining regenerative potential throughout life. Zayna Chaker is studying the impact of insulin on the regulation of lifespan.

### A moral Shield for Black Swans: the 2008 financial Crisis and Islamic Banking in Souhteast Asia and The Mena Region

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/a-moral-shield-for-black-swans-the-2008-financial-crisis-and-islamic-banking-in-souhteast-asia-and-the-mena-region
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fulya APAYDIN VOM HAU

Apaydin’s work is situated at the intersection of comparative politics and development economics, with a particular emphasis on political economy. In particular, she focuses on how local actors in emerging economies respond to global pressures that impose greater economic uncertainties. In exploring these dynamics, she is especially concerned with the processes through which economic stakeholders (such as businessmen, consumer groups, labor unions and the politicians) negotiate a balanced sharing of socio-economic risks. The aim of this research is to test the influence of moral values on mitigating risk-taking at an institutional level (taking into accountthe influence of the social & political context on the outcomes). The case study consists in finding why within Islamic banks, constrained by religious codes & shaped by their national context, one can observe big variations in results and responses to market risk. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Estimating City Growth, Urbanization and Climate-related Risks in the 21st century

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/estimating-city-growth-urbanization-and-climate-related-risks-in-the-21st-century
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Deborah BALK

This century will see the merging of two great trends affecting poor countries: climate change and urban population growth. Using new spatial demographic forecasting methods, Prof. Balk’s research aims to create a better understanding of how many urban dwellers will live in the path of climate-related risks, and as precisely as possible, where they are likely to live. This is essential information for evidence-based climate adaptation for countries and international agencies.

### Electrophysiological activity of the ventral striatum in response to emotional prosody among patients suffering from resistant and chronic depression – ancillary study to the Pré-STHYM study

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/electrophysiological-activity-of-the-ventral-striatum-in-response-to-emotional-prosody-among-patients-suffering-from-resistant-and-chronic-depression-ancillary-study-to-the-pre-sthym-study
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Julie PERON

Depression is associated with strong negative emotions. In order to study the activity of the brain regions involved in emotional processing, Dr. Julie Péron is directly recording it in real time during brain surgery. Depression can be treated with deep brain stimulation which requires the implantation of stimulation electrodes in the patient’s brain. Péron’s innovative study could improve our understanding of depression and thus improve patients’ lives.

### Political Environment: The Impact of Climate Change on Politics in South Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/political-environment-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-politics-in-south-asia
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Ayesha SIDDIQI

Political environment: the impact of climate change on politics in South Asia Pakistan is a country going through numerous political challenges due to disasters and conflict. Yet things could get worse: what if militant Islamist groups were to win the country’s next elections? Indeed, climate change is increasing the frequency of disasters, paralyzing the government and increasing support for radical ethnic and religious groups in post-disaster Pakistan. After two years working as a consultant specializing in the socioeconomic consequences of climate change, Ayesha Siddiqi is now studying its impact on politics in South Asia. She is addressing three key questions, which are all but absent from academic literature: how climate-related disasters are impacting religious and ethnic politics in Pakistan; how ethno-national and religious politics are able to use the discourse on climate change to meet their own goals; and finally, how this affects the political stability of the region. Ayesha has a background in development and obtained an MA in Poverty and Development with a specialisation in Climate Change from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in Sussex. She then spent two years working as a climate change consultant with one of the leading energy and climate change consulting companies in the UK. During this time she worked on a number of projects providing consulting advice to governments on climate change policy, including the Government of Tajikistan on a project under the multi-donor Climate Investment Funds (CIFs). Ayesha’s doctoral project examines the impact of climate and environment change on political conflicts in South Asia. She is based in the War Studies department at King’s College London and is working under the supervision of the Geography Department as well.

### Climate change impact on wave climate in coastal area, using dynamical downscaling : application to the Aquitanian coast, France

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-impact-on-wave-climate-in-coastal-area-using-dynamical-downscaling-application-to-the-aquitanian-coast-france
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Elodie CHARLES

Coastal areas, which are characterized by a high density of population, transportation and activities, are particularly vulnerable to external marine infl uences. They can be subject, among others, to marine submersion or coastal erosion. The Aquitanian coast, as well as most coastal regions, is influenced by several hydrodynamic factors, such as sea level, waves, currents and storm surge. These factors can be affected by climate change. Dr. Elodie Charles investigated the impact of climate change and certain patterns of the atmospheric circulation on the wave conditions in the Bay of Biscay and along the Aquitanian coast. Her fi rst step was to produce a wave database of wave conditions (height, period and direction) in the Bay of Biscay for the present and future climate. Using dynamical downscaling, waves were modeled from the North Atlantic Ocean towards the Bay of Biscay at a 10-km spatial resolution exclusively from wind. Waves were simulated using the WAVEWATCH III wave model for the present climate (wind obtained from the ERA-40 reanalysis) and three future greenhouse gas emission scenarios (A2, A1B, B1) (wind obtained from the ARPEGE-Climat climate model). This database enabled her to investigate the present climate interannual variability and to highlight a strong link between local wave conditions and certain preferential patterns of the atmospheric circulation above the North Atlantic Ocean. For instance, a larger gradient between the Iceland high and the Azores low, corresponding to a positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation, is strongly related to an increase in wave heights and periods in the Bay of Biscay. In terms of the future climate, wave condition changes between present climate (1961-2000) and future scenarios (2061- 2100) were analyzed, showing a general decrease in wave heights in the Bay of Biscay as well as a clockwise shift of summer wave directions and winter swell directions. This work provides a better understanding of the present and future wave climate in the Bay of Biscay and new material to investigate the potential impact of climate change on the morphodynamics of the Aquitanian coast.

### Quantic information and its impact on information systems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/quantic-information-and-its-impact-on-information-systems
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Javier CERRILLO-MORENO

What’s the secret to creating a truly unbreakable code or a vastly powerful computer? One answer is quantum information. Javier Cerrillo is developing new ways—such as laser cooling—to engineer stable quantum registers, which are the keys to quantum information processing and technologies that promise to transform fields ranging from security to communications. For instance, in traditional cryptography, a powerful computer can render any transaction insecure. Quantum keys, however, can secure corporate or financial transactions in such a way that they cannot be eavesdropped by a third party, no matter how mighty his/her computational resources. “Quantum information processing and computing are bound to have a deep effect on progress in our information-driven society,” Cerrillo says. “Virtually anyone can benefit from these developments.”

### Mechano-chemical modulation of axon outgrowth using a novel, high-throughput in vitro model system

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mechano-chemical-modulation-of-axon-outgrowth-using-a-novel-high-throughput-in-vitro-model-system
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Agata BLASIAK

Car accidents, falls, violence, sports: these are the leading causes of spinal cord injury, whose victims are mainly healthy young men. To counter the traumatic effects of such injuries, we need to know more about why the central nervous system fails to repair itself. When neurons grow, they are guided by chemical and mechanical factors, but studies rarely consider how these interact. Using new kinds of nanoparticles as “magnetic tweezers”, Blasiak explores therapeutic approaches untested until now.

### Epigenetics and ageing: the role of the lysine specific demethylase LSD-1

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/epigenetics-and-ageing-the-role-of-the-lysine-specific-demethylase-lsd-1
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Natacha JANSKI

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### How does climate change affect the dispersal ability of plant species? A case study of the fine-scale spatial genetic structure of Azorella selago on sub-Antarctic Marion Island

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/how-does-climate-change-affect-the-dispersal-ability-of-plant-species-a-case-study-of-the-fine-scale-spatial-genetic-structure-of-azorella-selago-on-sub-antarctic-marion-island
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Céline BORN

How does climate change affect seed and pollen dispersal, an essential process for plant reproduction? To gain an in-depth understanding, Dr. Céline Born traveled to Marion Island in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean to study Azorella selago, a “keystone” plant species due to its critical importance to ecosystem function. Using the genotyped specimens found on the island, she is studying the impact of wind patterns on pollen dispersal of Azorella. “Our research will be used for the development of a conservation plan for the sub-Antarctic region, which is particularly affected by climate change,” she explained. This data will be used to predict colonization of the plant based on various global warming scenarios.

### SimCME - Numerical simulations of solar coronal mass ejections

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/simcme-numerical-simulations-of-solar-coronal-mass-ejections
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Francesco ZUCCARELLO

Context Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares are different manifestations of the activity of our closest star: the Sun. When CMEs lift-off they travel into the interplanetary medium and, quite often, generate interplanetary shocks. These shocks together with solar flares are the major sources of Solar Energetic Particles (SEP), i.e., particles travelling to near-relativistic speeds. At times, these solar storms can hit the Earth. Therefore, it is not surprising that CMEs are considered to be one of the major drivers of space weather. Geomagnetic storms not only can significantly affect, and eventually compromise, the human efforts in the space explorations, but also affect the everyday life: (1) the ionospheric perturbations caused by geomagnetic storms can influence many telecommunication systems and the GPS accuracy, (2) at the ground, in long electrically conducting devises, such as power grids, the induced currents may even burn the voltage transformers, causing major blackouts, and (3) in order to avoid high radiation doses associated with solar storms, transatlantic flights are forced to follow non-polar routes resulting in incent losses. Therefore, in a technology-dependent era, the environmental risks associated with space weather are becoming enormous. The proposed project aims to investigate which are the critical conditions for the onset of CMEs, i.e. one of the major drivers of solar storms. The understanding of these critical conditions and the capability to foresee whether or not a solar eruptions would hit the Earth constitute the basis of any reliable attend of predicting the weather in space. Short- and long-term objectives The goal of the proposed project is to investigate if an unprecedented method for unraveling the main physical mechanisms that trigger CMEs can be devised. Numerical MHD simulations will be performed to systematically investigate the influence of different observationally-inspired photospheric drivers and to determine under which conditions a CME is – or is not – initiated. This will answer fundamental questions about what can trigger CMEs. A well-observed – in terms of data coverage – solar eruption will be selected and the pre-eruptive dynamics of the AR as well as the initiation of the CME will be studied. The developed MHD models will be used to deduce the trigger of this eruption and to study its initial dynamics. This will clarify which is the trigger of the observed CME. The knowledge acquired during the interpretation of the different features of the observed event in terms of the MHD models, will allow a better understanding of which are the observational features that may later be used to predict the behavior of a given AR. Finally, the undertaken research will allow us to identify the current major difficulties – such as computational resources, numerical algorithms, accurateness of the photospheric driving, etc. – that have to be faced when aiming to extend this approach to a statistically relevant number of events. The outcomes of this project, will contribute to the development of a quantitative, model-based space weather prediction framework that could later-on complement, and eventually replace, the empirical models currently available. Preliminary studies The present project will build on the candidate’s competences on performing data-inspired MHD simulations of solar ARs and analysis of solar images as well as on the worldwide-recognized expertise in the field of MHD modeling of solar eruptions, magnetic field reconstructions and analysis of solar images available at the hosting laboratory LESIA. In a precedent study, the candidate investigated the response of the solar corona when asymmetric, data-inspired photospheric flows were used to drive an eruption. Similarly, more idealized numerical MHD simulations devoted to disentangle the trigger of the eruption and the close CME-flare association have long been performed at LESIA by the applicant’s adviser Dr. G. Aulanier and his collaborators. Research design and methods For the MHD modeling part of the project, the MHD model developed at LESIA by the candidate’s adviser will be used. The effect of different convergence, shearing/twisting flows as well as flux dispersal and flux emergence/cancellation spanning a parameter space compatible with the observations will be studied. The equilibrium properties of the flux rope as well as the pre-eruptive evolution will be analyzed. We will disentangle the different dynamical regimes of the initiation phase in terms of the local Alfven speed in order to clarify which is the trigger of the eruption. Finally, a selected subset of the aforementioned MHD models will be re-run in a non-zero plasma-beta regime. This will allow us, for the first time, to systematically investigate the effect of a non-zero plasma-beta environment in the CME initiation. For the event observations part of the project, a non-complex, textbook-like event associated with a fairly simple AR will be selected. We will choose an event that is observed in optimal conditions with respect to the location on the Sun, the location in one or more spacecraft’s field of views, the availability of multi-wavelength as well as in-situ observations and the availability and/or reducibility of vector magnetograms. For the selected event, the morphology of the AR, the CME direction and velocity, and the changes in the magnetic field topology will be investigated. The developed MHD models will be used to interpret the observed dynamic and to identify what triggered the CME. Finally, trigger-related features will be studied in order to clarify which are the critical observed features that can later be used to predict the behavior of other events without the need of vast numerical studies. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Understanding the sources of financial risk: a three-mode factor model for stock returns

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/understanding-the-sources-of-financial-risk-a-three-mode-factor-model-for-stock-returns
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Luca REPETTO

In terms of communication, today’s world benefits from being globally connected—but so, too, are our finances. The downside is that when one brick crumbles, the whole structure can be weakened, as the Global Financial Crisis made clear. Even taking the precaution of diversifying our investments is difficult, because so many different markets move together. Luca Repetto saw here a need for real improvement and, with his research, is aiming for better methods of identifying where the variability in financial assets comes from: shocks to the system at the country level, for instance? Or the industry level? Models of such financial behavior are often built on common factors, variables that affect all members of a category (e.g. countries, industries) at once. These can then be enhanced with factors specific to a sector or region. The trouble is that, in the past, this specificity has just been assumed, but to know if a “Euro-area factor” truly affects only the European economy, this must be tested. So far, Luca has developed a formal way of testing this that will have multiple applications: in finance, to look for a risk-free asset in the economy, or in macroeconomics, to identify a factor of inflation that affects all prices equally, to name just two. As he continues to build on his method, Luca’s work should make it possible to diversify portfolios at both country and industry levels, and contribute to a better understanding of how these are linked throughout the global economy.

### Regulation of protein aggregation in sarcopenia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/regulation-of-protein-aggregation-in-sarcopenia
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anne-Sophie NICOT

The progressive loss of muscle mass in old age (sarcopenia) is the result of an imbalance between the production and deterioration of proteins within our muscles. This often in turn results in the loss of independence, making it a major health concern for our increasingly aging societies. Dr. Anne-Sophie Nicot is investigating the involvement of molecular players in muscle loss to better assess their impact on sarcopenia, in an effort to support new preventive and curative strategies.

### Mechanics of the actin cortex in biomimetic and living systems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mechanics-of-the-actin-cortex-in-biomimetic-and-living-systems
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Matthias BUSSONNIER

Cells move in our body. However, when movement involves cancer cells (e.g. during metastasis), it becomes dangerous. Matthias Bussonier aims to understand the mechanics that drive proliferation and spreading of cancer cells in the body. Cell mechanics is at the heart of many fundamental biological processes. Mechanical properties of a cell are determined by the cytoskeleton, and the actin cortex. The current understanding of th e physical properties of this actin cortex is limited due to the complex structure of living cells. My project aims to investigate the mechanical properties of biomimetic actin cortex, especially measure the mechanical properties of biomimetic cell blebs. I use active and passive microrheology which allows frequency dependent quantification of the viscoelastic properties. The understanding of the mechanical properties of the actin cortex is important in the investigation of cell motility, which in turn is the driving mechanism for the formation of cancer metastatis.

### New Technologies to Reduce CO2 emissions: Using CO2 to make Plastics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/new-technologies-to-reduce-co2-emissions-using-co2-to-make-plastics
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Michael KEMBER

There was a time when men wanted to turn lead into gold. Today, as the reduction of our CO2 emissions is an absolute necessity, the supreme quest of alchemy could be turning CO2 into plastics. And Dr. Michael Kember could be the 21st century alchemist. While societies strive to reduce their CO2 emissions, new strategies are being developed to capture waste CO2 instead of releasing it to the atmosphere. One strategy it is to store the CO2 underground. However, this procedure is costly and long-term storage is risky. Working in sustainable chemistry, Dr. Kember suggests an alternative option: using waste CO2 to make plastics, which are currently manufactured from fossil fuels. He has developed a new, robust class of catalysts* which could make the development of plastics from low pressure waste CO2 streams a possibility: CO2 would then turn from a polluting component to a raw material to manufacture part of the plastics our society needs. My research focuses on: The development of new catalysts for the formation of polycarbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides. This copolymerisation process is potentially and attractive form of Carbon Capture and Usage (CCU), and could be used to create polymers with increased renewable content. In particular, my research is focused on development of catalysts active under mild conditions (e.g. 1 bar CO2 pressure) using cheap, abundant metals (e.g. magnesium). We are investigating the feasibility of these catalysts with different potential CO2 sources (e.g. fermentation, power etc).

### Mortality Divergence and Causes of Death

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mortality-divergence-and-causes-of-death
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: France MESLE

Significant differences in longevity in the modern world are regarded as unfair and unacceptable. However, the hope that medical progress and socio-economic advances will change this reality has faded away as we witness an increasing diversity among developed countries. We know that many factors have an impact on longevity: the biological make-up of human beings, their evolving scientific and technological capabilities as well as their social, political, economic and cultural activities, at both individual and collective levels. But what are the actual causes that trigger death? And more importantly, could they be—at least partially—avoided? To answer to these crucial questions Prof. France Meslé and her team are studying the links between cause-of-death patterns and age mortality curves, with a particular focus on the midlife component as opposed to old-age mortality. Meslé is a leading international research in causes of death, particularly in European countries. Her project, although primarily demographic, is interdisciplinary as it requires clinical and epidemiologic approaches to mortality in order to understand all relevant information on causes of death. Together with her team, she will create a large database of coherent time series of deaths for a hundred or so medical causes, assembling data from 20 countries over more than three decades. She will get a balanced view of Eastern and Western contexts and histories: France, West Germany, Spain, England and Wales, Japan and the US, on the one hand, and Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic countries, Moldavia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and East Germany, on the other. By using meaningful groups of causes, Meslé will be able to consider diseases amenable to health care, diseases related to risk factors, such as alcohol or tobacco, as well as more generally to distinguish between communicable and non-communicable diseases. The data analysis will therefore allow us to understand the extreme diversity of current situations in causes of death, across and within countries. The results will widely impact health policy in industrialized countries, for a better fight against premature mortality and for improved health of the elderly. They will therefore help design possible scenarios for future mortality and health trends as well as rational evaluation tools and markers of policy makers to improve longevity.

### Functions of hydrodynamic forces in neurogenesis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/functions-of-hydrodynamic-forces-in-neurogenesis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Alice MEUNIER

Even in adults, new brain cells continue to be born. Dr. Alice Meunier’s creative method uses both biology and hydrodynamics to study the environment of these neurons-to-be. The coordinated movement of hair-like structures on the surface of neighboring cells circulates fluid in the brain and allows pro-growth molecules to wash over their targets. Understanding how these hair-like structures orient their beating is necessary if, one day, we hope to replace neurons in patients with neurodegenerative disease.

### A seismic and tectonic model of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone: contribution to seismic hazard assessment

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/a-seismic-and-tectonic-model-of-the-lesser-antilles-subduction-zone-contribution-to-seismic-hazard-assessment
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Michele PAULATTO

Most of the time, we are blissfully unaware that the individual plates of our planet’s surface are in constant motion. When they collide, one may slide under the other, sinking back into the interior of the earth – but it doesn’t always go quietly. Indeed, this type of interaction, called subduction, is responsible for the most powerful earthquakes, like those striking Sumatra in 2004 and Japan in 2011. This sort of plate boundary is also found in the Lesser Antilles, the island chain in the Caribbean Sea. The region has not seen many huge quakes in recorded history, but that is no reason to sit back and relax. One explanation could be that the plates are sliding past each other, slowly but surely, regularly releasing small amounts of energy. On the other hand, it could also mean they are coupled—stuck to one another—and building up energy that will be released one day in a tremendous earthquake. The answer depends on the precise nature of the plate boundary here, its structure and physical properties. Dr. Michele Paulatto is using geophysics to create a 3D model of the zone responsible for earthquakes, which lies between 5 and 50 kilometers below the ocean floor. By studying the way waves of elastic energy move through the Earth in this zone, he can tell what kind of material they have passed through and whether they encountered fluids. The latter might be water or carbon dioxide held in the crust. As one plate slides under the other, its fluids will be released, due to pressure and chemical processes. This can change the mechanics of the plate interaction and, thus, its capacity to cause earthquakes: fluids in the subduction zone can reduce the degree of coupling between the plates and allow them to slip without causing an earthquake. Analyzing seismic wave data from man-made sources lets Dr. Paulatto obtain high-resolution images closer to the surface. Combining that with local earthquake data allows him to see even deeper. So far, his analyses have identified a layer of high-fluid content on top of the subducting plate and shown that this region varies in depth along the subduction zone. His analyses continue, but he suspects that variability in the fluid-rich material entering the zone may play a significant role in the degree of coupling of the two plates and influence which locations are the greater seismic hazards. Dr. Paulatto’s conclusions and their applications for risk assessment and monitoring should prove vital to this earthquake-prone region and to the 4 million people who call it home.

### Optical Properties of healthy, ageing and pathological tissue of the anterior segment of the eye

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/optical-properties-of-healthy-ageing-and-pathological-tissue-of-the-anterior-segment-of-the-eye
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Tal MARCIANO

In our ageing population, eye surgery is on the rise. Marciano aims to optimize a new ultra-short-pulse laser for age-related pathologies, like cataracts and glaucoma. He works simultaneously on elucidating the factors affecting transparency of the eye, predicting the propagation of the laser beam in the tissue, and developing a device for evaluating donated corneas. Mastering these elements holds promise for greater success and fewer side effects for increasingly common eye procedures. My research focuses on the new challenges that ophthalmic surgery has to address in a context of widespread age-related pathologies. The research focuses on development of new surgical tools using ultra short pulse laser devices optimised for grafting and glaucoma surgery. The aim of the research is to fine tune the laser parameters to adapt it to the tissular properties of the eye.

### Binding blue carbon: developing global legal and policy responses to an emerging risk of climate change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/binding-blue-carbon-developing-global-legal-and-policy-responses-to-an-emerging-risk-of-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ben MILLIGAN

I – The critical role of blue carbon and associated risks The term ‘blue carbon’ refers to carbon stored, sequestered and released from the ocean’s vegetated habitats, including mangroves, tidal marshes, and sea-grass beds. Recent scientific studies have drawn attention to the critical role played by these ecosystems in regulating climate change. A report published in 2009 by the United Nations Environment Program estimates that marine vegetated habitats store 55% of the world's naturally absorbed carbon dioxide. These habitats contain less than 1% of the plant biomass on land, but absorb a comparable amount of carbon dioxide per year. The marine ecosystems that bind blue carbon are being damaged or destroyed at an increasing rate by anthropogenic factors including aquaculture, marine and land-based pollution, and coastal development. If this trend is not arrested, there is a risk that: (1) the global capability of natural ecosystems to mitigate climate change will be significantly eroded, and (2) on-going damage and destruction of marine vegetated habitats will cause previously stored blue carbon to be released back into the atmosphere (thereby accelerating climate change).

### Determination of optimal PEP level for speech under patient control in tracheostomized ventilator-dependant subjects

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/determination-of-optimal-pep-level-for-speech-under-patient-control-in-tracheostomized-ventilator-dependant-subjects
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Marine GARGUILO

Tracheostomized patients require respiratory support for survival. Marine Garguilo is testing a new device, which, controlled by the patients, allows them to speak more fluidly while avoiding the risk of excessive pressure in the airways. This researcher is also supported by the Garches Foundation.

### AXA Chair in Climate Change Impacts and Coastal Risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-chair-in-climate-change-impacts-and-coastal-risks
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Roshanka RANASINGHE

In this ambitious scientific program, Professor Ranasinghe will be pursuing three separate research lines. While studying the impacts of climate change on the coasts, he will also model climate change driven coastal hazards and develop innovative coastal risk assessment methods and tools.

### How Do Poor, Coastal Communities Respond to Flood Risk? The Example of Texas’ Colonias

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/how-do-poor-coastal-communities-respond-to-flood-risk-the-example-of-texas-colonias
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: William DONNER

In the deep south of Texas, where the coast is battered by hurricanes passing through the Gulf of Mexico, the most vulnerable of communities also dwell. In unregulated settlements, called colonias, an impoverished population lives in substandard housing along the Rio Grande’s flood plain, under great threat from severe storms. Despite their direct exposure to this serious risk, no research has explored the colonia population’s vulnerability to floods, nor are they involved in risk planning. Dr. William Donner is now addressing this situation with an innovative, interdisciplinary approach. Through a better understanding of their specific vulnerabilities—social and environmental—he hopes to inform better policy to help protect residents of the colonias and populations like them around the world. Along the Texas-Mexico border here, the population is 95% Hispanic, and includes many migrants and undocumented workers. The unemployment rate in this extremely poor region is two to three times higher than the average. The colonias emerged following the largely unregulated development of agriculturally poor land, and many of these settlements lack even basic services like potable water, sewers and paved roads. Poor communities, with few options for affordable housing, were forced to buy plots in these vulnerable coastal areas. The lack of physical infrastructure contributes to preventing the runoff of floodwaters, intensifying the risks for residents.

### Rare events and learning

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/rare-events-and-learning
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Pablo WINANT

How do disastrous events impact our behaviour? According to Pablo Winant, we tend to be over-optimistic before crises and over-pessimistic after them. “After a terrorist attack, for example, people (falsely) believe that attacks are more frequent that they thought and they adapt their reactions,” he says. “I want to prove that if the event is rare enough—an epidemic, a financial crash, an apparent acceleration of global warming—people ‘overshoot’ in response, more than proportionally revising expectations. As a result, even a benign crisis can be followed by more pessimistic behaviour.” Using numerical techniques and bounded rationality, Winant is creating intertemporal general equilibrium models to anticipate the effects of financial, technological, sociological and climatic shocks as well as provide insights into the recovery process. My research focuses on the aftermath of catastrophic events, when agents revise their priors about future risks. At a macroeconomic level, risk averse behaviour may translate into higher risk premia and investment distorsion, even if the main realization of the risk belongs to the past. We propose to study this learning behaviour in a standard macroeconomic settings (dynamic stochastic general equilibrium).

### Paleoceanographic constraints on climate sensitivity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/paleoceanographic-constraints-on-climate-sensitivity
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Natalia VÁZQUEZ-RIVEIROS

Paleoceanographic constraints on climate sensitivity What can we learn from the past? Foraminifera, small fossils preserved in marine sediments, register the characteristics of the water they lived in, such as temperature or sea level, providing records of climate variations in the past. Over the last 500,000 years, the Earth’s climate has witnessed strong glacial-interglacial changes. Some of the recent warm periods followed weak orbital changes, whether others hardly responded to strong forcing. Dr. Natalia Vazquez Riveiros tries to understand the reasons behind these differences. How does atmospheric CO2 amplify these changes? What is the role of oceanic circulation on different climate states? Her study aims to understand the mechanisms that have been at work during past climate periods, to improve estimates of Earth’s climate sensitivity and assess the capacity of climate models to predict global warming. My research focuses on the study of marine sediment cores, to assess the impact of ocean chemistry and ocean circulation on long-term global climate change. My post-doctoral project investigates a set of contrasting warm climate periods in the recent geological past, each characterized by a different combination of insolation, greenhouse gas concentration and global temperature. I investigate how variations in these forcings are linked to changes in sea level, ocean circulation, and deep water temperature and chemistry. I ultimately aim to assess the variability of the Earth system climate sensitivity

### Characterization of novel genetic regulatory elements controlling diatom response to stress in marine environment

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/characterization-of-novel-genetic-regulatory-elements-controlling-diatom-response-to-stress-in-marine-environment
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Alessandra ROGATO

My research focuses on understanding how marine photosynthetic organisms have developed strategies to adapt to the environmental changes. Between marine photosynthetic organisms, diatoms are a major but poorly understood phytoplankton group. Diatoms are unicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes that contribute close to one quarter of global primary productivity. Their ecological success might reflect their abilities for perceiving and responding to environmental changes. The aim of my research is to start to understand how these organisms respond to relevant environmental stress. Molecular mechanisms controlling these responses are still completely unknown. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### The molecular mechanisms and reversibility of fisheries-induced evolution - an experimental approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/the-molecular-mechanisms-and-reversibility-of-fisheries-induced-evolution-an-experimental-approach
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Silva UUSI-HEIKKILÄ

Many of the world’s exploited fish stocks have recently collapsed and evidence is accumulating rapidly that various phenotypic traits and population-level properties have been altered in these stocks. Although fisheriesinduced evolution consistently arises as the most parsimonious explanation for the observed life-history changes in exploited stocks, empirical evidence that size-selective fishing can cause genetic changes is largely lacking. I will use genomic approaches to study wild-origin zebrafish from my long-term artificial selection experiment, in which I have harvested fish size selectively (large-size selected, small-size selected, randomly selected) for five generations and halted the selection for another five generations. Preliminary results indicate significant phenotypic changes in response to size-selective harvesting, but the molecular changes remain unknown. I will study experimentally 1) Whether size-selective harvesting can induce rapid genetic changes; 2) What the molecular mechanisms behind the potential genetic changes are and 3) Whether these changes are reversible. I will sequence the expressed proportion of the genome, the transcriptome, of the experimental fish before and after selection using RNAseq to detect potential molecular signals of size-selective harvesting (1). RNAseq allows the survey of both sequence and expression level variation, thus increases our understanding of the biomolecular mechanisms of evolution (2). To confirm the results of RNAseq, follow-up studies will investigate the identified sequence and expression level differences in large numbers of individuals and in each generation. Finally, I will look at the potential reversibility of the genetic changes by comparing the transcriptomic data before and after halting the selection (3). The results will have considerable scientific importance as they contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of evolution and societal importance as little is currently known about thegenetic effects of size-selective fishing despite the heavy exploitation of numerous fish stocks. Addressing questions concerning the extent of evolutionary changes, the reversibility of such changes and their consequences for sustainable harvesting, population recovery and species persistence is a vital step towards sustainable fisheries management. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Intra-household risk sharing and public good provision: theory and empirics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/intra-household-risk-sharing-and-public-good-provision-theory-and-empirics
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Roberta ZIPARO

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### How can private long-term care insurance supplement state systems? The UK as a case study

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/how-can-private-long-term-care-insurance-supplement-state-systems-the-uk-as-a-case-study
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Raphael WITTENBERG

Long-term care financing is a hot political issue in the United Kingdom. But what role can private insurance play in the future? Prof. Raphael Wittenberg and his colleagues have conducted a study to help decision makers address this question. The number of people over age 65 is projected to rise by about 50% in the next 25 years in the United Kingdom, while the number aged 80 and over is set to more than double. This has raised concern over the future affordability of long-term care and pensions, fueling a debate about the appropriate balance between public and private funding. So far, private long-term care insurance has not been very successful in the UK. There have been few enrollees in such products and most of the providers have ceased to offer them. “One problem seems to be that insurance products have not proved easy to price, because future trends in health and disability are uncertain. Another issue is that the publicly funded system is complicated, which may lead people to believe mistakenly that social care is free at point of use rather than means tested,” explains Wittenberg. Wittenberg and his colleagues at the PSSRU at the London School of Economics, Nuffield Trust, University of East Anglia and University of Barcelona, have been studying, with AXA Research Funding, the role private insurance could play in the future: how long-term care products could interact with state funding, what the expected life-time costs of care could be for older people, possible premiums and pay-outs and their attractiveness, and estimates of social care expenditure under different financing schemes. They have estimated, for example, that the average life-time costs of care for a person turning 65 in the UK in 2015 may be in the range £20,000 to £25,000 for a man and £40,000 to £50,000 for a woman without taking account of inflation. They have reviewed published literature and consulted experts on long-term care insurance, looking at barriers, opportunities, and in particular what is or isn’t working in other countries, and conducted extensive modeling. Their findings, many of which they presented at a successful workshop in January 2014, are expected to benefit decision makers in the private and public sectors.

### Chair on Household Finance and Insurance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/chair-on-household-finance-and-insurance
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Luigi GUISO

What makes transactions possible? According to Professor Luigi Guiso, the answer is trust. Any financial exchange, whether it be an investment decision, the granting of a loan, the purchase of an insurance policy or the acceptance of a check to settle a transaction, is an exchange of money today for the promise of returning (more) money sometime in the future. Without trust, banks would not be willing to grant loans, and consumers would not buy insurance policies or invest in a corporation’s stock. Without trust, the economy would, in the end, fail to work. Professor Guiso believes that the importance of trust has been neglected in economics and especially in finance. By bringing trust back to the attention of economists, his research shows that trust beliefs matter considerably for people’s reliance on financial markets as well as for the development of financial markets.

### Role of the Tanycytic Barrier at the Blod-Hypothalamus Interface during Metabolic Disorder Development

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/role-of-the-tanycytic-barrier-at-the-blod-hypothalamus-interface-during-metabolic-disorder-development
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Michalena Maria KOSIOREK

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### A Quantum Revolution in Data Security

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/a-quantum-revolution-in-data-security
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Antonio ACIN DAL MASCHIO

As our online lives have grown and grown, our smartphones and laptops have gotten smaller and smaller. The same goes for the devices that secure all of the data we transmit around the planet. At the smallest of scales, where information is conveyed using atoms or even subatomic particles – this miniaturization reaches a point where the traditional laws of physics no longer apply. Researchers like Prof. Antonio Acín are taking advantage of the unique rules that govern this, the quantum world, to keep our data safe from attack, creating systems with no classical equivalent. His research is part of a paradigm shift in data security. Today’s systems rely on computational security, so called because a third party intercepting your data (transmitted in the form of ordinary bits) would have to perform an extremely difficult – but not impossible – mathematical computation to unlock your information. The new systems of quantum cryptography are different. Information is sent via quantum particles, like photons, and the security they offer is physical in nature. This means that, to hack such a system, you would have to break the laws of quantum physics, something scientists currently believe to be impossible.

### Mercury’s Mysteries in the Arctic Ocean

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/mercurys-mysteries-in-the-arctic-ocean
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lars-Eric HEIMBURGER

Life at the top of the food chain has its benefits, but distinct drawbacks, too. Pollutants ingested by smaller creatures become concentrated in the animals that prey on them, and so on, all the way up the chain. Mercury—specifically, its most toxic form, methylmercury—accumulates this way in certain fish we eat. Exposure is harmful to the nervous system and for fetal development. This much is known, but questions remain about where the mercury in the ocean is coming from and how it is transformed into its more dangerous version, methylmercury, in the first place. Dr. Lars-Eric Heimbürger is working hard to address these points for the central Arctic Ocean. He is the first researcher to focus on different mercury species present in the water, versus the air, and his results today may help predict the effect of climate change on the oceanic mercury cycle tomorrow. Emissions from human activities, like burning coal, are responsible for some of the mercury that ends up deposited in the waters of the far North. However, recent research has shown that atmospheric sources cannot account for it all. Dr. Heimbürger is now investigating how much mercury Siberian rivers might carry into the Arctic Ocean, especially during the spring flood season. The next question is how and where the fateful transformation to methylmercury occurs. One hypothesis is that some abyssal bacteria known to produce such a chemical change are ingesting mercury along with the sinking marine snow they eat. Dr. Heimbürger’s studies of this mechanism in Arctic seawater will be another piece in the complex Arctic mercury puzzle, and hopefully contribute to solving it. He will further pin down the dynamics of the mercury cycle through a combination of several Arctic Ocean cruises on the icebreaker Polarstern (1), field observations during Siberian river spring floods and dedicated lab experiments. He is measuring how methylmercury levels change across the Arctic from day to day, and down to depths of several kilometers. This will allow him to map out its presence, providing important tools for the fishing industry, too, to identify the safest zones from which to take their catch. The results may also help predict how warmer conditions, melting sea ice, and algae growth will impact bacterial methylmercury production. Understanding these elements is the only way to confront the significant risk to health and our food supply posed by methylmercury pollution. With Dr. Heimbürger’s results, we can hope to minimize the consequences, both human and economic, by keeping our fish safe to eat. (1) Operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar Research Scientific title: Levering Knowledge Gaps To Understand And Anticipate Risk From Methylmercury Exposure To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Data mining and volcanic eruption forecasting

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/data-mining-and-volcanic-eruption-forecasting
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Anaïs BOUé

You have one explosive message on your voice mail! Is it from your boss? No, it's from a volcano. You may not know it, but volcanoes emit complex signals akin to human voices. Interpreting their messages will be the exciting challenge of Anais Boué. Her innovative idea is to adapt methods initially developed for voice recognition devices to decipher volcanic signals recorded by seismometers. Using these methods, she hopes to be able to distinguish signals of different source origins like magma ascent for instance, which would give precursory tools for the prediction of eruptions. Boué will work on developing software that could be delivered to volcanologic observatories. Improved predictions of eruptions might then allow more efficient evacuation strategies and help reduce the number of fatalities due to eruptions.

### Reference point mechanism - combined approach from neuroscience and economics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/reference-point-mechanism-combined-approach-from-neuroscience-and-economics
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Agnieszka TYMULA

We’ve all seen—and fallen for—the optical illusions where an object’s size appears to change, when, really, the only change is in its surroundings. The same type of phenomenon influenced by external references occurs when we attach value to the goods we buy. While the effect is understood to a great extent regarding visual perception, in economics this is not the case. Traditional economic theories say that our valuation of an item should be based on its utility to us and should not change. Agnieszka Tymula, however, has confirmed that our value construction is not purely rational; it is inconsistent, influenced by motivations beyond pure utility and can affect where we put our money. To investigate the mechanisms behind this, Dr. Tymula studied the way people assign value to consumer goods. Using a classic experimental test, she discovered that the amount subjects were willing to pay for an item depended heavily on the price presented as “likely” to be the real price. When this was higher than their original bid, people very frequently increased the amount they would pay. This flexible valuation happened even more strongly the more subjects desired the product in question. Dr. Tymula’s results help explain discrepancies in earlier studies, and may well prove important in marketing, decision-making and policies on the provision of public goods.

### Seismic and tsunami risk in Northern Chile

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/seismic-and-tsunami-risk-in-northern-chile
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Amaya FUENZALIDA-VELASCO

What is the biggest earthquake ever recorded? If you think it occurred in Japan or in Indonesia, you are wrong! It was actually a magnitude-9.5 earthquake that took place in Southern Chile in 1960 and left 2 million people homeless. Because Chile is located at the frontier between two converging tectonic plates, it is frequently struck by very big quakes. The goal of Amaya Fuenzalida is to better assess seismic hazards in her native country. She focuses part of her study on Northern Chile, where the latest very large earthquake occurred in 1877 and induced one of the most destructive tsunami in history. Since 1877, energy has accumulated due to plate convergence.* The Tocopilla earthquake in 2007 released some of this energy, but according to seismologists, the worst is yet to come! To assess present-day seismic risk in Northern Chile, Fuenzalida fi rst needed to know all about the 2007 Tocopilla event... and luckily she had an unprecedented amount of high quality data available. Indeed, the Tocopilla earthquake was recorded by an extensive monitoring network, installed by French, German and Chilean institutions working in collaboration with each other. Fuenzalida also tries to evaluate the effects of a potential future event similar to that of 1877, including the risk for a tsunami that could spread across the Pacifi c. In parallel, Fuenzalida works on the Maule earthquake, which occurred during her PhD, in 2010, in Southern Chile. She led fi eld work to collect data about the aftershocks of this event and is currently analyzing them. Large Chilean earthquakes can cause numerous fatalities and have a high economical cost. In 1985, an earthquake in Central Chile produced an economic negative impact of nearly 2% of the Gross National Product. Fuenzalida's study might be useful for the mitigation of seismic hazards by Chilean authorities, and contribute to reducing their harmful consequences. My research focuses on On 14 November 2007 an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck the region Tocopilla in northern Chile. This earthquake relieved only a fraction of the cumulated strain due to the plate convergence since the historical Chile–Peru earthquake in 1877 : only 2 to 3 m of slip was deduced from the records, whereas 10 m was due. This means that there is still a potential for a new destructive earthquake, possibly more large and expected to trigger a strong and destructive tsunami. Now, my research work is to use all available seismic data of permanent and temporary networks to characterize the source of the earthquake and its major aftershocks. The first part of my Ph.D. was it location, determination of focal mechanisms and magnitudes evaluation through inversion methods of the seismic waves.

### Plants Capture Carbon, but Will Ozone Get in the Way?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/plants-capture-carbon-but-will-ozone-get-in-the-way
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Divya PANDEY

Plants are like humans, at least in the fact that ozone in the air around them is bad for their health. Ozone at ground level is an air pollutant that has negative effects on plant growth and physiological processes. What worries Dr. Divya Pandey is that the detrimental effects of ozone seem also to impact an important service provided by plants. They lock up carbon in their biomass and a part of it enters the soil instead of ending up in the atmosphere in the form of the climate-altering gas, carbon dioxide (a process called carbon sequestration). Not much data exists to understand the full extent of ozone’s effect on these carbon dynamics. With ozone concentrations projected to increase in important agricultural regions, like South and East Asia, Dr. Pandey is creating the tools needed to estimate the potential consequences for this natural carbon capture and sequestration, and the subsequent impact on climate change. The carbon that a plant takes in from the air is distributed to different parts of its structure. When it drops its leaves or dies, part of the carbon is released, while part enters the soil as the plant decomposes. To get a clearer picture of these mechanisms, Dr. Pandey’s first step is to conduct experiments at a special facility in the UK allowing her to expose wheat plants to different levels of ozone and observe their growth. She will monitor changes to their roots, shoots and foliage, and to levels of soil carbon. She’ll also examine the processes that control carbon take-up by plants (like photosynthesis), in the soil (microbial action), and their interactions. These results will then allow Dr. Pandey to bring together two existing mathematical models: one that estimates the effect of ozone on plant growth and physiology, and another that uses details of plant growth to predict how much carbon will be stored in the soil, instead of escaping into the air. Dr. Pandey’s new model will be among the first attempts to quantitatively connect the dots between atmospheric ozone and the consequences for carbon sequestration in soil. She will apply it to potential ozone scenarios for the UK to predict the future risks for soil carbon. This coupled model will also be adaptable to other regions and ecosystems. Understanding these processes in depth will help identify what steps need to be taken to preserve the carbon mitigation service provided by plants, or adapt to its reduction. The impact of ozone on agricultural crop loss is easier to quantify in terms of food production and economic implications and, thus, also in the gains to be had from air pollution controls. Dr. Pandey’s work is essential to do the same for soil carbon sequestration and to invest in the preservation of ecosystems providing natural carbon capture, as nature has always done. Scientific title: What Level Of Risk Will Ground Level Ozone Pose To Soil Carbon Sequestration Over Coming Decades? To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Impact of climate change on marine biodiversity : the case of plankton-feeding species

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/impact-of-climate-change-on-marine-biodiversity-the-case-of-plankton-feeding-species
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sabrina FOSSETTE

Marine ecosystems are facing extreme and rapid changes. In particular, there are concerns that jellyfi sh may be taking over the oceans due to overfi shing. Jellyfi sh are very diffi cult to study; however, an original approach is to study their more accessible main predator, the leatherback turtle. Leatherbacks explore variable oceanic environments as they undertake long-distance migrations every 2-3 years from tropical nesting sites to temperate foraging grounds to feed on jellyfi sh. Their behavior is therefore deeply infl uenced when a shift in the abundance of jellyfi sh takes place. This species can therefore be considered a bioindicator, since its migration habits may help us understand how natural and human-driven environmental changes affect marine ecosystems. Dr. Sabrina Fossette spent several months in French Guiana to equip turtles with satellite tags and follow them during their migration across the Atlantic Ocean in search of their gelatinous meal.

### Mitigating the risks of plasmid mediated antibiotic resistance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mitigating-the-risks-of-plasmid-mediated-antibiotic-resistance
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Michelle BUCKNER

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Could a Climate Change/Earthquake Link Mean Unexpected Tsunamis?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/could-a-climate-changeearthquake-link-mean-unexpected-tsunamis
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Rebekka STEFFEN

Climate change is responsible for many transformations taking place on earth, including, potentially, more earthquakes. Dr. Rebekka Steffen is a geoscientist studying the impact of melting ice sheets on seismic activity. As the load of ice decreases, it changes the stress present in the earth’s crust. These forces could activate formerly quiet seismic faults and generate powerful earthquakes. Researchers know that such glacially induced earthquakes occurred in the Nordic region 10,000 years ago. With climate change and shrinking ice sheets, similar activity is likely to increase around the world, but the phenomenon has been little studied. Dr. Steffen is, thus, taking on the question in Greenland, where increased interest in its natural resources could put infrastructure at risk of earthquakes. Should she find the potential for seismic activity in the oceanic crust here, both sides of the North Atlantic could be threatened by tsunamis, too. The planet’s crust is more malleable than everyday experience leads us to believe. The weight of glaciers presses down on the Earth below and creates uplift of the area around them. When the ice melts, the surface slowly readjusts to its previous shape, the crust actually moving through viscous flow in the mantle underneath. Even when the ice disappears, removing that source of vertical pressure, residual horizontal stresses linger from the deformation of the crust. These forces are capable of reactivating formerly stable faults. The latter begin to move and, historically, have triggered earthquakes up to 8.0 in magnitude in northern Europe – equivalent to those seen along large plate boundaries, as in Japan and Indonesia.

### Pneumococcal vaccination strategies for crisis-affected populations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/pneumococcal-vaccination-strategies-for-crisis-affected-populations
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Olivier LE POLAIN DE WAROUX

Olivier Le Polain de Waroux is using mathematical models of pneumococcal disease transmission to explore different vaccination strategies on the burden of pneumococcal disease, based on data collected in Vietnam and Uganda. His findings may help populations who remain inadequately protected.

### Roll-over Risk and debt maturity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/roll-over-risk-and-debt-maturity
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Anatoli SEGURA

What triggered the 2008 financial crisis in the US banking system? Liquidity issues were at the core of the chaos. Maturity mismatch between assets and liabilities in the financial system is excessive and not properly assessed by the current regulatory framework that focuses on solvency risk. Anatoli Segura explores interrelated issues of debt maturity, roll-over risk and their systemic implications for the stability of the whole financial system. According to Segura, an institution’s roll-over risk can be modelled as its exposure to refinancing needs during systemic liquidity crises. His model will improve the understanding of the trade-off between the preference of investors for short-term debt maturities and the preference of banks for long-term ones. It may also help analyze possible regulatory responses to liquidity crises.

### AXA Chair in Neuroergonomics for flight safety

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-chair-in-neuroergonomics-for-flight-safety
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Frédéric DEHAIS

Research Outline Accidents analysis reveals that the complexity of modern transportation aircraft can overwhelm the most experienced crews when something goes wrong. The purpose of my research is to uncover the underlying neural mechanisms of human error that lead pilots to persist in irrational behaviors. Our approach combines cutting edge brain imaging, signal processing, and artificial intelligence techniques as well as a unique methodology “from basic protocols to ecological experiments”. Results from this research will be strongly beneficial to aviation safety leading to implement innovative solutions to mitigate human error. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Strategic Customers in public-service systems subject to uncertainty and congestion: Equilibrium Analysis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/strategic-customers-in-public-service-systems-subject-to-uncertainty-and-congestion-equilibrium-analysis
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Athanasia MANOU

Public-service systems aim at providing high-quality service under very strict budget limitations and regulations. The scarcity of resources together with the large volume of demand typically causes congestion in these systems. Risks associated with congestion in public-service systems include monetary losses, poor service quality, and shortcomings in fulfilling societal goals such as equality and fairness. Many of these socio-economic risks are borne by the whole public rather than single individuals. Dr. Manou's project intends to analyze both the individual and collective behavior in these systems involving several strategic stakeholders, to evaluate and suggest policies with respect to risk-sensitive performance measures. Serving in batches necessitates specific queueing models while adjusting performance criteria to model risk attitudes requires new computational techniques. After developing these models and the techniques to handle them, the project will address the effects of centralization and decentralization in public-service systems. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Flow modification for flood control – a biodiversity trade-off analysis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/flow-modification-for-flood-control-a-biodiversity-trade-off-analysis
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Guy ZIV

No luck with fishing today? This may be due to a dam. Dr Guy Ziv investigated how dams impact fish populations. Built for multiple purposes, including energy production, dams may have harmful socioeconomic effects in regions where fishing is a dominant industry: they prevent fish migration which may lead to the extinction of certain species. Dr. Ziv focused on a multiple dam plan in the Mekong Basin in South East Asia, where the fishes feed millions of people. He showed that the plan would induce a decrease in the fish population equivalent to thousands of tons of food and concluded: “Some tributary dams can and should be avoided". The damage they would cause would be greater than the additional power produced. The assessment of the pros and cons of dams provided by Dr. Ziv's work may be a valuable tool to support the decisions of policy makers.

### Contributing to seismic hazard assesment in the French-Italian Alps-Mediterranean region : an onshore-offshore, multi-disciplinary and multi-scale approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/contributing-to-seismic-hazard-assesment-in-the-french-italian-alps-mediterranean-region-an-onshore-offshore-multi-disciplinary-and-multi-scale-approach
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Aurélien BIGOT

The seismic hazard in Italy is important because of high seismic activity through all the Apennines. Only some areas are considered less active, with a seismic hazard thus lower. This is the case in the area of Pisa, where no major active fault is recorded on the most current maps. However large normal faults exist, most structuring sedimentary basins like that of Viareggio. The objective of my work was therefore to revisit the issue of hazard in northern Italy. Based on literature data, I first studied the geological and tectonic setting of this region, including seismic activity and crustal structures. By combining digital topographic data and aerial and satellite images, I then analyzed the major extensive basins in the region by focusing on the morphology, geometry and distribution of their bounding faults and the links between these faults and instrumental seismicity recorded. Finally, on the basis of observations and field measurements, coupled with analysis of satellite images and seismic data, I analyzed the Viareggio basin, and its normal faults. The main fault system that controls the basin is oriented NW-SE and is about 70 km long. The morphology of the high escarpment, steep, linear and locally associated with triangular facets, attests to its recent activity. Other smaller structures show evidence of activity in other parts of the basin, or nearby (eg Camaiore Basin), usually emphasized by significant seismic activity. A dense instrumental seismicity is also recorded offshore near Viareggio Basin, suggesting the existence of active faults. On land, strong historical earthquakes are also known, such as in Garfagnana in 1920 (Mw = 6.5). Finally, the analysis of micro-fracturing associated with major faults (orientations, striations and stress tensors inferred) confirms that most of these secondary structures were formed recently in a direction NE-SW extension. All this work shows that most normal faults in northern Italy are active, and among them, the large fault systems that border the Viareggio basin, near the city of Pisa. The rupture of these faults, approximately 70 km long, could produce earthquakes with magnitudes of at least 6.5. Thus, the seismic hazard in the populated region of Pisa is high, contrary to the current suggestions. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Use of Historical Seismic Records as Realizations of a Diffuse Field for Tomography of Alluvial Basins: Application for the Valley of Mexico City

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/use-of-historical-seismic-records-as-realizations-of-a-diffuse-field-for-tomography-of-alluvial-basins-application-for-the-valley-of-mexico-city
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Francisco José SÁNCHEZ SESMA

When an earthquake tears through the Earth, its irregular energy ripples out from the starting point in every direction. The nature and duration of the ground shaking that occurs is then determined, in part, by the characteristics of the local geology. Clearly, anticipating these effects would be an important element in successfully preparing for and minimizing the damage of future seismic events. That is what Prof. Sánchez-Sesma hopes to do for the Mexico City valley region. His team is developing new methods making use of old data—from more than 100 earthquakes recorded over the last 25 years—to get a better picture of the Earth’s near-surface interior. One way to understand what’s inside an object, like our planet, is to observe how waves of energy behave when they pass through it. By analysing the way earthquake surface waves were deflected by geological materials as they moved through the Earth’s crust, Prof. Sánchez-Sesma can deduce the kind of material they encountered. The time they took to travel from the starting point to different recording stations tells him where and by how much geological factors caused the waves to speed up. Together, this information allows Prof. Sánchez-Sesma to create high-resolution maps of seismic surface wave velocities – a characteristic of great importance to city planning and disaster preparation. These tools, whether developed for the Mexico City basin or for other seismically at-risk locations, are useful to construct scenarios of ground motion. This information could provide decision makers with estimates of how their region will respond to an earthquake. The result stands to be better engineering, better construction and better preparedness before the next big quake strikes.

### Regional Climate and Weather Hazards

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/regional-climate-and-weather-hazards
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Joaquim PINTO

They have names such as Lothar, Vivian, Wiebke, Kyrill or, as in 2015, Niklas: Winter storms originate from low-pressure systems over the Atlantic Ocean and often move across North-West and Central Europe. As the temperature difference between polar and subtropical latitudes is particularly high in winter, they can develop into dangerous storms. With wind speeds of up to 150 km/h in lowlands and a large spatial extent, winter storms can cause large impacts. The main goal of Professor Joaquim Pinto’s research at KIT’s Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research is a better understanding of the relationship between environmental hazards and extreme weather events in Europe, including floods, cold spells and heat waves. "We are investigating both the physical processes leading to the occurrence of extreme weather events as well as the natural variations in their frequency and intensity," says Pinto. As an AXA Chair holder, he and his team want to develop methods that enable the quantification of possible changes in frequency and intensity on the regional level. Another central topic will be the risk assessment of extreme weather events under current and future climatic conditions. "The AXA Chair for Regional Climate and Weather Hazards will strengthen cooperation between research and insurance industry and in particular the transfer of knowledge in both directions in order to gain a better understanding of hazards associated with weather risks," says Luc de Lignières, Chief Risk Officer for P&C at the AXA Group and sponsor of this AXA Chair. The AXA Chair strengthens KIT's broad competence and highly successful research in the area of natural risks, which is conducted by e.g. the Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology (CEDIM) and the Collaborative Research Center "Waves to Weather.” It makes use of these synergies to promote the exploration of environmental risks and contributes to enhancing KIT's strength in this area. The funding for this new professorship has been raised by the KIT-Stiftung. The foundation’s goal is to sustainably promote research, teaching, innovation and academic life at KIT. For further information on the KIT-Stiftung please see: https://www.stiftung.kit.edu Currently, AXA’s financial commitment to German research institutions amounts to EUR 6.5 million. In addition to the KIT professorship, this contribution is used to support 24 other life sciences, socio-economic and environmental projects. How can we help authorities prepare for Climate Change ?

### Chair in Financial Market Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/chair-in-financial-market-risk
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Joel PERESS

It’s everywhere, and crucial to our way of life, yet intangible, unobservable. Still, Professor Joël Peress finds ways to measure its impact. The object of his study is information, which he believes plays a fundamental role in the economy – for example, by affecting the behavior of financial markets and the rate of innovation, a major driver of development. Traditionally, the media, our main purveyor of information, was thought to have no effect on the markets, since the news it reported would arrive too late to influence many decisions. But information flows faster today, and Prof. Peress set out to test whether communications can take a more active role. He identified strikes in the newspaper industry of four different countries as a source of variation in media activity that is independent of stock market activity. This allowed him to see what impact the papers were having on movements in the market. During the strikes, trading volume fell and stock prices moved less than usual, showing the effect of missing information, usually propagated by the media. “If there is a strike on Wednesday, Tuesday’s news is not reported,” Prof. Peress explains. “It will eventually be incorporated into stock prices, but the market misses a beat.” Whatever perturbs the media, then, could be felt in the market, making it both an active player on the markets and a previously unrecognized source of financial risk. Information is also active when it comes to innovation. Joël Peress has found that there is a positive feedback loop between the effort of entrepreneurs to innovate and the effort of potential financiers to understand their work. He explored this by studying the impact of pro-innovation laws on the number of financial analysts following the companies concerned. As innovation increased, the number went up, indicating financiers becoming more informed. Conversely, when certain brokerage houses closed, effectively removing analysts who were studying these companies, the level of innovation suffered, confirming the importance of information provided to financiers. The consequences for the economy are significant. Innovation is a major factor affecting growth and, thus, so is the allocation of its funding. The ability of financiers to evaluate innovation accurately, based on the information at their disposal, becomes key. “Each half will make the economy grow faster,” Professor Peress concludes, “but an economy with both will grow even faster.”

### Postpartum Hemorrhage: epidemiological profile and assessment of anesthesia and intensive care practices in France

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/postpartum-hemorrhage-epidemiological-profile-and-assessment-of-anesthesia-and-intensive-care-practices-in-france
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Marie-Pierre BONNET

In France, postpartum hemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality, unlike in other high-income countries. Marie-Pierre Bonnet has described the epidemiological feature of postpartum hemorrhage and the components of anesthesia and critical care management in order to better understand this phenomenon specific to France. Her research could contribute to defining health-care policies in maternity hospitals, perinatal networks and at a national level as well as be extended to other cases of severe maternal morbidity.

### Children’s Play & Public Health: A Kenyan Perspective on Fighting Obesity with “Active Play”

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/childrens-play-public-health-a-kenyan-perspective-on-fighting-obesity-with-active-play
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Stephanie ALEXANDER

Sometimes, children’s energy seems boundless. “Go outside and run around!”, parents will say. Recently, the concept of active play has been formalized, mainly in high-income countries, as a tool in the fight against childhood obesity. Dr. Stephanie Alexander studies this emergence, and how this shapes the nature of play and leisure for children. Her research explores what that means for children’s well-being, what unforeseen consequences it may have, and how these can change depending on the context in which it is being promoted. Dr. Alexander’s research aims to understand how physical activity programmes for children conceptualise physical activity indicators, such as ‘active play’, and explores how they integrate children’s leisure within their public health and physical activity programmes. Dr. Alexander’s starting point was an organisation by the name of Active Healthy Kids Canada (recently ceased operations), which issued recommendations about “getting kids active”, in the form of a national “Report Card”. She is interested in learning about the development of these Canadian Report Cards, and how they were introduced to other countries. Her work will then take her to Kenya and South Africa for ethnographic fieldwork. Here, through interviews with the people developing these countries’ Physical Activity Report Cards, she aims to understand how the physical activity indicators for children (i.e., active play, active transportation) are conceptualised in these African contexts: how they are developed and used to promote physical activity and prevent obesity, how they are introduced to families and how the concept of active play specifically is measured and evaluated—something inherently difficult to do. Equally important to her project is the child’s point of view. She will draw on visual methods, less common in the field of public health, and will ask 15 children from urban and rural settings to take photographs and talk about their ways of playing. These photos will help elicit natural discussions with children about daily life and about their forms of play and leisure. This is important, since perspectives on leisure and daily life in Kenya or South Africa are vastly different than in Canada, and children have quite different understandings of what it means to engage in ‘active play’, leisure or physical activity. Her exchanges with researchers as well as with families and children will also help Dr. Alexander understand different kinds of risks (social, environmental, crime-related) that children may encounter and how these come up against or are integrated in interventions encouraging outdoor play and physical activity.

### Smart motion sensor for navigated prosthetic surgery

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/smart-motion-sensor-for-navigated-prosthetic-surgery
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Caroline CLAASEN GOENTJE

Guiding the Surgeon's Hand When a short walk becomes a struggle for a person suffering from arthritis sometimes the only solution is a hip or knee replacement. In the operating room, the surgeon needs the best tools to be able to place the prosthesis as accurately as possible. This is where Caroline Claasen-Göntje came in. The aim of her project was to develop a new intelligent tool that will still be used manually, while guiding the surgeon's movements along a planned trajectory. More specifically, she intended to design a surgical saw whose position and orientation will be controlled on two sides: markers will be placed on the patient, and sensors added to the tool will send information to a computer. As a result, the accurately placed prosthesis will bring back normal and longer-lasting mobility. As hip and knee arthroplasty is an increasingly common type of surgery – especially for elderly people – the system designed by Caroline Claasen-Göntje could be widely used.

### Corporate Accountability and transnational litigation: New Risks, New Strategies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/corporate-accountability-and-transnational-litigation-new-risks-new-strategies
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Liesbeth ENNEKING

The proposed study provides an insight into the ways in which globally operating business enterprises can deal with the increased risk of being held legally accountable for harm allegedly caused to people and the planet as a result of their worldwide activities. It provides a comparison of strategies for liability risk reduction that have been adopted in light of this risk by multinationals based in the US, the UK and the Netherlands, and analyses the (potential) impact of a diverse range of regulatory mechanisms in this respect. The main objective is to gain a better insight into the costs and benefits of this development from the perspective of the corporate actors involved. This will enable higher quality decision making by policymakers seeking to implement regulatory measures that affect this development. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Genome-wide investigation of inborn errors of immunity to human infectious diseases on the individual and population levels

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/genome-wide-investigation-of-inborn-errors-of-immunity-to-human-infectious-diseases-on-the-individual-and-population-levels
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Yuval ITAN

Within close human groups, catching a disease or not and the severity of the disease mostly depends on one’s own genetic background. Dr. Yuval Itan wishes to unveil genetic predisposition to infectious diseases, individually and on a population-wide scale. He enquires to automate the identification of disease-favoring genes, to ultimately provide a wide array of computational tools for the diagnosis of genetic errors of the immune system, on the individual and population levels.

### Venture Capital, Innovation and strategic patenting

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/venture-capital-innovation-and-strategic-patenting
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Yassine LEFOUILLI

Amnesty Plus is a program used by the US Department of Justice: to trigger multiple confessions, this of already convicted firms. This program allows cartel members that are convicted in a first market to get a substantial fine reduction if they report another cartel they are involved in. Yassine Lefouili shows that Amnesty Plus has two opposite effects. In industries where firms are able to collude in multiple markets the risk of a firm reporting one or several of the remaining cartels after a first detection makes it less attractive to create multiple cartels. However, the program can also encourage firms to create more cartels in industries where firms are unable to sustain multimarket collusion. The value of a second cartel gets higher as it will include collusive profits and also the possibility to be sacrificed in order to get a fine reduction in case another cartel is detected.

### Chair in Air pollution and Health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/chair-in-air-pollution-and-health
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Sverre VEDAL

Prof Sverre Vedal’s purpose is to assess the effects of short-term air pollution exposure on human health. He will study subjects near heavily trafficked roadways and inside residences in heavily polluted Chinese urban areas, with and without protective measures such as highly-effective masks or home air purifiers.

### A seamless approach to assessing model uncertainties in climate projections of severe European windstorms

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/a-seamless-approach-to-assessing-model-uncertainties-in-climate-projections-of-severe-european-windstorms
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Peter KNIPPERTZ

“Robust projections of the latitude and strength of the Atlantic stormtrack near the British Isles are not yet possible, as the differences between models are too large.” This conclusion published in the 2009 UK Climate Projections was the starting point for Dr. Knippertz's project, which addresses the problem of climate model uncertainty. Indeed, despite the advances made in climate change research, the use of different approaches to measure storminess has made it very difficult to identify single causes of errors. In his project, Dr. Knippertz thus intends to clearly separate and quantify different sources of uncertainties in future projections of potentially damaging storms over Europe and to better understand the mechanisms that lead to disagreement between different models. In order to do so, the research team is evaluating short-term predictions of intense storms at different lead times using a wide range of weather and climate models. The project aims to find possible biases in storm intensity and track and to understand to what degree these biases depend on the resolution of the model. Despite the enormous risk to European societies and (re)insurance companies associated with extreme cyclones, such an approach has never been used before and will help to improve future generations of forecast models. In this respect, the project will make a strong contribution to the World Weather Research Program THORPEX (The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment). Indeed, according to Dr. Knippertz, the project aims to “build a bridge between scientists in climate-change impact research, atmospheric modeling, climate research and dynamical meteorology for the sake of a much more robust prediction of future windstorm impact across Europe.”

### Inborn errors of IL-17 immunity in humans

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/inborn-errors-of-il-17-immunity-in-humans
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sophie CYPOWYJ

Patients with immune deficiencies are often afflicted by persistent infections of the skin, mucous membranes and nails with a yeast, Candida. Otherwise healthy people can also be affected, though, and the tendency seems to run in families. The suspected culprit is a genetic defect and Dr. Sophie Cypowyj intends to identify it. Revealing a genetic origin for Candida susceptibility could not only improve treatments, but lead to a better understanding of the immune response to many fungal infections.

### AXA Chair in Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-chair-in-risk
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Massimo MARINACCI

The Beauty of Incertainty To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### AXA Chair in risk prediction in age-related diseases

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-chair-in-risk-prediction-in-age-related-diseases
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Jorge FERRER, Ben LEHNER

For some years now, we’ve known the entire DNA sequence that makes us human. We often hear that a specific gene has been linked to cancer, to Alzheimer’s, to cardiovascular or other age-related diseases. Yet, do we know what all this means for us individually, who will develop these problems, how much risk each of us carries? Not really. Not yet. Dr. Ben Lehner leads a team that is making progress towards personalized medicine by advancing our understanding of how genetic information is translated into its physical expression in an organism. The delay up to now in this area of research has been due to the sheer complexity of that process: the extremely sensitive interactions among our biological systems, the influence of external factors like environment and life history, and even the role of random events within our cells. Nevertheless, Dr. Lehner has had success addressing each of these aspects. His team has examined, for example, the variation among individuals’ DNA sequences and asked if the phenotypes that would result—the physical expression of those genes—could be predicted. Through a large-scale experiment on yeast, they found that even simple genetic models were fairly accurate in predicting how these individual cells would differ on a number of traits. The researchers knew that such genetic variation plays an active role throughout development, yet many analyses consider only the characteristics that result at the end. Dr. Lehner went on to develop a method of tracking the influence of genetic variation on development itself—in this case, in the common lab organism, C. elegans. “This approach,” he explains, “could be used to study how genetic variation influences any dynamic process such as human development or disease progression.” Another angle of his research focuses on the impact of random events affecting our genes. A long-term accumulation of errors in the DNA may not be necessary to trigger the development of cancer; a single mutation in a cell can be all it takes. Indeed, this is a frequent cause of the disease, the researchers discovered. The Lehner team identified precisely how, at the level of our genes, one class of such mutations leads to cancer, and noted that the rate at which mutations occur varies greatly, but predictably, across the entire set of human genes. This, they worked out, is mainly due to differences in the efficiency of the cellular system for DNA repair. This wealth of knowledge that Dr. Lehner’s team has produced regarding what controls and influences the physical expression of genetic information is poised to offer great insight into the medical reality written in our genes. Such information will participate in the coming revolution aimed at personalizing medical treatment to every individual, for a better targeted, more effective fight against the troubles of aging and disease.

### Characterisation of the underlying mechanisms of ageing and cancer

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/characterisation-of-the-underlying-mechanisms-of-ageing-and-cancer
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Thomas HELLEDAY

Cancer touches many of us personally, and will do so even more often in the future: the number of new cases is expected to rise from 14 million in 2012 to 22 million within the next 20 years. If we hope to slow this trend, we must understand more about how cancer develops in the first place. This is a very diverse family of diseases, which makes it hard to pin down any one trigger. But something most cancers have in common is genomic instability. This means that, for various possible reasons, the DNA of cancer cells has experienced a high rate of mutation, or change to the genetic code. Prof. Thomas Helleday believes that understanding what causes this instability in our genes will illuminate how cancer begins and provide new targets for therapies. With over 100 mutations occurring each day, on average, it is vital for a cell to be able to repair these mistakes and avoid becoming cancerous. When the cell copies its DNA before cell division, the two strands of genetic material unwind, allowing the replication machinery to pass. If it encounters a damaged area of DNA, it may come to a halt, leaving a double-stranded break. Helleday’s lab has identified the principal repair mechanism in these cases as homologous recombination (HR). Each of our chromosomes is lucky enough to have a partner carrying corresponding genetic information. If a break occurs in the DNA of one, the missing sequence can be copied from the other chromosome. This much is known, but many details of the process have yet to be revealed. Helleday aims to identify new proteins involved in the HR repair mechanism and to unravel their precise roles. His strategy involves a particular relationship that may exist between the genes that produce them. Sometimes two genes interact in such a way that one may contain a mutation and the cell will still survive, but if both genes are mutated, the cell will die. Identifying this type of relationship can show where the role of one gene is backed up by another, thus revealing the function of each gene’s protein product. Demonstrating just how homologous recombination normally works to repair DNA damage promises to provide fundamental information about the origins of cancer when things go wrong.

### Essays on Welfare and Social Protection, The Impact of Universal Health Insurance on Welfare: Evidence from Mexico’s Seguro Popular

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/essays-on-welfare-and-social-protection-the-impact-of-universal-health-insurance-on-welfare-evidence-from-mexicos-seguro-popular
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Alejandro DEL VALLE SUAREZ

Alejandro del Valle Suarez is analyzing the labor market effects of government-subsidized health insurance. He has found that these programs improve the health of children while inadvertently encouraging women to join the labor force. My research focuses in identifying the causal impact that social protection systems have on various dimensions of welfare, from its impact on health outcomes to its unintended consequences in the labor market. My current research utilizes a natural experiment in Mexico, in order to establish whether the provision of free health care services to the uninsured encourages workers to switch to jobs that avoid paying contributions to social security. Given the limited and skewed coverage of contributory social security in developing countries, assessing the magnitude of this trade-off is of considerable importance, as policy makers should otherwise be strongly encouraged to pursue this type of welfare improving intervention.

### Analysis of the meteorological factors triggering debris flows

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/analysis-of-the-meteorological-factors-triggering-debris-flows
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Michelle SCHNEUWLY-BOLLSCHWEILER

Would you believe that trees tell stories? At least to those who know how to read them. Dr. Michelle Schneuwly-Bollschweiler uses tree rings to study past occurrences of debris fl ows* and to investigate the impact of climate change on the frequency of such events. Dr. Schneuwly-Bollschweiler samples trees showing signs of injury from debris fl ows and counts the annual growth rings formed after the scars in order to date the debris-fl ow event. Using this method, she managed to obtain a picture of debris-fl ow occurrences in the Swiss Alps from 1600 to the present day! She linked her results to the occurrence of extreme rainfall* over the past few decades. Dr. Schneuwly-Bollschweiler's results may help predict the future frequency of debris fl ows. This may ultimately be useful to local authorities for safe land-use planning and the building of protection structures.

### International variation in the socioeconomic health gradient : do the institutional arrangements matter?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/international-variation-in-the-socioeconomic-health-gradient-do-the-institutional-arrangements-matter
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Hale KOC

My research focuses on understanding the observed disparities in health by socioeconomic status, over the life cycle. Although a strong relationship between health and socioeconomic status has been firmly established by research in several fields, there is still ongoing research to discover underlying causal mechanisms. More specifically is health strongly driven by socioeconomic characteristics (such as income, occupation, education), and/or is health itself an important determinant of socioeconomic status? And do the underlying mechanisms connecting socioeconomic status with health change when populations age? In Glasgow, life expectancy can range from 54 to 82 depending on whether people live in a deprived neighborhood or an affluent area. There are many reasons for such disparities; however, numerous studies have revealed a strong relationship between health and socioeconomic status (SES). Nonetheless, explaining this relationship mechanism is a different story since both SES and health rely on many different factors. Using an innovative technique in structural econometrics, Dr. Koç hopes to fill this gap. Starting from existing studies, her first task will be to harmonize research findings and compare them to reality through the combined use of socioeconomic data and structural econometrics. The results of her work will provide an estimate of the relationship between health and SES, backed up by theory. One of the objectives of this work is to test the relevance of certain public policies that affect both people’s health and socioeconomic status. Was an education policy efficiently implemented? Is this policy relevant everywhere or only in specific areas? These are some of the questions that Hale Koç’s research aims to answer. Today, Koç’s research is focused on the Netherlands, but she is considering extending her model to other countries. As a very powerful tool for governments, this model will be highly valuable for the implementation of new health and socio-economic policies.

### Unravel the molecular mechanisms of the DNA lesion tolerance pathway

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/unravel-the-molecular-mechanisms-of-the-dna-lesion-tolerance-pathway
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Luisa LAURETI

Our genetic material, DNA, may seem to be tucked safely away inside our cells, but it is under constant assault. DNA suffers damage at the hands of chemicals, radiation and reactive molecules. While our cells fix the vast majority of these problems with incredible efficiency, some damage to the DNA does occasionally go unnoticed. And that is thought to be involved in ageing, cancer and other diseases. The lesions can cause a fatal roadblock when the DNA replication machinery comes along, as a cell tries to copy itself and divide. Fortunately, cells have two systems for facing this problem. One simply moves past the roadblock, but is more likely to include errors in the copy. The other, called the damage avoidance (DA) pathway, is able to replicate faithfully the undamaged genetic code. Although distinctly important for our health, these ingenious cellular mechanisms are still poorly understood. To witness the phenomenon in action, Dr. Luisa Laureti and her team developed tools to introduce lesions at precise locations in bacterial DNA and to identify which pathway the bacteria used to bypass it. E. coli bacteria, she found, had a strong preference for avoiding copying the damage. Using techniques of molecular biology, she will now be able to grab the proteins involved in that kind of repair and determine how they operate. The techniques Dr. Laureti is developing will also let her compare DNA damage caused by different sources, to see which repair pathway predominates in each case. If the dominant system is likely to include errors, it may indicate a greater risk of such lesions resulting in disease. Taken together, Dr. Laureti’s results could not only increase our knowledge of how cancer and aging begin, but present a strategy for combating the DNA damage that can arise when people are repeatedly exposed to carcinogens, on the job or in the environment.

### Keeping Watch on Flooding, Countrywide

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/keeping-watch-on-flooding-countrywide
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Vazken ANDREASSIAN

Major floods are dreadful natural hazards that spare no region of the world. The year 2014 began with high-impact flooding in the UK and in the Balkans; between 1987 and 1997, almost 230,000 people in Asia lost their lives to floods that created $136 billion in losses. The enormous burden of flood damage, along with environmental changes that seem to be increasing the frequency and intensity of flooding, makes the need for forecasting and warning systems increasingly vital. In a joint initiative with AXA Global P&C, Dr. Vazken Andréassian is working to create a country-scale river flood forecasting system integrating multiple types of hydrological data and capable of providing flooding maps. The team will begin by developing these methods for France, where Dr. Andréassian will attempt to tackle the difficult question of how different floods along a river affect one another: how downstream floods are reduced by upstream flooding, and how upstream flood defences such as dikes can aggravate downstream floods. To efficiently handle the huge volume of data of a countrywide model, Dr. Andréassian will assess to what extent it can be handled automatically. He will develop automatic data quality filters, inspired by the methods of expert human forecasters. These should help detect and correct problems with the data more easily and quickly, saving time for analysis. In any location, many waterways will not benefit from real-time data collection; in France 70,000 kilometers of streams are not monitored. Dr. Andréassian will, however, need to integrate these sites into his forecasting model. Working with AXA, he will develop methods to use flood damage estimates for these regions to replace the lacking data on river flows. In flood forecasting, two types of models exist that provide different information. For example, one can simulate the predicted area of inundation, while the other translates rainfall into increased river flow. They can be used simultaneously, but, at the scale of an entire country, the computational costs of this become too great. Dr. Andréassian will also identify the most reasonable approaches and scales on which to couple these models. This will allow his system to offer the best compromise, capable of operating in real time to forecast and map flooding on a large scale. The end goal will be a system that constantly has its eye on watercourses countrywide, making it possible to provide early warning by distributing flood information broadly, to town officials and insurers, like AXA. Every party involved could be better prepared for a coming flood, reducing property damage and loss of life. Dr. Andréassian’s forecasting system will also be designed with the intention of adapting it to other countries’ context. Similar tools could be deployed around the world to prepare for and mitigate the great and increasing risk of watercourses rushing over their banks. Scientific title: A countrywide probabilistic flood forecasting system

### The Partition of India: consequences on the agrarian structure on the short and long term

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-partition-of-india-consequences-on-the-agrarian-structure-on-the-short-and-long-term
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Guilhem CASSAN

How can the impact of conflicts on population development be evaluated? “By crossing the boundaries between economics and social sciences,” replies Guilhem Cassan. In the case of India, this original approach has allowed him to demonstrate how identity theft has allowed people to benefit from a British law that facilitates access to the property of certain castes. Today, Cassan’s research looks at the effects of the partition of India: in 1947, the partition resulted in violence, pillaging and the forced uprooting of 18 million people. What became of the abandoned land? What was the impact of the Green Revolution? “By comparing the case of India and Pakistan, my aim is to better understand the history of their development as well as go back to the source of the current conflicts, which are characterized, in particular, by nuclear risk.”

### AXA Chair in Neurosciences & Longevity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-chair-in-neurosciences-longevity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Pierre VANDERHAEGHEN

The brain is the most complex organ in our body and to a large extent is the key to our identity as human beings. It is the seat of intricate, multi-level interactions inherent to its function: from genes to neurons, from neurons to neural circuits, from neural circuits to perception, behavior, and consciousness. Yet despite the latest advances in neuroscience, getting a comprehensive view of brain development and function remains a major basic scientific question when considering the number of diseases left without any efficient therapeutic treatment. Beyond the suffering of more than 100 million people affected in Europe by a variety of brain diseases (including Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s, autism, addiction, depression, epilepsy, migraines, mental and motor retardation, etc.), the total financial burden associated is estimated at 400 billion euros per year. In this context, the new AXA-ULB Chair in Neurosciences and Longevity clearly endeavors to address this major societal challenge. ULB uses a multidisciplinary and innovative approach to synergize the best ULB neuroscience teams within the Neuroscience Institute (UNI), comprising scientists from different backgrounds, from genetics to psychology, neurobiology to clinical disciplines and even artificial intelligence. Such a broad approach is a first in Belgium. It is being carried out by Prof. Pierre Vanderhaeghen, the new Chair holder, specializing in the study of the cerebral cortex, a recently elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), and notably awarded the Francqui Prize, the most prestigious award for Belgian scientists. The first axis of his research will strive to uncover the mechanisms underlying the development of higher brain functions and how its alterations can lead to human diseases, while the second will try to use this knowledge to design innovative approaches towards brain repair. An ambitious scientific program, a world renowned researcher and a brand new ULB Neuroscience Institute to host the Chair: this is an exciting combination with a great potential impact on healthy aging, prevention, understanding and treatment of brain diseases (including neurodevelopmental autistic syndromes and neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s and stroke)."

### Economic adaptation to forced migration: a comparative analysis of Tibetan refugees in India, Nepal, and Canada

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/economic-adaptation-to-forced-migration-a-comparative-analysis-of-tibetan-refugees-in-india-nepal-and-canada
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Timm LAU

Since the 1950s, thousands of Tibetans have left Tibet to live in South Asia as well as, more recently, in Western countries. Anchored in Social Anthropology, Timm Lau’s research investigates how this global diaspora is reflected in Tibetan integration into local economies. In India, they have developed itinerant trade from illegal street-hawking to institutionalized trading. In Nepal they have become socially-differentiated carpets manufacturers. In both these examples, they developed a local democracy and were assimilated because of a trust-based relationship with their host countries. Lau studies Tibetan economic adaptation in Canada, where Tibetans are dispersed in urban settings with no strong, self-established economic organization. Were they fully and quickly integrated into existing urban economies, or is this a silent non-integration case?

### A metabolic analysis of longevity and ageing in the model organism C. elegans

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-metabolic-analysis-of-longevity-and-ageing-in-the-model-organism-c-elegans
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Florian GEIER

How long will you live? The answer may be found in your blood. Florian Geier is trying to identify which chemical compounds are associated with a long lifespan. By ingesting them, we might be able to greatly increase our life expectancy. My research focuses on understanding the metabolomic principles of ageing and longevity in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The first step will be to generate metabolic profile baseline data. One of my major aims will be to develop novel mass spectrometry based methods. In a subsequent stage hypotheses will be generated with the help of mathematical metabolic models. Finally all hypotheses will be validated using life-science techniques.

### "The Healthy Longevity Phenotype"; Definition, Associated Factors and Prediction

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-healthy-longevity-phenotype-definition-associated-factors-and-prediction
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Maryam KAVOUSI

Aging: what’s your score? Grow old and stay healthy: that’s anyone’s wish. While focusing on the definition of what constitutes healthy longevity, Dr. Maryam Kavousi seeks to identify the main prognostic factors for predicting an individual’s aging trajectory. She will concentrate on the contribution of lifestyle factors and biomarkers of disease and frailty to obtain a healthy longevity “score.” Her research may contribute to filling the gap between the most advanced knowledge provided by aging research and future public policy.

### Understanding and mitigating volcanic catastrophes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/understanding-and-mitigating-volcanic-catastrophes
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Katharine CASHMAN

An estimated 10% of the world’s population now lives on or near potentially active volcanoes, and increases in the global population continue to place more people in volcanically hazardous areas. Societies must be prepared to act upon scientific recommendations, and be bothered in advance about hazard mitigation, rather than take a chance on the event not happening again. However, convincing communities to prepare for the effects of natural disasters and volcanic eruptions in particular has proved challenging because of the nature of these events: they occur only infrequently, yet they may have far-reaching effects.

### Observations and Modeling of the Arctic Permafrost Carbon Cycle across multiple spatiotemporal scales

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/observations-and-modeling-of-the-arctic-permafrost-carbon-cycle-across-multiple-spatiotemporal-scales
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Mathias GöECKEDE

The risks of a warming Arctic include more than melting ice. The landscape of the region, dominated by permafrost, or permanently frozen soil, holds twice as much carbon as the Earth’s atmosphere currently contains. Mathias Göckede’s research looks at the stability of this enormous carbon pool under present and future conditions. How will global climate change affect carbon reservoirs that have been locked away for millennia in frozen soils? His goal is to understand the precise environmental factors influencing the exchange of both CO2 and methane gas between ecosystems and the atmosphere – across the Arctic and over time. To understand the permafrost carbon cycle, Dr. Göckede not only makes atmospheric observations, but studies the biology, geology, hydrology, and more, of the mechanisms underlying the entire ecosystem. With state-of-the-art analytical tools, he aims to pin down how these different influences interact, allowing a more accurate representation of the sustainability of permafrost ecosystems under future climate change scenarios. By reducing the uncertainty, this improvement could well help us mitigate and adapt to climate change.

### AXA Chair on Longevity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-chair-on-longevity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Annette BAUDISCH, James VAUPEL

“How long will we live” is the question Prof. Vaupel is exploring through his analysis of the rise in life expectancy. He aims to explain the impact of genetics and the environment on aging through demography, biodemography and epidemiology research. He will develop new mortality forecasting methods based on historical empirical data on death rates. His results will be relevant to human societies, particularly retirement and health care systems.

### Improving our understanding of key processes in the hydrological cycle of the atmosphere

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/improving-our-understanding-of-key-processes-in-the-hydrological-cycle-of-the-atmosphere
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Hans Christian STEEN-LARSEN

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Micro-evolutionary response to climate change in wild populations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/micro-evolutionary-response-to-climate-change-in-wild-populations
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Patricia BREKKE

Survival of the fittest: the old saying is back on the agenda for the 22nd century as rapid climate changes produce a range of new selection pressures on wild populations. Indeed, as physical environments evolve, species must adapt to cope with these changes. Understanding their response will be of extreme importance to the maintenance of biodiversity and climate change mitigation. Yet, Dr. Brekke points out that most studies to date have been based on range shift* and phenotypic plasticity,* whereas the role of evolutionary adaptation (i.e. genetic change) remains elusive. Indeed, there is a limited understanding of the relative importance of evolutionary adaptation or how it interacts with phenotypically plastic responses. While some advocate plasticity as the most important mechanism to cope with climate change, others consider genetic adaptation to be key, as it is a requisite for coping with long-term environmental changes.

### Sustainable Biomass valorisation based on iron catalysed reactions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/sustainable-biomass-valorisation-based-on-iron-catalysed-reactions
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: JIANXIA ZHENG

In an effort to design more eco-friendly products, Jianxia Zheng is using green chemistry, an approach that aims to limit or even eliminate the use of hazardous substances. To reach this aim, she is investigating biomass as a viable alternative to petroleum-based products, which are widely used today. “The challenge lies in identifying new chemical reactions that are robust, energy efficient and environmentally friendly,” she explained. “We are therefore exploring new methods based on the use of iron as a catalyst in order to facilitate the conversion of biomass into products of interest.” Today, her efforts are focused on the synthesis of alcohols intended for use in the pharmaceutical, agricultural and cosmetic industries.

### Role of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor in neuronal remodeling in the adolescent brain and its implication in the transition to schizophrenia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/role-of-the-cannabinoid-cb1-receptor-in-neuronal-remodeling-in-the-adolescent-brain-and-its-implication-in-the-transition-to-schizophrenia
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Damien CARREL

Cannabis use during adolescence may accelerate the transition to psychosis in individuals predisposed to schizophrenia. Cannabis acts on the brain through molecules in the neurons called CB1 receptors (CB1R). Dr. Damien Carrel is studying these receptors using two types of transgenic animals. First, he is using rats with more or less active CB1R to imitate different levels of cannabis consumption and study the morphology of their neurons. He is also using mice in which the neurons are naturally made fluorescent with CB1R to study their cellular structure -and manipulated – to see the effects of CB1R activation on their morphology. Finally, Dr. Carrel is analyzing the structural modifications of entire brain regions of the rats in an effort to correlate these modifications with their schizophrenic tendencies. His work could help us understand the risks of cannabis use during adolescence and would help prevent and treat schizophrenia.

### Deciphering global regulation in Mycobacterium Smegmatis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/deciphering-global-regulation-in-mycobacterium-smegmatis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anil KUMAR-SINGH

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Large scale european flooding under climate change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/large-scale-european-flooding-under-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Uwe ULBRICH

The devastating floods in 2002 brought damage to large parts of the Elbe catchment. While large floods are repeatedly affecting the central European river catchments, the extreme severity and problems in handling these events have brought them to the attention of the public. Concerns have been raised that climate change could lead to more and even stronger flooding events in the future. Prof. Uwe Ulbrich, leading meteorologist at the Institut für Meteorologie of Freie Universität Berlin, is addressing the economic risks of flooding in large river basins under current climate conditions by uniquely combining meteorological and hydrological approaches. In collaboration with Prof. Bruno Merz, leading hydrologist from GeoForschungsZentrum Postdam, he is developing a methodology for the Elbe river basin, which takes into account the complete flood risk chain from the flood-triggering weather event, to runoff* generation in watersheds, to flood routing in rivers and finally to flood damage. Their approach starts from the identification and classification of the hydrological and meteorological pre-conditions leading to flood situations in the Elbe river basin. From a hydrological perspective, around 50 % of flood situations are preceded by high soil moisture content throughout the whole catchment. On the other hand, there are also floods resulting from high soil moisture restricted to the highlands or the upstream part of the catchment. For the meteorological conditions leading to summer flooding, the main pattern preceding the events shows a cyclone over Southern Europe, which transports moist air from the Mediterranean towards central Europe, typical for the so-called “Vb – situations”. During winter, the patterns mostly show a strong zonal flow, carrying moist air from the North East Atlantic. In a subsequent step, this pattern analysis will serve as the basis for estimating joint probabilities of the occurrence of hydro-meteorological pattern combinations that are flood prone and assess damage associated to basin runoff, opening new opportunities for flood-risk management.

### Biology of decision making under risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/biology-of-decision-making-under-risk
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Richard EBSTEIN

Adam Smith meets Charles Darwin and Watson and Crick. In a passionate debate, they exchanged ideas on economic theory and knowledge about heredity and the nature of genes. Pr Ebstein imagined this dialogue when he started to question what accounts for individual differences when people make financial decisions that are inherently risky. As a neuroscientist, his goal is to identify genomic regions associated with -decision making under risk in order to understand the -molecular -architecture of human choice when one is facing risk. In order to profile inclination to economic risk, 1,805 subjects completed a battery of incentivized behavioral economic games that measure individual attitudes towards risk. At the same time, blood samples were extracted. For the first time, laboratory-based decision-making tasks have been analyzed at a molecular level to understand how individuals shape risk perception and preferences. “If nurture in the guise of parents, teachers and culture is equally important in shaping our extraordinarily flexible patterns of behavior, I believe that a lot of decision making is hard-wired and shaped by our genes and hence by our evolutionary history as a species,” says Pr Ebstein. In our distant past as we emerged as Homo Sapiens, people made “financial” decisions that incurred an element of risk viz., where to forage or hunt and whether to trade with neighboring hunter-gatherer bands. Pr Ebstein thinks that such early examples of decision making laid the basis for the more complex decisions we make today. His findings could be of interest to behavioral economists struggling to understand the brain mechanisms underlying economic thinking. It could also appeal to neuroscientists intrigued by how the brain makes decisions from molecules to minds, not to mention the general public. Wouldn’t you be interested in knowing if you have the genes of risk?

### Inducing autoimmunity in bacteria

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/inducing-autoimmunity-in-bacteria
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Adi STERN

Just like humans, bacteria boast a sort of immune system that protects them from viruses. And, as for us, it can sometimes turn against them in an autoimmune reaction. Could we take advantage of this bacterial Achilles’ heel to weaken these pathogens and make them more vulnerable to drugs? Dr. Adi Stern aimed to do just that by characterizing in detail this newfound bacterial system. In a world where antibiotic resistance is increasing, the ability to activate autoimmunity in bacteria would have critical applications."

### Mosquito Life-History Responses to Vector control Measures and their implications for Malaria Tansmission Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mosquito-life-history-responses-to-vector-control-measures-and-their-implications-for-malaria-tansmission-risk
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Francesco BALDINI

Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes and kills >600,000 people every year, mainly in Africa. The fight against malaria using insecticides against the mosquito vector is one of the most effective measures to reduce malaria risk, but it could be under severe risk due to increasing insecticide resistance among the vector population. However, to understand and manage the risks associated to the potential decreasing effectiveness of vector control on disease transmission, it is essential to comprehend all the possible evolutionary consequences of these strategies. Despite the crucial importance on malaria transmission potential, nothing is known about vector control impact on mosquito life-history trait evolution. With AXA Research Fund’s support, Dr. Francesco Baldini will work to fill this critically important knowledge gap and test how current measures can induce mosquito life-history shifts that can drastically modify their ability to transmit malaria. Specifically, as predicted by life-history theory, through the increase of extrinsic-mortality rates, vector control measures could generate selection for mosquitoes with reduced intrinsic-survival and increased earlier reproduction, which could significantly alter their disease transmission potential. Furthermore, the harsh environment experienced by adult mosquitoes can modify maternal reproductive strategies and alter offspring fitness potentially influencing their vectoral capacity. Dr. Baldini proposes to perform a series of experimental investigations on the major African malaria vector An. gambiae, to assess the short- and long-term responses on mosquito life-history traits by conditions associated with vector control, and their impact on the ability to transmit human malaria parasites. He will also analyze the molecular bases of possible trade-offs imposed by vector control, such as those between survival and reproduction, possibly allowing the design of putative markers for monitoring evolutionary shifts in the field. He proposes to perform these ecological, evolutionary and infection studies collaborating with international leaders in the fields of mosquito vector ecology and malaria population genetics at the University of Glasgow in a dynamic, multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment. This study will start to elucidate the potential long-term effectiveness of current malaria control measures in order to sustain and implement future interventions to reduce malaria transmission risk.

### Loss of robustness as the key to drug repositioning

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/loss-of-robustness-as-the-key-to-drug-repositioning
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Pedro COELHO

250,000 people die every year in the European Union because antibiotics could not cure their infection, due to a strong resistance of bacteria to different drug treatments. This is why Dr. Pedro Coelho will study bacteria that have lost robustness by changing their genetic code. Certain genes could be fragile, and therefore become new targets for existing drugs. His findings could lead to new treatments of infections that represent millions of human or animal cases around the world. We are witnessing the rise of pan-resistant bacteria for which no effective therapy is available. From methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections to recent outbreaks of resistant strains of Escherichia coli, these almost or totally pan-resistance bacteria are now reaching the community setting.

### For Better Monsoon Forecasts, Look to Air Pollution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/for-better-monsoon-forecasts-look-to-air-pollution
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Riccardo BIONDI

The deluge of the Asian summer monsoon is of great importance to a great many people. The ability to predict it accurately would be, too. Reliable forecasts of where exactly the rains will fall, when they’ll start and for how long they’ll last would impact the billion people who depend on this vital source of water and the ecosystems it supports. Yet, even state-of-the-art climate models have trouble doing this—possibly because they’re missing something. Recent research has revealed that aerosols, coming partly from air pollution, may influence the monsoon season. Dr. Riccardo Biondi intends to test that hypothesis and to find out if the aerosol effect can be predicted. If so, this important parameter could be added to current climate models, improving their ability to forecast the monsoon. Dr. Biondi will use the atmosphere over the Indian monsoon region as his lab. As a developing country, India’s levels of air pollution are currently increasing and, in certain periods, wind transporting desert dust contributes to aerosol levels. These tiny particles of dust and carbon are suspended in the atmosphere where they interact with solar and Earth radiation, warming or cooling the air around them. Collectively, these aerosols may alter the movement of heat within the atmosphere, leading to greater rainfall over parts of India and drought in others. By analyzing concrete atmospheric measurements, Dr. Biondi will first confirm this effect predicted by the models. In a novel approach, he will combine these observations with climate models to search for patterns in the aerosol/monsoon relationship. If aerosols truly are impacting the regional distribution of precipitation in a predictable way, they will need to be incorporated into existing climate models. This will help Dr. Biondi achieve his ultimate goal of improving monsoon forecasting and even developing early warning systems. He expects that, as aerosol levels increase in the future, they will lead to drought for some areas and flooding for others. Knowing where and when the monsoon will hit is of utmost importance to the local communities whose livelihood it determines. His work will serve other agricultural regions well beyond India, as well, that are at once vulnerable to and dependent upon the monsoon. Scientific title: Enhanced Monsoon Predictability: Role Of Aerosols In The Troposphere (empathia)

### Personality traits, new insights for ecological invasion

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/personality-traits-new-insights-for-ecological-invasion
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Julien COTE

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Global Water Ressources : the impacts of climate change and populations dynamics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/global-water-ressources-the-impacts-of-climate-change-and-populations-dynamics
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Steven MURRAY

Scarcity of freshwater resources—hydrological stress—not exactly the stuff dreams are made of. Yet, climate change and demographic evolutions will ultimately exert an ever-increasing pressure on water availability and demands. But what if we could anticipate and identify “hot spot” regions where water stress* is likely to become a major economic and/or political issue? This is precisely what Steven Murray sought to achieve via an innovative global hydrological model, which combines biological and physical processes with socio-economic dynamics to locate high-risk regions a hundred years from now. Strong emphasis is notably placed on how changes in vegetation distribution and structure will influence water cycles. Murray’s results intend to help policy makers for future water management and thus improve the prospects of enhanced global water security.

### Investigating the effects of climate change on habitat connectivity and gene flow between populations of marine top predators using landscape genetics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/investigating-the-effects-of-climate-change-on-habitat-connectivity-and-gene-flow-between-populations-of-marine-top-predators-using-landscape-genetics
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ruth FERNÁNDEZ-GARCÍA

Climate change affects biodiversity. Species migrate to areas where the climate suits them, which may isolate groups of populations, reduce their genetic diversity and ultimately lead to their extinction. Negative effects on biodiversity could in turn have economic consequences. In marine zones, cetaceans, which control the distribution of many fish species, seem particularly at risk. To what extent will they be affected? During her postdoctoral research, Dr. Ruth Fernández-García will focus on the fate of two cold-water species of dolphins living in different environments. She will try to predict their future distribution by combining climate and habitat modeling and will investigate genetic variations caused by environmental change. Her research may then be extended to other species, including fish species of commercial importance.

### Mathematical investigation of recall-type options with underlying asset whose value undergoes jumps

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/mathematical-investigation-of-recall-type-options-with-underlying-asset-whose-value-undergoes-jumps
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Kees VAN SCHAIK

Kees van Schaik is taming the exotic. Classic models for widely traded exotic financial derivatives such as recall options are based on financial index models (such as stock prices) that do not to fit real market data, particularly in rare—but potentially devastating—cases such as sudden shocks. Using a rigorous mathematical approach, van Schaik has developed improved methods for assessing the risks of these options by extending the class of objects used to model the underlying financial index, yielding a much better fit to market data. This gives risk managers a more market-consistent analysis of such derivatives and provides traders with a better buy/sell strategy. “While mathematics’ reputation may have been damaged by the financial crises, it only provides the tools,” he says. “It is the user's responsibility to employ them wisely.”

### From measuring to forecasting crises : what are the implications of Asset Allocation?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/from-measuring-to-forecasting-crises-what-are-the-implications-of-asset-allocation
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Rachid BOKRETA

Dr Bokreta's project is to propose an index that evaluates the intensity of turbulences and then the potential future impacts on financial markets. This Index should capture the heterogeneity of investor horizons – from day traders to institutional investors and has the quality to be both simply computable and easy to understand. It will be called the “New Index of Market Shocks (NIMS)” and is computed in three steps: volatility decomposition, volatility signal information synthetization and cumulative density function fit. The objective is to identify regimes of financial crises that are defined when risk measure exceeds the arbitrary threshold corresponding to a 90% confidence level. The NIMS highest values during the period 2000-2003 mainly show that the French market is characterized by a strong instability over these years, whereas it is rather quite calm since 2003, with a rebirth of volatility in the recent months corresponding to the latest credit events. Moreover, the Index accounts for the multiscale features of market volatility and is proven to be robust to the distributional properties of data.

### Innovative responses to environmental Threats : the role of « local » knowledge

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/innovative-responses-to-environmental-threats-the-role-of-local-knowledge
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Patrick BRESNIHAN

It may seem obvious that the urgent ecological problems of our time, from climate change to resource depletion, require higher regulation of the natural world. But what if there were more than one Nature? After spending several months working on commercial fishing boats, Patrick Bresnihan realized that while fishermen are concerned about the problems of overfishing, they do not always identify with the idea of a natural world that is external, predictable or manageable. Through the concept of “commoning,” Bresnihan shows how everyday interaction with an unpredictable environment produces many different perceived natures which are not understandable within one management model. This raises important questions for policy makers: how can everyday practices of “commoning” become part of new forms of ecological organization? How can we develop forms of management and organization that are sensitive and open to the many natures produced within specific ecological contexts? My research focuses on the politics of environmental sustainability in the context of the current re-structuring of the fisheries. I put forward three frames for critically examining the politics of environmental sustainability. Firstly, biopolitics which makes the preservation of life the starting point for sustainability. Secondly, post-politics which limits conflicts over resource use through forms of consensual decision making. Thirdly, imperceptible politics which looks at how continuous experience escapes hegemonic representations of fishermen and the marine environment.

### ISLAR - Industrial seismic loss assessment and reduction

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/islar-industrial-seismic-loss-assessment-and-reduction
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Iunio IERVOLINO

Time scales of seismic risk may be defined as: (i) real-time, that is during the earthquake event; (ii) near-real-time, that is in the aftershock sequence of a major earthquake; (iii) long-term life cycle of degrading structures.

### Resources from the web and resources from the network. High-school students' digital practices in low-income neighborhoods of Rio

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/resources-from-the-web-and-resources-from-the-network-high-school-students-digital-practices-in-low-income-neighborhoods-of-rio
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Hélène PETRY

Cultural Practices in the Age of the Internet Digital technology promises to enhance awareness of the world more than ever before, fostering open and free access to knowledge. But what’s the real story? Fascinated by new technologies and the way in which they affect our interactions in society – or how they connect us to others – Pétry is conducting a close-up study of these evolutions in society. “Sociology has shown how individuals’ living conditions are greatly affected by their cultural resources and social networks,” she explains. Her research looks at the digital practices of high school students from working-class backgrounds in the suburbs of Paris and in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Such a comparison is necessary for investigating whether the practices widely adopted by this age group open individuals up to cultural references and social contacts other than those available in the physical world – regardless of where they live.

### Global change and reproductive behavior: plasticity or microevolution?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/global-change-and-reproductive-behavior-plasticity-or-microevolution
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Coline ARNAUD

“The weather is out of control!” This popular saying describes the impact of climate change on wildlife well: global warming disrupts the timing of seasonal processes such as reproduction and migration. Coline Arnaud’s work aims to improve understanding of this newly observed phenomenon by focusing on specific species of birds and squirrels. She is conducting a multidisciplinary study including field work as well as statistical and genetic analyses. One of Arnaud's aims is to find out whether changes in breeding and migration times involve genetic modifications or whether genotypes remain unchanged but are expressed differently due to different environmental conditions. Her results might contribute to obtaining a clearer picture of the mechanisms underlying wildlife response to climate change, which is essential for building efficient conservation programs.

### Climate Change and Conflict: the Co-Benefits of Adaptation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-and-conflict-the-co-benefits-of-adaptation
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Natasha CHAMBERLAIN

Will climate change lead to armed conflicts? Mass migration and competition over natural resources due to the impacts of climate change may lead to a rise in violent conflict in developing countries. Yet adaptation may play a key role in terms of building the resilience of communities to lessen the severity of future climate impacts, fostering cooperation between social groups and promoting peace and reconciliation. Natasha Chamberlain is investigating the relationship between climate change adaptation and human security. Through fieldwork conducted with pastoral societies in Ethiopia and Kenya, she will examine how communities adapt to climate change, to what extent they are successfully assisted by international aid organizations and whether adaptation strategies have had any impact on outbreaks of violent conflict. My Research focuses on understanding the impacts of climate variability and hazards on pastoralist groups in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia, and the complex interaction of factors influencing innovation and adaptation within their societies. It will look beyond climate stressors, to also examine the broader political, economic, ecological and social context and the influences of non-governmental organisations in promoting or constraining adaptive actions. Additionally, it will investigate the extent to which environmental factors themselves, or the actions taken to adapt to them - either as a result of government policy, NGO interventions, or independently through household or community innovation have any impact on the outbreak of violent conflict in the region.

### Abrupt jet stream reorganization and its climate impacts

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/abrupt-jet-stream-reorganization-and-its-climate-impacts
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nikolaos BAKAS

Imagine the place you call home suddenly taking on a different climate. In just a few decades, veering towards dry and dusty, or perhaps damp and dripping. The consequences of such a change for the agriculture, industry and life around you could be huge. This is not a science fiction plot, but a potential climate scenario that Dr. Nikolaos Bakas is investigating. His work focuses on the jet stream, a giant river of air in the earth’s atmosphere whose winds carry storms along as they go. The jet stream’s position and shape affect the local climate of the regions in its path. But it also interacts with other components of Earth’s climate, and this has an impact on a global scale. Dr. Bakas has two big questions in mind: How sensitive is the jet stream; that is, could climate change cause a shift in its position? And, if so, would it happen gradually or suddenly be upon us? Reconstructions of past climates have suggested the latter—significant changes to the jet stream occurring quickly—but no method existed to predict them. The trouble is that the motion of air in atmospheric flows is complex and chaotic. Attempting to calculate their every move would take years. Instead, Dr. Bakas has used statistics and a simplified model of the planet’s climate machine to approximate this system. In this less complex world, he found the jet stream was, indeed, thrown off balance by a warming climate, causing its structure to change. Bakas will now be able to take the equations representing atmospheric flows that he developed from this model and apply them to a more complex, Earth-like scenario. His results could add to global climate models the ability to predict sudden changes in the jet stream and their consequences. Such a change could impact the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, for example, as the jet stream contributes to the transfer of the greenhouse gas into the deep ocean. Thus, this river of air has the power to significantly affect global warming or cooling, making it a critical element of climate risk assessment and our preparation for the future.

### High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy for Lens Aging effects at the single molecule level

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/high-speed-atomic-force-microscopy-for-lens-aging-effects-at-the-single-molecule-level
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ignacio CASUSO

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Optimal risk-based decisions by maximizing extraction of environmental information for streamflow forecasts

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/optimal-risk-based-decisions-by-maximizing-extraction-of-environmental-information-for-streamflow-forecasts
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Steven WEIJS

Water is fickle, water flows are unpredictable. Yet, we have never been in such dire need of accurate streamflow forecasts to manage water systems! Operating the latter means relying on a sequence of timely decisions to obtain optimal benefits and minimize risks and uncertainties. In the case of hydropower reservoirs for instance, the daily water releases should both maximize power production benefits, and offer sufficient flood-storage to guard against flood risks. To effectively combine real-time information and understanding of physical processes involved in droughts and floods, Dr.Weijs chose to focus on the Val Ferret watershed in the Alps. By balancing information flows from intensive measurements and state-of the art models, Weijs’s methods will be essential to move from detailed physical understanding to probabilistic streamflow forecasts that can be produced cost-effectively and inform decisions reducing flood and drought risks. My research focuses on analysing how detailed measurements of environmental variables such as rainfall, soil moisture and temperature, contribute information to forecasts of river flows further downstream and ultimately contribute to risk-based informed decisions. To perform this analysis, the framework of information theory is used to follow information in its flow from observation to decision. Taking this integrated view can lead to new insights about model calibration, sensor network design, and probabilistic forecasting.

### Identification of bacterial factors involved in virulence and shared by main serogroups of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/identification-of-bacterial-factors-involved-in-virulence-and-shared-by-main-serogroups-of-pseudomonas-aeruginosa
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Damien ROUX

Hospital-acquired infections are the fourth leading cause of patient death. Doctor Roux is tackling the most prevalent of these nosocomial infections – pneumonia – caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. He began by successfully identifying the proteins responsible for the passage of bacteria from the environment into the guts of immunosuppressed mice. These are perfect targets for hospital-acquired infections, mimicking hospitalized patients weakened by anti-cancer or anti-burn treatments. Dr. Roux has also singled out the genetic mechanisms for the bacteria’s acquired resistance to antibiotics. He is now investigating Pseudomonas infection in the lungs. Indeed, in hospitals, these bacteria are most often found in ventilator-associated pneumonia. The in-depth and thorough understanding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection provided by Dr. Roux’s research could soon result in a vaccine against pneumonia and the other diseases caused by these bacteria.

### An anthropological approach of flood management through three case studies in Fiji Islands (Melanesia)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/an-anthropological-approach-of-flood-management-through-three-case-studies-in-fiji-islands-melanesia
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Emilie NOLET

Flooding is one of the most devastating natural hazards faced by certain populations. And yet, some people consider it a blessing. This is the case for certain communities in the Fiji islands, which are the focus of Emilie Nolet’s research. For them, flooding is a natural part of a cycle which, among other benefits, brings fertile land and provides the opportunity to put conflicts aside and strengthen both social and family ties. Drawing from extensive fieldwork in the Fiji Islands, Nolet is examining traditional systems of preparedness, the socioeconomic impacts of floods and the social representations of risk. Nolet emphasizes how the perception and management of “catastrophic” events are, in fact, framed by a complex network of social dynamics and values. She thus shows the importance of the cultural aspect in the perception of risk and risk assessment. As other insular groups of the Western Pacific, Fiji is exposed to a range of natural hazards including tropical cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, and floods. The global warming and the expansion of towns and squatter settlements in floodable areas, are some factors which contribute today to worsen the impact of floods. My research project investigates the issue of chronic floods management by local communities in three areas of Fiji. It falls within the domain of “disaster anthropology” and explores issues such as the perception and neglect of flooding risks by communities, traditional systems of preparedness, and rebuilding processes in affected areas.

### For More Robust Decisions, Let Ambiguity In

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/for-more-robust-decisions-let-ambiguity-in
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Philipp EISENHAUER

The future is uncertain, its possible paths coming in and out of focus with time. Nevertheless, individuals and policymakers alike must make choices about which of those paths to follow. Understanding how planning in the face of ambiguity can be made more robust is the research focus of economist Dr. Philipp Eisenhauer. Traditional economic models estimate future outcomes by assigning known probabilities to risk-related components. Risk and uncertainty are not the same thing, though, and unique probabilities cannot be established for all possible random outcomes. In reality, people make decisions under ambiguity all the time and there are insights to be gained from adding it to economic analysis, like better explanations of observed economic phenomena and optimization of government policies, Dr. Eisenhauer explains. Examining the case of educational choices and their impact on people’s future in the job market, he is developing microeconomic models that incorporate this missing notion of ambiguity. All existing research on the drivers of education decisions has considered risk, but not uncertainty. However, individuals’ school and career paths contain a random component, equivalent to luck on the job market. By leaving ambiguity out of the picture, traditional models assume that people can know the probability of each potential outcome of this uncertain element, luck. For this to be true, the economic environment would have to remain stable, which is unlikely to be the case, Dr. Eisenhauer points out; the advance of technology, for one thing, will alter it and one’s place on the market. When applied to real datasets tracking people’s education and job experiences, the standard models also have trouble explaining the large numbers of high school and college dropouts. They resort to attributing this discrepancy to something called psychic costs, related to the effort of making a decision. “According to these models, psychic costs appear to dominate people’s decision-making, more than they should,” Dr. Eisenhauer says. “It’s really just an unexplained residual of the model, which is an unsatisfactory conclusion, because it provides no clear interpretation of how we can affect this problem with policies.” With his research, he aims to provide something more plausible and meaningful, with real-world applications. He has developed a model for the analysis of economic phenomena that allows decision-making agents to confront ambiguous situations. Faced with binary choices like to go to college or not, to graduate from college or drop out, the agents in this likelihood of a range of possible, uncertain outcomes, they attempt to maximize the worst-case scenario outcome. When he fits the data on education decisions to this new model, instead, he gets a better fit: it successfully reduces the discrepancy that has, until now, been explained only (and incompletely) by psychic costs. In his future research, the economist will elaborate on his ambiguity-inclusive model, allowing it to analyze more complex behavior in the agents it describes. His goal is to build better descriptions of human decision-making that can contribute to rethinking old policy and designing new interventions that could be more effective from the start. The ambiguity around the potential job market returns of investing in one’s education, for instance, could play an important role in people’s decisions. “If this turns out to be an important driver of educational choices,” Dr. Eisenhauer says, “it warrants a re-evaluation of proposed tuition policies and a re-design of optimal policies.” It’s an uncertain world, but his novel approaches could help us confront and cope with this ambiguity and derive the best possible decisions from the information we have. Scientific title: Robust Dynamic Discrete Choices

### Design of innovative and beneficial protocol of exercise from mouse models to human SMA patients

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/design-of-innovative-and-beneficial-protocol-of-exercise-from-mouse-models-to-human-sma-patients
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Farah CHALI

New hope for people suffering from neuromuscular diseases could come from Chali. She studies the effects of physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms activated by exercise on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

### High resolution paleoceanography of the southern Gulf of California during the Middle and Late Holocene

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/high-resolution-paleoceanography-of-the-southern-gulf-of-california-during-the-middle-and-late-holocene
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Loïc BARBARA

If one of your dreams is to spend your holidays on the Gulf of California, you should plan your trip as soon as possible! Indeed, you may not be aware of it, but this beautiful region, listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, is extremely responsive to global warming and is one of the most rapidly changing areas on Earth. The challenge of Dr. Loïc Barbara’s postdoctoral research is to understand why this is so. This is a crucial question, as global warming could change the extraordinary biodiversity of the Gulf and threaten several fish species, which would in turn impact the fishing industry. The latter plays an important role in the Mexican economy and provides work to many people in the area. For his study, Dr. Barbara will work on a reconstruction of environmental changes in the southern part of the Gulf of California over the last 6,000 years. The originality of his project stems from the comprehensive analyses of sediment records that he will conduct. Dr. Barbara will apply robust dating techniques and will use diatoms, which are microscopic algae fossilised in sediments. Each diatom species lives under specific conditions, e.g. at a given temperature, thus providing valuable information on the environmental conditions during its lifetime. Dr. Barbara will also carry out chemical analyses on sediment cores in order to study past rainfalls and river discharges in this region. By investigating the past evolution of environmental conditions in the Gulf of California, Dr. Barbara hopes to unravel interactions between the ocean, the atmosphere and the biosphere at different time scales. His work might bring a significant contribution to the scientific community working on the Gulf of California and particularly to scientists from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes). His findings could also contribute to the Mexican National Agenda on Climate Change, a program created by the Mexican government and aimed at adapting the country to changing environmental conditions, by providing information for regional climate prediction models.

### Biomarkers of cerebral and arterial aging in functional MRI

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/biomarkers-of-cerebral-and-arterial-aging-in-functional-mri
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nadija KACHENOURA

With age come stiffer arteries, which, in turn, may be linked to declining brain functions. The goal of Dr. Nadjia Kachenoura’s research is to find new indicators of arterial aging and to determine its consequences for the brain, especially when paired with traditional risk factors. Identifying accurate signs of cardiovascular and cerebral aging could enhance the use of non-invasive scans to predict, early on, disabling events such as strokes—and the early loss of cognitive functions they may cause.

### Chair AXA - University of Strasbourg in Supramolecular Chemistry

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/chair-axa-university-of-strasbourg-in-supramolecular-chemistry
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Luisa DE COLA

Towards imaging and therapies with supramolecular chemistry and nanomaterials.

### Survival Mechanisms in Tardigrades against Radiation and Desiccation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/survival-mechanisms-in-tardigrades-against-radiation-and-desiccation
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Daiki HORIKAWA

So small and yet so helpful! Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrate animals that show considerable resistance to radiation and extreme dehydration, which cause oxidative stress in cells. Dr. Daiki Horikawa is studying protection and repair mechanisms against oxidative stress at the molecular level in the nervous system of tardigrades. This research could lead to a better understanding of how oxidative stress damages the human brain and how to prevent or even repair such damage.

### Quakes in the Lab: Avalanche Dynamics in Scale Invariant Phenomena

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/quakes-in-the-lab-avalanche-dynamics-in-scale-invariant-phenomena
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ramon PLANET LATORRE

Will earthquake prediction ever become possible? Researchers are working on it! Statistical laws describe the occurrence of earthquakes well. For instance, the biggest earthquakes are the least frequent. Could this statement serve as a starting point to predict large earthquakes? This is one of the questions that Dr. Ramon Planet Latorre will investigate during his postdoctoral research, based on laboratory experiments. On Earth, earthquakes occur due to friction between moving tectonic plates. To mimic this system at the laboratory scale, Ramon will use a novel experimental setup, investigating the shearing of a thin layer of grains. Shearing induces avalanches of grains, which follow laws similar to those of earthquakes. Ramon will study what influences the distribution of avalanche sizes and will try to detect precursors to large earthquakes.

### Carry Trades and Monetary Policy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/carry-trades-and-monetary-policy
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Kai TRUEMPLER

Take out a loan in a low interest rate currency. Invest this money in a high interest rate currency and enjoy the profit. This is called a currency carry trade – a very common trading strategy in the foreign exchange market. For the high interest rate currency, this practice entails high capital inflows and currency appreciation, at the same time exposing it to large reversals and exchange rate depreciation. Kai Truempler decided to focus his PhD research on this practice’s interaction and impact on the monetary policies of countries subject to currency carry trades. Such policies have a crucial role to play in these speculative capital flows, by reducing risk for traders and reinforcing credit booms in the recipient country. Kai Truempler’s research could be of high interest for central bankers and financial stability experts.

### Corrosion and interlacement percolation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/corrosion-and-interlacement-percolation
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Augusto TEIXEIRA

Conversion of radioactive waste, spread of epidemics, computer network failure… Although very different, all of these events involve transition from one state to another, a process which is described today using percolation theory. “When applied to materials science, the drawback of this theory is that it considers each element of the material under study independently. However, this does not reflect reality,” explained Dr. Augusto Teixeira. He is participating in the development of an alternative model, known as random interlacement, which incorporates the notion of dependence between the different elements of a crystalline material. His aim is to pinpoint the differences and similarities between these two types of models. This should help scientists choose the most appropriate model based on their applications. Augusto Teixeira is Brazilian and studied Physics at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). He later decided to complete a Master’s degree in Mathematics at the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA) in Rio de Janeiro. This Master’s programme was decisive for him, leading him to pursue a PhD at the ETH Zurich – a very important step in his career. Under the supervision of Professor Alain-Sol Sznitman, he published various research papers in the fields of probability theory and percolation. He currently holds a fellowship from the AXA Research Fund and is working on a project at the ENS involving the analysis of corrosion and percolation. What has your AXA fellowship brought you? It is still too early to appreciate the full benefits of my fellowship, since I have only been in Paris for three months, but it is already clear that it will be an amazing time for me professionally. Paris is perhaps the best place in the world to work in probability theory, and the opportunity to be at the Ecole normale supérieure (ENS) has already brought me in contact with several researchers that have extensive experience in my area of research. I am very excited about the near future. Could you describe your experiences with the AXA Research Fund community? My closest experience with the AXA Research Fund was the Talent Day. It was definitely very inspiring. At first I was a bit apprehensive about being a mathematician at a conference about environmental risks. But quite to the contrary, it was very rewarding to interact with the AXA Research Fund staff, the speakers of the Talent Day and especially the other fellows. Although there was a big gap between our areas of research, it was very inspiring to hear about the work of several other talented researchers, especially in this decisive moment of my career. Can you briefly describe what your research project is about? I am mainly interested in studying new models for the corrosion of materials. Recently, a model called random interlacements was introduced by Alain-Sol Sznitman. We believe that random interlacements can give a better description of certain types of corrosion, such as gel degradation by proteins. In this project we seek to obtain a better theoretical description of the model in question and compare it with the usual percolation models.

### Effects of climate change on population dynamics of tropical seabirds in the Pacific Ocean

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/effects-of-climate-change-on-population-dynamics-of-tropical-seabirds-in-the-pacific-ocean
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jocelyn CHAMPAGNON

On Cycles and Seabirds: El Niño, Climate Change and Consequences for Biodiversity © David Anderson This cycle determines the distribution of the fish they eat. This time, adult survival was threatened, probably reflecting the risks of breeding: when a cycle can last 40 years, the birds are forced to reproduce even under suboptimal conditions. From such observations, Jocelyn is establishing projections out to the year 2100. His conclusions will contribute to climate policy decisions with some much-needed information on extinction risks for vertebrate species, as we attempt to protect the world’s vulnerable ecosystems. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### When financial crisis strike non-democratic societies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/when-financial-crisis-strike-non-democratic-societies
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Jeff CHWIEROTH

Roughly two-thirds of world countries are non-democracies, a few of which lead world decisions through their participation in the G20. However, when it comes to studying the impact of financial crises, current research mainly focuses on democratic countries, leaving a knowledge gap in a world where advanced and emerging countries are financially connected through globalization, investments or even migratory flows. Deeply concerned by financial fragilities in many non-democracies, Prof. Chwieroth will lead an innovative project, as he compares how different types of non democratic regimes react and respond when affected by financial crises. He will particularly focus on whether particular types of non-democratic regimes are more prone to financial vulnerability and whether such vulnerability tends to reinforce existing authoritarian regimes or speed up transitions toward democracies. Non democracies have common characteristics, such as the lack of free and fair elections or constraints on the ability of the executive to exercise political authority. However, they also have specific features which, according to Prof. Chwieroth’s, would make these types of regimes different in their fragility to financial crises. In order to understand which countries are most at risk and how they would respond to a financial crisis, he will look at the four types of existing authoritarian regimes as exemplified by Russia (personalized regime run by an individual), Kuwait (monarchy run by royal family regime, China (party based regime run by a single party) and Chile (formerly a military regime). Political leaders may have very different responses to financial crises depending on the need, or inversely, the lack of need for consultation with a wide group of actors, consultation potentially being an obstacle to quick and efficient responses. Finally, Prof. Chwieroth will provide an historical vision of country cases starting from the late XIX century to the present. He will provide insights on financial crises, their frequency and severity, and how related long terms processes in non-democratic countries take place. Prof. Chwieroth’s findings may help policy makers adjust to future transnational crises. Scientific title : AXA Award in Systemic Risk in Non-democratic Societies: What Determines the Political Consequences over the Long Run

### The environmental impact of the 1815 Tambora eruption in 2015

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/the-environmental-impact-of-the-1815-tambora-eruption-in-2015
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Jessica KANDLBAUER

The year 1816 was known as “the year without summer.” On April 5, 1815, the Tambora volcano located on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia suddenly erupted with a resounding detonation that could be heard 1,400 km away. This already massive eruption was nothing compared to what came 5 days later in what would become the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. Over 100 km3 of pulverized rock was ejected into the atmosphere in an explosion 52,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bombing, killing at least 60,000 people. As a result, not only did the mountain go from a height of 4,300 m to 2,850 m, but CO2 was released into the atmosphere in such quantities that it impacted the climate on a global scale. In 1816, several regions of the world experienced a climatic shift, with a temperature drop of a few degrees Celsius, impacting agriculture to such an extent that it caused famine and disease in Europe. What if such an eruption were to happen in our modern society? This is the question Jessica Kandlbauer is trying to answer through her PhD at the University of Bristol. In order to do so, Kandlbauer is conducting a four-phase research project. First, she investigated historical documents and contemporary literature in order to reconstruct the Tambora eruption. Then, she focused on the volcanology aspect, studying how particles are formed and spread in the air. This will allow Kandlbauer to assess the climate reaction in case a Tambora-style eruption were to happen today. However, she is going beyond the environmental aspect by also examining the socioeconomic aspect of such a disaster. Do you remember the suspension of all air traffic across Europe due to the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption? This time the situation would be even more problematic in terms of population evacuation, sanitary issues, migratory flows as well as the economic cost of the disaster. Thanks to her research, Kandlbauer aims to develop a model not only of what would happen, but also of what could be planned in order to limit both human casualties and the socioeconomic impact if the Black Swan were to erupt once again. The main purpose of this research project is to investigate the environmental consequences if an 1815 Tambora-style eruption were to happen today. The project is divided in four main phases, including the synthesis of historical documents and contemporary literature, the volcanological analysis of Tambora ash samples, modelling the global climate response of a possible Tambora eruption today with seasonal variability, and finally the evaluation of the volcanic hazard and vulnerability to assess the environmental and socio-economic impact in SE Asia.

### Modern Actuarial Risk Theory

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/modern-actuarial-risk-theory
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ronnie LOEFFEN

A ruin theory approach is the right framework for addressing the problem of insurance company bankruptcy according to Ronnie Loeffen. His approach on the dynamics that lead insurance companies to ruin is original: he plans to extend the ruin model, traditionally limited to insurance risk processes only, to the financial side of companies. From the policyholders’ point of view, it is important for the company to remain solvent. Shareholders, on the other hand, are more concerned with receiving as much dividend income as possible, and the issue of bankruptcy is less important to them. However, dividend payouts reduce the amount of capital of the company and thus increase the likelihood of bankruptcy. In his research, Loeffen looked at both points of view. His results could help determine optimal reserves and dividend streams, as well as be useful in solvency discussions. They may also help with modeling extreme and unexpected behaviors using certain insurance models.

### To Transplant or to Rebuild : how consumers of emerging markets Interpret the Meanings of Global Brands ?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/to-transplant-or-to-rebuild-how-consumers-of-emerging-markets-interpret-the-meanings-of-global-brands
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Zhuohao CHEN

Zhuohao is currently a doctoral researcher at the Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick under the supervision of Professor Qing Wang . Prior to joining the WBS Doctoral Programme in September 2008, he was a case researcher at the Case Study Centre of the School of Management at Fudan University (Shanghai, China), where he earned both a Master's degree in Business Studies and a Bachelor's degree with Honours in Marketing. Zhuohao's doctoral research is sponsored by the AXA Research Fund and the UK/China Scholarship Council. He is member of the Association for Consumer Research (ACR) and the China Marketing Association (CMA). His research has been published by leading marketing conferences such as the Conference for Advances in Consumer Research, as well as in top Chinese journals in business and marketing research. He was the first recipient of the AXA Research Fellowship from the University of Warwick, the youngest recipient of the CMA Annual Best Paper Award (2006), and also a recipient of the JMS Conference Best Paper Award (2007), as well as the Best Master's Dissertation Award (2008), etc. Zhuohao's research interests focus on branding strategy and brand marketing from the perspective of consumer psychology and behaviour. His recent research topics involve the affect of the transfer process on consumers’ brand extension evaluations, the role of brand personality and self-connection in the brand extension strategy, and the evolution of consumer brand knowledge of global brands in emerging markets. Empirical methods, such as psychological laboratory experiments, field surveys, structural modelling and neuroimaging techniques (e.g., fMRI), are widely used in his research. What has your AXA fellowship brought you? I was fortunate to be awarded the AXA Fellowship in 2008 when the AXA Research Fund first launched its scholarships. The AXA Fellowship not only provides me with generous scholarships and research funding, but it also offers various opportunities to meet colleagues with similar research interests, namely through the AXA Talent Days. The Fellowship also provides extensive support for my research, including assistance for data collection. Could you describe your experiences with the AXA Research Fund community? The AXA Research Fund staff is a friendly and professional community. Staff members are active, efficient and always ready to help. During the process of confirming my trip to attend the AXA Talent Day, they kindly reminded me of every possible detail. Even more importantly, I was always greeted with a warm and sincere smile whenever I met with members of the AXA Research Fund staff. This is a reflection of the organisation’s culture. AXA researchers are also very impressive. They are without a doubt the most intelligent and promising doctoral and post-doctoral researchers in their areas. In fact, through the AXA Talent Day, I have made plans to work in collaboration with another AXA scholar. The AXA Research Fund community is a proactive community that aims for academic excellence. Can you briefly describe what your research project is about? My research focuses on dealing with important issues concerning market evolution and consumer behaviour, particularly in emerging markets such as China and India. My current study investigates the affect of the transfer mechanism on consumers’ brand extension evaluations and the purchase decision-making process. Preliminary results indicate that a distinct brand personality triggers an emotional evaluation process, thereby reducing the psychological distance between the brand and consumers, and that the consumer’s self-esteem moderates this effect. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Pregnant women choices regarding the prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome (amniocentesis)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/pregnant-women-choices-regarding-the-prenatal-diagnosis-of-down-syndrome-amniocentesis
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Clémentine GARROUSTE

Amniocentesis involves weighing the risk of giving birth to a child with Down Syndrome against the risk of losing a healthy child through an amniocentesis-related miscarriage. Clémentine Garrouste is examining how pregnant women handle this dilemma.

### Seismic monitoring of surface processes under a changing climate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/seismic-monitoring-of-surface-processes-under-a-changing-climate
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Arnaud BURTIN

Do you like listening to the rolling stones? Dr. Arnaud Burtin loves it, but he does it literally! Burtin uses the sound generated by landslides propagating rock debris downstream to develop new monitoring methods. The catastrophic nature of landslides prevents local measurements. An alternative method is to record ground vibrations yielded by landslides using distant seismometers. Dr. Burtin has started to assess the potential of this method. For this purpose, he conducted extensive fi eld work in Taiwan and in the Alps, where landslides are frequent, and analyzed seismic records collected on his trips. Landslides constitute a major hazard and are expected to become more frequent in the future due to climate change and increased extreme rainfall. Dr. Burtin's work might become useful for local authorities for establishing effi cient early warning systems. My research focuses on the study of river sediment transport as well as hillsope processes (landslides, debris flows) to track the sediment transfer from the slopes to the streams. I work on the development of a technique that allows a spatial and continuous monitoring of surface processes. The approach is based on a seismic monitoring since surface processes can produce ground vibrations recorded by distant seismometers. The installed instruments are generally protected from catastrophic events, like floods and landslides, which can also be useful for the deployment of permanent warning systems.

### Synergistic Understanding of Best Ways to improve Air qualitY in underground rail transport systems (SUBWAY)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/synergistic-understanding-of-best-ways-to-improve-air-quality-in-underground-rail-transport-systems-subway
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fulvio AMATO

If you have something in common with 100 million people around the world, it might be that you took the subway to work today. Just like aboveground in the city, the air you breathed during your trip was likely polluted, in this case by tiny flakes of metal produced by the mechanical wear of trains running on their rails and the friction of their brakes on the wheels. These metal particles tens times smaller than the diameter of a human hair penetrate our lungs and can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular disease. In some subways, their levels even exceed limits for outdoor air pollution recommended by the World Health Organization, yet research on the subject is sparse and incomplete. Dr. Fulvio Amato is conducting an innovative study to collect an extensive range of data, including levels of different types of particles, their shape and chemical composition, and effects on the human body. Barcelona is the focus of his project, where almost one-third of the working population commutes by subway each day. Through continuous monitoring of air pollution on platforms and in tunnels, he has been able to identify the contribution of different sources and recommend strategies to reduce it. Tunnel ventilation and station design are the two main factors affecting air quality in the Barcelona subway system, Dr. Amato has found. In stations where panels with doors separate the platform from the rails, he found that passengers were exposed to only half the amount of particle pollutants, compared to traditional, open designs. By providing such concrete advice to managers of urban transport systems, Dr. Amato’s work will help reduce the serious health risks of breathing polluted air for the many millions of passengers using subway systems around the world.

### Intervertebral disc aging and degeneration: from pathophysiology to innovative treatments

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/intervertebral-disc-aging-and-degeneration-from-pathophysiology-to-innovative-treatments
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Pauline COLOMBIER

To meet the needs of people affected by severe low back pain, Pauline Colombier is studying age-related degeneration of the interverterbral discs in an effort to develop treatments based on the promising approach of tissue engineering.

### Risks to the stability of carbon in tropical peatlands experiencing deforestation and drainage: Quantifying greenhouse gas exchange in response to change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/risks-to-the-stability-of-carbon-in-tropical-peatlands-experiencing-deforestation-and-drainage-quantifying-greenhouse-gas-exchange-in-response-to-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Vincent GAUCI

Tropical wetlands boast several significant claims to fame—for better or for worse. They shelter not only some of the richest biodiversity on the planet, but also one of the biggest reserves of greenhouse gases (GHGs), locked away in the vegetation and soil. At the same time, these ecosystems are among Earth’s most vulnerable to climate variability, long-term climate change and human alteration of the environment. Their proximity to some of the most densely populated, fastest-growing economic regions, as in Indonesia, puts them and the rest of the planet at risk: when wetlands are drained and deforested for human use, they are more susceptible to fire, which, in turn, can release huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The effects don’t stop there, though, and Dr. Vincent Gauci aims to find out what happens next when these essential reservoirs of climate gas are disturbed. We already know that GHGs are emitted from tropical wetlands both by air and in the water, as carbon leaches into rivers from the soil. Yet, how this plays out in the wake of deforestation and fire has been little studied. Dr. Gauci believes that, by overlooking this GHG escape route, we are significantly underestimating how much reaches the atmosphere, where it may contribute to climate change. His team has developed techniques to measure the GHGs – in this case, carbon dioxide and methane – escaping at the water’s surface and from a little known methane emission pathway, tree stems. Their current project on the island of Borneo will determine the contribution to atmospheric levels of these gases, versus how much remains in the water, where it may head, instead, into the deep ocean. Dr. Gauci is comparing these measurements across wetlands in different states of transformation, from pristine to deforested and burned. Data collected so far demonstrate that there are significant differences in the amount of carbon dioxide being emitted from channels draining wetlands in different states of transformation. By precisely quantifying the impact of human transformation of the land in these important, productive ecosystems, Dr. Gauci’s team is producing knowledge that could prove vital for policymakers deciding how and where land will be used by people or, on the contrary, preserved.

### Evolution of the Mechanisms of plants adaptation to climate change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/evolution-of-the-mechanisms-of-plants-adaptation-to-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Delphine CAST

Every gardener knows that a plant needs the right light, temperature, water and fertilizer to grow properly. Biologists call these non-living factors abiotic ones. Plants majorly adapt to abiotic stress caused by climate change, but the molecular mechanisms that perceive environmental changes and allow the plant to adapt accordingly are still largely unknown. Using a small moss, which is a new model plant for genetic analysis, Delphine Cast investigated the role played by a family of regulatory proteins in this adaptation. She has thus proved that these genes are crucial regulators of plant development in response to abiotic stress. As these proteins are found in all plants, these fi ndings may ultimately lead to reducing the diffi culties faced by farmers suffering from recent climate changes and will probably change the way you look at your tomatoes forever.

### The Opium Market, Revenue Opportunities and Insurgency in Afghanistan’s Provinces

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-opium-market-revenue-opportunities-and-insurgency-in-afghanistans-provinces
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Vincenzo BOVE

What do guns and flowers have in common? Talibans. We all know they are very active in both military operations and terrorist attacks all over the Afghanistan. However, we are less familiar with their main activity: growing flowers. In fact, 90% of the world’s opium comes from Afghan poppies, and this clearly has an impact on the Taliban’s acts of war. Vincenzo Bove has collected data on opium price fluctuations and confronted them with insurgency actions. His results have shown that conflict induces an increase in opium production and therefore a reduction in opium prices, while the reverse mechanism – i.e., whether opium fosters violence – is weaker but persistent. Moreover, common factors, such as seasonality, ISAF strategies and weather conditions are among the main drivers of opium prices and insurgency activities. Where poppies grow, violence grows too… My research focuses on security incidents in Afghanistan, such as armed attacks and bombings, that have been rising since 2003. Given the links between anti-government elements in the country and its drug economy, NATO forces and the UN consider poppy cultivation an obstacle to the long-term security of the region. My project examines the interaction between income and insurgency activities using monthly time-series data on opium prices; four alternative measures of relative income based on four occupational sources (wheat production, sheep-farming, non-farm activities, casual labour); and security incidents for 34 Afghan provinces over the period 2004-2009.

### Allergy: environmental and nutritional programming in childhood

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/allergy-environmental-and-nutritional-programming-in-childhood
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sabine LANGIE

What mothers-to-be eat and breathe can have an impact on the future baby, possibly leading to the development of allergic diseases. Dr. Langie hypothesizes that diet, life style habits and air pollutants, for instance, can alter gene expression without changing DNA sequence (i.e. via altered DNA methylation patterns) leading to changes in the child’s immune system. Identifying predictive biomarkers of allergic diseases could help creating prevention strategies, in children or before pregnancy.

### Genetic basis of cognitive ageing: Investigations through genetic variant association with white matter integrity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/genetic-basis-of-cognitive-ageing-investigations-through-genetic-variant-association-with-white-matter-integrity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lorna LOPEZ

We all know an older relative or friend who seems to have aged exceptionally well. Dr. Lorna López sought to understand what makes each of us age differently. By focusing on the connections in the brain, she aimed to identify genes involved in age-related cognitive decline. Her analysis pointed to specific biological pathways that may influence the brain’s white matter. López’s results may bring a new biological understanding of aging and therefore better management and prevention of life risks. The decline of mental abilities is the most feared aspect of growing old. Genetic factors and the integrity of axonal fibre tracts in the brain, white matter, are both associated with cognition in old age. My aim is to search for genetic influences on white matter integrity that also influence cognitive ageing. Unique to this project is the combination of three kinds of data from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936: general cognitive ability tested at ages 11 and 70, genome-wide genetic information, and brain imaging data. My research hopes to advance the understanding of the genetics of cognitive ageing.

### Risk management and regulation of financial institutions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/risk-management-and-regulation-of-financial-institutions
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: David WEBB, Vicente CUÑAT

How can regulation help prevent another financial crisis? To find the answer, Professor David Webb and the AXA Research Programme team at the London School of Economics and Political Science are examining weaknesses in the current financial structure and ways to achieve greater stability through governance and regulation and improvements in the conduct of micro and macro prudential policy. “The current financial crisis has revealed a distance between our understanding of the interconnected behavior of banks, the structure of the banking systems and layers of regulation. Liquidity, funding and solvency are tied together, and that the health of banks and the financial system is codetermined. It emphasised the importance of financial stability and the need for prompt corrective action,” Webb says. “We hope that the findings of this research project will contribute to the development of more informed policy.” Programme researchers are evaluating the performance of the global regulatory framework during the recent financial meltdown to identify adjustments that could decrease the risk of future crises. The work has shed new light on the importance of the independence of bank boards, the role of risk committees and risk officers in controlling risk and the impact of executive compensation on bank performance. Weaknesses in an undercapitalised banking system and funding and liquidity risks inherent in the shadow banking system have been investigated. Policy work has focussed on a critique of the Basel Capital Accords and on better resolution mechanisms for prompt corrective action and the role of Central Banks. The latter issues have been pursued through a series of high profile workshops and mini-conferences.

### Climate change scenario of Mediterranean sea level: a multi-component regional climate modelling approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-scenario-of-mediterranean-sea-level-a-multi-component-regional-climate-modelling-approach
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: FANNY ADLOFF

Major destination for international tourism, characterized by growing immigration, the coasts of the Mediterranean Basin are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and therefore closely monitored. However, numerical climate simulations do not agree on future sea-level elevation. “They examine global geophysical effects but are unable to accurately describe the local processes that affect water masses – and therefore sea level,” explained Dr. Adloff. To bridge this gap, she is participating in developing a new regional ocean model which incorporates all factors that contribute to the variations in Mediterranean sea level, such as water exchange through the Strait of Gibraltar and atmospheric circulation. This type of model, combined with studies on coastal erosion in particular, will contribute to mapping areas at risk for the decades to come. There is thus an imperative need to use high resolution regional climate modelling to answer the question of ongoing Mediterranean sea level change.Up to now, any regional climate model does represent all the above-mentioned processes acting on sea level variations in the Mediterranean. The effects from the global ocean, the atmospheric pressure and the global steric component are missing. We propose to fill this lack and simulate the future climate of the Mediterranean region through a high resolution multi-component regional climate modelling approach, including all the above-mentioned missing processes. Mediterranean sea level is influenced by various complex processes such as mass fluctuations, variation in the density structure (steric effect), changes in circulation, waves, atmospheric pressure variations and changes of the hydrographic conditions of incoming Atlantic water.So far, the question about future sea level change in the Mediterranean remains open. The resolution of global models from the IPCC do not allow the representation of small scales processes acting over the Mediterranean region, which are important to get the water masses of the basin well-represented, the latter's being a basic prerequisite to achieve a good sea level representation in the model. Additionally, the water exchange at Gibraltar is often parameterized, although its variations strongly influence the circulation and the changes in sea level in the Mediterranean Sea.

### Phytoremediation in constructed wetlands of storm and ground waters of sites contaminated by metals (Cu, As, Cr) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/phytoremediation-in-constructed-wetlands-of-storm-and-ground-waters-of-sites-contaminated-by-metals-cu-as-cr-and-polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons-pahs
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Lilian MARCHAND

Thanks to their curative value, plants are celebrated as mighty healers. But did you know about their cleansing power for water? Lilian Marchand’s research is about to add to the great reputation of plants thanks to his investigation of phytoremediation,* i.e. the ability to clean up groundwater using plants and associated microbes. By pumping contaminated water into constructed wetlands with suitable vegetation, Marchand seeks to remove significant traces of soil pollutants with the help of roots and the microorganisms they host. To this end, he is conducting experiments on a large selection of plants to identify the best candidates for decontamination based on their functioning and physiological response. In the light of European legislation on the treatment of wastewater, this cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing method definitely sounds promising. The main pollutants of waters in contact with contaminated soil are metal(loid)s. Phytoremediation in terrestrial environment can, thanks to suitable plants, intercept surface pollutants by its root system, and its evaporation can reduce percolation. For contaminated waters a solution is to pump waters and to treat it in constructed wetlands (CW). This option based on the phytoremediation, the ability to clean up grounds and waters by plants and associates microbes is a cost efficient respectful solution for the environment and is effective. This PhD aims at identify suitable vegetation for the phytoremediation in constructed wetlands and describe its functioning and its physiological response.

### Improved detection of emergent infectious disease threats in the aftermath of armed conflicts and natural disasters

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/improved-detection-of-emergent-infectious-disease-threats-in-the-aftermath-of-armed-conflicts-and-natural-disasters
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Francesco CHECCHI

Almost 90% of the largest epidemics recorded worldwide between 1994 and 2004 occurred in settings of armed conflicts or natural disasters. Nowadays, according to Dr. Francesco Checchi, the design of Early Warning Alert and Response (EWARN) surveillance systems, particularly in emergencies, should rely on immediate alert and reporting instead of formal, heavily data-driven approaches. Checchi’s field and desk-based evaluations of surveillance systems in Pakistan and elsewhere informed the new WHO guidelines for EWARN in emergencies.

### Providing evidence to reduce risk of malnutrition in infant and young children in uncertain urban slum environments

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/providing-evidence-to-reduce-risk-of-malnutrition-in-infant-and-young-children-in-uncertain-urban-slum-environments
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sophie GOUDET

Nourish the Children of Urban Slums To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Ice Sheet Instability: Is All of West Antarctica at Risk?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/ice-sheet-instability-is-all-of-west-antarctica-at-risk
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Matthias MENGEL

The whole West Antarctic ice sheet may become unstable. In 2015, several studies reported that one region, the Amundsen sector, had been destabilized—meaning it will now discharge its ice into the oceans at increasing rates. Together, the glaciers of this region transport as much ice to the ocean as all the glaciers of Greenland; if all the ice contained in them reaches the ocean, it could increase sea levels by as much as a meter. This would be a major problem for many coastal cities around the world, but they could take steps to prepare. The bigger question on Dr. Matthias Mengel’s mind is this: Could the Amundsen instability trigger the collapse of the entire West Antarctic ice sheet? The potential sea level increase could make it impossible for coastal regions to adapt. It has happened before in the history of the Earth, and it could happen again. To assess the risk, Dr. Mengel first needs to understand the dynamics of Antarctica’s ice and how much climate change is likely to affect it. Previous work on this topic involved small-scale, regional studies. The computer models available required the Amundsen sector to be analyzed alone, artificially extracted from its surroundings. In reality, the different zones of the West Antarctic ice sheet are interconnected and the collapse of one will alter the direction of ice flow and the boundaries between them. Dr. Mengel is armed with a continent-scale model, which is unique in its ability to handle the entire ice sheet. By adjusting it to the specific parameters of the region, he will be able to answer questions about how the ice sheet flows after breakdowns of smaller parts and how it may change with time and a warming planet. The current loss of the Antarctic ice sheets, their thinning and retreat, has been driven by an increase in the warm water flowing towards the Amundsen ice shelves. These are the portions of the glaciers that extend, floating, into the sea. As they melt, it reduces the pressure on the ice behind them, which accelerates and thins, in turn. This can trigger a feedback loop, which, once started, can lead to the disintegration of the entire ice sheet. The phenomenon is aided by the underlying bedrock being grounded deeply below sea level; it would be ocean floor if there were no ice. Most of the West Antarctic ice sheet meets the criteria of bedrock below sea level. Once part of an ice sheet has been destabilized, sea-level rise is inevitable. What makes this situation especially hard to manage is the uncertainty around the question “How much?” As Dr. Mengel says, every centimeter is a bad centimeter, increasing damage to low-lying areas, but his results on the contribution to expect from Antarctic ice discharge should provide valuable, concrete numbers for mitigation and adaptation efforts. He’ll also share his open-source model online so that other researchers can adapt it to their contexts and better understand ice dynamics around the world. More than 150 million people live in areas that would be impacted by one meter of sea-level rise. For them, including the populations of many small island states and low-lying developing countries, Dr. Mengel’s results could provide key data to push for stronger climate change policies that will help limit the waters’ rise. Scientific title: Will The Entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet Destabilize And Contribute To The Global Sea-Level Rise To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### In-cloud multiphase chemistry: a new way to improve the evaluation of health and climate change risks due to atmospheric aerosols

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/in-cloud-multiphase-chemistry-a-new-way-to-improve-the-evaluation-of-health-and-climate-change-risks-due-to-atmospheric-aerosols
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Pascal RENARD

In-cloud multiphase chemistry: a new way to improve the evaluation of health and climate change risks due to atmospheric aerosols Predicting air quality also means monitoring aerosol formation in the atmosphere. “These gases can be harmful to human health and cause respiratory problems,” stated Pascal Renard. “Some aerosols are even classified as carcinogenic.” To learn more, he is studying the formation of secondary organic aerosols in the clouds. These are reaction products of isoprene, one of the major organic compounds emitted by plants. In order to better describe the physical and chemical processes involved, he is recreating the atmospheric conditions in which these processes take place in a laboratory setting. His initial results show that small polymers* are synthesized in photochemical reactions in the aqueous phase. This data is being incorporated into the climate prediction models being developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).*

### Intracellular control of asymmetry by designed RNA scaffolds for understanding cellular aging and risk management in single cells

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/intracellular-control-of-asymmetry-by-designed-rna-scaffolds-for-understanding-cellular-aging-and-risk-management-in-single-cells
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Antoine DECRULLE

Cells have their own “risk management” strategy: when dividing, they exclude “bad” components from one of the daughter cells. This asymmetrical distribution of damage plays a key role in keeping new cells preserved and increasing the fitness of the overall population. However, it is also believed to be responsible for the aging process. Antoine Decrulle is studying these strategies in order to understand the relationship between asymmetry and the aging process.

### Caring for An Ageing Population: Challenges and Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/caring-for-an-ageing-population-challenges-and-opportunities-in-sub-saharan-africa
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Emily FREEMAN

While longer lives indicate progress, such demographic change brings challenges. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where a mix of factors already lead to high disability rates for adults aged over 50, a growing population of older people is also a significant source of risk for development. The question of how to provide long term care (LTC) for vulnerable adults is a big one, and involves confronting political, cultural and economic complexity. Dr. Emily Freeman’s research seeks to understand the landscape of LTC in Sub-Saharan Africa and the risks—behavioral, social and economic—if these needs are not met. The scale of these risks and how they will evolve is currently unknown, but this information is essential for developing appropriate policies. Dr. Freeman will analyze under-used datasets on disability trends and LTC currently provided primarily by families. She will identify the extent of the risk of unmet need for care and compare this to the understandings and plans set out in national-level health and social policies. The main thrust of Dr. Freeman’s research, however, is a comparative case study of Malawi and South Africa, two countries with very different economic, ageing and care provision profiles. In-depth qualitative work with older adults in need of care and those providing care will bring a more nuanced and informed assessment of long-term care options. In sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly southern Africa, not only are numbers of older people expected to increase dramatically, older adults are at greater risk of poverty and poor health. Actors across the board, from social scientists to health professionals to policymakers, are recognizing the need for new options for long term care. Dr. Freeman’s systematic approach could help bring into focus the best possibilities for the continent’s many populations, both young and old.

### Impact of cataract surgery and intra-ocular lens replacement on endocrine and molecular ciracdian rythms, sleep and cognitive function in older adults

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/impact-of-cataract-surgery-and-intra-ocular-lens-replacement-on-endocrine-and-molecular-ciracdian-rythms-sleep-and-cognitive-function-in-older-adults
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Christian CAJOCHEN

The role of light extends well beyond vision. After long-distance flights for example, going outdoors into daylight helps lessen the effect of jet lag. That’s because the light transmitted through the crystalline lens of the eye to certain cells in the retina impacts our inner biological clock, or circadian system. Exposure to daylight is needed for us to adjust our biological clock to actual, solar time, and therefore to synchronize and consolidate daily rhythms of many processes in our body. But what happens during the aging process, when the amount of light transmitted through the crystalline lens tends to decrease? Scientists know that the biological clock affects mood and behavior, but no one understands precisely how decreased light transmission affects the circadian system of the elderly. Nor is there much understanding of what happens when the crystalline lens is replaced by an artificial lens that blocks out certain types of light, for example during cataract surgery. One of Europe’s foremost sleep scientists, Prof. Christian Cajochen, wants to find out to what extent an aging crystalline lens contributes to disturbances in the body’s circadian rhythm. The question is especially important because circadian rhythm disturbances have such a huge impact on the elderly – from hormonal rhythms, body core temperature and sleep to sleep-wake timing, cognition and mood. Working with a team of European researchers, his project also focuses on the effects of lens replacement. Special attention is being paid to the effects of blue, relatively short light wavelengths, because replacement lenses often are designed to block blue light. The design is based on the theory that blue light might increase the risk for age-related macular degeneration. This matters because the photosensitive cells in the retina that affect the biological clock are especially sensitive to the blue, shorter wavelength part of the visible light spectrum. Research results could lead to the development of new therapies to treat the biological clock disruptions that impact the quality of life for innumerable elderly persons. The results could also lead to recommendations for ophthalmologists who prescribe replacement lenses for their elderly patients.

### X-ray Science to revolutionise vocanic eruption monitoring

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/x-ray-science-to-revolutionise-vocanic-eruption-monitoring
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Matthew PANKHURST

This project breaks new ground in volcanology, by applying rapid- and high-throughput petrology for the first time. It uses a novel application of X-ray micro-computed tomography (XMT) to assess the magmatic conditions fuelling volcanic eruption. XMT methods generate data orders of magnitude faster than conventional petrologic analysis, and in 3 dimensions (Pankhurst et al. in press J. Petrology). This represents an opportunity to conduct time-series petrology while an eruption is occurring, link magmatic information to geophysical data in near-realtime, and provide real and specific inputs to ash dispersion models. Three steps are required in order to bring XMT volcanology to modern volcano monitoring: calibration, case study and engagement. This project combines all three. Mineral chemistry and populations of crystals with different compositions tell us much about a magmatic systems, and how it evolves with time. Since the X-ray attenuation of key magmatic minerals (such as olivine) varies with composition (e.g. Fo content), we can use the attenuation as a proxy for composition. Pilot data prove this is the case, and thus we can use XMT to gather chemical data in 3D. With calibration and creation of internal standards, this science can be used to cheaply generate baseline data from individual eruptions and entire volcanic histories as well as produce near-real-time data during a future eruption. In order to demonstrate the technique's value in a real scenario in the future, the method will be conducted upon samples already collected throughout an eruption sequence. Thus petrology will be produced as a time series from a case study, ready to be compared with state-of-the-art monitoring methods (which are currently dominated by geophysical methods), from the same eruption. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Effects of Interactions Between Insecticide Resistance Genes and the Bacteria Wolbachia in the Transmission of Pathogens By Mosquito Vectors

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/effects-of-interactions-between-insecticide-resistance-genes-and-the-bacteria-wolbachia-in-the-transmission-of-pathogens-by-mosquito-vectors
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Célestine ATYAME NTEN

These last few years have witnessed an increasing interest in Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) transmitted by mosquitoes due to occurrence of epidemic outbreaks outside their natural range of distribution. To date, the control of mosquito natural populations is one of the few available strategies limiting arboviruses transmission and the use of insecticides plays a key role in this purpose. However, the widespread development of different mechanisms of insecticide resistance in response to frequent implementation of insecticides is considered as a serious public health challenge. Mutations that confer insecticide resistance are often associated to fitness cost and changes in mosquito microbiota. It has been demonstrated that insecticide-resistant mosquitoes present a higher load of the bacteria Wolbachia compared to insecticide-susceptible individuals. As Wolbachia have been found to interfere with the replication of arboviruses such as dengue, chinkungunya and West-Nile viruses, a comprehensive understanding of the transmission of these pathogens requires deciphering the tripartite association between insecticide resistance genes, Wolbachia and viruses in mosquitoes. The overall goal of this proposal is to elucidate the effects of the interactions between insecticide resistance genes and Wolbachia in the transmission of Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) and West-Nile virus (WNV) by the Culex pipiens mosquito. In this objective, four specific aims will be achieved: (i) to identify the insecticide-resistant genes associated with increased Wolbachia densities and to examine consequences on some life-history traits such as larval mortality and adult longevity, (ii) to explore underlying genetic molecular mechanisms involved in the observed phenotypes, (iii) to estimate whether the presence of resistance genes can modify the vector competence to RVFV and WNV, and (iv) to evaluate the relationship between vector competence, insecticide resistance genes and Wolbachia diversity in natural populations of Cx. pipiens. Overall, this project will provide important insights for the monitoring and the evaluation of the risk of emergence and spread of arboviruses. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Contribution of human and viral factors to dengue virus assembly

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/contribution-of-human-and-viral-factors-to-dengue-virus-assembly
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fanny TURLURE

As deadly as it can sometimes be, a virus is “just” a bit of genetic material, wrapped in a protein package. In order to fight the virus that causes dengue fever, Dr. Fanny Turlure wants to disrupt the step in its life cycle when this package assembles. To do so, she is focusing on the role of a packaging protein and the viral and human factors that interact with it. Elucidating the basics of virus assembly could lead to blocking it and a new approach to treatment for this disease threatening 2.5 billion people. A key step in the virus life cycle is assembly, a process during which structural and genetic components of the virus come together to form viral particles that will be released from infected cells. This process has to be tightly regulated both spatially and temporally. Dengue has become a major threat to public health. My focus is to understand the contribution of the dengue capsid protein to assembly, using molecular virology, confocal microscopy and biochemistry Where does capsid localize in infected cells, and which human and viral factors are involved in assembly are the questions I investigate.

### Temporal and special modelling of root reinforcement in natural mountains and protected forests

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/temporal-and-special-modelling-of-root-reinforcement-in-natural-mountains-and-protected-forests
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Zhun MAO

How can we best manage our forests in the face of the challenge of global warming? At a time when our planet is increasingly affected by landslides and erosion – consequences of extreme weather conditions – this question preoccupies many scientists. Among them, Zhun Mao specifically focuses on mountain areas. “These areas are home to many of the world’s forests and fertile land,” he explained. “Their role is therefore essential in order to feed the growing global population, which should reach 9 billion men and women by 2050.” His investigations aim to better understand how to use plant roots, and mainly tree roots, in order to reinforce soil to protect against landslides. In order to do so, he is studying the development of the root systems of various species, including Norway Spruce, Silver Fir and European Beech, based on samples collected in Chamrousse, a small mountain village in Isère, France. The data will then be incorporated into various models of growth over time and space in order to identify areas at risk as well as areas where the land is reinforced by roots. “The aim is then to determine the best possible combination of species capable of withstanding environmental pressures in the long term,” stated Zhun Mao. “This will mitigate soil degradation, which poses serious problems in Europe and around the world.” Such a tool, developed for all types of forests, whether natural, semi-natural or planted, will be used by foresters to help make land-use planning decisions. The results will also be incorporated into an expert computer system, which will be freely accessible online, providing advice on managing areas vulnerable to landslides, erosion and storms. My research consists in investigating how root reinforcement changes over time and space in montane and subalpine forests, I measure root properties in natural coniferous forests of different altitudes at Chamrousse, Isère, France. Thanks to existing modelling approaches, I will quantify and visualize root reinforcement coupling with spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Finally, based on my model, simulation work will be carried out in order to obtain the optimal scenario of forestry management against shallow landslide.

### The role of the p53 mRNA-Mdm2 interaction in controlling the DNA damage response

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-role-of-the-p53-mrna-mdm2-interaction-in-controlling-the-dna-damage-response
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marco CANDEIAS

My research focuses on the protein p53, a key mediator of the DNA damage response which controls genome stability and cancer development. My aim is to verify the importance of the p53 mRNA (messenger RNA) – Mdm2 interaction in controlling the protein Mdm2 and p53 functions. This study holds promise to offer a viable explanation to why induction of Mdm2 by p53 in response to DNA damage leads to an actual increase in p53 activity and not to p53 inactivation. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Natural killer cell education : acquisitions, anti-tumor properties, and tolerance to self

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/natural-killer-cell-education-acquisitions-anti-tumor-properties-and-tolerance-to-self
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Baptiste JAEGER

Baptiste Jaeger is studying blood cells that patrol our body to identify and remove tumor cells. ­Understanding how they differentiate between healthy and unhealthy cells may help develop drugs specifically targeting tumor cells. Natural Killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system involved in the control of microbial infections and tumors. The aim of my PhD is to understand the mechanisms by which NK cells acquire their capacity to kill other cells and secrete soluble factors that regulate the immune response. I am also interested in the mechanisms that govern NK cell activation to ensure that only infected or tumor cells are killed and not healthy cells.

### Studying multi-drug resistance implications of the 'excludon', a novel antisense-based regulatory structure in bacteria

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/studying-multi-drug-resistance-implications-of-the-excludon-a-novel-antisense-based-regulatory-structure-in-bacteria
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ofir COHEN

As bacterial resistance to antibiotics is growing, Dr. Ofir Cohen aims to tackle this serious problem by exploiting a recently discovered switch mechanism capable of turning off certain bacterial genes. In particular, it seems to control genes associated with multi-drug resistance. By cataloguing these switches and their functions in multiple microorganisms, Cohen has shown that they are widespread across species and could provide an avenue to treat infections caused by dangerous bacteria that have already become resistant.

### Early and late effects of perinatal exposure to Bisphenol A on hippocampal development

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/early-and-late-effects-of-perinatal-exposure-to-bisphenol-a-on-hippocampal-development
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Christina CHATZI

Widely used in consumer goods, Bisphenol A (BPA) has raised widespread safety concerns, especially for fetuses and infants. By using sensitive cellular indicators to examine the effects of BPA on the development of the mouse hippocampus, Dr. Christina Chatzi’s innovative approach aims to uncover endocrine disruption or neurotoxicity affecting life-long learning and memory. In addition to advancing understanding of the effects of BPA, the approach should apply to other environmental risks to brain development.

### The ethnic and racial origin of the immigrants and their descent in the public statistics : the relations between the French scientific and political fields in the lights of a controversy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-ethnic-and-racial-origin-of-the-immigrants-and-their-descent-in-the-public-statistics-the-relations-between-the-french-scientific-and-political-fields-in-the-lights-of-a-controversy
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Clarisse FORDANT

In the mid-1990s, the French National Institute for Demographic Studies (Institut national d'études démographiques) was the stage for heated debates on the construction of ethnic and racial categories to classify foreign-born residents and their children. Today, these debates extend far beyond the simple field of demographics: “they question the relevance and validity of the categories used as part of public policy on immigration, integration and the fight against immigration in France,” explains Clarisse Fordant. Using a socio-historical approach, she aims to better articulate the relationship between what is commonly referred to as science and politics. Her work should serve as a basis for contemporary reflection on the notions of expertise, inequality and democracy.

### AXA Chair on Health and Human Security

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-chair-on-health-and-human-security
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Manami INOUE

How has Japan achieved the longest life expectancy at birth in the world? Ranked first in terms of life expectancy at birth for women since 1986, recording the highest ever worldwide figure of 86 years in 2008, Japan seems to hold the secret of longevity. Understanding what factors—particularly modifiable risk factors—have contributed to making the Japanese population healthy is important for global health policy, especially for countries struggling to improve public health. The newly appointed Chair Holder is Prof. Manami Inoue. Awarded by authoritative academic societies in Japan (including the Japan Epidemiological Association and the Japan Cancer Association), she has worked in many prestigious institutions in Japan and gained in-depth knowledge of her country’s longevity phenomenon. The overall objective of her research is to gain a firm grasp of the interplay of selected risk factors in the burden of disease and injury in Japan over the past twenty years. Using comparable methodology and measurement metrics, she will study the distributions of risks across population subgroups based on age, sex, geography and socio-economic status, with a particular focus on aging. Her results will be helpful for informing policies and programs that aim either to prevent disease and injury or to design responses to current natural disasters, such as earthquakes and their aftermath in Japan, and their effects on health. Her findings will therefore be relevant for doctors, public health professionals, insurers and government decision makers. They will also be of interest to international organizations such as the WHO, with which University researchers have multiple ties, in generally helping to plan responses to major risks.

### Modeling ultrasound propagation in cancellous bone: towards early diagnosis of osteoporosis and fracture risk assessment

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/modeling-ultrasound-propagation-in-cancellous-bone-towards-early-diagnosis-of-osteoporosis-and-fracture-risk-assessment
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Fabien MEZIERE

As life expectancy steadily increases so do osteoporosis-related risks. Fabien Mézière is currently developing a highly original tool for early diagnosis in elderly populations - the best way to prevent fractures and their complications. Innocuous, inexpensive and non-invasive, ultrasounds seem perfect for such diagnoses. However, they are not well-suited to the analysis of bone structures. Using a combination of experimental, theoretical and numerical methods, Fabien Mézière is creating a model for ultrasound propagation in bones. This will provide an understanding of how ultrasound waves spread, first in 3D-printed bones, then in real bones. The model will allow early detection of lesions and porosity in patients’ bones. Once adopted by medical practitioners, an ultrasound-based diagnosis system could help better manage prevention in patients at risk, thus avoiding a great deal of pain, crippling effects and health-care expenditure.

### Neurophysiological substrates of inter-individual vulnerability to cocaine dependence and its modulation by environmental conditions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/neurophysiological-substrates-of-inter-individual-vulnerability-to-cocaine-dependence-and-its-modulation-by-environmental-conditions
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Aude BELIN-RAUSCENT

There are very few efficient therapeutical and preventive strategies against drug dependence, mainly because factors that contribute to the vulnerability to addiction remain unknown. Impulsivity is a marker of vulnerability to addiction. Dr Aude Rauscent aims at understanding whether impulsivity and addiction in rats share similar alterations of brain plasticity processes. For this, she records neuronal activity in the brain of vulnerable and non impulsive rats exposed to cocaine. Dr Rauscent also investigates the influence of the environment on addiction by raising impulsive/non impulsive rats in enriched (known to protect against addiction) vs standard environment. Dr Rauscent studies whether differential stimulations interact with drug-induced plasticity in vulnerable and non-vulnerable animals. This project could be a crucial step to develop preventive strategies in vulnerable population and therapeutical tools in patients. Drug addiction is a prominent psychatric disorder of modern societies, affecting 10 to 30% of the individuals exposed to licit or illicit psychoactive substances. Not much is known about mechanisms involved in the transition from casual to compulsive drug use, the hallmark of drug addiction. My project aims to identify in rats the biological, psychological and neurophysiological mechanisms involved in the vulnerability to develop cocaine addiction. We will investigate whether this vulnerability is associated with alterations of functional corticostriatal relationships and differential synaptic plasticity processes within the dorsal striatum.

### Motor variability as a marker of the aging effects on the neuro-musculo-skeletal system

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/motor-variability-as-a-marker-of-the-aging-effects-on-the-neuro-musculo-skeletal-system
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Benoît REY-ROBERT

« Old age is a ship wreck », said Charles de Gaulle. Evens as cognitive and physical capabilities keep on declining with the passage of time, life expectancy in countries like Sweden, Japan or Italy has now reached 83 years old. Consequently, Benoît Rey-Robert's work will be significant to get a better understanding of age-related changes of behavioral performance. Traditional research approaches focus on domain and/or task specificities linked with ageing, such as the cardiovascular system, neurodegenerative diseases, locomotion or grip force control. In keeping with this tradition, each process is considered individually as it generates specific dynamics that have consequences on behavior. The methods and findings of this type of research have led Rey-Robert to consider things from another angle. What if degeneration processes could be integrated in a complex network that operates on multiple scales in space and time? All the changes that take place in this system, however subtle, could impact the whole functional organisation. Rey-Robert has set up different types of measures that could give information about the effects of ageing on the brain. He tested healthy elderly people andthey were asked to perform two complete different tasks, an aiming tasks evaluating the sensorimotor domain and a reaction time tasks for the cognitive domain. By doing this, they managed to deduce the rate of mental processing speed. Coupling the data, revealed an increased coupling between the cognitive and sensorimotor domain suggesting an increased in shared ressources linked with ageing. This phenomenon, the general slowing of information, representing alterations in the neurobiological system, is visible through behavior in the slowing of movement. This theory still needs to be strengthened, but it already has a high potential of application: indeed some preliminary results suggest that training one domain (let's say cognitive) improves the other. So by training your mind you can improve your sensorimotor abilities and reciprocally. By designing well thought and purposeful training, like walking while doing arithmetics for example, that could help prevent the early deleterious effects of the passage of time on the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. Instead of being more and more fragile, elderly people could adapt to the exigencies of everyday life. Understanding how cognitive and motor processes interact is a major challenge for aging research. Numerous studies have shown that elderly people are slower and more variable than young adults in a wide range of cognitive and motor tasks. However, whether slowing and increased variability express common cause factors that affect both cognitive and motor domains is still unclear. Our research program aims at determining whether slowing and variability are markers of correlated changes in motor and mental functioning. Then, these markers could be used as a predictive assessment tool.

### Social Representations of Pathogens at the Frontiers between Species

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/social-representations-of-pathogens-at-the-frontiers-between-species
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Frédéric KECK

The uncertain boundary between human and animals To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com Articles in the media

### Modeling the dynamics of reintroduced populations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/modeling-the-dynamics-of-reintroduced-populations
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Alienor CHAUVENET

As human-induced climate change accelerates biodiversity loss, species that can no longer survive in geographically isolated habitats may be unable to shift their range, leaving them vulnerable to extinction. By studying the translocated hihi bird in New Zealand, Aliénor Chauvenet is finding ways to improve the success rates of “assisted colonisation”, or the translocation of species suffering from climate shifts to more suitable sites. “Research on population dynamics modelling has mainly focused on abundant species. I am developing a framework adapted to small populations of rare species,” she says. “The ultimate goal is to engage wildlife managers and policymakers, providing them with a set of tools to enhance the success rate of translocations and make the right decisions regarding biodiversity conservation.”

### AXA-Sorbonne Université Chair on Alzheimer’s disease

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-sorbonne-universite-chair-on-alzheimers-disease
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Harald HAMPEL, Kaj BLENNOW

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most significant risks for the growing population of elderly individuals and their families, with an estimation of 35.6 million people presently affected in the world. These numbers are expected to almost double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. As the most frequent neurodegenerative disease and a major worldwide epidemic, Alzheimer’s presents a global challenge, with increasing strain on health-care systems and our societies. The recently evidenced existence of a decade-long silent stage of the disease, with no clinical symptoms expressed, yet biological markers observable, creates opportunities for improving and accelerating early detection. To meet the need for diagnosis of Alzheimer’s from the beginning, the AXA - Sorbonne Université Chair on Alzheimer’s has been created with the aim of developing and validating new biomarkers to increase diagnostic accuracy at the totally asymptomatic stage and to better assess drug efficacy. Hosted by the highly specialized Institute for Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IM2A) using the latest cutting-edge genetic, biochemical and neuroimaging technology available, the Chair will utilize the combined resources of several first-class scientific research teams in a rich variety of related research fields—from cognition to neuroimaging to genetics—working from bench to bedside. It will use quality and exhaustive cohorts of patients from all disease stages, managed through the IM2A infrastructure, which is a national reference center for several Alzheimer’s and neurodegeneration-related clinical research programs and a leading institution worldwide. It will also benefit from a unique platform for integrating and processing multimodal biomarker information in order to extract specific algorithms for early presymptomatic detection. The Chair and full university professorship will be permanently held by Prof. Harald Hampel, who is a word-leading researcher with vast expertise and reputation in neurology, psychiatry and cutting-edge neuroscience research. With 20 years of experience, he has successfully developed international research programs dedicated to Alzheimer’s diagnosis and therapeutic algorithms. Hampel's findings will provide significant new understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders, while building upon the scientific capabilities of biostatistical modeling, leading to breakthrough advances in improving both diagnosis and treatment using innovative biological markers.

### Outbreaks of respiratory tract infections and emerging risk of encephalitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae: characterization by multiple genome analysis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/outbreaks-of-respiratory-tract-infections-and-emerging-risk-of-encephalitis-due-to-mycoplasma-pneumoniae-characterization-by-multiple-genome-analysis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Arabella TOUATI

A single bacterium, Mycoplasma pneumoniaie, may be involved in community-acquired pneumonia, acute attacks of asthma and even encephalitis, especially in children. The risk of severe outbreaks is high in confined settings like hospitals, and a fast response requires identifying the type of the bacterial isolate involved. Dr. Arabella Touati is developing a method to differentiate subtypes of M. pneumoniaie around the world that should work even if the isolates mutate over the course of an outbreak.

### Carbon tariffs: an instrument for tackling climate change?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/carbon-tariffs-an-instrument-for-tackling-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Marco SPRINGMANN

Carbon tariffs are a tax on carbon-intensive imports, which recently triggered heated international debates. Certain industrialized countries have been advocating the adoption of carbon tariffs on products imported from developing countries, such as China. According to Marco Springmann, a physicist turned economist, the main reason is that certain rich nations have implemented binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while poorer countries have so far resisted legal commitments. Additionally, because many of them simply do not set a price on carbon, they can produce cheaper carbon-intensive goods. Promoters of carbon tariffs thus think that taxing such goods at the border will make up for this difference in price and indirectly regulate the associated emissions. However, almost a quarter of China’s CO2 emissions come from its exports. So China and other nations view carbon tariffs as trade sanctions and protectionism. They even threatened to start a “trade war” if such schemes were to be put into place. They stress the role that carbon emissions have played in the industrialization of advanced economies and demand increased financial aid in order to reduce their emissions. To avoid this coming carbon war, Springmann proposes to recycle the tax revenues from carbon tariffs (claimed in the importing country) to the exporting country as investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. This coupled scheme addresses the concerns about competitiveness and reducing emissions in one part of the world and economic progress in the other. Since it acknowledges the demand for imports as an emissions-causing factor, it may therefore represent a consensus solution within a global climate policy. According to Springmann, a preliminary assessment has indicated that the revenue from this scheme would range between $8 and $50 billion per year, depending on the price of carbon. In comparison, at the climate summit in Copenhagen in 2009, it was agreed to create a “Fast Start Fund” to support climate adaptation and clean technology in developing countries. The pledged contribution is $30 billion over the next three years. Carbon tariffs would add significant revenue streams to this effort. My research focuses on the division and quantitative analysis of climate policies. In particular, I propose to couple carbon border tariffs with clean development funding in the exporting country or region. This research project follows a consumption-based approach to carbon emissions to enable a consensus between developing and developed nations. The proposed policy combination is to be assessed on the global, national and regional level with respect to streams of clean development funding and potential carbon emissions reductions. The national and regional case studies are focused on China as the world’s top emitter of carbon dioxide, major trade nation and greatest critic of carbon tariffs.

### Risk assessment for groundwater flooding in Ireland : use of hydroecological indicators

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/risk-assessment-for-groundwater-flooding-in-ireland-use-of-hydroecological-indicators
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Ted MCCORMACK

You certainly know Guinness. But have you heard of turloughs? Probably not, yet this is another Irish speciality! Turloughs are seasonal lakes fed predominantly by groundwater, that flood and empty over the course of the year. Why study them? Ted McCormack has two good reasons for this! First, they host a unique flora and fauna. McCormack leads field work to assess how concentrations of nutrients, which are essential for life, are influenced by water-level fluctuations in turloughs. The other motivation of McCormack's PhD is that turloughs may flood when intense rainfall increases groundwater levels. McCormack develops a model aimed at simulating the risk of turlough flooding depending on rainfall. His results might be useful for the design of optimal land-use policies, beneficial for both local farmers and biodiversity conservation.

### Blast From the past - the fate of legacy pollutants in the contemporary environment and their potential biovailability in mountain catchments

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/blast-from-the-past-the-fate-of-legacy-pollutants-in-the-contemporary-environment-and-their-potential-biovailability-in-mountain-catchments
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sophia HANSSON

High altitude soils are often shallow and thus fragile to erosional processes. Mountainous areas are therefore sensitive to humanly induced environmental changes (e.g. mining, clear cutting) and to climate change. Peatlands, a reoccurring feature in mountainous environments, acts as reservoirs of organic matter. Due to peats ability to retain trace metals these natural environments have accumulated contaminants since the beginning of the metallurgy and acts as filters for toxic elements (e.g. As, Hg, Pb). Based on a preliminary study we estimate that e.g. >600 ton of anthropogenic Pb is stored in organic soils on the northern slope of the Pyrenees. Similar conclusions can be drawn for other metals like Zn, Ag and Bi. The fate of these potentially harmful trace elements (PHTE) in relation to climate change or abrupt environmental changes (e.g. flood, forest clearance) is poorly understood. Once released from surrounding soils the catchment can be highly enriched in the bioavailable fraction of these PHTE:s causing a bioaccumulation in river biota. The objective of this project is twofold: First we will study the fate of trace elements in three various mountain catchments (Etangs de Bassies, Largentière and Bernadouze), and secondly we aim to infer the potential risk these elements pose on river biota (i.e. fish) and to the quality of drinking water. Our main research questions will be: Can the fate of PHTE:s, i.e. the release of Pb, Ag, Bi, Sb, Hg, As and U from bedrock, soil and peat into natural watersheds, be successfully traced and at what rate does this occur? How much of the released PHTE:s will be bioavailable and can an effect on the biota already be seen? To answer this we will combine analysis of radiocarbon, stable Pb-isotopes (anthropogenic Pb), and radionuclides (210Pb, 137Cs, 241Am and 7Be) to investigate the origin of these elements. In addition we will study the bioaccumulation within the catchments i.e. the transfer of metals from the water and organic matter to the river biota (e.g. fish) and assess the potential harmful exposure these elements pose to humans and society at large.

### Living in Harmony with Cyclones: An Anthropological Study of Life in the Australian Tropics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/living-in-harmony-with-cyclones-an-anthropological-study-of-life-in-the-australian-tropics
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Hannah SWEE

Please note that an Australian Honours Degree in Anthropology is an extra degree programme which is undertaken only after a Bachelor Degree is successfully completed. The completion of an Honours Degree in Anthropology gives direct access to and is the main pathway to a PhD in Anthropology at Australian universities. A Masters Degree is not necessary to enter the PhD programme in this case. My Honours dissertation followed the journey of “nyonya cuisine” to explore the way in which the same cuisine can evoke very different meanings as it travels through time and space. Nyonya cuisine is originally the cuisine of the Peranakan people, a distinct cultural group which evolved in the former Malay Peninsula (now known as Malaysia and Singapore). The first part of my dissertation investigated nyonya cuisine from its beginnings with the original meanings of the cuisine to the Peranakan people. It then explored how the meanings of this cuisine have changed within the same geographical location from being the food of the Peranakan people to being a representation of a united Malaysian nation. The second part of my dissertation changed the analytic pole of space to Australia to explore how nyonya cuisine has acquired different meanings as it has travelled to Australia packed into the memories of migrants from Malaysia and Singapore. It examined how, in this context, the meanings of nyonya cuisine have changed to become a connection between these migrants and their homeland. Additionally, it also investigated how through cookbooks as well as in everyday practices at home, Australian-born descendants of these migrants embrace nyonya cuisine as a link to their cultural heritage. Finally, my dissertation also explored the impact that nyonya cuisine has had on the wider Australian society as many Australians who have no connection to Malaysia or Singapore have been exposed to nyonya cuisine and have come to embrace it. In this way, nyonya cuisine has facilitated the change in the way that Australians perceive their society from being Anglo-Celtic dominant to one that is multicultural and cosmopolitan. Research for this dissertation involved a combination of archival and library research as well as ethnographic fieldwork. This ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in South Australia and my informants included migrants from Malaysia and Singapore, their descendants, as well as other Australians who do not have a connection to the region. As a result of this dissertation, I was awarded a First Class Honours Degree and was the Top Student in Anthropology Honours in 2010. This dissertation was published as part of my Honours Degree at The University of Adelaide. The research which was conducted has also resulted in the publication of an article in “The Peranakan Magazine” (2012), and will be presented at the British Sociological Association Food Study Group Conference in July 2012. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### ISPETI: Implementation of solid-phase extraction (SPE) for determination of low concentrations of Tl(III) in plant tissues

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/ispeti-implementation-of-solid-phase-extraction-spe-for-determination-of-low-concentrations-of-tliii-in-plant-tissues
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Natalia OSPINA-ALVAREZ

When a poison contaminates our environment, not only can it pollute the soil and water, it can also be taken up by plants, rendering them—or specific parts of them—toxic. Natalia Ospina-Alvarez is working to shed light on this situation with regard to the metal thallium. This element, which is introduced into the environment mainly through mining of lead and zinc, comes in different “flavors”, with different levels of toxicity: thallium-I is, by far, the most common, but thallium-III is several thousand times more noxious. To really assess contamination levels and the danger they represent, you need to know how much of each kind is present—including in the vegetation. For this, Dr. Ospina-Alvarez turned to the plant Sinapis alba, a member of the mustard family known to accumulate high levels of thallium. Since the highly toxic thallium-III is present in only trace amounts, she is developing a new method to extract it directly from the complex material of plant leaves. This technique should yield more concentrated samples of this kind of thallium, leading to more accurate measurements. This could mean better detection of thallium and other trace contaminants, and more accurate assessments of risk—for the environment and for people consuming plants grown in contaminated soil. Her work could even contribute to a solution: a clearer understanding of the way these plants accumulate thallium could let them be used in clean-up efforts to draw the poison from the soil, leaving the Earth cleaner than they found it.

### Study of the temperature evolution in Antarctica : a contribution to the global warning monitoring

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/study-of-the-temperature-evolution-in-antarctica-a-contribution-to-the-global-warning-monitoring
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marco BROGIONI

Antarctica is icy—probably icier than you think. It is so icy that it could elevate the global sea level by more than 60 meters if it melted entirely. It is also so cold and so wide that it affects the climate of the whole earth. It is thus hardly surprising that this huge continent deserves the attention of the scientific community. Regrettably, such environmental conditions make conventional exploration and monitoring—or even human life—almost impossible. Thanks to optical satellite sensors currently monitoring Antarctica several times a day, scientists have been able to give a rough estimate of its surface temperature. Unfortunately, we do not know whether the temperature remains stable or not, even though this would make a big difference for the future of mankind. One weakness of optical sensors is that they can become blind if weather conditions are not good and therefore, they are not always able to provide information on temperature. Moreover, they only have access to the snow surface of the ice. To overcome these limits, Dr. Marco Brogioni has decided to use the microwave passive satellite sensors to retrieve temperature information. His idea is to extend this approach, which is currently used in some parts of Antarctica, to the whole continent. This method has two main advantages: not only can electromagnetic waves see through clouds, but they can also see the subsurface of ice. They can penetrate the snow surface up to one meter deep. The inner part of the ice is in fact more stable, as it is much less influenced by meteorological conditions, such as the intensity of the sun or the presence of clouds. This means that the data retrieved from the subsurface of the ice allows for more stable and accurate knowledge about the evolution of temperatures in this region. According to Dr. Brogioni, it is possible to deduct the temperature of the ice from the intensity of the electromagnetic waves emitted by it. Working at the forefront of electromagnetic modeling for remote sensing, he has developed an innovative model to interpret electromagnetic-wave emissions, so as to calculate changes in the climate. Understanding the trends of energy in Antarctica could thus help monitor the global warming process. Dr. Brogioni’s findings will contribute to the IPCC’s future reports on climate change and be useful for future recommendations on global warming to policy makers.

### Urban and architectural retrofit in a climate changing scenario: the significance of users behaviours and comfort analysis to face overheating risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/urban-and-architectural-retrofit-in-a-climate-changing-scenario-the-significance-of-users-behaviours-and-comfort-analysis-to-face-overheating-risks
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Margot PELLEGRINO

At least 35,000 people lost their lives in August 2003 due to the exceptional heat wave that hit Europe. To better understand the phenomenon of overheating in highly populated urban areas, Dr. Margot Pellegrino plans to study social responses to overheating by including them in an integrated model, together with technical and environmental characteristics of buildings. How do people feel when it is hot inside a building? What kind of action do they take to deal with overheating? Dr. Pellegrino will monitor actions, choices, decisions and comfort perceptions in the Ile de France region based on factors such as building typologies of individual adaptation mechanisms. She will provide guidelines on possible architectural as well as urban retrofitting actions to help the people living in these buildings improve their indoor comfort.

### Large deviation analysis of the dynamics of extreme heat waves in present and future climates

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/large-deviation-analysis-of-the-dynamics-of-extreme-heat-waves-in-present-and-future-climates
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jeroen WOUTERS

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Development of novel antibiotics to overcome multi-drug resistant bacteria: Elongation factor P and the virulence pathway

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/development-of-novel-antibiotics-to-overcome-multi-drug-resistant-bacteria-elongation-factor-p-and-the-virulence-pathway
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Agata STAROSTA

When Agata was eight years old, she spent more than half a year in the hospital, fighting off a bacterial disease that the standard antibiotics couldn’t beat. Thanks to a clinical trial for a new drug, the little girl recovered. Today, Dr. Agata Starosta is determined to tackle the increasingly serious threat to society that is antibiotic resistance. As more and more disease-causing bacteria change to escape our principal weapons against them, they become resistant to the major antibiotics. New strategies are, thus, desperately needed. Dr. Starosta has departed from the usual tactic of disrupting basic bacterial functions (which affects good bacteria as much as bad). Instead, she aims to block the ability of the harmful ones to invade our bodies. She is particularly interested in one specific factor, called EF-P, that helps build proteins and is necessary for our microscopic opponents to make us sick. In fact, all bacteria have EF-P, but it differs across species. This means that new antibiotics could be designed very precisely to block specifically tuberculosis, meningitis, or another bacterial disease, while leaving the healthy bacteria in our digestive system, for example, untouched. Dr. Starosta’s work so far has revealed the intimate details of EF-P: how it is produced and operates within bacterial cells. This is information that the development of new antibiotics could be built upon, as researchers take aim at these steps underlying bacterial infection. By helping us stay ahead of disease-causing bacteria, Agata’s research could well contribute to shortening hospital stays, decreasing treatment side effects and even curing potentially deadly infections, as she herself was once cured.

### The use of intentional signals to switch ON/OFF movement decoding in brain-machine interfaces

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-use-of-intentional-signals-to-switch-onoff-movement-decoding-in-brain-machine-interfaces
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Bjørg Elisabeth KILAVIK

It is difficult to imagine anything more detrimental to one’s independence than paralysis. Dr. Bjørg Elisabeth Kilavik’s work may lead to a remarkable solution using brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). With BMIs, brain activity can be analyzed and used to generate movements by an external device (robot). She hopes to take it further by detecting the very intention to move, based on visual cues, allowing movement decoding to be switched on only when truly desired by the user. Efficient, portable BMI devices could one day change patients’ lives. Visuomotor behavior relies on visual and motor processes that are interactive and overlapping in space and time. My research is aimed at understanding the local and inter-areal dynamics underlying visuomotor behavior, using combined intra-cortical and EEG recordings. I currently study the complementarity and interactions between motor cortical areas during visuomotor behavior. In relation to this, I will test whether activity patterns in the motor cortical local field potential related to movement intention can be used as a switch-signal for brain machine interfaces (BMIs) intended for paralyzed patients. As we do not always want to move, detecting intention would allow turning on movement decoding only when needed, thereby saving energy during rest.

### Assessing the risk of chikungunya and dengue virus transmission in Europe: the effect of realistic environmental conditions on the life history and vector competence of Aedes albopictus

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/assessing-the-risk-of-chikungunya-and-dengue-virus-transmission-in-europe-the-effect-of-realistic-environmental-conditions-on-the-life-history-and-vector-competence-of-aedes-albopictus
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lauren CARRINGTON

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### The formation and maturation of synapses, synaptic plasticity and physiopathological implications

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-formation-and-maturation-of-synapses-synaptic-plasticity-and-physiopathological-implications
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Muna HILAL

Contact points between neurons are more important than you may think: numerous brain diseases are linked to their dysfunction. Muna Hilal uses an array of techniques to understand how they work, making new thera-peutic approaches possible. One of the most important parts of your brain may actually be the synapses, tiny contact points between neurons. In fact, problems here are related, in some way, to most brain disorders. Hilal studies a protein that seems to be important for developing synapses, regulating them in adults, and for learning and memory as we age. Knowing the fundamental role synapses play in brain activities, she uses a host of innovative methods to understand them, hoping to open the door to important new therapies.

### Risk evaluation for recurrent events

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/risk-evaluation-for-recurrent-events
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Juliette PENICHOUX

Fighting disease means implementing prevention measures based on a better understanding of risk. Statistical modeling* is a useful technique for this purpose, since it can predict how the interaction of several factors – for instance, the environment, eating habits and genetics – contribute to developing a particular condition. “One of the drawbacks of using conventional methods is that they lead to a biased estimate of individual frailty,” says Dr Pénichoux. The aim of her research is to devise new models capable of integrating different types of distribution of frailty in order to get closer to real-life conditions. The next step will be to evaluate the relevance of these tools for epidemiologic studies and clinical wwtrials, with the ultimate aim of developing new treatments.

### Role of cortical parvalbumin interneurons in fear behavior

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/role-of-cortical-parvalbumin-interneurons-in-fear-behavior
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Julien COURTIN

Fear is at the core of severe psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety disorders. Yet, the cerebral workings of this emotion and behaviors it motivates remain largely unknown. Building on evidence that the prefrontal cortex of the brain plays a key role in fear behavior, Courtin aimed to establish the precise mechanisms involving certain prefrontal neurons. His findings suggest that inhibition of specific brain circuits in this region could offer a solution to regulating disorders related to fear. One of the major obstacles to an efficient treatment of addiction is it relapsing nature. Indeed, 90% of drug abusers relapse after variable periods of abstinence. Whereas the neuronal structures implicated in relapse of drug-seeking behavior have been identified, the underlying neuronal microcircuits are still largely unknown. In this context, my project sought to identify and study the neuronal components selectively implicated in the relapse of drug-seeking behavior using animal paradigms that adequately model symptoms of addiction behavior in humans.

### Living with Disaster: Qualitative Characterization of Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/living-with-disaster-qualitative-characterization-of-risk
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Isaac KERLOW

Understanding risk from natural hazards and within different geographical contexts is not only a knowledge problem: it is also a communication challenge. Better informed communities living in hazardous areas will be more resilient. Artist and filmmaker Prof. Kerlow works on a multimedia scenario showcasing the experiences of inhabitants of several cities located in multiple continents throughout the centuries. He will highlight the importance of proactive preparedness in the face of disaster.

### The molecular genetic basis of addiction to drugs of abuse: Dynamic transcriptional profiling of cocaine-induced gene expression in the Nucleus Accumbens

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-molecular-genetic-basis-of-addiction-to-drugs-of-abuse-dynamic-transcriptional-profiling-of-cocaine-induced-gene-expression-in-the-nucleus-accumbens
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ami CITRI

Why, when abuse of drugs has such devastating effects on people’s lives, would anyone continue using them? Probably because cocaine and other drugs have a powerful influence on the brain, altering the circuits related to feelings of reward, and how the user remembers them. Dr. Ami Citri aims to identify which genes are turned on or off in one reward region of the brain, at different stages of addiction. If we could control this gene expression, we might be able to help people tackle their self-destructive behavior.

### Examining the nanoscale biology of T-cell signalling

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/examining-the-nanoscale-biology-of-t-cell-signalling
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marcus James TAYLOR

Fighting off infection requires communication among several cell types to trigger an immune response. But the power of traditional tools to discern the details is limited. Using high-resolution microscopy, Dr. Marcus James Taylor observes the very cell-­surface molecules receiving the signal to launch an attack. By measuring their positions before and after activation and watching how they move in live cells, Taylor aims to provide fundamental information, on the nanoscale, about the immune system’s molecular machinery.

### Listeria monocytogenes interactions with intestinal immune cells: impact on bacterial dissemination and host responses

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/listeria-monocytogenes-interactions-with-intestinal-immune-cells-impact-on-bacterial-dissemination-and-host-responses
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Grégoire GESSAIN

Grégoire Gessain is studying our immune system’s reactions to the dangerous foodborne bacterium, Listeria. His research on this common cause of food poisoning may reveal how it operates and how immune responses vary in different parts of the body.

### Cellular mechanism mediating the impairment in synaptic plasticity associated with the transition to addiction

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/cellular-mechanism-mediating-the-impairment-in-synaptic-plasticity-associated-with-the-transition-to-addiction
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fernando KASANETZ

Addiction does not happen to everyone. Focusing on the phase of transition from health to addiction, Dr. Fernando Kasanetz is investigating why some people develop a compulsive need for drug. By studying the initially disrupted inter-neuronal communication that follows cocaine intake, he showed that addiction is associated with the brain’s inability to adapt to the effects of cocaine. Kasanetz is now exploring the cellular mechanisms that may explain maladaptive neuronal plasticity in addicts. One of the major challenges in the field of drug abuse is the understanding of the biological basis of the transition to addiction in vulnerable individuals. Identifying which of the countless drug-induced neurobiological changes are specifically associated with the behavioral manifestation of addiction has proven to be extremely challenging, but the recent development of adequate animal models will allow rapid progress. By differentiating between individuals (the vast majority) maintaining control of their drug-related behaviors from those few that lose control over drug consumption, we study the synaptic modifications specifically associated with the transition to cocaine-addiction.

### Leading by example : an evolutionary perspective on group-decision making

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/leading-by-example-an-evolutionary-perspective-on-group-decision-making
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Andrew KING

The U.S.A. has had 28 presidential elections since 1900. In 75% of these elections the taller man has won. With such a high percentage, it appears to be beyond coincidence. This is what Dr King calls an evolutionary hangover. Having a tendency to follow the taller man made sense when humanity was living on the African savannah and hunting buffaloes and solving intertribal conflicts. Today, this attitude to follow the taller man is still anchored in our genes, which might go some way to providing a biological explanation for this intriguing fact. Complex societies are also observable in non-human animals. As an evolutionary biologist, Dr King is trying to identify the mechanisms that underlie -social decisions affecting group-living animals such as risk-taking or leader emergence and to compare them with human behavior. During his PhD, Dr King studied wild baboons in Namibia and how their leader is “chosen.” For baboons, they don’t choose the taller baboon, but instead their leader emerges as a result of the way the group is structured. It turns out that the baboon with the most developed social network and who is therefore the most influential emerges as the leader. Dr King does not only study primates. To gain a deeper understanding of the roots of leadership behavior and sociality, he studied groups of fish and found that the groups of individuals that were composed with the “right balance” of fish (with respect to their temperament or personality) were more likely to take risky decisions than groups that are randomly composed. It seems that this diversity is a crucial component to the group’s survival. Since non-human group-living animals’ behavior is not as complicated as our own, it allows Dr King to make a parallel with our own behavior and to explain some of the drivers. Ultimately, his work identifies some of the core principles that guide social beha-vior that can provide answers to some of the more puzzling management issues we encounter, and perhaps most importantly, how capable we are to adapt to change. My research focuses on using a question-oriented approach to address a range of issues in behavioural and evolutionary ecology, especially concerning group-living animals (including humans). Blending theoretical modelling and field observations and experiments, I examine how costs and benefits shape individual decisions, and how these behaviours relate to the structure and functioning of groups and populations (or societies in the case of humans).

### Studies on the relationship between p53, cancer and ageing

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/studies-on-the-relationship-between-p53-cancer-and-ageing
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Ignacio LÓPEZ FERREIRA

Cell integrity is crucial to our health. When a cell detects damage, it can either repair it and go on dividing, or stop cycling and it will age or die. Unfortunately, sometimes, the cell starts to divide unpredictably and can become cancerous. Ignacio López Ferreira is investigating the role of the p53 protein in the way cells analyze damage and trigger a suitable and sufficient response to manage the type and level of damage. These studies could help unravel how cancer and aging are related.

### A new look at threat compensation and risk seeking

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/a-new-look-at-threat-compensation-and-risk-seeking
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Bastiaan RUTJENS

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Forecasting Risk: Realized Quantile Approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/forecasting-risk-realized-quantile-approach
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Fabian RINNEN

We are looking at risk all wrong, according to Fabian Rinnen. “Historically, economic time series models have been unable to predict risk satisfactorily, causing worldwide problems—notably during the recent financial crisis,” he says. “I am combining these models with realised quantiles to yield more meaningful forecasts.” In addition to assessing financial risk more accurately, Rinnen’s model may be able to detect macroeconomic risks such as unemployment, exchange rate and inflation. This information would help institutions like central banks plan for the future more effectively. In the context of climate change, his methods can predict short- and medium-term temperature increases. “My goal is not only to improve financial risk assessment, but also to give policymakers risk forecasting tools to minimise public exposure,” he concludes. My research focuses on models risk using the statistical foundations established since the 1970s in econometric time series analysis combined with the advantages that quantiles have in this context. In the past the econometric methods I apply have been used to model movements in the mean of a variable of interest. While forecasts obtained from these regressions are meaningful and important in practice, the need for accounting for risk becomes evident when recalling the crisis that was caused by neglecting risk in the financial markets in the recent past.

### AXA-ESPCI Chair in Biomedical Imaging

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-espci-chair-in-biomedical-imaging
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Emmanuel FORT

In some ways, modern medicine is like mending a moth hole in a knit sweater; you need to see each individual strand of yarn in order to precisely map damage and replace only the exact portion of each strand that’s been eaten away. In medicine, rather than strands of yarn, it’s about seeing individual molecules within individual cells and intervening at that extremely precise level. That’s what makes nanotechnology and nanoparticles such exciting new frontiers. Situated at the intersection of quantum physics and biomedicine, nanotechnologies offer promising new directions for medical imaging for application in diagnoses and therapies. Renowned for his research into the nature and behavior of wave/matter interactions, Prof. Emmanuel Fort is the newly appointed holder of the AXA-ESPCI Chair in Biomedical Imaging at ParisTech, the Paris Institute of Science and Technology. His lab is searching for ways to use nanotechnologies to make biomedical imaging much more precise than existing methods such as MRI. Gold nanoparticles have been known for their healing properties since ancient Greece. The odd qualities of these nanoparticles are rich in possibilities for medical research for two reasons. For one, they serve as antennae, which capture and focus waves. Then, they scatter back the energy of these waves in the form of light or convert the absorbed energy into heat. The medical challenge is to exploit these features, especially the strong interaction with light. Part of Fort’s research uses the unique properties of these nanoparticles to image and destroy cancer tumors. When exposed to a particular wavelength of light, the particles emit light back. This enables a non-invasive, extremely high-definition biopsy, for example. What is more, because the nano-scale emitters can also produce heat, they could conceivably be used to very precisely “bake” cancerous cells, without affecting healthy ones. Fort’s research also focuses on cellular ultramicroscopy in which live cell activity can be observed with a nanometric resolution and a sensitivity down to a single molecule. Reaching these ultimate detection limits is most challenging but crucial to understanding the mechanisms involved in numerous diseases, such as Alzheimer's. Fort uses innovative principles to specifically improve the axial resolution and obtain 3D images of cells with a nanometer resolution. Overall, Fort’s goal is to create new types of imagery that marry diagnosis and therapy techniques into a single, unified form of treatment.

### Influence of anthropogenic emissions on particle-cloud interactions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/influence-of-anthropogenic-emissions-on-particle-cloud-interactions
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Evelyn FRENEY

Without them, there would be no clouds. Aerosols are essential for the formation of cumulus, cirrus and stratus clouds. They also affect the clouds’ ability to reflect sunlight. “These particles play a major role in the climate system,” stated Dr. Evelyn Freney. “However, the impact of anthropogenic emissions on global warming is still under debate.” Through a combination of aerosol size and composition measurements, she strives to accurately describe the interactions between these particles and water droplets, which are the precursors of clouds. This data will then be incorporated into weather and climate models in order to improve their accuracy and contribute to developing new emission control protocols.

### Impact of fluoroquinolones on human commensal flora: dynamics of bacterial resistance and changes of the intestinal microbiota

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/impact-of-fluoroquinolones-on-human-commensal-flora-dynamics-of-bacterial-resistance-and-changes-of-the-intestinal-microbiota
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Victoire DE LASTOURS

Antibiotic resistance is a major issue that is challenging medicine in unprecedented ways. Some previously easily treated diseases, such as gonorrhea, now represent major health threats because of new, multi-resistant strains. The forward-looking approach taken by Victoire de Lastours befits the magnitude of the issue. Instead of examining isolated pathogens by themselves, she is focusing on the too-often disregarded commensal bacteria – the mostly harmless germs that are present throughout our lives. As you may have heard, the human body is made up of about 50 trillion (50 million million) human cells… and 10 times more bacteria. They help in various bodily functions – such as digestion – and provide protection against pathogenic bacteria which may seek to invade the niches occupied by our “housemates.” However, these friendly bacteria may only be fair-weather friends. Indeed, Victoire de Lastours is currently investigating whether they distribute resistance genes to some of our worst enemies. The gastrointestinal tract could be the ideal stage for this betrayal. Home to the highest number of commensal bacteria in the body and extremely exposed to antibiotics, it hosts the famous Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterium – both a commensal and a pathogen frequently responsible for sometimes severe intra- and extraintestinal infections. The young medical student has already shown that these bacteria become resistant to fluoroquinolones, one of the largest families of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The resistance genes acquired can be passed on to pathogens, thus accelerating the emergence of resistance to antibiotics. This phenomenon is most likely more prevalent than the direct selection of resistant bacteria at the site of infection. In addition to the gastrointestinal tract, Victoire de Lastours’s work will explore these mechanisms in the normal skin and nasal flora. Only with such an in-depth understanding will it be possible to effectively cope with antibiotic resistance. Resistance to antibiotics is the result of direct selection at the site of infection but also, and probably predominantly, in the commensal flora. The specific approach of our group is to study factors involved in the emergence of antibiotic resistance in commensal flora. We focus on fluoroquinolones which are the most prescribed antibiotics in the world, but increasing resistance rates are threatening their efficiency. Moreover, because they diffuse particularly well in the ecosystems, they have an important effect on the microbiota.

### Dopaminergic regulation of dietary learning

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/dopaminergic-regulation-of-dietary-learning
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Albino MAIA

Dr. Albino Oliveira-Maia is studying the brains of mice to understand how the neurons that produce dopamine (a molecule that tells the body when it is satisfied) are associated with flavors and the delivery of nutrients to the stomach. He hopes to better understand the mechanisms linked to dysfunctional eating behaviors. Since obese people have modified brain dopamine circuits, similar to patients with addiction, this knowledge could advance medical care and research for both obesity and addiction.

### Fighting Buruli ulcer with innovative tools: from diagnosis to fundamental and therapeutical perspectives

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/fighting-buruli-ulcer-with-innovative-tools-from-diagnosis-to-fundamental-and-therapeutical-perspectives
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Caroline DESHAYES

Mycobacterium ulcerans , responsible for the Buruli ulcer, is a largely unknown flesh eater in the same family as the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy. In order to prevent the destructive effects of this disease on the skin, soft tissues, joints and bones of its victims—mostly children—Dr. Caroline Deshayes developed a new process to detect the toxin released by the bacteria in patients’ tissues, which is useful for early diagnosis and capable of ensuring timely use of adequate treatment.

### Predictability of high-impact weather events: Sensitivity to upper-level atmospheric anomalies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/predictability-of-high-impact-weather-events-sensitivity-to-upper-level-atmospheric-anomalies
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Simon FRESNAY

As powerful as they may be, numerical weather prediction models still contain uncertainties. In particular, their ability to represent multi-scale processes remains imperfect due to the nonlinear dynamics of the atmosphere. Rather than trying to combat these uncertainties, Simon Fresnay is examining them using simulations of upper-level atmospheric anomalies, which are precursors of storms and floods. “We need to better manage uncertainties in order to better manage emergencies and know when to activate warning systems.” One promising way to reach this aim is to simultaneously use models with slight perturbations for the same forecast. The first results on flooding in southeastern France showed that the forecast was highly sensitive to small changes to upper-level atmospheric anomalies.

### Impact of extreme weather events on soil microbial community composition and emissions of climate-relevant gases

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/impact-of-extreme-weather-events-on-soil-microbial-community-composition-and-emissions-of-climate-relevant-gases
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Sonja LEITNER

Extreme weather events involve risks that go beyond their immediate threat to ecosystems to possibly even feeding back in to climate change. Sonja Leitner’s research focuses on such a scenario. As drought periods are projected to become longer and heavy rainfall events more frequent, this will undoubtedly affect Earth’s soils. That’s why Leitner is simulating extreme weather conditions in a beech forest in Austria. Using roofs that prevent rain from reaching the soil at times, and sprinklers that simulate heavy rainfall at others, she tests the effects on soil aggregate stability, nutrient cycles, microbe populations and emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. After two years of experiments, her data already show that certain microbial groups are much more active after rewetting events. This results in a flush of nutrients that can be lost from the forest soil and cause problems in other ecosystems, like groundwater contamination and eutrophication of rivers. In addition, CO2 emissions decrease significantly during extended drought periods, although they increase during the first 48 hours post-rainfall. These results show that forests are highly susceptible to climate change effects and respond rapidly to changes in precipitation patterns. Leitner’s work brings new knowledge to climate models and decision-making around a number of climate-related topics, like forest management, climate change mitigation, and environmental preservation.

### Identification of the cellular receptor to Neisseria meningitidis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/identification-of-the-cellular-receptor-to-neisseria-meningitidis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Mathieu COUREUIL

Our brain is so important that it is protected from infections by a special barrier that prevents infectious agents from penetrating. However, the bacterium that causes meningitis unfortunately has “a molecular key” to open it. Dr. Mathieu Coureuil is studying this molecular key and how it enables the bacterium to adhere to, open and cross the barrier. Not only will this study provide a greater understanding of a major disease, but it could also facilitate the development of new strategies for the delivery of drugs to the brain."

### Inter-individual differences in sleep homeostasis and circadian rythmicity on cognition in older people

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/inter-individual-differences-in-sleep-homeostasis-and-circadian-rythmicity-on-cognition-in-older-people
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Pierre MAQUET

Who wouldn’t agree that healthy aging goes hand in hand with a preserved mind? However, “many older people experience decrements in cognitive performance, which may result from age-related sleep alterations,” says Prof. Pierre Maquet. These alterations are caused by a reduction in both drives for sleep: homeostatic and circadian. The interplay of these processes is complex and can vary between individuals. For example, the gene PER3 exists in different versions (called “alleles”) amongst the population. The longer version makes people sleepier (i.e., increases their “sleep pressure”) and reduces their cognitive performance after sleep loss. Maquet is studying how the circadian phase, homeostatic sleep pressure and their interaction influence cognitive function (i.e., mind function) in older people. Maquet’s project involves volunteers between 55 and 75 years of age: 20 volunteers with the short PER3 allele and 20 volunteers with the long PER3 allele are participating in two separate visits. Each visit consists of two sessions of cognitive tasks under brain imaging: one before sleep time and the other after wake time. During one visit, the participants sleep at the laboratory between the two sessions, and during the other visit, the participants stay awake. The great novelty in this project lies in the monitoring of both the circadian and the homeostatic factors. Circadian rhythms are measured through melatonin (the sleep hormone) content in samples of saliva taken each hour (except when people are sleeping). The homeostatic factor is monitored using two brain imaging techniques. One of these allows a direct probe of the local sleep pressure in the brain, which is very innovative. Maquet’s project aims at a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in changes in sleep and cognitive function. The effect of genetics on all the factors measured could provide a major contribution in terms of the practical application of chronobiology to changes in circadian and sleep control in older individuals. The results could be directly translated into health-promoting practices to increase sleep and cognitive performance in older people.

### Decide For Others: What Determines the Attitude toward Risk/Uncertainty

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/decide-for-others-what-determines-the-attitude-toward-riskuncertainty
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Hela MAAFI

Consider an uncertain situation, and then imagine a risky decision. Would you take the same level of risk if you were deciding for someone else? It would probably be lower if the person for whom you are deciding is your child. However, when deciding for yourself, your risk manager might seek higher risk in order to achieve higher gains. In the financial field, delegated decisions are the norm. Dr Maafi is trying to answer this tricky question: do people engage in higher, lower or the same degree of risk aversion when deciding for others? A better understanding of the unreasonable risk-seeking behavior observed among economic agents (i.e., investors, traders, insurers, etc.) might help devise a payoff mechanism that preserves the best interests of people involved in the decisions of others.

### Experimental approach of an emerging medical concern: Study of antibiotic resistance in biofilms formed by pathogenic bacteria in long-term intravenous catheters

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/experimental-approach-of-an-emerging-medical-concern-study-of-antibiotic-resistance-in-biofilms-formed-by-pathogenic-bacteria-in-long-term-intravenous-catheters
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: David LEBEAUX

Nosocomial infections, hospital-acquired infections, claim 7,000 deaths in France every year. To find a solution that may help saving the lives of thousands of people, David Lebeaux studies biofilms, i. e. agglomerates of bacteria that form onto surfaces and cause 65% of all nosocomial diseases. They are particularly dangerous as they show a high level of resistance to antimicrobial treatments. Lebeaux suspects that targeting the more resistant bacteria inside a biofilm may be a way to cure these infections. Until now, little is known about their genetic mechanisms and the way they resist. This understanding may help designing strategies to cure biofilm-related infections.

### How can Financial Cooperatives Contribute to a more Sustainable Banking System and Reduce the Exposure of the Economy to Systemic Risks, Risks of Credit Supply Contraction and Intergenerational Risks?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/how-can-financial-cooperatives-contribute-to-a-more-sustainable-banking-system-and-reduce-the-exposure-of-the-economy-to-systemic-risks-risks-of-credit-supply-contraction-and-intergenerational-risks
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anaïs PERILLEUX

What if banking were treated more like a common good? Could this improve the stability of the financial system? Cooperative banks (CBs), which are not owned by individuals, but by the community of their members, already put these questions to the test—and they do seem to have a positive effect on the system’s overall risk. However, little research has examined what happens within networks of such banks to reduce risk and what effect this has on their efficiency. To fill this gap, Dr. Anaïs Périlleux has been working in partnership with one of Europe’s biggest cooperative banking systems. After collecting several years’ worth of monthly data on local banks in the network, she was able to extract meaning from the numbers. Dr. Périlleux measured interactions between bank risk-taking, efficiency, and funding received from the top central bank. Her analyses showed that risk-taking and efficiency levels are quite uniform among CBs, thanks to solidarity mechanisms that even things out across the system. Funding from above led to banks taking fewer risks, as well as the mitigation of negative effects on efficiency that any risk-taking might have. Using this information, Dr. Périlleux will now explore the idea of cooperative banks as common goods, which show great resilience in other sectors. If this explains their positive impact on risk in the financial system, it may support the argument for more diversity in bank ownership, with all the policy implications this would have.

### Renal progenitor cells in the prevention and regression of age-related renal failure

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/renal-progenitor-cells-in-the-prevention-and-regression-of-age-related-renal-failure
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anna Julie PEIRED

Over 30% of older people suffer from chronic kidney disease. This may have to do with renal progenitor cells: with age, fewer may be produced or able to mature, leaving the kidney less able to repair itself. Dr. Anna Julie Peired’s research suggests that retinoic acid (RA), derived from vitamin A, counters these effects. If so, a vitamin A-rich diet or RA-based drugs could potentially delay or reverse age-related renal disease, reducing the need for costly therapies, like dialysis or kidney transplants. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Exploring a New Role for Identity in Health Behaviors

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/exploring-a-new-role-for-identity-in-health-behaviors
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Fabrice ETILÉ

The notion of identity, all the characteristics, that make us who we are, may have more impact on our food, health and economic behavior than anyone has given it credit for. Individual identity is something that economists have more recently started examining seriously, but, even then, they’ve typically considered it to be unchanging throughout life. Prof. Fabrice Etilé disagrees and here, at the crossroads of economics and psychology, he is exploring how different dimensions of identity influence our health-related behaviors. Social identity—characterized by our social interactions, job, community, etc.—may be involved in the nutritional transition occurring in emerging countries. The very individual traits of personal identity, like childhood memories or personal goals, might help us predict risky health behaviors. By revealing these connections, he may also identify ways to encourage healthier behaviors. Developing countries, like China and Indonesia, are experiencing a transformation in their nutritional patterns described as a Westernization of their diet. The increase in consumption of refined sugar and fats is associated with a rise in diabetes and obesity. If these societies, are gradually moving towards Western food habits, favoring supermarkets and fast food over traditional options, this would indicate a change in their culture, indicating social interactions and social identity are at play. However, Prof. Etilé questions whether this is the only factor. It may be that China, for instance, is simply importing more food processing technologies from the West to produce traditional Chinese food differently.

### Deleterious consequences of caffeine consumption during pregnancy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/deleterious-consequences-of-caffeine-consumption-during-pregnancy
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Stefania ZAPPETTINI

Who doesn’t appreciate a little caffeine pick-me-up now and then? If you’re pregnant, though, it remains unclear if the stimulant is safe for the fetus. Dr. Stefania Zappettini’s research could clarify that. Her lab discovered that, in mice, caffeine exposure led to seizures and long-term cognitive problems in offspring. Now, she aims to reveal more precisely how caffeine may affect the wiring of the developing brain—important information for public health, especially concerning the next generation.

### Numerical methods and models in market risk and financial valuations Area

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/numerical-methods-and-models-in-market-risk-and-financial-valuations-area
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: José Arturo INFANTE-ACEVEDO

How can traders minimise their trading costs? José Infante Acevedo is answering this question by developing an improved Limit Order Book (LOB) model. “Market deregulation and competition over investors have made it possible to consult unexecuted orders and past transactions for certain stocks,” he explains. “I’ve applied this information to the LOB model and identified the optimal strategy for buying or selling shares before a specific deadline.” The results have significant implications for market organization, execution costs, electronic market liquidity, high-frequency trading and more. Infante Acevedo is also investigating how a greedy algorithm can solve problems involving high-dimensional partial differential equations—such as the pricing of European and American options—in finance, material sciences and other areas.

### How do beliefs change? Cerebral mechanisms of conscious and non-conscious interpretative processes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/how-do-beliefs-change-cerebral-mechanisms-of-conscious-and-non-conscious-interpretative-processes
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Imen EL KAROUI

During perception, we do not access an ‘objective’ representation of a word, picture or sound, but we gain immediate access to a subjective interpretation, that is a meaningful mental content colored with subjective belief. These interpretations are then used to generate our behaviors, so understanding their emergence and transformation would help us understand individual behaviors. In order to study these interpretations, we decided to rely on the cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1957), which proposes a mechanism to create a link between perception and behavior through modifications of subjective beliefs and preferences. According to this theory, when simultaneously holding two conflicting beliefs, people tend to reduce their discomfort by altering their existing beliefs. This theory has been widely studied, not only by psychologists, but also in education or marketing. Several experimental paradigms have been designed to test this theory, including induced-compliance, effort justification and free-choice paradigms. For instance, a typical free-choice experiment contains three steps: first, subjects are asked to rate a list of items (e.g. vacation destinations, food items…); then, they are asked to choose between two of these items, which have been similarly rated during the first phase; finally they are asked to rerate the items. According to the cognitive dissonance theory, choosing between similarly rated items creates a conflict, which is reduced by changing subjects’ preferences, as revealed by changes in ratings between the first and the last steps of the experiment: chosen items are rated higher in the second rating than in the first, and conversely for rejected items. Recently, this last paradigm has been highly criticized by Chen and Risen (2010), who identified a major statistical flaw. In this project, we designed an experimental paradigm derived from the free-choice paradigm, but controlling for the artifacts we could identify in the literature, including Chen and Risen’s artifact. We found a genuine cognitive dissonance effect, which clearly depended on memory. These results help dissociating two types of theoretical accounts for dissonance, by revealing the major role of explicit and conscious cognitive processes in the dynamics of subjective interpretations and subsequent behaviors.

### Deciphering the role of the prefontal cortex in the risk assessment during adaptive control of behavior

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/deciphering-the-role-of-the-prefontal-cortex-in-the-risk-assessment-during-adaptive-control-of-behavior
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ayano MATSUSHIMA

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Ultra-structural changes and trace element / isotope partitioning in calcifying organisms (foraminifera, ostracods)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/ultra-structural-changes-and-trace-element-isotope-partitioning-in-calcifying-organisms-foraminifera-ostracods
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Nina KEUL

Are you aware that the ocean is getting more acidic? No need to be concerned about swimming in the ocean. Yet this may have serious consequences for corals and plankton! And once again, our carbon emissions are responsible for this problem. Nina Keul investigated to what extent marine calcifying organisms may be affected by ocean acidifi cation. The question is relevant because these tiny organisms play an important role in the marine ecosystem. Ocean acidifi cation may thus indirectly have a major ecological and economic impact. For her study, Keul grew marine calcifi ers in her laboratory and put them under increasing acidic conditions. She was surprised to observe that some species were more tolerant of acidic conditions than expected, depending on the way they calcify. Yet, this should not dissuade us from reducing our carbon emissions!

### There’s Power in Numbers—For Business Groups and Their Employees

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/theres-power-in-numbers-for-business-groups-and-their-employees
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Francis KRAMARZ

Safety in numbers. Belonging to a large group can help keep us out of harm’s way in a variety of scenarios. It’s even true for employees and companies operating within a business group. This network of independent firms provides stability and opportunity by absorbing members of one another’s workforce, in good times and in bad. Using innovative analyses, a team led by Prof. Francis Kramarz of ENSAE ParisTech is, for the first time, studying just how the phenomenon operates. Their research is unique for addressing data on the firm level (profits, productivity, debt), combined with measures of workers’ movements and, uniquely, each group’s precise business composition. The team’s results show how internal mobility among firms functions as insurance for workers, helping ensure employment when times turn tough. Such business groups possess their own internal labor market (ILM). Sometimes it functions in a vertical fashion: employees may move to another company in the group, in order to climb the career ladder. Prof. Kramarz investigates a horizontal kind of ILM activity, where workers move sideways within the group. He found that, in good times, there is more horizontal mobility than ever, with hiring drawing more from the group’s population than from outside. This is especially true for groups that are diverse—in their products or locations, for instance—and for their managers, engineers, and professionals. What happens in business groups when times are tough? The Kramarz team showed that if one firm closes, more of its workers are taken up by fellow firms than return to the general job market. The effect is especially pronounced for less-skilled workers. Importantly, the fraction of the company’s former workforce that ends up unemployed is drastically lower than for those without a business group. By belonging to such a network, a firm provides workers with insurance on their employment, even if, as Prof. Kramarz found, the workers concerned suffered a decrease in their hours and, so, their overall earnings. In a sense, this movement across the ILM insures the firm, too, against some of the high severance payments it would normally owe when parting ways with its workforce. The work of Prof. Kramarz and his team has taught us which mechanisms are at play when business groups manage to keep their workers employed and even to seize opportunities for growth, thanks to the appropriate workforce right in their midst. Such knowledge could help shape more of the business world into structures that are at once productive and resilient for the greatest number. Scientific title: (Why) Are Business Groups Special? Internal Labor and Capital Markets in French Business Groups To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Identification of new inhibition mechanisms against viral infections: targeting the conformational transition of the envelope protein leading to virus entry; application to Dengue virus

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/identification-of-new-inhibition-mechanisms-against-viral-infections-targeting-the-conformational-transition-of-the-envelope-protein-leading-to-virus-entry-application-to-dengue-virus
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Nathan DESDOUITS

To confront the growing risk of dengue fever, Nathan Desdouits is focusing on the cavities exposed to a viral protein during fusion with human cells. Aiming a drug at these pockets could disrupt fusion and block infection by dengue and similar viruses. The goal of my research is to identify possible inhibitors of Dengue virus, specifically targeting the envelope protein to block the infection process. Dengue fever is a tropical disease affecting 100 million persons per year, with around 50,000 lethal cases. A strategy designed at the laboratory will be used to identify inhibitors. It focuses on the functional analysis of the target in order to achieve maximal efficacy of the virtual screening process. A list of compounds will be ordered for in vitro testing, and promising ones will be optimized and tested on mices.

### The Risks of Greed and Fear in Financial Decision Making

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-risks-of-greed-and-fear-in-financial-decision-making
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Elena PIKULINA

How do financial crises occur? It all starts with greed driving bonus-crazed traders to unreasonably risky choices. It gets worse through irrational snap decisions made by investors driven by fear. It ends up with a market collapse leading the whole world to economic crisis. But what if this chain of events were more than a social construction? What happens in the human brain when facing financial choices? To understand how greed and fear trigger our decisions, Helena Pikulina suggests a new approach using neuroscience to identify cognitive biases that interfere with financial decision making. Her results could allow investment firms to design better incentive schemes for their traders and introduce breakers to trades. Hopefully, it could also be used by policy makers in drafting effective regulation to prevent fraud. And more generally, the key players influencing financial decisions could rationally choose not to pull the trigger to financial doomsday. My research aims at uncovering the differences in traders’ strategies, performance, and behavioral biases under different compensation schemes and in different economic environments. Reward schemes of traders finally define trading strategies of large corporations and funds, which are becoming more and more powerful players in the stock market. Understanding behavior under different reward schemes will help investment firms be able to design better incentive schemes for their traders and introduce circuit breakers to trades to prevent collapses. In my current work I focus on two different reward schemes, linear and convex ones.

### Assessing attitudes toward traffic safety and risk behaviours among urban cyclists during their daily trips: the CASC study

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/assessing-attitudes-toward-traffic-safety-and-risk-behaviours-among-urban-cyclists-during-their-daily-trips-the-casc-study
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Aymery CONSTANT

For most people, riding a bike in an urban setting can be dangerous. Despite the risks, many people still decide to ride a bike without a helmet. There are a number of reasons why people decide not to wear a helmet:

### Impact of ice melting due to Global warming in Qinghai-tibetan plateau on groundwater flow systems in Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/impact-of-ice-melting-due-to-global-warming-in-qinghai-tibetan-plateau-on-groundwater-flow-systems-in-asia
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Xingxing KUANG

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), which is termed as the 3rd pole of the earth, is known as the water tower of Asia. The ice stored in the QTP is the third-largest in the world. Due to global warming, the ice and glaciers in the QTP is undergoing a melting process. This process may have an important influence on the groundwater flow systems in Asia. Climate changes have been found to have a significant impact on basin-scale and continentalscale groundwater flow systems. Large-scale numerical models coupling the groundwater flow and glaciation will be used to investigate how ice melting in the QTP controls the groundwater flow systems in Asia by considering the complex processes involved during periods of glaciation and ice melting. Key processes that must be considered in such a continental-scale three-dimensional (3D) numerical model will be examined, including subglacial infiltration, density-dependent groundwater flow, permafrost evolution, isostasy, and ice sheet loading. This is the first study to explore the impact of climate change induced ice melting in the QTP on 3D continental groundwater flow systems in Asia. Successful completion of this study will improve our understanding of the response of continental groundwater flow systems to climate change. Furthermore, the study will also help understand the evolution of the groundwater flow systems in the future. This research project has not only theoretical but also practical significances in the environmentally and ecologically sensitive plateau which provides water for many world-class rivers. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Root reinforcement properties variations at different soil moisture content and impact on slope stability

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/root-reinforcement-properties-variations-at-different-soil-moisture-content-and-impact-on-slope-stability
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marie GENET

How can we use roots to save human lives? Certainly not by drinking them in weird organic mixtures! Roots save lives by increasing soil strength and preventing shallow landslides. During her postdoctoral research, Dr. Marie Genet investigated how root reinforcement properties were affected by soil humidity. This is a crucial question in the present context of climate change, which infl uences soil moisture content. Yet getting an answer is a challenge because of the diffi culty of sampling root systems. Dr. Genet overcame this diffi culty by collecting a large number of root samples on the fi eld using advanced core techniques. She also conducted various in situ and laboratory measurements to assess soil strength and moisture content. Her results could help engineers design effi cient and sustainable ecological protection against shallow landslides.

### From Soil Erosion’s Past Come Clues to Its Future Impact on Climate Change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/from-soil-erosions-past-come-clues-to-its-future-impact-on-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jean-Philippe JENNY

Our planet is so interconnected that one country’s problems are rarely its own. Especially when it comes to the growing global demand for food, they become everyone’s concern and the geopolitical risks involved are one thing driving Dr. Jean-Philippe Jenny’s research. His mission is to understand human impact on soil erosion around the world and its consequences for both the food supply and climate change. Human activities like the construction of dams, intensive agriculture or deforestation contribute to the movement of soils and their runoff into waterways. This can degrade the quality of agricultural land and also plays a role in the carbon cycle by displacing carbon stored in the landscape. To accurately predict future soil erosion rates, Dr. Jenny needs to reconstruct their past. Since measurements of soil transport have been taken only in recent years, he will turn to the information stored in lake sediments, like archives of accumulated soils, washed in over time. Computer models of soil erosion processes do exist, but they do not address the changing dynamics of long-term human influence. Dr. Jenny’s interdisciplinary approach will, for the first time, unite predictive ecosystem modeling with the study of the past through lake sediments and allow him to verify the impact of the last 100 years of human intervention on the landscape. With extensive open source datasets on European lake sediments, climate and land use, he will analyze the effects of human activities—major construction, farming, urbanization—on erosion rates over time. Samples from lakes on six continents will allow him to understand erosion in a range of very different environments and to quantify the dynamics of agricultural soil loss. This work will lead to the first database on highly resolved changes in mineral and organic composition devoted to studying lake archives from the regional to the global level.

### French PNNS adequation score and risk for cancer

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/french-pnns-adequation-score-and-risk-for-cancer
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anne-Claire VERGNAUD

Lifestyle diseases, like obesity and certain cancers, are now so common that we speak in terms of an epidemic. Dr. Anne-Claire Vergnaud’s goal is to identify the factors at play when adults gain weight and to determine the effect of nutrition public health programs on health. Her findings help clarify the interactions between diet, smoking and weight, for instance, and suggest that following official dietary advice may reduce the risk of early death. The impact on health policy and individual choices could be great. My research focuses on understanding dietary mechanisms leading to weight gain during adult life and also evaluating what effect public health decisions (for example, the French PNNS) could have on obesity prevalence and weight gain tendency in Europe.

### Viral engineering for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity due to spinal cord injury: proof of concept study

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/viral-engineering-for-the-treatment-of-neurogenic-detrusor-overactivity-due-to-spinal-cord-injury-proof-of-concept-study
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Pierre CLEMENT

Spinal cord injury causes bladder dysfunction and particularly incontinence. This debilitating condition is the leading cause of morbidity and re-hospitalization of paralyzed patients, and the current treatments are not fully satisfactory. Dr. Pierre Clément is studying the feasibility of introducing genetic material into the nervous pathways that control the bladder, using harmless viruses. This study is a first step towards the development of gene therapy for bladder hyperactivity due to spinal cord injury. This researcher is also supported by the Garches Foundation.

### Ageing : a multi-scale approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/ageing-a-multi-scale-approach
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Yann LE CUNFF

Aging is the result of a trade-off between reproduction and maintenance of the body. Yann Le Cunff is studying individual aging trajectories based on environmental conditions to build mortality curves at the population level. Ageing is a ubiquitous phenomenon accross species. Surprisingly, extremely different organisms exhibit similar ageing patterns, such as exponentially increasing mortality hazard with age. Based on Evolution and natural selection, we work on providing a unified framework that would account for both similarities and differences between species' mortality curves. Interestingly, not only the model reproduces experimental results for many model organisms but it also exhibits similar transitions than those observed in human mortality data and well-known diet changes experiments.

### Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on the emergence of antibiotic resistance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/effects-of-subinhibitory-concentrations-of-antibiotics-on-the-emergence-of-antibiotic-resistance
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Ivan MATIC

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Autophagy for longevity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/autophagy-for-longevity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Guido KROEMER

What is the role of “self-eating” in cells, and how does it impact health and longevity? Commonly known as autophagy, this cleaning process helps fight stress damage, which is created in cells when they produce energy. If the damage is not repaired, protein aggregates tend to accumulate with a toxic effect on cells, eventually leading to their death. These proteins must therefore be eliminated. This elimination happens through autophagy, which protects cells against premature death. Internationally recognized as a preeminent life scientist, Prof. Guido Kroemer has studied the positive role of autophagy in detail. By helping to remove oxidative damage, or dysfunctional parts of the cells—which is responsible for aging at cellular level—its action can increase lifespan. Kroemer has also focused on the role of autophagy in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, as it plays an essential role in cellular destruction of the protein aggregates responsible for these diseases. We know that autophagy protects cells from premature death; however, as the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood, they are at the top of Kroemer’s agenda. He is also investigating what factors may play a significant role in autophagy, in order to stimulate and enhance the process. To begin, Kroemer is studying the potential regulators of autophagy at a chemical level. However, he also suggests that there may be specific actions we can take to encourage this beneficial process at an individual level. We all know that a low-calorie diet is good for our health. But what we may not know is that this health benefit, according to Kroemer, is caused by an increase in the rate of autophagy. This is yet another good reason to eat a healthy diet and exercise more!

### Producing new antimicrobials and enhancing the current drugs polymorphism to fight drug resistance through a new metabolic engineering framework

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/producing-new-antimicrobials-and-enhancing-the-current-drugs-polymorphism-to-fight-drug-resistance-through-a-new-metabolic-engineering-framework
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Cyrille PAUTHENIER

Affordable, new antibiotics are needed and Cyrille Pauthenier hopes to engineer yeast cells to produce them for us. To avoid toxicity, the process will take place on the outside of the cell, making collection of the new drugs easy and harmless.

### Probabilities in Decision Trees: the impact of action on uncertainty

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/probabilities-in-decision-trees-the-impact-of-action-on-uncertainty
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Shweta AGARWAL

Decision theory lays out a procedure for rational choice under uncertainty. But in real life, how many managers have ever used such a procedure when they have to make a million-euro decision? And should they do so? Pointing the fact that current models of decision making do not resonate with the managerial attitude toward uncertainty (viewed as something they can control and even influence), Shweta Agarwal intends to better model when and how one’s actions can alter the uncertainty that one confronts. The intuition she builds upon is that the formal construct of a realistic decision-making model should preserve the primacy of this managerial belief, so that corporations can better compare what mathematical models say and what managerial gut feeling tells.

### Policy Options for Improving the Quality of Mental Health Care for Seniors in Long-term Care (LTC) and Assisted Living (AL)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/policy-options-for-improving-the-quality-of-mental-health-care-for-seniors-in-long-term-care-ltc-and-assisted-living-al
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Monica CEPOIU-MARTIN

What is the path to follow when an elderly person experiences mental health issues? First, establish a diagnosis and secondly, evaluate care options. Monica Cepoiu-Martin thoroughly analyses factors that influence decision-makers in shaping continuing care policies and how their choices could be improved. The mental health issues her research focusses on include Alzheimer disease, related dementias and/or depression. Depending on the stage and severity of the disease, two continuing care options are available: either assisted living, an option for seniors who want to live as independently as possible or long-term care, which is a higher and more expensive level of care. Cepoiu-Martin is evaluating the appropriateness of continuing care policies that have been implemented so far. By summarizing the scientific literature to date and analysing new epidemiological data on Canadian seniors, she evaluates the various care trajectories and outcomes of seniors with mental health issues in the existing care settings. With this new knowledge, she aims at improving future continuing care policies for the growing population of seniors with mental health issues.

### Measuring Economic and Financial Activity and Constructing Leading Economic Indicators for Emerging Markets

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/measuring-economic-and-financial-activity-and-constructing-leading-economic-indicators-for-emerging-markets
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Cem CAKMAKLI

Inflation, interest rates, financial and economic activity. We are familiar with these concepts, as they are highly analyzed for the developed markets we hear about regularly in the business news. These factors are key to macroeconomic models, and yet they have hardly been studied for an increasingly important slice of the world economy: emerging markets, like Turkey, Brazil, Russia, India and China. Cem Çakmaklı aimed to fill this gap and has developed tailored models that fits these markets precisely. Emerging markets, have unique characteristics that mean they need to be analyzed differently. First of all, the lack of available data presents a challenge. The data that do exist may come in different forms or be collected on different schedules. These diverse sources must be integrated correctly to draw meaningful conclusions about emerging markets. Their behavior can also be erratic while young and still growing, or show effects that are ignored in traditional analyses, like large ups and downs, deep recessions, rapid recoveries and seasonal changes that are present in the published datasets. Dr. Çakmaklı’s new methods successfully take all of these elements into account, allowing for more accurate modeling and better predictions of the behavior and risks of tomorrow’s markets.

### Chemical genetics of clathrin-independent endocytosis and retrograde transport — identification and molecular analysis of small molecule inhibitors of toxin entry into cells

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/chemical-genetics-of-clathrin-independent-endocytosis-and-retrograde-transport-identification-and-molecular-analysis-of-small-molecule-inhibitors-of-toxin-entry-into-cells
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Maria Daniela GARCIA-CASTILLO

Terrorists are more likely to obtain and use a biological weapon than a nuclear one, according to U.S Congress. Toxins such as ricin, or Shiga-like toxins produced by certain strains of E. coli, can be deadly and no antidotes for these dangerous toxins themselves have yet been found. Instead, Garcia Castillo is working to identify molecules able to protect our cells from their attack. Her work could lead to a cure for these constant threats in bioterrorism and infectious disease.

### AXA Chair in Market Sociology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-chair-in-market-sociology
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Olivier GODECHOT

In September 2011 the Occupy Wall Street movement broke out in the heart of the financial world. For the protesters, this was the center of a system responsible for increasingly severe inequality and growing instability in society. Their actions sparked a global movement, but were they right? Not so much to "occupy", but to establish such a causal claim? Greater inequality had been widely observed; more and more financial activity, too. However, the possible link between the two trends was not well documented or understood, explains Prof. Olivier Godechot. He set out to identify whether increasing financialization leads to more inequality, which dimensions might be responsible, and how exactly this might occur. Digging into data on 18 member-countries of the OECD for the period of 1970 to 2011, Prof. Godechot’s team showed that the share of countries’ GDP contributed by the finance sector is a major driver of inequality around the world. Indeed, between 1980 and 2007, a period that witnessed several financial crises, this factor explained 20-40% of the increase in inequality. The effect is strongest at the top of the income distribution, with the highest earners benefiting disproportionately from financial activity. Finance is multi-faceted, though, and not every aspect worsens inequality, Prof. Godechot found. Traditional banking and household debt do not seem to contribute; rather, it is due to the “growing amount of social energy devoted to the trade of financial instruments on financial markets,” he explains. Going further, the researchers identified the mechanism by which financialization could exacerbate problems of social equality. The top players in financial markets can achieve such high pay by leveraging their social and technical capital. This allows them to move—or threaten to move—assets and knowledge from one firm to another, in a maneuver described as a “hold-up”. At its extreme, Prof. Godechot gives the example of two trading room managers who each secured a multimillion-dollar bonus by threatening to resign and take the entire team with them, unless their employer could match a rival firm’s offer within 48 hours. The financial sector is unique in its vulnerability to this strategy. While, in industry, a factory is protected by property rights, in finance, patents and non-compete agreements do at best a poor job to protect the firm's assets. It is crucial to understand and mitigate the risks described, because their impact is not just financial, but social, too. And the huge bonuses seen in finance provide an incentive to misjudge the risk involved, creating ever more social risk. Olivier Godechot suggests that measures limiting the size of finance could alleviate both the issue of hold-ups and of worsening inequality. These might include a special tax on finance income, or policies requiring banks to hold more capital before engaging on the financial markets. Controlling the financial hazard could, thus, lead to greater equality and a healthier sense of cohesion across society.

### Spreading the blame: the allocation of responsibility amongst multiple economic agents

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/spreading-the-blame-the-allocation-of-responsibility-amongst-multiple-economic-agents
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Tobias GERSTENBERG

Could you be held responsible for something even if your action made no difference to the outcome? “No” is the first answer that comes to mind. However, consider the possibility that JFK was killed by two assassins who shot him simultaneously, and it was later discovered that each assassin’s shot was in itself sufficient to bring about JFK’s death. Would Lee Harvey Oswald, one of the assassins, now be free from any blame because his action made no difference to whether or not JFK died? In his research, Gerstenberg has found that in group settings, whether or not a person is blamed or praised is not only affected by their own actions, but also by the actions of their group members and the way in which individual actions influence the group outcome. One person’s actions can affect another person’s blameworthiness… After Tobias Gerstenberg earned his Abitur (A-levels) in 2004 he began to study Psychology at Humboldt University in Berlin. He finished his Vordiplom (BSc) and continued with an M.Sc. in Cognitive and Decision Sciences at University College London. Since 2009, he has been pursuing his PhD at University College London under the supervision of Dr Lagnado and Professor Chater.

### Understanding the impacts of environmental, social and political shocks on the use of health services in low and middle income countries

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/understanding-the-impacts-of-environmental-social-and-political-shocks-on-the-use-of-health-services-in-low-and-middle-income-countries
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Karen GREPIN

What does an electricity outage in India and a terrorist attack in Pakistan have in common ? Both these events influence whether or not people use healthcare services. Many different types of shocks threaten health systems around the world, a number of which are new and unprecedented. These risks include those that are due to external forces such as the emergence of new infectious diseases and natural disasters, as well as factors that result from human activity like politics, conflict or migration. The impact of these events will likely disproportionately affect some segments of the population, yet little is known about the socio-economic distribution of the burden of shocks on households. Professor Karen A. Grépin, a specialist on healthcare systems in developing countries, and her team, aim to better understand how risks affect the operation of health systems in low and middle income countries, as well as how households and health systems respond to these shocks. "A lot of things can have an effect on the use of health services", explains Prof. Karen Grépin. "Very few people are thinking of other shocks than those directly related to health. For instance, earthquakes have highlighted how fragile healthcare systems in developing countries can be". "Other factors can also be very revealing of their vulnerability. I’m particularly interested where women chose to deliver when these shocks happen", prof. Grépin continues. "Fear, for instance, following a terrorist attack or the incovenience of a power outage, may stop women in labor from seeking out help". "I’m looking at changes that might be underway, things that affect health care in anyway, and why people chose or not to use health care systems". Prof. Grépin’s intent is to understand the reality of health systems. She does so by exploring the socio-economic and political factors that have not been previously analyzed, although they are plausibly expected to have an influence.

### Fast and accurate simulation of randomness

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/fast-and-accurate-simulation-of-randomness
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Michaela SZöLGYENYI

Many processes in the real world are driven by random phenomena. And when trying to anticipate risks, whether in the field of finance, neurobiology, or engineering for instance, it is of utmost importance to be able to account for as many scenarios as possible. To model random phenomena, mathematical analysts use equations that not only describe the changes over time – through the use of differential equations –, but also incorporate an element of randomness. Recognising that current methods used to solve these so called  stochastic differential equations in the insurance and financial industry might present tremendous errors, Dr. Michaela Szölgyenyi aims to provide a new and more evolved approach. The global objective of her research is to enable more accurate simulations that help understand various risks in the insurance and financial market. A timely example of how crucial accurate modelling of random phenomena can be, is the impact of interest rates on the life-insurance sector, which provides for payment of a stipulated sum of money at the end of a set period of time or upon death of the insured. « Being able to better account for interest rate risk is particularly important under tough market conditions like the ones we face nowadays », says Dr. Michaela Szölgyenyi. Life insurers "borrow" from policy owners and invest to generate returns through investment income and capital gains. Therefore, interest rates are a key performance driver for life insurance companies. « The problem is that existing models for interest rates are too complicated for real world applications », the researcher points out. « There is a gap between what is feasible theoretically and in practice. The real world is not as clean as the one in literature ».

### ‘Why not?’ The neural signature of social status in adolescence: implications for sensitivity to social rejection and risk-taking

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/why-not-the-neural-signature-of-social-status-in-adolescence-implications-for-sensitivity-to-social-rejection-and-risk-taking
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Kiki ZANOLIE

Adolescence: Whether it was relatively peaceful or full of teen angst, none of us is likely to forget it. It is a special time in life, when we begin discovering who we might become, exploring the possibilities…and taking all of the risks that accompany experimenting with life! Kiki Zanolie wanted to understand what was happening in the adolescent brain to cause all this risk-taking (and worrying of parents everywhere). As teens, our brains are still developing; in what way, specifically, may hold the answer to that question. Certain areas of the brain are important for making decisions: one is involved on the emotional level, another in helping us plan our behavior or stop it when it we know it’s harmful. Dr. Zanolie’s work has shown that, during adolescence, the emotional zone has already developed, but its rational counterpart has not. This imbalance could explain why teens in social settings, with emotions fully charged, may make choices they know to be risky. This is a perfectly normal part of growing up, but Dr. Zanolie hopes that, by understanding what adolescents are experiencing and why, we can help them safely navigate their sometimes tumultuous teen years.

### Chair for a systems approach to individual differences in longevity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/chair-for-a-systems-approach-to-individual-differences-in-longevity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: François TADDEI

Why do some people die at age ten and others at 122? We are not equal when it comes to aging. Understanding what causes this difference between individuals is a major challenge for our greying society, which needs to develop prevention strategies as well as potential targets for treatment and medications. To face this major challenge, the AXA Research Fund has decided to fund the AXA - Paris Descartes Chair on “A systems approach to individual differences in longevity.” The Chair Holder, Prof. François Taddei, winner of several awards (INSERM, EURYI and HFSP, etc.) for his interdisciplinary approach to aging, is particularly well-suited to lead a multidisciplinary project that brings together excellent scientists from different backgrounds. Using advanced demographic analysis, they are studying the variability of longevity between and within countries to identify which factors are the best predictors of life expectancy. Several elements, such as medical expenditure, socio-economic level and literacy, will be taken into account. Instead of focusing on the mechanisms underlying the diseases that occur more frequently with age—a common approach in biology and medicine—Taddei is looking at the global mechanism of our internal clock, which seems to regulate aging, regardless of external factors. Taddei and his colleagues are performing fundamental research in animal models to extract relevant mechanisms of aging, in order to explain differences at a molecular dynamics level. They could show, for instance, that even the laboratory's bacteria ages with similar dynamics to humans and many other species. These dynamics, which consist of an exponential acceleration (“Gompertz”) phase followed by a plateau, can now be systematically studied to reveal environmental and genetic factors that affect the mortality curve. Their recent work shows that an increase in cellular investment in maintenance significantly delays aging in the model organism. Recent demographic data collected across the tree of life, from humans, animal models and plants, provide insight into the great diversity of aging patterns. Through lab experiments, Taddei and his team are now exploring the factors that modulate this complexity. Links between the human and animal models have already provided interesting insights. Their research will bring a more integrative view of inter-individual differences in longevity and may contribute to developing a scenario for the future of aging in Europe. "

### Financially fallible folk: Are they really that different and what does behavioural economics tell us about their problems with money?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/financially-fallible-folk-are-they-really-that-different-and-what-does-behavioural-economics-tell-us-about-their-problems-with-money
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jeroen NIEBOER

Did you know that when people are shown a digitally aged picture of themselves they are more likely to save money for the future? It doesn’t sound rational, does it? But, then, our financial choices are just like any other behavior: influenced by our emotions and other aspects of our psychology. For Dr. Jeroen Nieboer, it is crucial to understand this point when designing financial education programs. And, given that a recent survey in the UK showed over half the population struggling to keep up with the bills, this information could impact many lives. Dr. Nieboer conducted a systematic study of the many financial education opportunities available. He found that the few successful in helping people change their behavior had something in common: they took into account our human psychology. Specifically, he has identified three factors key to successful financial education. It should be timely, coming around a major life event, perhaps, like having a baby or losing one’s job, when the recipient will be most receptive. It needs to be relevant: Does this person truly need investment advice or, rather, to save money on the shopping? Finally, financial guidance needs to be very specific, helping turn good intentions directly into concrete actions. Jeroen Nieboer’s research involves working with people to track their finances over time, but his goal is bigger than that. Better control over our own financial situation promises to reduce stress, help us become better members of our family and community, and lead to increased wellbeing, overall.

### AXA-Tsinghua SEM Strategic Research Partnership

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-tsinghua-sem-strategic-research-partnership
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Yingyi QIAN

Led by Yingyi Qian, Dean of Tsinghua School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM)*, this innovative Research Partnership will connect local and international academics to better grasp underlying mechanisms of Chinese monetary system and their relation with international market macro monetary stability. Deepening connections with global academic and policymaking communities will also help design mitigation and adaptation strategies.

### Sting jet windstorm in current and future climates

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/sting-jet-windstorm-in-current-and-future-climates
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Suzanne GRAY

Remember the damaging winds of the infamous great October storm of 1987, which scoured the coasts of Europe, uprooting trees, damaging property and taking lives? It killed more than fifty people in France alone and left one million homes without power in western France. It was the first storm in which a sting jet was formally identified. Strong winds commonly occur in the warm sector of cyclones.

### Forced migration, environmental risks and conflicts

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/forced-migration-environmental-risks-and-conflicts
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Simon HUG

Refugees are rightly viewed as victims of persecution and war, however, recent research has suggested that they may also take an active role in conflict dynamics. Yet the mechanisms that link refugees and conflict remain poorly understood. Moreover, a number of policy-makers and activists have warned lately that the flow of displaced persons may rise significantly over the course of the next decades because of climate change. Thus possibly increasing the risk of conflict as competition for ever declining resources is heightened. Despite the wide recognition of the importance of both localization of refugee settlements and the environment in the relationship between forced migration and conflict diffusion, little has been undertaken to assess these claims. This very question is raised by Pr. Hug and his team. They emphasize that although much research has been carried out on conflict-induced migration and conflict diffusion, few studies have investigated the link between the two. In addition, the literature has been limited to national level studies and focused only on conflict-induced migration. Their project, consequently, takes a disaggregated approach assessing not only the impact of refugees’ spatial localization on the risk of conflict, but also analyzing whether environmentally-induced migration carry similar risks of conflict diffusion as conflict-induced migration. Thus, with the help of global and European research networks, and building on data by UNHCR and other actors, Pr. Hug and his team seek to fill the gap by developing spatial datasets on displaced persons – related both to conflict and environmentally-induced displacements - in order to uncover possible linkages. Thanks to this innovative research and its strong interdisciplinary aspect combining geography with political science, conflict with environmental risks research, Pr. Hug and his team strive to deliver an accurate assessment of the mechanisms, by which forced migration may affect the propensity of violent conflict, thus contributing not only to risk identification, but also to risk prevention for international actors in decision-making and crisis-management.

### Decision-making in conflict affected states: the case of Colombia and Palestine

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/decision-making-in-conflict-affected-states-the-case-of-colombia-and-palestine
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Elisa CAVATORTA

Around the world, communities clash and large numbers of people live through long-lasting violence. Past research has focused on the effect of conflict on economic outcomes, health, education, and employment. Less tangible things, like attitude toward risk and social capital, may well be affected, too. Risk preferences, patience, and social preferences, like altruism and cooperative behaviour are at the heart of successful cooperation and collective action, and might be influenced by the traumatic shocks of violent conflict. Dr. Elisa Cavatorta has worked on the ground in conflict-torn areas of both the Palestinian Territories and Colombia. Using individual data from these communities, she aims to discover whether individuals’ attitude and behaviour underlying successful reconstruction are changed by their exposure to violence. Knowing this could help design effective new interventions for post-conflict countries today and policies that alleviate the legacies of conflict. Understanding the impact of violence on individual decision-making will be the first, crucial step toward rebuilding a culture of peace.

### Optimal Decision and Enforcement Procedures for Social Policy: The Tax - Benefit System

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/optimal-decision-and-enforcement-procedures-for-social-policy-the-tax-benefit-system
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Sean SLACK

The design of social welfare programs is vitally important and rife with challenges. As governments tighten their budgets, welfare policies are frequently called into question. How can costs and disincentives be limited without disadvantaging those genuinely in need? In a perfect world, governments would always be able to identify which individuals are in need of some form of benefits. In reality, the state makes mistakes: some needy individuals may be incorrectly denied benefits, while some non-needy individuals may be incorrectly awarded benefits. Such mistakes introduce inequities into society since those who ought to be treated identically by the welfare system are not. The question is then how these errors, and the extent to which they are made, affect the optimal design of welfare programs. With his PhD research, Sean Slack is working to provide some insights into these questions. Sean’s work is based on theoretical modelling of an economy where there is a well-defined needy group in society, whereas the government can only imperfectly identify this group. His results show that the accuracy of the government’s test in awarding benefits and, further, how well the conditions placed on applicants are enforced, are influential in determining the optimal design of welfare programs. Research like Sean’s could be used to inform the welfare reforms currently taking place in many countries, to ensure that inappropriate benefit claims are not honored, nor are people in need unjustly refused.

### AXA Chair in Risk and Reliability Engineering

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-chair-in-risk-and-reliability-engineering
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Giovanni SANSAVINI

November 4, 2006: 15 million households were affected by the planned shutdown of a power line in northwestern Germany. A blackout throughout the European power grid was triggered when a high-voltage line across the Ems River was turned off to allow a cruise ship to pass, splitting the grid into three separate areas. With the ever-increasing complexity and interdependence of engineering systems come more threats, hazards and a growing risk of failure cascades. Prof. Sansavini's project will develop innovative modeling and simulation techniques suitable for describing and quantifying the failure behavior of complex engineered systems as a whole, by focusing on their reliability and vulnerability. This will allow early detection not only of hidden failures and vulnerabilities, but also of critical emergent behavior, as well as design optimization and improved management and operation. Research will mainly focus on the following: how to ensure safe and efficient performance of emerging technologies; how to build a new paradigm and modeling framework to analyze complex systems and their interdependencies as a whole; how to integrate modern computer-based control systems into the overall system design and to ensure security against malicious cyber attacks; and how to validate highly sophisticated methods and tools following a system-of-systems approach. From the telecommunication blackout in Rome to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, from Toyota’s safety issues to the north-eastern US blackout, reliability re-emerges as key.

### Investigating the influence of perceived face trustworthiness on decision making under uncertainty

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/investigating-the-influence-of-perceived-face-trustworthiness-on-decision-making-under-uncertainty
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Constantin REZLESCU

What if your boss granted promotions based on -facial appearance? Most likely you wouldn’t endorse such unethical behavior. However, faces influence everybody, and you are no exception. Working in the field of neuroeconomics, at the border between economics, psychology and neuroscience, Rezlescu has conducted several experiments to reveal to what extent one’s actions are affected by perceived facial trustworthiness. People seem to rely on face impressions even when they have objective information about a partner’s trustworthiness. These impressions are linked to basic facial structure, such that an individual with an untrustworthy face will be perceived more negatively even when smiling or wearing a suit and a tie. So next time you get a promotion, don’t believe it’s only your work that got you there! Constantin is a PhD student at UCL working with Nick Chater and Brad Duchaine. Before joining the Psychology Department at UCL, he studied Economics in Romania and Business Administration in Germany and worked for a while in audit and corporate finance. An article read in an economic journal about neuroscience and psychology led him to pursue an M.Sc. in cognitive and decision sciences at UCL, in order to better understand the psychological factors underlying economic behaviour. Once immersed in the topic, Constantin found it hard to resist the temptation of testing some of his own ideas through a PhD. He chose to combine two of the most exciting research areas in cognitive psychology – decision making and face processing – and investigate the influence of face evaluations on economic decisions. In his limited spare time, he likes gliding, taking pictures and listening to the radio (he used to be a radio host).

### Climate changes and emerging infectious diseases in the Mediterranean wetlands

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-changes-and-emerging-infectious-diseases-in-the-mediterranean-wetlands
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Marion VITTECOQ

Climate change and emerging infectious -diseases in the Mediterranean wetlands Let us take a wild guess and assume you know nothing about zoonotic pathogens.Chances are we would not be far from the truth, even though they are the source of most emerging diseases. As infectious agents that circulate in animals and can infect humans, their dynamics are highly complex. This fact is further enhanced by climate change, which creates opportunities for pathogens to encounter new hosts and thus migrate to new regions. Marion Vittecoq focused on the Mediterranean Basin, a key area for parasite spread, at the crossroads of several continents. She investigated the epidemiology of two important emerging zoonotic viruses, avian influenza and West Nile viruses, and correlated her findings with data on wildlife, domestic birds and humans, in the light of climate change. Now that host-pathogen interactions are increasingly altered by global climate change, her work may have a significant impact on virus surveillance strategies and public health. My research focuses on emerging infectious diseases in the Mediterranean basin in the context of global change. I work on a multidisciplinary project, which combines field sampling, molecular analysis and climatic modelling to gain insight into Influenza A virus and West Nile virus dynamics in natural ecosystems.

### Long non-coding RNA control infectivity and transmission of Trypanosoma brucei parasites

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/long-non-coding-rna-control-infectivity-and-transmission-of-trypanosoma-brucei-parasites
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fabien GUEGAN

A treatment that killed 10% of patients would certainly be considered unacceptable by modern medical standards. And yet, that is the best that doctors can currently offer victims of sleeping sickness. This disease, which strikes rural Africa, in particular, is caused by a parasite called trypanosome. It is passed to a human or animal by the bite of a tsetse fly, much like mosquitoes may transmit the parasite causing malaria. Once in a person’s blood, it travels to the brain where it interrupts the usual sleep/wake cycles. Victims are neither fully conscious nor fully asleep and, without today’s very aggressive drugs, the patient will die. Fabien Guegan believes the parasite’s complex life cycle holds the key to halting sleeping sickness. Between the tsetse fly’s stomach and a person’s blood, trypanosome inhabits two very different environments. Yet, very quickly, it is able to adapt, changing its shape and metabolism by activating different genes. Dr. Guegan is hot on the trail of the molecules he thinks may act as orchestra conductors, synchronizing the many different elements of this transformation. Disrupting the “conductor” could make the whole trypanosome symphony fall apart. His strategy of targeting the transmission process inside the parasite could make it possible to block the spread between infected humans and animals and more tsetse flies. If so, this could mean a huge step forward in controlling sleeping sickness.

### Time horizon and investors risk taking in the presence of risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/time-horizon-and-investors-risk-taking-in-the-presence-of-risk
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Jean-Noël BARROT

The current economic crisis has been the opportunity for many to criticize the short-term focus of investors, whose one-track minds seem to be set on quickly collecting their own bonuses, sending the financial system into turmoil. But do investment horizons really influence the functioning of markets or company management? Up to now, there has been no empirical evidence; however Jean-Noël Barrot has succeeded in demonstrating that this is indeed the case by studying the behavior of private equity funds. He has observed two phenomena. First, the more investors focus on the short term, the less they destabilize prices. Second, the more investors focus on the long term, the more the companies in which they hold shares file patents. His conclusion? “The economy would therefore benefit from long-term savings invested in shares.” My research focuses on the contractual structure of private equity funds and its impact on their investment strategy. I am also interested in learning processes in financial markets. I show that rational learning - rather than overconfidence - may generate phenomena such as the fact that retail traders tend to trade too much.

### Transitory shocks, persistent effects: towards better suited recovery policies after a financial crisis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/transitory-shocks-persistent-effects-towards-better-suited-recovery-policies-after-a-financial-crisis
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Federico BASSI

The financial crisis that burst in 2007-2008 left permanent traces in most OECD countries. The fact that such transitory shocks can durably affect the GDP of a country calls into question the way recovery strategies are traditionally tackled. Indeed, economic policies are based on models that tend to assume dynamic stability and ignore sunk costs. More specifically, central banks and financial institutions currently use calculations that ignore the possibility of strong persistent damage to the productive potential of an economy, what is commonly called potential output. « Misinterpretation of the economic phenomena can mislead policy makers into thinking they should implement austerity measures, for instance, when really they shouldn’t », says Dr. Federico Bassi to press the importance of an alternative approach. His post-doctoral project aims thereby at creating a new method to measure the potential output of an economy, one which takes into account these large potential output losses. The second part of his research consists in designing a theoretical model allowing him to test the impact of various monetary, fiscal and financial markets’ regulatory policies on economic stability when permanent potential output losses are explicitly taken into account. « The risk of a secular stagnation in Europe, characterized by low rates of growth, high rates of unemployment, growing inequalities and permanent losses of productive capacity, rises two main challenges », explains Dr. Federico Bassi. « First, an accurate analysis of the sources and consequences of this Great Recession and its systemic nature; second, the design of appropriate and successful fiscal, monetary and structural policies, particularly as regards to banks’ and financial institutions’ regulation ». The present project aims to take on these challenges by reevaluating the architecture of the models currently used by policy makers, particularly in regard to their calculation of potential output, a core concept of economic policy. To convey the importance of getting this measure right, the researcher explains: « The output gap is the gap between potential and actual output. Getting an accurate measure of potential output is fundamental, since the output gap is among the most important indicators for policy makers: a negative output gap triggers restrictive monetary policies in order to slow down the economy and avoid inflationary pressures; a positive gap triggers expansionary monetary policies in order to accelerate the economy and avoid deflationary pressures ».

### Re-establishing self-tolerance by targeting MHC class II-restricted autoimmunity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/re-establishing-self-tolerance-by-targeting-mhc-class-ii-restricted-autoimmunity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Javier CLEMENTE-CASARES

Juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disease resulting from an attack that destroys pancreatic cells that secrete insulin. Javier Clemente Casares is studying a therapeutic approach that could lead to a nanovaccine for the disease.

### Achieving interpretability for big data and machine-learning systems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/achieving-interpretability-for-big-data-and-machine-learning-systems
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Christophe MARSALA

If machine learning systems are to be entrusted with taking critical decisions concerning human lives, humans need to be able to understand how. For instance, in a medical setting, a model that diagnoses diseases for patients must be able to explain the reason for its diagnostic. Very recently, this issue has received attention from the European Parliament whose General Data Protection Regulation opens the way for each citizen to receive an explanation for algorithmic decisions. But rendering the inner structure of complex systems readable is a challenging task. In a Joint Research Initiative, Prof. Christophe Marsala from the Computer Lab at Sorbonne Université and the Data Innovation Lab at AXA aim to provide a better understanding of the different facets of interpretability in a data science context, focusing on algorithms meant for classification tasks. The objective is to provide the basis to conceive and to build a new generation of big data and machine-learning systems offering a human-friendly feature. "The recent controversy in France concerning the opacity of the APB process – an algorithm that assigns students to universities –, is a good example of the need for interpretability when it comes to machine-learning systems", offers Prof. Christophe Marsala. "French students are asking to know how the algorithm sorts through the candidates when the university course they are asking for is saturated. Students are complaining because they don't understand the decision." "In the current context of big data and data science challenges, it appears that, if it is essential to build reliable and efficient systems, it is also crucial to offer interpretable systems and interpretable decisions", the researcher points out. From machine learning black boxes to interpretable insights The motivation for this project comes from the observation that defining interpretability is in itself a difficult task to solve and that it constitutes a challenge."Interpretability is concerned with the inner structure of the studied system that can for instance be a mathematical function, a set of rules or a decision tree to name a few. It refers to its validity, its readability, its intuitive coherence or its outputs", Prof. Marsala explains. "Moreover, interpretability is also a highly subjective concept as it depends on whom it is intended for. The interpretation of a model is directly related to its recipient, his expectations and his knowledge" Whether you are the end-user, as is the case with French students and the APB process, a domain expert or a data scientist for instance, your conception of what an interpretable system should look like i completely different. The AXA Joint Research Initiative intends to take a global view of interpretability by taking into account these different perspectives. More specifically, the project proposes to distinguish between four types of interpretability, reflecting the complexity of the inner structure of such systems and the various expectations. To construct all four interpretability definitions, a cross-disciplinary approach will be applied, in particular combining computer with cognitive sciences. The next step will be to explore methods that intrinsically offer interpretability properties to either be added to existing systems or incorporated in future ones.

### Economics and Finance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/economics-and-finance
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Jean TIROLE

The major themes developed by TSE in this research program distinguish issues related to insurance underwriting and management of financial assets, respectively. Insurance underwriting issues include topics such as the analysis of causes of insolvency and policies to reduce the effects and the psycho¬ socio-economic study of savings and investment behavior. Market competition analysis, including insurance brokerage, is also a topic of interest for TSE research teams.

### Diversity of marine prasinoviruses at a global scale: is everything everywhere?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/diversity-of-marine-prasinoviruses-at-a-global-scale-is-everything-everywhere
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Camille CLERISSI

Did you know that planktonic viruses are the most numerous and most diversified biological entities on Earth? Camille Clerissi must have been busy working for Tara-Oceans, a 2.5-year marine and scientific expedition around the world that studies the effect of climate change on planktonic ecosystems. Clerissi focused on interactions between Mamiellophyceae, a widespread class of unicellular green algae, and their viruses using genetic molecular data. His work was interdisciplinary, combining the acquisition of new data aboard the Tara schooner and the use of advanced methods of DNA sequencing. As phytoplankters are the foundation of the ocean food chain, Clerissi's work might contribute to assessing whether global warming could contribute to their decline, which would be harmful for fish and, indirectly, for regional economies based on the fishing industry.

### Landslides : towards more efficient mitigation measures

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/landslides-towards-more-efficient-mitigation-measures
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Alessandro FRANCI

In the last decade, landslides have caused the death of 20 000 people. These destructive movements of rocks, debris, or earth down a slope are responsible for billions in damage each year. What is more, with global warming and the increase in extreme weather events, predictions suggest these kind of phenomena will only get worse. Yet, mitigation plans are insufficient or unadapted. Indeed, the complexity of the inner phenomena of a landslide, coupled with its interactions with the surrounding constructions and natural environment, makes numerical simulation a challenge. To improve our knowledge of this major natural hazard and for mitigating its disastrous effects, Dr. Alessandro Franci is developing a new and more performant computational tool for modelling landslides. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the design of tailored counter-measures to protect populations. « Current landslide modelling generally considers the land as a homogeneous medium and the structures affected by the landslide impact as rigid bodies  », Dr. Alessandro Franci reports. « The method  we are developing will be able both to deal with the heterogeneous nature of the triggered material and to model the effect of this over civil constructions ». The project’s objective is indeed two-fold. On one hand, it seeks to predict the runout dynamics accounting for the complex inner phenomena of a landslide. On the other, it aims to compute the structural damages induced by the impact of the landslide runout against civil constructions and the verification of the resistance of the retaining structure. « It will take into account the soil mechanical properties , the 3D topography- and different types of  infrastructures. The data are accessible, we just need an accurate and fast numerical method  to compute all this information », the researcher explains.

### How Cities Can Better Adapt to Droughts in the Context of Climate Change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/how-cities-can-better-adapt-to-droughts-in-the-context-of-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Gina ZIERVOGEL

Project Outcome Summary After three years of extreme drought, it became clear that Cape Town was not equipped to deal with an urban water crisis of this scale. The drought exposed failings in Cape Town’s water management, government infrastructure, resource equality, and resilience. Prof. Gina Ziervogel , AXA Research Fund Award in 2016, is an expert in climate adaptation, water governance, and social justice issues, linked  to the African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town . From the Cape Town crisis, she has extracted key lessons on how cities can better adapt to climate change , with a focus on how partnerships can be leveraged to address many of the challenges that emerged during that time. Her contributions within both government and local communities have been instrumental in shaping Cape Town’s approach to water resilience and offer crucial insights to cities around the world. The need for cross-sector coordination and stronger partnerships During the drought, it became obvious that no government sector could single-handedly manage such extensive events. Prof. Ziervogel’s disaster management work for the City of Cape Town (CoCT) revealed a lack of well-established mechanisms for cross-sectoral responses, which showed the government that they needed to rethink their approach to disaster events. Her research also indicated that city-wide challenges need to be met with a combination of social, political, and ecological approaches, yet the government had not established strong enough collaborations to adopt this multisystem approach. Prof. Ziervogel’s work on urban adaptation and water resilience led to her appointment on the Water Resilience Advisory Committee in 2017. Her expert input on the committee and in several other projects has encouraged the adoption of co-production approaches and learning and was pivotal in the engagement that now exists between the CoCT and the Western Cape Water Caucus. The CoCT’s stronger commitment to building relationships with NGOs and local groups has been further driven by Prof. Ziervogel’s emphasis on how critical it is to forge partnerships before a crisis. Her work has also furnished efforts to build community-level adaptive capacity . More recently, she was enlisted to examine the CoCT’s COVID response and compile evidence to further inform capacity building. Her work on water injustice has also contributed to the City’s mounting efforts to deal with informality in Cape Town. Listening to non-prioritized voices The drought highlighted Cape Town’s resource inequality, and it became evident that the government needed to consider the lived experiences of lower-income communities. Accordingly, the CoCT called for avenues by which to combine their own data with those collected by communities. Together with the Western Cape Water Caucus and Environmental Monitoring Group in their 2019 SenseMaker project , Prof. Ziervogel and colleagues collected residents’ stories on water-related issues with the hope of feeding these data into city decision making—a challenge that she will explore with a new Ph.D. student, Mystecia Kanengoni. To lend weight to citizens’ voices, the SenseMaker project also helped local communities develop their research skills, enabling them to lobby the government with actual evidence. In 2020, Prof. Ziervogel received the University of Cape Town’s Social Responsiveness Award for these conjoint efforts. Also at the core of her project is the recognition that inequality is undermining resilience and socio-ecological resources, particularly for lower-income communities. One major concern strongly linked to inequality is a lack of trust. Clearly communicating what is happening behind the scenes, as did Prof. Ziervogel’s book “ Day Zero ”, is one way to build citizens’ trust in the government. Creating global networks and accessible information Prof. Ziervogel is an advocate for creating global learning networks, especially after having witnessed Cape Town’s struggle to find information on crisis responses in other parts of the world. During a 6-month sabbatical funded by Fullbright in 2021, she shared lessons learned from the Cape Town drought with groups in Seattle and the University of California Santa Cruz, where she was based and strengthened relationships with the Santa Cruz water sector. Moreover, understanding that academic papers are not accessible to all, Prof. Ziervogel has used alternative formats to share her data more effectively. For example, she has created briefing notes on many of her academic papers, collaborated with a filmmaker to produce “ Making Sense Of A Water Crisis ”, a 17-minute documentary on the SenseMaker project, and worked with colleagues to assemble filmed interviews showcasing diverse perspectives of the drought as part of the Drought Response Learning Initiative . As well as facilitating communication between government sectors and sparking engagement between local communities and the CoCT, Prof. Ziervogel’s endeavors enrich global perspectives on environmental resource management and show cities worldwide what transformative climate adaptation might look like. March 2022 Find out more Building Cities Resilience in Response to Droughts Policy support for climate adaptation and transformation: capacity building and community resilience in Cape Town Cities must listen to people to find solutions for climate impacts: stories from Cape Town What Cape Town’s drought can teach other cities about climate adaptation

### Finding the best way to organize chronic care management to improve health while containing costs

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/finding-the-best-way-to-organize-chronic-care-management-to-improve-health-while-containing-costs
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Evrim Didem GUNES

Chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes are the largest cause of death in the world. Facing a rising global epidemic, healthcare systems around the world are in search of new care models. Prof. Evrim Didem Günes, whose research interest is in service operations management in health care systems, aims to provide insights on how best to organize for chronic care management to improve health outcomes while containing healthcare costs. To achieve this goal, Prof. Evrim Günes will develop mathematical models that will replicate the care pathways to help us understand the opportunities as well as challenges that arise from different parameters. In other words, such models will allow the investigation of different care provision systems and provide insight about their performance. « For example, we will be able to see how the hospital admission rates are affected by the delegation of some tasks to general practitioners in the system, or predict things like the impact of healthy behaviors in patients » Prof. Evrim Günes explains. Indeed, the objective of Prof. Günes’ research is to improve healthcare, not only by optimizing the health systems but also people’s behavior. « Chronic diseases are long-term conditions that almost never heal. But in most cases, a healthy way of life can help prevent them or make a significant difference after the onset of the disease », she points out.

### Preventing and treating addiction by elucidating how the brain deals with uncertainty

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/preventing-and-treating-addiction-by-elucidating-how-the-brain-deals-with-uncertainty
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fanny CAZETTES

Exploring how decisions are formed and modulated in the face of uncertainty Dr. Fanny Cazettes' project will focus on two areas of the brain in particular : the prefrontal cortex and the premotor cortex, key regions for complex decision making as they orchestrate thoughts and action. To shed light on the brain's representation of uncertainty and the path to decision-making, Dr. Fanny Cazettes will use cutting edge technology to directly access and monitor the neural activity of mice while they are performing tasks that mimic the decision-making dilemma. "We hypothesize that there exist different neural signatures of uncertainty in the prefrontal areas responsible for outcome prediction and in motor regions involved in action selection", she explains. "We will then explore how serotonin, a neuromodulator implicated in a wide range of risky behaviours, affects representations of uncertainty in the frontal cortical regions". Specifically, Fanny Cazettes and colleagues will monitor serotonin release in the brain to investigate its role in regulating representations of uncertainty. Addictive behaviours, like other psychiatric conditions, are no longer considered to be solely psychological disorders. Scientific research shows that these conditions also originate from cognitive disfunction, causing a person to persist in doing something regardless of the risk. To prevent and treat addiction, a precise understanding of how brain mechanisms affect and are affected by these pathologies is necessary. In this sense, Dr. Fanny Cazettes' research will contribute greatly to finding therapeutical strategies for addictive and risky behaviours, notably involving the use of serotonin, a neuromodulator used in antidepressants.

### Post-ERuption Incision of Landscapes (PERIL)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/post-eruption-incision-of-landscapes-peril
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Byron ADAMS

Half of the 700+ people who lost their lives following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines were not killed during the actual event. They died in subsequent months, during the dramatic and sustained floods and debris flows that followed. This was no one-off occurrence. When they erupt, explosive volcanoes disturb the landscape for miles around them, creating substantial hazards from flooding, landslides and mudflows. « Despite this, there has been little attempt to quantitatively model how landscapes adjust after an eruption », Dr. Byron Adams points out. This Research Fellow at the University of Bristol has set the goal to develop a quantitative model of the physical processes that change the landscape during and following a volcanic eruption. His objective is to provide a tool that will contribute to a better understanding and a better mitigation of the destructive effects of secondary volcanic hazards. Explosive volcanic eruptions have transformative impact on surrounding areas. Pyroclastic flows obliterate forests, lava flows remodel the land, tens of cubic kilometres of tephra and ash deposit thick layers of loose material on the ground. « The combination of these factors creates high probabilities of secondary hazards, especially during rainfall. On steep slopes, portions of the land can collapse and create destructive mud flows. The deposition of pyroclastic debris or lava can create dams, which can become unstable, or overflow to trigger floods », explains Adams. « In order to understand the short- and long-term responses of landscapes after an eruption, many questions must be answered about local geologic, geomorphic, and climatic conditions, and of course about how the landscape will be altered during the eruption. My study will address questions such as: how stable are the newly-erupted volcanic deposits? How easily are the deposits eroded, and by what processes? Has the vegetation been buried or swept away during the eruption? If so, how quickly can it reoccupy an area? How are all these changes affected by short- and long-term variations in climate? »

### Helping China's crop production sustainably face the challenges of tomorrow

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/helping-chinas-crop-production-sustainably-face-the-challenges-of-tomorrow
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Xuhui WANG

With rising temperatures and an increasing frequency in extreme events, climate change was suggested to adversely impact crop yields, thereby threatening the needs of a growing world population. At the same time, the expansion and intensification of crop production to meet the increasing demand are likely to boost greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating climate change. As the country with the largest population on the planet and a proportionately limited surface of arable land, China is especially exposed to the risks associated with this vicious circle. Using the past to achieve a strong future, Dr. Xuhui Wang is developing a model to study the Chinese production and greenhouse gas emission of major croplands (wheat, maize and rice) and their responses to global change factors, including extreme climatic events, under various management practices. How did extreme climatic events impact crop production? What impact did various land management practices have – for instance irrigation, fertilisation or specific crop rotation? What was the impact on greenhouse gas emissions? By providing answers to these vital questions, the CHINA-CROP project aims to give insight into the vulnerability of cropland production under climate extremes and to single out the most sensitive regions. The objective of the model simulations is to provide the necessary understanding for the identification of promising strategies to ensure the productivity and sustainability of crop production in the future. "Global population is expected to double by the middle of the century. To ensure food security, projections lay down the need to increase food production by 70 %, or even more", reports Dr. Xuhui Wang. "The problem is that croplands already exist everywhere, amounting to approximately 20% of global land surface. If we further increase the cropland areas, it will have to come from forests or grasslands, which has adverse consequences on the climate, the environment and biodiversity." "Our best and only solution is thus to increase production on the existing crop fields," the researcher explains. "But this is quite a challenge because we need to do that without copiously increasing green gas emissions and worsening climate change." Current methods used for accelerated production include increasing crop seasons, increasing irrigation, extensive use of fertilisers and the development of new crop varieties with more potential for productivity. "These methods have proved very efficient in the past, but under the increasing strain of global warming and rising food demand, their current technological potential will soon be exhausted", Dr. Xuhui Wang stresses. "Moreover, the widespread use of fertilizers excessively contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, hence worsening climate change and putting humans, biodiversity and the planet at risk".

### Interactions between permafrost and the lacustrine environment. Holocene environmental change in the Maritime Antarctic

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/interactions-between-permafrost-and-the-lacustrine-environment-holocene-environmental-change-in-the-maritime-antarctic
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marc OLIVA

My AXA Research Fund project is focused on the South Shetlands Islands, an archipelago located in the northwestern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctica is a key region in Earth’s climate system, and these islands are one of the regions in Earth that have experienced a stronger warming signal during the second half of the 20th century (+0.5ºC/decade). During these two years (2013 and 2014) I will continue working in Antarctica on the new fields opened during my 3-year postdoctoral stay in the Antarctic Environments and Climate Change research group of the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning of the University of Lisbon (2010-2012), namely, on the activities initiated during the HOLOANTAR project that I am coordinating. In the ice-free areas of the Maritime Antarctic permafrost controls the terrestrial ecosystem. However, little is known on how permafrost and related geomorphic processes have responded to the warming trend recorded in this archipelago during the last decades. By studying the reaction of permafrost to warmer conditions in the past we may better assess the future impact of climate change on landscape dynamics. My research is based on two hypotheses: a) The detection of activity rates, spatial patterns and controls of present-day key-geomorphic processes and permafrost distribution will define their limiting climatic conditions that will be used to interpret the sedimentary record. b) A multiproxy analysis of the biological, physical and geochemical properties of lake sediments will allow inferring the past environmental evolution – and the role played in it by permafrost and active layer dynamics - and Holocene climate variability in the Maritime Antarctic. Climate changes must have induced modifications on the erosion rates at the slopes, mass movements, active layer thickness, biological activity, etc.

### Does hierarchy influence our behaviour in risky situations?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/does-hierarchy-influence-our-behaviour-in-risky-situations
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Eve FABRE

What if hierarchy was an obstacle to effective decision-making? In a cockpit for instance, does the authority line between a pilot and a first officer have an impact on risk-taking? « Hierarchy is a key principle of social organization, but surprisingly its impact on risk-taking has never been investigated nor proven », Dr. Eve Fabre, expert in Neurosciences and Cognitive Psychology, points out. Recognising the gap in knowledge, the researcher aims to investigate the impact of hierarchy on risk-taking, focusing on the field of aeronautics, specifically on hierarchy in the cockpit. Her objective is to improve our understanding of authority-related behaviours susceptible to jeopardize safety.  « Cockpits constitute a great model for studying the impact of hierarchy on risk-taking. It is small and extremely hierarchical », explains Dr. Eve Fabre. « Moreover, human error is estimated to be implicated in approximately 70% of commercial aviation accidents ». « Various air crash reports revealed that hierarchical issues in the flight crew could jeopardize safety », she adds. A striking example is the 1999 crash of the Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509, which occurred as a result of the first officer’s failure to question the pilot’s misled flight control input, and thus despite the fact that his instruments indicated immediate danger. The incident was blamed on the Korean Air’s autocratic cockpit culture. « On the one hand, less experienced pilots may be less likely to challenge the actions and the orders of high experienced pilots in order to avoid the deleterious consequences of a conflict », Dr. Eve Fabre describes. « On the other hand, experienced pilots may be less inclined to accept challenges from less experienced pilots ».

### Animath

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/animath
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Martin ANDLER

Did you know that Mathematics is the field where France is most renowned internationally? French Mathematicians have won a quarter of all the Fields Medals*so far. Will this last? There are reasons to be concerned: at the International Mathematical Olympiad, a yearly competition for the best high school students, the French team ranked 34th in 2011; and there is now a lack of mathematics teachers (300 positions remained unfilled in 2011) and potentially of engineers. Worried about this drop in mathematical vocations, French Mathematical organizations created Animath in 1998 to improve the public image of mathematics and encourage mathematically-talented youths. The main goals of Animath and its partners are to: give a lively image of mathematics which appears too often as a dead science with no connections with 21st-century basic or applied sciences ; highlight the job opportunities provided by mathematics and science; help girls overcome the effect of stereotypes which hinder their performance in mathematics, encourage students, especially those suffering from social or geographical isolation to consider studying mathematics, science or engineering; develop mathematical talent in various forms, including those that do not fit well in the traditional school context. Because mathematics, notably statistics and probability theory, are essential tools for insurers to better understand and prevent risks, the AXA Research Fund awarded Animath with a €100 k grant. It gave them the means to apply for a French government Call for Project (Grand Emprunt): they won € 3 million to involve all French stakeholders in this noble purpose. *(mathematical equivalent of Nobel Prize)

### Are cities properly preparing for climate change?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/are-cities-properly-preparing-for-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marta OLAZABAL

Millions of people are living in coastal areas that could soon become inhabitable due to climate change-related sea level rise and extreme weather events. Among such areas are some of the world’s biggest cities – New York, Shanghai or Hong-Kong could all be severely affected. Since 1997, the number of climate change policies around the world has increased exponentially. Among the upper echelons of the political establishment, awareness is rapidly rising and the mindset is shifting with global leaders coming to a ground-breaking agreement in Paris in 2015. But what is actually happening at the local, city-level? Are current urban adaptation initiatives designed effectively? Recognising « the patent need to collect more information about current efforts and progress towards adaptation », Dr. Marta Olazabal has set the goal to design, develop and coordinate a worldwide experiment to assess the quality and effectiveness of climate change adaptation public policies and investments in cities. Headquartered at the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), the project will focus on coastal cities facing specific impacts due to climate change: sea-level rise and extreme events. « From what we’ve seen in our pilot study so far, cities are going in the right direction », Marta Olazabal observes. « However, even those that have been thinking about adaptation the longest still have a long way to go. It’s no surprise. Climate change adaptation policies have to be evolutive, reviewed every few years », she notes. Indeed, climate science is making continuous progress and providing better climate risks models. The magnitude and speed of climate change can also be impacted by human activities: it is thus important to regularly review adaptation policies in the light of the latest information, even when uncertainty levels remain high. « One of the greatest challenges in decision-making under climate change uncertainty is to determine the level of adaptation investment proportionate to the climate-related risks a particular system is facing », the researcher explains. « So far, this topic has received little attention. Research has focused either on the policy process of adaptation to climate change or in the modelling of current or future vulnerability or climatic risks. However, little focus has been given on how to connect these two ».

### Assessing the biomedical risk of engineered nanoparticles: understanding the behaviour of nanoparticles in physiological media and cells

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/assessing-the-biomedical-risk-of-engineered-nanoparticles-understanding-the-behaviour-of-nanoparticles-in-physiological-media-and-cells
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nicole HONDOW

Nanoparticles are in our daily life. In the food we eat, in sun creams we use, in clothes we wear. Does this mean we are in danger? To assess the risk, Dr. Nicole Hondow is focusing on how cells in our body react to intrusion by nanoparticles, instead of concentrating on nanoparticle toxicity. Despite appearing similar, cells show different levels of sensitivity to particles. Hondow is trying to understand what causes this difference. Her findings may lead to improvements in medical imaging and health care.

### The role of exercise, ageing and female sex hormones upon physiologic measures of cardiac structure and function in pre- and post-menopausal women

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-role-of-exercise-ageing-and-female-sex-hormones-upon-physiologic-measures-of-cardiac-structure-and-function-in-pre-and-post-menopausal-women
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Amanda NIO

Why do women live longer than men? In an effort to find explanations for this global phenomenon, Amanda Nio has decided to study the impact of female sex hormones and lifestyle. Notably, one of the main female sex hormones, estrogen, is generally considered to be cardio-protective. Thus, Nio’s research will focus on the heart. Traditionally, research on the heart has focused on cardiac function in men during rest, offering few clues on how female hormones might contribute to a healthy heart. Nio's challenge is to investigate this question by comparing heart function and muscle mechanics in men with that in pre- and post-menopausal women both at rest, and also during the physiological stress of exercise and lower body negative pressure (a laboratory technique used in her work to simulate the gravitational pull of the upright posture whilst a person is lying down for cardiac assessments). A particular focus of her research is the left ventricle, the cardiac chamber that pumps blood to the rest of the body. Nio’s first study compares the heart in men and pre- and post-menopausal women during exercise of different intensities. In her second study, volunteers lie with their lower body in a special device to assess the response of the heart to mild negative pressures. Her final study examines the impact of menopausal status on cardiac adaptations following 12 weeks of aerobic training. With this, Nio will determine if the onset of menopause, which is accompanied by a decline in estrogen levels and a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, also influences cardiac dynamics. Moreover, her work will examine the ability of regular physical activity to enhance cardiac function in women after the menopause. Better recommendations may then be applied to promote healthy ageing and improve quality of life in older women. Overall, Nio will contribute to a better understanding of the ageing female heart. As life expectancy continues to rise, such knowledge is increasingly relevant to the ageing population. My research focuses on cardiovascular function is a key determinant of longevity and quality of life. Within the ageing population, women are living longer than men, which may be explained by the cardio-protective effect of female sex hormones. However, the concentration of circulating female sex hormone estrogen begins to reduce at the onset of menopause. Menopause is part of the natural progression of the female reproductive life, and refers to the permanent cessation of menses. My PhD work seeks to contribute to the model of the ageing cardiovascular system by assessing its response to menopause in females.

### Finding a cure to the irreversible damages caused by spinal cord injuries

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/finding-a-cure-to-the-irreversible-damages-caused-by-spinal-cord-injuries
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Maurizio PRATO

Spinal cord injuries often result in irreversible lesions to the nervous systems. Victims may develop terrible symptoms, such as partial or total paralysis. Hundreds of thousands of new cases occur each year, devastating the lives of patients and their families. So far, no efficient cure for an effective recovery of the nerve functionality has been found, but our knowledge of spinal cord injuries (SCI) is improving and new approaches are gradually emerging. Among the most promising is the construction of a prosthetic bridge between the fractured ends of the spinal cord. Using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as building material, Professor Maurizio Prato and his team have obtained exceptionally encouraging results in this domain. « We’ve demonstrated that these minuscule wires, which are 50,000 times smaller than a human hair, are able to electrically reconnect entire pieces of spinal cord in a very efficient way », reports Prof. Prato, a pioneer and a leading figure in the field of nanotechnology applied to neurosciences. The AXA-biomaGUNE Nanobiotechnology Chair, which Prof. Prato will hold, intends to build on these findings in order to develop a new generation of biocompatible materials, able to serve as scaffolds for the regeneration of nerve communication in spinal cord injuries. The ultimate goal is to find a way to repair severe and irreversible lesions of the nervous system and restore lost functionalities.

### Stratospheric influence on monthly-to-seasonal climate predictability

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/stratospheric-influence-on-monthly-to-seasonal-climate-predictability
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Gaëlle OUZEAU

In 1999, three extreme storms hit Europe, taking more than 130 lives and causing about 130 billion euros in economic losses. Today, dynamical seasonal forecasting systems are mainly based on oceanic forcing, but they remain particularly poor in the northern extratropics, including over Europe, where the variability is only weakly influenced by oceanic conditions. To improve the forecasting from monthly to seasonal timescales, Gaelle Ouzeau is looking for additional sources of long-range climate predictability and studying the stratosphere, the second major layer of Earth’s atmosphere. She will develop and test a seasonal forecasting system using both oceanic and stratospheric sources of climate memory, combined with dynamical and statistical tools. Her results may enable better prediction of extreme climate events, such as cold spells over Europe in the winter, which could be rougher in the coming decades. My research focuses on stratospheric influence on Northern Hemisphere winter climate variability and predictability. In Northern extratropics, the wintertime climate shows large intraseasonal and interannual fluctuations compared to other regions and seasons. As experienced in Europe during the winter 2009-2010, cold spells induce particularly strong socio-economic impacts. Both statistical analysis and improvements in the predictability of such climate events are therefore crucial challenges for scientists and decision makers. Current dynamical seasonal forecasting systems, based on coupled ocean-atmosphere models, still show low predictability in Northern mid-latitudes. The main objective of the PhD is to look for additional sources of long-range climate predictability in the middle atmosphere and to propose simple statistical models for improving the prediction of stratospheric variability..

### Crowding, jamming and cooperativity in dense population flows: experimental physical model

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/crowding-jamming-and-cooperativity-in-dense-population-flows-experimental-physical-model
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Nicolas WAISBORD

November 2010, 400 people were killed on a bridge following a panic-induced stampede in Cambodia. Predicting how crowds will react and move in an emergency situation has always been a challenge for rescue teams and event organizers. Behind these chaotic movements, however, are laws of physics that can be found at every scale of nature: in swarms of bees, schools of fish and successions of microorganisms. Based on this observation, Nicolas Waisbord is using particle physics to develop new models capable of describing the movements of each individual in a group and their interactions. “The aim of this research is to prevent mobs or stampedes, but also to develop response protocols for directing the flow of mass movement in the event of an emergency.”

### AI : how human should humanoid robots look?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/ai-how-human-should-humanoid-robots-look
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Joanna BRYSON

How does a robot’s appearance affect our perception and our understanding of what it really is? In 2010, the United Kingdom published a set of five ethical rules for robotics – the first national level document on AI ethics –, to advise those who design, sell and use robots about their responsibilities. One of these 'Principles of Robotics' states that « Robots are manufactured artefacts. They should not be designed in a deceptive way to exploit vulnerable users: instead their machine nature should be transparent. ». A delegate of the workshop that produced this set of rules, Dr. Joanna Bryson of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bath, is putting this particular ethical rule to the test with a series of experiments involving humanoid robots. By investigating how humans behave around humanoid robots and examining whether making them look human actually does negatively effect people’s relation to artificial intelligence, the project aims to provide solutions for making the robot’s nature explicit, while not hindering potential therapeutic uses. « People tend to both be afraid of AI and to expect too much of it. In particular, they expect it to be like a human », says Dr. Joanna Bryson. « People have in mind what movies show, but that’s science fiction.  In reality, AI is very different – it’s a tool, it’s a way of programming ». «For people to be safe, it’s important for them to understand AI is a machine », the researcher explains. « For instance, it can record things you say and give away data. If people think of robots as humans, a lot of thing could go wrong. It could open them up for economic exploitation. They might think they need to protect the robot or feel badly for turning it off ». At the same time, many people argue that, for therapeutic reasons, humanoid robots should also be perceived as companions. « A good compromise would be to have explicit ways to know that it’s a robot, but at the same time, implicitly feel that there’s someone in the room. That’s how it works with TVs for instance, so why not with robots? The same goes for movies. You know it’s fiction, but you can still feel emotions. »

### Investigating the mechanisms controlling the downregulation of microtubule organization at centrosomes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/investigating-the-mechanisms-controlling-the-downregulation-of-microtubule-organization-at-centrosomes
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Naomi STEVENS

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Analyze the risks of epidemic spread by geographic information science

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/analyze-the-risks-of-epidemic-spread-by-geographic-information-science
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Bin WANG

When a disease hits, it is crucial to contain it to save lives and reduce economic consequences. Therefore, early prevention and control measures are needed as soon as a sudden infectious disease breaks out. With his solid background in mathematics and computing science, Wang intends to use Geographic Information Science (GIS) together with spatial analysis to develop a software prototype potentially capable of monitoring and managing epidemics. This prototype should help mapping hot spots as well as flows and trends of the disease, both in space and time. If Wang succeeds, this software prototype will help reduce the life and socioeconomic consequences of the spreading of these diseases. This prototype aims to meet a need for solid expertise in effective decision making. It would probably be of interest to institutional decision makers and the insurance industry.

### Age-induced metabolic changes in protein acetylation and their role in cognitive loss

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/age-induced-metabolic-changes-in-protein-acetylation-and-their-role-in-cognitive-loss
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Shahaf PELEG

Everyone knows you’re not supposed to shoot the messenger. Yet, to extend our healthy years further into old age, decreasing delivery of certain cellular messages might be exactly what we need to do. As cells go about their business, carrying out all the chemical reactions of life (collectively known as metabolism), some of the molecular byproducts (metabolites) transmit messages that affect how our genes are expressed. Some of these metabolites make changes to the packets of DNA and proteins that form our chromosomes. Such “remodeling” alters the way our DNA is read—without changing the genetic sequence itself—by tacking on specific chemical groups. This type of modification belongs to the realm of epigenetics. Some epigenetic remodeling, spurred on by the products of metabolism, increases as organisms enter midlife, the period when early symptoms of aging appear. Now, the work of Dr. Shahaf Peleg has shown that reducing that activity by disrupting communication between metabolism and our epigenome might hold the secret to living longer and healthier lives. Unexpectedly, he found that metabolism in fruit flies increases at midlife. The trouble is increased metabolism means cells generate more of one product that also directs epigenetic changes associated with aging. Since metabolism can’t just be turned down like the volume on a stereo, Dr. Peleg took aim instead at the connection between it and epigenetic remodeling. Using genetic techniques to reduce levels of the molecules acting as messengers, he was able to scramble this cellular communication. The result was healthier flies living longer, with less age-associated changes to their gene expression through epigenetic modification: the aging process had slowed down. “It’s not just about reducing metabolism,” Dr. Peleg explains. “It’s all about the connectivity,” a phenomenon with a role in many different conditions whose shadow looms over us as we age: cancer, neurodegenerative disease, inflammation… The good news is that this communication between metabolism and gene expression is similar across species, meaning that Dr. Peleg’s results in flies could apply to humans. The next step will be to test it in mice, with the hope of, one day, developing drugs for people. Such a treatment would be taken around age 35 to 45, when aging is only just beginning. The goal is not to reverse age-related decline, but rather to extend one’s healthy years before it even sets in. “The idea is to live longer and healthier,” Dr. Peleg says. The potential impact of that—for individuals, for health systems, for the economy and society—can hardly be overstated. Scientific title: Age-induced metabolic changes in protein acetylation and their role in cognitive loss To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Training novice drivers to know how and where to look to reduce driving risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/training-novice-drivers-to-know-how-and-where-to-look-to-reduce-driving-risks
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Donghyun RYU

Driving a car is a fairly complex task requiring simultaneous execution of a number of subtasks. Paying attention to what is happening in your peripheral vision is one of them. With experience, drivers acquire the capacity to detect potential threats outside of their central vision. Novice drivers, however, are busy processing unfamiliar information on the road and devote little attentional capacity to peripheral vision. Building on his previous research, Dr. Donghyun Ryu is examining whether a training technique he has been working on could help increase the beginner’s capacity to know how and where to look. His ultimate objective is provide a way to accelerate perceptual skill acquisition, thus contributing to reducing the number of road traffic accidents involving young novice drivers. « A large body of research evidence suggest that young novice drivers are more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident than experienced drivers » reports Dr. Donghyun Ryu. « The most important contributing factor is their limited capacity to perceive and detect potential threats ». To increase perceptual skill, Dr. Donghyun Ryu has previously been working on a training technique that impairs selective areas of the visual field. His findings show that learning with impaired peripheral vision offers a promising approach. « We’ve successfully tested the method on sports players to try and increase their performance by teaching them to select and integrate the most useful information », the researcher explains. « Given that driving also relies on perception of a rapidly changing environment, I decided I would test a similar training technique on novice drivers.»

### Alzheimer's Disease: finding early indications of the disease for better therapeutic interventions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/alzheimers-disease-finding-early-indications-of-the-disease-for-better-therapeutic-interventions
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Julia Guiomar NISO GALAN

With the world's population ageing, the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), has become a major public health concern. To this day, the disease remains largely mysterious, with yet no known specific markers to confirm diagnosis with a 100% certainty and no available treatment to stop or reverse the progression of the disease. To boost the development of new therapeutic approaches, there is a clear need for tangible advances in our understanding of AD, especially when it comes to early, reliable indicators of the presence and progression of the disease. Addressing this need, Dr. Julia Guiomar Niso Galán is investigating the hypothesis that an imbalance in neural activity is a prevalent indication of early pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease. "Nowadays there's no effective treatment for AD, and many scientists think that this is because they start too late, when there's already irreversible damage in the brain", explains Dr. Julia Guiomar Niso Galán. "Current diagnosis approaches all target the accumulation of a molecule called Amyloid beta (Aβ) – one of AD's hallmarks –, as indication of probable AD"."My assumption is that by studying abnormal brain activity, we could get an earlier indicator of the disease", she summarises. Indeed, Dr. Julia Guiomar Niso Galán's hypothesis is that alterations of the excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms of neural activity precede the accumulation of Aβ, and subsequent formation into plaques. "One possible explanation could be that the deposition of Aβ plaques in the AD brain are a consequence of primarily perturbed neural activity, rather than vice-versa", says the researcher.

### A Holistic Approach to Data Security: Facing New Risks with Big Data and the Cloud

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/a-holistic-approach-to-data-security-facing-new-risks-with-big-data-and-the-cloud
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Bryan FORD

The fruits of computer scientists’ labor are so fundamental to our personal and professional activities that we can scarcely imagine life without them. At the same time, the heights attained by the field, including cloud computing and Big Data, now force us to look hard at the risks they bring and find new approaches to ensuring our data security. Most researchers focus on strengthening one security property, though this may mean neglecting another. Prof. Bryan Ford, however, believes the matter can only be treated holistically, simultaneously addressing the multiple demands users place on data protection systems. He is also sure we need to study this now. While we won’t turn back now from the capabilities of the most advanced computing methods, cyber attacks are growing more sophisticated and the potential for system failures more threatening. With his research program, Prof. Ford aims to identify the most pressing but underexplored risks and to propose new ways of tackling them. The three main properties of data security are availability (ensuring data is not lost or inaccessible), integrity (not corrupted or maliciously manipulated) and privacy (not disclosed or used improperly). The challenge is to ensure one without violating another. To verify the integrity of data, for example, it must be disclosed, thereby violating users’ privacy. Prof. Ford has already begun addressing this issue by building on small-scale, decentralized systems that are strong on privacy, with system-wide integrity and availability protections built in. The tradeoff had been the low number of users these systems could support, but his previous work on a project called Dissent proved that, using novel techniques, they could be scaled up for at least thousands of users—practical for real-world implementation. Going forward, he will improve on the framework he devised for use in communication systems, but also to build secure tools that preserve privacy for a variety of other important functions, like voting applications, digital archival storage, and the use of crypto-currencies, like bitcoin.

### Migration Choice under Risk and Liquidity Constraints

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/migration-choice-under-risk-and-liquidity-constraints
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Marieke KLEEMANS

Around the world, over 900 million people are considered migrants, moving in search of more work, higher income, a better life. The reasons motivating migration differ, as do the outcomes. For some, it is a way to cope with risk following a negative financial event, like crop loss. For others, migration is an investment involving planning and saving. Through her analyses of both, Marieke Kleemans has brought together these two types of migration in one unique model. From 20 years of migration records for 38,000 Indonesians, Dr. Kleemans concludes that risk-coping migrants are more likely to move short distances for shorter periods, earning only slightly more thanks to the move. Migration undertaken as an investment, however, brings people farther away for longer, where their earnings are significantly higher than if they’d stayed at home. Her work has important implications for policy. For example, migration may be encouraged as a successful alternative to other risk responses. Facilitating savings with better financial tools may also ease the constraints that act as a hurdle to the more profitable investment-style migration. A better life for many more could be just a little farther down that road.

### Civil society organizations in conflict situations: the Turkish-Kurdish case

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/civil-society-organizations-in-conflict-situations-the-turkish-kurdish-case
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Azer KILIC

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Risks and contradictions of urban sustainability in Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/risks-and-contradictions-of-urban-sustainability-in-africa
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Henrik ERNSTSON

African cities grow in novel and complex ways, yet they are intimately connected to wider geographies. In preparing for tomorrow’s challenges, in-depth historical and social studies are needed to understand what shapes contemporary urban infrastructures in the Global South. Dr. Henrik Ernstson’s scientific program aims to shed light on the complex realities that shape the heterogeneity of infrastructures in cities such as Luanda, Kampala and Nairobi. His team will look at how urban realities and risks are connected via urban infrastructures with the purpose to provide governments, civil society and external funders with insights that can help to better ground sustainability strategies adapted to urban conditions of the Global South.   “The core output of our project,” Dr. Ernstson says, “is an in-depth multi-sited case study about Luanda’s connection with Brazil and China through the selling of oil to secure urban infrastructure investments. Such in-depth case studies that connect ‘local’ and ‘global’ dynamics in African cities, especially through South-South linkages, are missing but sorely needed.” Dr Ricardo Cardoso, who is one of two postdocs in the project, continues: “Oil sits at the nexus of a whole range of exchanges that shape Luanda, including building norms and standardizations, but also how the sudden influx of capital after the long civil war of Angola came to interrupt and displace working class people to give space for new and often prestigious building projects in the name of progress and development.”

### Devices for measurement and interpretation of nerve activity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/devices-for-measurement-and-interpretation-of-nerve-activity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Olivier ROSSEL

In the context of rehabilitation of human function, one field is based on nerve electrical stimulations. As the stimulation is patient dependent, it is necessary to know body reactions, this information are carried on the nerve. To extract signal information from the nerve, we propose innovative solutions to observe selectively the activity of nerve fascicles, without disrupting or attempt on the nerve integrity. Thank to the realisation of a nerve model we proposed an electrode design. We shown that this electrode is highly special selective. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Assessment of seismic hazard in the Balkans using spatial geodesy (GPS)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/assessment-of-seismic-hazard-in-the-balkans-using-spatial-geodesy-gps
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marianne METOIS

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Childhood herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE): a novel primary immunodeficiency

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/childhood-herpes-simplex-encephalitis-hse-a-novel-primary-immunodeficiency
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Rebeca PEREZ DE DIEGO

When a healthy child falls ill with a rare, life-¬threatening viral disease, could there be a genetic reason? Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are genetic disorders that leave a person susceptible to infections. A new kind of PID may play a role specifically in herpes simplex virus encephalitis, a terrible infection of the central nervous system. Dr. Rebeca Pérez de Diego aims to identify new PIDs that may be responsible—work that could lead to treatments restoring these children’s missing immune function.

### AXA Chair in Ecosystem Engineering and Microbial Ecology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-chair-in-ecosystem-engineering-and-microbial-ecology
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Graeme NICOL

Outcome report summary Nitrogen-based fertilizers are a necessary evil if we are to feed an ever-growing human population, but the resulting atmospheric and water pollution will only worsen as our reliance on fertilizers increases. How can we produce enough nutritious food without spawning an environmental catastrophe? AXA Chair Prof. Graeme Nicol at The Nicol Lab at Ecole Centrale de Lyon has spent the past 5 years characterizing the contribution of soil microorganisms to nitrogen cycle processes. While it can be difficult to fathom the colossal environmental effects of such tiny organisms, even this very basic understanding of their physiological characteristics could be leveraged to develop fertilizers that produce half as much pollution in the future. The environmental effects of nitrogen-based fertilizers Nitrogen, an essential component of all living things, is found in abundance in the atmosphere and can be “fixed” with hydrogen to produce ammonium, which crops use as an essential nitrogen source when added to the soil. Fertilized land produces more food, but these nitrogen-based fertilizers also accelerate natural nitrogen cycle processes, which can lead to the leaching of excess nitrate into waterways and increased conversion of nitrogen into the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. The key players in these processes are soil microorganisms, which were the subject of Prof. Nicol’s research during his 5-year Chair. Contributions of soil microorganisms to pollution Bacteria and archaea are two organisms found in soil that convert ammonia before growing plants have a chance to take it up—including ammonia derived from fertilizers. While these “ammonia-oxidizing” organisms look very similar under a microscope, the Nicol Lab has uncovered their quite distinct characteristics and contributions to nitrogen cycle processes. First, Prof. Nicol found that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria contribute more to atmospheric pollution than ammonia-oxidizing archaea do, producing twice as much of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide . Second, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea have different fertilizer preferences: bacteria use typical inorganic “manmade” ammonium fertilizer, whereas archaea sometimes avoid this and prefer using more organic sources of nitrogen. This knowledge can inform the design of “smart,” slow-release fertilizer that pollution-producing bacteria have a harder time accessing. Different soils Prof. Nicol’s recognition that different soils contain microorganisms with vastly divergent characteristics has also inspired collaborations to better understand the physiology of ammonia oxidizers from different soils. For example, collaborations with researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have focused on the nitrogen cycle in uniquely Chinese soils, such as tea soil, which is very acidic. Prof. Nicol has also flagged existing methodological flaws that do not consider soil and microorganism differences, such as using one single test to characterize diverse microbial communities . Industry implications: slow-release fertilizer Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers are fertilizers bound with compounds that stop the rapid addition of ammonium into the soil. A more gradual nitrogen release increases fertilizer efficiency by enabling plants to take up more nitrogen and reducing the overactive conversion of ammonium into nitrate by soil microorganisms. Indeed, Prof. Nicol’s laboratory systems revealed a 50% reduction in harmful nitrous oxide emissions when using slow-release fertilizers compared to traditional fertilizers. Once validated in the field, this new knowledge could prove pivotal for industrial fertilizer manufacturers. Future directions Off the back of the 5-year Chair come three new strands of research. Prof Nicol will work alongside collaborators in Greece and Austria through an EU-funded project called ACTIONr to assess the effect and safety of synthetic “nitrification inhibitors,” which are compounds that reduce nitrification activity. Second, he will probe the exciting potential of biological nitrification inhibitors that are produced by plants—plants produce these compounds to gain a competitive advantage over microbial communities for nitrogen. Using these natural compounds would avoid the drawbacks of artificially synthesized nitrification inhibitors. Finally, Prof. Nicol hopes that uncovering the specific interactions between ammonia oxidizers and ammonia oxidizer viruses will also facilitate the development of methods to control nitrification activity. November 2022 Reducing Nitrogen-Based Fertilizer Emissions: Soil Microorganisms Could Hold the Key Interview Read (new window)

### From obesity to type 2-diabetes : investigating the immune system's potential role

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/from-obesity-to-type-2-diabetes-investigating-the-immune-systems-potential-role
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Alessandra PETRELLI

Over 600 millions adults worldwide suffer from obesity. The fast growing epidemic – the incidence more than doubled since 1980 –, induces a similarly fast growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes, a disease strongly associated with overweight. The combination is thought to reflect an inflammation of the adipose tissue driven by long-term nutrient excess, causing resistance to the action of insulin, and thus high blood sugar. In an effort to contribute to the pursuit of strategies to override obesity-induced diabetes and promote weight loss, Dr. Alessandra Petrelli is investigating the role of the immune system in insulin-resistance. By proving that immune cells play a role in obesity-driven type 2 diabetes and by shedding light on the mechanisms involved, her objective is to pave the way for the development of new non-invasive treatments. In her project, Dr. Alessandra Petrelli, will be investigating the hypothesis that T cells – a type of white blood cells essential for the immune system –, localized in the fat are endowed with specific properties which are altered in obese patients, causing insulin-resistance. "Growing literature coming from mouse studies is showing that the immune system, including T cells, may be important in the development of type 2 diabetes and, in particular, of insulin-resistance", explains Dr. Alessandra Petrelli. "I aim to discover if the same goes for humans and to identify the molecules responsible for the induction of insulin-resistance".

### Global Climate Change and the Spread of Malaria

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/global-climate-change-and-the-spread-of-malaria
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Claire LOISEAU

Everyone enjoys a bit of summer heat, but no one as much as parasites and diseases! Unfortunately, global warming is opening new areas of the world, particularly in northern latitudes, to an everwidening range of pathogens and hosts, such as migratory birds and mosquitoes, which are cold sensitive. Malaria is one of those dreadful candidates for international spread. Since it kills more than a million people every year, Dr. Loiseau and her team decided to address its spread and transmission in Alaska, where the effects of climate change are bound to be dramatic. To understand how climate change will impact the transmission of avian malaria parasites overtime, she will fi rst monitor changes in malaria prevalence* and diversity through blood sampling and then investigate shifts in parasite patterns due to seasonal variance. In the future, she expects to develop predictive models to inform policy decisions relevant to the eradication of wildlife and human malaria.

### Understanding Katla, Iceland’s notorious and restless volcano: Lessons from 1918

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/understanding-katla-icelands-notorious-and-restless-volcano-lessons-from-1918
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jacqueline OWEN

The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 caused massive disruption to world aviation—but its neighbor, Katla, is even bigger. This powerful volcano typically erupts twice a century, spewing out large amounts of fragmented rock and lava, including ash, and causing giant floods as the overlying ice melts. It has now been 97 years since Katla’s last confirmed eruption, a huge one in 1918 that blanketed half of Iceland in ash and produced one of the largest floods in history. The water’s peak flow exceeded that of the Amazon River and Iceland’s coastline was extended several kilometers by the sediment it carried from Katla. This eruption produced five times as much material as Eyjafjallajökull did in 2010. One can only imagine the effect a repeat of the 1918 event would have in today’s world. For these reasons, Dr. Jacqueline Owen is on the case, investigating the 1918 eruption in order to understand what makes Katla tick. What determines the dynamics of its eruptions? Why are they so explosive? Her clues lie in the ash. Grain size, geochemistry, gas content, bubble and crystal populations: By analyzing such physical and chemical characteristics of the ash, she is able to deduce a great deal about the conditions that formed it and, thus, what took place when the volcano last blew. By determining, for instance, how deep the magma was before it was erupted and how fast it reached the surface, scientists will be better able to interpret earthquake data and assess if an eruption is coming and when. Another key question is what was controlling the explosive nature of the eruption: was it the gas within the magma, or interaction with meltwater that was turned suddenly to steam? Answering this might help us predict when the most explosive phases of the eruption might be, and throw light on how Katla was able to melt so much ice so quickly and produce such a powerful flood. Additionally, knowing how much gas Katla released into the atmosphere last time will help predict the effects its emissions could have on today’s agriculture and climate. Forewarned is forearmed and Dr. Owen aims to be well equipped the next time the volcano wakes.

### Biology of immortal and robust organisms

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/biology-of-immortal-and-robust-organisms
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Miroslav RADMAN

Humans can adapt to the environment, but compared to some other species, we are not that flexible. For example, we could not live at a temperature of 80°C, and we could not survive more than four days without water. However, some organisms can live at boiling water temperatures, grow under strong radiation or do without water for 10 years. We know that such species are much better at fighting deadly stress than we are, but the reason is still unknown. Prof. Miroslav Radman is focusing his research on specific death-resistant organisms to understand how they protect their life machinery from falling apart. His aim is to gain insight on how aging, or resisting the passage of time, occurs at the molecular level. Our body is made of organs, and organs are made of cells. Therefore, when cells age, organs and organisms also age. Aging is functional deterioration mainly due to corrosion of biomolecules caused by oxygen free radicals. Such radicals are unavoidable since they are generated when our body produces energy—which is why we need to breathe. But they can also be found in air pollutants, food, water or drugs. Luckily, our cells have protection, repair and clean-up systems to counteract molecular damage. Like a skilled surgeon, special proteins repair DNA damage and replace damaged proteins. Radman points out that aging occurs when these life-protecting proteins are themselves damaged: they cannot repair the damage that accumulates, and the whole body ages and eventually dies. Fascinated by robust and immortal species, Radman is studying how robust cells protect and repair themselves during oxidative stress. His approach has proved original and productive: he now believes that all organisms share the same chemistry of aging—protein damage—which is also the common cause of all age-related diseases, and that we may soon be able to prevent and treat the very cause of degenerative diseases. He has uncovered the mystery of robust species: their cells produce a molecular cocktail that protects cellular machinery from oxidative damage. Once its chemical composition is known, it could be used in humans to protect against age-related diseases and eventually delay aging. A potion for eternal youth may just be one step away.

### Paving the way for the development of responsible AI

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/paving-the-way-for-the-development-of-responsible-ai
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Sarvapali Gopal RAMCHURN

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the defining technology of our age, allowing us to do things we never thought possible. For the benefits to be truly and safely accessible, though, key challenges still need to be resolved, the foremost of which is the development of AI that is responsible. Indeed, the creation of intelligent machines that mimic human capacities is radically transforming human-computer interactions, calling for algorithms that can account for human needs, perceptions, behaviours and expectations. « So, how do we design these interactions in a way that’s responsible? », that is the question at the heart of Prof. Gopal Ramchurn’s scientific program. More specifically, his research aims to address key technical and practical challenges for the development of responsible intelligent agents and machine learning (ML) systems. The overall objective is two-fold : to establish some of the underpinning methodologies and algorithms, and to contribute insights to the legal and insurance communities by establishing the range of risks that AI systems expose organisations and end-users to.

### Predicting tuberculosis in populations at risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/predicting-tuberculosis-in-populations-at-risk
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Abhimanyu ABHIMANYU

Counter to popular thought, tuberculosis (TB) is not a disease of the past. Despite a considerable global decrease in deaths since the 1990s, there has been no decrease in the total number of cases reported. This chronic lung disease remains the leading bacterial cause of death, globally. The main reason behind the persistence of the epidemic is that presently, less than half of the cases of TB in developing countries are detected and treated. Additionally, the infection is highly contagious, due to its airborne transmission. Consequently, one third of the world's population is estimated to be infected with the bacteria, as an asymptomatic latent infection. It is only a proportion of people, geneally those immunocompromised that then progress to developing active disease. To move away from only treating the disease and towards eradicating the global TB epidemic, we desperately need to minimise the number of new cases using early diagnosis and prevention of disease; the contagious phase. Working in this direction, Dr. Abhimanyu is investigating ways to reliably detect the presence of latent TB and identify those at greater risk of progressing to active TB. To develop his new diagnosis tool, the researcher will investigate a tremendously promising field of preventive medicine: epigenetics. Investigating a biological signature to predict Tuberculosis

### Exploring Epigenetics : an extraordinarily promising field of medicine

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/exploring-epigenetics-an-extraordinarily-promising-field-of-medicine
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Iannis TALIANIDIS

Each of us has the same set of genes encrypted in our DNA. These hereditary units of information determine and control our body's characteristics and functions from birth to death. Understanding how genes control each of the numerous kinds of cells in our body is an incredibly vast and complex field of research, where much remains to be done. Part of the difficulty arises from the fact that our genes are expressed in cell type-specific patterns, which are regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. To complicate things further, these biological mechanisms are not simply messengers, they also influence the nature of the instructions our body receives from DNA. Understanding epigenetic regulatory mechanisms is central if we want to obtain a full picture of how our body operates, notably in case of disease. Building on his previous work, Dr. Iannis Talianadis aims to unravel this sophisticated network, both in normal and disease conditions. His focus will be on metabolic syndrome and liver cancer. The objective is to provide crucial knowledge to be used for the development of novel therapeutical approaches. As permanent holder of the AXA Chair on Epigenetics at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in Crete, his aim will also be to bring together a pool of promising scientists from around the world and train them in state of the art epigenetic research. "Our body has many different types of cells. Each of them contains the same genetic information, or DNA. However, all of these cells have unique characteristics in respect to their functions", explains Dr. Iannis Talianadis. "The difference comes from how the information contained in our DNA is interpreted. Out of the 22 to 25,000 genes contained in our DNA, only 10 to 12,000 will be expressed in one cell and determine its characteristics"."This is were epigenetics come into play", he continues. "Whether a particular set of genes will be expressed in certain cells and repressed in others is determined by mechanisms called epigenetic regulation". "These 'mechanisms' not only determine cell to cell type, they also determine how a particular cell will act in different environmental conditions, like starvation or disease for instance". This is exemplified by studies with twins. Although their genome is identical, one twin can be predisposed to develop a disease, such as cancer or diabetes, while another is not.

### In a New Age of Risk, Exploring the Social Side of Uncertainty

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/in-a-new-age-of-risk-exploring-the-social-side-of-uncertainty
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: J. Peter BURGESS

What does all this tell us about the impact of uncertainty on society and the geopolitical climate? Traditional academic approaches don’t seem equipped to handle such questions, making Prof. J. Peter Burgess’s program especially necessary. This research could have concrete outcomes for policy makers, the insurance sector and others evaluating risk. Insurance, specifically, takes a mathematical approach to determining the value and risk to insurable objects, but this misses the important contribution of cultural values. It can’t capture, for example, the tendency in Northern Europe to trust in the State’s institutions, while Southern European cultures rely on family for security in the face of an uncertain future. “These so-called softer dynamics really have a lot to say about how people experience risk.” Letting a more complete picture of that human experience inform risk management could certainly lead to better solutions for individuals, institutions, commerce and beyond. Scientific title : AXA Chair in the Geopolitics of Risk To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Insuring infrastructure safety using satellite monitoring technology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/insuring-infrastructure-safety-using-satellite-monitoring-technology
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Peifeng MA

Infrastructure safety is not solely a matter of conception. During their life-span, man-made structures can sustain ground and structural deformation caused by natural or human forces. If excessive, these deformations can threaten the infrastructure’s health, and potentially result in catastrophic consequences. Declining infrastructures and accelerated urbanization, especially the development of underground space, are aggravating this hazard. Recognizing this threat to public safety, Dr Peifeng Ma is developing an innovative satellite radar capable of continually monitoring infrastructural dynamics from space. His final objective is to provide governments with the means to timely discover abnormal deformation for carrying out maintenance and avoiding possible risks. « Like human’s health condition, infrastructural health should also be examined regularly to prevent potential hazards », explains Dr Peifeng Ma. Before a building or a railway collapses, slow deformation often occurs. However, detecting these subtle but abnormal deformations is a challenging undertaking, especially considering such alterations can happen over long periods of time and amount to less than a few centimeters. What Dr. Peifeng Ma is developing is a modern tool able to constantly monitor these small changes from space with millimeter precision and over spans of days to years.

### When deep learning meets image registration

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/when-deep-learning-meets-image-registration
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Enzo FERRANTE

What if, instead of explaining to a computer how to solve a problem, you let it learn by itself? Within the area of machine learning, deep learning methods are revolutionising artificial intelligence and computer vision. They offer tremendous opportunities for machines that learn to perform human activities like listening and seeing. For instance, when it comes to fundamental vision tasks, like image classification or object recognition, a particular class of deep-learning algorithms has proved to outperform all existent strategies. Dr. Enzo Ferrante now aims to understand how we can use it to solve the task of image registration – the process of aligning images of a same object coming from different devices, moments or viewpoints. His objective is to allow for faster and more accurate registration methods and toolboxes, leading to more reliable image-based understanding studies and faster decision-making processes.  The production of more and more image data, whether from satellites, mobile phones or medical imaging, offers tremendous opportunities in the fields of environmental and life risks understanding. « For example, the damage produced by a natural hazard could be measured by aligning satellite images captured before and after the event and drawing comparisons between them », Dr. Enzo Ferrante explains. « Medical images can also be analysed by means of image registration, comparing them and trying to find patterns between patients with and without a certain pathology ». « Image registration is a fundamental problem in computer vision. Numerous research exists on the topic but most of it aims to explicilty model and explain to the computer how to align the images properly ». « Now, with the advent of the big data era and deep-learning methods, we know that a different approach exists: letting the computer learn by itself ». « In the field of computer vision, this new strategy has proved easier and more accurate », Dr. Enzo Ferrante reports, adding that this is a change of paradigm.

### Assessing the impact of granting rights to minorities on peace stability in post-conflict environments

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/assessing-the-impact-of-granting-rights-to-minorities-on-peace-stability-in-post-conflict-environments
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lesley-Ann DANIELS

The majority of modern peace agreements fail within 5 years. What is spoiling these negotiated peace settlements? Often peace agreements include rights granted to minorities in order to address perceived grievances. Given the rise of ideological extremism, the issue of granting such rights to groups with the potential to return to violence is of tremendous relevance. Observing that relatively little attention has been given to the question, Dr. Lesley-Ann Daniels aims to shed light on how minority rights can impact peace stability. Her objective is to provide insight on how to design successful peace agreements according to the circumstances in order to reduce the risk of countries falling back into violence.

### Social stress and its oxidative and pro-ageing consequences: an ontogenic and evolutionary approach in birds and mammals

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/social-stress-and-its-oxidative-and-pro-ageing-consequences-an-ontogenic-and-evolutionary-approach-in-birds-and-mammals
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Vincent VIBLANC

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Regulating entrepreneurship in the Digital Economy: A French-US comparative approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/regulating-entrepreneurship-in-the-digital-economy-a-french-us-comparative-approach
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jen SCHRADIE

Which country offers the most optimal state policies for risky entrepreneurship, France or the United States? Where are individuals most likely to take risk when it comes to digital start-ups: in a country with a strong welfare state or in a country with freer markets and less state intervention? By comparing the behaviours of entrepreneurs from two countries with very different state policies, Dr. Jen Schradie aims to shed light on how laws and government regulations factor into individual decisions for risk in the digital economy. The researcher in sociology is particularly interested in how these environments affect entrepreneurship for women and for those from different social classes. Overall, the project looks at how engaging in risk shapes our digital society. « Scholars have long found how risk shapes economic behavior. We know less about what shapes risk in the digital economy », Dr. Jen Schradie points out, « With companies, such as Airbnb and Uber, the new sharing economy – which brings people together to provide a service – is a very contentious topic at the moment. Some celebrate their success, others protest for job security ». « The number of people to take part in these risky endeavours may be a function of political and cultural differences », she adds. « In France, the Macron labour law reforms (Loi Travail in French) are now asking these very questions about the role of government in entrepreneurship, ». Therefore, looking at the tradeoff between the benefits and disadvantages of the free market and/or strong political interventionism is timely.

### Non-communicable diseases : making rehabilitation possible in low-resource settings

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/non-communicable-diseases-making-rehabilitation-possible-in-low-resource-settings
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Martin HEINE

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases and diabetes account for 70% of all deaths globally. Because of environmental and behavioural factors, such conditions disproportionally affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where more than three quarters (31 million) of NCD-related deaths occur. Often referred to as chronic diseases, NCDs tend to be of long duration and to entail serious disabilities which hinder the patient’s full and effective participation in society. In many high-income countries, standard care for the long-term management of NCDs includes rehabilitation. In LMICs, however, such activities as rehabilitative medical care, physical, psychological, speech, and occupational therapy are often very limited. In response, Dr. Martin Heine at the Stellenbosch University in Cape Town is studying their feasibility in a low-resource setting. His objective is to build the necessary evidence and understanding for the implementation of cost-effective rehabilitation care and research in LMICs.

### Ensuring data security and privacy protection in the cloud computing environment

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/ensuring-data-security-and-privacy-protection-in-the-cloud-computing-environment
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Robert DENG

Data is a precious commodity. Take Facebook for instance, its financial value exceeds by far that of major airline companies who actually own expensive things like an entire fleet of commercial airplanes. Why ? Because it was built on data. "In this era of digital economy, data is undoubtedly one of the most valuable assets to any organisation and individual", observes Professor Robert Deng, renowned researcher in the field of cybersecurity. And like all valuable assets, it needs to be protected. As illustrated by recent events, data breach can result in devastating consequences such as tarnished company reputations, violations of individual's privacy or even cost human lives. With the tremendously fast growing trend of storing data in the cloud – on remote servers accessed from the Internet –, alarms are justly being raised about privacy and security. While cloud infrastructures provide great convenience, literally unlimited storage and computing resources and significantly reduced cost, they are also intrinsically more exposed to security breaches as data is processed within heterogeneous environments, where systems are managed by different service providers and thus beyond the direct control of the data owner. Recognising the need for new and innovative security solutions for these 'untrusted' servers, The AXA Chair of Cybersecurity at Singapore Management University, which Prof. Robert Deng will permanently hold, aims at finding new security models, cryptographic algorithms, security protocols, and security analysis techniques to ensure data security and privacy protection in the cloud computing environment.

### Climate change impacts and the global transformation of migration patterns towards new normative frameworks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-impacts-and-the-global-transformation-of-migration-patterns-towards-new-normative-frameworks
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: François GEMENNE

Although people have always migrated for environmental reasons throughout history, climate change sheds new light on this phenomenon: not only because of its unprecedented scale, but also due to the debated anthropogenic dimension, which raises the question of environmental responsibility. However, whereas the scientifi c basis for climate change is now well established, less research has been conducted on the human impacts of climate change and, in particular, how it could affect migration patterns. In many cases, migration induced by climate change is perceived as a “failure to adapt” rather than a risk-reduction strategy for the affected populations. While working with the Asian Development Bank and the Refugee Studies Centre at Oxford University, Dr. François Gemenne demonstrated that current environmental and migration policies were unable to adequately address migration fl ows induced by climate change, and thus to protect the migrating populations. Dr. Gemenne fi rst reviewed how migration patterns were affected after a disaster, but also in situations of slow-onset changes, such as desertifi cation or sea-level rise. He has demonstrated the predominant role played by public policies and social vulnerabilities in migration behaviors, refuting a deterministic approach to environmental migration. On this basis, he has recommended that policies addressing environmental migration be framed in a development agenda rather than in a security or humanitarian agenda. Such policies include portability of social rights for migrants, better regional cooperation and increased attention given to those who stay behind, who are often the most vulnerable. With the right policies, migration can be an effi cient adaptation strategy in situations of environmental stress. Dr. Gemenne now plans to assess the political feasibility of developing such normative frameworks as well as to incorporate them into risk assessments and adaptation strategies. He has created the fi rst-ever course on “Environment and Migration” at Sciences Po Paris and has written two books, which are used as references by many actors on the political and economic stage. My research focuses on the impacts of climate change on global migration, and the normative frameworks that can address these impacts. It looks at the possible development of new policies and instruments that could deal with these migration flows, and aims at assessing normative frameworks, and integrate them with risk assessments and adaptation strategies.

### Evaluation of decadal predictability of rainfall over sub-Saharan Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/evaluation-of-decadal-predictability-of-rainfall-over-sub-saharan-africa
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Abdou Karim GUEYE

Dr. Abdou Karim Gueye is the son of a farmer. As local drought was a major problem for his family in Senegal during his childhood, one day he decided that he would find a way to help them face this critical situation. Thanks to his strong motivation, he started a brilliant career as a researcher at the University of Dakar. Today, Dr. Gueye is conducting his research in France, where he focuses on precipitation in the Sahel, which has been identified by the United Nations as one of the world’s nine “hot spots” of global environmental change. Based on rainfed crops, agriculture in the Sahel entirely depends on water resources, which are extremely scarce. The ability to forecast climatic fluctuations within days or months of the event is the first step to reducing poverty, since this can make a real difference for the strategies used by rural populations in Africa to adapt to climate change. Dr. Gueye is a specialist in processing environmental data using advanced statistical tools, especially climate and weather tools. His research may contribute to decision making by highlighting the most relevant meteorological variables so that they can be included in the operational systems of national weather services. These predictions could contribute to the development of “index insurance,*” a new type of policy created for people living in vulnerable regions, whose livelihoods are closely linked to their environment. Instead of taking into account losses suffered by the policy holder and caused by weather hazards, this type of policy is linked to the fluctuation of a weather variable. Insurance payouts are therefore based on the performance of a weather index, such as rainfall, regardless of the actual loss suffered by the farmer. However, if uncertainty about weather forecast is too high, premiums can become unaffordable. Dr. Gueye aims to reduce this uncertainty through a better understanding of climate change over the coming decades. By improving weather predictions, Dr. Gueye’s research may contribute to mitigating climate risks in the sub-Saharan Africa region. It may also significantly improve the economic conditions of farmers by helping them access the insurance coverage and bank loans that are essential for their livelihood. The long term control integrations of the IPSL model will be considered to evaluate its own decadal variability over Sub-Saharan Africa and the Atlantic. Then the skill of the decadal forecasts will be evaluated by comparing the different hindcasts (starting in 1960, 1965, ..., 2000) to the observations. Multi-dimensional statistical analysis tools (EOF, SVD, regression,...) will be used to address these issues and to compare with Mohino et al. results. The spin-up of the model at the beginning of the simulations will have to be examined in details and removed before analyzing the AMO-Sahel links and predictability

### Mixing of deep ocean water masses induced by gravity waves

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/mixing-of-deep-ocean-water-masses-induced-by-gravity-waves
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Madiha AHMED

In an attempt to explain and develop strategy for control of aircraft wake vortex in a turbulent atmosphere, the evolution of a vortex column dipole (a pair of counter-rotating vortices) in the presence of one-scale (homogeneous and isotropic) freestream turbulence is studied via direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations. The free-stream turbulence is found to signifcantly accelerate the vortex decay via a complex vortex-turbulence coupling scenario. External one-scale turbulence is ?rst stretched into azimuthal ?laments which merge into threads through successive pairings and advect along the column dipole by self-induction. Oppositely-directed advection of opposite-signed threads forms thread dipoles which then move outward by mutual-induction and also eject column ?uid. This has the e?ect of enhancing both mixing with the ambient ?uid and the nominally planar reconnection (cross-di?usion) between the column vortex pair. In addition, the interaction of the column vortex dipole and turbulence and the vortex decay are explored in terms of their dependence on parameters like the column vortex Reynolds number, separation of the vortices, and the intensity and scale of free-stream turbulence. The above-mentioned study provided the motivation for the study of the stability mechanisms of a single (Oseen) vortex. Since, a vortex embedded in fine-scale turbulence will encounter perturbations comprising a vast range of magnitudes and wavenumbers, a study of the evolution of such perturbations, i.e. a study of the instability mechanisms of the vortex, was undertaken. Attempts have been made to explain the physical mechanisms responsible for growth or decay of perturbations in an Oseen Vortex. In addition, attempts have been made to explain the physical mechanisms responsible for the transient energy growth in a stochastically-forced Oseen vortex. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Quantifying the causes and consequences of climate change to predict species vulnerability: a framework to inform decision-making

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/quantifying-the-causes-and-consequences-of-climate-change-to-predict-species-vulnerability-a-framework-to-inform-decision-making
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Cindy CANALE

Species today are going extinct at a rate nearly 1,000 times higher than usual, due in no small part to climate change. The United Nations Decade of Biodiversity has highlighted both the ethical and economic reasons why decision makers must take action. Cindy Canale is seeking a deep understanding of populations’ responses to climate change, to provide the accurate predictive tools that conservation efforts need. When changes in the environment cause changes in a population, something must be happening on the level of its individual members. Dr. Canale plans to identify these individual-scale mechanisms underlying the climate/population relationship. Combining advanced lab techniques with 24 years of data on her specific subject of study, the Alpine marmot, she will examine alterations on multiple scales, from genes to populations. Few projects have integrated as many fundamental elements. Using the results observed over recent decades, she aims to predict population abundance in response to likely climate change scenarios and the corresponding risk of extinction. Dr. Canale’s tools promise to make informed conservation action possible.

### Essays in Institutional Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/essays-in-institutional-risk
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Pat AKEY

Isn’t it a paradox that the links between law, politics and corporate finance is are a young area of research in Finance? Yet it is fundamental to understand the functioning of markets. Pat Akey, is fascinated by the way political and legal institutions affect the functioning of markets and the way that firms act. He therefore wished to fill the gap of knowledge in the field, focusing his thesis on institutional risks. Firms in all countries face macroeconomic and political risks. Mitigating these risks requires a better understanding of how the legal and political environments interact and how these institutions affect firms’ and politicians’ incentives. Indeed, markets constantly react to different signals, many of which come from the political sphere. Differences in political structures affect incentives, which in turn, give rise to differences in government policy. This explains why reliable institutions are thought to have a positive impact on the outcome and implementation of economic policies and the efficiency of legal enforcement. Pat Akey’s work helps showcase the benefits of interdisciplinary research.

### When Outbreaks are in Season: Predicting High-Risk Periods for Transmission of Disease

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/when-outbreaks-are-in-season-predicting-high-risk-periods-for-transmission-of-disease
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Romain GARNIER

Since the Ebola epidemic first struck in West Africa in 2014, much has been learned about the virus. However, a critical element to control this and other zoonoses, infections that pass between animals and humans, is the ability to predict when and where outbreaks will occur. Dr. Romain Garnier is on his way to Ghana to study an animal that harbors more diseases capable of making the jump to humans than any other mammal: bats. By looking at changes in the bats’ immune system over time, he hopes to discover important information about the circulation of viruses in the population. This might reveal a seasonal pattern of periods when more virus is present or when bats are less able to defend against the pathogens and, thus, an increased risk of spillover into humans. Although it resembles other mammals’ in its basic elements, little is known about the bat immune system. Dr. Garnier is carrying out experiments and observations of a captive population of straw-coloured fruit bats known to carry the henipaviruses. This will allow him the unique possibility of following the same individuals over time and testing their immune responses, in particular, the production of antibodies, on a weekly basis. It is already known that female bats’ antibody levels change after giving birth, declining, rising, and dropping again. His first goal is to explain this pattern and track its impact on transmission of the virus. These fluctuations might indicate the mother bats becoming reinfected with henipavirus, or even that the virus is capable of lying dormant in bats until it is reactivated. Secondly, Dr. Garnier will investigate the very important role of mother bats, as all mammals, in transferring antibodies to newborns. “It may prevent newborns from getting infected,” he explains, “and it could affect when the virus circulates most and, thus, the greatest risk periods for humans.” He will study this transfer, focusing on a phenomenon called allosuckling, where pups nurse from several mothers. This could change the dynamics of antibody transfer and infection. To determine if this is happening in the fruit bat colony, Dr. Garnier will use an innovative approach to monitor its effects by vaccinating females to stimulate antibody production and observing how they are passed to the young. His ultimate goal is to construct mathematical models from all of this data in order to predict which time of year might pose more threat for the transmission of henipavirus to humans. If he identifies a risky season, researchers could then check if it exists in the wild. Models are extremely important tools for epidemiologists and Dr. Garnier believes his could be modified for other zoonoses representing a serious public health risk. Early response to outbreaks is crucial. If his predictions show a season of heightened risk, extra early response teams could be readied in advance of these periods, leaving us better prepared to face the next outbreak when it comes. Scientific title : Dynamics of Antibodies Against Zoonotic Infections in African Fruit Bats To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Climate change : how guilty are aerosol particles ?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-how-guilty-are-aerosol-particles
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Paolo TUCCELLA

Aerosol particles may be tiny enough to escape gravity and float up for days in the atmosphere, but their impact on the climate is anything but. These suspensions of solid or liquid particles, scaling from nanometers to tens of microns, can arise from both natural (sand dust, volcanic emissions, sea salt, forest fires) and human sources (anthropogenic fuel combustion and biomass burning). These particles have two opposite but complementary effects on the climate : they cool down the earth by blocking and sending some of the Sun's rays back to space (the parasol effect), and warm it up by contributing to trapping infrared rays emitted by the surface in the atmosphere (the famous greenhouse effect). But the increase in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activity is distorting the balance, making particles active contributors to climate change. Moreover the aerosols are chemical constituents that degrade the air quality, thereby constituting a threat to human health. For more than a decade now, scientist have been investigating the role these tiny particles play in warming the climate and on human health, but many grey areas remain. Among them are the exact roles of three types of aerosols : black carbon (BC), brown carbon (BrC) and soil dust particles. Dr. Paolo Tuccella's project aims to enrich and enhance current air quality and climate-chemistry models by investigating the space-time distribution of these particles and their effects on the climate system. The ultimate objective is to contribute to the development and implementation of effective sustainable risk mitigation policies by providing a better understanding of the environmental risks associated with BC, BrC and soil dust particles.

### A Storm is Brewing on the Arctic Frontier

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/a-storm-is-brewing-on-the-arctic-frontier
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jonathan DAY

A new frontier is emerging here on Earth. As climate change causes Arctic sea ice to melt, entirely new opportunities for navigation, shipping and resource extraction are opening up. This comes at a price, though: storms in the region are increasing in size and strength, likely driven by this same reduction in summer sea ice. Polar climate researcher Dr. Jonathan Day notes the compounding effect this has on the associated risk: “the hazard of extreme Arctic storms is growing in parallel with increased human exposure to them”. There is great need for insurance to cover this explosion of activity in the Arctic, but too little is known about the region’s storms to assess the risk reliably. This is what makes Dr. Day’s work, with its focus on short-term predictions of Arctic climate, so unusual and badly needed. To date, the necessary information has been lacking, in part because storms at the highest latitudes were of less societal importance, and therefore less studied, than they are today. By utilizing state of the art climate model simulations, Dr. Day will determine the conditions that drive storms in this region. Ultimately, he aims to make predictions about their driver mechanisms possible, and on a shorter timescale than has been done in previous studies. Often research into the relationship between storms and climate tends to focus on the long-term impacts of climate change, focusing on how extremes will have changed by the end of the next century. Much more relevant to decision-makers would be a view on how risk will change over the coming decade. Dr. Day’s innovative approach is to explore how these storms vary on decadal timescales with a view to predicting how the hazard associated with Arctic storms will evolve in the near future, a question with an immediate impact on all parties concerned by the Arctic. Marine traffic in the Arctic has already increased by a factor of ten along certain routes, and industrial activity there is expected to draw some $100 billion of investment over the next decade, according to Lloyd’s of London. By helping to clarify how Arctic storms operate and integrating this information into decade-long climate predictions, Dr. Day’s research could make an invaluable contribution to decision making in the Arctic, particularly related to marine access and marine insurance, as well as indigenous communities living in areas affected by Arctic storms. Scientific title: How Will Arctic Meteorological Hazards Change In The Coming Decades? To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Testing changes in olfactory processing as a biomarker of mood disorders- a multidisciplinary study

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/testing-changes-in-olfactory-processing-as-a-biomarker-of-mood-disorders-a-multidisciplinary-study
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Kalliopi APAZOGLOU

That first whiff of coffee perks up your senses. The smell of mom’s cooking transports you back to childhood. Though we often take it for granted, the human sense of smell has a unique role, with special links in the brain to our memories and emotions. People suffering from depression may experience problems with their olfactory, or odor, function, like reduced sensitivity to smells and an inability to enjoy those normally considered pleasant. Olfaction is also one of the fastest ways that vital environmental information reaches the brain—about availability of food, danger (imagine a gas leak) and social cues, for example—allowing us to react quickly, whether consciously or not. Losing this ability, as in depression, adds a further behavioral handicap in an already disabling condition. Dr. Kalliopi Apazoglou is investigating the underexplored relationship between mood disorders and the brain’s olfactory system. Since feelings and smells have been shown to activate the same brain areas, she wants to know if a malfunction in these regions during a mood disorder causes changes in odor perception. Her preliminary data from imaging patients’ brains shows that when people with high depression scores smell different scents, there is less activity than normal in a specific brain region, as if its response to odors is blunted. But do parallels exist between olfactory function, personality traits and emotional state? To find out, she is measuring people’s reactions to different odors and correlating them with the results of behavioral questionnaires. She has found, for instance, that anxiety and emotional reactivity have a significant impact on the way people rate the pleasantness of odors, intensifying how much they like or dislike a scent. Dr. Apazoglou’s research aims at unraveling the mechanisms underlying olfaction and mood disorders. She hopes to contribute to both the prevention and diagnosis of depression, a condition that strikes up to 20% of the world’s population.

### AXA Award Project in Climate and Extreme Weather

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-award-project-in-climate-and-extreme-weather
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Adam SOBEL

The purpose of Prof. Sobel's research is to understand more deeply the relationship of extreme weather events to the climate in which they occur.

### Fighting bacterial infection by targeting the ability of pathogens to hijack the body's defense system

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/fighting-bacterial-infection-by-targeting-the-ability-of-pathogens-to-hijack-the-bodys-defense-system
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Timurs MACULINS

Bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli or Shigella are among the deadliest pathogens in the world. Understanding exactly how these life-threatening bacteria or pathogens operate and invade the host cells is essential to the search for novel antimicrobial therapeutics, especially considering the fundamental threat antibiotic resistance poses on global health. In that respect, recent research has opened up a promising avenue of investigation regarding the way bacteria manage to escape the body's defense system. It has indeed recently been established that specific bacterial enzymes, known as ubiquitin ligases, could hijack the host cells and subvert the cellular environment to their advantage by inhibiting the inflammatory response. However, the exact mechanisms by which these specific bacterial proteins achieve this regulation is largely unknown. Ultimately aiming to find potential targets for novel bacterial therapy, Dr. Maculins is investigating how these specific molecules are able to overturn some of the host cell's functions for their own benefit. Precisely, his focus is on understanding the mechanisms by which they manage to suppress the inflammatory response and assist bacteria to escape host defence. "Throughout evolution, bacteria have acquired an intricate array of molecular armory that facilitates the hijacking of host cells", Dr. Timurs Maculins explains. "Recent studies demonstrate that upon entry in the host cells, pathogens inject a wave of effectors to the host cellular environment that hijack the host's signalling system to promote invasion and dissemination of bacteria". "Among these effectors are molecules exhibiting the same activity as specific proteins of the human ubiquitin system", the researcher continues. "This is intriguing because bacteria don't have fully functional ubiquitin system." "In fact, what happens is that pathogens tend to copy the most important aspects of the human cells, that includes ligases of the ubiquitin system, and then replicate them for their own benefit". "Indeed, the ubiquitin system plays a central role in modulating signalling in human cells. It serves as a marker, a sort of beacon, which attach to other proteins and can affect their activity in various ways, including their immune and inflammatory response", Dr. Timurs Maculins points out. By aiming to obtain a detailed understanding of the role played by bacterial ubiquitin ligases in subverting signalling within the cell, the project's objective is to pave the way for the development of a new generation of antibacterials, this mechanism having never been targeted by pharmaceutical therapies in the past.

### A new understanding of urban sustainability pathways in Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/a-new-understanding-of-urban-sustainability-pathways-in-africa
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Shuaib LWASA

Cities are at the forefront of the transition to sustainable development. The ones yet to be built hold the greatest potential for transformative change in that they can be fundamentally re-thought. With its rapid urbanisation, Africa is one of the most promising regions in the world when it comes to leap-frogging to sustainability. Of all continents, it is also the one that stands to see the harshest impacts from Climate change. To contribute to ensuring the opportunity is rightly seized, Dr. Shuaib Lwasa is leading a scientific program exploring the various possibilities of transition in the city of Kampala, Uganda. Starting from the premise that urban development can only be sustainable when it is accompanied by measures designed to reduce poverty, social exclusion and environmental problems, his research adopts an integrated approach, looking to synergise strategies. What is more,  the research team aims to pay particular attention to micro-level innovations, the informal sector and how they link to the city-regional macro level. The overarching goal of the project is to generate new understanding on possible urban sustainability pathways in Africa.  « The informal sector is a critical part of African cities, something that is often looked at as negative », Dr. Shuaib Lwasa says. « Our team postulates that informality actually is the city and that, to address sustainability in an integrated manner, building upon the informal and mixing it with the formal may offer great possibilities ». Africa’s informal sector, or underground economy, is indeed one of the most innovative and inventive environments in the world. Building upon it holds out great promise in areas as diverse as energy, adaptation to climate change, urban agriculture and ecosystem restoration. « Integration strategies is often misconstrued to occur at city-level », Dr. Shuaib Lwasa explains. « Yet micro level innovations can build integrated systems from below for sustainability ».

### Understand and predict sand and dust storms to manage their impacts upon society and economy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/understand-and-predict-sand-and-dust-storms-to-manage-their-impacts-upon-society-and-economy
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Carlos PEREZ GARCIA PANDO

Intermediary Research Outcome Report

### Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease: The link between aging, vascular disease and cognitive decline

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/pathogenesis-of-alzheimers-disease-the-link-between-aging-vascular-disease-and-cognitive-decline
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Natalia SALVADORES

By 2050, the number of cases of Alzheimer's disease cases will quadruple. To discover new remedies, Natalia Salvadores is conducting an innovative investigation of the potential connection between Alzheimer’s disease and neurovascular alterations due to aging.

### Neonatal jaundice: In vivo bilirubin neurotoxicity in a Ugt1 ko mouse model

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/neonatal-jaundice-in-vivo-bilirubin-neurotoxicity-in-a-ugt1-ko-mouse-model
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Giulia BORTOLUSSI

75% of hospital readmissions of babies in their first week of life are due to jaundice. Severe jaundice can lead to permanent neurological damage and ultimately death. Limitations in animal and cellular models have narrowed the study of this disease. Thanks to a mutant mouse model that more closely mimics human jaundice, Dr. Guilia Bortolussi is performing molecular, tissue and behavioral analysis to better understand the molecular mechanisms that damage the brain and testing therapies that could improve brain protection.

### Risk sharing mechanisms in rural India

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/risk-sharing-mechanisms-in-rural-india
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Laura MUNRO

Risk is central to everyday life for the rural poor. As a great many of them work in agriculture, this vulnerability can take the form of ups and downs in crop yield, driven by pests or severe weather variations. In addition to informal systems (like gifts or loans from community members), small-scale farmers sometimes rely on microinsurance to maintain their level of consumption when a shock occurs. In particular, weather index insurance has gained popularity in recent years as a tool to protect farmers against the risk of drought and flood. Traditionally, weather insurance is sold to individuals, but group products for clusters of farmers may increasingly be developed to increase coverage rates in developing countries. Researcher Laura Munro conducted an experiment in rural Gujarat, India, to explore how selling to groups – versus individuals – affects the types of agricultural investments made by small-scale farmers once insured. She found that, in a context where investment decisions were public knowledge, selling insurance to groups caused people to take fewer risks in their agricultural activity. This can be a problem in certain contexts, because risk taking is sometimes necessary to achieve higher average productivity. The reasons Laura identified for this 8% reduction in risk taking, compared to an individual insurance context, involve group pressure. When distribution of the payout is at the group’s discretion, (previously) informal arrangements for sharing risk are formalised. The group can choose to give a larger portion of the benefit to members who have suffered greater losses. However, the fear that individuals taking bigger risks will then demand a bigger chunk of the payout creates pressure from the group to take less risk. If overall productivity suffers due to less risk-taking, this phenomenon could be happening at the cost of further development. With climate change, the threat of severe weather is expected to grow and the need for such insurance is sure to increase. Laura Munro’s research shows that selection of the group covered, attention to the way investment information is exchanged, and regulation of payout distribution must all be considered in the design of these insurance products. Success in these areas could have a truly positive impact on development in some of today’s most vulnerable populations

### Population Genomics of Emerging Pneumococcal Clones in a Vaccinated Community

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/population-genomics-of-emerging-pneumococcal-clones-in-a-vaccinated-community
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nicholas CROUCHER

Dr. Nicholas Croucher is on the tracks of a mass-murderer: Streptococcus pneumoniae, a.k.a pneumococcus, a bacterium that is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths all over the world – 800,000 children died because of it in 2000. That year, 15 million people were also affected by one of the illnesses it causes: pneumonia, septicemia, meningitis or otitis. Many of these cases are now difficult to treat as certain « clones » of the bacteria have evolved antibiotic resistance, which led to the development of an anti-pneumococcal vaccine. However, the impact of the vaccine is highly sensitive to the changes it causes in the bacterial population. Dr. Croucher will use bacterial genome sequences to trace how some pneumococcal « clones » evaded the vaccine through mutation while others were replaced with previously unseen strains. Tracing the genetic changes in the population provides improved understanding of how bacteria respond to different treatments, and how future clinical interventions might better manage this important pathogen.

### Risk-based analyses of future biological invasions following global changes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/risk-based-analyses-of-future-biological-invasions-following-global-changes
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Céline BELLARD

Climate change can enhance invasion processes, from initial introduction through establishment and spread and consequently have a profound influence on the environment. In addition, human activities such as land degradation and agricultural systems, lead to the spread of many invasive species. Consequently, biological invasions could become the greatest threats to biodiversity over the next several decades. These biological invasions lead to negative impacts such as reduced crop productivity, altered fire regimes, and loss of ecosystem services like purification of air and water. To date, a significant number of studies have investigated potential direct impacts of climate or land use changes focusing on specie-level responses. Such studies mainly focused on single species, yet the identification of situations associated with high risks of invasions requires mainly the analysis of a large number of species simultaneously. Moreover, we know that some history life traits of species are more likely to be related to invasiveness, yet it has not been considered in models to evaluate future risk of biological invasions following climate and land use changes. The main objective of this project is to develop riskbased models of future biological invasions around the world following climate and land use changes for two well known groups: plants and mammals. To this aim, I proposed to (i) investigate the characteristics that are related to current invasive alien species, (ii) determine the land use/cover types vulnerable to biological invasions, and (iii) develop species distribution models taking into account characteristics of invasive species and land use vulnerability. Specifically, I will use statistical analyses to identify the intrinsic characteristics related to invasions and species distribution models to evaluate the effects of climate and land use changes on biological invasions. I will identify the future high-risk regions exposed to biological invasions where early warning detection and control programs are critical to implement. I will also determine alien species that are likely to become invasive and deserve particular attention to mitigate the ecological and economical impacts of invasions in the future. The proposed project is directly relevant to ecological, economical and societal vulnerabilities in the context of global changes. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Using natural bacteria to control disease transmission by mosquitoes: a quantitative approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/using-natural-bacteria-to-control-disease-transmission-by-mosquitoes-a-quantitative-approach
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Caetano MENDES

In a new effort to prevent dengue fever, mosquitoes carrying a life-altering bacterium are released to replace the wild population. Caetano Mendes is working on predicting the consequences of their release in affected areas of Rio de Janeiro. While vector-borne diseases are a huge public health burden in tropical and subtropical countries, as well as increasingly present in temperate ones – Trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis, Yellow Fever, West-Nile Virus are among emerging threats; Malaria still causes around a million deaths yearly, and Dengue virus has one third of the world population at risk – adequate treatments and vaccination are still lacking for most of them. Vector control, therefore, is still in many cases the strategy of choice. Self-propagating intracellular bacteria which occur naturally in many insect species have recently been proposed as control strategy, due to its ability to reduce mosquito population by reducing average fecundity and lifespan, and induce resistance against pathogens. Such 'mosquito vaccines' are also an evolving strategy, and require new methods, analyses, and measures of efficiency and sustainability. Mathematical and statistical models and measures are necessary to evaluate efficacy of these strategies. This project aims at developing these new tools, rooted in the laboratory and field work developed by collaborating groups around the world currently implementing this strategy in different countries. The recently announced implementation of the use of Wolbachia symbiont to control Dengue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the real-world setting to which this work will be tailored - models and quantification are also to inform and drive laboratory and field work. Epidemiological and evolutionary aspects of this approach are the challenge faced by this project, and the knowledge derived from the experience is to be used to evaluate similar public health interventions beyond traditional measures of vaccine efficacy.

### The price of bread as a measure of urban stability

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-price-of-bread-as-a-measure-of-urban-stability
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Katharina GRAF

Bread is often used as a metaphor to talk about the Arab Spring. Indeed, the link between rising bread prices and the recent political upheavals in Arab countries has been acknowledged a few times in academic studies and in the news. But so far, no research has focused on the role of bread in urban stability. Using the Moroccan context as a representative example, Dr. Katharina Graf aims to fill this gap by exploring how the price, availability, quality and provenance of flatbread affect the way people perceive their government. The study will focus on the vantage point of those most affected by food insecurity: ordinary people. The ultimate objective is to strengthen our understanding of why and how bread represents a valid measure for political and socioeconomic risks. "During my PhD research in Morocco, I was struck by how important bread was to Moroccans", relates Dr. Katharina Graf. "Bread represents more than just a staple food to them; it also harbours so many immeasurable values. It is imbued with social meaning pertaining to material, religious, moral, economic and also political dimensions. Indeed, in a context where the government histori-cally positions itself as food provider, the price of bread also relates to what people think of their political leaders", she explains. "I found that especially low-income Moroccans expected the gov-ernment to provide cheap flour and bread, if nothing else." In Morocco, like in other Arab countries, subsidised bread is not only a guarantor of food security, but historically it has also been the basis of the state’s implicit social contract with its citizens.

### Healthier Ageing through Better DNA “Spellcheck”

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/healthier-ageing-through-better-dna-spellcheck
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Francesca BAGGIO

By the time you read this text, it will have been proofread by an editor. Your cells, too, rely on proofreading to catch any mistakes that may have occurred when copying the entirety of their DNA before cell division. But typos can slip past the most careful of readers, and some such cellular errors may be intimately linked to ageing. Dr. Francesca Baggio is exploring this scenario for a special kind of DNA that is housed in a cell’s mitochondria. These structures are the site of energy production and are unique for possessing their own genetic material, called mtDNA. In previous studies, mice with a defective mtDNA-proofreading system showed an accumulation of errors—and premature ageing. Dr. Baggio wants to know if this same phenomenon underlies the normal ageing process. If so, she might find a way to delay its onset and allow people to live longer in good health. Working with fruit flies, which use a similar enzyme to mammals to ensure mtDNA proofreading, she will assess whether individuals live longer when they accumulate fewer errors. Genetic studies will allow her to search for new molecules that alter the way ageing occurs by increasing or decreasing this enzyme’s activity. By clarifying the link between dysfunctioning mitochondria and ageing, Dr. Baggio hopes to understand better how the process occurs and to reveal fundamentally new targets for the treatment of age-related diseases. The burden of such conditions is huge and increasing every year. Dementia, for instance, affected some 44 million people worldwide in 2014—a number that is expected to triple by 2050. Its estimated cost of $604 billion in 2010 has nowhere to go but up, unless preventative treatments can be found. Dr. Baggio’s research could open doors to new ways of tackling these age-related challenges that are at once medical, economic and societal. Scientific title: Identification Of Novel Genes Modulating Age-Associated Mitochondrial Dysfunction To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### The risk crucible: managing multiple insecurities in the western Sahel

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-risk-crucible-managing-multiple-insecurities-in-the-western-sahel
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ruben ANDERSSON

"Affected by forces like poverty, political unrest, and food insecurity, Mali is just one example of a country where crisis and conflict have led to a variety of risks coexisting, with different consequences for all of the actors involved. Assessing, prioritizing and facing all these challenges is fundamental to the success of humanitarian and peacekeeping missions in some of the places that need it most. Ruben Andersson was in London when conflict broke out in Mali. He had spent time in the West African nation for his PhD research and he watched from afar as the country’s stability fell apart. Seeing even vital humanitarian actions scaled back, for security reasons, he knew he had to return, armed with his knowledge of Mali and his anthropologist’s point of view."

### Risk from Volcanic Ash in the Earth System

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/risk-from-volcanic-ash-in-the-earth-system
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Donald Bruce DINGWELL

Over 107,000 flights were cancelled during the 8-day travel ban, accounting for 48% of total air traffic and involving roughly 10 million passengers. The 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland was a succinct demonstration of the vulnerability of our society to the disastrous socio-economic impacts of volcanic activity. During transport and upon deposition, ash creates a range of hazards over great distances from the volcano and on various timescales. Recent technological advances now permit the thorough study of ash and have for the first time given access to the main processes that take place during the life cycle of ash. Prof. Donald Dingwell intends to map out these processes in a strictly quantitative and physiochemical manner using a series of experiments performed under controlled laboratory conditions. He will specifically track the mechanisms of ash generation in the volcano, determining the physical properties and the amount of fine material produced during eruptions. He will also study mechanisms of ash alteration and ash aggregation during transportation and deposition, which are mainly driven by the ash's original properties and interaction with volcanic gases. Finally, Prof. Donald Dingwell will analyze drivers of ash melting and sintering processes as well as the inflammatory potential of ash. The fundamental stakeholder value of the research is the establishment of a new, robust, physiochemical basis for risk associated with volcanic ash. It involves the science of volcanic ash itself as well as the vulnerability of aviation to volcanic ash events. Prof. Donald Dingwell will generate the basis for a reliable dialogue between scientists and societal stakeholders. If he’s convincing, he may persuade us to act based on well-constrained prior knowledge.

### HTLV-1 viral biofilm: generation and transmission of a new infectious entity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/htlv-1-viral-biofilm-generation-and-transmission-of-a-new-infectious-entity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marina CAILLET

A never-before-seen way for viruses to spread during an infection was discovered in Dr. Marina Caillet’s lab. HTLV-1, a virus that causes both leukemia and a neurological disease, is able to exit the infected cell, enclosed in a protective cocoon of extracellular matrix proteins, called a viral biofilm. Caillet is studying this new form of transmission to understand how viral biofilms form and function. The answers may be relevant to other viruses such as HIV and could present new strategies for controlling infection.

### Finding a cure for Huntington’s disease by boosting degradation of toxic proteins

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/finding-a-cure-for-huntingtons-disease-by-boosting-degradation-of-toxic-proteins
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Katrin JUNEMANN

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that causes the progressive loss of cognitive and motor functions and ultimately leads to death. Today, there are no preventive treatments nor cures for this devastating, age-related disease that affects an average of 5 to 10 people per 100,000, albeit with a highly variable worldwide prevalence. Although the mutated gene responsible for the disease is known, the exact mechanisms leading to the premature death of neurons in patients with HD are not yet fully understood. Dr. Katrin Jünemann aims to elucidate them. Her focus is on finding a way to avoid the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain, a hallmark of HD and of other neurodegenerative diseases (ND) in general. Indeed, one of the neurological consequences of Huntington’s disease is the accumulation of the mutant protein called huntingtin (mHtt) in brain cells. This toxic build-up ultimately results in the death of brain cells, which in turn causes devastating symptoms such as psychiatric and behavioural problems, difficulties with feeding and communication, and abnormal movements. In healthy individuals, the huntingtin protein, like all other proteins, is synthesized and then degraded, which allows for the constant renewal and regulation of cells. However, with mHtt proteins, the degradation mechanisms appear to be inefficient—a phenomenon that is made even worse by aging. “Every cell has a trash bin. The older you get, the harder the cells can deal with emptying those thrash bins,” explains Dr. Katrin Jünemann. Her objective is to elucidate why the degradation process is jeopardized, in order to develop a therapeutic strategy to delay or even prevent the onset of HD through artificially improving degradation of mHtt.

### Understanding fluid-induced seismicity to mitigate the risks of man-made earthquakes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/understanding-fluid-induced-seismicity-to-mitigate-the-risks-of-man-made-earthquakes
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Georgios MICHAS

Not all earthquakes are triggered by natural causes. Some of them are the result of human activity. Induced seismicity can be caused by activities associated with gas or fluid injections and extractions from the Earth’s crust, the impoundment of reservoirs and mining. Such activities alter the regional stress field in the Earth’s crust and bring faults closer to failure. Although most man-made earthquakes are of low or moderate magnitude, the fact that affected areas are not necessarily prone to natural seismicity means that the populations and the infrastructures are not always adequately prepared. The focus of Dr. Georgios Michas’ research will be on fluid-induced seismicity. Recognizing that this phenomenon is not usually included in earthquake hazard assessments, Dr. Michas’s aim is to develop a tool that will help understand how fluids behave in the ground in order to prevent potentially dangerous practices. Fluid-induced earthquakes are caused by either the injection of pressurized fluids into underground formations, for instance in the context of geothermal operations, water disposals, and oil and gas operations such as hydraulic fracturing, or the building up of pressure due to large amounts of water stocked in water dams. When large volumes of fluid are injected into the ground, some of it may infiltrate active faults and disrupt the natural forces holding the rock together. This can cause a sudden slip that releases stored energy, potentially triggering an earthquake. “ Pressurized fluids can act as lubricant, so the fault can slip more easily ”, explains Dr. Georgios Michas. “The dynamics involved are complex”, he says. “ For instance, fluid injection can cause earthquakes very far from where the injection took place and a very long time after it. It can take days, months or even years. ”

### Collective motor oscillations from calcium feedback in a minimal acto-myosin system in vitro

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/collective-motor-oscillations-from-calcium-feedback-in-a-minimal-acto-myosin-system-in-vitro
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Mathieu RICHARD

Our hearing seems to be linked to the ability of hair cells in the inner ear to power mechanical oscillations, but it remains unclear exactly how this works. Using a novel approach, Mathieu Richard aims to create a bio-mechanical model.

### Serotonergic Mechanisms of Vulnerability to Stimulant Addiction

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/serotonergic-mechanisms-of-vulnerability-to-stimulant-addiction
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Bianca JUPP

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Magma movements and associated stress changes at Eyjafjallajökull and Katla volcanoes, Iceland

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/magma-movements-and-associated-stress-changes-at-eyjafjallajokull-and-katla-volcanoes-iceland
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fabien ALBINO

You may have noticed that if someone close to you is experiencing a stressful period, it may influence your stress level. However, you may not be aware that this simple rule also applies to volcanoes. That is why Dr. Fabien Albino has decided to focus his research on interactions that are triggered by stress changes in the crust between two neighboring subglacial Icelandic volcanoes, Katla and Eyjafjallajökull. His aim is to understand whether and how the magmatic activity of one of the two volcanoes can influence the actions of the other. Can such activity affect the stability of the nearby volcano’s magma reservoir? Can it potentially trigger an eruption of the neighboring volcano? As an example, he has chosen to examine the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, which disrupted air traffic in Europe for several days. The effect of this eruption on the dangerous nearby volcano, Katla, which has not been previously studied, will be quantified and incorporated into a fully functional 3D numerical model. More generally, this tool could be used not only for Icelandic volcanoes, but also to identify eruptions triggered by stress interactions for all neighboring volcanoes around the world. Dr. Albino’s work will contribute to improving eruption forecasting worldwide and may have effective consequences for volcanic hazard mitigation.

### Metrics for Policy Action in Urban Areas: Characterizing Risks Facing Low-income Groups

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/metrics-for-policy-action-in-urban-areas-characterizing-risks-facing-low-income-groups
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Cassidy JOHNSON

At least a third of the population in cities of the Global South lives in informal settlements lacking basic water, sanitation infrastructure, and threatened by environmental hazards. Dr. Johnson collaborates with practitioners, researchers and policy-makers in Tanzania to bring into policy debate how to collect data and measure those environmental risks. This research will enable local decision-makers make informed planning decisions for risk reduction in Tanzania and other emerging countries.

### Gauging the impact of reform on
the French system of taxes and public benefits

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/gauging-the-impact-of-reform-on-the-french-system-of-taxes-and-public-benefits
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Brice FABRE

In all complex systems, the overall impact of a change in variables is hard to predict. The French tax and benefit system is no exception. Its non-linearity, the diversity of individuals’ characteristics, and the interaction between different taxes and benefits make it arduous for policymakers or analysts to properly anticipate the impact of reforms. In view of improving the policy debate in France, Dr. Brice Fabre’s post-doctoral project aims to build a dynamic computer model encompassing the complete French system of taxes and public benefits. This ambitious enterprise relies on the use of French administrative data, « which has been made recently available to the research community through secured access », the researcher explains. A prime objective of the model is to incorporate behavioural responses to changes in tax and benefit systems, as « they are key to discriminate between alternative policy options ». What is more, the model will be available in open source.  

### Improving estimations of CO2 emissions under REDD+ scheme in Amazonian forests: better understanding for climate change mitigation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/improving-estimations-of-co2-emissions-under-redd-scheme-in-amazonian-forests-better-understanding-for-climate-change-mitigation
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Diego NAVARRETE

The disappearing Amazon rainforest often makes us think of the species whose habitat is being destroyed. But deforestation is also a major contributor to carbon emissions worldwide—even more than the global transportation sector. Thus, in order to help countries reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we need to be able to quantify the flow of carbon after deforestation. Emissions from past events must be estimated, too, using country-specific data and statistics that describe how carbon is released from the soil and from the decomposing dead wood and roots remaining from the forest. To do so, Diego Navarrete is collecting samples from areas of Colombia where Amazonian forest has been converted to pasture. His analyses will allow him to calculate how carbon is released over time, refining estimates of GHG emissions. His works feeds into the REDD+ initiative (Reducing CO2 Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), which is an important strategy for reducing the effects of forest loss on the climate. This program provides incentives for developing countries to manage their forests better. Carbon credits earned for their good management, for instance, may be redeemed elsewhere for the development of other sectors. Diego Navarrete’s research will help ensure a more accurate distribution of carbon credits, improving Colombian REDD+ climate projects, as well as our understanding of carbon emissions provoked every time we change the Earth’s land cover.

### European Windstorms in a Changing Climate: Storm Tracks, Clustering and Multi-peril Extremes

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/european-windstorms-in-a-changing-climate-storm-tracks-clustering-and-multi-peril-extremes
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: David STEPHENSON

Large annual losses can arise from the collective risk associated with European windstorms. This is due to the clustering of successive storms and the dependency between storm-related wind speed and rainfall extremes. There is growing scientific evidence that natural variations in the large-scale flow induce dependency between successive storms and between wind and rainfall extremes. “For example, the severe storms that impacted France in December 1999 were due to the persistence of a strong upper-level jet stream. We know that this condition provides the energy needed for the explosive growth of damaging windstorms,” explained Prof. David Stephenson. Prof. David Stephenson is leading a project aimed at quantifying future changes in the collective risk associated with European windstorms. More specifically, he is assessing the potential evolution of European windstorm events by focusing on large-scale changes in the North Atlantic storm track and their relationship to regional changes in landfall windstorms across Europe. He is also examining the relationship between extremes of precipitation, wind speed, wind damage and floods as well as the clustering of extreme events related to windstorms across Europe.

### Fiscal Policies in developing countries

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/fiscal-policies-in-developing-countries
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Lucie GADENNE

Gaining a better understanding of the economic and social impact of tax policies on developing counties is the aim the research conducted by Lucie Gadenne, PhD candidate at the Paris School of Economics. The young researcher is studying the link between mode of public finance and quality of public spending. Using her own model, she has demonstrated that the more governments raise revenue through local taxes, the greater the quality of their spending on public goods (education, healthcare, etc.). On the other hand, the more the revenue is collected through transfers from the central government, the greater the chance of such funds being diverted. To confirm these results, Lucie Gadenne focused her study on Brazil, country known for government corruption, but that has been investing in a program to modernize the local tax administrations for a number of years. The conclusion of her study is clear: the program raised local tax revenue by 11% after four years. And just as shown by her model, the revenue thus generated was used to invest in public goods and was not diverted by politicians. Conversely, where federal transfers increased, so did corruption, with no benefit for local citizens. In view of the fact that most international funding is distributed through central governments, her research sheds interesting light on the performance of official development assistance.

### Mother’s Immune System, HIV and Preterm Birth

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mothers-immune-system-hiv-and-preterm-birth
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nadia CHANZU

While antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been very successful in preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to her unborn child, the fetus remains at risk of other ill effects. HIV-positive pregnant women are significantly more likely to give birth prematurely. Even if not born pre-term, babies are also underweight at birth (Small for Gestational Age) and these infants suffer considerably more health problems in their first year of life. Dr. Nadia Chanzu believes that the connection between HIV/ART and adverse pregnancy outcomes has to do with the delicate balance of an expectant mother’s immune system with the developing baby. HIV infection and treatment of the HIV-positive mother with antiretroviral drugs, along with the poor health of the mother may be disrupting the immune equilibrium that exists between mother and unborn child. The placenta is where this balancing act takes place, which is known as a state of immunological tolerance. It is crucial that this process function correctly, as the placenta is the only physical connection between mother and child in the womb. The placenta protects the baby from infections, like HIV, and also from being rejected by the mother’s immune system. Since a fetus is “half-mom, half-dad”, without this system of tolerance, it would be detected as foreign by the mother’s body.

### A state-of-art imaging technique to map the tumour's microenvironment

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-state-of-art-imaging-technique-to-map-the-tumours-microenvironment
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Kok Hao CHEN

Cancer patients often present metastasis at diagnosis, a state where cancer has spread from its original site. Once this complex and still largely mysterious process starts, the cancer becomes much harder to treat. "Many cancer therapies fail because we still have a poor understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying tumour progression", Dr. Kok Hao Chen points out. "We need to find ways to detect and analyze cancer growth early." "I learned from my clinical colleagues that a tumour is a highly heterogeneous tissue consisting of cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells (connective tissue cells), and many other components", explains Dr. Chen. "Observing their spatial organisation and complex interactions has been a technical challenge. Current techniques either provide detailed RNA profile of each cells or spatial organisation of a few RNAs, but they can't do both. The MERFISH technique can. It is indeed uniquely suited to address this question". During his graduate study, Dr. Chen and his colleagues developed an innovative state of the art imaging technology, called MERFISH, capable of mapping tissue functions at the cellular level by analyzing hundreds of RNA molecules inside individual cells. Recognizing the need for a detailed cellular map of the tumour microenvironment, Dr. Chen aims to apply the MERFISH technique to analyze tumour samples for his post-doctoral work. "So far, the spatial organisation of a tumour's microenvironment is kind of a black box and it could vary wildly between patients," Dr. Chen explains. "We don't have a clear picture of how the growing cancer cells interact with the surrounding tissue and how the cells from our body are responding to it. Accurately reading a tumour’s cellular state may help us see critical cues about cell behaviour". Using MERFISH, Dr. Chen and his team aim to dissect both the nature and the organization of exchanges taking place in and around the tumour.

### Role of the LINC Complex in Endothelial Cell Mechanotransduction

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/role-of-the-linc-complex-in-endothelial-cell-mechanotransduction
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Julie LAFAURIE-JANVORE

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Continuity of the essential services in the face of earthquake emergency: assessing, mitigating and monitoring the seismic risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/continuity-of-the-essential-services-in-the-face-of-earthquake-emergency-assessing-mitigating-and-monitoring-the-seismic-risk
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anna REGGIO

In an earthquake, a building that doesn’t collapse is a well-designed building, right? That’s not the whole story, says Dr. Anna Reggio. Preventing structural collapse is necessary, but not sufficient, for a community to bounce back after disaster. To show resilience, it needs to maintain, as much as possible, its essential functions: hospitals must still treat patients; water and power must still be provided; industrial plants must continue to operate without any environmental impact or prolonged downtime. To recover quickly and efficiently, a community must also minimize the indirect losses resulting from businesses interruption, displaced populations and unemployment. Designing a structure to reduce loss of life in an earthquake is thus only a minimum. Much more could be achieved if the aim were to maintain a specific level of operations for each essential building, with what is known as performance-based seismic design. Dr. Reggio is developing methods to analyze the earthquake readiness of buildings and identifying design criteria that will ensure both structural safety and the continuous functioning of essential systems and equipment. Her research helps change building codes so that existing and future constructions take into account all the dimensions of earthquake resilience, thereby aiming to reduce the impact of a variety of risks that arise when the earth starts to shake.

### Wrapping Up Pandemics in New Nanomaterials

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/wrapping-up-pandemics-in-new-nanomaterials
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lorenzo ALBERTAZZI

“Know your enemy” is Dr. Lorenzo Albertazzi’s advice – age-old wisdom that serves him well in his hunt for new ways of fighting pandemics. Today’s weapons in the battle against deadly viruses, like influenza or Ebola, all suffer from the same problem. Whether faced with vaccines or drugs, viruses continuously mutate, changing themselves, and strains resistant to our tools always emerge. “Right now, each time a new virus appears, it’s a race against time,” says Dr. Albertazzi. This is what makes his approach fundamentally different; it is based on nanotechnology and could introduce a whole new class of tools to fight viruses. His work is at the interface of biology and chemistry, and relies on novel materials his research team is creating. They are like tiny fibers, designed with little “handles” able to grab the surface of a virus. Once it is wrapped up in these wire-like, nano-scale filaments, the virus should no longer be able to infect a cell. Being a physical block of viral activity, this method would be less susceptible to the emergence of resistant strains that is the downfall of classic treatments. What’s more, Dr. Albertazzi’s new materials, called supramolecular polymers, behave in unique and promising ways. The fiber is dynamic, its individual units assembling themselves, coming apart and changing position continuously. He has shown that this behavior allows the polymers to adapt their structure to a particular target—even a mutating virus—enhancing their ability to lock onto it. Knowing how these fibers are interacting with the surface of the virus will be a major part of Dr. Albertazzi’s research. For this, he will rely on super-resolution microscopy to observe them and aid in the rational design of the most efficient nanomaterials to do the job. Strategies to make them non-toxic for humans and invisible to our immune system are also an essential part of the project. At a time when new approaches are critical in the fight against pandemic infectious diseases, the promise of nanomedicine and of Dr. Albertazzi’s preliminary results suggest a bright future for his very special materials. Scientific title: Novel approaches for Pandemic Virus Targeting Using Adaptive Polymers To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### A New Driver of Immune Diseases: The Many Faces of B Cells

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-new-driver-of-immune-diseases-the-many-faces-of-b-cells
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Simon FILLATREAU

The human immune system is a wondrous thing, flexible enough to adapt to innumerable assaults that come its way, while neutralizing each with precision. Occasionally, though, glitches do occur, leading to autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis or type 1 diabetes, or chronic allergy. These are increasingly prevalent conditions, which usually start in children or young adults and subsequently last for a lifetime. Science has uncovered a great deal about these diseases, but now the paradigm is shifting regarding the role of different actors of the immune system and Prof. Simon Fillatreau is a pioneer in this field. His goal is to understand the diverse class of immune cells that he believes drives such diseases and to bring this pre-clinical knowledge to the patient’s bedside. Prof. Fillatreau’s focus is the immune system’s B cells. Certain members of their ranks produce antibodies specific to each foreign invader; others display samples of those invaders to other cells that will destroy them. Treatments depleting B cells have had a positive effect in patients with some autoimmune diseases, suggesting they play a role in causing disease. Prof. Fillatreau was among the first to show that a key culprit was a third type of B cell, one producing molecular messengers, called cytokines, that affect the behavior of other cells. Those messengers that promote inflammation actually drive the development of certain diseases that, until now, everyone had attributed solely to another actor of the immune system, the T cells.

### Assessing the risks of Earthquake ‘Domino Effect’ to improve resilience

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/assessing-the-risks-of-earthquake-domino-effect-to-improve-resilience
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Xuanmei FAN

Strong ground motion is not the only hazard associated with earthquakes. Landslides induced by seismic activity, common in some regions of the world, have the potential to generate a disaster chain with catastrophic consequences. Large-scale landslides can, for instance, block rivers and threaten to flood communities living downstream. The 2015 earthquake in Nepal is a telling example of how devastating earthquake-induced landslides and their subsequent events can be. By shedding light on the complex mechanisms that generate these cascading geological hazards, Dr. Xuanmei Fan aims at a better understanding of how, where and when these events are likely to take place and to affect populations. Her research ultimately seeks to provide insight on how to mitigate these risks and improve resilience. Developing a model to assess and even predict the risks associated with earthquake-induced cascading geological hazards

### Robustness in managing risk uncertainty

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/robustness-in-managing-risk-uncertainty
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anders SANDBERG

Assessing the Robustness of Methods to Better Manage Risk Uncertainty Wouldn’t you agree that once-in-a-million events occur too often for comfort? This stems from the fact that our models of risk assessment have limitations, especially when they deal with low-probability, high-impact events such as the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident. Dr. Anders Sandberg thinks our brain’s biology is partially at fault here. We have not evolved to be good at this kind of analysis, so our software is buggy, our plans imperfect and our risk models regularly deceived by cataclysmic chains of events. In many cases, there is a far greater likelihood of the model being wrong than of the risk occurring. In order to better deal with this sobering fact and help decision- and policy-makers use more robust risk scenarios, Dr. Sandberg is exploring how to construct “fault-tolerant” reasoning: models with built-in redundancy, using competing groups to improve robustness and reduce the impact of our biases. This may not stop the once-in-a-million events from happening, but at least we will be more ready for them. My research focuses on improving methods of analysing risks under conditions of data scarcity and model uncertainty. In particular, to improving the robustness of reasoning about risks when model, calculation and argument errors are likely. Due to human cognitive biases and limitations on rationality such reasoning is often erroneous, leading to bad decisions. However, methods from reliability theory and ‘red team’ security gaming might be able to improve the robustness of risk assessment and reduce cognitive biases.

### Transient free-surface flows of concentrated suspensions: application to geophysical flows

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/transient-free-surface-flows-of-concentrated-suspensions-application-to-geophysical-flows
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sébastien WIEDERSEINER

Predicting how mayonnaise will spread on an inclined surface is extremely difficult. This may not seem of serious concern to you, but it actually illustrates our imperfect knowledge of the physics of complex fluid flows, which also applies to debris flows, torrential floods and snow avalanches. To learn more about these processes, Dr. Sébastien Wiederseiner is carrying out laboratory experiments using mixtures of fluids and beads and analyzing them with advanced visualization methods. He is studying how heterogeneous mixtures behave—a matter of intense debate. The answer to this question is crucial for the development of predictive models, which are to date based on speculative theories. The aim of Dr. Wiederseiner is to develop more relevant models that may be used by local authorities in charge of land settlement in potentially hazardous areas.

### Studying cancer pathways in stem cells

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/studying-cancer-pathways-in-stem-cells
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marco CANDEIAS

When discussing cancer, balance is everything. p53, a gene famous for its mood swings, can either start or stop tumors. Whether pre-cancerous cells lean towards survival or death depends a lot on what p53 proteins do and how much they do it. Interestingly, Dr. Candeias has revealed that levels of p53 proteins are regulated by… p53 itself! Or, rather, by p53 messenger RNA (mRNA), the intermediary which gives instructions to make p53 proteins. Unorthodoxly, the molecule happens to protect from destruction the very proteins that it makes. A kick in the guts of molecular biology doctrines that explains some of p53’s fancies: even with operational proteins, malfunctioning RNA could deregulate the cell’s fragile equilibrium. Grasp of the nuts and bolts of mRNA multi-functionality could open way for cancer treatments that target only the desired functions of p53 and avoid secondary side effects. My research focuses on the protein p53, a key mediator of the DNA damage response which controls genome stability and cancer development. My aim is to verify the importance of the p53 mRNA (messenger RNA) – Mdm2 interaction in controlling the protein Mdm2 and p53 functions. This study holds promise to offer a viable explanation to why induction of Mdm2 by p53 in response to DNA damage leads to an actual increase in p53 activity and not to p53 inactivation.

### Understanding Internal Erosion in Embankment Structures

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/understanding-internal-erosion-in-embankment-structures
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: John PENNEFATHER

Embankment dams save lives. Along with flood embankments, these strong structures supply us with water, guard us from floods and contribute to power generation. On a global scale, 45,000 large dams were built to withstand all odds, yet what can be done when this power wanes? Research has shown that internal erosion—a process whereby soil particles are “washed out” under the action of water seepage forces—is eating away at the integrity of these superheroes. With the help of an industrial advisory panel, John Pennefather’s mission as embankment protector is to simulate and model internal erosion at the scale of individual particles in order to study the formation of weak zones in dams or their foundation and assess the vulnerability of existing structures. Thanks to his work, dam engineering design may be improved to prevent collapses and better protect human lives and infrastructures against climate change. My research focuses on the development of multiphase flow models, suitable for the modelling of densely packed granular materials and the application of these models to assessing the internal instability of earthen dams. Within model development my focus is on immersed boundary methods however a number of lower fidelity models are considered to increase the scope situations which can be modelled. In terms of the application of these models, my primary interest is the initiation and propagation of suffusion and erosion, two of the most prevalent causes of catastrophic dam failure and currently the least well understood from a micro-mechanical perspective.

### Assessing the risk of mortality in cases of near-miss maternal morbidity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/assessing-the-risk-of-mortality-in-cases-of-near-miss-maternal-morbidity
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Gilles KAYEM

Death during pregnancy and childbirth, although rare in modern countries, still exists. Dr. Gilles Kayem is investigating maternal near-miss events, in which the mother comes close to death but does not die. They can leave women heavily handicapped for the rest of their lives. Kayem’s scrutiny of near-misses may give insight on how to avoid the rare, yet dramatic event of a healthy woman’s death during childbirth, which will be beneficial for obstetric practitioners and health-care units.

### Insurance modernity

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/insurance-modernity
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Raymond DARTEVELLE

With the exception of a few rare studies on modern maritime insurance, there is virtually no research on the role insurance has played in the process of internationalization and globalization. It is not until the mid-1990's that day-long study sessions, workshops and conferences began to be specifically devoted to insurance (United States, Japan, Germany, Spain and Switzerland). As for transnational dimensions and aspects related to the globalization of the economy, recent work on insurance, dominated by English-language studies, have now begun to broach the subject (cf. R. Pearson, P. Borscheid (ed.), Internationalization and Globalization of the Insurance Industry in the 19th and 20th centuries, Marburg, Philipps-University & Swiss Re Corporate History, 2007). Dr. Dartevelle's work bears more precisely on the (political and juridical) conditions for the penetration and diffusion of insurance companies and groups into foreign markets as well as the (commercial and technical) obstacles to this process. These studies often account for the role of States in commercial matters, for the relations between public and private and for the development of a policy of social insurance, but their main center of interest is in the conditions for the normalization of insurance techniques, product innovation (contracts, rate establishment, payment) in relation to technological and economic conditions, who buys insurance against new risks, the commercial strategies of sales by branch, the forms of distribution in relation to the evolution of the standard of living in each country, etc.

### Getting ready for the FinTech revolution in Europe

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/getting-ready-for-the-fintech-revolution-in-europe
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marco GAZEL

Cryptocurrencies, blockchain, open banking, smart contracts, robo-advisors, cybersecurity…  Technological innovation in the financial sector (FinTech) is experiencing a boom and profoundly transforming the industry. In just a few short years, companies that provide FinTech have disrupted and started reshaping almost every financial services: commerce, payments, investment, insurance, asset management, and even money itself. « Given the speed at which the restructuring of the financial industry is taking place, it will pose severe socio-economic challenges and opportunities that need to be understood in order for society to be prepared », Dr. Marco Gazel stresses when explaining the objective behind his postdoctoral project. The researcher in Economics is conducting research on the FinTech ecosystem in Europe. More specifically, his aim is to address the dynamics in which FinTech clusters are built and to investigate the eco-system characteristics needed to support this emerging industry in the major European economies, namely France, Germany and the UK. Fuelled by huge and increasing amounts of investment – $17.4 billion of venture capital investment in 2016 –, FinTech start-ups have started to change and will continue to deeply impact the financial industry. Once the realm of salesmen and desktops, financial products and services are now moving away from large, entrenched institutions and toward mobile devices. « According to the World Economic Forum of 2016 (WEF, 2016), digitalization and other recent technological developments such as smart systems and artificial intelligence will affect in many ways how the financial industry (among others) will operate in the future and which jobs will be destroyed, which ones newly created, and where they will be located », Dr. Marco Gazel reports. « One of the severe socio-economic challenges it will pose concerns needed recruitments and talent shortages, which in turn requires adaptations of our education system today to make individuals more flexible and adaptable to the changes to come. »

### Deciphering the Physico-Chemical Conditions Leading to the Formation of Ikaite in Polar Sea Ice

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/deciphering-the-physico-chemical-conditions-leading-to-the-formation-of-ikaite-in-polar-sea-ice
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Yubin HU

Never heard of ikaite? Don't worry! That’s probably because this rare mineral (CaCO3.6H2O) has only been recently discovered to appear in sea ice. Despite its tiny size (μm), the formation of ikaite could lead to CO2 fl ux out of sea ice, while its dissolution could lead to the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere. Yubin Hu’s current research investigates the role played by ikaite, which may contribute to an accurate understanding of its role in the carbon cycle—a crucial issue for global warming prediction. Hu will explore the mysteries of ikaite formation based on laboratory experiments. He will use state-of-the-art scientifi c equipment to reproduce the conditions of polar sea ice. Hu’s results may give a clue as to whether ikaite should be accounted for in climate models such as that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). My research focuses on the discovery of Ikaite (CaCO3.6H20) in sea ice recently, confirms the assumption that the formation of Calcium carbonate in sea ice. My research focuses on the formation of ikaite under sea ice conditions (eg. high pH, high salinity, low temperature) to reveal which condition favors the formation of ikaite. And also, I am interested in the fate of ikaite after sea ice melts. Whether it is dissolved in the seawater or sink to the ocean bottom is an important question for the polar and global carbon cycle.

### Predicting Moonlighting Proteins to Prevent Drug Side Effects

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/predicting-moonlighting-proteins-to-prevent-drug-side-effects
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Benoit ROBISSON

Undesired side effects, which threaten both patients and pharmaceutical companies, sometimes occur when a drug designed for a particular purpose affects proteins carrying unexpected functions. Benoît Robisson aims to identify such moonlighting proteins. Research on side-effects of drugs became an important subject of studies in the pharmaceutical field. Side-effects may be encountered when the chosen drug target is a moonlighting protein (i.e. protein with several unrelated functions). Therefore, this kind of proteins remains widely unknown, and there is a need to develop a method to identify them. We propose a large-scale and without a priori method based on the partitioning of protein-protein interactions networks. Proteins interact to perform there functions, and the partitioning group in a same class proteins involved in a same biological process. Then, proteins find at the intersection of several classes are good moonlighting proteins candidates.

### Better qualifying uncertainty when studying complex phenomena

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/better-qualifying-uncertainty-when-studying-complex-phenomena
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Maurizio FILIPPONE

When and where will the next high-magnitude earthquake hit ? What will be the outcome of a cancer treatment ? In the field of risk assessment, some predictions or estimations can have a huge impact on people’s lives and the environment and being able to quantify their level of uncertainty is of paramount importance for decision-making. The difficulty is that some systems are so complex and the data available so abundant and heterogeneous, that carrying out the calculations associated with these tasks is extremely challenging, if not impossible. Using a probabilistic approach, Prof. Maurizio Filippone from EURECOM aims to develop methodologies that will tackle these computational issues while enabling highly accurate quantification of uncertainty. The AXA Chair on New Computational Approaches to Risk Modeling will give him every advantage to reach his objective. « Thanks to advancements in sensor technology, it is now possible to collect and store weather information at a large scale, sequence the complete assembly of DNA, and obtain full 3D scans of the brain at millimeter-scale resolution », explains Prof. Maurizio Filippone. « Such advances make it possible to obtain an enormous amount of data that holds the key to unlock our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the characterization of risk in several disciplines ». Despite computers are becoming increasingly more powerful, this abundance of information remains extremely hard to process. « The key idea behind the project is that it is possible to carry out accurate quantification of uncertainty relying exclusively on approximate, and therefore cheaper, computations », explains Prof. Maurizio Filippone.

### AXA-CUHK Chair in Geography and Resource Management

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-cuhk-chair-in-geography-and-resource-management
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Lau NGAR-CHEUNG

The importance of climate change study to the world and next generation Climate change affects every facet of human society and the natural world. Such issues as global warming, altered rainfall patterns, sea level rise and increased incidence of extreme weather events have strong implications on our general life style, agricultural practices, economic growth, public health and design of our habitat in urban and rural settings. Weather hazards that might be related to climate change, such as tropical and extratropical storms, flood and drought episodes, and heat and cold spells, lead to considerable loss of human lives and socio-economic upheavals. Scientific projections indicate that many of the climate change signals will become clearly discernible in the course of the 21st century, and their impacts will be felt by the present and future generations. It is very important that we understand how the climate system will behave in the coming decades, so as to make advance planning to adapt to our changing environment.

### Tides as a remedy for sinking of deltas

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/tides-as-a-remedy-for-sinking-of-deltas
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Maximiliano Gabriel SASSI

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Neural Basis of expected utility and mean variance model of decision making

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/neural-basis-of-expected-utility-and-mean-variance-model-of-decision-making
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Mathieu D'ACREMONT

We use probability everyday, without even knowing it. When we drive, for instance, we evaluate the chances in real time of a bicycle moving over or a pedestrian crossing the street. But how does our brain process this information and therefore make a decision? Through a combination of neuroscience, psychology and economics, Mathieu d’Acremont has succeeded in identifying the parts of the brain involved in calculating “objective” probability, i.e., probability that we calculate using our own past experience, as opposed to “subjective” probability which depends on personal beliefs. One interesting result shows that these areas communicate between each other during the task, forming a cerebral network that “learns” as it goes. “This helps us better understand how our knowledge is updated based on new elements we encounter”, explained Mathieu d’Acremont. My research focuses on contrasting expected utility and mean-variance thinking in financial decision making. The impetus for this are recent findings that the human brain appears to encode both approaches. This may suggest that the human brain, through evolutionary pressures, is attempting to make the best use of both mean-variance and expected utility models.

### AXA-Chair for the Improvement of Healthcare Quality

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-chair-for-the-improvement-of-healthcare-quality
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Pedro SATURNO

Prof. Saturno’s objective is to structure system-wide initiatives to improve the quality of health services, aiming for universal and equitable access. His research tries to generate knowledge about barriers and the right interventions, rooted in a deep knowledge of the social, economic and health-system related causes. Key to the objective of equity in health is preventing, facing and remedying the life-long effects of vulnerability.

### Vigi-Sore – Conception of a technological device for the reduction or compensation of motor or mental handicap

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/vigi-sore-conception-of-a-technological-device-for-the-reduction-or-compensation-of-motor-or-mental-handicap
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Petra HLAVACKOVA

Wheelchair users stay in the same position all day long, which is not without consequences. One of the most dreaded complications is pressure sores, due to prolonged overpressure between the body and the wheelchair. Dr. Petra Hlavacková participated in designing “Vigi-Sore,” a technological device that detects and locates areas of excessive pressure on the buttocks. It may provide relief for people suffering from pressure sores, and hospital stays could be reduced. Prevention would therefore also be a cure for the economy. This researcher is also supported by the Garches Foundation.

### Person-Centric Policies for the Future of Insurance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/person-centric-policies-for-the-future-of-insurance
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Michel DENUIT

Insurance protects us with coverage, and actuaries work hard to establish the right prices to keep the whole system running smoothly. So, what if they were overlooking multiple sources of information? Today’s methods consider a person’s insurance contracts in isolation. An actuary working out the optimal price or design of an auto insurance policy only looks at auto insurance data for the person, without evaluating his or her home insurance history, for example. However, there is information in one kind of insurance that can shed light on another. As Dr. Michel Denuit puts it, "If you're cautious behind the wheel, you probably also avoid risks at home." The ambitious objective of his research project, a joint initiative with AXA Belgium, is to develop new methodologies that will help actuaries design better coverage. These would take into account multiple parameters of policyholder behavior and extend their analysis further into the future than has ever been done before. Currently, insurers’ predictions about policyholders look ahead by only one year. Yet, most policyholders expect to keep an insurance contract for several years, making a longer outlook of two to five years more relevant for insurers. For instance, in the short term, they may predict that a young driver will make claims in the first year, but accept that risk more readily, knowing that his or her driving is expected to improve with time. Another option could be to implement a pay-how-you-drive scheme, like driveXperience, offered by AXA Belgium. Dr. Denuit’s novel, multi-year approach could capture these types of dynamic behavior. To develop the necessary models, he will capitalize on AXA’s vast database of anonymized policyholder information, covering their full portfolio over several years. This data consists of classical variables, like policyholder age, type of vehicle, and information about their deductible. Dr. Denuit’s statistical models could process all this policyholder information to learn what happens for one insurance product given the existing knowledge of other products, providing a better risk forecast on the customer level. The unique partnership with AXA will also allow him to test his models’ predictive ability and compare it with the reality contained in the dataset. The project will benefit from the expertise of Dr. Julien Trufin, a professor of actuarial science at ULB in Brussels, as well. By helping actuaries calculate prices more effectively, this work could decrease premium payments for some, while others would likely see prices go up. Insurers could take the opportunity created by these models to educate people whose behavior appears quite risky. And, for everyone, it would become easier for policyholders to demonstrate to an insurance company their quality as customers, Dr. Denuit says. “This is because we would learn more about people, faster. If you report no claim on any other insurance, after just a few years you could show your insurer that you’re a very good policyholder of the specific insurance in question.” This advantage could become automatic for consumers. Flexible, tailored insurance offers of this kind are becoming more the norm and Dr. Denuit’s dynamic, person-centric take on risk promises to benefit both sides.

### How will climate change impact pollination ?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/how-will-climate-change-impact-pollination
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Coline JAWORSKI

Animal-mediated pollination is essential to the reproduction of 90 % of flowering plants and a third of crop production. The global decline of pollinator populations is thus ample cause for alarm. Several human-driven factors are contributing to this disturbing trend, not the least of which is climate change. Recognising the urgency of the situation and the pressing need for innovative solutions, especially considering human population growth, Dr. Coline Jaworski’s project aims to use floral scent as an effective tool for investigating the impact of climate change on pollinator networks. « Floral scent emissions are known to be highly affected by hydric stress and temperature, which makes them a good tracer of climate change », the researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Biodiversity and Ecology (IMBE) explains. Her research will be conducted in the surroundings of Marseille, on the Mediterranean coast of France, « a region predicted to face a severe drought intensification and an increased frequency of wildfire events by 2050 », she highlights. By trying to shed light on some of the underlying mechanisms that destabilise animal-mediated pollination there, her ultimate objective is to bring forward clear recommendations for conservation.

### Mittag-Leffler Fellowship Project

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/mittag-leffler-fellowship-project
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Anders BJORNER

Calm, silent and peaceful: time seems to stop for three to eight months and there is nothing but complex mathematical concepts. A meeting place for internationally-renowned mathematicians and junior participants around one special subject, chosen within the mathematical sciences – pure or applied. That’s what happens at the Mittag-Leffler Institute, a research center unlike any other in Djursholm, a suburb of Stockholm. Internationally known as the oldest mathematics research institute in the world, it operates under the auspices of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences but enjoys great autonomy. Founded in 1916, the Mittag-Leffler Institute has organized thematic research programs since 1968. Its mission is to support international top-level research in mathematics. Scientific programs are created to give mathematicians the opportunity to spend a period of time at the Institute doing research under optimal circumstances, in the company of and in collaboration with internationally renowned scientists in their respective fields. The current program at the Institute is devoted to Geometric and Analytic Aspects of Group Theory. Group Theory, in its various forms, plays an important role in several areas of modern mathematics, also extending into other sciences such as theoretical physics. Group Theory is thus a natural meeting point for geometry, topology, analysis, dynamics, number theory, combinatorics, probability theory, and so on. The program reflects this diversity of connections. In addition to weekly seminars with lectures by the participants, it is essential for successful research in mathematics to have ample time for concentration and undisturbed work. For this reason visits for less than one month are generally not allowed, making the Institute different from other mathematical research institutes in Europe and North America.

### Chair AXA - HEC For Decision Science

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/chair-axa-hec-for-decision-science
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Itzhak GILBOA

Life is replete with decisions, most of which have unknown consequences. As individuals and as societies, when we decide whether to undergo medical treatment, or act against global warming, we make decisions without knowing what will actually happen. Among these decisions, we distinguish between two main types: those in which probabilities are known, such as in the case of insuring one’s car and those in which probabilities are not known, and where expert advice may diverge, such as in the case of global warming or financial crises. To better control this uncertainty, between the 17th and 20th centuries, probability theory saw the rise of two opposing camps, as often happens in science. One camp, which is typically associated with economics, formal models, and high-powered mathematics, argues that classical theory is the only way to make decisions rationally; that economic agents are probably smart enough to know it; and, in case they’re not, that they should be taught the theory. The other camp, associated with psychology, makes a strong appeal to intuition and argues, based on experimental work, that rational decision theory is close to useless, even as a lofty goal of how decisions ought to be made, let alone as a description of how people actually behave. Professor Gilboa’s goal is to take the best insights from each school of thought. He takes a much more modest view of theory than do some theorists: theory provides tools to hone and sharpen intuition, but it is not designed to replace it. At the same time, he takes a more critical view of experiments than do some experimentalists: experiments are necessary to delineate the scope of theories, but they rarely constitute clear-cut refutations, as in the natural sciences. In Gilboa’s view, it would be a grave mistake to ignore psychological evidence and pretend that people do - or even that they can - make decisions, as the classical models suggest. But it would be an equally serious mistake to rely on intuition alone and to assume that the formal, mathematically based theory of decision making has nothing to teach us. In the context of probability, there are situations, such as gambling in casinos, where there are known and well-defined probabilities that can be used for standard calculations. Such calculations can help us avoid mistakes – such as the “gambler’s fallacy” whereby people believe that successive occurrences of the same outcome (e.g., a sequence of coin tosses all coming up heads) makes it more likely that the next occurrence will be different (i.e., tails), as though to “compensate” for the past. This is a plain mistake, originating from a misunderstanding of the “law of large numbers”. Once explained (each coin toss is an independent event not caused by prior history), people see the logic and understand why they were wrong. In contrast, there are situations in which people do not obey classical theory because they do not have access to well-defined probabilities, as is the case with stock market crashes. In these cases, people often insist that classical theory does not capture their intuition. As a result, they may not find classical theory very useful. This means that decision theory needs to develop a better understanding of how people behave in such situations. However, it does not mean that all of decision theory is useless. In the final analysis, a good decision is one that is considered as such by the decision maker. Rationality is not a medal of honour bestowed on selected decision makers by decision theorists. Rationality is a matter of subjective coherence, of a person feeling that they have made the best decision they could have. In most situations, pure theory cannot dictate what the “correct” decision is; but it can, and should, help the decision maker in finding out what the best decision is for her in the situation at hand. That’s why Professor Gilboa tries to combine, with a sufficient degree of openness and critical thinking, mathematical theory, intuition, and psychological evidence in order to help people understand the decisions of others, and make better decisions . Thanks to an academic background both in mathematics and economics at Tel-Aviv University, which led him to Northwestern and then Yale University, Professor Gilboa’s work is at the crossroads of various fields. This AXA Chair position at HEC helps him to advance decision science: not only does the HEC department of Economics & Decision Science encompass research activities in a large and fertile range of topics from robustness theory to financial economics, but HEC is also one of the best business schools in the world, where tomorrow’s decision makers are trained.

### Small-scale weather events have a substantial cost too

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/small-scale-weather-events-have-a-substantial-cost-too
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Christian ROHRBECK

It is not just natural disasters that pose a risk to society and the economy. As a matter of fact, small scale weather events, such as severe rainfall and periods of snowmelt, are responsible for the majority (60%) of global insured losses. Anticipating such episodes and the chain of events that leads to adverse impacts is a challenging endeavour. « Current statistical models exhibit substantial limitations », Dr. Christian Rohrbeck points out when explaining the objective behind his postdoctoral project. « They fail to explain the weather dynamics leading to property losses ». The researcher thus aims to develop a new methodology that will better evaluate the risks induced by such weather events on a much more detailed regional level. In the wake of climate change, his goal is also to assess the impact of global warming on the frequency and severity of these risks. The outputs of this project will help society and the economy in several aspects, for instance, with a view to designing future protection measures. « My proposed research project focuses on property damages. Specifically, I will analyse

### Tiny Particles from Fire Have Big Climate Impact

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/tiny-particles-from-fire-have-big-climate-impact
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ville VAKKARI

Air quality forecasts, designed to warn you of hazardous pollution in the air, may be underestimating the risk when it comes to major fires. During a fire, a plethora of tiny particles and trace gases are released in the smoke. Tiny and trace though they may be, they add up, interact and change with time. Today’s models that predict air quality in the region near a fire tend to underestimate the number of particles, a discrepancy that researchers have to correct for. Dr. Ville Vakkari is taking an innovative approach to improving these local predictions and to understanding what it means for the global climate when these substances enter the atmosphere. He is producing entirely new information by combining ground-based measurements of airborne particles in the smoke with satellite data capable of identifying the very fire they came from. The latter will allow him to correlate particle characteristics with the age of the fire, the type of environment it was consuming, whether it was burning with flame or quietly smoldering… All of these are clues to the type and number of particles that found their way into the air and what happened to them next. The protagonists in this story are the aerosol particles generated by a fire. As small as a nanometer (one billionth of a meter), there are thousands of them suspended in every cubic centimeter of air. Other players are in gas form and interactions among them or with sunlight can trigger chemical reactions, potentially growing the tiny particles to climatically relevant sizes or producing a secondary set of particles. Identifying the particles present, and the balance among them, is important for Dr. Vakkari, because of their sometimes opposite effects on the climate. Soot, for example, absorbs solar radiation, leading to heating; others, including secondary particles, reflect it, causing cooling, instead. More particles in the atmosphere will also make clouds last longer and make them brighter—two factors that can lead to cooling. “For both cases, the question is how particle properties change during smoke plume transport,” he explains. Dr. Vakkari adds that “burning crop residues is a common agricultural practice around the world, but this is not necessarily a good thing.” Add that to the increased risk of natural fires due to extreme droughts linked to climate change, and we all have an interest in understanding what these tiny particles, born of fire, get up to in our air. Scientific title : Atmospheric Evolution Of Biomass Burning Emissions To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Ensuring water security under climate change on the Seine River; multi-reservoir multi-purpose reservoir management by use of Model Predictive Control

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/ensuring-water-security-under-climate-change-on-the-seine-river-multi-reservoir-multi-purpose-reservoir-management-by-use-of-model-predictive-control
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: LUCIANO RASO

In 1910, the city of Paris suffered a flood of historic proportions when the Seine River overflowed its banks. If the waterway repeated this performance today, without the control offered by reservoirs, the damage could reach 18 billion euros; with reservoirs, that cost could be cut in half. As climate change is expected to increase the chance of extreme events affecting the water supply, the ability to manage this resource becomes ever more critical. Luciano Raso is convinced that, by optimizing reservoir management systems with predictive models, it will be possible to improve control over our water resources, without increasing costs. Using the strategically important Seine as a test subject, Dr. Raso is developing management methods tailored to the reservoir system. For this, his models must take into account the consequences for the entire system (rivers, groundwater, etc.) as well as all of the final uses for water (drinking water, electricity production, and more.) The challenge is to create a harmonized management system capable of addressing two conflicting goals: controlling the huge amounts of water that flow through our communities at times and alleviating drought conditions at others. Luciano Raso aims to develop a system where early action is possible, whenever floods or drought are forecast. The potential utility of this work is clear—for Paris and for other communities anticipating similar water predicaments around the world.

### Strengthening health care systems in aging East Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/strengthening-health-care-systems-in-aging-east-asia
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Hongsoo KIM

Aging populations are currently a challenge to every healthcare system around the world. An older population translates into increased chronic and long-term care needs, which in turn translates into increased financial burden. For some countries, however, the socio-economic threat is more imminent than for others. This is the case for East Asian countries, where about one third of the world’s older population resides and where 15% of working-age adults will have disappeared by 2040. To ensure the sustainability of their healthcare systems, East Asian countries will need to adapt quickly and in line with their cultural, political, behavioural, and economical specificities. Focusing on South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, Dr. Hongsoo Kim of Seoul National University aims to provide policymakers with a strong scientific basis for policy development and system change. Specifically, the objective of her project is to examine recent reforms in the field of aging health care systems (AHCS) and to examine the performance of AHCS in East Asian countries. “Aging is at the top of the agenda for societies everywhere, but East Asian countries have a particularly fast-aging population, which entails specific challenges,” reports Dr. Kim. “In this sense, looking for examples of best practice in European and North American healthcare systems is not sufficient. The situation calls for solutions tailored to Asia’s context.” To provide policymakers with the necessary insight for the implementation of performant healthcare policies and system change, Dr. Kim chose to lead a comparative analysis of the best practices in East Asia, starting with three comparable healthcare systems. “Japan, Korea, and Taiwan all have social health insurance run by the government, but their ways of financing and organizing care are quite different. Comparing them and looking at system performance will provide new perspectives and evidence on the challenges Asian countries are facing and the recent policies implemented to respond to them,” the researcher explains. “The insights gained from the study will not only be useful for these three countries, but also for neighboring societies facing similar challenges.”

### Understanding, Reducing and Managing African Climate Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/understanding-reducing-and-managing-african-climate-risk
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Christopher TRISOS, Mark NEW

Damaging weather and climate events are felt the world over, but the lower capability to deal with these makes African countries among the most vulnerable to climate change. Moreover, coping strategies must also evolve as the severity and distribution of these hazards change. As the first holder of the successional AXA Research Chair in African Climate Risk, Professor Mark New, Director of the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) at the University of Cape Town , worked with his team to quantify some of these changing risks and their societal consequences.

### The economics and psychology of risk taking, impatience and financial decisions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-economics-and-psychology-of-risk-taking-impatience-and-financial-decisions
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Jean-Marc TALLON

Heads of households, young professionals, retired persons… There is no shortage of economic theories that define “investor profiles” based on their willingness to take financial risks. However, “these models remain very stereotypical, which is why they need to be confronted with reality in order to be fine-tuned,” explains Pr. Tallon. Today he is using the field of life insurance to conduct experimental economic studies. His first study was carried out in collaboration with AXA among policyholders and established characteristics for several categories of individuals based on their employment and wealth status, as well as their “risk appetite.” The data is currently being compared to portfolios of policyholders in order to verify the consistency between theory and practice. Pr. Tallon expects to find large gaps. “There is evidence that some people are more adventurous in the real world than on paper and vice versa,” he explains. “The challenge therefore lies in correcting the models by identifying the key factors that best explain behavior in the face of financial risk.” Beyond the academic questions raised, his research has a practical application. As French law now requires banks to stay abreast of their customers’ expectations, this research could serve to improve the relevance of surveys. Another application would be better anticipating the possible “errors” committed by economic agents, by understanding the source of such errors and then correcting them. This could be achieved either by passing new laws or providing financial education, the form of which remains to be determined: financial education classes in secondary school, specialized websites,etc. Scientific title: The economics and psychology of risk taking, impatience and financial decisions: confronting survey, experimental and insurance data

### Blunted physiological reactions to acute psychological stress: A novel marker of risky behaviour, addiction, and poor health?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/blunted-physiological-reactions-to-acute-psychological-stress-a-novel-marker-of-risky-behaviour-addiction-and-poor-health
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Annie GINTY

People who are biologically unaffected by stress seem to be at lower risk of cardiovascular disease. However, research has shown that such a low reaction is related to dependencies and maladaptive health behaviors (e.g. depression, bulimia). Dr. Annie Ginty is focusing on students in a stressful period of their life, to find out if low reactivity could be a biological marker of future dependencies and poor health. Her results could help develop cognitive, behavioral and pharmacological treatments. Dr Ginty investigates the biological responses (cardiovascular and cortisol systems) to psychological stress in a sample of students in their final year of high school and following them through their first year of university to see if extreme responses are a biological marker of risky behavior, dependencies, and poor health and in which way. Indeed, previous research has shown that low reactions to acute psychological stress were related to dependencies (e.g. alcohol addiction, smoking) and maladaptive health behaviours (e.g. depression, bulimia).

### Enabling better biodiversity conservation in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/enabling-better-biodiversity-conservation-in-the-tropical-forests-of-southeast-asia
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Oliver WEARN

Around the world, tropical forests are becoming increasingly fragmented in a sea of human activity. Deforestation, agriculture and tree plantations are progressively eating away at the forest, leaving only islands of untouched land. Despite the considerable risk to wildlife populations this represents, our capacity to forecast both the short and long-term damages is currently very poor. In Southeast Asia, where the rates of tropical forest loss and degradation in recent decades have been the highest in the world, more expertise is urgently needed. Dr. Oliver Wearn aims to contribute to filling this gap. His goal is to create models capable of predicting the evolution of wildlife populations in fragmented landscapes in order to assess the risk of short and long-term biodiversity loss in fragmented tropical landscapes. Filling the research gap on fragmented landscapes in Southeast Asia

### Boosting the anti-tumoral properties of T lymphocytes via the CD28 costimulatory molecules

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/boosting-the-anti-tumoral-properties-of-t-lymphocytes-via-the-cd28-costimulatory-molecules
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Margot CUCCHETTI

Our immune system defends us against external and internal threats. Among the natural bodyguards against internal threats such as cancer are the T-cells. Margot Cucchetti is studying how they help our bodies to defend themselves against cancer. Our immune system defends us against external threats (bacteria and viruses) and internal threats (tumors). The immune response involves the action of several cells which communicate with each other to ensure our protection. Among these natural body guards are the T cells, which specifically fight against internal threats. Using innovative proteomics and genetic approaches, Margot Cucchetti is studying the complex series of molecular reactions that are involved in T-cell activation. She aims to understand how these pathways are closely regulated. The results of her research will be an important step for developing strategies to target and enhance T-cell responses to tumors, thus helping our bodies to defend themselves against cancer. These studies will be of particular importance for developing vaccines for the aging population.

### Earthquake resilience : towards safer buildings

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/earthquake-resilience-towards-safer-buildings
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Maria Teresa DE RISI

Widely used in modern reinforced concrete (RC) buildings around the world, masonry infills have shown to have a crucial influence on the global behaviour of a structure under seismic loading. As highlighted by the poor performance of some buildings in recent earthquakes, these panels built in between the columns and beams of the structural frame of a building can cause several dangerous effects, such as out-of-plane collapse for instance. However, current seismic risk assessment methods often fail to take them into account. In an effort to address this shortcoming, Dr. Maria Teresa De Risi aims to develop a reliable modelling technique for assessing the seismic performance of RC framed buildings with masonry infills. The overarching objective of her research is twofold, to guide the designers of the future both in the assessment and strengthening of existing buildings and in the design of new constructions, and to allow for the proper evaluation of expected losses due to a given earthquake scenario.   Whereas the structural frame ensures the bearing function, the infill wall primarily have to separate inner and outer space. « Because infills are considered partition elements, their contribution is generally neglected in common structural analyses », remarks Dr. Maria Teresa de Risi, postdoctoral researcher in Seismic risk. « And thus, despite the fact that they can play a crucial role in mechanisms such as building collapse, reduction in period of vibration, possible out-of-plane overturning, or possible induced brittle failure mechanisms in joints and columns, for instance. ». « There are some seismic models in literature that account for masonry infills in the context of concrete buildings but the majority is calibrated on a very few numbers of experiments ». Her project aims to contribute to filling that gap.

### Covenants in Private and Public Debt Contracts and Their Effects on Corporate Performance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/covenants-in-private-and-public-debt-contracts-and-their-effects-on-corporate-performance
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Florin VASVARI

To loan or not to loan, that is the question. Debt capital providers are haunted by the ghost of default and are now desperate for tools capable of providing early signs of credit problems. Covenants may help, as they give creditors the right to ask for early payment when a covenant is breached. Professor Florin Vasvari has started to collect relevant debt contracts issued by both American and European firms in order to see how covenants can really improve protection for lenders. His research aims to help debt market practitioners (both on the borrowing and lending side) better understand the consequences of covenant structures in debt contracts on the subsequent performance of the borrowing firms. It may thus provide relevant insights to financial regulators. Preliminary results show that low expected bankruptcy costs are associated with stricter definitions of the event of default in lending contracts. This result highlights the tradeoffs faced by lenders. When the transaction costs generated by the liquidation of a borrower are lower, lenders are more inclined to add strict covenants in the lending contract.

### Insuring Transformational adaptation of agri-food systems to Climate change by taking the needs and roles of Women into account

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/insuring-transformational-adaptation-of-agri-food-systems-to-climate-change-by-taking-the-needs-and-roles-of-women-into-account
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Federica RAVERA

In some regions more than others, climate change threatens to jeopardize human security, local livelihoods, common-pool resources, and food security. European, and especially Mediterranean, agri-food systems in marginal rural areas are particularly exposed to these risks due to ageing population and fragile socio-economic systems. To deal with such challenges, rural areas need to develop adaptation strategies that substantially and lastingly reduce their vulnerability. Aware of the fact that in-depth adaptation calls for extensive knowledge of local social, cultural and environmental context, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stressed the need to pay more attention to local processes of social innovation and transformational adaptation by means of local experiences, knowledge, institutions and practices. Echoing this call for action and recognizing the need to take all perspectives and potentialities into account, Dr. Federica Ravera is investigating the role and experience of women when it comes to the risks associated with climate change in agri-food systems. Her objective is to study potential factors that influence the success of adaptation options. Focusing her research on two Mediterranean rural areas, her project ultimately aims to envision future and promising pathways for adaptation to climate change taking everyone's specific needs and voices into account.

### Model Risk in Systems Biology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/model-risk-in-systems-biology
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Bence MÉLYKÚTI

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Investigating how flooding hazards will evolve and affect the South China Sea region under changing climate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/investigating-how-flooding-hazards-will-evolve-and-affect-the-south-china-sea-region-under-changing-climate
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Linlin LI

Will coastal flooding be more frequent and more devastating in the future? With the changing climate, coincident with growing coastal populations, the threat of tsunamis and storms on low-lying coastal regions is increasing. Recognizing that the South China Sea is particularly vulnerable to these risks, Doctor Linlin Li aims to improve our understanding of how climate change will affect the flooding hazard in this region, with a particular focus on megacities. To achieve this objective, Dr. Li’s objective is to develop a complex statistical model of how these phenomenons are likely to evolve in the future. “We’ve seen too many examples of the tragic consequences that tsunamis and typhoons can have in Asia”, Dr. Linlin Li points out. « Such flooding events are responsible for enormous damage and losses to coastal regions globally, both in terms of affected people and economic damages. » To increase our resilience to these natural disasters and to avoid being overwhelmed by their probable aggravation in the future, Dr. Li’s objective is to provide comprehensive coastal flooding assessments for the entire South China Sea region, taking into account not just one, but multiple flooding hazards including tsunamis of different origins, extreme tides and storms surges. This approach will be based on sea level assessments under projected multi-decade to multi-century scenarios.

### Changes in Glacier and Ice Shelf Extents in a climate warming hot-spot - the Antarctic Peninsula

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/changes-in-glacier-and-ice-shelf-extents-in-a-climate-warming-hot-spot-the-antarctic-peninsula
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Alison COOK

The Antarctic Peninsula (AP) is both one of our planet’s coldest locations and a major climate warming “hot spot,” thought to be one of the largest contributors to the current rise in sea level. Alison Cook was not put off by the cold, however: she explored this remote and harsh area to gather data and survey glaciers over the course of three expeditions. The geometry and dynamics of glaciers have changed over the past century in this region. Cook is trying to identify the main drivers of glacial retreat, with particular attention to climatic conditions. Her innovative approach combines satellite imagery and aerial photographs to provide comprehensive coverage of the changes over a wide area. Her ultimate aim is to deliver a Geographic Information System (GIS) database of AP glaciers in order to identify patterns of change. She hopes to enable better predictions of glacier response to climate change over the next century in this sensitive region.

### Regional impact of climate change on the atmospheric forcing over the Chile-Peru upwelling system

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/regional-impact-of-climate-change-on-the-atmospheric-forcing-over-the-chile-peru-upwelling-system
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Katerina GOUBANOVA

Did you know that about 20% of the world's fish catch comes from a near-coastal region off Peru-Chile—an area accounting for only 1% of the ocean’s surface? This wealth of fish resources is due to upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters induced by dominant southerly wind. Imagine how important it is to assess the impact of global warming on coastal upwelling! Yet, the coarse-resolution climate models used to obtain future climate projections do not allow it to be accurately represented. Dr. Goubanova seeks to fill this gap. Taking advantage of satellite data, she developed a statistical method for estimating regional upwelling-favorable wind from global climate scenarios. This approach will provide ocean modelers with realistic high-resolution atmospheric forcing and might be of use to regional risk assessors and fishery management. My research focuses on the oceanic region off Peru-Chile that is characterised by an upwelling of cold, deep, nutrient reach waters which promote a high-productive ecosystem. My current post-doc project aims to understand the impact of tropical variability of the upwelling-favourable winds taking into account recent changes in the Tropical Pacific interannual variability, in particular related to the increased occurrence of a new type of El Niño phenomenon, named Modoki El Niño. Of particular interest are regional processes associated with air-sea interaction during El Niño events.

### HIV Treatment & Social Risk: Women of Tanzania Tell Their Story

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/hiv-treatment-social-risk-women-of-tanzania-tell-their-story
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Sophie HARMAN

Almost 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are living with HIV/AIDS. Although free treatment and care is often available, a mere one-third of those eligible make use of it. Dr. Sophie Harman is devoting her research to finding out why. She believes a key factor is the under-addressed issue of everyday social risks associated with accessing care. While the research community has looked at risk factors tied to specific behaviors, to drug pricing or to patent law, no one has yet considered the social impacts that seeking treatment can have on an individual’s daily life. These are related to logistics, procurement, stigma, infrastructure, and local politics. Dr. Harman’s innovative methods will range from stakeholder interviews to storytelling. Through her research, she will produce a film, a graphic story and a book that let people living with HIV/AIDS share their own stories of the challenges and risks they contend with each day and communicate new ideas about social risk relevant to public health. Her project aims to create a feature length film starring not professional actors, but real women in rural Tanzania dealing with the disease. “Storytelling focusing on individuals, rather than institutions or ideas, has been shown to be effective in communicating the politics of HIV/AIDS,” she says. This also means that the very people who are the subjects of her research will take part in determining its direction and producing the results. Guided by open questions offered by the filmmakers, the participants will take the viewer along to witness the activities of their daily life and the social risks they face in obtaining care. “Whilst this film is about how the everyday demonstrates the wider international politics of disease, the film is about people,” Dr. Harman adds, “human connections, trust and love and the commonplace hurdles ordinary people face.”

### Fertility intentions and reality in East Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/fertility-intentions-and-reality-in-east-asia
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Stuart BASTEN

Ageing of populations results both from increases in longevity in old age and decreases in the birth rate. A drop in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to around 2 children per woman eventually leads to the end of rapid population growth and has largely positive social and economic consequences. In contrast, very low fertility produces in the medium term not only population decline but populations with extremely aged age pyramids. East Asian countries currently have some of the lowest Total Fertility Rates in the world. Furthermore, in urban China, recent estimates suggest that more than half a billion people are living in areas with ‘lowest-low’ fertility (less than 1.3 children per woman) – even where young couples are allowed a second child. However, the stated ideal family size (IFS) in East Asia – as with most OECD countries – is around two, suggesting there may be an ‘unmet need’ for children. The goal of Dr. Basten's research project is to explore demographic surveys and validate the key differences between sub-groups in terms of their ideal family sizes. Then, a qualitative investigation of these factors will enable a much deeper and more dynamic understanding of the role which past population policy interventions continue to play, and what the most effective policy interventions relating to family policy might be. Finally, a series of expert interviews will seek to develop and document an integrated understanding of the social and population policy possibilities likely to impact on fertility in the future, not least by introducing a dynamic scenarios approach to examine the possible feedback effects on policy of maintaining current fertility rates.

### Age-specific mortality, health and economic growth : an endogenized life expectancy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/age-specific-mortality-health-and-economic-growth-an-endogenized-life-expectancy
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Bity DIENE

There is a time when one is keen on buying candy with pocket money and a time, later in life, when one may be more interested in buying a car or a house. In sum, one’s economic behavior strongly depends on age. The aim of Dr. Bity Diene’s work is to link age-related processes, such as demographic changes or saving and consuming behaviors, with public policies. In many countries, life expectancy increases partly due to investment in national public health policies. Yet, understanding what this investment implies in terms of individual economic behavior and growth is still an open question. Not only is Dr. Diene tackling these issues with sophisticated statistical models, but she is also addressing the challenge of studying both developing and developed countries. Her work will help us better understand how the ongoing changes in age-specific mortality influence economic dynamics both at individual and national levels.

### Happiness: An Anti-Stress Elixir for Better Health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/happiness-an-anti-stress-elixir-for-better-health
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Sarah PRESSMAN

Anyone who has taken a vacation knows that less stress feels good. It works the other way, too: feeling good can reduce your stress and improve your health. “Most people don’t realize that stress has objective physiological effects,” Dr. Sarah Pressman says, including effects that are linked to disease processes, severity and even survival. “Fortunately, positive emotions can be powerful buffers against these negative stress impacts, and we want to understand this process more clearly.” In particular, no one has identified the specific “good” emotions that are most helpful in a given context. Dr. Pressman is bringing needed precision to the field, in order to understand the protective qualities of happiness and unravel the body’s mechanisms responsible for their downstream effects In her research, she will compare people in their thirties and forties with adults over 65; as we get older, the very feelings we consider positive will change. To determine experimentally what kinds of positive emotions are effective against different forms of stress, Dr. Pressman will trigger feelings in her subjects, calm or invigorated, for example, and test how these states of mind impact a stressful situation. This might be a scenario where one passively endures the stress—there is little to do but stay calm when a researcher plunges your hand into a bucket of ice water—or a situation requiring an active effort to reduce stress, like getting pumped up to face a panel of judges firing mental math problems at you. From there, Dr. Pressman will tease apart how that stress is affecting the body. Monitoring cardiovascular function (heart rate, blood pressure), stress hormone levels and changes to the immune system, she will reveal to what extent positive emotions are able to counter these manifestations of stress in our bodies, and which kinds do it best.

### Marine submersion: new challenges, new legal practices

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/marine-submersion-new-challenges-new-legal-practices
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Vanessa MULOT

The prospect of increased marine flooding in the future should deter urban sprawl along French coasts. However, this is not yet the case. Six million residents and an equal number of tourists are crowded together on only 4% of France’s territory, which increases human and economic vulnerability to flooding. Taking into consideration coastal erosion and further sea-level rise, Vanessa Mulot is addressing sensitive issues such as private ownership and public responsibility towards coastal risks from a legal perspective. Through prevention, protection and adjustment, she is working on new legal means to reduce socioeconomic vulnerability to marine submersion. New mechanisms could include local planning policies as well as innovative risk prevention plans. In addition to the role of national actors and local public managers, the involvement of local citizens and economic agents within the insurance sector will be decisive for the development of future strategies. Vanessa Mulot is an AXA PhD fellow whose thesis is entitled “Marine submersion: New Challenges, New Legal Practices.” She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master’s degree in Advice and Heritage Management. During her fifth year of law school at Paul Cezanne University (Aix – Marseille), Vanessa completed a research paper entitled “Law of the Environmental Protection – Mediterranean Territory – TEMPRO,” in which she studied all legal aspects related to the environment, and more specifically, to climate change. This led her to become more interested in the legal issues relating to rising sea levels. The subject of her research paper, which focused on marine flooding, allowed her to be published in an international journal and participate in Vuligam – PIRVE, an interdisciplinary research programme. Vanessa was awarded an AXA fellowship and has been pursuing her PhD in the field of natural risks since October 2009. What has your AXA fellowship brought you? The AXA fellowship has allowed me to work on a subject that is very important for me and that I take seriously. It also allows me to dedicate myself fully to research. Without the help of the fellowship, I would not be able to fully complete my thesis. Because of my contract, allowing me to finance my travel expenses, I have been able to attend conferences and seminars. This has given me a better understanding of research throughout France in my field of study, as well as the opportunity to meet fellow researchers and exchange ideas. It has been an enriching experience. Could you describe your experiences with the AXA Research Fund community? Being a member of the AXA fellowship community has been a wonderful experience. I feel lucky to have been able to attend conferences in my area of research and meet other PhD students from different regions working along the same theme. The community keeps me informed of AXA events and keeps me connected with fellow PhD students, their research projects and experiences. Can you briefly describe what your research project is about? My thesis is entitled "Marine submersion: new challenges, new legal practices." This has become an important topic in France since February 2010, following flooding caused by major storm Xynthia. Technically speaking, marine flooding occurs when land is covered by sea water. This issue is rarely taken into account by planning policies. With global warming consideration, that will probably cause an increased number of storms and rising sea levels in coastal areas, politics will make it a priority in the coming years. My research focuses on the legal means that can be implemented to reduce the vulnerability of humans and human activities to sea flooding. Indeed, the risk of marine submersion on coastal land faces land pressure of real estate developer. The coastline has always been a very attractive place for populations. It is now becoming extremely important to anticipate events that may occur and to consider implementing means of protection, prevention, and/or adaptation in order to reduce the human and economic consequences of these types of risks. I am studying the flood-related issues that demonstrate the need to reduce vulnerability and the legal tools currently being used. Observing existing tools and their limitations has led me to search for and propose new mechanisms that could reduce the vulnerability of humans to flooding, whether through prevention, protection or adjustment. Such new mechanisms could include new local planning policies, such as strategic promoting urbanism decline. In parallel to my research on the role of public utility, state and local actors, I am also studying the financial stakes for insurers and the role they can play in developing future strategies. My research focuses on French law, but is also concerned with comparative law.

### Food, brain, and distractibility: Goal-directed versus habitual control of food intake

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/food-brain-and-distractibility-goal-directed-versus-habitual-control-of-food-intake
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Esther AARTS

When there is delicious food in front of you, it can be hard to know when to stop eating. After all, isn’t the brain supposed to tell you when you’re full? So you might reach for another tasty cookie. Dr. Esther Aarts is investigating what type of motivational control is associated with such poor eating habits. Is our food intake regulated by an automatic response (i.e., I usually eat ten cookies in a row, no matter how full I am), or does it involve taking into account consequences (i.e., maybe only half a cookie would be enough because I am full)? Her research aims to find out if eating beyond satiety can be explained by a stronger habitual (automatic) control and/or a weaker goal-directed (consequence-based) control. Each of these is linked to a specific region of the brain that has dopamine – the substance that regulates motivational control. Obese individuals differ in dopamine levels compared to lean individuals. In order to see how different dopamine levels in these brain regions distract some, but not others, from healthy eating, Dr. Aarts will scan the brains of individuals with different dopamine levels. In the scanner, these individuals will work for sips of chocolate milk when they are hungry or full, in order to study automatic and consequence-based control. Dr. Aarts will assess whether different activity and connectivity patterns in dopamine-rich brain regions can predict whether an individual will work hard for a chocolate milk reward, even when he or she is no longer hungry. The expected results could have significant implications in the field of obesity. This is particularly important as the overconsumption of palatable foods, especially those rich in sugar and fat, is considered a major factor contributing to the surge in obesity, which has tripled in Europe since the 1980s. An increasing body weight is often associated with risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mood disorders. Therefore, understanding how the power of food can unbalance motivational control in some individuals and not others could potentially lead to tailor-made treatments to fight the direct and indirect effects of being overweight. When there is delicious food in front of you, it can be hard to know when to stop eating. Dr. Aarts is investigating what type of motivational control is associated with such poor eating habits. She focuses on the role of dopamine – the substance that regulates motivational control. Understanding how the power of food can unbalance motivational control in some individuals and not others could potentially lead to tailor-made treatments to fight the direct and indirect effects of being overweight.

### AXA Chair on Natural Hazards

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-chair-on-natural-hazards
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Benjamin HORTON, Kerry Edward SIEH

The research project was initiated by Prof Kerry Sieh and taken over by Prof Benjamin Horton, effective from January 2021. Towards a comprehensive panorama of natural hazards in South East Asia As if Jakarta was lying on shifting sands… Several places of the capital city of Indonesia are subsiding with rates of about 1-15 cm per year and a few locations have subsidence rates up to about 28-30 cm per year. Such land subsidence has been reported for many years and is stressful when one knows that the city totals about 10 million people inhabiting an area of about 660 square-km today. This phenomenon, investigated by Prof. Abindin Hasannuddin (Bandung, Java) is strongly related to urban development activities in Jakarta and is driven by groundwater extraction, the load of construction, natural consolidation of alluvial soil as well as tectonic subsidence. Land subsidence obviously introduces environmental problems and affects urban development plan and process. The explosion of the human population in the past six decades has placed a very large, double-digit percentage of the planet’s 7 billion humans at risk from natural hazards. The victims of the great 2004 tsunami are a notable case in point. Of the 350,000 inhabitants of Banda Aceh, the capital city of the northern Sumatran province of Aceh, about 90,000 perished. Had that natural event occurred just a century earlier, the loss of lives there would have numbered in the hundreds or low thousands, as the city’s total population at the time was only a few thousand. Another important consideration of the problem of natural hazards is that very long periods of repose between a region’s major earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions lull potential victims and cultures into a false sense of security. Prof. Sieh and his students discovered that the immediate predecessor to the 2004 tsunami happened more than five centuries earlier, so long ago that it had completely disappeared from Aceh’s collective memory. Spans of time as great as this between cataclysmic events are common. Finally, and tragically, even scientists had not anticipated the 2004 event, because no one had researched the history of previous events from the historical or geological record, let alone publicized it among those who were at risk. Prof. Sieh acknowledges that scientific issues in Southeast Asia have not been extensively explored. Southeast Asian cities are expanding unwittingly on coastal plains that are prone to tsunamis, powerful storm surges and sea-level rise. Chains of active volcanoes that arc through Asia are slumbering menaces to the region and, in some cases, even to the world at large. Tambora’s 1815 eruption, east of Bali, for example, was much greater than the infamous Krakatau eruption of 1883 and led to famine across North America and Europe. Even smaller eruptions can be regionally or globally significant, a case in point being the Icelandic eruptions of 2010. Climate change and sea-level rise will also strongly affect Southeast Asia. Given its significant coastal populations and large river deltas, small increases in sea level pose significant risks to a broad range of countries. Changes in temperature, precipitation and ocean acidity threaten the region’s agricultural, marine and timber-based industries, which constitute a large portion of the region’s GDP. Most of these hazards are at present inadequately understood scientifically. The Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), led by Prof. Sieh, strives to foster geophysics research in three main areas: improving the comprehension of earthquake-generating faults, better understanding the inner workings of active volcanoes, and understanding climate change, namely to forecast the nature of sea-level rise and to develop enhanced monitoring of climate variables. Prof. Sieh has looked back hundreds to thousands of years into the past to understand earthquakes. His early work led to the discovery of how often the San Andreas Fault has generated earthquakes in Southern California. This research initiated the field of paleoseismology, a geoscience sub-discipline that uses geological layers and landforms to understand the geological faults that produce significant earthquakes. He found that the San Andreas earthquakes occurred irregularly (from fifty to three hundred years apart) but was unable to ascertain why this is so, because radiocarbon dating was too imprecise. Thus, he began working in Sumatra where he could use U-Th to precisely date corals and measure deformation. His work along the Sunda megathrust, a great undersea fault which extends under Sumatra, has revealed patterns of ancient rupture and current straining and has led to a significant success in forecasting several large earthquakes in Sumatra. This ongoing research also suggests that the megathrust is poised to produce yet another giant earthquake in western Sumatra within the next 30 years. Prof. Sieh is member of the US National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honours that can be accorded a US scientist. He has also been elected as a Fellow of the two main American professional earth science organizations, the Geological Society of America and the American Geophysical Union. With the endowment from AXA, Nanyang Technological University has established the AXA-Nanyang Chair in Natural Hazards at the EOS with Prof. Sieh as inaugural incumbent. These funds will enable one of Singapore’s five Research Centers of Excellence to become an enduring pillar in earth science research and dissemination in the region, creating multidisciplinary research programs: creating cross-disciplinary connections to the risk assessment and management, policy, economic and educational domains of natural hazards and climate change as well as strengthening integrated research capabilities through joint appointments with other research entities at NTU. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com May 2022

### When misperception of wealth lead to financial crises

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/when-misperception-of-wealth-lead-to-financial-crises
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Alberto CARDACI

Perception and reality don’t always match. Some of us are optimists, others pessimists. Our behaviours may not be consistent with the information that we have, and this also applies to our purchasing decisions. « Recent findings in behavioural economics show that differences in perceptions can modify individual behaviour in ways that have potentially relevant macroeconomic consequences », Dr. Alberto Cardaci reports. Drawing from these findings, the researcher in Economics aims to investigate whether misperception of wealth can alter the state of the economy. By adopting a different perspective on the causes of financial crises – the 2007 sub-prime crises in particular – his aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to massive accumulation of household debt and the following default cascade.  « I first came out with the idea for this project after watching The Big Short . There is a scene in the movie in which a woman with a low-paid job explains how she possesses four appartements and lots of other property », Dr. Alberto Cardaci relates. « I was struck by the idea that a person in her situation could feel confident that they could afford all of these things ». « My intention is to study how these “cognitive biases” affect individual perceptions of wealth and, as a consequence, the decisions to consume and borrow. In other words, I want to understand how we come to deviate from rational judgement, what induces it, and how it leads individuals to make decisions that are inconsistent with the actual amount of available financial resources they have », he adds. « My ultimate goal is to investigate whether such individual behaviour can explain consumption booms and debt euphoria and pave the way for a financial collapse ».

### Preparing for a sustainable and productive agriculture by investigating plants natural defence barrier

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/preparing-for-a-sustainable-and-productive-agriculture-by-investigating-plants-natural-defence-barrier
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lauri MIKONRANTA

Plants' first line of defence against invading pathogens is their microbiome. Much like humans and animals, plants are hosts to a myriad of micro-organisms with whom they live in symbiosis. Inhabiting their leaves and roots, these microbial communities provide plants with essential services, including fending off diseases. It is currently estimated that 10 to 20% of global food production is lost to plant diseases. Facing increasing demand in food production due to population growth, mitigating these effects will be a critical step for maximizing yields obtained from the current agricultural systems. Focusing on the microbial communities living on the roots, Dr. Lauri Mikonranta is studying the complex dynamics that govern the interactions between host, pathogen and microbiome. Specifically, the researcher is investigating the unclear role of environmental change and bacterial evolution on the outcome of these interactions, namely the plant's health. By providing a better understanding of the resistance of bacterial communities to invading pathogens, his findings aim to contribute to the development of novel and environmentally friendly bacterial-based strategies to viably replace or supplement ineffective and toxic agro-chemicals. Recent research shows that due to fierce resource competition and high niche overlap, the diverse variety of microbes living in the roots contribute to preventing pathogen invasion. "This is because roots harbour thousands of different species of microbes that compete with invading pathogens", Dr. Lauri Mikonranta explains."Indeed, the microbiome and the pathogens have high number of interacting species and there's not enough resources and space for all of them." "In this sense, diversity plays an important role on invasion resistance", the researcher continues. "But things are more complex than that. The relationship between diversity and invasion resistance is not linear. Other factors come into play, like changes in temperature, nutrient availability, pH balance of the soil, or rapid changes in the characteristics of the species in response to each other." Indeed, environmental conditions and bacterial evolution are likely to change the power relationship by strengthening some while weakening others. To be able to reliably predict pathogen invasion success, scientists need to know more about how bacterial communities and pathogens react to these elements.

### Keeping our brain safe from neurodegeneration through better understanding of brain ageing mechanism

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/keeping-our-brain-safe-from-neurodegeneration-through-better-understanding-of-brain-ageing-mechanism
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Konstantinos PALIKARAS

With age, brain functions progressively deteriorate, potentially paving the way for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. What mechanisms are responsible for the detrimental effects of ageing on neuronal cells? Despite it being a universal phenomenon, the cellular and molecular underpinnings that govern age-related deterioration of the nervous system remain obscure. It is increasingly appreciated that deregulation in the activity of cellular organelles called mitochondria – key energy suppliers of the cell –, plays a key role in the onset of age-related neural dysfunction. To shed light on this fundamental issue, Dr. Konstantinos Palikaras specifically aims to investigate how ageing and stress conditions affect the standard process by which defective mitochondria are eliminated from the cell to maintain proper cellular functions. In doing so, his objective is to provide unprecedented insight into the underpinning mechanisms that drive brain ageing, potentially opening the door for new therapeutic approaches for dementia or other age-associated diseases. "Elimination of impaired mitochondria is essential in long-lived, highly metabolically active cells, including neurons", explains Dr. Konstantinos Palikaras. "The accumulation of damaged mitochondria leads to cellular dysfunction and eventually to death". To keep a healthy pool of mitochondria, the cell uses a selective degradation process called mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy), which targets the defective organelles for destruction, the equivalent of the 'kiss of death' for unhealthy mitochondria. "Recent findings implicate mitochondrial abnormalities in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, notably highlighting inadequate autophagy as a contributing factor", highlights Dr. Konstantinos Palikaras. "But many questions remain unanswered about the molecular mechanisms that modulate mitophagy, especially in neuronal cells". The project aims to fill the gap by further investigating the role of mitophagy in different types of neurons, looking specifically at what molecular components play a role in the regulation of mitochondrial fate and how these mechanisms are affected by age.

### Between environmental change and societal transformation: the role of migration for risk management and docial resilience of moroccan smallholder oasis households

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/between-environmental-change-and-societal-transformation-the-role-of-migration-for-risk-management-and-docial-resilience-of-moroccan-smallholder-oasis-households
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Christina RADEMACHER-SCHULZ

The purpose of Dr. Rademacher-Schulz's project is to enhance knowledge on the interlinkages between ongoing environmental/climatic change and societal transformation processes such as national and international development interventions, and the role migration plays in close cooperation with different Moroccan stakeholders. From an actor-oriented perspective, local people’s efforts to enhance their household resilience through migration or other coping and adaptation strategies are in the focus of interest as they are embedded in wider national and international structures that to some extend shape their lives. Oases households in communities that are target to specific development interventions are compared to households in other communities who do not benefit from external interventions. One main research question is thus to examine the de facto impact of development projects on household risk management behavior, migration patterns and social resilience. The findings will provide new insights concerning the specific societal context and the needs of smallholder farming households. Moreover, the goal is to provide sound policy recommendations with regard to development program’s effects on local households’ resilience and adaptation strategies and how these could be improved. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### A DNA vaccine for shellfish allergy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-dna-vaccine-for-shellfish-allergy
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Christine YEE YAN WAI

Food allergies affect around 1-3% of adults and 4-6% of children worldwide and studies show its prevalence is increasing. Allergic reactions to food can range from mild to severe, the worst of which is a sudden, potentially life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis. Globally, one of the most common triggers of food-induced anaphylactic reaction is shellfish. However, unlike for other common food allergens like peanuts, tree nuts and eggs, no effective treatment strategy exists. Instead, severe forms of the condition are managed by avoiding the allergen and using epinephrine auto-injectors if accidental exposure occurs. Dr. Christine Yee Yan Wai aims to remedy this shortcoming by developing a clinically useful approach for decreasing sensitivity to shellfish allergens. More specifically, her project seeks to apply a promising new strategy of therapy – antiallergic DNA vaccines – to shellfish allergy.

### AXA Chair on the economics of risk and information

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-chair-on-the-economics-of-risk-and-information
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Johannes HORNER

How do private information and individual preferences affect the scope of cooperation in uncertain environments? This question is central to many applied economic problems involving risk, from the behavior of depositors in the face of a bank run risk to the stability of monetary unions, or to the long‐term relationship of stakeholders in an insurance contract affected by adverse selection and moral hazard. This involves a combination of research focused on specific applications and research on more general and theoretical analyses. The objective of Prof. Horner is the creation and dissemination of knowledge to identify, in order to regulate and manage this kind of situation and contribute to an ambitious research. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Making cyber fraud detection methods quicker and more reliable

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/making-cyber-fraud-detection-methods-quicker-and-more-reliable
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Bruno BUONAGUIDI

Payment methods are undergoing a revolutionary change. The use of cash and checks has been steadily decreasing since the beginning of the 1990s, progressively being replaced by card transactions, and more recently by online money transfer systems like PayPal. In 2015, the ratio of paper-based to electronic transactions in Europe was approximately one to eight. While electronic payment methods facilitate purchases and boost business, they also represent a gold mine for fraudsters. In 2014, the overall worldwide losses from card fraud totaled over 16 billion US dollars, and the amount is expected to double by 2020. To minimize the loss suffered by banks, insurers and consumers, Dr. Bruno Buonaguidi is developing rapid detection techniques that could improve current methods, in particular by avoiding false alarms. Indeed, the ways in which cyber fraud is currently confronted by card issuers and online payment services providers can result in ill-judged and unnecessary blocks, creating inconvenience for the client and damaging customer relationships. Dr. Bruno Buonaguidi’s objective is to minimize this risk, while at the same time detecting anomalies as fast as possible to counteract illegal activities. In other words, the goal is to obtain a better trade-off between false alarms and quick detection. To achieve his aim, Dr. Buonaguidi is developing a theoretical model that applies a well-known mathematical theory, called optimal stopping theory, to the context of fraud detection. This branch of mathematics is about choosing the right time to take a given action in order to maximize an expected payoff or to minimize an expected cost.

### Cities and Climate Change: addressing a global issue at the local level – Legal analysis of urban adaptation and mitigation strategies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/cities-and-climate-change-addressing-a-global-issue-at-the-local-level-legal-analysis-of-urban-adaptation-and-mitigation-strategies
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Magali DREYFUS

The fallout from climate change will be felt acutely in our cities, which are expected to be especially vulnerable to its effects. While local governments are in a position to take steps allowing their community to adapt, different factors affect their success. Legal scholar Magali Dreyfus knew that little research had been devoted to the climate change issue from the perspective of law, and even less focusing on the local level. To learn more, she studied four urban locations—Tokyo, Paris, Phnom Penh, and Delhi—to discover what encourages city authorities to take legal action on the climate change front, what barriers they encounter, and what solutions have helped. Although each context is unique, Dr. Dreyfus was able to create a framework of climate change strategies for cities. The local government of a place like Paris may enact laws that back up international climate commitments. On the other hand, officials in Phnom Penh, for example, preoccupied with other pressing development issues, may not even have climate change on their political agenda. However, projects carried out there with international agencies can provide an opportunity to address climate change objectives in the design of basic urban infrastructure, like water services. In this way, the city is still able to prepare. The conclusions that Dr. Dreyfus can draw from such best practices will provide local authorities with the tools to anticipate the effects of climate change and make a difference in their own town.

### Quantifying Risk to Tropical Reefs ('QUARTR')

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/quantifying-risk-to-tropical-reefs-quartr
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Nancy JONES

Marine eden or underwater desert? As they fight for survival against rising temperature and acidifying oceans, the magnificent coral reefs of our oceans may not survive… Using a cutting-edge computer model of her making, Nancy Jones is trying to figure out if future generations will experience the pleasure of contemplating a coral reef, which has never been more uncertain. Throughout her PhD, Jones is looking at the way humans are directly and indirectly affecting reefs. Her aim is to ensure the conservation of coral reefs and to study the economic impact their disappearance might have. Tourism, biodiversity and fisheries are indeed deeply linked to coral reefs. Jones’s research will help to identify the reefs that are most at risk of collapse as well as reef sites which could be key to management strategies in the future. My research focuses on the risk posed by climate change to tropical (coral) reefs worldwide. By creating a novel computer model, which will include functional types of coral and algae, I aim to identify reefs that are most at risk of collapse as well as identifying reef sites which could be key to management strategies in the future. The model will encompass interactions within and between both the ecosystem and physical environment and will be used to predict the affect of climate change by simulating increased temperature, ocean acidification and increased hurricane frequency.

### Investigating public health policies to improve end-of-life care for elderly people

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/investigating-public-health-policies-to-improve-end-of-life-care-for-elderly-people
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lara PIVODIC

Older people are the most likely to experience poor quality of life and poor quality of dying due to chronic diseases. With life expectancy increasing, a growing number of people worldwide find themselves in this position. Taking care of the older population in their final phase of life is one of the greatest challenges health systems will have to face in the near future. However, no comprehensive overview exists of the public policies that have the potential to improve affordable end-of-life care. Dr. Lara Pivodic aims to cure the breach by considerably improving our understanding of the societal risks at stake, and by providing a comprehensive view on currently available public policies and programmes that can address these risks. Ultimately, her objective is to improve care for people who are dying of chronic diseases in old age. “The older population can cumulate several chronic diseases at once. This deteriorates their health considerably and durably, leading to them experiencing a large range of problems including physical pain, as well as psychological pain”, explains Dr Lara Pivodic. “The way in which these patients are cared for is often not adapted : no palliative care, unnecessary chemotherapy, inappropriate hospitalisations before death, etc.”. These inadequate care provisions lead to very poor quality of life and may lead to increased age-related health and social care spending due to untreated symptoms, overburden in family caregivers and overuse of futile treatments. “These adverse outcomes could be mitigated or prevented by improving access to high-quality care, including palliative care, towards the end of life in older people”, explains Dr. Pivodic. In her opinion, one of the main reasons for these misguided practices is the lack of information about the risks associated with poor end-of-life care. “There are very few studies on the quality of end-of-life care provided to the older population” , she says. Along with her team, she intends to provide decision makers with the insight they need to decide which policy to implement.

### Chair AXA - BSE on Macroeconomic Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/chair-axa-bse-on-macroeconomic-risk
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Albert MARCET

Widespread crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and war, are huge shocks to economies and generate massive uncertainty. Together with the past 2 years of high inflation, this creates an off-the-charts “macroeconomic risk”—uncertainty that affects the aggregate behavior of an economy. Professor Albert Marcet, AXA Distinguished Professor at Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (GSE), is a specialist in Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics and has worked extensively with world-renowned scientists, such as Economics Nobel Prize awardee Thomas Sargent. Previously a Professor at University College London, the London School of Economics, and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and Research Professor at IAE-CSIC, Associate Professor at Carnegie-Mellon University, and Director of MOVE, Professor Marcet has a major research interest: “expectation.”

### Predicting climate change risks for commercial fisheries and aquaculture using genetic and physiological approaches in early life stages of fish

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/predicting-climate-change-risks-for-commercial-fisheries-and-aquaculture-using-genetic-and-physiological-approaches-in-early-life-stages-of-fish
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Cosima PORTEUS

Sound and Smell in an Acidified Ocean Climate change is everywhere, its effects seen in the air, on land and in the sea. The increasing levels of carbon dioxide on Earth interact with seawater, making it more acidic. This change in water chemistry affects both organisms’ sense of smell—predator odors were even found to attract some fish—and the way sound travels through the water, causing low frequency sounds to travel farther. Both sounds and smells are key carriers of information for animals seeking to avoid predators, find food or identify a mate. Dr. Cosima Porteus wondered, then, how an increasingly acidic ocean would affect the behavior of one fish that is important for our food supply, the European sea bass. The consequences she observed could affect their survival. First, she found that, in acidic seawater simulating predicted future conditions, their sense of smell was only half as sensitive and some odours had to be four times more concentrated to be detected by these fish. This means the bass would need to be much closer to the source of the smell before noticing, say, a predator closing in. Sea bass are also familiar with the sounds made by species that prey on them. Haddock, for example, make noise when communicating or looking for a mate. Though this might alert the bass to the presence of a predator, it should not affect their behavior much, since they can be sure the haddock isn’t hunting. That was true under today’s ocean conditions; however, in the acidic environment, Dr. Porteus found that juveniles became less active upon hearing haddock sounds. It is not yet clear how ocean acidification could lead sea bass to react in what looks like an overly cautious way. Nonetheless, the result could be less time spent on vital activities like finding food and mates. Dr. Porteus now aims to uncover what happens at the genetic level to create such behavior changes, all of which could become a matter of life or death for sea bass and other marine creatures that ecosystems, and we humans, rely on. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com Ocean fish are under threat if we don’t curb carbon dioxide emissions Discover an article about Cosima's project ARTICLE (new window)

### Measuring and Managing herd behavior in financial markets

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/measuring-and-managing-herd-behavior-in-financial-markets
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Daniël LINDERS

“Diversify” is the commonly heard advice for investing on the stock market. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. It makes sense, but sometimes, during financial downturns, especially, stock prices can begin moving together—and cancel the effect of diversification, right when you need it most! This phenomenon of prices moving en masse is called herd behavior and the stronger it is, the more dangerous for the investor. Daniël Linders plans to develop a new methodology which can be used as a nearly real-time measure of connectedness in the market and, thus, of financial risk. Current methods for predicting future co-movements between stock prices rely on extrapolating from past data, but this can only work when the past and the future resemble each other. Dr. Linders approaches it differently. Instead of relying on a particular theoretical model or figures from the past, he will make use of the current prices at which stocks and options are trading and measure herd behavior in a model-free way. By calculating the degree of herd behavior daily—for specific countries or sectors or a portfolio of stocks—he hopes to provide information that can be used to adjust stock market trading strategies. Understanding the level of connectedness in the market could let everyone involved take the necessary precautions and avoid a cascade of troubles the next time the market goes south.

### Categorical Quantum axiomatics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/categorical-quantum-axiomatics
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Raymond LAL

Wondering how to describe quantum teleportation? One solution, explains Raymond Lal, is “category theory”: “This novel, mathematically abstract view of quantum information, which I am helping to develop, uses certain category-theoretic methods to describe features of quantum information theory such as quantum teleportation and entanglement-swapping.” Category theory is fundamentally interdisciplinary in nature, with implications that go far beyond quantum information. Scientists working in areas as diverse as theoretical computer science and quantum gravity are using it to reveal their fields’ underlying structures. “These unexpected research opportunities are perfect illustrations of category theory’s power,” Lal says. “It makes it possible to draw similarities and inspiration from formal system approaches in other fields.” Researchers who study causal structure in physical theories, or who require such a notion in their study on quantum protocols, might benefit from his research.

### Protecting the Power Supply with Better Risk Management

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/protecting-the-power-supply-with-better-risk-management
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Karol WAWRZYNIAK

Most of us take it for granted that, when we flip a light switch, the power will flow. Our electricity production is generally stable and able to meet demand, but this is not a given. Power grids are vulnerable to various threats and failures can put our most essential infrastructure at risk, like hospitals, airports and telecommunication services. When a problem arises, the immediate and urgent goal is to return the system to its normal state as quickly as possible. Operators might achieve this by temporarily shifting the power generation to another source or reducing demand, for example. The former is considered more reliable and popular but can be extremely costly, reaching a million dollars in just a few minutes. With his research, Dr. Karol Wawrzyniak and his team aims to inform this process by creating a highly detailed simulation of the chain of events leading up to a blackout. He wants to see a power grid that is capable of continuous, comprehensive risk assessment, which uses that information to optimize the actions taken in response to system failures. The goal of his current project is to develop the tools that will make that possible. Unpredictable events can spring up that put electricity production and delivery in jeopardy, including extreme weather, acts of terrorism and human error. Action must be taken to fix the damaged grid within a certain amount of time. Under today’s systems operators hurry to take corrective measures—as soon as possible and regardless of cost—to restore normal electricity service. Otherwise, the result can be a cascading failure that begins at a single point on the grid, but spreads to affect a larger segment of a region, including its critical services. Dr. Wawrzyniak sees room for considerable improvement here. The response could be smarter and more complex than this, he says. It should be based on risk assessments of potential states of the grid that will take into account characteristics of the region, like its population density and economic activity, local weather conditions, the cost of the correction and the necessary timeframe to accomplish it in. He is developing a new mathematical model that can do just that, which he will put to use optimizing the appropriate response.

### Investigating the stability of ice shelves to assess Antarctica's future Sea Level Rise contribution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/investigating-the-stability-of-ice-shelves-to-assess-antarcticas-future-sea-level-rise-contribution
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sarah THOMPSON

The Antarctic ice sheet contains 30 million cubic kilometres of ice. If it melted, scientists estimate that sea level would rise by about 60 meters, compared to 6 meters for the Greenland ice sheet. Unlike Greenland, where the mass of ice is declining at an alarming rate, Antarctica as a whole has yet to see dramatic warming. Still, in response to accelerated atmospheric warming, around 20 % of Antartica ice shelves – the floating portions of the ice sheet –, have undergone collapse in the last 50 years. Considering these thick floating platforms of ice act as stabilisers and keep the interior ice sheet from moving too fast into the ocean, Antartica's situation is likely to grow exponentially worse. To help understand what the future holds, Dr. Sarah Thompson is developing a vulnerability analysis, ranking ice-shelves in probability of collapse and potential magnitude contribution to sea level rise. Her objective is to assess the likelihood and potential consequences of the disintegration of the continent's ice shelves. An ice shelf forms when an ice sheet flows down to a coastline and onto the ocean surface. When formed, they buttress and stabilise the flow of ice coming from the interior into the ocean. "The ice shelves themselves don't contribute to sea level rise", explains Dr. Sarah Thompson. "But they hold back large volumes of ice that can". "Around 50 % of the Antarctic coastline comprises ice shelves and over 70% of the ice from the grounded ice sheet passes through these ice shelves". Considering even the most conservative scenarios predict noticeable future warming in Antarctica through the 21st century, scientists fear that the continent's ice shelves will collapse and Antarctica's glaciers will flow into the sea. If this happens, Antarctica's contribution to Sea Level Rise could become alarming. But predicting ice shelf collapse is complex. "There is a growing recognition that suture zones of soft marine ice may mediate destructive meltwater forcing on ice shelves", says Dr. Sarah Thompson."However, we currently don’t know whether, with increasing atmosphere and ocean temperatures, these suture zones may thin more rapidly than the surrounding ice shelf, eventually promoting break up." The study will investigate the hypothesis that suture zones currently play a fundamental role in stabilising ice shelves all over Antarctica.

### Analyzing the logistics configuration and operation of home medical emergency systems using descriptive and optimization models

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/analyzing-the-logistics-configuration-and-operation-of-home-medical-emergency-systems-using-descriptive-and-optimization-models
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ana Paula IANNONI

An emergency call is received in the middle of the night. The ambulance is on its way. But what would happen if two calls were received at the same time for the same area and only one ambulance was available? Probabilistic aspects have a crucial impact on patients’ lives. That’s why Ana Paula Iannoni is working on a model that can support strategic and operational decisions related, for example, to the location and districting of medical equipment and vehicles. Her research has already drawn the attention of a number of decision makers in the EMS (emergency medical services) industry. Her findings could help them achieve shorter mean response times, fewer lost calls, and better quality of clinical and pre-hospital care. Her work could therefore guide them when making operational and tactical decisions - for instance, in determining the optimal location of ambulances and their respective coverage area.

### Tree Range evolution under Climate change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/tree-range-evolution-under-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Anne DUPUTIÉ

Species may respond to climate change via two non-exclusive strategies: they may track favorable climates and/or quickly change and adapt their phenotype* (such as drought resistance or timing of spring events). Using a model that infers the survival and reproductive output of temperate trees from climatic data, Dr. Anne Duputié could identify selective pressures that act on key traits of the trees’ life cycle. For the first time, potential genetic changes and dispersal abilities were jointly taken into account to calculate a more accurate probability of the trees’ persistence in changing environments. Parameterized for the pedunculate oak, this model can be extended to other species, providing information about the existing genetic variation for these traits. These results could contribute to creating future biodiversity scenarios.

### Fighting pancreatic cancer by developing a new approach for early diagnosis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/fighting-pancreatic-cancer-by-developing-a-new-approach-for-early-diagnosis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Stefano COPPOLA

Pancreatic cancer is almost always fatal. The disease affects more than 300,000 new patients every year in the world. An approximated 7 % of them survive more than 5 years after the diagnosis, all stages combined. The low survival rates are mainly ascribed to the fact that pancreatic cancer is rarely diagnosed at an early stage. Once it has metastasized, the cancer is virtually impossible to cure. To help develop novel strategies, Dr. Stefano Coppola of the Institute of Physics at the University of Leiden, is exploring the mechanical properties of pancreatic cells and how they play a role in the progression of malignancies. A better understanding of the biomechanics of cancerous cells could provide fundamental insights into the biology of pancreatic cancer, potentially crucial for early diagnosis. « Roughly a decade ago, researchers have pointed out the relationship between tumor rigidity and its behavior », relates Dr. Coppola. « More recently, there has been a paradigm shift, in which disease progression is thought to be controlled by mechanics. » « Our guess is that if we can link the mechanical properties to cancer progression, our findings would pave the way for the development of a new label-free method of diagnosis », explains the biophysicist. Unlike current methods which require specific biomarkers – substances that reveal the presence of a specific indicator of a biological state –, Dr. Coppola’s method would be label-free, making it attractive for diagnostic applications. « The best hope we have to reduce the mortality of pancreatic cancer lies in the diagnosis and treatment of the early, non-invasive form of the disease », Dr. Coppola points out. « Mechanical properties of cells could constitute dependable biomarkers of the early onset of pancreatic cancer ».

### AXA Chair in Adversarial Risk Analysis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-chair-in-adversarial-risk-analysis
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: David RIOS INSUA

While traditional l risk analysis is based on models for which loss is mainly governed by chance, he will combine it with game theory to deal with malicious or self-interested actions of intelligent adversaries. He will thus deliver better methods for risk management in areas like cyber security, terrorist attacks or corporate competition, providing new insights analyzing intentionality of adversaries, and, consequently, better protecting our infrastructures, organizations, assets and lives.

### Explicit geometry and arithmetic of elliptic curves and application to cryptography

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/explicit-geometry-and-arithmetic-of-elliptic-curves-and-application-to-cryptography
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Christophe ARENE

Cryptography: the science of secret messages? Today’s version of cryptography is much more complex. It provides protocols that we regularly use without even realizing it: sending emails, paying for purchases online or even using the telephone. “Cryptology gives us solutions every day, in a world where, with the development of means of communication, needs in terms of confidentiality and protection of privacy are constantly increasing,” explains Christophe Arène. Drawing on fundamental theorems developed over a century ago, he is exploring solutions for ensuring data integrity, authenticating identity and verifying digital signatures. His initial results demonstrate how new “resistant” mathematical formulae can be built, paving the way to more secure cryptographic protocols.

### Innovative Mechanisms for Sustainable Long-Term Care Systems in Europe - EuroLTCS Project

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/innovative-mechanisms-for-sustainable-long-term-care-systems-in-europe-euroltcs-project
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Milena PAVLOVA

Aging population and austerity measures represent a major challenge to health care services in Europe. How can current systems provide care and pharmaceuticals for more and more people, while at the same time containing expenses ? Compounding these difficulties, citizens’ expectations regarding health services are increasing, as better access to information entails the desire to access new and more expensive services. These contradictory trends question the sustainability of current care provision systems, both in Western and Eastern European countries. Dr. Milena Pavlova, a health economist at the Maastricht University in the Netherlands, aims to provide perspective and evidence on good and innovative practices in order to help European societies make informed choices about the future of their long-term care systems. Although both Eastern and Western European countries are concerned, the dilemmas they face are different. Western societies have extensive long-term care structures established with the support of the state. As governments are pressed to restrict their spending, insuring health and care services for all is becoming more and more of a challenge. In Eastern countries, resources for long-term care institutions are hardly available and long-term care provision is largely family-based. But the decreasing family size and the increasing number of working women are calling for new forms of long-term care. “The families cannot carry the burden of caring for the elderly and the chronically sick anymore. They need other solutions”, Dr. Milena Pavlova points out.

### 5-COOP: Relationships between the level of mortality selection and the health status of the oldest old

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/5-coop-relationships-between-the-level-of-mortality-selection-and-the-health-status-of-the-oldest-old
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Jean-Marie ROBINE

“May you live one hundred years,” is a traditional birthday wish in many countries. And in fact, for reasons such as improved medical science and health-care and lifestyle choices, the number of people who live into their 90s and beyond is increasing dramatically. But is it truly a blessing to live so long? And what are the public-health policy implications as this population continues to grow? That’s what a two-year project by an interdisciplinary, international research team aims to find out. Headed by Prof. Jean-Marie Robine of the French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the Five Country Oldest Old Project (5-COOP)is designed to more fully understand longevity in order to better anticipate the number and health status of the so-called “oldest old” over the coming decades. By surveying representative samples of centenarians in five countries, the project will examine such critical factors as the subjects’ physical, sensory and cognitive capacities, the age at which chronic diseases begin and the frequency of such diseases as well as disabilities and other geriatric conditions, and the relationship between mortality and functional health status. The five selected countries—Denmark, France, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland—were chosen because they offer high-quality data on mortality and/or health for centenarians, include a relatively high number of centenarians in their populations, and have excellent research teams. The multidisciplinary teams conducting the research include recognized experts in aging, geriatric medicine, social and preventive medicine, and public health. In addition to forecasting the demographics of the oldest old, Robine’s team expects to better understand the causes and patterns of the diseases that strike this seldom-studied population and to estimate the risk of dependence and physical or cognitive impairment. By examining health and social needs and the relationship between health and longevity, the results may help policy makers design appropriate public health strategies for the future." The decrease in old age mortality started in the 1930s in the most advanced countries but it was only noticed in the 1970s. It led to the formulation of three main theories about the expected changes in the health status of the populations, the compression of morbidity, the pandemic of disability, and the dynamic equilibrium. According to the first theory morbidity is compressed at the end of life due to the adoption of healthy behaviors and the hypothesis of strong limitations on longevity. According to the second theory, we are merely keeping the sick people alive longer increasing the prevalence of chronic diseases and disability. According to the third theory we are keeping the sick people alive longer but we are also slowing down the development of the chronic diseases and postponing the onset of disability. However, the most surprising observation during the last decades was the strong decrease in oldest old mortality, leading to an unexpected increase in the number of nonagenarians and centenarians. The previous theories do not help to understand the relationship between the level of mortality selection (how easy or difficult it is to survive to a given age) and the functional health status of the survivors (i.e. the people reaching this given age). This is the new frontier in healthy and active longevity research and it where the 5-Country Oldest Old Project (5-COOP) is going with the help of AXA Research Fund.

### Exploration of endothelial cell metabolism during neovessel formation and the therapeutic potential

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/exploration-of-endothelial-cell-metabolism-during-neovessel-formation-and-the-therapeutic-potential
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Peter CARMELIET

As of today, aging and its associated progressive loss of physical integrity remains the prime risk factor in cancer development. As refined parasites, developing tumors hijack the vascular system of their hosts in order to promote their own growth. Prof. Peter Carmeliet aims to explore this from a rather novel angle. Indeed, a large number of cancer therapies inhibit the creation of new blood vessels caused by chemicals released from tumors; however, these strategies are reaching their limits. In particular, they present serious side effects, such as toxicity and resistance incurred by patients. Carmeliet suggests reversing the process: what if, instead of starving tumors by blocking their blood stock, we starved the blood vessels themselves by cutting off their power supply? The idea is daring and risky. However, Carmeliet’s team has been leading research in the field of vascular biology for the past 18 years, and their expertise will be much needed in this pioneering investigation. The energy usage of blood vessels has been very poorly studied. In fact, very little is known about the cells that line the inside of blood vessels. It is only known that, despite being in a prime position for accessing the oxygen that circulates in the blood, these specialized cells prefer to use anaerobic (oxygen-less) chemistry to generate energy. This very bizarre behavior may allow these cells to proliferate in non-vascularized areas – thereby letting tumors run wild with blood vessel proliferation (angiogenesis). In consequence, better insights into energy supply to blood vessels and into the conditions which favor their proliferation are crucial to help design new strategies to block energy pathways. Thus starved, the blood vessels would no longer respond to the signals emitted by tumors, thereby accelerating the latter's isolation and inescapable death. The project is extremely challenging. However, with the support of Carmeliet’s interdisciplinary team working in a very international environment using emerging technologies, it might open paths to entirely new therapeutic strategies for fighting the ever-growing plague of cancer.

### Global finance: avoiding risks by updating our understanding of today's mega trends

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/global-finance-avoiding-risks-by-updating-our-understanding-of-todays-mega-trends
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Victor MURINDE

The world is at a stage where the financial landscape is continuously shifting", says Prof. Victor Murinde, an accomplished researcher in Development Finance. "We need to identify the evolving mega trends of today’s global finance, monitor the trends, and interpret what they mean for global finance and the world economy". The past 20 years have seen the reoccurrence of financial crises, with the most cataclysmic one being the global financial crisis of 2008. To mitigate financial and economic risks, insulate households and firms against shocks, and support sustainable economic growth, research in finance must update and refine our understanding of the mega trends in the global flow of funds – how capital flows from households to companies, from households to banks, from companies to banks, etc… The AXA Chair in Global Finance at SOAS University of London, which Prof. Victor Murinde will permanently hold, was specially created for this purpose. The aim of the research programme is to identify these massive structural shifts – or mega trends –, measure them, specify points in their time paths to explore the dynamics and analyse their drivers and their effects on global finance, resilience and growth. The objective is to trigger a paradigm shift in the way research engages with today's global financial issues, taking into account China's emerging economic prowess, new financial innovations, the relative position of the European Union and the United States and more especially the recent high economic growth in Africa.

### Explaining the Adaptability of Counterterrorist Organisations: France, Britain and the United States facing Transnational Terrorism

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/explaining-the-adaptability-of-counterterrorist-organisations-france-britain-and-the-united-states-facing-transnational-terrorism
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Frank FOLEY

Could 9/11 have been avoided? We know that the US intelligence services had clues on some of the terrorists that struck on that fateful morning. So what went wrong? Counter-terrorism is all about cooperation and information sharing between intelligence agencies and police services. Frank Foley’s postdoctoral research examined how this inter-service cooperation is organized. His research has led him to identify the lack of organization within these agencies due to the high number of different stakeholders (FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Police departments, etc.) and the competition between some of them. Conversely, the UK and to a certain extent France, with fewer agencies and less competition, show a higher level of cooperation, which has boosted their ability to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts.

### Palaeoecology, environmental risks on forest ecosystems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/palaeoecology-environmental-risks-on-forest-ecosystems
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Walter FINSINGER

Biography I graduated from University of Pisa (Italy) in 1998 where I studied surface landforms (fossil moraines, rock glaciers) at high-elevation in the Franco-Italian Maritime Alps. After a short break due to the alternative Civilian Service at a Natural Park near Pisa, I pursued my research interests in palaeoecology at the University of Bern (Switzerland) first with a grant from the Bern Canton and subsequently with a PhD grant. I moved later to Utrecht (The Netherlands) as a post-doctoral researcher where I undertook research focusing on different topics, including (i) quantitative climate reconstructions of the past using pollen records, (ii) plants’ response to CO2 changes during the past 1000 years, (iii) biotic responses to climate change, changes in land-use activities, and fire regimes. Research work Boreal forests (i.e. conifer forests around the Arctic Circle) and European-mountain forests are both tamed to a significant fire-risk increase in response to current climatic changes. The quantification of risk resulting from fire is crucial for the sustainable management of those forests, which are rich in natural woody resources. In fact, although boreal forests account for only ca. ⅓ of the worlds’ forests, they supply ca. 90% of the worlds’ paper and timber industry. Boreal forests are also a major societal issue in terms of terrestrial carbon storage because these forests act as long-term carbon reservoirs (carbon accumulates in organic soils and in peat) but they also can contribute to carbon fluxes from biomass to the atmosphere during natural disturbances (fire, insect disease) or human activities (industrial logging). In order to formulate a risk assessment and predict potential fire outbreaks due to future climate changes, it is essential to understand the processes influencing fire-frequency changes. At present two alternative hypotheses are under debate: (i) climatic changes act directly on fire frequency without initial modification of the vegetation composition, and (ii) climate changes trigger plant-cover changes that alter the fire frequency through fuel modification. My aim is to test whether changes in fire frequencies are linked to plant-cover changes, both in terms of vegetation type and diversity. Because processes acting on ecosystems cannot be deciphered solely by the observations and monitoring of modern ecosystems (‘short’ timescale of decades), I will use fossil records of vegetation and fire-frequency changes to conduct long-term observations (longer timescales of several millennia). Observations will be conducted in Canada because human activities have had a low impact in that region and will, therefore, not mask natural processes. In practice I will use lake sediments that accumulated over the past ca. 10,000 years as natural archives for microfossils (pollen grains and charcoal particles). The quantification of these microfossils at different depths along lake-sediment cores allows the reconstruction of past changes in vegetation composition and of fire frequencies. By dating the sediments with radiocarbon at different depths it is possible to assign precise ages to each analysed sample. Canadian boreal forests are very similar to European mountain forests both in terms of plant species/genera and ecological services. This research will, therefore, also contribute to the quantification of risk resulting from disturbances in Europe, where the density of territories covered by fire-susceptible forests is increasing due to land-use abandonment and rural exodus from mountain regions since the end of the 19th century. AXA funding The funding provided by the AXA Research Fund is essential for this research, which will be conducted in collaboration with an international (French-Canadian) research consortium. Therefore, the funding gives me also the opportunity to get into contact with several scientists, to exchange ideas with them, and to contribute to their ongoing projects (e.g. CLIMAFEUX, RESILIENCE) with my work. It will help to pursue my research interests that aim to a better (sustainable) management of ecosystems. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### AXA Chair in Medical informatics and life Course Epidemiology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-chair-in-medical-informatics-and-life-course-epidemiology
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Helen COLHOUN

Today (2015) about 347 million people worldwide have diabetes, predicted to become the 7th leading cause of death in the world by the year 2030. Increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, blindness, and kidney failure, diabetes is a major societal challenge, not only from the health perspective, but also in terms of its economic cost. Transforming risk prediction in diabetes is Prof. Colhoun’s ambition. Thanks to her exceptional expertise in the use of electronic health data to model the risk of diabetes, she will develop algorithms in order to build and update prediction models for diabetes and risk complications. Prof. Colhoun will benefit from the exceptional environment of the University of Edinburgh, worldwide known for its long tradition of excellence in genetics, a key discipline to understand diabetes. The University of Edinburgh is also rated amongst the top 5 in the world for computer science, a crucial asset to build effective preventive tools. The use of personal data being a delicate issue, Prof. Colhoun will work closely not only with experts on machine learning and computer science but also with researchers on data privacy, in order to ensure both data use and protection. Moreover, because prevention needs motivation on the patients’ side, experts on behavioral science will be involved in the program to help identify which measure drive healthy behaviors. Prof. Colhoun strongly believes in the importance of patient-centered interventions to motivate preventive behaviors and avoid useless treatments. That is why, through this ambitious program, she will provide the understanding needed to develop digital tools that help patients make life-style choices. Her research will therefore stimulate advances in predictive and personalized medicine. It will also be crucial to develop collective strategies that could be used beyond diabetes and applied more broadly to other chronic diseases.

### Longevity : do you have the genes for it?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/longevity-do-you-have-the-genes-for-it
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Peter JOSHI

Is the length of our lives written in our DNA? Research shows that longevity depends on a combination of both lifestyle and genes. « About a quarter of the variability in lifespan is estimated to be due to genetics », confirms Dr. Peter Joshi. « Yet, so far only three specific genes have been identified as playing a part in longevity, and they explain very little of the variation ». Aiming to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of healthy ageing, Dr. Joshi is leading an ambitious, large-scale study to investigate the still largely mysterious genomic and biological basis of human lifespan. His objective is to contribute to a better understanding of how longevity is genetically determined, providing invaluable knowledge for medicine and healthcare systems.  

### Preventing avalanches and snow-melt related floods by improving forecasting systems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/preventing-avalanches-and-snow-melt-related-floods-by-improving-forecasting-systems
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jesus REVUELTO

Snow avalanches and floods are among the most dangerous natural hazards in mountainous regions. To prevent disaster from happening, different state-of-the-art forecasting systems have been developed. These systems rely on detailed simulations of snowpack physical properties and their evolution in regard to factors such as meteorological conditions, local topography or ground characteristics. However, current snowpack simulations are not 100% reliable. Significant discrepancies between real and simulated snowpack occasionally alter the systems' capacity to anticipate potentially devastating events. "Uncertainties in snowpack simulations accumulate over the snow season, since the snowpack has an important memory of past meteorological events. Nowadays snowpack simulations are not corrected with snow observations; mainly due to lack of daily distributed information on the snowpack. But new possibilities in regard to real-time monitoring of snowpack distribution are showing good results and could be exploited for rectifying deviations in snowpack simulations", explains Dr. Jesús Revuelto. Building on the latest advances in snow science, the researcher's project aims to refine the spatial resolution of snowpack simulations and reduce simulation deviations by enabling the obtention of both large-scale and refined real-time data on snowpack distribution. The ultimate objective is to further improve snowpack forecasting capabilities by enhancing the reliability of forecast systems in mountain areas. Seeing between the pixels

### Role of brain structure and function in juvenile delinquent and risk-taking behaviors and its impact on biological and psychosocial treatment efficacy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/role-of-brain-structure-and-function-in-juvenile-delinquent-and-risk-taking-behaviors-and-its-impact-on-biological-and-psychosocial-treatment-efficacy
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Andrea GLENN

“Juvenile delinquency and risk-taking are a societal problem faced worldwide. Youth who engage in repetitive and persistent antisocial behavior are more likely to continue perpetrating crime and violence into adulthood,” says Dr. Andrea Glenn. For the first time, the efficiency of combined treatments—biological (nutritional) and psychosocial (social skills training)—is tested in reducing problem behavior in youth, leading to more personalized treatments for youth who are at risk for criminal behavior.

### Investor Behavior, Dynamic and Irrational, Helps Tackle Financial Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/investor-behavior-dynamic-and-irrational-helps-tackle-financial-risk
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Fabio TROJANI, Bernard DUMAS

If hell is other people, according to the philosopher Sartre, might financial risk also be other people? Prof. Bernard Dumas believes that this is one often overlooked element: “I’m convinced that prices on the stock exchange move more than is justified by the movement of the economy,” he says. “There’s some risk generated by other people in the market.” With their personal, sometimes irrational behavior, individuals create risk for other investors. Prof. Dumas’s research program will use empirical methods to describe market features like this, or “imperfections”, that generate uncertainty for investors. With the innovative models he is developing, capable of capturing the dynamic behavior of individual agents, this work could help create a more desirable equilibrium on the financial markets. A number of factors contribute to the frictions that Prof. Dumas aims to capture with his new methods of modeling markets. Not all risk is accounted for in the form of tradable financial products, for instance. A market like this is considered incomplete and amplifies other risks present. Also, market operations have costs and investors look for balance; if the transaction costs on a trading platform are too high, they won’t make the trade. At the same time, an individual can simply miss a normally interesting opportunity to trade, because their attention is occupied elsewhere. Such unknowns and fluctuating motivations make investor behavior difficult to predict, but necessary for a more complete picture of the market.

### New developments in Competing risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/new-developments-in-competing-risks
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Yann DIJOUX

How can we better maintain industrial sites and systems? Yann Dijoux believes the solution lies in theoretical models. “Until recently, industrial actors have not had appropriate models for frequently observed on-site situations,” he says. “By devising mathematical models for maintenance actions, I am giving decision-makers a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms so they can improve policy.” His models of degradation, maintenance and crew responsiveness make it possible to evaluate a system’s wear and maintenance quality with nothing more than a data set and an expert opinion. International companies such as French utility EDF have successfully used Dijoux’s methods, but his work is far from finished: “Eventually, I hope to extend my findings beyond technology applications to fields such as risk management and finance.” My research focuses on contributing to a theoretical foundation for the otherwise often purely empirical treatment for maintenance of technical systems. By devising mathematical models for maintenance actions and the decisions to take such actions, one is able to obtain better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and hence to take better decisions.

### Novel approaches towards understanding stratosphere-troposphere interaction and its role in weather and climate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/novel-approaches-towards-understanding-stratosphere-troposphere-interaction-and-its-role-in-weather-and-climate
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Amanda MAYCOCK

The dominant modes of variability in the large-scale atmospheric circulation are known as the Northern and Southern annular mode (NAM and SAM) in each hemisphere, respectively. These climate `modes' explain ~30% of the variance in surface temperatures in each hemisphere, and are strongly linked to high-impact weather events such as summer heatwaves (e.g. European summer 2003) and cold and snowy winters (e.g. European winters 2009/10/11). Annular mode (AM) variability is therefore crucial for regional climate. However, the predictability of the AMs on seasonal to interannual timescales is currently poor. Identifying and understanding drivers of AM variability is therefore crucial for improving weather forecasts and climate projections on timescales of weeks to centuries. This project will consider one such driver, namely the stratosphere. There is now overwhelming evidence that the stratosphere and troposphere behave as a two-way dynamically-coupled system, such that changes in temperature and wind in the stratosphere can influence tropospheric weather patterns, and vice versa. This so-called `stratosphere-troposphere coupling' is an important feature of the Earth system because it presents a pathway for driving variations in surface climate through a number of processes, including the El-Niño Southern-Oscillation, the 11-year solar cycle, stratospheric ozone depletion and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. It is commonly found in climate models and observations that changes in the stratospheric state alter the phase of the tropospheric NAM or SAM. A clear example of this is the Southern hemisphere, where stratospheric ozone depletion has been the dominant driver of the positive SAM trend over the past three decades. This has caused changes in surface temperatures over Antarctica, carbon uptake by the Southern ocean and subtropical precipitation. The stratosphere is expected to play an important role in the response to anthropogenic climate change in the Northern hemisphere. Climate models which include a good representation of the stratosphere simulate an opposite shift in the North Atlantic storm track compared to 'standard' models with a poorly resolved stratosphere. This has important ramifications for future European weather and the risk of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, wind storms, floods and droughts. One of the key outstanding challenges is to understand at a process-based level how the stratosphere and troposphere interact. Despite progress over the past decade, the contribution of different mechanisms is still poorly understood. This project will address this issue by using a hierarchy of models and diagnostics to improve our understanding of stratosphere-troposphere interactions. A key issue in climate science is the ever increasing gap between model complexity and the fundamental understanding of a complex and highly non-linear system. This project will bridge this gap by developing a new modeling tool which includes the key components of the climate system needed to investigate stratosphere-troposphere interactions, but which retains sufficient simplicity to diagnose processes and mechanisms. The model will be based on the Reading Intermediate General Circulation Model (IGCM) and will include simplified representations of the key ingredients for the midlatitude storm tracks, including the continental land masses, topography and sea surface temperature gradients. The first phase of the project (months 1-8) will involve developing and testing the new modeling tool. To achieve this, I will interact with colleagues at Cambridge, the University of East Anglia and the University of Reading who have expertise in using the IGCM. A suite of diagnostics will be developed to identify key processes, including Rossby wave breaking and blocking events, the tracks of synoptic storms and large-scale planetary wave structures. The new model will provide a framework to conduct experiments during the second phase of the project (months 9-15) to pin-point key processes and mechanisms for stratosphere-troposphere interactions. Particular attention will be paid to the impact of stratospheric perturbations with different zonal structures and positions relative to the storm tracks. This is motivated by an increasing awareness that the structure of a stratospheric perturbation may be important for determining the dynamical impact on the troposphere (e.g. due to ozone depletion, stratospheric sudden warmings). However, many existing studies have used simplified models which do not capture the large-scale zonal structure of the atmosphere. These new experiments will enable key 'sensitive' regions in each hemisphere to be identified for the first time. A key focus will be on the North Atlantic region, where the tilted jet structure brings about a more complex dynamical regime than in other storm track regions. In the third phase of the project (months 16-21), the idealised experiments will be compared to simulations from the state-of-the-art UKCA coupled chemistry-climate model, which will enable the mechanisms identified in phase II to be tested in the context of stratospheric ozone depletion and anthropogenic climate change. All phases of the project will benefit from expertise in climate modeling and atmospheric dynamics in the Departments of Chemistry and Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge, as well as expertise at the British Antarctic Survey and Scott Polar Research Institute through the newly established Cambridge Centre for Climate Science. The research will provide new insight into the underpinning mechanisms for how the stratosphere affects weather and climate on timescales of weeks to centuries. There are few components of the climate system which exert a tangible influence over this range of timescales, and it is therefore crucial that we have a detailed understanding of these interactions and the mechanisms by which they take place. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Increasing the reliability of seismic loss estimates to help decision-making

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/increasing-the-reliability-of-seismic-loss-estimates-to-help-decision-making
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Hélène LYON-CAEN

Assessing the risk of seismic hazard at a given site is not an easy task. In the presence of active faults the problem becomes even more complex, as it requires an in-depth and up to date understanding of the active fault system affecting a region. Incomplete understanding leads to unreliable estimation of the risks, which in turn results in unadapted mitigation. For their calculations, the loss assessment communities currently use simplified probabilistic seismic hazard models that lack insight on the behaviour of complex fault systems. Recognising the need for a more detailed and viable method to model the interaction of faults, one that accurately reflects their complexity, AXA and a scientific team from the Geology Laboratory at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Paris and from the seismic risk laboratory at IRSN are joining forces to propose a novel approach to modelling of fault data. The main objective of this Joint Research Initiative (JRI) is to increase the reliability of seismic loss estimates by better quantifying the uncertainties involved in each step of seismic hazard assessment. In doing so, the project also aims at a better understanding of the impact of these uncertainties may have on seismic loss estimates. Estimating earthquake related losses requires taking three main components into consideration : seismic hazard assessment which is the estimation of earthquake recurrences and the associated shaking intensity ; the vulnerability of infrastructures given a shaking intensity and the exposure part which estimates the loss based on the structural damage estimated on a building. "The major challenge is to correctly propagate the uncertainties involved in each of the computational steps", explains Doctor Hélène Lyon-Caen, principal scientific investigator of the project. "For computational and practical reasons, the loss assessment community usually relies on quite simplified hazard assessment models based on a limited exploration of uncertainties". "Our first objective is thus to propose a novel approach which better reflects the complexity of seismic assessment and takes uncertainties into careful consideration". To develop an approach flexible enough to be transposable to different regions of the world, the scientific team from the ENS and IRSN are scheduled to conduct field studies in Greece, Eastern France and Turkey, three areas with very different seismic caracteristics. The challenge of this novel approach will be to consider and integrate into the calculations the large spectrum of data specific to each seismic zone. This should lead to a more reliable seismic hazard modelling approach.

### Estimating the impacts of climate change on Water Quality and Toxic Cyanobacterial Blooms

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/estimating-the-impacts-of-climate-change-on-water-quality-and-toxic-cyanobacterial-blooms
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Laura OBERHAUS

To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### From Sheep to Insects, Herbivores’ Impact on Tundra Soil and Plants

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/from-sheep-to-insects-herbivores-impact-on-tundra-soil-and-plants
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Isabel BARRIO

The tundra is a fairly simple ecosystem, in terms of the number of species that dwell there. The forces acting on it, though, and the challenges it faces with climate change are not. This complexity is revealed by the interactions among an array of herbivores, the plants they eat and the land that sustains them all. Dr. Isabel Barrio is headed for Iceland, where the tundra rangelands are important grazing locations for the country’s many sheep, but also its wild herbivores. These plant-eaters affect the dynamics of the ecosystem with their diet and by trampling vegetation. Their activity also amplifies a major threat for this region and others like it: soil erosion. The soil is volcanic and thin here, presenting an extreme of a problem common to different environments worldwide. What’s more, climate change is expected to compound the issue. Dr. Barrio intends to pin down how herbivore grazing combines to affect soil degradation, how well plants can recover and how humans can respond. At high latitudes like Iceland’s, the climate is warming at unprecedented rates, making the tundra especially vulnerable. Extreme weather, like torrential rains, linked to climate change risks intensifying soil erosion. The tundra is already slow to recover from disturbances and the main colonizers of barren soils – mosses and lichens – will not respond well to rising temperatures. Dr. Barrio will take a novel approach to examining herbivores’ role in all this. While most studies have looked at vertebrates, for their larger size and greater impact, she will consider the combined effect of the whole range of herbivores in this ecosystem, including sheep, geese and even insects. The influence of these small but numerous invertebrates is likely to change, as they are sensitive to and dependent on the external temperature. If any of these factors throws the ecosystem too far off balance, complete degradation of the rangelands could result.

### Do cultural attitudes affect the demand for individual property insurance? The case of China

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/do-cultural-attitudes-affect-the-demand-for-individual-property-insurance-the-case-of-china
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Michael R. POWERS

If you had more money or other financial resources to fall back on, would you be more inclined to take certain risks? Quite possibly, but the effect may not be the same across cultures, contexts, and markets. In fact, Prof. Michael Powers found that, compared to their American counterparts, wealthier Chinese students tend to be less comfortable with risk. This may reflect significant changes taking place in China’s society today. Understanding this phenomenon has implications for rapidly evolving economies, especially regarding government policies and business decision making, which is why Powers and his team are studying China’s property insurance market. A great deal of personal wealth in China is held in physical property, including real estate and motor vehicles, rather than stocks and bonds. “This could lead to more risk aversion,” according to Prof. Powers, “because the investment is something that can be damaged by a fire, earthquake, or other physical event.” That, he says, is why the country’s citizens would benefit from buying more property insurance than they currently do. His research on Chinese motor vehicle insurance has helped tease out the factors at work in this market and distinguished, for the first time in the literature, among different types of behavioral (or “moral”) hazards. The most striking difference from comparable markets, like Taiwan’s, is the absence of the moral hazard that exists before a car accident. A source of carelessness, this type of risk arises from people driving less cautiously because they know they have insurance to protect them. One possible reason this risk was not seen in China is that the population has been moving away from traditional, rural lifestyles. In the city, people tend to earn more money, but may feel the loss of a cushion of financial support formerly offered by the community around them. Sensing their vulnerability, new arrivals in urban settings may not derive the same level of psychological comfort from buying insurance as that of policyholders in more mature markets, Prof. Powers explains. His team has developed new techniques to analyze economic data from insurance companies, including coverages sold, premiums collected, and losses paid. As more data become available, the researchers expect to find significant differences between China and other markets. Multiple factors indicate that the Chinese property insurance market should be ripe for growth. The fact that it hasn’t expanded very rapidly suggests that the government may want to accelerate the process with subsidies, as it already has done for the agricultural sector. Understanding the mechanisms of the property insurance market – the interactions between individuals, businesses, and the state – is a necessary first step. Next, it should be possible to develop policies that help reduce risk at all levels of society.

### Towards better seismic hazard resilience in Southwest China

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/towards-better-seismic-hazard-resilience-in-southwest-china
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Xuhua SHI

Rapid urbanisation and population growth puts more and more people in earthquakes’ paths. In southwestern China, along the highly-active Xiaojiang fault, rapid economical growth is fuelling major infrastructure projects and population growth, exposing millions to conditions of elevated risk. Throughout human history, numerous destructive earthquakes have struck the region, of which four measured more than 7 on the Richter scale. The largest was the 1833 Songming earthquake of magnitude 8, which resulted in the death of thousands of people. Recognising the critical knowledge gap in the field of earthquake geology in this region, Dr. Xuhua Shi of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, aims to provide decision-makers with a detailed knowledge of the characteristics and seismic behaviour of the Xiaojiang fault to increase resilience in the future.  « The Xiaojiang fault is one of the fastest-moving faults in China », Dr. Xuhua Shi reports. « But we know very little about it. For instance, there is a debate on how often earthquakes happen in the region. Some put the average gap between two major earthquakes at about 2,000 years or more. Others put it at 300-500 years ». With now more than 10 million people living in the vicinity of the Xiaojiang fault, and the construction of massive infrastructure projects (hydropower dams, oil and gas pipelines), providing answers to such questions has become critical. « Previous studies have not  been able to properly mapped the active fault traces. The necessary technology was not available at the time »,  Dr. Xuhua Shi explains. « Today, it is, and we have the means to obtain precise locations of the fault traces».

### To combat dependence with a novel approach against the TAU protein abnormalities of dementia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/to-combat-dependence-with-a-novel-approach-against-the-tau-protein-abnormalities-of-dementia
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Etienne BAULIEU

Today, we live longer than ever before. In many ways, this is good news, but an aging population comes with a significant risk of age-related conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease. A number of different forms of dementia are known to involve a protein in the brain called Tau. When Tau is abnormally shaped, it interferes with the correct functioning of neurons, eventually destroying them. For this reason, Tau appears to be a good target both for detecting the risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s and potentially finding treatments. Etienne Baulieu’s team has already discovered that when the abnormal Tau is causing trouble in the brain, it is also seen interacting with a particular protein. The scientists suspect that this association could be at the root of such diseases. What if this interaction could be controlled or altered? Could we slow down the development of Alzheimer’s disease? In other studies, the types of drugs capable of changing this protein interaction have already had success in protecting neurons. And, since Tau’s “protein partner in crime” is found all over the brain, this may hold promise for developing therapies for certain neurodegenerative diseases. As both researchers and families of patients with dementia know, these diseases progress with time, usually worsening over the course of five to fifteen years. For Baulieu, this time frame represents a window of opportunity to fight the onset of Tau-related diseases with a totally new approach. Targeting the interaction of the two proteins could help researchers find a way to delay the development of symptoms. It could even provide an early indicator of a person’s risk of developing dementia, he believes. But first, to reach these goals, a very clear understanding of the way the proteins interact, on a variety of levels, is needed. By the end of this century, some researchers believe that 50% of the global population will reach the age of 100, leaving them more susceptible to conditions linked to aging. The consequences of the dependence resulting from dementia-related illnesses is a painful and difficult challenge for patients, families and society alike. Baulieu’s project aims to use a new approach to predict the development of disease and delay or even prevent the onset of devastating symptoms.

### AXA Award on The role of lifestyle in cognitive and everyday functioning at older ages

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/axa-award-on-the-role-of-lifestyle-in-cognitive-and-everyday-functioning-at-older-ages
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Miia KIVIPELTO

Miia Kivipelto’s research focuses on prevention and treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. She developed the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to prevent cognitive impairment.

### To Map the Structures, Circuits and Functions of the Brain, a Pioneer Explores Its “Terra Incognita”

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/to-map-the-structures-circuits-and-functions-of-the-brain-a-pioneer-explores-its-terra-incognita
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Kei ITO

Faced with a vast, unexplored territory, humanity has always sent pioneers first. Prof. Kei Ito is prepared to fill that role in our exploration of the unknown regions of the brain. Despite all we have learned about some areas, great swathes of the brain remain, as he calls them, terra incognita. This situation has arisen from the tendency in science to build on previous research, thus focusing on the same regions as one’s peers. However, the brain’s architecture is such that the circuits connecting those well-studied zones pass directly through the neglected regions. Knowledge of these unknown lands is needed for a more complete picture of how the brain works—one that Prof. Ito knows he cannot build alone. With his research, he plans to send the first scouts out and encourage other researchers to follow. Prof. Ito’s exploratory mission will begin with the brain of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. These insects display basic functions and behaviors surprisingly similar to humans’, and they do so using many, many fewer neurons: 100,000 versus hundreds of billions in humans. After all, it is easier to explore a small island than an entire continent, Prof. Ito points out. In contrast to much previous research that studied brain regions independently, his work focuses on connections and interaction. Since neurons require stimulation from other brain cells, these links might be involved when things go wrong in the brain, as in aging, neurodegenerative disease or addiction. Prof. Ito’s work will begin to unravel this by creating a detailed map. “Just like after a disaster—a hurricane or an earthquake—it’s easier to spot what’s happening if you have a map. Without it, it’s hard to know where the trouble is,” he says.

### AXA - Sorbonne Université Joint Research Initiative: “Modelling the Flood Peril"

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-sorbonne-universite-joint-research-initiative-modelling-the-flood-peril
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: UPMC SORBONNE UNIVERSITéS

Flood events are difficult to predict and models used by academia and industry often provide poor indicators, especially on a small spatial scale. Looking at historical data and multiple flood factors such as water type, topography, weather patterns, this research collaboration between AXA and Sorbonne Université seeks to develop a finer modelling methodology that will be used to generate risk statistics and geographical risk ratings based on captured exposure data. To add or modify information on this page, please contact us at the following address: community.research@axa.com

### Male family careers: adapting to a new phenomenon

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/male-family-careers-adapting-to-a-new-phenomenon
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Hiroko UMEGAKI

The world population is ageing for two main reasons. In industrialized countries in particular, increasing longevity and declining fertility rates are rapidly shifting the age distribution of populations toward older age groups. Population ageing has progressed to such an extent that the supply of formal institutionalized care has become insufficient, making home care more and more indispensable. Moreover, the trend towards later parenting often increases the burden on family carers as they can face both child and elderly care at the same time, with such carers referred to as the ‘sandwich generation’. As part of Dr. Hiroko Umegaki’s long run research interest in middle-aged men as sons, fathers and sons-in-law, her project focuses on the risks that men in the ‘sandwich generation’, in their 30s through to 50s, face as carers of the elderly and of children. « We need to look at how caregiving impacts men in particular and at how they reconcile what is expected of them and their role as care givers » Dr. Hiroko Umegaki reports. Recognizing that research to date has mainly focused on female care givers, Dr. Hiroko Umegaki aims to build knowledge of male family carers. Her objective is to provide a better understanding of men in the sandwich generation, specifically of the risks they face in providing care as fathers and as sons and sons-in-law. « Japan being a super ageing society, in which 31 % of carers are now men, the issue has long come forward. In that sense, the country is a step ahead of Europe», Dr. Hiroko Umegaki points out. Thus, Japan provides an important context in which to understand male family care givers involved with elderly care. For the sandwich generation, however, such pressures for elderly care occur in a family context with also pressures for child care: issues related to elderly and child care must be recognized as interlinked. In this regard, « France’s development of family policies, which were an important part of addressing declining fertility», represent important reference point for other countries. Thus, an important aspect of Dr. Hiroko Umegaki’s research is comparative, focused on Japan and France, which while challenging often dichotomised views of East and West contexts aims to lead to a better understanding of men as carers across generations in their families and the concomitant risks they face.

### HKU-AXA Senior Fellowship on China’s Market Reform

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/hku-axa-senior-fellowship-on-chinas-market-reform
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Zhiwu CHEN

In the midst of a stock market crash, Chinese authorities recently intervened in an attempt to stabilize the country’s markets. The measures taken may have saved the day this time, but the goal for any developing economy is to, one day, stand on its own two feet, resisting most fluctuations that come its way. China faces specific challenges in this regard, stemming from factors like the restricted flow of information in the country, and unreliable institutions generating an additional component of financial risk. Professor Zhiwu Chen is leading a research project at the University of Hong Kong that aims to fill the gap in empirical studies addressing both the way finance affects society in China and the reverse. In a world where technology is accelerating change on both sides of that coin, the interaction of financial markets and cultural norms creates new dynamics of socio-economic risk. To tackle such an ambitious program, Prof. Chen has assembled an interdisciplinary team of experts in economics, finance, marketing and sociology addressing the question on multiple levels. For one, they will establish the role of the media in this emerging market, where information does not move freely. When investors cannot distinguish between good companies and bad, they invest in both, and even high-quality businesses risk being pushed out. A free press is, thus, vital for reducing uncertainty and allowing a healthy market to develop. Understanding the impact of Chinese information restrictions may offer opportunities to mitigate the associated risks. The failure of unreliable institutions’ to enforce contracts between borrowers and lenders is another factor at play and may affect interest rates on loans. To explore this phenomenon, Prof Chen is assembling a comprehensive database of historical records from across China, going back to the year 1700. Looking also to the future, the team is observing changes in society itself. For example, individuals today rely less on family and children as insurance against risk, turning instead to investment opportunities in retirement funds, insurance products, and more. By conducting biannual surveys over the next decade, Prof. Chen will be able to track how people across China consume, save and invest; how they handle their finances during sickness and retirement; how they feel about financial risk and the strategies they use to manage it. By providing such a wealth of information, this project will shed significant light on the complex interplay between markets and society, in a context where both are evolving at a frantic pace. The knowledge obtained about Chinese society could offer guidance to policy makers in this and other developing economies as they seek to reduce the risks inherent to the process and emerge healthy and strong. Prof. Chen’s research program aims to better understand, assess and manage socio-economic risks in large emerging market economies such as China. This cross-disciplinary program focuses on how human societies have developed ways to deal with risks, such as natural disaster, information risks, social change and financial risks. Sharing his understanding of the social impact of modern risk markets will benefit both policy makers and society.

### Aid(s) dependency in the midst of global economic crisis: biopolitical sovereignty and the risk of non-payment for HIV treatment in Tanzania

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/aids-dependency-in-the-midst-of-global-economic-crisis-biopolitical-sovereignty-and-the-risk-of-non-payment-for-hiv-treatment-in-tanzania
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Moritz HUNSMANN

Even the spread of AIDS could be affected by the global economic downturn. In Tanzania, about 500,000 people living with HIV are currently undergoing antiretroviral treatment (ART) against the virus; roughly 700,000 more will need it soon. But, when international resources represent 97% of funding, these programs are extremely dependent on now-declining foreign aid. Limiting – or even cutting – access to these drugs poses major ethical problems and jeopardizes our ability to stop the spread of HIV. On top of that, the lack of promised funding creates serious political risks for governments. This is where Moritz Hunsmann’s work comes in. He is collecting data from interviews with AIDS policy makers in Tanzania in order to analyze the political consequences of declining international support during economic downtimes. What coping strategies exist locally to counter this gap? How do governments handle the inevitable rationing of ART? Hunsmann’s analysis will contribute to a better understanding of this new structural feature of the African political economy.

### Understanding the impact of risks on the Merger and Acquisition market

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/understanding-the-impact-of-risks-on-the-merger-and-acquisition-market
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Stefano SACCHETTO

As the main mechanism for consolidation and restructuring within industries, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) among firms play a key role in the economy. But since companies must often increase their debt to finance them, they are also a risky business. Mergers can fail to live up to expectations and wind up destroying shareholder value rather than create it, exposing the firm to financial distress and to incurring the associated bankruptcy costs. To investigate how the risks associated with M&A activity impacts the future of firms, Dr. Stefano Sacchetto is developing a state-of-the-art dynamic model of how firms behave when faced with an option to merge. The aim is to provide insights into how to minimise the risks of default and bankruptcy, which in turn affects the industry and the economy as a whole. Additionally, his model will be used to evaluate the impact of regulation policies regarding M&A. "Merger activity influences firms’ strategic and financing policies. For instance, they can decide to take on more debt to finance valuable merger opportunities, which can lead to higher financial exposure (for instance in leverage ratios and default probabilities)," Dr. Stefano Sacchetto explains. "Or, a firm with low profitability can decide to stay in the industry, and delay declaring bankruptcy, in the hope of finding a potential acquirer". With his approach, Dr. Stefano Sacchetto aims to investigate these important effects of M&A activity on firms' strategic and financing policies. Particularly, the researcher will investigate how firms choose to finance their overall operations and growth, whether using equity or debt, and in what proportion. "The questions I want to answer are : how exactly is the M&A market affected by risks? How does M&A activity in turn affects risk in the economy? And finally, what role do market regulations play in the matter?", he summarizes.

### Urbanization and Climate Change: Understanding Global Dynamics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/urbanization-and-climate-change-understanding-global-dynamics
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Dagmar HAASE

55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050 according to the UN. The sprawl of cities, while a major driver of global prosperity, is fast depleting the planet’s resources, causing severe biodiversity loss and dangerously fueling the threats of climate change. Because urban areas now occupy the center stage in global development, they are also set to play a decisive role in providing the momentum for sustainable change. Dagmar Haase, Professor of Landscape Ecology at  Humboldt University of Berlin, was the recipient of an AXA Research Fund Award in 2015 for her research on resilient cities. The 2-year grant enabled Prof. Haase to produce a global urban development model aimed at achieving a better understanding ongoing trends of global urbanization and predicting future urban landscapes. The project provides insights for better governance strategies and planning.

### Better Targeted COVID-19 Disease Management Through Wastewaters Monitoring

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/better-targeted-covid-19-disease-management-through-wastewaters-monitoring
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Mari WINKLER

Re-opening the economy requires an unprecedented scaling of our capacity to test, track, and treat COVID-19 infections, which are already straining medical supply chains. To allocate scarce medical resources efficiently, we need data to identify which neighborhoods will need more test kits ahead of the onset of symptoms. With the support of the AXA Research Fund, Dr. Mari Winkler, from the University of Washington in the US, intends to address this challenge by monitoring wastewater pumping stations to detect COVID-19 in communities ahead of individual testing. Detection of COVID-19 at wastewater treatment plants has been shown to detect increases ahead of individual testing in the population. However, measurements at the treatment plant might be skewed by dilution and the degradation of the virus as it takes longer to reach the treatment plant. Additionally, the low geographical resolution prevents neighborhood-level monitoring to inform directed individual testing campaigns. To bridge these gaps, Dr. Mari Winkler plans to test for the prevalence of the virus at different levels of sampling, i.e. moving from facility wastewater samples to pump stations at different levels in the sewer network, in low-income, high-income, and student housing neighborhoods. Additionally, the researcher will use individual testing data to build a correlation between the prevalence of COVID-19 in neighborhoods and the quantity of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, with consideration for the rate of virus degradation in the sewers, the dilution rate in the sewers, and population density.  

### Early Prognosis of COVID-19 Infections Via Machine Learning

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/early-prognosis-of-covid-19-infections-via-machine-learning
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Santiago MAZUELAS

The 2020 COVID-19 outbreak has revealed infections that result in particularly distinct outcomes: certain patients remain asymptomatic during the infection, others experience moderate symptoms for a few weeks, while still others suffer acute or even critical complications. This array of outcomes poses a key challenge for COVID-19 containment, since the most effective countermeasures when infections are detected are markedly different for each type of patient.  To address this challenge, Dr. Santiago Mazuelas, an AXA Research Fund grantee at the Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (BCAM) in Spain, will develop machine learning techniques for the early prognosis of COVID-19 infections that predict the future severity of infections using health data obtained at the time the infection is detected. Such predictions could help medical staff and public health stakeholders make timely decisions that could result in favorable outcomes. For instance, an infected patient with a negative (or positive) early prognosis could be directly transferred to semi-intensive care (or a regular hospital ward) before he/she experiences notable symptoms. In addition, the prediction algorithms developed in the project could be used to closely monitor individuals who are not infected but who have a high probability of being asymptomatic or suffering complications if they do contract COVID-19.

### The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Mothers and Newborns

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-effects-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-the-mental-health-of-mothers-and-newborns
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Maria FORASTER

The situation individuals experience during a pandemic, which may include lock down, social distancing, and fears surrounding economic insecurity, can have negative effects on mental health. This burden and the related stress can be particularly harmful for pregnant women, young mothers, and their offspring. Understanding this impact is crucial for the adequate management of lock down measures on these populations during the current crisis and future epidemics. This is the aim of AXA Research Fund Award recipient Dr. Maria Foraster, from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) in Spain, whose research assesses the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the mental health and wellbeing of mothers and newborns.   Dr. Foraster is following a cohort of pregnant women (part of the Barcelona Life Study Cohort, BiSC) recruited before the pandemic in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain), a city that has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with three main goals. First, to describe the temporal evolution of the psychological stress in both pregnant women and those having recently delivered their babies during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Second, to identify the main factors of psychological stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Third, to evaluate the associations of the maternal psychological problems induced by the pandemics with the neurodevelopment of her child. To answer these questions, women will be followed-up during and after lock down to characterize their situation and mental health. Post Lock down, Dr. Foraster and her team will assess the accumulated stress hormones in hair, maternal mental health, and neurodevelopment of the children over 18 months.

### Coping With the Pandemics: What Works Best to Reduce Anxiety & Depression

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/coping-with-the-pandemics-what-works-best-to-reduce-anxiety-depression
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Joaquim RADUA

Worldwide, the global COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown might increase anxiety and depressive symptoms in individuals. Though health experts recommend several behaviors to cope with such symptoms such as limiting exposure to news about the pandemic, scientific evidence of their efficacy is lacking. To explore which coping behaviors are associated with a decrease in anxiety and depressive symptoms, Dr. Joaquim Radua, a psychiatrist and statistician at the Spanish Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), and his team conducted a pilot survey of 5,000 Spanish adults in late March / early April 2020, just 2 weeks after the lockdown started in Spain. They found that most individuals reported mild-to-moderate anxiety or depressive symptoms and that several behaviors were associated with fewer or less severe symptoms – such as following a healthy/balanced diet, sticking to a routine, limiting exposure to news about COVID-19, and using the opportunity to pursue hobbies. Based on this preliminary evidence, Dr. Radua’s current project, supported by the AXA Research Fund, seeks to investigate the associations between coping behaviors and subsequent anxiety, as well as depressive symptoms and their trajectories, and also how these associations change as the conditions of the pandemic and lockdown change. For this project, he is following a large representative sample of Spanish adults for one year. They will be asked to complete both fortnightly surveys and “random assessments” - in effect, momentary assessments in real-time, to minimize the problems associated with retrospective recall and bias.

### Improving the Mental Health of Young Children After COVID-19

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/improving-the-mental-health-of-young-children-after-covid-19
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Jon QUACH

The first three years of primary school are pivotal for establishing a firm foundation for long-term student academic, social, and well-being outcomes. Children with a poor transition to primary school are at increased risk for a host of detrimental outcomes, including poorer academic performance, early school dropout, behavioral and emotional problems, and poor peer and teacher relationships. Schools around the world shut down during COVID-19, and this is likely to have led to poorer child mental well-being due to family stress and anxiety about the situation. In addition, as schools reopen, many are looking for ways to support students during the back to classes transition to ensure they have the appropriate skills to navigate this period. Mindfulness (broadly defined as the ability to pay purposeful attention to a present moment focus, non-judgmentally, with acceptance or curiosity, bringing attention back if distracted) is an approach that has rapidly gained popularity in Australia and internationally. Mindfulness-based interventions aim to improve student attention, self-regulation, and executive functioning. Yet, despite a recent rapid uptake of mindfulness-based interventions, there is a glaring lack of robust scientific research examining whether mindfulness interventions lead to improved long-term outcomes for students.

### Using New Technologies to Fill the Supply Chain Insurance-Reinsurance Gap Post Covid

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/using-new-technologies-to-fill-the-supply-chain-insurance-reinsurance-gap-post-covid
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Andreea MINCA

Firms are integrated in global value chains, both as suppliers and as consumers. The Covid-19 crisis has exposed the fact that failure and delays in one part of the world can lead to complete paralysis: supply chains are so cost-efficient that they depend on upstream suppliers to deliver on-time so that they deliver on time to their customers. Failure to deliver translates into economic loss. While a high proportion of supply chain losses currently remain uninsured, we expect that, in a post-pandemic world, insurance and reinsurance firms will fill this protection gap. Dr. Andreea Minca, an AXA Research Fund Award at Cornell University, proposes using new technologies to understand how insurance and insurance-reinsurance markets can promote robustness in global supply chains. Her project is structured around three pillars: (i) develop machine learning tools to measure risks from dangerous structures in networks; (ii) study the design of insurance against systemic risks; and (iii) design more reliable data systems that improve trade logistics and supply chain efficiency.

### The Impact of Lockdown on Health & WellBeing of Elderly & Fragile Populations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-impact-of-lockdown-on-health-wellbeing-of-elderly-fragile-populations
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Gianluca SERAFINI

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health, emergency of International Concern and then a pandemic, most governments in Europe and across the globe have rapidly adopted strict public policies restricting population movements in order to help curb the epidemic. These include the so-called ‘lockdown’ measures – school closures, border restrictions, the quarantining of confirmed or suspected patients, and ‘stay-at-home’ or confinement policies. The most stringent social distancing and confinement measures were pursued to contain infection spread at the population level and to protect high risk and vulnerable groups, including the elderly and people with chronic long-term health conditions. These groups are indeed paying the highest price for the COVID-19 emergency: they are at the highest risk of developing severe and deadly forms of COVID-19 (figures show lethality rates below 1% for subjects under the age of 50 vs more than 25% for patients over the age of 80, with higher mortality risk  for those suffering  from chronic diseases). These vulnerable populations’ other pressing healthcare needs remain pending due to health service delivery being stretched to capacity and they are at higher risk of experiencing the negative health and socioeconomic consequences of confinement and social distancing. Italy’s Lombardy region - one of Europe’s richest and most productive regions – was among the first hit in Europe and on March-April 2020 accounted for more than 50% of all COVID-19 deaths in Italy. Prof. Gianluca Serafini, an AXA Research Fund grantee at the University of Genoa, proposes to focus on this particular region in order to quantify the real impact of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on the physical and mental health together with the socioeconomic status of older people with chronic diseases. Prof. Gianluca will do this by performing a record-linkage of a new survey with administrative data from the Lombardy Regional Health Service. A sample of 3,000 individuals representative of the Lombardy population aged 65+ will be interviewed over a 3-month period to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on socioeconomic status, mental health, lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol, nutrition and physical activity, and access to care and treatments. “We will ask people about the lifestyle modifications they have made because of the lockdown”, Prof. Serafini says. “We also want to consider psychological variables such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.” The information collected will be then shared providing scientific events and publications, national and local reports supported by Lombardy Regional Health Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Public Health Departments of the universities in Milan and Pavia (Lombardy region) which will merge key data on hospitalizations, both for COVID-related outcomes (direct impact of COVID) and for chronic long-term health conditions (indirect impact of COVID), covering the periods prior to and during lockdown.

### Adapting Pandemic Management to Vulnerable Populations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/adapting-pandemic-management-to-vulnerable-populations
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Mohammed AMIDU

While all populations are affected by pandemics, not all are affected equally. A severe pandemic can have a disproportionate impact on people in developing countries, since most live in informal settlements and are typically active in the informal economy. Because their capacity to implement preparedness strategies or tolerate impacts is generally diminished, due to economic disparities and other social factors – such as settlement, cultural, educational and linguistic barriers, and lack of access to and use of healthcare facilities – these vulnerable populations are particularly exposed to the adverse economic, social, and health effects of pandemics. In this AXA research project, Dr. Mohammed Amidu explores the consequences of pandemics on vulnerable groups in Ghana and elsewhere and identify the most effective and innovative strategies for improving their social and economic wellbeing during and after pandemics. Using both qualitative and quantitative analyses of primary and secondary resources, Dr. Amidu and his team are pursuing three distinct research streams.

### An Extreme Value Model For the Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact, and the Mitigation of Future Related Crises

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/an-extreme-value-model-for-the-analysis-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-and-its-impact-and-the-mitigation-of-future-related-crises
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Gilles STUPFLER

Inference and risk prediction are of critical importance to policymakers, financial and insurance companies, and society. They are especially important in environments that experience strongly disruptive and typically unprecedented events, such as the current twin shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and the oil price crash. There are few statistical techniques for analysing extreme events in a non-stationary, time-dependent world available, and they are generally limited to data that either have a low number of features per sample or are not scalable to the complex data which could have hundreds or thousands of features for each sample of the kind that is currently routinely collected. Dr. Gilles Stupfler, AXA Research Fund Award recipient at ENSAI, seeks to push the boundaries of current knowledge by addressing this problem of modelling the impact of risks related to highly disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in the absence of relevant data, through the development of adapted techniques. His project is made of two research strands. The first strand of activity will involve inference on non-stationary extremes, with a view to modelling the large economic and financial consequences of the global spread of COVID-19 given auxiliary geographical, sanitary, and climate information. He and his team will develop a general methodology using various risk metrics, including recently introduced expectile and extremile-based risk measures that provide sensible alternatives to traditional quantile-based risk measures (e.g., Value-at-Risk and Expected Shortfall) when dealing with rare events that entail severe losses.

### Delivering Social Protection to Informal Workers: Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Relief Measures in India

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/delivering-social-protection-to-informal-workers-lessons-learned-from-covid-19-relief-measures-in-india
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Gautam BHAN

Over 80% of India’s workers participate in the informal economy, which means they are subject to income precarity, they operate under non-standard employment contracts, and they enjoy limited labor rights. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown it necessitated across India – one of the most extensive lockdowns in the world – have shattered these livelihoods. The state has responded by developing a broad range of large-scale relief in the form of food, housing, wages, and repatriation. Additionally, the crisis has brought into sharp focus a population alternatively referred to as “daily wage workers”, “migrant workers,” “the urban poor,” or “casual laborers.” The conditions of informal employment create and shape the nature of relief while also confounding the processes of delivering that relief. Promised entitlements struggle to reach informal workers precisely because the nature of their work makes them hard to track if they are mobile across regions; beyond regulatory frameworks; employed in workplaces that are hard to reach, such as landfills, streets, and private homes; and without access to the usual delivery channels, such as bank accounts and registered employers. Given these challenges, Dr. Gautam Bhan, recipient of an AXA Research Fund Award at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, investigates with his team how state governments delivered COVID-19 relief to construction workers, domestic workers, home-based workers, waste pickers and street vendors.

### AXA Research Lab on Gender Equality : Promoting a More Gender-Equal Society

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-research-lab-on-gender-equality-promoting-a-more-gender-equal-society
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Paola PROFETA

Watch the presentation of the new Lab by Prof. Paola Profeta in a small video.

### Building Resilience to Coastal Hazards with Natural Defenses

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/building-resilience-to-coastal-hazards-with-natural-defenses
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Michael BECK

Climate change and development are drastically degrading coastal ecosystems, increasing the exposure of communities to risks that include flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. Natural habitats , such as wetlands, and coral reefs, also referred to as “green infrastructure,” can help reduce the impact of these growing risks on people, assets, and the environment .

### Exploring the true added value of artificial intelligence in the legal system

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/exploring-the-true-added-value-of-artificial-intelligence-in-the-legal-system
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Ryan CALO

How would you feel about a justice system where court rulings were made by algorithms? On paper, the outlooks of artificial intelligence in legal procedure seem promising. They hold the potential for improved legal decision-making and greater efficiency. In practice however, "efforts to introduce algorithmically generated insights into the legal system to date have appeared to fall short of promises," says Dr. Ryan Calo, a professor at the University of Washington School Of Law. "There are significant challenges inherent to reproducing legal values in the context of machines." An expert in law and emerging technology, Dr. Calo aims to tackle these issues by bringing legal experts in criminal, administrative, and civil procedure into deeper dialogue with technical experts in AI. The overall objective of the project is to deliver frameworks for translating legal and humanistic values in parameters for AI-aided decision-making in legal contexts. "We are at a moment in contemporary western democracies where judges, lawyers, and other participants in the justice system are relying upon the judgments of machines," Dr. Calo observes. In the United States, for example, courts and corrections departments use algorithms to determine a defendant's likelihood to commit another crime. In the context of issues as sensitive as the law, where machine learning systems are to be entrusted with taking critical decisions concerning human lives, this calls for systems that reflect appropriate procedural guarantees. Among the many challenges such a requirement raises is "the fact that AI designers are unlikely fully to appreciate the goals and assumptions of the legal context for which they are designing their system," the professor points out. Hence, the project’s main course of action : putting the heads of legal and technical experts together to ensure that values already embedded in legal procedure are translated into specific parameters for AI-aided decision-making.

### A portable device against cervical cancer

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-portable-device-against-cervical-cancer
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Serap AKSU

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, and the second in less developed regions. It is caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses that are sexually transmitted. Two HPV types in particular, 16 and 18, cause 70% of cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions. Aside from vaccination, which has been available for young women aged 9 to 14 years since 2006, another effective early detection measure is cervical screening. However, as Dr. Serap Aksu points out, current detection methods for viruses are limited with the requirement of bulk machinery and cost. An AXA-supported researcher at the Koç University, in Istanbul, Dr. Aksu is developing an innovative, easy-to-use, portable device capable of detecting HPV types 16 and 18. The overall objective of the project is to provide a method that will not only enhance the reliability and accuracy of oncogenic virus detection, but also its accessibility and cost-effectiveness. According to the World Health Organization, in 2018, more than 85% of the 311 000 women who died from cervical cancer lived in low- and middle-income countries. « Lowering the mortality rates caused by cervical cancer throughout the world and improving the quality of life requires smart innovations in nanotechnology and nanomedicine », says Dr. Serap Aksu. Putting words into action, the physics engineer is using her expertise in photonics – the science and technology of light –, to develop a highly innovative early detection method for cervical cancer. More specifically, she aims to use nano-sized metallic structures as biosensors – analytical devices used for the detection of a chemical substance –, for ultrasensitive detection of DNA fragments from carcinogen HPV types. Indeed, these nanostructures have what is called plasmonic resonance, which enables the biological exploration of nanoscale environments using just 'light', thanks to their extraordinary optical properties. In the most simplistic terms, you could say that these metallic nanostructures absorb and scatter incident light in a way that enables the detection of even a small amount of biological molecules in a sample of blood or a human cell. « Plasmonic biosensors act as an antenna and allow the transfer of the biomolecule signal remotely from the sensing volume, thereby minimizing the risk of sample contamination », the researcher explains. Plasmonic biosensors : an up-and-coming and highly promising screening system «One of the perks of this technique is that you don’t need labels, like with most biosensors», explains Dr. Aksu. In other words, her technique does not require to tag the molecule of interest with something like an organic dye, for instance. «Labels require extra material, extra steps. This technique is simpler and quicker». Furthermore, using the device does not require any kind of training. «It’s easy to use, portable, and cheap!». The project’s objective will be to demonstrate the feasibility of the device. «We plan on getting samples from hospitals, and even ourselves if we have to ». «This is why I studied engineering in the first place, I wanted to create something that was applicable. I really enjoy the satisfaction of helping people. This technology we are developing wasn’t available before. It’s all very new!», Dr. Serap Aksu says, showing infectious enthusiasm. And indeed, her project is highly innovative, distinctively because it aims at developing the first ever complete hand-held cancer screening system. The overall outlook for this technology is very promising. Plasmonic biosensors have the unique ability to produce nanoscale, single molecule information using, in many cases, relatively simple and widely available optical instruments. What is more, the proposed hand-held low-cost ultrasensitive detection system can also operate as test kits for a wide range of other viruses, like the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which can lead to AIDS.

### Setting girls on a healthy diet trajectory from an early age

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/setting-girls-on-a-healthy-diet-trajectory-from-an-early-age
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Megan JARMAN

Project starting date: 05/01/2019

### A promising new strategy to treat osteoporosis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-promising-new-strategy-to-treat-osteoporosis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Alessia PERINO, Laura ALEJANDRA VELAZQUEZ VILLEGAS

The research project was initiated by Dr. Laura Velasquez and taken over by Dr. Alessia Perino, effective from October 1st, 2020.

### Towards timely and quality access to emergency obstetric care in Sub-Saharan Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/towards-timely-and-quality-access-to-emergency-obstetric-care-in-sub-saharan-africa
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Aduragbemi BANKE-THOMAS

Project starting date: 09/01/2019

### Towards healthier culinary practices among overweight and obese Ghanaian women

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/towards-healthier-culinary-practices-among-overweight-and-obese-ghanaian-women
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Hibbah OSEI KWASI

Starting date: 11/01/2019

### Improving maternal health by reducing pregnancy-related low back pain

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/improving-maternal-health-by-reducing-pregnancy-related-low-back-pain
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nina GOOSSENS

Project starting date: Sept 1st

### Reducing maternal mortality by diagnosing undetected bleeding disorders

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/reducing-maternal-mortality-by-diagnosing-undetected-bleeding-disorders
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Michelle LAVIN

Project starting date: 07/01/2019

### Domestic violence against women: giving friends and relatives the keys to help

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/domestic-violence-against-women-giving-friends-and-relatives-the-keys-to-help
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Alison GREGORY

Project starting date: 08/31/2019

### Cyber insurance risks: evaluating the cyber costs of cyber risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/cyber-insurance-risks-evaluating-the-cyber-costs-of-cyber-risks
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Olivier LOPEZ, Caroline HILLAIRET

Giving insurers the keys to meet one of today’s biggest challenges With new opportunities come new challenges. The digital economy is transforming the way we live, work, communicate, at an amazing, yet slightly alarming rate. Today, we not only use technological tools in our everyday lives, we often rely on them. This relationship of dependency opens the way for new and unprecedented risks, from the simple bug to hacktivism and cyber terrorism, the impact of which can be catastrophic: data stolen, corruption or encryption, business interruption, reputational damages, physical damages, etc. "Insurers are intended to play a crucial role in providing financial protection. However, the current assessment of cyber vulnerabilities for individuals, companies and administrations is largely inadequate and inappropriately tailored to the specificities of cyber risk", reports Olivier Lopez, professor at Sorbonne Université (Paris, France). Director of the actuarial department (the discipline that applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in insurance, finance and other industries and professions), he is the co-investigator, alongside prof. Caroline Hillairet, in charge of the actuarial science program at ENSAE- ParisTech, of a joint research initiative (JRI) with the Group Risk Management teams at AXA. Combining both scientific and operational skill sets, the objective of the project is to adequately investigate the financial costs of cyber risks, as prof. Lopez puts it. In more specific terms, the aim is to evaluate the consequences of cyber-attacks from an insurance point of view in order to lay the grounds for proper cyber risk insurance solutions. The JRI fits in the framework of 'the Cyber project', a global initiative launched by AXA to rethink its cyber insurance strategy and thus define its new value proposition.

### Breaking down the barriers to women’s leadership and entrepreneurship

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/breaking-down-the-barriers-to-womens-leadership-and-entrepreneurship
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Anne BORING

Did you know that when they are poorly designed, gender diversity programs for managers can cause a backlash? Or that more developed countries tend to have lower shares of female entrepreneurship? Despite the millions of dollars spent each year by firms on diversity plans, women in leadership positions are still lacking. In 2018, just 24 female CEOs led the companies on the Fortune 500 list. In startup environments in particular, women leaders face discrimination and biases. Alarmed by this stagnating phenomenon, and even downturn, Sciences Po Paris and its Entrepreneurship Centre created the Women in Business Chair. The goal of this new research and teaching chair, co-funded by the AXA Research Fund, is to implement interventions to reduce discrimination, the impact of stereotypes and biases, as well as other barriers to women’s leadership and entrepreneurship. "The idea behind the project sprung from a discussion I had with Maxime Marzin, the head of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Sciences Po, recounts economist Dr Anne Boring, holder of the Chair. He was telling me about the fact that only about a third of the applications for his start-up incubator emanates from women. And thus, even though 50% of the students attending the introductory course in entrepreneurship each year are women, whose results are just as good as men. We both wanted to understand why, so we went to Stanford University, where research is state-of-the-art in this field. We found out they didn’t really have an answer either. That’s when we realized the necessity of a research program about women in the start-up environment, and more generally in leadership positions."

### Towards zero-energy cities : a numerical tool to optimize retrofitting of existing urban blocks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/towards-zero-energy-cities-a-numerical-tool-to-optimize-retrofitting-of-existing-urban-blocks
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Modeste Kameni NEMATCHOUA

According to the European Commission, the built environment accounts for more than 40% of the overall energy consumption and 36% of the overall CO2 emissions in Europe. The energy efficiency of both new and existing constructions is a crucial issue in winning the fight against Global Warming. While zero-energy buildings – constructions that consume only as much as can be produced onsite through renewable resources –, seem like a concept of the future, new technologies are constantly emerging that make them possible to achieve today. In practice, several examples have recently been built that prove their feasibility. Going even further, the concept of zero-energy can be applied to entire urban blocks, linking transportation and building energy consumption with local renewable energy production. It can even be achieved in existing urban environments through major retrofitting works. To enable and facilitate the implementation of such schemes, a myriad of parameters need to be taken into account, assessed, and coordinated. To this end, Dr. Modeste Kameni Nematchoua, from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, in Liege (Belgium), aims to develop, validate and apply a numerical tool for the energy optimization of renovated urban blocks. The researcher will build on two complementary case studies, located in Belgium and in Madagascar. The overall objective of the project, called ZEUS (for Zero-Energy Urban blocks: low environmental impacts and cost-efficient Solutions), is to generate a major and interdisciplinary scientific contribution towards effective and cost-efficient retrofitting of existing urban blocks in very different climate and urban contexts. "Zero-energy buildings are attracting increasing interest internationally in policies, scientific literature and practical applications, reports the main investigator, using the example of Europe." The recasting of the European Performance of Buildings Directive requires all new buildings, built in Member States, to be “nearly zero-energy” buildings (nZEB) by 2030". Similar initiatives are emerging in the United States of America, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea… Until now, Dr. Nematchoua explains, "optimization methods approaches to the zero-energy concept adopt only the perspective of the individual building. Furthermore, current policies and applications concerning the zero-energy objective are focusing on new buildings, neglecting the potential for retrofitting the existing residential building stock as well as the impact of the urban form and the localization of buildings on transportation energy consumption and potential local energy production through renewable energy sources".

### The Impact of Global Change on Mountains: Assessing the Threat to Nature’s Water Towers

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/the-impact-of-global-change-on-mountains-assessing-the-threat-to-natures-water-towers
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Dirk SCHMELLER

Mountains provide vital goods and services, especially fresh water, to a significant proportion of humanity. Alarmingly, hiding behind the beautiful and seemingly healthy high-altitude landscapes, lurks a distressing reality: the combined pressures of climate change and anthropogenic activities are destabilizing these fragile ecosystems. These shifts are opening the gate for unforeseen impacts, not the least of which concerns the water we drink. “Future climate projections and both past and current observations clearly indicate that freshwater resources are vulnerable and could be strongly impacted by climate change. We already know that Global Change will favor chemical pollution in mountain freshwater ecosystems, but it may also destabilize ecosystems in such a way that pathogens and parasites will proliferate”, points out Prof. Dirk Schmeller, holder of the AXA Chair on Functional Mountain Ecology at the National Institute of Polytechnic Toulouse (Toulouse INP), France. The creation of this research programme comes in response to the recognition that despite the importance of freshwater for human society, studies on ecosystem health in relationship to global change, pollution and pathogens remain scarce. The overall objective will be to deliver estimates of global change impacts for mountain ranges and their biodiversity in order to better understand the degree of threat to human well-being and wildlife.

### Waste-to-energy, a true assessment of the potential of bioenergy in Nigeria

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/waste-to-energy-a-true-assessment-of-the-potential-of-bioenergy-in-nigeria
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Dunsin ARODUDU

Whether in response to climate change, or to tackle fossil fuel dependency and energy security, today’s energy landscape is set for a fundamental transformation. Although the entire world is concerned, the issue is even more critical in Sub-Saharan Africa, the most energy poor region of the world. Interestingly, and as Dr. Dunsin Arodudu points out, this « energy poverty is not (due to) a lack of energy resources, but (to) the lack of awareness of the potential of its energy resources ». Based on this analysis, the researcher from the Maynooth University, in Ireland, aims to assess the energy transition potentials of bioenergy options in Sub-Saharan Africa. More specifically, he is investigating the actual net energy gain that could be obtained from the abundant organic wastes and wastelands resources of Nigeria, and their potential to meet renewable energy and climate change mitigation targets. «Waste lands and organic wastes are considered sustainable bioenergy options within energy transition discussions because they do not conflict with food availability, access and use, Dr. Arodudu explains. And also because they do not lead to biodiversity and ecosystem services loss due to land use change ». In Nigeria, where energy poverty is severe with respect to the size of the population, and where organic waste and waste land resources are abundant, waste-to-energy processes could indeed constitute a win-win solution for a sustainable future. The question that remains to be asked is : can they produce enough energy to meet Nigeria’s needs and ambitious Climate change objectives ? To avoid jumping to conclusions, Dr. Arodudu aims to make sure technologies such as anaerobic digestion – which uses microorganisms to produce fuels from biodegradable material –, or technologies that convert grass and woody biomass to energy, such as pyrolysis and torrefaction, can live up to expectations. Identifying trade-offs and synergies in maximising the potentials of bioenergy options « Most studies of this kind in Sub-Saharan Africa and anywhere else use gross energy indicators, the researcher points out. This is misleading because energy is needed to produce energy. The energy investments into the production of energy and its transmission to the end user are often neglected. This makes the applicability of such studies for policy and planning faulty as the results presented are usually an over-estimation of the actual potentials of bioenergy options and regions in focus ». Aside from net energy gain, the study will also take interest in other indicators, such as energy use efficiency, energy return on energy invested, net energy ratio and the net carbon savings. This bias will serve another major novelty : the adoption of a two-way sustainability analysis approach, an indicator-by-indicator analysis and a multi-indicator analysis. « The first one will be useful to identify trade-offs and synergies in maximising the bioenergy potentials of bioenergy options, explains the post-doctoral research fellow. The second will assess the overall sustainability and contributions of bioenergy options in meeting energy transition goals using stakeholder inputs ». Faced with the threat of climate change, the need to take urgent action regarding the energy sector has become an absolute priority. To act fast, policy makers must have access to reliable studies, that clearly weigh the advantages and disadvantages of every option available. Putting garbage to good use is a promising avenue for Sub-saharan countries. By investigating the true potential of waste-to-energy processes in Nigeria, Dr. Dunsin Arodudu is right on target in that regard. Considering the country’s ambitious intended national contribution to the Paris Climate Change Mitigation Global Accord, the output of his research could soon come to fruition.

### Renewable energy: Investigating the role of social reward and contagion

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/renewable-energy-investigating-the-role-of-social-reward-and-contagion
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Greer GOSNELL

Is 'green' behavior contagious? Are we more likely to adopt pro-environmental actions if our neighbors are doing the same? And relatedly, would it strengthen our ecological commitment if we could advertise it to the outside world? Recent research spanning the social sciences emphasizes the crucial role of social reward, norms, and contagion in the adoption of pro-social behavior. "Despite the unprecedented threat posed on humanity by climate change, people’s energy behavior has been slow to change," remarks Dr. Greer Gosnell, an postdoctoral researcher in Environmental Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (United Kingdom). Recognizing the need for some sort of incentive, she aims to investigate individuals’ behavioral motivations to engage in ‘green’ behaviors related to their energy use. More specifically, she aims to understand means by which public and private organizations may capitalize upon humans’ strong social tendencies – specifically desire for social reward and proclivity for social convergence – in catalyzing the energy transition. The overall objective is to facilitate the rapid growth of green tariffs in the UK energy market and beyond, bolstering demand for renewable energy, increasing its required share in the energy mix, and fostering investment and competition for renewable energy technologies.

 The incentive of social esteem on human behavior is nothing new. In 1759, Adam Smith, a famous Scottish economist and philosopher, explicitly referred to this tendency in The Theory of Moral Sentiments: "The desire of becoming the proper objects of this respect, of deserving and obtaining this credit and rank among our equals, is, perhaps, the strongest of all our desires." By the by, this quote introduces one of the scientific articles that inspired Dr. Greer Gosnell’s research approach. The study in question showed that environmental status signaling (a behavior referred to as conspicuous conservation) had a strong impact on people’s willingness to purchase hybrid vehicles, the Toyota Prius in particular (Sexton and Sexton, 2011). Building on such behavioral studies, and thus the assumption that social reward, norms, and contagion are key levers for 'green' behavior, Dr. Greer Gosnell aims to innovatively explore their relevance in the context of household-level technology adoption in the UK.

### Making green products mainstream : how to trigger radical industrial innovation ?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/making-green-products-mainstream-how-to-trigger-radical-industrial-innovation
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marion DUMAS

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report on global warming spells out the urgency of action. Without quick and radical structural changes in the sectors that affect the economy’s demand for energy, we could pass 1.5˚C of warming as early as 2030, and the consequences in terms of extreme weather and damage to the ecosystem would be catastrophic. A major drag on radical innovations and technological changes in these sectors is the firms’ reluctance, and even inability, to set off alone on a transformative energy transition adventure, that might leave them isolated from partner companies, and work against them. Dr Marion Dumas, a researcher who focuses on industrial barriers to radical green innovation at the Grantham Research Institute, in London (United-Kingdom), thus hypothesizes that major changes in products and processes require that firms in the same value chain make complementary and coordinated investments. To test this rationale, and to identify key levers of change, she aims to investigate the interactions and analyze the relationship between industrial network structure and patent production. "The project has a strong policy objective, she explains. It aims to understand which public policy interventions might change the incentives for energy-intensive firms to invest in more radical technological change." "Before the 80s, industries were quite vertical in nature. They were making products from start to finish. Making radical changes in production was easier. Today, things are more complicated. A product depends on a whole network of firms, manufacturers, suppliers, with several actors involved, notions of competition, etc." Incentives are thus much more complicated to determine, and depend on various interactions and interdependencies. "I intend to put the spotlight on coordination dynamics. This way, I can determine 'leverage points', where intervention would impact the entire value chain. In other words, I intend to identify key players in the network whose actions can change the incentives of other players to invest in meaningful transitions, she explains, insisting that understanding coordination dynamics is key for a successful industrial policy for the energy transition. For a long time, people bet on price incentives, tax carbon, etc. It works but it simulates marginal innovation, not systemic innovations. Policy makers have funds, and we need to tell them where to allocate this money in order to make the biggest possible impact". This research approach is quite innovative in nature. Indeed, as she points out, researchers have not yet considered the constraints and risks faced by firms due to their interdependencies with other firms.

### Developing clean energy in Sub-Saharan Africa: the importance of remote communities buy-in

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/developing-clean-energy-in-sub-saharan-africa-the-importance-of-remote-communities-buy-in
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jiska DE GROOT

We all have different expectations and needs. What some perceive as a positive step forward, might be viewed in a different light by others. This may seem obvious, but in the context of the implementation of public policies and energy projects into far-flung communities, this simple but crucial factor is often neglected. Modelling policies intended for one particular community on the perceptions and needs of another is an approach often doomed for failure. Social acceptance is a prerequisite for any successful public initiative. This is particularly true when it comes to climate mitigation strategies, as made evident by recent examples of public opposition to the deployment of renewable technologies in local areas. “Whereas ample research on community acceptance of clean energy technologies has been done in Europe and the United States, this topic remains largely unexplored in a developing context”, Dr. Jiska de Groot points out. Recognizing the obstacle this gap poses on the attainment of environmental and societal goals in Sub-Saharan Africa, the researcher from the University of Cape Town aims to investigate social acceptance of distributed clean energy in remote communities in this region. The overall objective of her project is to design strategies to equip policy makers and practitioners with the tools necessary to incorporate social acceptance in policy, project design and implementation. “In Sub-Saharan Africa, remote areas are either without access to electricity or heavily diesel-dependent”, reports Dr. De Groot. “This is a barrier for local economic development, improving living standards and for reducing carbon emissions”. Distributed clean energy technologies, such as local renewable solar panels, wind, turbines, biomass, or biogas, for instance, have enormous potential to accelerate the energy transitions in these areas. But the question remains, are they appropriate in terms of economic and societal goals, or perceived positively? Are these communities willing and ready to take that leap, when energy sources have been historically scarce for them? Will it really be a vector or progress? “In developed economies like Western Europe, people might want to go off the grid, but we don’t know if people in remote communities want the same thing, insists Dr. De Groot. Before any important decision is made, we need to go and ask them, make sure they are willing to accept these technologies. We can’t assume what is best for people without asking them. Even when policies are well-meaning, they can often be ill-adapted. If this is the case, significant investments could end up being wasted”. “This is a topic that is close to my heart, she says. The idea of this research is not to find ready-made solutions for other people, but to find ways to help, so they can in turn help themselves”. Including communities into the energy transition strategy choices that concern them What the project proposes is to establish a dialogue with these communities, to identify strategies for including them in their own energy transition process, hereby limiting the risk of policy failure. To reach this goal, the project is running investigations in three different types of remote areas: far rural communities, ‘energy islands’ (informal areas that are under the grid), and island communities. More specifically, the case studies will be located in the following countries: The Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe. Dr. De Groot and her team will adopt a mixed-method approach in these local communities, including questionnaire survey, interviews, participatory workshops and the innovative Sensemaker method, a data collection tool that combines diverse types of narratives, such as videos, photos, audio recordings of people and how they experience a particular situation. To ensure the findings will not solely be the subject of a scientific paper, but also of policy briefs (a one pager intended for relevant stakeholders, such as members of local governments and energy providers) and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. To ensure maximum dissemination, the Sensemaker data will serve to create an exhibition to increase the general public’s awareness of the way remote communities live and the issues they face. Just a few years ago, less-developed countries were considered financially unable to expand power generation with zero-carbon sources. Today, these countries are leading the charge when it comes to deployment, investment and policy innovation in clean energy. Research has a role to play in ensuring these ambitious energy transition strategies achieve their full potential. Considering the crucial issue of community acceptance of clean energy technologies has not been explored yet in a developing context, the present study is a timely effort. The special attention it devotes to the specific needs of remote communities, as well as to the economic feasibility of distributed clean energy solutions, will no doubt bring invaluable insight to the design of efficient clean energy strategies, thereby ensuring broader societal impact, as well as fair, efficient and sustainable energy transitions.

### Towards better informed decisions on flood defence programs

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/towards-better-informed-decisions-on-flood-defence-programs
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Jeremy BRICKER

Sea level rise due to climate change and melting ice sheets on the north and south poles is one of tomorrow’s biggest challenges. With latest projections pointing up to 3.2 °C of surface warming by 2100, hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas face an uncertain future. Some countries, like Japan, have reached a turning point where the threat of climate change-induced flooding is already very much a reality. As a response, the island has invested over 100 billion euros in dikes reinforcements over the past 5 years, and they are not the only ones massively investing in flood defence programs. At the same time, government budgets for infrastructure management are under pressure. Recognising the great societal significance of a thorough understanding of the costs vs. benefits of flood defence systems, Dr. Jeremy Bricker is leading a research project called the INtegrated Flood Risk Assessment (INFRA). In a Joint Research Initiative with AXA, he aims to develop a tool to evaluate the costs vs. benefits of proposed coastal flood defences. The ultimate objective is to enable governments, as well as private entities, to take better and more informed decisions about flood defence programs, and potentially save costs.  There already exist costs vs. benefits analysis tools for storm surge defense measures, but current methods fail to encompass one important aspect: the assessment of loss due to failure of flood defenses. The INFRA project’s main innovation is to add this capability to the methodology of existing models that have demonstrated success in the past. «INFRA is the first project to incorporate the fragility of flood defenses themselves into a risk assessment tool, allowing potential failure of flood defenses to be taken into account in evaluating the fragility and risk of protected areas, and in the cost/benefit analyses of the defenses themselves», Dr. Jeremy Bricker explains. Another way INFRA generates added value for society and for science «is by taking into account more than just maximum water depth when evaluating the fragility of buildings and non-building structures», Dr Bricker further details. «It will clarify the relative contribution to damage of hydrodynamic and wave parameters including flow speed, inundation duration, wave height, wave breaker type, etc. Such fragility relations are essential to the accurate evaluation of vulnerability and thus risk ».  Simulating reality as accurately as possible with the help of AXA To reach both these objectives, fragility functions – a measure of the probability of damage to facility components given the force, deformation, to which each is subjected –, will be developed based on storm surge model output from historical storms. That’s where the AXA teams come in. The historical events chosen for this are the Xynthia storm in France and Typhoon Hato in Hong Kong, for which AXA has collected large amounts of water and hazard data. « Using this data will enable us to make sure our numerical model simulates reality accurately, both in terms of the physics of how the storm surge moves onto shore, as well as regarding the movement of the water over the land itself ». Collaboration with AXA will also complement the flood and risk modeling capabilities of the research team’s institutions, TU Delft’s and IHE-Delft’s. For instance, «the meteorological modeling conducted by AXA will allow more realistic wind and pressure fields to be generated». To give the project the best possible odds, Dr. Jeremy Bricker is also working with two renowned co-investigators, Prof. S.N. (Bas) Jonkman and Prof. Roshanka Ranasinghe, who act as consultants for the project on risk analysis and the effects of climate change, respectively.  Now more than ever, climate change calls for stakeholders not only to act fast, but also to do it right. By putting various expert heads together, the present project will provide precious 'state-of-the-art' insight into the actual benefits to be expected from flood defence programs. «AXA’s contact with real-world end users will give the research societal relevance and help steer efforts toward the development of a generically applicable and practical tool», Dr. Bricker puts forward, adding that cost vs. benefit is but one application of this collaborative research project. « We are also looking into the development of a probabilistic framework that will help determine the damages a given hypothetical storm would cause ». Another precious tool in the face of global warming. 

### Managing Africa’s carbon budget : assessing the impact of climate change and deforestation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/managing-africas-carbon-budget-assessing-the-impact-of-climate-change-and-deforestation
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Martin BRANDT

Woody vegetation plays a key role in maintaining the ecological balance of our planet. Among other things, it has the capacity to soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and plays a crucial role in sustaining the global carbon budget. In Africa, the combined impact of climate change and deforestation on savannahs and rainforests is threatening the continent’s aboveground carbon stock. This phenomenon is likely to lead to an elevated amount of atmospheric CO2, which may exaggerate climate change effects, potentially leading to a vicious cycle of increased extreme weather events. To improve our understanding of this alarming phenomenon, Dr. Martin Brandt, of the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, is using state-of-the-art satellite technologies to closely monitor carbon stock dynamics at the regional and continental scale, with a special focus on non-forested biomes such as savannahs. His overarching objective is to contribute to a better understanding of climate change risks and to a sustainable management of carbon as a natural resource. «The African continent is facing one of the driest periods in the past decades, Dr. Brandt reports. If climate change increases the frequency of droughts and natural hazards, there is a risk of increased tree and shrub mortality and that long-term carbon sinks turn into a carbon source. What is more, if demographic changes give rise to large-scale deforestation, we expect considerable carbon losses. Current projects to assess carbon sinks tend to focus solely on forests, the postdoctoral researcher points out. This is because the scattered trees and shrubs of savannah ecosystems are very different to closed forests and challenging to assess with optical satellite data. The problem is that carbon stocks in savannahs have recently been shown to be underestimated." Mapping the continent’s aboveground carbon stock: Not omitting savannahs «Knowledge of the amount, distribution, and turnover of carbon in savannahs and rainforests is crucial for understanding the effects of climate change, but the lack of operational systems hinders the monitoring of carbon-stock dynamics,» he continues. Aiming to fill this gap, Dr. Martin Brand combines the use of two earth observation satellite technologies: very high spatial resolution satellite images and a new special technique called Vegetation Optical Depth (VOD), derived from low frequency passive microwave-based satellite systems. «The first method allows a spatial resolution below 1 meter. This way, we can check each single tree at large scales, to assess the carbon mass of each individual. The second has never been used in this context before, but shows very promising results. It has a 25-km resolution, but it doesn’t just take a photo, it can sense deeper within the canopy, capture the layers, without being sensitive to atmospheric and cloud effects.» This will be the first project applying above mentioned data sources for assessing carbon stock dynamics at large scales. Until now, such studies were local scale or limited to forests. The present approach will allow for unprecedented accuracy of estimating woody carbon. The data obtained will be compared to existing maps and ecosystem models, and confronted to climate data, to assess the impact of climatic extremes on carbon stocks. The objective of this research project is in alignment with the Paris 2015 climate agreement, meeting its requirements on timely and repeated carbon counting. « The shortcomings of optical and active radar satellite products and the lack of systematic field inventories have led to considerable uncertainty of the overall pattern of the carbon stocks of the African continent, and how they change with time », Dr. Martin Brandt points out. "The tool offered by this project will allow countries to report their annual carbon budget at different scales and attribute changes to droughts and deforestation."

### Fairness in Machine Learning: Algorithmic Discrimination and Exploitation as a Challenge for EU Law

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/fairness-in-machine-learning-algorithmic-discrimination-and-exploitation-as-a-challenge-for-eu-law
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Philipp HACKER

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing at an exponential pace. Machine learning (ML) algorithms are now able to sift through and interpret massive amounts of data, promising considerable benefits for businesses and economies. However, the rapid adoption of these powerful tools carries with it significant risks, including unfair differentiation between individuals. “The research topic has received increasing attention in computer science and economics, but less attention in the legal literature”, explains Dr. Philipp Hacker from the Humboldt-Universität in Berlin. As examples of discrimination and exploitation in machine learning have already been observed, tackling the regulatory challenges resulting from this gap has become essential. The project aims to analyze the current way in which EU law responds to such risks, and explores the possibility of novel regulatory tools. Machine leaning (ML) algorithms enable the swift extrapolation of patterns within a large dataset. Nowadays, companies are capturing enormous amounts of customer data in order to target each individual with more tailored products. “However, the project starts from the observation that not all differentiations driven by ML are benign; rather, some must arguably be considered illegitimate”, as Dr. Philipp Hacker explains. To stress his point, he mentions the recent example of a beauty contest decided by an AI agent which turned out to show a bias against women of color. “Imagine the proportions this problem would take if similar biases affect decisions about credit applications, for instance”. The other risk the project aims to address is the exploitation of cognitive vulnerability. As algorithms increasingly adapt contractual offers to individual characteristics, there is a significant risk that contractual content is tailored not only to the preferences, but also to the cognitive weaknesses that become apparent in the data sets. This may pay off for companies, but it “violates basic norms of fairness”. Hence the necessity for legal dispositions. “Trust is another reason why we need to address these risks”. Such abuse damages the trust in machine learning systems, which are already viewed with suspicion. “Trust in the systems we interact with on a daily basis, be they political institutions or technological systems, is one of the most important resources of our societies. This trust is currently eroding at a dangerous pace. With respect to AI, it needs to be fostered not only for instrumental reasons, but also because it positively impacts on the well-being of those affected by AI.”

### Mortality: towards reliable estimates in developing countries

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mortality-towards-reliable-estimates-in-developing-countries
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Magali BARBIERI

Mortality is an essential parameter in assessing the dynamics of a population, both at the national and global level. Life tables in particular are crucial tools. They describe the age structure of mortality in a given population and they are widely used for descriptive and analytical purposes in demography, public health, epidemiology, population geography, biology, and many other branches of science. However, in low- and middle-income countries, the basic data input needed for their construction, namely, vital registration and detailed population data, are often unavailable, incomplete, or unreliable. “This dearth of information and a high degree of uncertainty do not allow for a reliable estimation of current mortality levels and patterns, let alone for assessing possible trends in the future”, reports Dr. Magali Barbieri, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley and at the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED). Aiming to find ways to compensate for these statistical flaws, the demographer is currently leading a Joint Research Initiative (JRI) involving other demographers from the Human Mortality Database (HMD) project (an open access database on mortality and population), as well as operational experts from the AXA Group and AXA entities, with technical support from the Mortality Branch of the United Nations Population Division. Their overall objective is to build a library of tools to improve accuracy of mortality estimation in countries with imperfect statistics and to assess the reliability of the resulting life tables for monitoring actuarial risks. Two countries will serve as case studies, Hong Kong and Mexico. “Global mortality trends in the 21st century will depend primarily on the experience of developing countries, where the potential for large increases in life expectancy is the greatest, explains Dr. Barbieri. Consequently, there has been growing interest in the actuarial and demographic research communities to investigate the data situation in some of these countries.” The present project seeks to meet this demand by enabling the construction of reliable life table series on the basis of complete but unreliable vital statistics systems. “This endeavor is a natural extension of the on-going effort to expand to developing countries the Human Mortality Database approach”, remarks the lead investigator, who is also the associate director of the HMD. Indeed, the purpose of this inter-university initiative is to provide a uniformly constructed series of mortality rates, life tables, death counts and population exposures for as many countries as possible. Currently, the database only covers countries with reliable demographic data, 40 of them exactly, but the output of this collaborative research project seeks to increase this number and enable it to expand to countries with previously ineligible vital statistics systems.

### Microplastics: their role in the spread of antibiotic resistance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/microplastics-their-role-in-the-spread-of-antibiotic-resistance
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Maria Belén SATHICQ

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today. It occurs when, as a result of their exposure to antibiotics, bacteria progressively develop the ability to combat their action. Although this is a naturally-occurring phenomenon, the misuse and/or overuse of antibiotics have dramatically accelerated the process, imperiling the incommensurable progress achieved in the fight against infectious diseases globally since the invention of penicillin in the early 20th century. To limit the propagation of this scourge, WHO recommends intensive monitoring for the identification and surveillance of critical hot spots. Point sources of pollution, such as wastewater treatment plants or agricultural facilities, are suspected of playing a major role in the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes in the natural environment. Concomitantly, as Dr. Maria Belen Sathicq points out, such pollution sources also release microplastics. A researcher in microbial ecology at the Water Research Institute in Italy, Dr. Sathicq aims to explore the magnitude of the release of AR from these point sources of pollution, as well as the role microplastic particles play in the dissemination. Indeed, recent studies have pointed the finger at these particles for their potential role as substrate and carrier of the spread of determinants of AR in water. The overall objective of this project, called AENEAS (as a reference to the Greek mythological hero who crossed the seas and founded Rome) is to contribute to a better, more comprehensive, understanding of the drivers behind the spread of antibiotic resistance. Bacteria spread via many routes. They can either spontaneously develop in a human or an animal following antibiotic intake, spread from one carrier to another (whether animal or human), through food, or via the environment (soil, air, and water). “My research looks at the presence and survival of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in coastal waters, following contamination by effluents of urban wastewater treatment plants or by the outflow of canals draining agricultural land into the sea", explains Dr. Sathicq. Her investigation builds notably on the already established correlation between the abnormal presence of AR determinants in coastal waters and abnormal levels of AR in humans: “a study from 2018 found that people who spent a lot of time in polluted coastal waters were more likely to carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their microbiome”, she reported. “In normal conditions, bacteria are not supposed to survive for very long in coastal waters, but the presence of microplastics changes things. They can attach to the plastic and form a biofilm on the surface. It creates a more welcoming environment for them, raising their chances of survival. They can live longer, travel further away, and even reproduce. What is more, within these biofilms, proximity between the bacteria enables the exchange of DNA, including antibiotic-resistant genes. This process is called horizontal gene transfer. This means that, in these environments, extracellular DNA (free DNA) carrying antibiotic-resistant genes is potentially present, representing a high risk of contagion for non-resistant bacteria”. A multi-disciplinary approach: assessing both the problem and society’s perception of it To test the hypothesis that microplastic particles favor the diffusion and establishment of AR within marine environments, Dr. Sathicq’s project will conduct two consecutive work packages: assessing the presence of microplastics in coastal waters, the impact of point pollution sources, and the microbial diversity and composition of the microbial communities in open waters and microplastics, and study the mechanisms underlying the spread of antibiotic resistance and the potential role played by microplastics in their promotion. Specifically, the researcher and her team will collect samples from 9 different locations along the Tyrrhenian coast (Italy), assess the amount and types of microplastics present, the number of bacteria on the plastics and in the water, and use genomics to identify and classify them. In controlled laboratory conditions, they will then test the exact mechanisms underlying the role of microplastics, with a focus on horizontal gene transfer. The project will not limit itself to studying the role of microplastic particles but will also assess society’s awareness and perception of the risk they pose. Precisely, Dr. Sathicq aims to analyze and assess the level of awareness among stakeholders (professional fishermen, administrators and citizens living along the coast) of the importance of marine microbial biodiversity, as well as of the risk that the presence of microplastics and AR represent. Her team will even work hand in hand with local people, engaging in the booming trend of citizen science. “People who live in these areas know things we don’t; they’ve lived there for years. It would be a shame not to put this knowledge to good use!”. By bridging the fields of functional ecology and disease ecology in this way, the present AXA-funded post-doctoral project subscribes to a worldwide research initiative called ‘OneHealth’, a collaborative and multidisciplinary effort to solving global and environmental health challenges. The project’s multidisciplinary approach, coupling biology, ecology and genomics with social science and statistics, will enable a remarkably comprehensive take on the highly-relevant subject of the impact of microplastic in the spread of antibiotic resistance in water. In this sense, the project’s findings are expected to make a valuable contribution to the design of efficient mitigation strategies.

### Coastal vulnerability: can ‘urban’ coral reefs keep up with sea level rise?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/coastal-vulnerability-can-urban-coral-reefs-keep-up-with-sea-level-rise
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Kyle MORGAN

The devastating impact of anthropogenic-induced stressors and ocean warming on coral reefs is not news to any of us. The wide range of consequences of these disturbances, however, might be. For instance, these fragile ecosystems not only support high marine biodiversity, but they also play a crucial role in protecting tropical and subtropical coastlines from inundation and erosion during storm surges and tsunami events. To put it simply, healthy coral reefs provide a natural barrier that reduces the impact of large waves before they reach the shore. However, the combined effects of climate change and increasing coastal urbanization has deteriorated many coral reefs and diminished their ability to act as natural breakwater structures, making coastal communities more vulnerable. Indeed, considering that globally, sea levels are rising, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and coastal zones are undergoing unprecedented rates of population growth; future flooding events will become more violent, and threaten the lives of more people. “There is an urgent need to understand how recent ecological and environmental changes on coral reefs within Southeast Asia have impacted physical reef functioning near the coast”, insists Dr. Kyle Morgan, of the Asian School of the Environment at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Recognizing that ‘urban’ coral reefs (coral reefs that are located nearby cities) are currently an understudied area, this expert in tropical ecology and geomorphology aims to shed light on whether urban reefs across Southeast Asia (SEA) will still serve as buffers against wave energy under future sea level rise. More specifically, the objective of his research is to evaluate the impact that coastal urbanization has had on coral reefs in the region to assess if, and how, this has affected local coral populations and the ability of reefs to grow. A coral reef is a large marine structure made of coral organisms that secrete a hard skeleton of calcium carbonate. The rate at which reefs grow depends on the coral species present, but also on local environmental conditions such as light, sea water temperature, nutrients and sedimentation. As the reefs grow towards the water surface other factors may also come into play that erode reefs, such as the presence of sea urchins and parrotfish, who feed off algae growing on the reef and remove small amounts of calcium carbonate in the process. “We know very little about urban reefs, how benthic communities (organisms growing on the reef surface) on these reefs have changed over time, and what impact climate change will have on these already stressed coral populations”, explains Dr. Kyle Morgan. “Until now, research has mainly focused on more pristine and remote coral reef environments. Reefs living in coastal waters close to megacities, like Singapore, are quite different”, he says. Urban reefs are subjected to higher anthropogenic stress, which many corals are unable to cope with, meaning that reefs are typically made up of more resilient species. Slower coral growth rates and reduced coral cover on urban reefs could mean that they will take longer to grow. “Our work is to determine if urban reefs, that are inhabiting these poor environmental conditions, can grow at rates that will keep up with sea level rise”. Balancing budgets The project will undertake field intensive research on the make-up of coral populations for these particular urban ecosystems: which reef organisms are contributing to calcification, which are eroding it, and at what rate? The ecological surveys and the experiments will be conducted across gradients of anthropogenic disturbance caused by urbanization over several months. They will measure coral growth, calcification, biological erosion, but also wave interaction. Laboratory analysis of the field samples (coral blocks and experimental substrates) will serve to implement what is called a “carbonate budget” (a measure of the net rate of carbonate production on a reef, or, in other words, the rate at which the reefs are growing). Finally, these numbers will be compared to regional projections of sea level rise. This assessment of coral reefs will investigate how human activities have changed coral reefs over recent time-scales, what environmental factors have driven this change, and how these factors can potentially be mitigated in the future to maintain biodiversity on reefs and reduce coastal hazards for humans. The present work could also prove instrumental for developing coral reef conservation policies in SEA. As the researcher points out, “the financial costs of building coastal protection is immense. Healthy coral reefs offer these services for free, so besides the ecological aspect, there is also an economic benefit to preserving these ecosystems”. In addition to coastal protection, the output of the project will also contribute to understanding how urbanization has impacted other ecosystem services provided by coral reefs. Indeed, in SEA, coral reefs are heavily relied upon for food provision, tourism, and even indigenous cultural identity. Therefore, the ongoing survivorship of coral reefs and their associated fisheries are not only vital in preventing coastal vulnerability but also tension and/or conflict within coastal communities in the region.

### Invasive seaweeds: can commercial harvesting be a win-win solution?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/invasive-seaweeds-can-commercial-harvesting-be-a-win-win-solution
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marianela ZANOLLA

Invasive species of seaweed, intentionally or accidentally introduced into new habitats, can disrupt the local marine ecosystem, gravely endangering the biodiversity, and by association, the local economy. At the same time, these invasive organisms are known to produce a plethora of bioactive compounds with multiple commercial applications in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors. Hence, their harvesting/removal and utilization by industry has been frequently proposed as a win-win solution, especially since market opportunities are currently hindered by the limited availability of exploitable biomass. But for any such initiative to safely take shape, crucial unanswered questions first need to be considered. For example, should we expect detrimental environmental impacts from the physical removal of this biomass? Is there a risk it will throw an already weakened ecosystem into further imbalance? Is the biomass itself suitable for industrial exploitation? “A careful, balanced evaluation of the pros and cons is highly needed, including the assessment of the negative effects on biodiversity, the socio-economic challenges and the biotechnological potential”, explains Dr. Marianela Zanolla, a researcher in seaweed biology at the Botany and Plant Science Department of the National University of Ireland Galway. She is leading a project that aims to assess the valorization potential of invasive seaweeds in Ireland, as well as the harvesting impact or alternatively, inland cultures, to either guide or discourage future exploitation. The long-term objective is also to provide governmental and non-governmental agencies with guidance and support on how to manage invasive species in Ireland. “The idea behind the project is to take a close look at whether we can transform this detrimental invasion into something positive for local communities”, summarizes Dr. Zanolla. The project’s objective is set in the context of the Blue Bioeconomy, in other words, it seeks to contribute to the creation of sustainable businesses that are based on renewable marine resources. “The commercial utilization of non-native, invasive species is a controversial topic”, she reports, “and for good reasons. Before we act on this seemingly ideal solution, we need to make sure it will not further damage the local ecosystem. For instance, the process of harvesting could, in itself, increase the dispersal of the seaweed, or further deteriorate the habitat”. In addition to environmental concerns, her project seeks to assess the economic viability of such a solution. “For the biomass to be exploitable by industries, it needs to be abundant enough, and stable enough”. As she explains: “Algae are living organisms, they respond to their surroundings, so when they grow in the natural environment, major variabilities in composition can be found within the same species. If the biomass supply is not sufficient, or too unstable in composition, commercialization becomes impossible”. For that reason, the project also aims to look at the possibility of land-based culture. “If we find that sea harvesting is too risky or inappropriate, pond culture could be a safer and more reliable alternative. We wouldn’t have a double win, but our primary goal is not to set the island free of invasive seaweeds, it would only be a happy consequence of our research”, Dr. Zanolla says. Assessing the valorization potential of four highly-invasive species of algae Specifically, the project looks into the potential valorization of four notoriously invasive macroalgal species found on the Irish west coast, “two brown, one red and one green”, she explains, or more precisely: Sargassum muticum and Colpomenia peregrina (both Phaeophyceae), Asparagopsis armata (Rhodophyta), and Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides (Chlorophyta). “We cannot look at all the invasive species present in Ireland, because we would need a lot more than 2 years, so we’ve carefully chosen the ones that, in addition to having a high impact on native ecosystems, have a high economic potential due to interesting chemical composition”. The project will pursue three consecutive objectives: investigate the distribution and abundance of the selected species and evaluate the threat they pose to marine Irish ecosystems; analyze their high value applications, as well as stability and consistency of profiles, by means of chemical profiling; and finally, assess the potential for valorization of all four species, either through harvesting of natural populations or land-based cultivation. In addition, the first work package will include “citizen science” initiatives. In other words, the research team will also turn to the community for insights on the algae’s distribution across space and time. “In west Ireland, most of the income comes from fishing. Local communities are on the front line of the algae problem. They have a knowledge of the area that I could never have, so that’s invaluable information for our team. If we only looked at scientific papers, imagine how much we would miss!”. Biological invasions are the second major cause of species endangerment and extinction worldwide. “Prevention is the best way to avoid non-native seaweed invasion, but now that some species have established themselves, we don’t have a choice but to look for management solutions as well”, says Dr. Zanolla. This project falls into the latter category but does not pursue solely environmental purposes. Its innovative nature lies into its integrated approach, one that seeks to unify social, economic and ecological objectives. In this sense, the output is likely to provide both the public and private sectors with applicable, realistic, multi-faceted solutions to build a more sustainable future.

### A coral reef refugium in the Red Sea

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/a-coral-reef-refugium-in-the-red-sea
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Romain SAVARY

The ‘last reef standing’: understanding the exceptional resilience of the Red Sea corals Coral reefs are fragile ecosystems. Climate change, as well as other human-driven disturbances, are taking a devastating toll on these precious underwater living structures, home to millions of marine species. The current situation is, to say the least, a source of serious concern: when coral reefs die, so does an enormous share of marine biodiversity. “The last three years have witnessed the worst global coral bleaching event on record. The Great Barrier Reef has seen around 35% of its coral cover suffering greatly enhanced mortality. Future trajectories of coral reef decline due to bleaching are dramatic, even under the most optimistic CO2 emission scenarios”, reports Dr. Romain Savary, an expert in corals and their symbiotic communities at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, in Switzerland. Interestingly, one healthy large-scale exception exists: the highly biodiverse coral reef system in the Northern Red Sea. Recent research has demonstrated that these corals are exceptionally resistant to the inevitable atmospheric CO2-driven rise in water temperatures and ocean acidification predicted for this century. “In all likelihood, these coral reefs will be the very ‘last reefs standing’ at the end of the century”. Dr. Savary aims to understand the underlying genetic and environmental settings that explain this extreme performance. His overall objective is to inform environmental protection policies in the countries of the Red Sea region, and potentially contribute to finding a solution for the survival of corals in general. Coral reefs have undergone drastic declines in recent years due to numerous types of environmental stresses, including nutrient overload, disease, overfishing, and (prominently) global climate change-induced bleaching (a whitening of the corals that often results in death). In this context, studying resilient species and, a fortiori, entire regions with populations of reef-building corals that can withstand, adapt, acclimatize to, or recover from these widespread bleaching events, is critically important. The study’s choice to focus on the Northern Red Sea system derives from this logic. Indeed, to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Coral Reef Watch’s surprise, the Northern Red Sea system did not endure a devastating episode of coral bleaching during the extremely hot summer of 2017, unlike many other coral reef systems across the world. This unexpected demonstration of resilience, which likely results from a tumultuous history of migration and adaptation to extreme changes in temperatures and salinity, offers an invaluable opportunity to study the natural defence mechanisms corals are capable of putting into place to survive fluctuating temperatures. In addition, the 2000 km latitudinal span of the Red Sea coral reefs, makes the region a natural laboratory for Climate change research. Along this gradient, the living conditions for the corals change dramatically, from 27°C summer surface water temperatures in the North, to 36°C in the South. “Effectively, along this warming gradient, one is moving into the future with regards to environmental conditions to which corals are exposed, the researcher explains. In other words, it’s a perfect laboratory for testing the impact of future oceans!” The Northern Red Sea corals: super-resistant species and a perfect natural laboratory Dr. Savary’s project will primarily focus on the comprehensive study of four major species of corals that live in the region, the choice of which was justified by the fact that their genome had already been sequenced. Indeed, the researcher’s investigation will concentrate on genes, how they respond to temperature variation, and which have evolved to better resist it. “My team and I will not only look at coral species but also at the algae that live in symbiosis with them in their tissues”, he explains. Indeed, coral bleaching results from the breakdown of the ‘symbiosis’ (a mutually beneficial relationship) between corals and microscopic algae of the Symbiodiniaceae family. The algae (which gives the coral its color), is highly sensitive to temperature variation and pollution. Under stress, it flees the coral, depriving it from its main source of nutrition, as well as its color (hence the whitening). More often than not, this separation results in coral mortality. “We started the sampling of corals and their symbiotic communities back in 2018. Our goal now is to test and see what molecular mechanisms make them special and what interactions are at play between the corals, the algae, and the numerous bacteria that also live in harmony with them. It’s a community, and we need to understand it as a whole”. To carry out his project, he will use an innovative and portable research instrument called the CBASS (Coral Bleaching Autonomous Stress System), which allows to determine empirical temperatures thresholds for bleaching. According to the most recent IPCC special report on the impacts of Global warming: At the end of this century, very few major coral reefs, and with them the enormous ecosystems they support, are expected to be alive and functioning. Not only is this potential gigantic loss in biodiversity catastrophic in itself, it would also have far-reaching economic implications for the 500 million people living in tropical countries that directly depend on the numerous services healthy corals provide (seafood, shore protection, and tourism). As Dr. Romain Savary points out: “The Red Sea system could very well offer our best hope for preserving large and well-functioning reefs for future generations, not only because it is likely to survive Global warming, but also because it offers an ideal natural laboratory to examine the multiple drivers for coral resilience, and to potentially uncover the molecular key to the survival of other coral reefs in the world”.

### Economic instruments for sustainable water management

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/economic-instruments-for-sustainable-water-management
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Dionisio PEREZ-BLANCO

More than 50% of total water abstractions in Southern Europe come from the agricultural sector, rising to more than 80% in some regions. Water abstractions are particularly high and fast growing in profitable irrigated areas in the Mediterranean Basin, where agricultural demand enters in direct competition with basic environmental services increasingly often. Urgent action is needed to address this unsustainable trade-off. Economic instruments represent a means of adapting demand to collectively agreed goals and thus relief pressure over stressed EU water bodies. In particular, recent water resources research has put forward the role that can be played by agricultural water markets and drought insurance for irrigated agriculture. These two instruments have been already tested (markets) or at least explored (insurance) in a EU context, but it is still unclear what can be expected from them. The objective of Dr. Perez-Blanco's research is advancing in the design and development of agricultural water markets and insurance systems that contribute to the implementation of an effective and efficient water policy mix in the EU. In a first stage, the team will develop quantitative methods using Revealed Preferences Models and Agent Based Models to estimate the economic and environmental outcomes of the proposed instruments under different scenarios. In the second stage they will use an analytical framework to critically assess the efficiency and effectiveness of drought insurance and water markets combined, in a wider policy context. Theoretical constructions will be illustrated with empirical applications in the Po River Basin District (RBD) in Italy and the Segura RBD in Spain.

### Climate change: can plankton save the day?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-can-plankton-save-the-day
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jamie WILSON

Among the plethora of organisms living in the ocean, plankton are arguably the most important ones. For starters, they are the foundation of the aquatic food web, feeding everything from microscopic zooplankton, to small fishes and multi-ton whales. These tiny organisms also account for around 50% of all photosynthesis on earth and generate up to half of the oxygen we breath. In other words, they consume carbon dioxide on a scale comparable to forests and other land plants. Their influence on the natural greenhouse effect is considerable, and no one is yet sure how they will respond to the warming prompted by the extra carbon dioxide produced by human activities. “It could go either ways", says Dr. Jamie Wilson, a researcher at the University of Bristol. "Plankton could help alleviate climate change, or on the contrary, exacerbate it. But either way, their impact is likely to be decisive.” Existing observations and current knowledge of how the plankton “biological carbon pump” works, especially in the deep ocean, are scarce. Hence, future projections of carbon sequestration and productivity are subject to large uncertainties. To address this critical gap, the postgraduate researcher is developing an innovative model coupling state-of-the-art modelling of plankton ecosystems and diversity with the full range of known processes driving organic matter cycling in the deep ocean. The objectives are plural: to establish a clearer link between plankton and climate, to provide an assessment of the impact on global fisheries, and to assess the future risks to plankton-driven carbon sequestration in the deep ocean. The project aims at informing governments and policymakers in time for the 6th Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on impacts adaptation and vulnerabilities. Photosynthesis in plankton, as in plants, is a process that uses solar energy, water and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen, nutrients and organic compounds (matter that contains a large amount of carbon). “The organic matter produced by plankton ecosystems has two fates significant for society", explains Dr. Wilson. The majority enters pelagic food webs, and a small fraction (usually dead plankton) falls to the deep ocean forming a key mechanism of biologically-driven carbon sequestration (long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide). In short, plankton plays a critical role in supporting global fisheries and in reducing the level of CO2 in the atmosphere. Alarmingly, “anthropogenic emissions of CO2, because they impact the ocean temperature, acidification and deoxygenation, are expected to drive significant changes in the biodiversity of plankton ecosystems”, he reports. However, the processes responsible for nutrient cycling and deep-ocean carbon sequestration are so numerous and diverse, that assessing consequences with any level of certainty is a challenging task. What the present project aims to do is to shed light on these processes, including those happening in “the twilight zone”, as scientists call it, with a focus on assessing which are the most important. “Our current understanding of these processes doesn’t allow us to predict what will happen. In fact, the most recent ocean models developed result in completely different outcomes. For instance, the researcher offers: “a recent modelling study including temperature dependent degradation of sinking particles found that the process reversed the trend of organic matter productivity found by the IPCC models”. An ecosystem model to go beyond the latest IPCC models To reduce the level of uncertainty in our understanding, Dr. Wilson aims at developing a more comprehensive modelling approach, one that couples a detailed plankton ecosystem model with the full range of processes affecting organic matter cycling. “Up until about 10 years ago, the data we had looked like nothing exciting was happening in the deep ocean, so concurrently, the models we had were simple, explains the lead researcher. But now, we know it isn’t true, there’s a lot more going on in the deep ocean than we initially thought. So, we’re in a middle ground position, where we know we need other models”. The most frequently used models to quantify the impact of environmental change on plankton ecosystems typically take into account the characteristics of only a few types of plankton. An alternative approach is the “trait-based” model, which represent hundreds of potential “taxa”, each with a unique randomised set of characteristics. “They have a much more dynamic representations of plankton diversity, but usually impose large computational costs, which limits the number of experiments they can run”, Dr. Wilson specifies. The project aims to overcome these constraints by using two complimentary models, a newly developed and computationally-efficient trait-based model coupled with a low-resolution Earth system model (EcoGENIE), and a higher-resolution trait-based model coupled with a higher-resolution ocean model (MITgcm). “Using both models will balance the conflicting needs for computational efficiency and high-resolution future projections, he explains. Indeed, we must be able to run a large number of experiments to ensure a comprehensive uncertainty analysis; while also obtaining precise-enough data to make it relevant for stakeholders and policy-makers”. Recent studies have brought to light the crucial role played by plankton in our planet’s past glaciation events. Concomitantly, their present role in the carbon cycle is likely going to be decisive in how fast our climate changes in the future. However, the current state of our knowledge on the processes involved in this phenomenon is largely insufficient to predict what lies ahead, let alone to act on it without delay. The findings from projects such as this one will be absolutely decisive in the near future, in the sense that they will provide critical information for researchers focusing on constraining these processes, and stakeholders with crucial information about the risks we currently face.

### Coastal community conservation: a win-win solution against climate change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/coastal-community-conservation-a-win-win-solution-against-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Hanna NUUTTILA

Coastal and near shore marine habitats and adjacent communities are on the front line in the battle against climate change and Sea Level Rise (SLR). One of the biggest challenges facing the ocean and our societies is reversing the loss and degradation of our coastal and marine ecosystem services (biodiversity, coastal protection, climate change mitigation, food security, health and wellbeing etc). Simultaneously we are also experiencing seemingly unrelated societal emergency in the form of decreased wellbeing across communities. Solutions to both require systematic top-down efforts at governmental level linked to bottom-up behavioural change. These solutions are notoriously challenging and slow to reach success. Dr. Hanna Nuuttila, a researcher from the Swansea University, Wales, aims to investigate how and to what extent community involvement and direct participation could contribute to effective conservation and restoration projects at meaningful scales, with wide scale support and community level benefits. Specifically, her focus is facilitating future conservation projects in industrial countries, where the connection to coastal habitats is all but lost. The project’s assumption is that a simple and cost-effective solution of engaging the public, or local inhabitants, in ecosystem restoration and conservation projects has the potential to create positive feedback due to its capacity to increase social capital whilst providing crucial resources for restoration projects. This in turn will enhance the ecological benefits and reinforce behavioural change required for climate change mitigation and adaptation at the individual and community level, with positive impacts on participants’ mental and physical wellbeing.

### Mangroves and Sea Level Rise: what future for highly stressed socioecological systems?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/mangroves-and-sea-level-rise-what-future-for-highly-stressed-socioecological-systems
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jamie MCCAUGHEY

Besides supporting biodiversity, coastal mangrove forests provide countless critical ecological services, including carbon storage and coastline stabilization. Alarmingly, the combined pressures of sea-level rise and coastal development are rapidly eroding these coastal forests of shrubs and trees that grow in intertidal zones. The situation is particularly critical in regions where the development of intensive aquaculture has resulted in large-scale mangrove deforestation. Such is the case in many parts of Southeast Asia and beyond, where, in certain locations, groundwater extraction has caused the land to subside, thus making local rates of relative sea-level rise much faster than global average. The consequences have included rapid coastal erosion, loss of land, and increased exposure to extreme events; a preview of what climate change has in store for other such ecosystems globally. Indeed, as ETH Zurich researcher, Dr. Jamie McCaughey, points out, the accelerated sea-level rise of these regions not only calls for urgent action, it also “constitutes a valuable opportunity to gain insight into the future”. A postdoctoral researcher specialized in the societal impacts of natural hazards, McCaughey aims to investigate how these accelerated rates of local sea-level rise are impacting not only the ecosystem but the society that lives near and off it. More specifically, his project seeks to identify the factors that lead either to cooperation for adaptation or alternately to conflict, rapid resource degradation, and out-migration. The overall objective is to provide researchers and policy makers with empirical evidence on the capacity of coastal social-ecological systems to adapt to substantial seal-level rise, and eventually help identify effective intervention strategies for the future. “Over the past century, global sea level has risen about 20 centimetres, according to the IPCC”, reports McCaughey. The IPCC projects that global sea level could rise an additional 52-98 centimetres by 2100 under the 'business-as-usual' emissions scenario. This means, we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. “In the coastal areas we are studying, the consequences of sea-level rise are more advanced than in most other coastal areas. And so are their adaptation efforts. People there have tried different adaptation strategies, and their feedback is valuable”. Thus, these regions constitute natural laboratories that provide much food for thought, and not just ecologically speaking. Indeed, the present project offers to study, not only the impact of sea-level rise on the natural landscape, but on the whole socio-ecological system. “We’re looking at what lies at the crossroads of ecosystem and society, the interactions between the services nature provides and the humans that benefit from them. There have been many studies on mangrove ecology, on community-level cooperation, on migration, and on hazard-related impacts, but there’s a dearth of information on the intersection between all of these research topics”. Investigating the consequences of real-life adaptation attempts offers the opportunity for such a comprehensive understanding. Conflict or cooperation, out-migration, what strategies work and is there a tipping point? Indeed, the major focus of the project is on the social dimensions of sea-level rise. It aims to uncover the patterns that influence adaptation success or failure in these socio-ecological contexts, taking into account not just large-scale trajectories but smaller-scale decisions, as well. To reveal these underlying levers of influence, three major research themes will be pursued. The first will examine conditions that favor community-level cooperation for adaptation, or alternatively, that lead to conflict and further degradation. The second will look at human migration, and particularly how sea-level rise and the loss of mangrove ecosystem services impacts lower-income households. Finally, the third will be concerned with the occurrence of the impacts, whether there’s likely to be a tipping point, or whether changes are likely to be incremental. To carry out these investigations, the research team will begin by engaging with national and local stakeholders, national-level agencies, and households to try and get a full picture of their experience: what’s been put into place, what they found effective or not, etc. Next, surveys will be conducted at the household-level, to understand the community’s side of the story: how people have been adapting, their level of well-being and involvement. Finally, all the collected information will be put together, combined with spatially explicit impact modelling of extreme events, to create an agent-based computer model to try and identify larger-scale adaptation trajectories that result from smaller-scale decisions and community contextual factors. “Imagine you have a fictional coastal community with hundreds of households each making their own decisions”, says McCaughey. “Once we design decision rules that are based on data we’ve collected in reality, we will be able to run the model many times, vary the circumstances, the level of sea-level rise, the degree of community involvement, the kinds of intervention policies, and assess the outcomes. It will not predict the future, but it will be prospective and help us understand the big patterns”. Natural laboratories offer perhaps the most relevant investigative grounds for scientific understanding of the causative processes of natural hazards and for narrowing the uncertainty. Dr. Jamie McCaughey’s approach of focusing on coastal communities that are experiencing rapid land subsidence to gain insight on what to expect with projected levels of sea level rise is, in this sense, highly relevant. In addition, his choice to concentrate on developing countries addresses a pressing gap in previous research, which has mainly focused on developed countries despite their lesser exposure. The insights will be important not only for Southeast Asia, but also for coastal communities around the world.

### Climate change mitigation: scaling up mangrove protection in the Philippines

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-mitigation-scaling-up-mangrove-protection-in-the-philippines
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Clare DUNCAN

Much like coral reefs, mangroves are extremely rich and productive ecosystems that contribute countless services enhancing human well-being. Besides being home to all sorts of marine life and supporting fisheries, these forests of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs play a forefront role in carbon storage and offer increasingly needed protection against storm surges, two crucial characteristics when it comes to climate change. Alarmingly, mangrove forests are among the most threatened tropical ecosystems in the world. Owing to anthropogenic activities like harvesting and clearing for alternative land-uses, current figures suggest around 35% of them have already been lost. Despite the opportunity they represent for climate change mitigation and adaptation (CCMA), only 39% of mangroves worldwide come under any form of Protected Area coverage (with substantially lower numbers in some regions (e.g. ~3% of mangrove in the Philippines), and this in spite of global efforts to increase marine protection coverage. Recognizing the missed opportunity here, Dr. Clare Duncan, ecologist and conservation biologist at the University of Exeter, aims to help identify mangrove areas where conservation intervention is the most needed and promising. Specifically, she aims to develop spatial tools to determine optimal Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation locations based on several aspects: potential for storm damage impact reduction, carbon storage increase capacity, sustainable development opportunities for local communities, as well as potential for industry support. The objective is to I nform researchers, coastal resource managers and other policy makers about where to concentrate MPA designation efforts to maximize ecosystem services, and associated multi-stakeholder economic returns, in the face of climate change. In the Philippines, an estimated 50% of mangroves have disappeared. “In the 1980s, in an effort to alleviate poverty, there was a push towards aquaculture development in coastal areas, which led to large-scale deforestation and degradation », reports Clare Duncan. Today, mangrove forests are still present, but they are not very dense and are highly fragmented. A lot of the areas that were transformed into aquaculture ponds are not even used anymore, but abandoned and unproductive”. In other words, the service potential of these ecosystems, whether natural or human-related, is not exploited to the fullest, to say the least. “There’s an opportunity here. Through enrichment planting and rehabilitation of the aquaculture ponds, for instance, we could considerably enhance the benefits we get from these ecosystems”. But given the breadth of the coastal territory covered in mangrove forests, a crucial preliminary question is: where should the rehabilitation efforts be concentrated? Which areas offer the best chances at success and positive impact? “What I’m trying to do with this project, is give people an idea of where and how to act to maximize results”, explains the ecologist. To provide this information, her project offers to combine data across several variables, including carbon sequestration, coastal protection, potential for local communities to engage in protection activities. “A combination of factors comes into play. For instance, some areas already benefit from the protection of other breakwater structures like coral reefs, while others are badly exposed to storm surges. Innovatively, her approach will also take particular interest in the potential for industry support via Payment for Ecosystem Services (incentives offered to companies in exchange for environmental action). Indeed, “in terms of economic value, there’s a lot of industries that could benefit from engaging in mangrove protection”. Corporate social responsibility, alone, is a good reason. “Companies looking to reduce their carbon footprints have every reason to engage in mangrove rehabilitation activities », she points out. And there are also a lot of other industry-specific incentives. “Take the insurance industry, for instance: increased vulnerability to natural disaster will ultimately impact premiums, especially considering the projected rates of sea level rise”. The reason why there isn’t more uptake from companies yet is unclear, the researcher says, so initiating dialogue is highly promising. Combining maps to obtain optimal conservation areas In fact, her methodology involves engaging with actors and stakeholders from many different sectors. The workplan includes the collection and assimilation of information from various sources, including remotely sensed data (satellite), field-derived data (samples), and survey data. The latter will imply collaborating with industry actors, but also with local communities to assess where they are the most likely to engage in mangrove protection, and where extractive activities might be possible to reverse or reduce, and enhance ecosystem services delivery. The satellite data, for its part, will serve to map mangrove distribution and density, localization of fishponds, as well as the proximity of human settlements, and seagrasses and coral reefs. Various maps will be developed as the different sets of data are collected, that will then be integrated into comprehensive spatial planning tools. The methodology used will be deliberately adaptable, Dr. Clare Duncan specifies, in order to be applicable to other regions of the world. Indeed, the aim is not only to facilitate coastal marine protection areas in the Philippines, but to develop novel tools that will get the attention of coastal resource management communities on a global scale, paving the way for similar initiatives elsewhere. The present project fits into the frame of the current global concern with ‘blue carbon’, a term coined to bring attention to the importance of marine ecosystems in the carbon cycle. Research initiatives such as this one will be crucial for the implementation of successful climate change mitigation strategies in the immediate future. The project is all the more promising as it seeks to keep in touch with the realities of the field, aiming to build upon existing needs and constraints, rather than to ignore them. Along the same line, its concern with industry support gives it every advantage for consideration, financing and uptake by both policy makers and industry stakeholders.

### Volcanic Risk Assessment in Asia

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/volcanic-risk-assessment-in-asia
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Susanna JENKINS

The 1815 Tambora eruption, the deadliest in recorded history, had far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on our planet. The vast quantities of ash ejected from the vent into the atmosphere altered the global climate for many years, causing dramatic drops in temperatures and worldwide crop failures that earned 1816 its nickname of “the year without a summer”. Aside from a large asteroid or comet impact, large explosive volcanic eruptions are the only natural hazard with the potential for such widespread consequences. However, and despite the high stakes, “volcanoes are underappreciated in the insurance industry”, as geologist Dr. Susanna Jenkins points out. “Volcanic hazard and risk assessments are far less developed than for earthquakes or hurricanes”. In Southeast Asia – where 50% of all fatal incidents at volcanoes happen – many populated areas lie within 100 km of at least one potentially active volcano. Yet, the dearth of historical records on past events gives little clue as to what risks they present. In a Joint Research Initiative (JRI) with AXA, Dr. Susanna Jenkins, from the Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, is leading a project that aims to improve volcanic risk assessment in Asia. Her investigation focuses on modelling the dispersal, likelihood and impact of the most frequent and widespread of volcanic hazards: ash. The ash that is expelled from a volcano during an eruption is composed of very small (< 2 mm) rock, mineral or glass particles. Their size means they can be carried by wind over long distances, causing serious disturbances while in the air or when they fall to the ground. For instance, as the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption showed, ash can cause problems for aircraft engines, forcing airlines to ground planes in the affected areas. If the ashfall is thick, it can cause serious damage to infrastructure, food or water supply. Moreover, unlike the ash produced by burning wood, volcanic ash can be dangerous for health. Its particles can cause eye, nose and lung irritation, as well as breathing problems. “Other volcanic hazards, like pyroclastic, mud or lava flows, are constrained in space to a few to tens of kilometers at most. The range of likely impacts from ash, and the distance over which they occur, is likely to be much, much greater, and it has the potential to disrupt a lot of activities”, Dr. Susanna Jenkins explains.

### Environmental finance: towards a better understanding of climate-related financial risks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/environmental-finance-towards-a-better-understanding-of-climate-related-financial-risks
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Olivier DAVID ZERBIB, Christian ROBERT

The latest IPCC reports warn that drastic and systematic action is the only way to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change. Financial institutions have become fully aware of the forefront role private investment needs to play in this emergency transition. They have also become aware of the financial risks associated with (i) global warming and (ii) an environmental transition for the most polluting companies. In addition, institutional investors such as banks, mutual funds, pensions and insurance companies, are increasingly encouraged (and maybe soon legally bound), to integrate climate objectives into their investment strategies. “The channels through which traditional risk and return distributions may shift due to climate change forces are not yet sufficiently understood, and need to be carefully examined” explains actuarial sciences Professor Christian Robert, from the University of Lyon I and CREST. Together with Olivier David Zerbib, PhD student in finance at the University of Tilburg and ISFA and research fellow at CREST, they chair the AXA Joint Research Initiative (JRI) on climate-related risks in institutional asset allocation. A collaborative project between academics and practitioners, this 3-year research enterprise aims at providing institutional investors with methodologies for assessing climate risks in their asset allocation.

### Explainable AI for healthcare: enabling a revolution

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/explainable-ai-for-healthcare-enabling-a-revolution
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Thomas LUKASIEWICZ

Just as electricity and telecommunications transformed major industries in the late 19th century, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to dramatically change the economy and society in the near future. In fact, AI algorithms have already begun to revolutionize the way many businesses function. However, well-known limitations and drawbacks, including interpretability, explainability, biases, and robustness, still hamper the full realization of AI potential in many fields. “These obstacles are especially valid for healthcare, says Thomas Lukasiewicz, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. An incorrect diagnosis of a disease may lead to an incorrect treatment with life-threatening consequences for the patient”. An expert in AI and machine learning, Prof. Lukasiewicz is the recipient of the AXA Chair in Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. The aim of the research program is to develop a new generation of AI technologies, called neural-symbolic AI systems, tailored to the specific requirements of healthcare. The overall objective is to substantially reduce the costs of healthcare, improve its availability, and increase the life span and well-being of people. A crucial aspect of the technologies to be developed will be the ability to explain the generated outputs. The last few years have been landmark years in AI, especially due to a huge progress in deep learning, which is an advanced machine learning technology based on neural networks that is achieving revolutionary results in plethora of tasks in practice, such as speech recognition/generation, computer vision, language-related tasks, and self-driving vehicles. Neural networks are trying to imitate how the human brain is processing data and creating patterns for decision making. However, their inner workings are so complex that the functional relationship between their inputs and outputs still remains opaque. “Neural networks are generally "black boxes" and lacking interpretability and explainability, explains Prof. Lukasiewicz. We usually do not know which nodes/weights correspond to which meaning, and we cannot trace the source for a computed result in terms of a human-readable explanation”. This lack of transparency risks undermining meaningful scrutiny and accountability, which is a significant concern when these systems are applied as part of decision-making processes that can have a considerable impact on people's lives, like is the case in healthcare. As pointed out by the chairholder, this is also highlighted by the EU General Data Protection Regulation. “Among other things, this regulation enforces the right to explanations for users impacted by algorithmic decisions”. In addition to explainability, “deep-learning technologies are also difficult to verify, they may be biased, and they may have robustness problems”.

### Fighting natural disasters with AI and remote sensing data

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/fighting-natural-disasters-with-ai-and-remote-sensing-data
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Jocelyn CHANUSSOT

Landslides, wildfires, earthquakes, extreme meteorological events… Natural disasters represent a growing threat to our societies and the environment. From 2005 to 2014, they have caused 700,000 casualties, affected 1,7 billion people, and cost 1,4 trillion dollars in total damage*. The overwhelming majority (90%) of these disasters have been caused by weather-related events, which countless scientific studies have shown, have increased dramatically in the past 60 years as a result of anthropogenic activities and the induced climate change. To make matters worse, adverse impacts are increasing due to the alteration and/or destruction of ecosystems which innately provide protection, like mangroves or coral reefs. In the face of these challenges, initiatives to improve prevention and response plans are multiplying. The AXA Chair in Remote Sensing, currently hosted by the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is among the most ambitious. The 5-year research program aims to capitalize on the tremendous potential of recent advances in satellite and airborne remote sensing to contribute to better risk assessment and emergency responses. “To monitor and manage natural disasters, observation is a crucial asset. Comprehensive coverage is a game changer to assess the extent of the human and material damage when a catastrophic event occurs, or even to try and foresee and even prevent its occurrence”, explains the holder of the Chair, professor Jocelyn Chanussot. “Today, we have fleets of satellites at our disposal, called constellations, which enable us to closely observe the Earth and with a very short revisit time. We have airborne based platforms and light unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) that provide additional complementary information, with an even greater flexibility”. In recent years, these technological assets have been increasingly used by emergency response teams and risk assessment professionals. Their importance was formally recognized in 2000 when ESA, CNES and CSA formed the ‘International Charter - Space and Major Disasters' - an agreement to prioritize image acquisition over disaster zones.

### Invasive species: raising awareness with scenarios for the future

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/invasive-species-raising-awareness-with-scenarios-for-the-future
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Franck COURCHAMP

After years of warnings by scientists, global attention is finally given to the growing threat of climate change and the need to urgently cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. But another massive driver of the environmental crisis still remains little known to the public: the scourge of biological invasion. Biological invasions refer to human-assisted introductions of species outside their natural range, followed by their establishment, spread and impact in new ecosystems. Despite some very eloquent figures – invasive species cost the global economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year and are the second cause of biodiversity loss –, the problem has so far received little attention compared to other such human-induced environmental hazards. “Human-assisted introduction of invasive alien species has been a key factor in 54% of known animal extinctions and the sole factor in 20%”, reports prof. Franck Courchamp, a director of Research at the CNRS and a world-renowned expert in biodiversity dynamics. “Yet, it remains understudied”. Notably, he points out, “no scenarios of biological invasions exist as they do for climate change”. Recognizing the key role these tools played in raising awareness of the environmental crisis, the ecologist is leading a 5-year Chair research program, hosted by the University of Paris-Saclay, aimed at establishing such scenarios for invasive species. Specifically, the Invasion Biology AXA Chair aims to provide scenarios of biological invasions worldwide for the coming decades. In addition, the program will analyze and then predict which species precisely are likely to constitute the next wave of invaders, which regions are likely to be the most invaded in the near future, and what impacts can be expected both on biodiversity and the economy. “As things stand, there is much cause for concern. With increasing international trade and a changing climate, increasing numbers of invasions are expected worldwide”, explains the chairholder. “Now is the time to act, but to do so, we need a better idea of what to expect. If you look at the issue of climate change, what made people pay attention was the broad panel of possibilities that depended of them. If you give them concrete examples of how their actions can positively or negatively impact the future, then you are likely to get a reaction. It becomes concrete for everyone”. In the case of invasive species, for which prevention has been proven to be the most effective solution, such a wake-up call would go a long way. Studies show that biosecurity, prevention and proactive actions (such as cleaning boats, not releasing exotic animals into the wild, monitoring importations for stowaways, …), cost significantly less than controlling the alien species once they are introduced. In Europe, out of 14,000 invasive species, 1,800 are considered problematic. This number is highly susceptible to rise in the years to come, “for example with the on-going implantation of insect farms for human consumption”, as prof. Courchamp points out. "The largest in the world will settle near Amiens, in France. Despite the risk such activities pose, no legislation exists to prevent invasive insects from being released into the wild. We are going to assess the cost of inaction and compare it with the cost of biosecurity."

### Fairness in AI: ending bias and discrimination

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/fairness-in-ai-ending-bias-and-discrimination
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Toon CALDERS

There is a popular phrase in computer science that says: garbage in, garbage out. It means that when we feed machines poor-quality or biased data; it reflects on the output. In perhaps the most notorious case of AI prejudice, a report by investigative journalism organization ProPublica claimed that an AI tool used by the US justice system (the COMPAS recidivism algorithm) discriminated against black prisoners. Even though these accusations are based upon a very specific and narrow interpretation of fairness, they give substance to a worry that has been brewing among computer scientists for years: that the algorithms continuously used to profile us in contemporary society may be inherently discriminatory. In fact, tech giants such as Google and Microsoft are taking the problem very seriously and have both taken steps to investigate. “Fairness-aware machine learning is a pressing issue and a very hot topic at the moment”, confirms professor Toon Calders, an expert in data mining at the University of Antwerp. Given the increasingly important role machine-learning plays in the insurance industry, the researcher has undertaken an ambitious 3-year collaborative project with practitioners from AXA to tackle the problem within the operational context of insurance. Called the AXA Joint Research Initiative (JRI) on measuring fairness of predictive models, the research program has two specific objectives: to develop measures of fairness that are useful in the context of AXA insurance and to use them to assess fairness of existing decision procedures and models generated by state-of-the-art machine learning methods. Insurance companies increasingly rely on decision-making procedures that are, at least partially, automated, and often based on data mining (the process of finding patterns within large data sets, to transform it into useful information). They are not the only ones, as prof. Toon Calders points out. Banks have profiles to divide up people according to credit risk, web corporations profile users according to their interests and preferences based on web activity and visitation patterns, etc. “You would think that these methods of profiling, based on facts, would be fairer than a person’s judgement, wouldn’t you? It turns out, it is not necessarily the case”. One major reason for this, he explains, is that bias can be embedded in the data itself. In other words, if the information the algorithms learn from contains biases, the machine is likely going to reproduce them. For example: “in the historical data that it is fed, the machine might find that the words robbery and violence are more often associated with black people than with white people. Similarly, words like intelligence or diligence might be more often affiliated with men than women”. So how do you rectify this disturbance?

### Fulfilling the potential of AI: towards explainable deep learning

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/fulfilling-the-potential-of-ai-towards-explainable-deep-learning
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: David MARTENS

The latest advances in artificial intelligence have proven tremendously successful at various complex tasks. Deep learning (a subset of machine learning), in particular, offers the promise of transformative breakthroughs for a wide range of industries, from automated cars to medical research and risk management. However, the opacity of these sophisticated algorithms, often described as "black boxes", is hindering their application in the real world. Given the increasingly important role machine-learning plays in the Insurance industry, professor David Martens, an expert in AI at the University of Antwerp, has undertaken an ambitious 3-year collaborative project with practitioners from AXA Belgium aimed at explaining the decisions made by such systems. Specifically, the aim of the Joint Research Initiative, called Explainable Artificial Intelligence (ExAI), is to develop new algorithms to explain complicated AI models, both in terms of global insight and in the case of instance-based decisions. The results will be validated in several real case applications, notably within the framework of AXA. To achieve artificial intelligence, operators and programmers of AI are developing increasingly complex algorithms. In the case of deep learning, these algorithms are inspired by the structure of the human brain with millions of neurons that are connected in many layers. This structure is called the "artificial neural network" and has the capacity to learn from raw data without human intervention. In fact, their inner workings and self-learning capacities are so advanced, they can escape the control and understanding of their own operators and programmers. “Although the idea of an artificial neural network has been around for decades, only recently did 'deep' networks emerge as successful techniques." Explains prof. David Martens, "They now lead to even superhuman results: for some tasks it is more accurate in recognizing objects in a picture than a human." The fulfillment of this extraordinary potential, however, is conditional on finding ways to explain why these machines make decisions. In the Insurance industry, for instance, where such systems have been shown to achieve better predictive performances compared to other state-of-the-art techniques, these explanations will be needed not only for customers, but also for customer-facing employees, managers, members of the science data team, and last but not least, regulators.

### Impact investing in emerging markets: shedding light on the benefits of patient capital

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/impact-investing-in-emerging-markets-shedding-light-on-the-benefits-of-patient-capital
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Satyajit BOSE

The long-held view that social and environmental issues should only be addressed by philanthropic donations, and that market investments should solely be about making money are long gone. Investors are increasingly interested in adopting responsible practices, as evidenced by the assets under management (AUM) in responsible investments, the increase in the number of signatories to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and new strategies being launched. Accordingly, a significant proportion of ‘responsible’ investors are turning their attention to the problems of the developing world, and specifically to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, and quite paradoxically, many investors are losing touch with the notion of emerging markets. “People have not yet made the connection between this old term and the new concept of ‘impact investing’. We need to show them there’s a close correlation”, explains Prof. Satyajit Bose. With this interest at heart, the researcher from Columbia University is leading an AXA Joint Research Initiative (JRI) with AllianceBernstein, an investment management firm partnering with AXA on this initiative. Their aim is to demonstrate clear and measurable links between investing in emerging markets and reaching the SDGs. Specifically, the objective of this collaboration is to put the spotlight on the potential of ‘patient’ portfolio flows into publicly-traded emerging markets equities, – or to put it more simply, ‘long-term’ investments in stocks traded on a public stock exchange. “‘Patient’ means investments with lower than average turnover in portfolio holdings or higher than average holding periods”, the researcher specifies. The overall objective is to draw the attention of responsible investors towards this particular type of capital and investment behaviour, by providing them with obvious and measurable causal links between them and positive impact on country-wide SDG progress. “We are hoping to show that this type of investment in emerging countries has a beneficial social and environmental impact in these markets, specifically when it comes to SDGs, summarizes Prof. Satyajit Bose. We believe that if responsible investors are given the appropriate guidelines on how to invest long-term in emerging market stocks, then the beneficial impact to these countries would be much greater than average”. Historically, as he reminds us, portfolio investments (or transactions in equities) in emerging markets have the reputation of being quite volatile, with investors buying and selling capital over short periods of times. Because broad market investors tend to invest in and take their money out all at the same time, this type of behavior can have a dislocating effect on local economies, which has been severely critiqued in the past.

### Chair in Financial Market Riskby Lily FANG

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/chair-in-financial-market-riskby-lily-fang
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Lily FANG

Finance with a social twist: looking at impact beyond markets Responsible investing, which incorporates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into investment decisions, has been gaining increasing attention from investors and is slowly moving into the mainstream. The rise of ESG has brought into the spotlight the financial relevance of a wide spectrum of issues that were traditionally ignored by financial analysts. This includes the pressing topic of environmental concerns, as well as social issues related to fairness, workers’ wellbeing, etc. Consistently with this shift in mindset, academic finance research has been putting increasing emphasis on cross-disciplinary analysis. “Topics are much broader than they were 20 years ago”, says Lily Hua Fang, a Professor of Finance, and the current holder of the AXA Chair in Financial Market Risk at INSEAD. “The academic field is changing for the better, it is moving away from strictly classical approaches to encompass broader societal issues”. This broadening is, to a large extent, reflected in the work Professor Fang has been conducting since 2003 at INSEAD. Lily Fang is currently working on issues related to gender, corruption, social impact of private equity, the influence of investors’ preferences on companies, or the role of insurance on entrepreneurship. Her paper on media coverage and the cross-section with stock returns received the prestigious Smith Breeden prize for outstanding papers published in the Journal of Finance.

### Fighting malaria and preserving biodiversity in Africa: a non-zero-sum game

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/fighting-malaria-and-preserving-biodiversity-in-africa-a-non-zero-sum-game
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Gerry F. KILLEEN

Malaria still infects hundreds of millions of people each year. The parasitic infectious disease is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Currently, the most effective way to prevent it is with insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) placed over all beds and other sleeping spaces, to simultaneously protect humans and kill mosquitoes. While increasingly widespread use of ITNs has achieved great reductions of malaria burden since the turn of the century, according to recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), the fight against this mosquito-borne disease stalled from 2014 onwards; malaria killed 405 000 people in 2018, 67% of whom were children under the age of 5. “Since the turn of the century, over 4 million malaria-related deaths have been averted in Africa, mostly through vector control using bed nets treated with exceptionally safe and affordable pyrethroid insecticides” reports applied pathogen ecologist Professor Gerry. F. Killeen, the recipient of the AXA Research Chair at University College Cork (UCC). However, “Progress has stalled for two major reasons: the resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides has eroded the impact of insecticide-treated nets, and mosquitoes ITN avoidance by resting or feeding upon human and animals outdoors”.

### Cyber-security: meeting the challenges of the upcoming era of 5G and IoT

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/cyber-security-meeting-the-challenges-of-the-upcoming-era-of-5g-and-iot
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jorge BERNAL BERNABE

Smart homes, smart cities, smart buildings, smart agriculture, connected cars… An increasing number of the devices we use on an everyday basis are connected to the Internet. This emerging paradigm is known as the Internet of Things (IoT). These ubiquitous and heterogenous objects and machines, as they are deployed everywhere, are fast transforming our lives opening the door for virtually endless opportunities. The upcoming and highly anticipated fifth generation mobile networks, commonly known as 5G, are expected to greatly accelerate the rise of IoT. Its vast improvements over the current capabilities of 4G (such as high-speed connectivity and very low latency) will lay the foundations for the full realization of IoT’s true potential. However, as with most significant technological advances, these benefits come with risks, to users and network operators alike. “As the IoT expands, the number of cyber-threats and risks associated to IoT and 5G-IoT communications are increasing accordingly”, explains Dr. Jorge Bernal Bernabé, a postdoctoral researcher at the Universidad de Murcia (Spain) and the recipient of an AXA Fellowship for his proposal to develop innovative 5G-IoT cybersecurity solutions. His project, called Cyber-SecIoT, aims to improve the capabilities of detection, prevention and protection from 5G and IoT security threats by going beyond the current state of the art, looking into new algorithms, protocols and mechanisms. As demonstrated by the 2016 cyber-attack caused by the Mirai botnet – a network of infected IoT devices –, which took down major websites including Twitter, the Guardian, Netflix, CNN and many others in Europe and the US, the expansion of IoT comes with new and more numerous cyber threats. “IoT environments suffer additional vulnerabilities due to their constrained capabilities, their unexpected nature, their pervasive and dynamic network environment”, reports Dr. Bernal Bernabé. Using these vulnerabilities, cyber attackers are continuously improving their techniques to come up with sophisticated attacks against IoT scenarios, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against organizations and citizens. To put it simply, these cyber-attacks consist in saturating an online service with traffic from multiple sources. As was the case with the Mirai attack, these sources can be smart connected devices ranging from mobile phones to computers, home thermostats, etc. Because IoT devices often do not have strong security features, hackers can easily harness them to form a “botnet” (interconnected network of computers infected with malware). And this is just the tip of the iceberg.  

### Gut microbiome: Deciphering the metabolic interplay with psychoactive compounds

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/gut-microbiome-deciphering-the-metabolic-interplay-with-psychoactive-compounds
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Maria ZIMMERMANN

Depression, psychotic disorders and schizophrenia are severe mental conditions that affect more than 100 million people in Europe alone and are leading causes of disability worldwide. One out of ten people worldwide has taken antidepressant or antipsychotic medication over the past 12 months, and this proportion continues to increase. These medicines often cause side effects which impact patients’ quality of life, including weight gain and gastrointestinal complications. Although side effects are mainly explained by differences in human physiology, an increasing number of studies suggest that certain complications are mediated by the gut microbiota – the bacteria living in our intestine. Most antipsychotic drugs are taken orally and can reach the intestine and affect or be affected by the gut microbiota. “Genetic diversity of the gut microbiota is much larger than human genetic diversity”, notes Dr Maria Zimmermann-Kogadeeva, an AXA post-doctoral grantee at EMBL Heidelberg. “Two individuals share about 99.9% of genetic code, however, the genetic content of their gut microbiota can be only 10-30% identical. Understanding the mechanisms of interactions between diverse gut bacteria and psychoactive compounds could explain interpersonal differences in medication response and improve the outcome of mental health therapies.” Dr Zimmermann-Kogadeeva hypothesizes that the gut microbiota can contribute to a patients’ response to antipsychotic drugs and their side effects in two ways:

### Impact on wellbeing of exposure to traumatic material in “back office” police and law enforcement staff

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/impact-on-wellbeing-of-exposure-to-traumatic-material-in-back-office-police-and-law-enforcement-staff
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Fazeelat DURAN

There is a growing concern in international media, governments and academic researchers on the mental “ill-health” of law enforcement personnel and other staff employees working within the criminal justice system. First responders and front-line police officers can suffer from exposure to traumatic material and research has revealed that criminal justice personnel are at high risk of burnout, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder and secondary traumatic stress. Many “back-office” roles – such as crime and intelligence analysts, digital forensic analysts, online undercover police officers, translators and researchers are exposed to traumatic material. Criminal justice system staff whose daily tasks involve exposure to traumatic material such as, descriptions and footage of sexual violence, abduction, torture and murder are at high risk of reporting intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness and physical exhaustion, cognitive shifts, hypervigilance, reduced intimacy, social isolation and mistrust of others. There is limited research comparing front-line and back-office exposure to traumatic material at work.

### Self-beliefs: Mathematical models of self believe and link with mental health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/self-beliefs-mathematical-models-of-self-believe-and-link-with-mental-health
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marion ROUAULT

Mental health has become a major public health issue worldwide. In France, it is currently a governmental priority, prompted by a matter of urgency: one in five people will suffer at least one episode of depression over their lifetime; about 25 suicides are committed every day, and many more attempts are made, leading to a considerable human and financial burden. In her previous work, Dr Marion Rouault, a post-doctoral AXA Research Fund grantee from Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), has studied global beliefs about ourselves and our own abilities (“self-beliefs”). Self-beliefs are a key predictor in the emergence of mental health disorders, particularly those of anxious and depressive nature, and they carry important consequences for real-life decisions. However, it remains unclear how self-beliefs are formed, and why there is an enormous inter-individual variability in self-evaluation.

### Resilience to Depression: the Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics Regulatory Proteins

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/resilience-to-depression-the-role-of-mitochondrial-dynamics-regulatory-proteins
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Sriparna GHOSAL

Affecting around 350 million people worldwide, depression is the most prevalent and complex psychiatric disorder and remains a devastating illness. The World Health Organization projects that by 2020 it will be the highest contributor to the global burden of disease. Yet our understanding of its mechanisms is still limited. Moreover, the existence of high rates (around 40%) of non-responsive patients to current  pharmacotherapies necessitates development of novel and more effective strategies to treat depression. Increasing evidence suggests that depression is highly associated with impaired mitochondrial function ( NB: mitochondria’s most prominent roles are to produce energy of the cell) in the brain such as decreased respiration, bioenergetics defects, imbalanced antioxidant defense mechanism, and altered mitochondrial dynamics. Human observations report that more than 50% of patients with mitochondrial diseases exhibit clinical symptoms of depression, and depressive symptoms often precede the other symptoms of the underlying mitochondrial disease. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unresolved. Recent studies have demonstrated a link between depression susceptibility and mitochondrial dysfunction in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a crucial mood-and reward-regulatory brain region. Dr. Sriparna Ghosal, an AXA Research Fund grantee at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, has recently gained significant insight into the mechanisms underpinning this connection, and opened up the perspective to target mitofusin 1 (MFN1), a key mitochondrial fusion protein involved in maintaining mitochondrial dynamics and health, to ameliorate depression-related deficits. Her project, she explains: “aims to unravel how mitofusin 1 deficiency increases susceptibility to depression, from cellular level, to neuronal activity and brain circuitry and ultimately behavior”.

### Chair in Genome Biology and Evolutionary Genomics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/chair-in-genome-biology-and-evolutionary-genomics
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Rod WING

With the global population expected to reach 10 billion people by 2050, an enormous challenge faces agriculture, and especially staple crop production. As an essential component of the diets of half the world’s population, and an excellent model for the exploration of crop genomics, rice is set to play a crucial role in the future of global food security. A world-renowned expert in plant genomics, bioinformatics and evolutionary biology, Professor Rod Wing has spent an important part of his career exploring the wide genetic diversity among domesticated and wild varieties of the genus Oryza. Holder of the AXA Chair in Genome Biology and Evolutionary Genomics at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) from 2014 to 2020, he has achieved crucial progress in harnessing valuable natural DNA variations to enable the breeding a new generation of sustainable crops, called Green Super Rice (GSR). These varieties will be higher yielding, more nutritious, more resistant to the stresses of climate change and have less of an environmental footprint. Sequencing the genomes of all species of rice: a colossal enterprise nearing completion So far, two major accomplishments have captured the attention of the plant genomics community, both pertaining to the production of high-quality reference genomes, a cornerstone of the project. The first concerns the genome sequencing of all 15 identified subpopulations (or subspecies) of Asian Rice ( Oryza sativa ), by far the most consumed species of rice. The second relates to wild relatives of rice. In 2018, Pr Rod Wing and his collaborators published a landmark paper in Nature Genetics which analyzed the reference genomes of 13 domesticated and wild rice relatives, 9 of which were newly sequenced reference genomes. Among other things, they were able to identify many new genetic determinants of potential use for future crop protection. The culmination of the work carried out in the frame of the AXA Chair program will be the release, scheduled for December 2021, of a complete set of high-quality reference genomes for all 27 known species of rice across the genus Oryza . The production of these complete and representative examples of a species set of genes is a founding step on the path to the development of Green Super Rice. They will serve as a solid baseline for identifying and understanding the genetic variations responsible for agronomical beneficial traits. From reference genomes to the farming of Green Super Rice “ This is only the beginning of our journey ”, insists prof. Rod Wing. The achievements produced in the frame of the Chair, and the collaborations initiated between rice researchers and International rice centers such as the IRRI, have opened up the door for the biggest crucial challenge facing the community: closing the genotype-to-phenotype gap. This next step will consist in mapping the high-quality reference genomes against each other to identify natural DNA variations (novel genes, traits and/or genomic regions) accounting for their different observable characteristics (phenotype), such as resistance to disease, capacity to grow in saltwater, etc. Once isolated, these genetic variations can be systematically harnessed for crop improvement, for instance to increase yield potential, nutritional quality, tolerance of pests, diseases, and the stresses, such as flood and drought, that will be inevitable with future climate change. Ultimately, the data produced in the frame of the Chair will be deposited in publicly available ‘digital gene banks’, which breeders can interrogate for specific traits, and use to guide and accelerate their efforts to farm GSR cultivars.  Rice is not the only staple food that stands out in its significance to human civilization. However, with an estimated 400 million DNA pairs, the smallest genome among the major cereals, it constitutes the most promising model for leveraging the genomics of agroecosystems to increase food production. By taking on the colossal enterprise of producing reference genomes for all existing species of rice, cultivated and wild, prof. Rod Wing and his collaborators have laid solid foundations for the development and farming of sustainable rice varieties in the future. Not only that, progress towards these GSR could serve as a model for other crop systems, and ultimately foster a paradigm change towards green agricultural systems and sustainable food production. Photo: @utsmanmedia More information about the subject How are we going to feed the world without destroying it? Biodiversity at Risk : Preserving the Natural World for our Future

### Supporting Young People's Mental Health during the Transition to Work

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/supporting-young-peoples-mental-health-during-the-transition-to-work
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jasmin WERTZ

Today’s young workforce will have a very different experience of entering the labor market than that of previous generations with later entry and a more uncertain working environment - including less job security and fewer job protections. It has been suggested that working conditions contribute to a high burden of mental health problems in young people. However, there is little research on associations between work experiences and mental health in young people (i.e., those between 18 and 30 years old), who are making the transition from education into the workforce. Such research is important since mental health problems during the transition to work can severely disrupt early working life.

### A Neurocomputational Framework for Mental Health Maintenance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/a-neurocomputational-framework-for-mental-health-maintenance
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Camilla NORD

Everyone reacts differently to winning and losing. Controlling this process is key to our mental health – placing too little importance on positive outcomes could contribute to low mood, while placing too much could drive impulsive behaviors. Learning to regulate emotional states is thought to drive the effectiveness of psychological therapy, but to date, the neurocomputational mechanisms involved are relatively unknown. Dr. Camilla Nord, an AXA Fellow at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge (UK) will investigate the ability to regulate emotional responses to good and bad outcomes. “There is an explanatory gap between effective psychological interventions and our understanding of their neural and cognitive mechanisms”, she says. Her approach will consist of using techniques from computational psychiatry and data science to better understand these important treatment avenues. “It is important for me to develop a project that cuts across diagnostic boundaries", she explains. "I think a key challenge in mental health research is the limitations of diagnostic categories.”

### Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/chair-in-biosphere-and-climate-impacts
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Colin PRENTICE

Earth System models have contributed invaluably to our evolving understanding and awareness of climate change. Yet, fundamental limitations to these mathematical tools remain, not the least of which is their tendency to deliver contradictory results. Pointing the finger at their unnecessary complexity, Prof. Colin Prentice and a number of other world-renowned scientists have undertaken the mission to produce a new generation of models of the global land surface, resting on secure theoretical and empirical foundations. The overall objective is to develop robust, quantitative knowledge about the impacts of environmental variability and change on land ecosystems, and interactions with the atmosphere. During his tenure of the AXA Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts at Imperial College, from 2012 to 2019, Prof. Prentice developed a new approach to the study of plant ecology and land-system modelling, focusing especially on the measurement and prediction of carbon uptake by plants. Predicting carbon uptake by plants: a prerequisite of climate change research The main achievement of the research program is the development of a satellite-based model to predict the total uptake of carbon in photosynthesis (aka "gross primary production" or GPP) across the ecosystems of the world. “The model is remarkably simple, explains Prof. Prentice. Yet, it performs much better than many models that are far more complicated”. Part of the reason lies in theory. During the course of the AXA Chair, he and his team showed, for instance, that the "light use efficiency" formulation (which means GPP is proportional to the amount of light absorbed by leaves) has a sound basis, and can be used to predict carbon uptake provided the way leaves change properties over time is taken into account. They have also demonstrated how the temperature of leaves (provided the plants have sufficient water supply) is buffered, so leaves in cold climates tend to be warmer than the air while those in hot climates tend to be cooler. This is crucial information in regard to climate change and predicting how vegetation will respond to the shifts in temperatures. Another accomplishment of the program is the development of a model that correctly predicts how the thickness of leaves (leaf mass per area, LMA) relates to their lifespan, and how this relationship shifts according to light intensity, the length of the favorable growth season, and other aspects of climate. Capitalizing on evidence-based research to develop “next-gen” vegetation models “These mechanisms are all cogs in the ecosystems machine, and what we are doing is reassessing them, finding simple ways to explain and predict them, to make sure that our vegetations models are based on sound information”, he summarizes. On the long run, the work of Prof Prentice will help encourage the general adoption of more reliable models for the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and how ecosystem processes influence the carbon cycle and climate. “With better models will come a new-found ability of science to deliver actionable information on climate-change adaptation in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.” His research, he says, is all about the consolidation of knowledge. And data, now widely available, is the key ingredient. “What was impossible 20 years ago, now is, because of the availability of all kinds of precise measurements, at scales ranging from the single leaf to the whole globe”. The need for reliable information, based on fundamental research on the consequences of climate change, is growing as an urgent, practical matter. By responding to this demand with evidence-based, basic science, the AXA Chair in Biosphere and Climate Impacts has played a central role in initiating a slow, but sure change in plant functional ecology and land ecosystem modelling. The international consortium Prof. Colin Prentice helped set up during his tenure – comprising members from UC Berkeley, Texas Tech, Reading University, ETH Zurich and Tsinghua University –, by perpetuating effort to develop “next-gen” vegetation models, is spearheading a new paradigm shift in Earth system modelling. More information about the subject Simplicity Yields More Powerful Predictions for the Biosphere Biodiversity at Risk : Preserving the Natural World for our Future

### Plastic Waste Upcycling by Carbon Dioxide Valorization

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/plastic-waste-upcycling-by-carbon-dioxide-valorization
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Olivier COULEMBIER

Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and polystyrene are well-known materials that are part of the plastics category, which became in vogue and ubiquitous in less than 60 years. For many years, they have been considered a treasure thanks to the benefits they provide. However, they also have proven to be a major challenge after their use. Globally, around 250 million metric tons of plastic waste are generated each year, and only around 30 percent of this plastic is recycled, the non-recycled part ending up in landfill or in oceans. Furthermore, the production and consumption of those plastics rely mostly on the use of large quantities of fossil fuels – especially single-use plastics. Those plastics have a global impact on human and environmental health, both at the production and recycling stages of their life cycle.  

### Climate-Smart Strategies to Develop Resilience in Artisanal Fisheries of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-smart-strategies-to-develop-resilience-in-artisanal-fisheries-of-mediterranean-marine-protected-areas
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Marina SANZ MARTíN

This research project is one of the selected projects from the Joint Call for Projects by the AXA Research Fund and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) on Coastal Livelihood. Covering more than 70% of the earth's surface, oceans play a key role in sustaining life on the planet and are vital for human well-being. They provide critical ecosystem services, help regulate climate, generate the oxygen we breathe, and store the excess carbon we produce while significantly contributing to the world’s economy. However, oceans are under increasing threat from climate change, as evidenced by variations in temperature, acidification, and sea level rise, all of which are strongly affecting marine ecosystem’s health and putting at risk the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities depending on fisheries and other marine services. 

### Strengthening Coastal Communities’ Resilience Through Better Forecasting and Projecting Compound Flood Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/strengthening-coastal-communities-resilience-through-better-forecasting-and-projecting-compound-flood-risk
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Andrea FICCHì

This research project is one of the selected projects from the Joint Call for Projects by the AXA Research Fund and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) on Coastal Livelihood. Climate change is accelerating sea-level rise and making coastal flooding more severe and destructive. Compound riverine and coastal flooding endanger the lives of millions of people in coastal areas by washing away their habitats, destroying their livelihoods, and damaging the infrastructures. Economic damages from global coastal floods and storm surge currently range between US$10bn and US$40bn a year. In the absence of solid adaptation measures, they are expected to rise to US$2 trillion annually by 2050.

### Mitigating Tsunamis’ Threats and Destructive Impacts Through Enhanced Navigation Satellite System

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/mitigating-tsunamis-threats-and-destructive-impacts-through-enhanced-navigation-satellite-system
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Michela RAVANELLI

Expected start date: Autumn 2023 This research project is one of the selected projects from the Joint Call for Projects by the AXA Research Fund and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) on Coastal Livelihood.

### Integrating Aquaculture and Capture Fisheries to Combat Hunger in Sierra Leone and Other Parts of Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/integrating-aquaculture-and-capture-fisheries-to-combat-hunger-in-sierra-leone-and-other-parts-of-africa
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Nwamaka OKEKE OGBUAFOR

This research project is one of the selected projects from the Joint Call for Projects by the AXA Research Fund and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) on Coastal Livelihood. As the world’s population grows, more than one in every seven people suffers from chronic hunger and lack food to stay healthy. [1] Hunger and poverty are more severe in coastal areas of many African and Small Island Developing Countries [2] , where climate change continues to impact on already fragile livelihoods. Sierra Leone is home to some of the poorest people on the planet. Approximately 60% of its seven million people live on less than $2 per day, [3] and 31% of its children are malnourished. [4] Three-quarters of Sierra Leone’s population is dependent on fish for food, putting a strain on wild fish stocks, which are diminishing due to climate change. Marine aquaculture could help supplement capture fisheries, improve food security, nutrition, and provide reliable sources of income. Integrating marine capture fisheries and aquaculture is crucial.

### Transboundary Governance for Climate Change Adaptation in Marine Socio-Ecological Systems

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/transboundary-governance-for-climate-change-adaptation-in-marine-socio-ecological-systems
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Emmanuel MBARU

This research project is one of the selected projects from the Joint Call for Projects by the AXA Research Fund and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) on Coastal Livelihood. As the world's largest carbon sinks, oceans are our greatest allies against climate change. Yet they are under increasing pressure, getting warmer, more acidic, and deoxygenated. This reality has led to changes in oceanic circulation, rising sea levels, enhanced storm intensity, and changes in the diversity and abundance of marine species. [1] We are observing a significant decline in marine fish stock, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Coastal communities whose livelihood and economy mainly rely on marine fisheries are facing a severe threat, and coastal and marine ecosystems’ resilience is strongly undermined.

### Women’s Livelihoods in Vulnerable Coastlines

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/womens-livelihoods-in-vulnerable-coastlines
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Megnaa MEHTTA

Expected start date: Spring 2023 This research project is one of the selected projects from the Joint Call for Projects by the AXA Research Fund and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) on Coastal Livelihood.

### Mangrove Community Forestry for Resilient Coastal Livelihoods

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/mangrove-community-forestry-for-resilient-coastal-livelihoods
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Valerie HAGGER

Expected start date: January 2023 This research project is one of the selected projects from the Joint Call for Projects by the AXA Research Fund and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) on Coastal Livelihood.

### Earthquake and Typhoon Vulnerability Analyses of Buildings in Asia-Pacific

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/earthquake-and-typhoon-vulnerability-analyses-of-buildings-in-asia-pacific
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Su KAI LEUNG RAY

As an insurer with a strong presence in Asia, AXA is looking to integrate a vulnerability module (including water level and wind speed) in its internal natural catastrophes models in order to be able to accurately measure hazard intensity and assess economic losses to insured buildings, to build fragility curves and be able to better price risk. To do this, and considering the current lack of research available for Hong-Kong and the Philippines, two key Asian countries for the AXA Group, a joint research project was developed between a team of academics led by Professor Ray Kai Leung SU from University of Hong-Kong (UHK) and two AXA Group Risk Management (GRM) experts, Mathis Joffrain and Amanda Johan, respectively based in Paris and Hong-Kong.

### The Role of Predestined Social Backgrounds in Measuring Well-being in India

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-role-of-predestined-social-backgrounds-in-measuring-well-being-in-india
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Tista KUNDU

Watch Dr. Tista Kundu pitch her research project in 3 minutes

### Towards a Sustainable Return to Work after Burnout or Depression

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/towards-a-sustainable-return-to-work-after-burnout-or-depression
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Lode GODDERIS

AXA Belgium & KU Leuven join forces to help sustain return to work after a depression or burnout episode Every year the number of sick-listed employees rises. Common mental disorders, like depression or burnout, are among the most frequent reasons for long-term absence for sickness. In Belgium, approximately 5% of the total workforce population (people aged 15 to 64) is in invalidity – defined as a period of sickness-related absence that lasts for one year or longer. In 2017, 36% of the total number of people in invalidity were absent from work due to mental or behavioral disorders , reaching 136,343 patients, versus 104,291 patients in 2013.

### New Probabilistic Assessment of Seismic Hazard, Losses and Risks in Strong Seismic Prone Regions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/new-probabilistic-assessment-of-seismic-hazard-losses-and-risks-in-strong-seismic-prone-regions
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Philippe GUEGUEN

A Joint Research Initiative with AXA Group Risk Management Team. Earthquakes are one of the most critical natural hazards. They can cause considerable economic and social losses and represent a regular and serious threat to communities at risk.

### Modeling the multi-hazard vulnerability of structures to tropical cyclones

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/modeling-the-multi-hazard-vulnerability-of-structures-to-tropical-cyclones
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Matthew MASON

Each year, tropical cyclones cause approximately 10,000 deaths and billions of dollars of damage to buildings and infrastructure1. Since the development of natural disaster loss models in the late 20th century, engineering researchers, actuaries, and insurance or disaster risk assessment experts have sought to develop statistical models to quantify the vulnerability of structures and communities to these events. Their multi-hazard nature makes them a complex challenge, especially when it comes to structures in coastal areas, where large storm surges or river flooding can significantly increase damage. Of the many climate hazard vulnerability models that exist for buildings, few take into account the interrelated or correlated stresses and resulting damage of tropical cyclones. As a result, estimates of damage and loss from these events are often inaccurate. In addition to this difficulty, the scope of these models is limited to residential housing in the United States, and is not applicable to other structures.

### Regenerating places through inclusive and sustainable economies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/regenerating-places-through-inclusive-and-sustainable-economies
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Maria Lucia VILLELA GARCIA

Watch Dr. Malu Villela Garcia pitch her project in 3 minutes

### Centering Equity and Environmental Justice in the Context of Climate Adaptation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/centering-equity-and-environmental-justice-in-the-context-of-climate-adaptation
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Christian BRANEON

Dr. Christian V. Braneon is a climate scientist and civil engineer who serves as a visiting professor at Barnard College and co-leads the Environmental Justice and Climate Just Cities Network at The Earth Institute. His career spans water resources engineering, remote sensing at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), and data science. Dr. Braneon serves as Chief Technology Officer at Hummingbird Firm, a company that provides community engagement, training, and climate action planning services. He has been selected as one of four recipients of an AXA Award for Climate Science. Get to know more about his career journey, his projects, and how his research and professional practice centers equity and promotes environmental justice.

### Understanding the Financial Lives of Low Income Households in China

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/understanding-the-financial-lives-of-low-income-households-in-china
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Xiugen MO

A Joint Research Initiative between the AXA Research Fund, AXA Emerging Customers and the Chinese Academy of Financial Inclusion at Renmin University of China Watch the video and read the presentation of the project below

### Responding to Climate Change while Advancing Social Justice and Reducing Inequality in Urban Areas

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/responding-to-climate-change-while-advancing-social-justice-and-reducing-inequality-in-urban-areas
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Vanesa CASTAN BROTO

Vanesa Castán Broto is Professor of Climate Urbanism at the Urban Institute, University of Sheffield. She has been selected as one of four recipients of an AXA Award for Climate Science for her research on the link between climate action and inequality. Get to know more about her work, projects and aspirations, and how she supports the social impacts of actions designed to mitigate or adapt to climate change .  

### Reducing Climate Variability Uncertainties to Improve Climate Adaptation Strategies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/reducing-climate-variability-uncertainties-to-improve-climate-adaptation-strategies
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Markus DONAT

Dr. Markus Donat is a climate scientist whose research at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center focuses on understanding climate extremes in the context of climate variability and climate change. He has been selected as one of four recipients of an AXA Award for Climate Science. Discover how his research can help support climate adaptation plans for decades to come.

### Investigating Past Abrupt Climate Changes to Understand Causes and Assess Future Predictability

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/investigating-past-abrupt-climate-changes-to-understand-causes-and-assess-future-predictability
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Emilie CAPRON

Dr. Emilie Capron is a research scientist in paleoclimatology at the Institute of Environmental Geosciences, University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD and Grenoble-INP in France, and an Honorary Research affiliate of the British Antarctic Survey. Her work focuses on studying polar ice cores to reconstruct past climate variations over the last 150,000 years, improving our understanding of their causes and global impacts on the Earth System. Dr Capron has been selected as one of the four recipients of the AXA Awards for Climate Science. Discover her career journey, her aspirations, and how her research in paleoclimatology will impact the assessment of the predictability of future abrupt climate changes with global impacts.

### AXA Chair on Molecular Information and Communication Technologies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/axa-chair-on-molecular-information-and-communication-technologies
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Özgur B. AKAN

Nanotechnology is enabling us to devise ever-smaller devices to interact with the universe at molecular resolution with devices small enough to penetrate cells.  Enabling communication among nanomachines could unleash the full potential of nanotechnology, paving the way for more complex applications, such as continuous health monitoring with intrabody nano-sensor networks.

### AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-chair-in-wildfires-and-climate
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Apostolos VOULGARAKIS

Watch the presentation of the Chair in a small video and read for more below.

### Examining the Relationship Between Syndemics and Societal Change in South Africa

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/Examining-the-Relationship-Between-Syndemics-and-Societal-Change-in-South-Africa
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Lara DUGAS

Low- and middle-income countries, particularly those experiencing rapid demographic shifts, are vulnerable to co-occurring pandemics, also known as syndemics, whether they are caused by infectious and/or non-communicable diseases. For example, in South Africa, 20% of adults are living with HIV, while at the same time, rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension are on the rise due to changing lifestyles, socio-demographics, access to healthcare, and public policies. Prof. Lara Dugas, AXA Chair in Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, has over 10 years of experience exploring non-communicable disease risk in Africa-origin populations in epidemiologic transition, with a focus on caridometabolic disease risk and the role of the gut microbiota. With her research team, Prof. Dugas will study the intersection of these phenomena in black South African adults living with HIV, as well as their gut microbiomes. Her aim is to determine whether the colliding infectious HIV epidemic alters non-communicable disease risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes. The program’s outcomes will drive public health policy in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, to populations experiencing similar economic transition, syndemics, and urbanization. Ultimately, Prof. Dugas’s goal is to contribute to better health for all through a more complete understanding of the interactions between these societal and disease conditions.

### Use and Value of Unusual Data in Actuarial Science

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/use-and-value-of-unusual-data-in-actuarial-science
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Arthur CHARPENTIER

Insurers sometimes lack information at the time of claim submission, such as the structure of a building, the presence of health risks common to a group of people, or the spatial diffusion of a pandemic. Unusual data, such as satellite images, personal network connections, and tweets can be used to populate this information gap. In this joint research initiative, Professor Arthur Charpentier will use images, network data, and texts for risk analysis from an actuarial perspective. Specifically, the project will explore how using unusual data can contribute to smoother claims assessment and reduced data quality risk, allowing for better risk selection and pricing. The project will look at three types of unusual data: pictures/satellite images, network data, and text data.

### Climate Change, Trade and Inequalities in the Economic Growth Between Regions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/climate-change-trade-and-inequalities-in-the-economic-growth-between-regions
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Emilia LAMONACA

Watch Dr. Emilia Lamonanca pitch her research project in 3 minutes

### The Digitalisation of Money and Its Impact on Social Cohesion, Inclusion, and Public Trust in Institutions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-digitalisation-of-money-and-its-impact-on-social-cohesion-inclusion-and-public-trust-in-institutions
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Tristan DISSAUX

Monetary infrastructures and payment systems play a key role in sustaining growth: not only do they allow for smooth exchanges, but they, more importantly, enable us to enter into socio-economic relations. The improvement of these infrastructures over the last century – particularly since the 1990s – has led to significant efficiency gains in which digitalized money has become the general means of payment for daily transactions, while material forms of money, such as cash, have been partly phased out. This process of digitalization is not without societal implications: it has generated new forms of inequality and social exclusion in addition to threatening institutional confidence and social trust. Not having access to all of the available means of payment – for example, digital – can prevent someone from obtaining certain goods and services or from participating in certain socio-economic activities. As payment habits change, new standards are created, and those who are unable to comply with these new standards find themselves excluded. In a general sense, the digitalization of money could lead to a divergence between the "financially fluent", who will benefit from the proliferation of payment tools, and the “financially excluded”, who will find themselves even more on the margins. This could deepen already existing social fractures and ultimately raise questions about the role of policy interventions in safeguarding access to different forms of money and financial services. Beyond its relationship to individuals, money is fundamentally a social institution: it is a shared reference conveying a set of common values. Changes in money, whether technological or not, therefore impact the relationships between individuals and society at large. Today, technological evolutions have the potential not only to disrupt traditional financial actors but also to reduce the role of States themselves, bringing questions around social cohesion and citizenship to the forefront. It is not yet known if new forms of money can better address the needs of the general public and, in particular, of the most vulnerable, while also preserving the public good nature of money.

### AXA Chair for a Successful Energy Transition

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-chair-for-a-successful-energy-transition
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Katheline SCHUBERT, Fanny HENRIET, Mouez FODHA

Without a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, we will experience a very significant increase in the Earth’s average temperature, which will entail considerable risks. These risks include the economic costs resulting from the damages that will gradually surface with the rise in temperatures and the increased severity and frequency of extreme weather events related to climate change. These costs can lead to very significant physical and financial losses. Moreover, they may result in population displacement, which may lead to social conflict. This emergency requires major structural changes with a preliminary transition phase that not only involves rethinking our energy choices, but also our current institutional, financial, budgetary, and political structures. The obstacles to a rapid transition are massive.

### Towards More Secure and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Urban Informal Economy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/towards-more-secure-and-sustainable-livelihoods-in-the-urban-informal-economy
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Philip O'DONNELL

Watch Dr. Philip O Donnell pitch his project in 3 minutes

### Public Policies for Tackling Educational and Intergenerational Inequality

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/public-policies-for-tackling-educational-and-intergenerational-inequality
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ursula MATTIOLI MELLO

Watch Dr. Ursula Mello pitch her research project in 3 minutes

### Assessing the Impacts of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) On Human Health Using Cutting-Edge Methods

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/assessing-the-impacts-of-endocrine-disrupting-chemicals-edcs-on-human-health-using-cutting-edge-methods
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Luke GOVERS

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous in our everyday environment from food and beverage consumption, to garments, cosmetics, and maintenance products. It has now become clear that these substances are responsible for major public health issues, including infertility, hormone-related cancers, diabetes, and obesity. EDCs exposures during pregnancy can profoundly affect the developing fetus, causing differences in sexual development (DSDs). These DSDs involve reduced male fertility and hypospadias, a malformation of the penis that is the most common persistent congenital disability, affecting 1 in every 125 live male births. Hypospadias is commonly associated with significant medical complications later in life. Understanding how EDCs induce this condition is crucial given the growing incidence of the disease, 1% per annum across developed countries, attributed to an increasing spread of EDCs within the population. Existing assessment methodologies often lack accuracy and do not cover subtle abnormalities such as hypospadias.

### Using New Data Sources to Better Manage Substances of Concern (Soc)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/using-new-data-sources-to-better-manage-substances-of-concern-soc
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Oona FREUDENTHAL

Chemicals lie in everything from clothing to cleaning supplies surrounding us. However, while some might be harmless, others strongly impact human health and the environment, such as plasticizers and Bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous chemical in several products, including food containers and hygiene products. These chemicals are considered substances of concern (SoC), referring to substances with inherently hazardous properties such as carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or reproductivity toxicity. To control the presence of SoC, EU public authorities have implemented regulatory measures, leading to their decline of presence in the environment. However, it is still unclear to what extent those substances can impact our health and the planet.

### Understanding Human Exposure to Contaminants of Emerging Concern Through New Biomarkers

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/understanding-human-exposure-to-contaminants-of-emerging-concern-through-new-biomarkers
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Chang HE

Every year, ten million new substances are developed and introduced to the market, exposing humans to an ever-expanding range of chemicals with unknown long-term impacts on their health. These chemicals, which include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and so on, can be regarded as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) based on their toxicity and impact on health or the environment. Chemical pollutants are responsible for at least 10% of all human deaths and diseases, according to the World Health Organization [1] . However, due to the difficulty of quantifying and assessing the effects of chemicals on the human body, this figure is likely to be underestimated. 

### Overcoming the Ecotoxicological Impact of Perovskite Photovoltaic Technologies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/overcoming-the-ecotoxicological-impact-of-perovskite-photovoltaic-technologies
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Meng LI

Solution-processed perovskite solar cells (i.e., the electronic components with a specific crystal structure) have emerged as one of the most promising next-generation photovoltaic technologies and the fastest-growing technology in the history of photovoltaics. More and more industries are embracing these promising technologies that can be used in several fields, such as developing energy solutions for spacecraft and satellites, building power stations, and manufacturing sensor power. This class of photovoltaic technology differs from conventional photovoltaics as they are typically lightweight, flexible, versatile, and inexpensive, with exceptional compatibility with low capital expenditure, high throughput manufacturing, and remarkably quick energy payback (e.g., months instead of years). Extensive research and industrial efforts have been dedicated to developing photovoltaic technologies, resulting in rapid advances in their performance, already rivaling their conventional counterparts such as crystalline silicon. Such efficiency improvement has allowed us to target new niche markets, such as building-integrated applications for the Internet of Things.

### Assessing the Respiratory Health of Manual Sorters in Plastic Material Recycling Facilities

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/assessing-the-respiratory-health-of-manual-sorters-in-plastic-material-recycling-facilities
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Joseph LEVERMORE

Plastic consumption is expected to rise to 5590 tons by 2050, increasing plastic waste and public exposure to airborne microplastics. The health consequences of airborne microplastic exposure are currently unknown. Individuals working in plastic-specific Material Recycling Facilities (pMRFs) are at high risk. Waste separation in pMRFs in the United Kingdom is not yet fully automated, requiring manual labor.  Material recycling facilities are environments where multi-domain exposures occur, from bioaerosols to volatile organic compounds to ambient particulate matter. PMRFs workers are formally required to wear masks; however, only a few comply due to a lack of risk awareness and their physically strenuous work making mask-wearing inconvenient.

### The Unnatural ‘Natural’: Assessing the Transport and Chemical Pollution Risk of Natural Textile Fibres

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/the-unnatural-natural-assessing-the-transport-and-chemical-pollution-risk-of-natural-textile-fibres
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Thomas STANTON

Plastic textile fibers, such as polyester and nylon, are one of the most common types of microplastic pollution in the textile industry and are known vectors of chemical pollution. Natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, are frequently perceived and marketed as a greener substitute for their plastic analogs. However, their "natural" label diverts the consumer's attention away from the extensive chemical modification they undergo for textile use, such as bleaching, dyeing, and adding antimicrobial properties. Additionally, natural fibers have also been found to persist in aquatic environments for decades to centuries.  Like plastic fibers, natural fibers can entangle in and block gastrointestinal tracts, potentially exposing organisms to bound chemicals for extended periods.

### Harmless and Eco-Friendly Solution as an Alternative to Replace Synthetic Agrochemicals

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/harmless-and-eco-friendly-solution-as-an-alternative-to-replace-synthetic-agrochemicals
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Johan RODRIGUEZ MELO

Dr. Rodriguez Melo: “Imagine that by finding the weakness of specific pathogens for specific plant species, we can design a “vaccine” for every pathogen. Now, imagine that the “vaccine” is not dangerous for the environment or human health. That’s what our project wants to reach!”

### Better Identifying and Mitigating Microplastics’ Threats to Preserve Ecosystems and Protect Human Health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/better-identifying-and-mitigating-microplastics-threats-to-preserve-ecosystems-and-protect-human-health
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Saija SAARNI

Although plastic is proven to be toxic and harmful to both the planet and human health, its production is reaching record levels. Plastic production and consumption generate a significant amount of hazardous waste and particles. These substances most of the time end up in nature, thereby impacting not only our ecosystems, including marine and terrestrial biodiversity but also our health through their presence in the air.

### Investigating the Impact of Glyphosate on Health: The Role of Gut Microbiota

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/investigating-the-impact-of-glyphosate-on-health-the-role-of-gut-microbiota
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lauris EVARISTE

Despite its widespread use in agriculture and farming, glyphosate is undoubtedly the most controversial herbicide. Over the last few years, human exposure to glyphosate has significantly increased, which raises a concern about potential adverse effects on health. A recent study on mice demonstrated that glyphosate-exposed mice present a significant dysbiosis, defined as an alteration of the gut microbiota composition. Exposure to contaminants could lead to the loss of beneficial microbiota, resulting in a physiological imbalance and the development of long-term metabolic diseases such as Type II Diabetes or fatty liver disease. However, the metabolic consequences of the glyphosate-induced microbiota imbalance are still unknown.

### Yes I Can: A Trial of Immersive Virtual Reality to Treat Social Avoidance

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/yes-i-can-a-trial-of-immersive-virtual-reality-to-treat-social-avoidance
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Winnie MAK

OUTCOME REPORT SUMMARY Waiting times to see a psychologist in Hong Kong’s public health system are long, and private consultations are expensive. New work from a joint initiative between the Chinese University of Hong Kong, AXA Hong Kong, and Oxford VR, supported by the AXA Research Fund, has revealed that virtual reality (VR) therapy could overcome this accessibility issue while also alleviating social avoidance, depression, and anxiety. Prof. Winnie Mak from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dr. Amy Chan, and AXA Hong Kong’s Dr. Yi Mien Koh report on their Yes I Can randomized control trial in people with social avoidance. As well as reducing the stigma of mental health issues in Asia, this work shows that autonomous self-treatment in the novel and fun setting of a VR headset could be an effective standalone intervention for people with social avoidance. Technology and mental health Prior to the Yes I Can trial, Prof. Mak’s Diversity & Well-Being Laboratory had already shown that online mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioral interventions and apps can reduce depression and anxiety symptoms and elevate well-being. VR tools have also already been used to treat people with schizophrenia in work led by Professor Daniel Freedman of Oxford VR . Inspired by his pioneering work, Prof. Koh formed a joint research initiative with Oxford VR and Prof. Mak, supported by the AXA Research Fund, to bring this commercialized technology to Hong Kong. Their Yes I Can trial investigated how VR can be used to help people feel safer and more confident in social situations. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) results The Yes I Can trial included 273 socially avoidant participants who were allocated to a VR therapy group or waitlist control group. Interventions comprised three VR sessions of 45 minutes each, during which users confronted virtual scenarios that would typically cause them anxiety, such as a shop, café, and medical clinic. The VR therapy group showed a clear and persistent reduction in social avoidance, and had less social anxiety, depression, and fear of negative evaluation after the program. The waitlist control group remained socially avoidant, anxious, and depressed. Localizing VR scenarios For VR therapy to be successful, it needs to resonate with the user—one challenge of the Yes I Can trial was ensuring that the scenarios were culturally relevant. Dr. Chan was heavily involved in localizing Oxford VR’s program to make it seem more like Hong Kong, one of the busiest places in the world. She found ways to simulate hordes of people without crashing the system, such as including more noise and more clutter, making avatars appear more Asian, and, as a finer detail, using the city’s trash can colors. De-stigmatizing mental health issues The stigma of mental health issues is ever-present in Asia, and VR might go some way to overcome this. The Yes I Can trial attracted more male participants than usually seen in psychology studies—around a third of participants were men, versus the usual 25%. Its association with gaming, as well as being lighthearted and unconnected with serious, face-to-face talk therapy, means that VR could help normalize the conversation on mental health. A hybrid future? As with telehealth services and online interventions, VR technology could become a recognized tool to relieve common mental health issues. VR therapy is inexpensive, convenient, and effective, and so could be complement existing in-person services in an optimized “hybrid” model of healthcare to improve treatment access, not only in Hong Kong but worldwide.  August 2022

### Indicators for Climate Resilient City Planning

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/indicators-for-climate-resilient-city-planning
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Melanie LOWE

This research project is one of the 8 projects selected following the call for proposals on Health Impact of Climate Change.

### Future-Ready Care Homes: Reducing Indoor Heat Stress While Achieving Net Zero

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/future-ready-care-homes-reducing-indoor-heat-stress-while-achieving-net-zero
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Choo YOON YI

This research project is one of the 8 projects selected following the call for proposals on Health Impact of Climate Change.

### Insight in Dust Fine-Mode to Mitigate Health Hazards in a Changing Climate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/insight-in-dust-fine-mode-to-mitigate-health-hazards-in-a-changing-climate
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Emmanouil PROESTAKIS

This research project is one of the 8 projects selected following the call for proposals on Health Impact of Climate Change.

### Tick and Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk in a Changing Climate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/tick-and-mosquito-borne-disease-risk-in-a-changing-climate
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Tove HOFFMAN

This research project is one of the 8 projects selected following the call for proposals on Health Impact of Climate Change.

### Reducing the Impact of Climate-Induced Contamination of Water & Food on Human Health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/reducing-the-impact-of-climate-induced-contamination-of-water-food-on-human-health
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Beatrice CANTONI

This research project is one of the 8 projects selected following the call for proposals on Health Impact of Climate Change.

### Air Pollution Health Impacts in a Warming World

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/air-pollution-health-impacts-in-a-warming-world
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Lareb DEAN

This research project is one of the 8 projects selected following the call for proposals on Health Impact of Climate Change.

### Climate Cares: Building Youth Resilience by Understanding and Intervening on the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Awareness

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-cares-building-youth-resilience-by-understanding-and-intervening-on-the-mental-health-impacts-of-climate-awareness
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Emma LAWRANCE

This research project is one of the 8 projects selected following the call for proposals on Health Impact of Climate Change.

### How Will Climate Change Affect Bird-Spread Diseases

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/how-will-climate-change-affect-bird-spread-diseases
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Tamara SZENTIVANYI

This research project is one of the 8 projects selected following the call for proposals on Health Impact of Climate Change.

### AXA Chair on Water Quality and Global Change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-chair-on-water-quality-global-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Ann Van GRIENSVEN

Long-term climate change, extreme events, and seasonal variations in weather have profound impacts on water quality of rivers, lakes, and reservoir, which in turns threatens the environment, ecosystem services, economies (drinking water production, fisheries..) and global health.

### test

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/test
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Heini WERNLI

test simple content

### Understanding Menopause's Effect on Women's Cardiovascular Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/understanding-menopauses-effect-on-womens-cardiovascular-risk
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Inés PINEDA-TORRA

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality for women worldwide, yet women remain understudied. Atherosclerosis, the main pathology underlying ischemic CVD, results from abnormal blood lipids and exacerbated inflammation. Lipid profiles change substantially in women with menopause and immune responses, key in initiating and progressing atherosclerosis, vary between sexes. This research aims to understand how menopause and associated hormonal and lipidic changes affect cardiovascular risk in women. The project, hosted by the University of Seville and led by Prof. Inés Pineda Torra at CABIMER, will combine multiomic hypothesis-generating and focused hypothesis-driven analyses to gain detailed mechanistic insights. Multiomic hypothesis-generating refers to the use of multiple types of high throughput biological data to generate new hypotheses. This includes transcriptomics, which is the study of an organism's entire gene expression makeup, proteomics, which is the study of the entire set of proteins expressed by a genome, and metabolomics, which is the study of the chemical processes involving metabolites. Focused hypothesis-driven refers to testing specific hypotheses through targeted experiments.   The research will use human immune cells from pre- and menopausal women, as well as young and aged female mouse models, to address key questions about cardiovascular risk in menopause.  The goal is to enable strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease, personalizing health, improving patient stratification for clinical trials, and identifying new targets for intervention. The results will be shared widely in scientific outlets and with the general public to raise awareness about the lack of research on Women’s Health and the increased cardiovascular risk women can face upon menopause.

### Green-Hydrogen from Agroindustry Waste

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/green-hydrogen-from-agroindustry-waste
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Aida María DÍEZ SARABIA

Dr. Díez Sarabia's project aims to generate hydrogen as a green and renewable energy source by using agroindustry wastes as raw materials for the synthesis of catalysts for water splitting, promoting a circular economy approach and reducing the environmental impact of waste.

### Space Weather: Probability and Severity of Impacts on Ground

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/space-weather-probability-and-severity-of-impacts-on-ground
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Elisa ROBERT, Mathieu BARTHELEMY

Space weather, the study of the effects of solar activity on both space and ground infrastructure, has brought to light the potential risks posed to technological systems such as power grids, telecommunications, satellites, and space operations. It is estimated that a rare but severe event, akin to the Carrington event, could cost the US alone more than 1000-2000 billion euros. In addition to these extreme events, a range of less severe phenomena related to space weather can still have significant impacts, potentially costing insurers several million euros and causing social disruption. To address these risks, a joint research initiative is being launched between the Grenoble University Space Center, represented by Mathieu Barthelemy and Elisa Robert, and AXA XL's space industry division, represented by Denis Bousquet. This collaborative effort aims to investigate the various risks associated with space weather, assess their likelihood of occurrence (Probability) and their potential impact (Severity) on different types of infrastructure. The research will also consider geolocation as a variable input for Probability/Severity analysis. The project will specifically focus on Ground Induced Current (GIC) risks and seek to evaluate critical risks within this context. It will also delve into the economic and social impacts of these risks, with the goal of producing informative materials and educational tools for relevant stakeholders and the wider society. Ultimately, the research outcomes will provide valuable guidance to the insurance sector for better preparation and response to space weather-related risks.

### Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Basal Ganglia: Underlying Mechanisms

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/Neuropsychiatric-Diseases-and-Basal-Ganglia-Underlying-Mechanisms
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Alban DE KERCHOVE D'EXAERDE, Pierre VANDERHAEGHEN

A central hub in the brain, the basal ganglia governs a diverse array of functions including voluntary movement, procedural memory, habit formation, cognition, and emotion. Comprising a complex network of interconnected subcortical nuclei nestled deep within the brain, these structures play a pivotal role in orchestrating neural signals critical for these processes. Notably, they are implicated in a myriad of disorders including drug addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease, collectively affecting 174 million Europeans at a staggering cost of 427 billion euros (1). Our research endeavors are dedicated to unraveling the genetic and the circuits underlying these debilitating diseases. Leveraging preclinical models, we meticulously dissect the physiology and dysfunctions of implicated pathways. Through the utilization of transgenic models, gene manipulation techniques, behavioral assays, and cutting-edge methodologies such as optogenetics (a technique that allows genetically targeted populations of neurons to be manipulated by light on a millisecond scale), in vivo calcium imaging, and electrophysiology, we have delineated the contributions of specific genes in addiction, ASD, and motor control, while uncovering novel neuronal populations and their encoding properties. Presently, our pursuits are twofold: firstly, to elucidate a novel mechanism identified in addiction, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in a disease that claims more lives than all cancers combined; and secondly, to elucidate the roles of a newfound neuronal cohort within the basal ganglia orchestrating complex behaviors, thereby enhancing our comprehension of the circuitry underpinning aforementioned behaviors and their dysregulation. The AXA Chair in Neurosciences & Longevity at Université Libre de Bruxelles was previously led by Prof. Pierre VANDERHAEGHEN.  (1) Gustavsson, A. et al. (2011) European Neuropsychopharmacology  21, 718-779 The Neurophy Lab Learn more on the Neurophy Lab from Université Libre de Bruxelles and AXA Chair Alban de Kerchove d’Exaerde's research. Read More (new window)

### Understanding Wildfire Risk: A Local-Scale Assessment Framework in Chile

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/understanding-wildfire-risk-a-local-scale-assessment-framework-in-chile
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Marcos RODRIGUES MIMBRERO

Developing a framework for assessing the wildfire risk at local scale

### Navigating Volcanic Risk: Understanding Transitions and Vulnerability

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/navigating-volcanic-risk-understanding-transitions-and-vulnerability
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Jenni BARCLAY, Katharine CASHMAN

While volcanic eruptions are unavoidable, the resulting damages to lives, livelihoods and sustainable paths forward  can be mitigated.. Professor Jenni Barclay's research within the AXA Chair in Volcanology focuses on the reduction of risk and the prevention of disaster in volcanic settings. It emphasizes the dynamic and multi-faceted nature of volcanic risk, which is deeply intertwined with social, political, and cultural landscapes. Prof. Barclay aims to enhance the fundamental physical understanding of volcanic processes and to conduct interdisciplinary research into the core drivers of disaster loss, particularly in marginalized populations. 

### China’s Infrastructure Investment in Africa post Covid-19

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/chinas-infrastructure-investment-in-africa-post-covid-19
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Hong BO, Victor MURINDE

China’s overseas infrastructure investment has undergone a process of adjustment since Covid-19. The fundamental changes relate to infrastructure financing. Prof. Hong Bo specialises in Financial Economics at the School of Finance & Management, SOAS University of London. As the new AXA Chair in Global Finance, she investigates the consequences of ongoing changes in China’s overseas infrastructure investment for African countries. China has reduced its financing of large-scale infrastructure investments in Africa because, since Covid-19, emerging domestic economic problems have become obstacles to China’s economic growth, reducing China’s financial capacity. In addition, following Covid-19, the international community including the US, EU, UK, and other OECD countries, has enhanced regulatory scrutiny of Chinese investment due to national security concerns, leading to stronger public resistance to China’s economic activities in host countries. Geopolitics has become more important than ever in China’s overseas economic operations. Consequently, trade wars and competition for critical resources have resulted in a revamp of global supply chains. In the past few decades, China determined the destination and scale of investments based mainly on diplomatic ties, geopolitical alignment, and political relationships with recipient countries, but negative shocks such as Covid-19 have brought about real consequences when host countries fail to repay China’s infrastructure lending. In response, China needs to strengthen risk management of its overseas infrastructure projects.    What do these changes imply for Africa?      The objective of this project is to empirically investigate the consequences of these changes for African host countries. At the country level, the fundamental issue is what alternative sources of financing there are for African infrastructure if China stops or reduces its large-scale infrastructure investments. What are the economic and social impacts of the decline of Chinese financing on the infrastructure development and economic performance of African countries? At the industry level, the export structure will change in the African natural resources and energy sector. This is because African host countries are now less likely to pay back infrastructure loans by exporting natural resources to China. What are the implications of such changes for the efficiency and green transition of the natural resources and energy sector in Africa? At the firm level, China’s adjustment of its overseas infrastructure operations suggests a trend of localising China’s investment in African countries. The related question is how local African economic participants can benefit from their interactions with Chinese investors. For example, as China switches from building huge physical infrastructure projects to small, soft, and tech-oriented projects, such as AI, digital, green, health, etc., do local economic actors have the absorptive capacity to benefit from interacting with Chinese investors? What can Chinese investors do to facilitate technology transfer and productivity spillovers to African local firms? Evidence-based new insights provided by this research can help African policymakers prepare strategies for capacity building for local economic actors and developing host country governance and institutional frameworks.   The AXA Chair in Global Finance at SOAS University of London was previously led by Prof. Victor Murinde . 

### Exploring Geothermal Energy in Young European Volcanic Areas

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/exploring-geothermal-energy-in-young-european-volcanic-areas
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ekeabino MOMOH

The quest for sustainable and clean energy sources is imperative for our society's future, and geothermal energy holds promise as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Unlike solar and wind-based technologies, geothermal energy can operate continuously and does not pose long-term waste disposal challenges. However, harnessing geothermal energy requires a comprehensive understanding of potential resources and their underlying geological origins.  Dr. Ekeabino Momoh's research project aims to assess the untapped geothermal potential of European volcanic regions with sustained, but slow volcanic output, such as the Massif Central in France and the Eifel in Germany. By unraveling the geological factors influencing these areas, Dr. Momoh seeks to provide valuable insights which could be useful to corporate and public decision-makers evaluating geothermal energy viability and the general public seeking to understand the energy potential of their regions. Historically, volcanic regions, like the Massif Central and the Eifel, are known for their high surface heat flow, often attributed to the presence of magma. However, the assessment of available geothermal resources requires a deeper analysis, considering factors such as the longevity of heat sources and the potential risks associated with volcanic activity.  Leveraging on advanced numerical simulations, this project aims to shed light on the sparse volcanism, large-scale deformational processes, and geothermal resources in the selected European areas.

### How Do Onshore Wind Farms Impact Ecosystems?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/how-do-onshore-wind-farms-impact-ecosystems
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Henry HÄKKINEN

The rapid growth of renewable energy infrastructure plays a crucial role in the transition to green economies worldwide. It already offers significant economic and societal benefits in Europe, and particularly in the UK. In the face of increasing anthropogenic climate change and biodiversity loss, energy sources, such as wind power, are also at the forefront of tackling these challenges. However, the rapid growth of renewable energy infrastructure does not come without risks, not least its potential impacts on biodiversity which can involve large, landscape-scale disturbance. Nevertheless, there are still significant knowledge gaps about the ecosystem-wide impacts of renewable energy production and onshore wind farms in particular. The need for work that both promotes and enhances the co-existence of humans, renewable energy infrastructure and biodiversity is thus vital and urgent to ensuring a Net-Zero future.    Dr. Henry Häkkinen’s project at the Zoological Society of London’s Institute of Zoology will address the need to understand potentially positive, negative and neutral impacts of renewable energy production on biodiversity. As there is currently no landscape-level understanding of how ecological functions are affected by onshore wind farms, Dr . Häkkinen will directly explore these potential impacts. The project will focus specifically on how and why ecosystem functions are affected during and after construction, via the use of satellite remote sensing and field-based data of UK wind farm sites. By looking at windfarms across the UK, Dr. Häkkinen will compare different spatial features to identify key factors that increase or decrease landscape sensitivity to wind farm impacts, including ecological, hydrological and geological features. This approach will enable the generation of evidence-based recommendations to reduce the ecosystem-wide impacts of renewable energy infrastructures on biodiversity.    Although environmental impact assessments and mitigation strategies have become common practice, the lack of research on ecosystem structure and functioning, as opposed to species-level impacts, means there is a severe gap in our understanding, and therefore in national and global renewable strategy. It is critical that the global drive to renewable energy does not compromise key ecosystem services, or negatively impact biodiversity. Dr. Häkkinen’s work promises to support ecosystem functions by providing a clear set of recommendations for all policymakers and contacts within the renewable energy industry, backed up with methodology and results.   The outputs of this project will characterize the major areas of impact and identify key aspects of landscapes and ecosystems that make them particularly sensitive to development, leading to actions that can either prevent or mitigate impact before, during and after construction. This multi-scale approach will provide a much-needed overview of the positive, negative and neutral effects of wind farms on ecosystems in the UK and will be used to create an evidence base to inform future planning and mitigation measures on a global scale. 

### New Lease of Life for Critical Elements Recycled from Domestic and Commercial Electronic Waste

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/new-lease-of-life-for-critical-elements-recycled-from-domestic-and-commercial-electronic-waste
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Haytham HUSSEIN

With the rapid advancement of technology and the increasing reliance on devices such as batteries, fuel cells, smartphones, and solar cells, our societies are facing a critical issue-an unprecedented rise in electronic waste. Less than 1% of rare earth elements and only 5% of precious metals are recycled from this waste, leading to significant environmental harm and supply chain strain. Thus, the need for effective and sustainable recycling methods is imperative. The disposal of these devices is exacerbating issues related to resource depletion and waste management.

### How Agrivoltaics Can Meet the Net-Zero Policy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/how-agrivoltaics-can-meet-the-net-zero-policy
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Chloé DINDAULT

Out of the various sources of renewable energy, solar photovoltaics (PV), stand as a very strong contender for the generation of low carbon footprint electricity on a large scale using solar power. There have been challenges with adopting PV on a wide scale, one of them being the extensive use of space necessary which competes with agricultural production. The concept of implementing solar panels on top of grazing crops, which was later coined under the term of “agrivoltaics”, represents a very elegant, but until now only scarcely researched solution to this issue of land competition, which simultaneously allows for both the harnessing of solar power and the use of agricultural land via a shared area.  

### Creating Sustainable, Powerful Magnets to Generate Renewable Energy Using 3D printing Technology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/creating-sustainable-powerful-magnets-to-generate-renewable-energy-using-3d-printing-technology
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Hansheng CHEN

The world is experiencing a global electrification revolution that will profoundly change how energy is generated, distributed, and used. A key component of this revolution is the use of permanent magnets, especially in renewable energy technologies like wind turbines and electric vehicles. However, these magnets rely heavily on expensive rare earth elements, which are in high demand and face competition for access. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop high-performance permanent magnets that do not rely on these rare earth elements.

### Towards a Fair Renewable Energy Transition for Indigenous People in Chile

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/towards-a-fair-renewable-energy-transition-for-indigenous-people-in-chile
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Evelyn URIBE

The production of renewable energy and use of alternative resources, such as lithium, is crucial for northern decarbonization strategies. The increasing demand for lithium is driven by its energy storage capacity, light weight and efficient life cycle of lithium batteries. However, this vital resource, along with others, is predominantly located in the Global South, with South America alone containing half of the world’s lithium supply. This geographical distribution leads to serious consequences for environmental justice. Thus, often overshadowing the interests of vulnerable groups, such as Indigenous people, through the unfair exploitation of natural resources and human rights violations.

### Chair in Financial Market Risk by Frederico BELO

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/chair-in-financial-market-risk-by-frederico-belo
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Frederico BELO, Lily FANG

Unveiling the Global Influence of Intangible Assets

### Harnessing the Potential of RNA: Pioneering a Sustainable Path to Climate-Resilient Crops

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/harnessing-the-potential-of-rna-pioneering-a-sustainable-path-to-climate-resilient-crops
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Federico ARIEL

The escalating frequency of heat waves worldwide poses a critical threat to global agricultural productivity. There is an urgent need to enhance crop resilience to environmental stress, particularly in the context of climate change. While genetic diversity is a key factor in long-term adaptation, the role of epigenetic changes remains largely unexplored. Focusing on ribonucleic acids (RNA), which are essential for all biological functions, enables a GMO-free approach to enhance plant resilience, facilitating communication with plants to help them tolerate short-term environmental fluctuations.

### AXA Research Lab on Climate Change, Risk and Justice

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-research-lab-on-climate-change-risk-and-justice
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Gianfranco PELLEGRINO

The AXA Research Lab on Climate Change, Risk and Justice focuses on the ethical, political, and regulatory dimensions of climate risk insurance , particularly in Europe, as a tool for just climate action .

### Trust in the Fediverse: Leveraging Community Protocols and Automation to Combat Online Harms

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/trust-in-the-fediverse-leveraging-community-protocols-and-automation-to-combat-online-harms
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Ashwin NAGAPPA

Online communication has grown rapidly, but effective governance frameworks for such communication is still evolving. Instead of becoming a "democratic utopia," digital communication has seen a sharp rise in online harm, posing threats to social, political, and financial institutions worldwide. A few dominant platforms now control much of online communication and are at the centre of these issues. While various regulations have been introduced to address online harm, achieving global agreement on platform governance and online safety remains a challenge. At the same time, nontraditional actors (developers at grassroot level) have created alternative social media (ASM) platforms to address the shortcomings of mainstream platforms. However, these alternatives often struggle with sustainable business and governance models. Despite these challenges, various communities strive towards sustaining these prosocial alternatives—spaces that amplify marginalized voices and foster discussions often censored or sidelined on mainstream platforms, as well as environments that encourage social bonding over polarization." Recently, decentralized technologies and artificial intelligence have gained attention as tools to create polycentric governance systems, that is, platform content and participation governed by decentralized groups, rather than centralized private entities. Decentralized social networking platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, which have attracted millions of users, aim to balance free speech, trust, and safety. As their network and infrastructure widens, they offer valuable insights into new governance models. Dr Ashwin Nagappa’s postdoctoral research project focuses on identifying the key features of constructive "polycentric governance" models , including network size, content moderation, harm mitigation strategies, and community participation. The project aims to explore the optimal conditions under which these models minimize harm while building social connections. And thereafter,  develop frameworks to understand and address online harm—such as misinformation, hate speech, and polarization—on emerging decentralized social media platforms. The research employs a four-phase methodology: (1) an extensive literature review of academic works, user-generated content, and trade press materials; (2) data collection through surveys, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (e.g., users, moderators, and policy experts), and analysis of user-generated discussions on federated platforms; (3) data analysis using concept mapping, a mixed-methods approach that combines computational tools like Leximancer with manual analysis to identify themes and connections; and (4) dissemination of findings through academic publications, conferences, and a hybrid seminar. By compiling the optimal characteristics of polycentric governance models, the research aims to provide actionable policy guidelines for minimizing online harm on future decentralized platforms. The findings of the study will be disseminated through academic conference presentations and peer reviewed journal publications. At the end of the project a final report will be produced and released through hybrid seminar.  These findings will contribute to scholarly discourse, inform public policy, and guide the development of safer and more trustworthy digital communication systems. Additionally, the project aspires to influence the future design and governance of online platforms, ensuring they are more inclusive, resilient, and capable of addressing complex challenges like misinformation and polarization, creating safer and more trustworthy digital communication spaces. June 2025

### Confronting the Challenges of AI-Generated Misinformation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/confronting-the-challenges-of-ai-generated-misinformation
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Paul MCLLHINEY

Misinformation has emerged as one of the most critical global challenges of the past decade, with far-reaching consequences for democracy, public health, and societal trust. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly the rise of large language models (LLMs), have amplified these concerns. LLMs, while powerful, pose unique risks in the context of misinformation for several reasons. First, their conversational style can make their outputs appear highly trustworthy. Second, their responses often reflect human biases and stereotypes embedded in their training data, and they can even fabricate convincing but false information. Third, malicious actors can exploit LLMs to generate persuasive yet misleading content at scale, further exacerbating the spread of misinformation. Given the destabilizing effects of misinformation, it is crucial to understand the potential impacts of AI-generated content and develop strategies to mitigate its influence. Project Aim and Methods The primary goal of this project is to systematically investigate how the effects of AI-generated misinformation on human cognition can be mitigated through targeted intervention strategies. The research will focus on three key areas: 1. Trust and Decision-Making : The project will explore how people’s trust in AI-generated information can be influenced—either bolstered or reduced—and how this trust impacts their reasoning and decision-making processes. 2. Exposure Training : Both active and passive forms of exposure training will be tested to determine their effectiveness in fostering resilience to misleading AI content. 3. Source Credibility and Social Influence : The research will evaluate interventions that emphasize the credibility of information sources and leverage the influence of social norms to counteract the effects of misinformation. The study will examine both textual and audio-visual AI-generated content, including material on contentious topics, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Expected Impact This project aims to make a significant contribution to addressing the growing threat of AI-generated misinformation. By identifying strategies to reduce trust in misleading content and enhance public resilience, it will provide actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and technology developers. The findings are expected to help safeguard democratic processes, protect public health, and restore trust in information ecosystems shaped by AI. The research will be disseminated through publications, news articles, presentations at international conferences, and online platforms associated with the lab as well as relevant social media such as ResearchGate, LinkedIn, and Twitter. A project-specific website will also be created ( https://www.emc-lab.org/ ) for greater visibility. These efforts aim to ensure the research reaches key stakeholders and the public effectively.

### Addressing Misinformation on Natural Hazards in Social Media (NatHazFake)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/addressing-misinformation-on-natural-hazards-in-social-media-nathazfake
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Damià BENET

Flash floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural hazards often lead to a surge of social media posts that could be used to mitigate their impact. However, there is an ever-increasing amount of misinformation and fake posts in social media that has been the source of alarm and erosion of public trust. For instance, during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, fake images were shared twice as often as real ones, causing widespread chaos. Similarly, during the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, misinformation prompted the Turkish government to block access to social media, hindering communication for those in need. Social media platforms, while valuable for disseminating safety guidelines and real-time updates, are also prone to the rapid spread of deceptive content, which undermines disaster management efforts and public trust. Project Aim, Methods and Deliverables This project aims to address this situation by developing innovative methodologies and practical tools for identifying and managing false content. Using a decade’s worth of verified data from the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), the project will analyze historical social media posts to identify patterns of misinformation. To achieve this, multimodal foundation models will be employed. These multimodal models, built upon the technology behind AI systems such as GPT, can simultaneously analyze text and images . By combining different types of data, they should outperform traditional methods, making misinformation detection faster, more accurate, and more effective at larger scales. The final deliverable will be a user-friendly tool, such as a Google Chrome extension, that integrates fact-checking capabilities into daily web browsing, allowing users to quickly verify the accuracy of social media posts about extreme natural events. Expected Impact The impact of this project could be transformative. By improving the speed and accuracy of misinformation detection, it will help disaster management teams respond more effectively. Communities will be better equipped to identify credible information, reducing panic and confusion during emergencies. Additionally, the project will strengthen public trust in authorities and organizations by ensuring accurate communication during emergencies. The integration of advanced AI technologies and a validated dataset represents a significant innovation in the field of digital misinformation management, moving beyond theoretical research to deliver a tangible, community-focused solution. Ultimately, the project aspires to create a safer and more informed digital environment during extreme natural events.

### OpenCovid19 Initiative

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/opencovid19-initiative
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Thomas LANDRAIN

The OpenCovid19 Initiative, supported by the AXA Research Fund, aims to harness the collective expertise and collaboration of volunteer contributors worldwide to develop open-source solutions to address various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative, led by Just One Giant Lab, has mobilized over 4,000 people from 90 countries, resulting in the launch of more than 120 projects, with 50 still under development. Notable achievements include the development of diagnostic tests, open-source algorithms for medical monitoring, and initiatives to assess the pandemic's impact on human rights and combat the spread of fake news. These efforts contribute to the advancement of understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19, showcasing the power of open and participatory research in addressing global challenges.  The OpenCovid19 Initiative not only fosters rapid and affordable development of solutions but also demonstrates the potential of collaborative, interdisciplinary work in addressing urgent societal needs. The diverse range of projects reflects the initiative's broad impact, from innovative diagnostic tests to tools for monitoring and combating misinformation. By leveraging the collective knowledge and resources of global communities, this initiative contributes to the common good by driving advancements in our understanding and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the initiative not only accelerates the creation of solutions but also exemplifies the positive impact of open and participatory research on society at large. 

### The Potential of Seasonal Forecasting of Flood Frequency for the Insurance Sector

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/the-potential-of-seasonal-forecasting-of-flood-frequency-for-the-insurance-sector
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Bruno MERZ

This Joint Research Project between Prof. Dr. Bruno Merz of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and AXA Group Risk Management aimed to explore the feasibility of providing seasonal forecasts of flood frequency for Europe that are relevant for the insurance industry. The main focus was to investigate the connection between catchment state, climate state, and flood frequency in European regions. The project aimed to determine the extent to which seasonal forecasts of flood frequency are viable from an insurance perspective and to identify the role of catchment state and climate state in forecasting flood frequency. Prof. Dr. Merz was analyzing catchment state and climate state indicators to understand their impact on the distribution of maximum seasonal streamflow and their ability to predict flood frequency for the months ahead. Preliminary conclusions suggested that catchment state indicators, which act as proxies for catchment wetness, may be more effective predictors of flood generation across Europe than climate state indicators.  In 2019, the project involved investigating the variability of catchment or climate state and its effect on the distribution of maximum seasonal streamflow at around 650 stations in Europe. The study found that catchment state indicators appeared to be more effective predictors than climate state indicators, with antecedent precipitation and antecedent streamflow showing strong influence for up to two months ahead of the forecast season. The results also indicated that the immediate preceding season/month provides the best results for flood probability forecasting, with some skill persisting for higher time lags, and further analysis is needed to understand the increased skill for higher time lags. 

### Building Representative Simulations of Winter Windstorms in Europe

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/building-representative-simulations-of-winter-windstorms-in-europe
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Paul MAISEY

The project carried out at the Met Office in the United Kingdom, focused on studying European winter windstorms, which have significant societal and economic impacts. It built upon past and current research efforts that have highlighted the clustering of consecutive storms and their impact on cumulative annual losses. It aimed to improve the understanding of the frequency and intensity of these extreme events by generating a set of stochastic events using state-of-the-art dynamical and statistical methods.  The scientific objectives of the research project included investigating the most appropriate spatial resolution to study windstorms, determining methods for simulating wind gusts from averaged wind speed, and validating and evaluating the stochastic windstorm event set. The project also explored the impact of climate change on windstorm frequency and severity under current climate conditions.  Carried out in collaboration with AXA's Actuarial team, it has helped them to better understand and optimize reinsurance structures and estimate loss probabilities for different return periods. The project aimed to provide a robust understanding of windstorm risks, contributing to enhanced risk management and better preparation for extreme weather events. The outcomes of this research will continue to have a significant impact on society by improving the ability to assess and mitigate the potential damage caused by European winter windstorms, ultimately leading to better protection for communities and businesses against these natural disasters. 

### The Development of Blue Carbon as a Nature-Based Solution (NBS)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/the-development-of-blue-carbon-as-a-nature-based-solution-nbs
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Ana QUEIROS

Following a rigorous  process, the Selection Committee has granted Dr. Ana Queiros, of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the AXA IM Research Award for her research on the development of blue carbon as a Nature-Based Solution (NBS).   Dr. Queiros will be granted €100,000 in recognition of the impact of her work which focusses on ocean management strategies that enhance ecosystems’ abilities to adapt to climate change (“climate-smart” management) and to act as carbon sinks (blue carbon). Recognising the need for society to play a role, her research seeks to generate recommendations for ocean management strategies that protect nature whilst being socially and economically viable. Find out more here: Dr. Ana Queiros wins the 2022 AXA IM Research Award for blue carbon as a Nature-Based Solution | AXA IM Core

### It's a Risky Life

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/its-a-risky-life
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: David RIOS INSUA

It’s a risky life! is a series of short videos which illustrate and divulgate in a fun, yet rigorous, manner key mathematical concepts around risk (risk, insurance, making decisions, uncertainty,…) relevant for everyday activities. This is motivated by the lack of understanding by large audiences of such basic concepts and will focus on their relevance in everyday lives and the need for strategies to deal with them efficiently. The lead presenter of the series is David Rios, AXA-Chair at the ICMAT.

### Advanced Mathematics Applied to Insurance: Risk Control for Long-Maturity Structured Products

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/advanced-mathematics-applied-to-insurance-risk-control-for-long-maturity-structured-products
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Bruno BOUCHARD

In the last decade, insurance companies have widely developed long-maturity structured products to offer more attractive long-term investment supports to their clients. Also known as market-linked products, these pre-packaged investments can be roughly defined as savings or investment products where the return is linked to one or more underlying assets such as stocks and bonds. Risk management for these products is a challenging issue for the financial and insurance industry. Two characteristics in particular render classical approaches ill-adapted: their long-maturity feature and the huge notionals (total value of a trade) in assets involved, — a large notional induces an important market impact. “As a result, risk control for these products yields to questioning the procedures used for standard short-term product with moderate notional”, explains Bruno Bouchard, a professor of Mathematics and Finance at Université Paris Dauphine (France). “For the structured products, the classical linear pricing and hedging rules that are usually used are obsolete for a proper risk management”. In view of this fact, Bruno Bouchard and a team of collaborators, also working at the Probability, Statistics and Modeling Lab (LPSM) of Université de Paris, have undertaken a collaborative project with practitioners from AXA Risk Management aimed to “develop and improve models that can better take into account the major market imperfections” at play with structured products.   “With such products, insurance companies are highly exposed, explains Jean-François Chassagneux. On one hand, their maturity is very long. The product’s lifespan can reach 30 years, and a lot can happen on the market over such long periods. It’s very hard to predict, and therefore to calibrate the model. For short-term products, we would use already matured products as benchmark, but there are no such long-term equivalents. On the other hand, these structured products have been sold to many individuals, so the notional values are huge. There is a lot of money involved”. Because they have an important risk exposure to market factors (especially equity, interest rates and volatility) in the long-term, insurance companies hold huge notional in assets to cover these liabilities and can represent important volumes of specific markets. This fact makes them strongly sensitive to market frictions and changes in market’s parameters. The present JRI aims at taking all the uncertainty into consideration and create mathematical models that can accommodate it. “The math is going to be very complicated, but our goal is to make it as simple as possible”, says Prof. Chassagneux. “Solutions to such models are usually represented via mathematical tools which are highly non-linear. This means that the risk you are taking when you manage a thousand of these products is not at all equivalent to a thousand times the risk you take when you manage one”.   In addition to developing the non-linear mathematical models that will more accurately predict the risks associated with long-maturity structured products, the academic and practitioner teams will also put emphasis on putting them into practice. “We are not just solving the math here, we are also developing numerical methods to accommodate these complicated theories, and to make them applicable in the real world”. In both respect, collaboration between the academic and industry teams will be a major asset, as prof. Bouchard points out: “On the market modeling aspect, the AXA team has a precise knowledge of the current methodologies, the challenging issues as well as the market constraints (like the Solvency 2 rules — a set of regulatory requirements in European law that codifies the insurance regulation). In addition, their experience will permit to identify the major market imperfection factors and the way to quantify them. On the numerical aspect, their implementation experience will help to identify the main difficulties and provide intuition as well as new ideas in order to design efficient numerical algorithms.” Once the development stage is over, AXA Risk Management teams will use the output methodologies and apply them in the context of the Variable Annuity business, a type of long-maturity structured product that pays out a fixed stream of payments to an individual.  “They have access to market data, real VA Liabilities and also historical profit and loss statement associated to the strategies put in place to minimize the risk of adverse movements in the valued of the assets (hedging strategy). This will also be crucial to implement and test the new developed models”.  In essence, the idea behind the present JRI is to build on advanced mathematic methods, namely non-linear models, to solve a very concrete financial issue: that of better managing the risks posed by structured products. The 2008 financial crisis exposed weaknesses in the risk management practices of such highly complex financial investments. By pooling academic and practitioner efforts, the project will undoubtedly make considerable progress towards better risk management of these products. 

### Protecting Artworks from Light: A New Investigative Tool

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/protecting-artworks-from-light-a-new-investigative-tool
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Ph.D
Researchers: Gauthier PATIN

The PhD project aimed to enhance the model for assessing the risk of light exposure on Van Gogh's works, specifically by deepening our understanding of the light fading behavior of these pieces. The innovative aspect of the research lay in the development of an improved micro-fading device, which enabled the team to conduct light sensitivity analyses of colored surfaces. This advancement holds the potential to provide valuable insights into the preservation of Van Gogh's artworks and contribute to the broader field of art conservation.  At this stage, it may be premature to fully assess the impact of the research on the broader field. The first year was dedicated to the development of the micro-fading device and an in-depth study of color change phenomena through extensive literature review. Following the testing and assessment of the device's developments, Gauthier Patin has been able to share his findings with the research community through articles, conference presentations, and networking activities, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of art conservation and light exposure risk assessment. 

### Gecko-inspired Adhesives for the Display & Conservation of Cultural Heritage

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/gecko-inspired-adhesives-for-the-display-conservation-of-cultural-heritage
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jacek OLENDER

The ability of geckos to adhere to surfaces using nano-scale structures on their feet, which rely on van der Waals secondary bonding forces, is a captivating example of nature's intricate mechanisms. The complexity of these tiny structures and their effectiveness in allowing the gecko to navigate almost any surface with ease raises intriguing scientific inquiries. Delving deeper into the specifics of how these nano-scale structures interact with surfaces through van der Waals forces could offer valuable insights into biomimicry and the development of novel adhesive technologies with potential applications across various industries.  Prof. Jacek Olender’s research project aimed to create prototypes of gecko-inspired dry adhesives (GDAs) for short- and mid-term use in museum collections, particularly for transporting and exhibiting artworks. By closely studying the properties of surfaces of objects in museum collections and identifying factors that influence GDA adhesion, the research aimed to adapt the design of GDAs to expand their applicability in the museum context and improve the safety of the objects. This involved consultations with museum staff and the examination of objects from the collection, primarily focusing on ceramics and metallic objects, using various techniques such as microscopy, profilometry, and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF).  Through the course of the research, Prof. Jacek Olender and the team made significant strides in confirming assumptions and making new discoveries about GDAs and their interaction with surface roughness. They identified key factors in overcoming roughness interference with gecko adhesion and have solidified testing methodologies. Additionally, they developed a Finite Element Model (FEM) for the materials studied, which will significantly shorten future research into new designs for GDAs and allow for the incorporation of surface roughness into computer modeling. Furthermore, the team developed a system for small-scale 3D scanning, which was utilized to model 3D-printed sample holders optimized for GDAs.  The wider impact of this research on society is substantial. The confirmed assumptions and new discoveries provide crucial evidence in discussions about the influence of factors such as roughness, surface energy, and electrostatic properties on gecko adhesion. This not only advances the understanding of fundamental scientific principles but also has practical implications. The development of the FEM and the small-scale 3D scanning system will not only benefit future researchers in advancing the design and application of GDAs but also contribute to the potential improvement of adhesive solutions for transporting and exhibiting artworks. This could have significant implications for industries such as heritage conservation, manufacturing, and materials science, potentially leading to advancements in adhesive technology. 

### Understanding the Mechanisms of Weight Loss to Treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/understanding-the-mechanisms-of-weight-loss-to-treat-amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Luc DUPUIS

Prof. Luc Dupuis’ project aims to understand the role of the lateral hypothalamus in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and its associated weight loss. His research objective is to identify the specific neuronal types affected in ALS progression, characterize the connectome of the lateral hypothalamus in relation to disease progression, and determine the functional role of these neuronal types in ALS-related weight loss and motor dysfunction. The research involves using animal models and advanced neuroscience techniques to study the lateral hypothalamus and its major neuronal populations in the context of ALS. The ultimate goal is to gain insights into the mechanisms of weight loss in ALS and develop targeted pharmacological strategies to treat weight loss and potentially extend the lifespan of ALS patients.  The project has made significant progress since its initiation in December 2018. The team has started to systematically characterize the affected cell types in the lateral hypothalamus, both in ALS patients and mouse models, with initial findings showing degeneration of specific neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Additionally, the project hopes to investigate the connectivity anomalies of the lateral hypothalamus and its role in metabolic abnormalities, as well as its impact on the neurological phenotype in ALS. The research involves a comprehensive approach to unravel the complexities of ALS-related weight loss and its connection to the lateral hypothalamus, with the potential for broader implications in understanding weight loss in other neurodegenerative diseases. 

### Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/intergovernmental-panel-on-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects

The AXA Research Fund offered to support the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Scholarship Programme by providing direct funding to the Scholarship Programme Trust Fund.

### 2021 Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/Intergovernmental-platform-on-biodiversity-and-ecosystem-services-ipbes
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects

The AXA Research Fund partnered with the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) to strengthen the scientific community working to improve biodiversity knowledge and inform public policy. The financial contribution to the IPBES Fellowship Programme supported early-career researchers examining the interlinkages between biodiversity, water, food, and health.

### Biodiversity Loss Scenarios Challenge

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/biodiversity-loss-scenarios-challenge
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects

Biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) play a foundational role for the resilience of our societies, economies and quality of life. Nearly one million species face extinction, and ecosystem services are declining. If societies continue current production and consumption patterns, IPBES scientists expect that 30 percent to 50 percent of all species may be lost by the middle of the 21st century. More than half of global GDP moderately or highly depends on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Measuring, tracking, reporting and forecasting expected BES developments is a prerequisite for action. Therefore, granular scenarios should model, both locally and regionally, the expected development of BES-impacting drivers and outcomes. Together with our Swiss Re, Swiss Re Institute, WWF and as a service contributor to Swiss Re, EY, the following five research projects has been awarded : Broadening the scope of future visions for nature positive futures, ETH Zurich, University of Lausanne, Grenoble University, Wyss Academy for Nature The project will build upon a participatory approach already applied for the creation of normative, nature-positive scenarios for future landscape development in Switzerland and expand this to the country of Peru. The scenarios constructed for Peru will be operationalized through simulation modelling exploring their impacts on land use change, biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services within the agriculture and forestry domains. These impacts will be summarized qualitatively in terms of their effect on economic sectors of interest for policy makers and communities. A nature-based solutions framework for managing natural catastrophe risks, IIS Brazil (International Institute for Sustainability) This project will establish a robust decision-making framework for managing natural catastrophe risks using nature-based solutions. The framework strategically maps out alternative scenarios to assess the potential of restoration of degraded lands against baseline and pessimistic scenarios, aligned with the goal of containing global warming within 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels and other global agendas, thus combining both climate adaptation and mitigation. The framework is based on spatial intelligence to guide locally- and regionally-relevant policy and decision-making, offering a structured approach to enhance resilience and sustainability while addressing environmental challenges. Climate Crossroads: Futures for People & Nature in Central Belize, University of Belize Nature underpins society’s health and prosperity, and inspires and connects us to the world around us. Changing climate patterns will alter the state of nature and therefore affect our livelihoods, well-being, and quality of life. Understanding what impacts will occur and where can help in charting strategies for adapting to these changes. Through a participatory process, the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB-ERI) will support local communities and stakeholders in Central Belize to identify how nature’s benefits may change with future climatic changes. This collaborative effort will empower them to start creating new visions and pathways that safeguard their livelihoods and way of life in the face of evolving environmental conditions. This project is in collaboration with the University of Southampton, CATIE, and supported by the Swiss Re Foundation. Biodiversity and ecosystem service scenarios across global mountain, island and delta systems, University of Zurich Current exacerbated changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services from local to global scales may become irreversible without further understanding of the development of the processes that lead to biodiversity and ecosystem service change. This is particularly problematic in regions of the globe already at risk, such as mountains, islands and deltas social-ecological systems, exemplify unique extreme environments where nature and humans have developed strong connections. This project examines the current status and the projected future of biodiversity and ecosystem services in all mountain, island and delta social-ecological systems at the global level, by combining a unique spatial data set of over 20 biodiversity and ecosystem service indicators with trajectories of change in the short term and biodiversity scenarios in the longer term. Understanding risks and opportunities of alternative scenarios for a future friendly to biodiversity and people in Europe, VU Amsterdam The project will develop a series of biodiversity-ecosystem services analyses to better understand the potential implications of climate and land use change in Europe. Specifically, using models of land use change, ecosystem services, and biodiversity, the project will quantify impacts of alternative development paths on biodiversity and people. Such will provide insight in the equality of access to benefits from biodiversity and distribution of risks. The project will focus on plant, butterfly, bird, and mammal species, generating distribution and risk maps while assessing variation of different socioeconomic pathways towards sustainability. Evaluating trade-offs emerging when considering different socioeconomic priorities, different organisms, and access to ecosystem services for people, this project will help envisioning improved biodiversity futures.

### Build Cloud-outage resilience based on the cyberspace Endogenous Security Framework

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/build-cloud-outage-resilience-based-on-the-cyberspace-endogenous-security-framework
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Xian XU

This project is supported under the AXA Research Fund / Swiss Re Institute – Joint Risk Resilience Partnership.

### Vulnerability to Risky Behaviors as Anomalies in Neuro-Developmental Trajectories: An Individualized Approach

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/vulnerability-to-risky-behaviors-as-anomalies-in-neuro-developmental-trajectories-an-individualized-approach
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Alain MALAFOSSE

### Integrated Framework for Smart City Economic Resilience Assessment (IF-SCERA)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/integrated-framework-for-smart-city-economie-resilence-assessment-if-scera
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Matteo SPADA

This project is supported under the AXA Research Fund / Swiss Re Institute – Joint Risk Resilience Partnership.

### AXA IM Award - Socioeconomics Impacts of Climate Change Award

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/AXA-IM-Award-socioeconomics-impacts-of-climate-change-award
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Anika NASRA HAQUE

Resilience to the impacts of climate change in the urban areas of the Global South is acrucial issue, given that it is estimated that almost 70% of the world’s population will be livingin cities by 2050. Integrating women into the adaptation and development approaches is essential to tackle recurring and increasing gender inequalities, intensified by poverty and increasing urbanisation. To help address the issue, Dr Anika Haque was awarded the 2023 AXA IM Research Awardf or her work on the impacts of climate change on urbanised and disadvantaged areas in the global South. The third edition of the AXA IM Research Award seeked to reward a researcherwhose work focuses on the social dimensions of climate change and the conditions for afairer and more inclusive transition. Dr. Anika Haque is an internationally recognised expert on urban climate change adaptation and climate resilient development. She has been leading longitudinal research in the global South over the last 15 years and closely engaging with the local stakeholders and decision makers with an aim of building a gender inclusive climate resilient urban future. Her research studies the exacerbated vulnerability of populations in urbanised and disadvantaged areas of the global South to the consequences of climate change, and the inclusion of women in the policies and adaptation strategies in that regard. Dr Haque’s research is interdisciplinary addressing three overlapping global challenges:changing climate, rapid urbanisation and growing inequality. It builds around the theme of urban climate change resilience embracing actions on climate change adaptation, mitigationand disaster-risk-reduction while recognizing the complexity of rapidly growing urban areas, growing inequality, development challenges and climate change uncertainty. Her research is grounded in Systems thinking unpacking the complex problems and challenges in thecontemporary global South cities in the era of climate change.

### Longevity Patterns and Trends: Model Selection and Change Detection with Sequential Testing

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/longevity-patterns-and-trends-model-selection-and-change-detection-with-sequential-testing
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Stéphane LOISEL

### Proof of Concept for Targeting Senescence in Rare Childhood Refractory Epilepsy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/proof-of-concept-for-targeting-senescence-in-rare-childhood-refractory-epilepsy
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Stéphanie BAULAC

### Greening The Blue Economy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/greening-the-blue-economy
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Nils GOSEBERG

Dr. Goseberg's work involves identifying and defining nature-based solutions to protect natural coastlines from severe weather events and rising sea levels induced by global warming. These solutions notably include exploring how vegetated dunes can improve the safety and resilience of coastal areas and the local communities concerned. This project is supported under the fourth edition of the AXA IM Research Award. Announced in October 2024, t he AXA IM Research Award is part of AXA IM’s Philanthropy programme which brings together all global and local initiatives focused on the “Empowering Sustainable Futures” thematic. The program aims to help build a more sustainable future through a three-fold approach: climate resilience and inclusion for communities, education for future generations and protecting biodiversity.

### The Effect of Fake News on Behaviour

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-effect-of-fake-news-on-behaviour
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Aglaé NAVARRE

In the digital age, social media has revolutionized how we access information. However, this constant flow of information comes with a significant downside: the proliferation of misinformation. Fake news has been shown to alter beliefs, attitudes, and even create false memories. While it is widely assumed that exposure to such misinformation influences individual behaviours, concrete evidence of its real-world effects remains limited. This gap in understanding is particularly concerning given the potential implications for public health, political decision-making, and societal well-being. Dr. Navarre’s research aims to explore the long-term behavioural consequences of exposure to fake news. To comply with ethical standards, her study will focus on relatively inconsequential behaviours such as food consumption. Dr. Navarre’s research is structured around several studies aiming to investigate the factors that may influence the impact of fake news on human behaviour. For example, in an initial study, she will examine the extent to which exposure to fake news can shape participants' behaviour, and whether the presence of community notes (used by some social media platforms as a form of fact-checking) can moderate this effect. She will also explore the influence of different types of fake news—those that encourage certain behaviours, and those that discourage them. By investigating the relationship between fake news and behaviour, the research will provide valuable insights into how misinformation affects decision-making processes. These findings could inform strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of fake news, with broad implications for both health-related and political behaviours. Dr. Navarre’s work will be disseminated through several scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals, as well as through presentations at international conferences.

### What Do Economists Do?

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/what-do-economists-do
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Abhijit BANERJEE, Esther DUFLO

Economics is often misunderstood—seen as either overly mathematical, politically biased, or detached from real-world concerns. These misconceptions, fueled by popular media and false analogies to fields like physics, obscure the true nature and potential of economics.  During their visiting period at the Paris School of Economics (PSE), Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will embark on a groundbreaking research project to demystify the field of economics. Their work, titled What Do Economists Do, seeks to explore and explain the role of economists in society, while addressing the criticisms and blind spots that have shaped public perception.  This project will delve into key global challenges—migration, climate change, trade, unemployment, communities, and redistributive policies—through the lens of economics. By critically examining the ways economists think and the limitations of their frameworks, Duflo and Banerjee aim to construct a more inclusive and practical vision of the economy. Their ultimate goal? To inspire a deeper understanding of economics as a tool for creating humane and effective social policies, and to show why being an economist can be both exciting and impactful.  Through this research, the AXA Research Fund supports a vital conversation about the future of economics and its role in addressing the pressing issues of our time. 

### CORE Project: Transforming Economics Education for the Next Generation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/core-project-transforming-economics-education-for-the-next-generation
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Yann ALGAN

The CORE initiative, launched in 2009 in response to the global financial crisis, is supported by the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET) at the University of Oxford, with co-funding from Sciences Po and the Azim Premji University in Bangalore, India. Backed by prominent figures such as Joseph Stiglitz and George Soros, CORE aims to renew economics education in high schools by offering an open-access, interactive eBook that introduces students to foundational economic concepts through real-world questions to make economics education more engaging, relevant, and empirically grounded for both students and teachers.  The project focuses on teaching essential economic concepts—such as the origins of financial crises, the causes of unemployment, and the disparities in wealth between nations—through an empirical, data-driven methodology. Students learn models inspired by historical events, experiments, and data, while exploring diverse perspectives from across disciplines, geographies, and methodologies. By emphasizing empirical evidence, pluralistic perspectives, and cutting-edge advancements in economics and social sciences, CORE transcends traditional divides and equips students with the tools to better understand the complexities of the modern economy.  Led by Yann Algan, Professor of Economics at Sciences Po and Dean of the School of Public Affairs, the French adaptation of CORE has already transformed introductory economics courses at institutions like Sciences Po and the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE). Since 2017, this groundbreaking approach is being supported by a dedicated platform providing free access to interactive, translated content tailored to the needs of secondary education.   With the support of the AXA Research Fund, the CORE Project represents a transformative step toward making economics education more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for the next generation.

### Shaping the Future of Economics Education

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/shaping-the-future-of-economics-education
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Philippe NEMO

Founded in 2016 by Philippe Nemo, philosopher and president of the " Fondation Lettres et Sciences ," and alongside a team of distinguished academics, the École Professorale de Paris (EPP) is dedicated to preparing outstanding secondary school and preparatory class teachers with a strong focus on academic excellence. The EPP recruits through competitive exams or assessments starting from a Bac +2 level. It prepares students for the national teaching recruitment exams, CAPES, CAFEP-CAPES, and Agrégation. Its part-time instruction is designed to complement university studies. With a mission to train teachers with a more profound understanding of business and corporate economics, the new economics class to be launched in September 2018, will prepare students annually to successfully pass the CAPES, CAFEP-CAPES, and Agrégation exams in Economics and Social Sciences, to further teach economics in public and private high schools or in preparatory classes. This project is tailored for young graduates from business or engineering schools who wish to dedicate themselves to teaching, or at young teachers who are already teaching economics or social and economic sciences (SES) in high schools but have not yet obtained the CAPES or Agrégation. These candidates will find all the necessary courses, seminars, or lectures on topics useful for students preparing for the written and oral components of the teaching exams at EPP. Beyond exam preparation, the EPP seeks to as well to address broader challenges in teaching of economics in France, which is widely regarded as inadequate.   Through this partnership, the AXA Research Fund and the École Professorale de Paris are making a vital investment in the future of education. Together, they are fostering a new generation of economics teachers who will inspire students and contribute to a more profound understanding of economics in society, shaping the educators who will empower tomorrow’s leaders.

### Campus of Innovation for High Schools: Empowering the Next Generation Through Knowledge and Innovation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/Campus-of-innovation-for-high-schools-empowering-the-next-generation-through-knowledge-and-innovation
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Philippe AGHION

At present, many young people are left behind by the rapid changes brought about by innovation and technology. In partnership with the Collège de France and the Ministry of Education and Research, the Campus of Innovation for High Schools program led by Philippe Aghion is an ambitious initiative aimed at empowering younger generation —particularly those in disadvantaged urban and rural areas—by equipping them with the tools to succeed academically, professionally, and socially in an ever-changing world. The Campus of Innovation for High Schools introduces high school students to essential concepts in economics—such as growth, innovation, inequality, finance, and risk—while also expanding into other critical fields like mathematics, history, chemistry, biology, and computer science. These disciplines are vital for understanding the world of innovation and new technologies, as well as for inspiring creativity, entrepreneurship, and informed decision-making. The overall ambition of this initiative is to address exclusion of the younger generation in the new economy and support their growth them by providing digital resources alongside in-person lectures while encouraging ongoing interaction and engagement to make learning more dynamic and accessible for both students and teachers. By encouraging curiosity, boldness, and an innovative mindset, the project aims to leverage modern educational tools and technologies to introduce high school students with fundamental notions, concepts, and mechanisms in economics. Through the support of the AXA Research Fund, this project aligns with a shared commitment to advancing education, reducing inequalities, and preparing the next generation to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.

### Extending Living Space for Frail and Dependent Ageing People

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/extending-living-space-for-frail-and-dependent-ageing-people
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Mounir MOKHTARI

The groundbreaking “Extending Living Space for Frail and Dependent Ageing People” initiative addresses one of the most pressing challenges of our time: improving the quality of life for ageing populations who face frailty and dependency. Healthy Aging is becoming a critical societal issue. As the global population ages, the need for innovative solutions to support independent living and enhance the well-being of older adults has become increasingly urgent. Existing models of care and pathways necessitate more citizen focused and support greater community resilience and sustainability as well as alternative approaches to innovation and information technologies to enhance the quality of life for people as they age, minimize onset of fragility as well as assist them better with long term conditions regarding self-management and prevention strategies. Led by Professor Mounir Mokhtari, EXTENDED project focuses on deploying solutions to fulfill the twofold objectives of productivity and efficiency in the personalization of care of frail and dependent people: it proposes to consider a new paradigm in Ambient Assisted living (AAL) technologies for ageing and wellbeing by introducing human frailty metrics, socialization, and urban dimension in an ambient assistive framework. The objective of this initiative is to offer a model capable of computing a level of frailty based on different metrics and to promote active ageing through the maintenance of social links and support to the mobility of ageing people in the city. Leveraging on real-time data collected through sensors deployed indoor and outdoor, and historical data collected from insurance claims, EXTENDED project will focus on user lifestyles considering Activities of Daily Living (ADL), change of behavior, and mobility. It further aims to build continuous and unobtrusive AAL platforms to recognize ageing in ADLs, mobility, and social activities through semantic and rule-based reasoning with various level of abstraction and data processing techniques while advancing towards distant and real-life deployments of developed AAL platform on both Singapore and Paris. This, initiative represents a transformative step toward building a human frailty model to assess the quality of life of the elderly and personalize intervention.

### Evaluating Solvency II: Insights into Capital Management and Asset Allocation in the Insurance Industry

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/evaluating-solvency-ii-insights-into-capital-management-and-asset-allocation-in-the-insurance-industry
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Sophie MOINAS

The one-year partnership led by researcher Sophie Moinas at the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE),. aims to explore the far-reaching implications of the Solvency II, a major regulation in the sector concerning capital requirements aimed at ensuring the financial sustainability of insurance companies in the event of losses on their investments or insurance activities. Solvency II mandates that insurance companies use equity capital to finance their activities and various investments, with required levels depending on the risk associated with these activities and investments. In this context, the project will examine the impact of this regulation on the level of equity held by European insurance companies and the composition of their asset portfolios to further estimate the potential impact of Solvency II on the financing of the economy. By leveraging the expertise of TSE researchers including Sophie Moinas and the renowned Toulouse School of Economics-Partnership Foundation (TSE-P), this partnership combines academic rigor with practical relevance to provide an overview of the impacts of Solvency II and help evaluate its observed effects. The findings will not only contribute to the academic understanding of regulatory impacts but also provide actionable recommendations for insurers, policymakers, and stakeholders navigating the evolving financial landscape. This partnership aims to foster innovation, resilience, and sustainability in the industry, ensuring a more secure future for all.

### Driving Innovation in Economic Policy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/driving-innovation-in-economic-policy
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

In October 2021, the AXA Research Fund and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) embarked on a three-year strategic partnership to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges through innovative initiatives. This collaboration was designed to foster innovative research, strengthen policy networks, and deliver actionable insights to tackle critical global issues. The AXA Research Fund’s endowment has been instrumental in supporting CEPR’s mission to advance economic research and policy dialogue. Through this partnership, CEPR has been empowered to expand its reach and impact, enabling the organization to undertake a range of high-profile initiatives. Key activities supported by the partnership include the publication of the CEPR Annual Paris Report, the organization of the European Summer Symposium on Macro-economics (ESSIM), and participation in events such as Les Journées de l’Économie (JECO). Additionally, the partnership has facilitated the launch of initiatives like the CEPR Ukraine Initiative, the Women in Economics Initiative, and the Young Researchers – Discover Economics Initiative. This partnership reflects the shared vision of AXA and CEPR to advance research, foster collaboration, and address global challenges through innovative and impactful initiatives. Together, they are committed to shaping a more sustainable and resilient future.

### Driving Innovation in Economic Policy Partnership Extension

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/driving-innovation-in-economic-policy-partnership-extension
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

In 2024, the AXA Research Fund and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) renewed their strategic partnership aimed at addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This collaboration was designed to foster innovative research, strengthen policy networks, and deliver actionable insights to tackle critical global issues, via high-profile initiatives aiming to expand reach and impact of the CEPR. A joint conference, resulting from the previous three years of partnership, was co-organized on September 11, 2024, under the theme: “Towards a Sustainable and Insurable Future.” Two panels brought together leading academics, policymakers, and private sector practitioners to explore two pivotal issues: 1. (Un)insurability and climate risk. 2. The role of climate finance in transitioning to a sustainable, greener economy. Read more about the event here .

### Schwarzman Scholars Program

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/schwarzman-scholars-program
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Tsinghua University THU

In 2018, the AXA Research Fund supported the Schwarzman Scholars Program, a prestigious one-year, master’s program in global affairs at Tsinghua University, one of the world's top universities. Designed to build a global community of future leaders, this program offers an immersive learning experience dedicated to leadership development.

### Climate Water Nexus Award

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-water-nexus-award
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Petra HOLDEN

Dr. Petra Holden works on nature-based solutions for an equitable, biodiverse, and sustainable climate future. Her research has included attributing the impacts of climate change on water security and quantifying how well nature-based solutions can offset anthropogenic climate change on water-related ecosystem services. She also undertakes research to provide evidence on nature-based solutions accounting for social equity processes and sustainability of ecosystem services given climate changes. Specifically, she focuses on supporting decision-making, planning, and implementation of more equitable and sustainable nature-based solutions in southern African ecosystems and landscapes critical for water supply. This includes increasing awareness of the opportunities, constraints and limits to nature-based solutions. Find out more here .

### Radar- and Satellite-based hail detection and climatology for Western Europe

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/radar-and-satellite-based-hail-detection-and-climatology-for-western-europe
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Hamish MCGOWAN

The project will address the following objectives:​ 1. Create a first complete radar-based hail climatology for France, Switzerland and Northern Italy, including hail swaths per event for more than a decade​ 2. Design, develop and train geostationary satellite-based hail retrievals using the database created in part 1.​ If successful, the satellite model developed in part (ii) will be applied and blended with the radar climatology across the historical archive to develop a spatially homogeneous pan-European hail climatology.

### Grand Jet d'Or Award on Adverse Effects of Pollution on Humans

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/grand-jet-dor-award-on-adverse-effects-of-pollution-on-humans
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Geneva Health Forum (GHF)

The World Health Organization estimates that exposure to air pollution is responsible for about 7 million premature deaths worldwide each year. Pollution is a major global health issue, affecting human health by causing respiratory diseases, heart problems, and cancer due to exposure to pollutants in the air, water, and soil. Specific attention needs to be given to pollutants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and developmental issues. Other pollutants such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and indoor air pollutants, present serious health risks, including neurological damage, reproductive disorders, and respiratory illnesses, highlighting the broad impact of pollution on human wellbeing.  The Grand Jet d’Or de Genève awarded in 2024 by the Geneva Health Forum with the support of the AXA Research Fund focused on awarding research on the nexus of pollution and its health impact. The research team from Exposure Sciences, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne received the award for their project on the emerging threat of PFAS emissions, which present significant health risks. The Swiss-based team was recognized for their groundbreaking work on "Assessing the Emerging Risk of PFAS Exposure from Waste Management.” Their research directly addresses the challenge of developing health and medical solutions to combat the adverse effects of pollution on human health, with a special focus on protecting the general population from the emerging threat of PFAS emissions, which present significant health risks. Additionally, their study investigates the dysbiosis induced by PFAS and other chemicals in the nasal and skin microbiomes. By understanding these mechanisms, the research team aims to develop targeted interventions to mitigate the health impacts of pollution exposure and enhance public health outcomes.

### Grand Jet d'Or Award on Planetary Health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/grand-jet-dor-award-on-planetary-health
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Geneva Health Forum (GHF)

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted our fragility as societies in the face of zoonoses, diseases that appear in the animal world and that can spread to human beings. Biodiversity loss and fragile ecosystems are factors that worsen this risk. Pollution and climate change are already having an impact on our health. One thing is clear: our health is intrinsically linked to the health of the environment and global health must be revisited in the light of these implications. These new challenges are crucial for our common future and they question our concepts and our practices. The reflections that are taking place around the notions of “One Health” or “Planetary Health” offer new avenues that global health can no longer neglect. It is in this context that the Geneva Health Forum launched the Grand Jet d’Or de Genève Award in partnership with the AXA Research Fund in 2021. Following a competitive selection process, the Grand Jet d'Or de Genève 2022 has been awarded to the research group " Healthy Forests, Healthy People: Health In Harmony, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Zoo New England and Partners ". This multidisciplinary and dynamic research team brings together members from the international Planetary Health NGO Health In Harmony (HIH),  Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health,  Zoo New England, and the Madagascar Health and Environmental Research (MAHERY). The team is led by Dr. Sakib Burza, Medical Director of Health In Harmony and Honorary Associate Professor of Tropical and Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicines. This One Health project will assess the impact of community-designed forest conservation interventions on forest integrity, biodiversity, wildlife health, and, ultimately, human health over ten years. Their expectation is that the frequency and diversity of wildlife-associated pathogens detected in the human population to decrease in response to forest restoration and improved wildlife health. The project unites experts in diverse disciplines: program implementation (HIH), public health (Harvard), veterinary medicine (ZNE), disease ecology (University of Chicago), and forest ecology (Duke). Together, the researchers can investigate questions that stretch beyond each of their capacities. Very few national governments or multilaterals invest in forest protection as an upstream solution to zoonotic spillover and disease burden. This project is one of the first attempts to fill that gap through a prospective cohort study. The results will inform how national and multilateral health stakeholders can most effectively leverage healthcare practices to protect ecosystems and prevent disease at the source.

### New Observatory on Dengue Outbreaks

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/new-observatory-on-dengue-outbreaks
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Oliver BRADY

Vector-borne diseases – human illnesses caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria transmitted by living organisms such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas – account for more than 17% of infectious diseases and around 700,000 deaths every year. Climate change is worsening the transmission dynamics and geographic spread of these diseases. Dengue is the most prevalent and fastest growing vector-borne disease, with urbanisation and climate change driving its expansion to over 120 countries and putting around 2.25 billion people at risk. AXA UK and the AXA Research Fund have joined forces with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) on a project to develop a global observatory for vector-borne disease outbreaks . This includes an outbreak forecasting system that will give a direct and immediate measurement of climate and climate change’s impact on the risk of dengue outbreaks and a wide range of other diseases. The observatory will develop a new real-time database of dengue cases from more than 50 countries, collating information to help the development of flexible forecasting models. These will provide early warning of potential outbreaks by sharing forecasts with governments, scientists, and members of the public. The new forecasting systems will focus first on outbreaks in countries where dengue is most prevalent, then issue warnings to others including in Europe and North America, where dengue is currently expanding. At present, there is no global database that tracks the current dengue situation or current outbreaks. The project will be coordinated by Dr Oliver Brady at the Global Lab on Climate and Human Health of LSHTM.  Oliver has over a decade of experience in modelling mosquito-transmitted diseases. AXA’s network of infectious disease and modelling experts will contribute, together with collaborators from the World Health Organisation.

### Pain Pediatric & Elderly AXA Research Lab (PEARL)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/pain-pediatric-elderly-axa-research-lab-pearl
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Celine GRECO

Chronic pain is recognized as a major public health problem affecting patients in their daily activity, physical and mental health, as well as their family and social circle. Striking, the estimated prevalence of chronic pain is higher as 25–50% in community-dwelling elders, reaching up to 80% in institutionalized individuals. In a similar way, the prevalence of chronic pain in children worldwide is estimated at 30%.  However, the current analgesic therapies are dramatically poor despite thousands of molecules already on the market for different indications. We juggle around ten molecules for the management of nociceptive pain and 3 classes of drugs for neuropathic pain. Therefore, chronic pain in children or elderly is viewed as a “significant public health concern globally” by the World Health Organization marked by the paucity of research. Pain in children and elderly is neglected, unaddressed and mismanaged! It is therefore essential to bring to the market suitable and necessary analgesics for children and elderly with reflection on the method of delivery of these molecules (such as for example topical route) to limit as much as possible the side effects. However, these requirements could be met through therapeutic innovation, personalized medicine and molecular repositioning. The main causes of chronic pain in the elderly but also in children are secondary to another previous disorder, encompassing cancer, chronic or genetic diseases, neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, skin pain, chronic post-traumatic or postsurgical pain, chronic visceral pain, chronic headache, and orofacial pain. Among these pains, skin pain is probably the most difficult to manage while dermatologic disorders are the fourth leading cause of nonfatal disease burden worldwide. The skin is the largest organ in the body serving as a primary protective barrier against environmental challenges and responsible for sensory perception. This organ is therefore linked to the immune and sensory systems in a "neuro-immuno-cutaneous endocrine" (NICE) structure. To better understand the physiopathological mechanisms involved in the transmission of painful information between the keratinocytes and the peripheral nervous system, the team led by Prof. Greco decided to work on a model of genetic skin diseases called “Hereditary palmoplantar keratodermas (hPPKs)”, characterized by focal hyperkeratosis associated with intense pain and inflammation. More specifically, Olmsted syndrome, a severe form of hPPK, linked to activating mutations in the TRPV3 channel, is particularly painful. By targeting the EGFR signaling pathway in this disease, they observed for the first time a lasting remission in children profoundly disabled by their clinical manifestations and presenting a major depressive syndrome, as well as an arrest of their growth and progressive social isolation. Interestingly, they achieved not only an almost total regression of hyperkeratosis, but also a complete disappearance of pain in less than a month. The research will aim at identifying the signaling pathways within keratinocytes that generate pain and inflammation to understand the complex interactions involving the components of the NICE system in hPPK diseases. A combined approach of analyzing gene expression and signaling pathways in keratinocytes will make it possible to find out how a single mutation expressed in basal keratinocytes can lead to hPPK and trigger pain and inflammation. In this work, the team will use Olmsted syndrome as a model to conduct this research and extend our approach to another types of painful hPPK, Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex-Dowling Meara type (EBS-DM). This research involves the development of human pluripotent stem cell lines (hiPSCs) in which patient’s mutation is introduced by Crispr-Cas gene editing or hiPSC derived from patients’ cells. Mutated hiPSCs are then differentiated into keratinocytes and subjected to genomic, functional and biochemical analysis. Results will be compared between the different types of hiPSC derived keratinocytes (hiKCs) and normal human primary keratinocytes. The comparative analysis of biological properties should lead to the identification of specific therapeutic targets for these different forms of painful hPPK and allow us, particularly through the repositioning of existing molecules, to treat them effectively. A better comprehension of the mechanism of skin pain and the repurposing of existing molecules by choosing an absorption route suitable for children and elderly will help relieve the pain of no less than 7% of the world's population

### Billion Molecules Against COVID19 Challenge

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/billion-molecules-against-covid19-challenge
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: André LOESEKRUG-PIETRI

The Covid-19 major health crisis has highlighted the need for strong anticipation, interdisciplinarity and massive agility. The “Billion Molecules against COVID-19” Global Grand Challenge, led by JEDI with the support of the AXA Research Fund and Merck, was launched at the height of the COVID-19 health crisis. Its objective: to identify molecules capable of blocking SARS-CoV-2 by screening over one billion compounds using advanced computational methods and high-performance computing, followed by experimental validation. Over 30 international teams participated to this first-ever DARPA-type (Advanced Research Projects Agency) challenge in Europe, leveraging artificial intelligence, molecular modelling, and virtual screening to propose hundreds of thousands of candidate molecules against key viral targets. The most promising compounds were synthesised and tested for their ability to inhibit viral replication or binding. This unprecedented open-science initiative brought together expertise in epidemiology, structural biology, virology, and drug development, accelerating the path from virtual screening to potential therapeutic candidates — and laying the groundwork for faster responses to future pandemics. The NLM article below details the results: A community effort in SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery - PMC Extract : Participating teams used a wide variety of computational methods to screen a minimum of 1 billion virtual molecules against 6 protein targets. Overall, 31 teams participated, and they suggested a total of 639,024 molecules, which were subsequently ranked to find ‘consensus compounds’. The organizing team coordinated with various contract research organizations (CROs) and collaborating institutions to synthesize and test 878 compounds for biological activity against proteases (Nsp5, Nsp3, TMPRSS2), nucleocapsid N, RdRP (only the Nsp12 domain), and (alpha) spike protein S. Overall, 27 compounds with weak inhibition/binding were experimentally identified by binding-, cleavage-, and/or viral suppression assays and are presented here. Open science approaches such as the one presented here contribute to the knowledge base of future drug discovery efforts in finding better SARS-CoV-2 treatments

### Task Force Covid 19

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/task-force-covid-19
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Institut Pasteur (PARIS)

Since early 2020, the AXA Research Fund has collaborated with the Institut Pasteur, a world-renowned biomedical research center, to advance scientific understanding and develop concrete solutions against the Covid-19 pandemic. This partnership supports research projects at the interface of epidemiology, diagnostics, therapeutic innovation, and vaccine development. The Institut Pasteur, at the forefront of infectious disease research for over 130 years, mobilized unprecedented resources to respond to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. More than 450 scientists from 69 teams engaged in Covid-19 research, producing 79 publications, filing 19 patents, and establishing over 78 industrial collaborations in diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics in 2020 alone. The AXA Research Fund’s support enabled the Institut Pasteur to accelerate strategic projects, from understanding the virus’s biology and pathogenesis to developing innovative diagnostic tests, modeling epidemic progression, and creating multiple vaccine candidates. This rapid mobilization was made possible by Pasteur’s multidisciplinary expertise, international network, and strong hospital, academic, and industrial partnerships. Flagship projects supported under this partnership include: Epidemiological modeling of Covid-19 spread and control measures Development of real-time models to predict epidemic trends, evaluate the impact of lockdowns, and inform public health strategies. Innovative diagnostic tools Creation of the first French RT-qPCR test for SARS-CoV-2, rapid RT-LAMP tests for decentralized detection, and novel serological assays to assess population immunity. Therapeutic strategies Screening of existing drugs and antibodies for antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, leading to the identification of promising candidates for clinical evaluation. Vaccine research Advancement of several vaccine platforms, including a lentiviral vector vaccine showing strong preclinical efficacy and an innovative DNA vaccine approach. Beyond research, the partnership also focused on: Open sharing of viral genomic sequences via the GISAID platform to accelerate global research. Training and scientific exchange across the Institut Pasteur International Network. Public engagement and communication to combat misinformation and promote science-based decision-making.

### Humanitarian Health Research Partnership 2019 with French Red Cross Foundation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/humanitarian-health-research-partnership-2019-with-french-red-cross-foundation
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Fondation Croix Rouge Française (FRUP)

Since 2016, the AXA Research Fund has partnered with the French Red Cross Foundation, which supports francophone research in the area of humanitarian action. Through this partnership, AXA and the French Red Cross Foundation have supported eight young researchers working to advance action in service of the most vulnerable. The goal of the French Red Cross Foundation is to mobilize the scientific community to work with suffering populations in both the North and South of Africa, in order to develop concrete, sustainable responses. Within these parameters, it funds and assists independent francophone researchers, prioritizing those originating from the areas involved, by providing postdoctoral grants. These one-year grants are awarded to researchers from different social science disciplines, such as sociology and anthropology, to study common social and humanitarian action issues. The support of the AXA Research Fund makes it possible to fund grants for work related to “Risks, Health and Humanitarianism” each year. The grants are intended to improve our understanding of effective humanitarian action in response to the health needs of vulnerable populations in crisis situations such as epidemics and natural disasters, or when facing global and systemic risks such as climate change, migration and malnutrition. Researchers supported by the AXA Research Fund in 2019 are working on the following projects: Communication, education and behavior in combatting the plague in Madagascar.  Dr. Alexandra Razafindrabe, Doctor of Economics (Université de la Réunion) – Class of 2019 Dr. Razafindrabe’s research focuses on improving the impact of public measures for preventing plague outbreaks in Madagascar in great part by raising awareness so that populations in areas at risk make changes in behavior. She is building on an analysis of plague prevention activity conducted in Madagascar in 2017 that raised many questions among both citizens and stakeholders in health, education and the environment. This research into the efficacy of measures taken to raise awareness, along with their long-term effects on the behavior of local populations, takes into account the socio-cultural, economic and environmental contexts that, to date, have not been adequately considered. Socio-ecological resilience in vulnerable communities of the Senegal River delta in the face of climate change.  Dr. Djiby Sambou, Doctor of Geography (Université Abomey Calavi, Bénin) – Class of 2019 The purpose of Dr. Sambou’s research is to study the socio-ecological vulnerability of the Senegal River delta to natural disasters and climate change, including the coastal Saint Louis communities’ perceptions of vulnerability, their means of adaptation and the likely scenarios of change. Strengthening the socio-economic health subsystem at the local level and combatting health insecurity and difficulties accessing childcare and health services in the Central African refugee reception areas of Cameroon .  Dr. Joséphine Lemouogue, Doctor of Geography (Université de Dschang, Cameroun) Class of 2019 The purpose of Dr. Lemouogue’s research is to study how public and humanitarian stakeholders approach the local integration of Central African refugees and manage the delivery of basic services in refugee reception areas in order to improve their capacities. She is specifically studying how the needs of children ages 0-5 are met.

### Humanitarian Health Research Partnership 2018 with French Red Cross Foundation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/humanitarian-health-research-partnership-2018-with-french-red-cross-foundation
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Fondation Croix Rouge Française (FRUP)

Since 2016, the AXA Research Fund has partnered with the French Red Cross Foundation, which supports francophone research in the area of humanitarian action. Through this partnership, AXA and the French Red Cross Foundation have supported eight young researchers working to advance action in service of the most vulnerable. The goal of the French Red Cross Foundation is to mobilize the scientific community to work with suffering populations in both the North and South of Africa, in order to develop concrete, sustainable responses. Within these parameters, it funds and assists independent francophone researchers, prioritizing those originating from the areas involved, by providing postdoctoral grants. These one-year grants are awarded to researchers from different social science disciplines, such as sociology and anthropology, to study common social and humanitarian action issues. The support of the AXA Research Fund makes it possible to fund grants for work related to “Risks, Health and Humanitarianism” each year. The grants are intended to improve our understanding of effective humanitarian action in response to the health needs of vulnerable populations in crisis situations such as epidemics and natural disasters, or when facing global and systemic risks such as climate change, migration and malnutrition. Researchers supported by the AXA Research Fund in 2018 are working on the following projects: Economic assessment of climate risk management tools: the case of drought risk in Niger.  Prof. Mariama Nouhou KOUTCHA, Doctor and Professor of Agricultural Climatology and General Agronomy in the Faculty of Agronomy at the Islamic University in Say, Niger – Class of 2018 Prof. Mariama Nouhou KOUTCHA is developing an economic assessment, with a comparison between populations, of existing and prospective tools for protecting against climate risks in Niger, in order to determine the optimal combination. Her work involves identifying all mechanisms and stakeholders involved in climate risk management in Niger, micro-economic analysis of the impact of the mechanisms identified and recommendations for improvement. The fight against malnutrition in Ivory Coast: measurement of and perspectives on use of the WASH and ATPC projects by local stakeholders in Bounkani.  Dr. Edouard Kouadio KOUASSI, Doctor of Sociology and Researcher at the Center for Development Research (CRD) at the Université Alassane Ouattara in Bouaké, Ivory Coast – Class of 2018 The purpose of the research conducted by Edouard Kouadio KOUASSI is to assess the impact of the PADEHA program on malnutrition in the Bounkani area in Ivory Coast. The Ivorian government and its partners initiated the “Program to Support Accelerated Sustainable Access to Water, Hygiene and Purification” to reduce water-related health risks. It includes the presentation of a PADEHA assessment of malnutrition in the area and a recommendation of strategies for comprehensive adoption of means of sustainable population behavior change. NGO responses to failures in the health system in northern Ivory Coast: palliative or substitute?  Prof. Toily Anicet ZRAN, Doctor and Professor-Researcher of History, attached to the Center for Research on the History of the People of the African savanna (CRESHA) of the History Department of the Université Alassane Ouattara in Bouaké, Ivory Coast – Class of 2018 Access to health care remains very difficult in the former rebel-held areas of Ivory Coast, particularly in rural areas of the North, where the few dilapidated health facilities are now at crisis point. In these conditions, NGO support continues to be crucial to the health of the population. Toily Anicet ZRAN is focusing research on the impact and issues of NGO activity in the health sector in northern Ivory Coast in response to the lack of state health care delivery.  

### Humanitarian Health Research Partnership 2020 with French Red Cross Foundation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/humanitarian-health-research-partnership-2020-with-french-red-cross-foundation
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Fondation Croix Rouge Française (FRUP)

Since 2016, the AXA Research Fund has partnered with the French Red Cross Foundation, which supports francophone research in the area of humanitarian action. Through this partnership, AXA and the French Red Cross Foundation have supported eight young researchers working to advance action in service of the most vulnerable. The goal of the French Red Cross Foundation is to mobilize the scientific community to work with suffering populations in both the North and South of Africa, in order to develop concrete, sustainable responses. Within these parameters, it funds and assists independent francophone researchers, prioritizing those originating from the areas involved, by providing postdoctoral grants. These one-year grants are awarded to researchers from different social science disciplines, such as sociology and anthropology, to study common social and humanitarian action issues. The support of the AXA Research Fund makes it possible to fund grants for work related to “Risks, Health and Humanitarianism” each year. The grants are intended to improve our understanding of effective humanitarian action in response to the health needs of vulnerable populations in crisis situations such as epidemics and natural disasters, or when facing global and systemic risks such as climate change, migration and malnutrition.   Researchers supported by the AXA Research Fund in 2020 are working on the following projects: Daniel Valérie Baska Toussia -  Doctor of Health Geography, Professor-Researcher in Geography attached to the Ecole Normale Supérieure graduate school, Université de Maroua. Country of nationality: Cameroon Scientific discipline: Geography Country of research: Cameroon The concentration of Nigerian refugees in the Minawao camp and internally displaced people in Zamay and Gawar is a result of rampant insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin. The situation compelled the Cameroonian government and its international partners to set up the Minawao camp in Mayo Tsanaga in order to deliver adequate humanitarian aid. Internally displaced people, who left their villages due to the insecurity perpetuated by the Boko Haram sect, are living around the camp in Zamay and Gawar. There are huge challenges with access to adequate healthcare for the various strata of this very vulnerable population that includes children, women, pregnant women, widows and orphans. The research is intended to assess the health problems of refugees living in the Minawao camp and internally displaced persons living in Zamay and Gawar, near the camp. Annabelle Moatty -  Doctor of Geography, Researcher attached to the UMR LGP (the joint research lab and physical geography unit - 8591), of the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université Paris Est-Créteil and the French national center for scientific research (CNRS). Country of nationality: France Scientific discipline: Geography Country of research: Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Guadeloupe Dr. Moatty is conducting a project called "Characterization and Analysis of Mechanisms of Solidarity Following Cyclone Irma" (CASCIRA). The purpose of the project is to characterize and analyze solidarity mechanisms implemented after Cyclone Irma passed through the northern islands, in order to understand their significance in the post-disaster resilience and adaptation process at different levels (from collective to individual). The novelty of this research lies in its comparative approach to solidarity mechanisms on the two French Antilles territories, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, and their relationships with France and Guadeloupe. Such analysis is particularly relevant for these insular islands, where socio-cultural and territorial differences are both levers of action, and obstacles, if not taken into consideration, to the optimal reconstruction the government wants to achieve. This partnership includes support for the Foundation’s Research Prizes of €5,000 each awarded to young doctoral students and more established researchers whose work or studies demonstrates bold, original ideas. The awards recognize basic or applied research on humanitarian or social action, regardless of discipline or nationality.

### Humanitarian Health Research Partnership 2016 with French Red Cross Foundation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/humanitarian-health-research-partnership-2016-with-french-red-cross-foundation
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Fondation Croix Rouge Française (FRUP)

Since 2016, the AXA Research Fund has partnered with the French Red Cross Foundation, which supports francophone research in the area of humanitarian action. Through this partnership, AXA and the French Red Cross Foundation aim to foster academic excellence and innovative thinking to address the evolving challenges faced by humanitarian actors. The French Red Cross Foundation’s mission is to bring together the scientific community and humanitarian stakeholders to develop forward-looking strategies, rethink humanitarian models, and support the transition of countries from aid dependency to self-reliance. To achieve this, it funds and supports independent francophone researchers — particularly from the Global South — through one-year postdoctoral grants, awarded in the social sciences to address cross-cutting issues in social and humanitarian action.The French Red Cross Foundation’s mission is to bring together the scientific community and humanitarian stakeholders to develop forward-looking strategies, rethink humanitarian models, and support the transition of countries from aid dependency to self-reliance. To achieve this, it funds and supports independent francophone researchers — particularly from the Global South — through one-year postdoctoral grants, awarded in the social sciences to address cross-cutting issues in social and humanitarian actionnThe support of the AXA Research Fund makes it possible to fund annual grants on the theme “Risks, Humanitarian Action and Innovation.” These grants aim to strengthen our understanding of effective humanitarian action in response to major global risks such as epidemics, climate change, migration, natural disasters, and malnutrition, and to anticipate the future of humanitarian response in an increasingly multipolar world. Researchers supported by the AXA Research Fund in 2016 are working on the following themes: Insurance and risks of natural disasters:  exploring whether risk transfer mechanisms could provide an alternative to traditional humanitarian aid in Africa. Health risks and access to care:  analysing post-Ebola health system resilience and the persistent challenges in making essential medicines accessible in the Global South. Climate change adaptation:  assessing whether local NGOs in the Global South are innovating more effectively than their international counterparts in facing climate-related challenges. Humanitarian workforce transformation:  questioning the future of the “aid worker” profession in a rapidly changing humanitarian landscape. Grant structure and awards In 2016, between one and three postdoctoral fellowships of €20,000 each were awarded for a one-year period. Candidates were selected jointly by the AXA Research Fund and the French Red Cross Foundation through a competitive process open to francophone social science researchers without nationality restrictions, with a focus on target countries in the Global South. Additionally, two research prizes of €5,000 each were awarded to projects demonstrating innovative approaches to humanitarian challenges and exemplary research trajectories. Complementary collaboration Beyond funding, the partnership included skills-based sponsorship between AXA and the French Red Cross Foundation in the following areas: scientific monitoring of fellows, candidate management, laureate tracking, evaluation processes, and legal aspects of research funding in France and abroad. Research dissemination The partnership also aimed to promote and disseminate research results through: Publications (articles, books, journal contributions) Scientific events (roundtables, seminars, workshops) Training and coaching in academic writing, funding applications, and multimedia valorisation of research.

### Humanitarian Health Research Partnership 2017 with French Red Cross Foundation

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/humanitarian-health-research-partnership-2017-with-french-red-cross-foundation
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Fondation Croix Rouge Française (FRUP)

Since 2016, the AXA Research Fund has partnered with the French Red Cross Foundation, which supports francophone research in the area of humanitarian action. Through this partnership, AXA and the French Red Cross Foundation aim to foster academic excellence and innovative thinking to address the evolving challenges faced by humanitarian actors. The French Red Cross Foundation’s mission is to bring together the scientific community and humanitarian stakeholders to develop forward-looking strategies, rethink humanitarian models, and support the transition of countries from aid dependency to self-reliance. To achieve this, it funds and supports independent francophone researchers — particularly from the Global South — through one-year postdoctoral grants, awarded in the social sciences to address cross-cutting issues in social and humanitarian action. The support of the AXA Research Fund makes it possible to fund annual grants on the theme “Risks, Humanitarian Action and Innovation.” These grants aim to strengthen our understanding of effective humanitarian action in response to major global risks such as epidemics, climate change, migration, natural disasters, and malnutrition, and to anticipate the future of humanitarian response in an increasingly multipolar world.

### AXA IM Award - Sustainable Bioenergy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/axa-im-award-sustainable-bioenergy
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Awards
Researchers: Floor VAN DER HILST

To meet the Paris Agreement and keep the global temperature rise well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels, biomass is expected to play an important role in the future energy supply. However, the large-scale deployment of biomass for bioenergy and other novel biobased applications have raised several sustainability concerns: i.e greenhouse gas mitigation potential, the impact on biodiversity, soil quality and water availability as well as socio-economic impacts such as food security. To help answer the challenge, Dr. Floor van der Hilst, from Utrecht University (Netherlands), has been awarded the AXA IM Climate Transition Award for her research on “Sustainability of Bioenergy” in recognition of the impact of her work which focusses on land-use change dynamics resulting from biomass production. The AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM), in partnership with the AXA Research Fund, launched the “AXA IM Climate Transition Award” in September 2021, in order to recognise the key role of research in the fight against climate change. Dr. van der Hilst’s research line focuses on land-use change dynamics resulting from biomass production and related impacts. Many of the sustainability impacts are related to land-use change resulting from biomass feedstock production. The environmental and socio-economic impact of land-use change induced by bioenergy production strongly depends on the spatially heterogeneous biophysical and socio-economic conditions. Therefore, the sustainability of bioenergy production is greatly affected by the location of its feedstock production. For these reasons, very little can be stated in general terms on the sustainability of bioenergy. The uncertainty on the sustainability of bioenergy hampers implementation and therefore also impedes meeting climate change mitigation targets. Floor is an Associate Professor in the Energy and Resources group of the Copernicus Institute of Utrecht University. Her research focuses on sustainable land use and sustainable biomass production for the biobased economy. She coordinates several international research projects on environmental and socio-economic impacts of land use (change), biomass production and agricultural intensification. Floor is the co-chair of IEA Bioenergy Task 45 on the sustainability of bioenergy. She spent several working periods in Mozambique, Ukraine, Brazil and South Africa.

### Stress and Your Health – A Series of Educational Videos

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/stress-and-your-health-a-series-of-educational-videos
Field of research: Health
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Annie GINTY

Stress is an inevitable part of life, especially for students. However, stress can take a toll on both our physical and mental health. Former AXA Grantee Dr Annie Ginty developed a 3-part series created in collaboration with the University of Irvine and Baylor University to help find out more about the impact of stress on our bodies and how we can develop coping mechanisms in order to live a better and healthier life. The open access videos are available in the link below and have been widely publicized on the occasion of mental health educational campaigns. Stress and Your Health | AXA Research Fund - YouTube

### Dealing with Risk and Uncertainty

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/dealing-with-risk-and-uncertainty
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Massimo MARINACCI

Do you know the difference between risk and uncertainty? Or that uncertainty is a core feature of human societies, compared with the natural world that is just risky? And that uncertainty is what makes economics different from physics? As part of an AXA Outreach initiative, Prof. Massimo Marinacci published a free, high-quality and easy to read 30 min ebook. Illustrated by animated videos, it digests the top-notch research behind the latest developments of risk science, and aims at providing non-mathematicians with a condensed but thorough summary of the science of decision-making modeling. Drawing on real-life examples, such as the Belgian election outcomes or the 2008 financial crisis, Prof. Marinacci e-book offers the conceptual tools to understand crucial but complex aspects of decision-making, as well as a few pointers on how to make the most of living in an uncertain world. Prof. Marinacci is the holder of the AXA Chair in Risk at the Bocconi University since 2010 and is one of the leaders in decision theory – an area of economics at the intersection between psychology and statistics that studies economic choices under uncertainty. In recent years, he has published with his team fascinating scientific articles around the mathematics and statistics behind decision models, developing relevant knowledge to create more accurate ways to model uncertainty, and to train future leaders to react in risky or uncertain environments. Download his ebook (available in epub format) Discover Dr Marinacci's project : The Beauty of Incertainty LINK (new window)

### Virtual Quantum Tour

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/virtual-quantum-tour
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Antonio ACIN DAL MASCHIO

Quantum Physics is expected to revolutionize future technology, but its impact remains largely unknown to the public, and there is a shortage of well-trained professionals. Therefore,innovative and engaging platforms are needed to introduce this field to a broad audience,particularly younger generations. This project aimed to address the low visibility and limited understanding of Quantum Physics among the general public, especially younger generations, by creating an engaging, multilingual online platform—the Quantum Virtual Tour (QVT). The platform supports the dissemination of Prof. Antonio Acín’s work, underpinning his AXA Research Chair, and provides a tool for research and educational institutions to communicate the importance and potential of Quantum Physics and Quantum Information Technologies. It offers an immersive experience designed to bring quantum science closer to society, highlighting its role in shaping future technologies and impacting everyday life. The platform aims to foster greater interest in physics, serve as a free educational resource for teachers, and enhance public awareness of quantum applications,ultimately promoting science and technology as drivers of societal progress and opportunity. Access the platform online here : ICFO The QVT is an online interactive platform for computers, tablets and smartphones. The platform uses a 360° technology that provides the sensation of being inside the laboratory, which will serve as the launching site of the platform. From there, the visitor will be able to freely move within the laboratory and approach elements that drag its attention. It will contain a virtual recreation of a Quantum Laboratory that will allow the visitor to zoom in and out and internet with devices in the laboratory triggering pills of educational videos, further explanations or pills of interesting information. The QVT is a freely accessible platform in English, Spanish and Catalan that includes a system to help track the profile of the visitor and a system to collect feedback.

### RI-URBANS

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/ri-urbans
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Fulvio AMATO

Urban areas face increasing challenges related to air pollution, impacting public health and quality of life. The ‘Air Quality in Europe 2021’ report estimates that approximately 307,000 premature deaths in 2019 were linked to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter. Although the European Air Quality Directive (NAQD) has successfully helped to decrease these numbers over recent decades, poor air quality remains to pose serious health concerns in urban, industrial, and rural regions.  RI-URBANS project- co-led by CSIC and University of Helsinki, involving the former AXA Postdoctoral Fellow Fulvio Amato, with the support of the European Commission and the AXA Research Fund, t links the scientific expertise from Aerosols, Clouds and Trace gases Research InfraStructure (ACTRIS), with the urban air quality monitoring capabilities of the regulatory air quality networks. within the framework of the new European Air Quality Directive 2024/2881/CE (published on 20 November 2024), the project aims to adapt and enhance advanced Service Tools (STs) from atmospheric Research Infrastructures to better address the air quality challenges in European cities, industrial sites, harbours, airports, and traffic hotspots while striving to respond to the urgent need to reduce air pollution and its health impacts across the EU.  To achieve these goals, RI-URBANS focuses on measuring novel air quality metrics and contributions from diverse sources, assessing their health impacts and mapping the urban exposure, developing updated emission inventories and models, and testing these Service Tools in nine pilot cities—Athens, Barcelona, Birmingham, Bucharest, Milan, Paris, Rotterdam-Amsterdam, Helsinki, and Zurich.   The project ensures that the tools are not only scientifically advanced but also practical and scalable. STs will be deployed across monitoring networks and agencies, with continuous improvement through feedback from both authorities and citizens. Additionally, RI-URBANS incorporates robust communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement strategies, ensuring its solutions are practical, cost-effective, and widely applicable. With the involvement of 27 partners from 13 EU countries, RI-URBANS is progressing as a highly interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging expertise from atmospheric scientists, health researchers, and air quality experts.  The ultimate goal of RI-URBANS is to transform how air quality is monitored and managed in European urban areas, paving the way for more effective and integrated air quality policies. Beyond improving public health, RI-URBANS also supports the growth of local and European companies specializing in the air quality sector, fostering innovation and economic development. With its focus on sustainability, citizen engagement, and cutting-edge science, RI-URBANS is poised to make a lasting impact on urban air quality management, ensuring cleaner air and healthier lives for generations to come. Now in its final stage, the RI-URBANS project is preparing to share its key findings and outcomes. For more information about RI-URBANS and to stay informed on their latest initiatives, visit their website and explore their instructional videos below. RI-URBANS: Advancing Urban Air Quality Across Europe For detailed insights into their results, access their publication here .

### Regional Climate Change Conference on Climate Science, Adaptation & Financing

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/Regional-Climate-Change-Conference-on-Climate-Science-Adaptation-Financing
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Roshanka RANASINGHE

The AXA Research Fund will support the Regional Climate Change Conference (RCCC), an innovative annual event, which will take place between October 13th – 15th 2025, in Sri Lanka designed to address the critical and localized challenges of climate change, with a particular focus on the Global South. This includes regions such as Asia, Africa, the Pacific and Caribbean Islands, South America, and the Middle East, which are often disproportionately affected by climate impacts. The theme of the conference will be “ The Intersection of Climate Science, Adaptation, and Climate Financing : Focus on the Global South and Inclusivity ”. RCCC, convened by Dr. Roshanka Ranasinghe, AXA Chair in Climate Change Impacts and Coastal Risks at IHE Delft Foundation, is the first global conference dedicated exclusively to regional climate change. It aims to fill a significant gap in the international climate discourse by providing a platform to exchange scientific knowledge, practical experiences, policy advancements across nations and communities, with a particular emphasis on early career researchers and women, especially from the Global South. RCCC further seeks to share the latest developments on climate hazards, risks, adaptation strategies, and financing solutions, all tailored to regional contexts. RCCC is expected to host approximately 100 participants from around the world, including leading researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders. The event will feature keynote and plenary speakers, with strong involvement from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Global climate financing organizations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, GEF, and UNDP, as well as major insurance players like Munich Re, Allianz, and AXA, will also be invited to participate. This engagement is expected to foster collaboration, open doors to innovative projects, and catalyze investments in climate resilience. By focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities at the regional level, RCCC aims to advance future research using cutting-edge methods in climate modeling, regional impacts, and risk assessment, with bi-annual conferences rotating between Sri Lanka and Thailand. More info : Regional Climate Change Conference 2025 - RCCC

### Training and Awareness Program on Cybersecurity for the Youth

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/training-and-awareness-program-on-cybersecurity-for-the-youth
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Vivian UGWUJA

Nigeria is grappling with a rising wave of cybercrime, ranking third globally and losing approximately 127 billion Naira annually to online fraud (CSEAN, 2017). Young people, as the most active internet users, are particularly impacted—both as victims and perpetrators. In Rivers State, a key oil-producing region in the Niger Delta, this issue has undermined trust in the digital economy, making immediate action essential. As part of an AXA Outreach project, Dr. Vivian Ugwuja, former AXA Postdoctoral Fellow from University of Port Harcourt is spearheading an outreach project to tackle this challenge. The initiative will train 2,000 students—1,000 from public secondary schools and 1,000 from tertiary institutions—on cybersecurity awareness, online safety, and ethical digital behavior. By addressing the root causes of cybercrime and equipping young people with essential skills, this program aims to create a lasting impact in Rivers State and beyond. In collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission, banks, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the program will host interactive workshops in five secondary schools and five tertiary institutions across Rivers State. The objectives of the project include: ·       Teaching students practical skills to safeguard themselves online. ·       Reducing youth involvement in cybercrime by fostering ethical online practices. ·       Rebuilding trust in the digital economy through widespread cybersecurity awareness. The outreach project “Say No to Cybercrime”, has left a profound impact on the society by training 2000 youths, educating participants on the legal and financial consequences of cybercrime and equipping them with skills for safe and responsible internet use. Many attendees shared how the training transformed their perspectives on cybercrime. This initiative is not just about education—it’s about empowering the next generation to use the digital space responsibly and productively.  With the AXA Research Fund’s support, this initiative lays the foundation for lasting change, empowering individuals, and fostering a brighter, more secure future.

### Masterclass on the Nexus of Migration, Human Rights and Climate Change

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/masterclass-on-the-nexus-of-migration-human-rights-and-climate-change
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Cosmin CORENDEA

The Masterclass on Globalising the Nexus of Migration, Human Rights, and Climate Change is a pioneering initiative designed to deepen understanding and foster dialogue on the critical issue of Climate Mobility (CM).  While those directly impacted by CM or working in related fields are aware of its significance, there is a pressing need for broader, informed discussions on the realities, policy gaps, and systemic challenges surrounding this global phenomenon. As part of an AXA Outreach Initiative under the leadership of Dr. Cosmin Corendea from O.P. Jindal Global Univeristy, this Masterclass aims to address these gaps by creating a structured platform for knowledge-sharing and youth engagement. It builds on the groundbreaking 2017 report, Migration, Human Rights and Climate Change, authored by Mr. Corendea under the auspices of UNU and AXA. The report, which focuses on the Pacific Islands—mainly Fiji and Vanuatu— serves as a key resource for understanding the intersection of migration, human rights, and climate change. The Masterclass extends these insights to a global scale, beginning with an Asian perspective. Youth engagement is central to this initiative, as young people are key drivers of policy change and political action. By involving youth in cross-border discussions about the challenges faced by vulnerable communities and exploring actionable solutions, the Masterclass aims to inspire a new generation of leaders to address Climate Mobility with urgency and innovation. The Masterclass, held on November 2nd, 2022 both online and in person at O.P. Jindal Global University, featured Mr. Corendea and Mr. M.C. Mehta — one of India’s most renowned environmentalists with over 25,000 court decisions and landmark cases, including those related to the Taj Mahal, Bhopal, and the Ganga River—as speakers. This event offered unparalleled insights into environmental jurisprudence and serves as a valuable resource for courses in Indian academic institutions and universities worldwide. By initiating these critical conversations in India and beyond, the Masterclass sought to catalyze meaningful action and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future for communities affected by the nexus of migration, human rights, and climate change. Access the replay here:  Masterclass on migration, human rights and climate change. - YouTube

### Comprehensive Digital Communication on Climate Change, Trade and Inequalities in the Economic Growth Between Regions

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/comprehensive-digital-communication-on-climate-change-trade-and-inequalities-in-the-economic-growth-between-regions
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Emilia LAMONACA

Climate change is reshaping global trade and deepening economic inequalities between regions, yet the complexities of this relationship often remain inaccessible to those who need to act. The AXA Outreach project, "Comprehensive Digital Communication Plan on Climate Change, Trade, and Inequalities in Economic Growth Between Regions" led by Emilia Lamonaca, a former AXA Postdoctoral Fellow from University of Foggia seeks to change that. This initiative was designed to transform cutting-edge research into clear, actionable insights, empowering stakeholders to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how to balance economic growth with the realities of climate change and trade disparities. The project focused on delivering clear and evidence-based messages on three key topics: the trade impacts of climate change, emerging trade opportunities driven by climate change, and strategic trade policies to effectively address climate challenges. These insights were translated into various viewpoint articles published on prominent digital outreach platforms, ensuring the project’s scientific findings were presented as accessible and engaging content highlighting how regions with different levels of economic development respond to these challenges and opportunities. The communication plan was tailored to engage a broad spectrum of influential stakeholders, ranging from economists in the public and private sectors, academia, and media to agricultural trade researchers, policymakers, and environmental economists and to reach EU policymakers and non-academic audiences who seek evidence-based insights through platforms like IATRC, LIFE DICET blog, and popular science outlets such as The Conversation , Le Scienze, Unifgmag, Medecc

### Semersuaq– The Great Ice – A High Arctic Field Expeditions Documentary

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/semersuaq-the-great-ice-a-high-arctic-field-expeditions-documentary
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Marc OLIVA

The Arctic is not just a distant, icy wilderness—it is a critical barometer of global climate health. As part of the groundbreaking NEOARCTIC project, the largest polar research initiative ever funded in Spain, researchers are working to reconstruct climate variability and glacial oscillations in West Greenland over the past four millennia. However, while the scientific importance of polar research is undeniable, the human side of this work often remains hidden. To bridge this gap, Sermersuaq, a documentary as part of the outreach initiative led by former AXA Postdoctoral Fellow Marc Oliva from University of Barcelona, follows the NEOARCTIC project, offering a rare and intimate look at the human and scientific dimensions of climate change in the Arctic. It takes viewers on an extraordinary journey to one of the most remote and fragile regions of the planet—Qaanaaq, Northern Greenland, far above the Polar Circle. The project seeks to elevate awareness of the Arctic's critical role in the global climate system, cultivate empathy by showcasing the human impact of climate change, and drive action by emphasizing the interplay of science, tradition, and resilience. Sermersuaq brings this reality to life by intertwining the stories of Michael Jensen, an Inuit hunter, and Professor Marc Oliva, both are united by a shared mission: to preserve Greenland’s great ice sheet, the Sermersuaq, and protect the future of our planet. Directed by the renowed filmmaker Patrizia Bruno, this documentary uniquely blends the lived experiences of Inuit communities with cutting-edge climate research, offering unprecedented access to Qaanaaq’s traditions and the NEOARCTIC scientific project, while celebrating resilience and amplifying unheard voices to highlight the Arctic’s global significance and the urgent need for collective climate action The documentary has achieved remarkable success, with screenings at over 10 international film festivals and multiple awards celebrating its compelling storytelling. More than just a documentary, Sermersuaq serves as a powerful call to action.  This documentary, that was also showcased at UNOC 2025 in Nice, not only educates but also inspires, urging audiences to view the Arctic not as a distant frontier, but as an essential and interconnected part of our shared home. Explore their insightful documentary through the AXA Research Fund Youtube channel: Sermersuaq - Scientists, Inuits and Climate Change in the Greenlands

### Storm Force – Online Game to Educate Children on Storm Surges

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/storm-force-online-game-to-educate-children-on-storm-surges
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Emiliano RENZI

In Europe, storms are the main reason for flooding at the coast, especially if they arrive at high tide. The larger-than-usual sea levels that storms create – called ‘storm surges’ – can be several metres taller than ordinary waves, meaning they can crash over sea walls and defences. Coastal flooding can cause extreme damage and also result in deaths – an example being Hurricane Katrina, which flooded New Orleans in August 2005 and killed  more than 1,500 people . Online game aims to save lives by educating children on how to identify storm surges. Dr Emiliano Renzi , a Loughborough academic and former AXA postdoctoral fellows developed  an online game to help save lives by teaching children how to identify early warnings of coastal flooding. ‘ Storm Force ’ is a free, online, educational game, primarily for children aged 12 and above, which builds on half-a-decade of research. Storm Force builds on Dr Renzi’s research and looks to increase public awareness of risks in coastal areas. Players take the role of an up-and-coming cadet with the fictional Storm Force – an organisation dedicated to researching storm surges to better prepare at-risk locations. Each level, the players must battle against the clock to evacuate citizens from the waterfront whilst also collecting supplies and valuable data. Topical information is scattered throughout the game, teaching players what causes coastal flooding, how to spot the warning signs and what they can do to save lives. Storm Force also introduces players to underwater acoustic signals, which are generated by storms as they approach the coast. The main objective of Dr Renzi’s research is to improve the capability of predicting coastal flooding by using such signals. They travel much faster than storm surges so detecting and understanding them can provide more time to make necessary preparations and even evacuate communities. Dr Renzi has been conducting research into coastal flooding for the past years. His work in this area started when he was awarded an  AXA Fellowship  whilst at University College Dublin. Dr Renzi says playing Storm Force can be beneficial to children and adults – even those that live in land-locked locations. He said: “ Being able to spot the early warnings of coastal flooding is very useful, especially if you live by or go on holiday near the coast. By playing the game, players will be able to identify the mechanisms that create a storm surge and the risks associated with it. They will also be able to make an informed decision on whether to evacuate a beach if they see a thunderstorm far at sea. This will reduce the number of accidents involving unaware bathers being swept out to sea by storm surges .” As well as teaching players about coastal flooding, Storm Force stresses that it is everyone’s responsibility to take an active stance in climate change mitigation. Dr Renzi said: “ The ocean is never too far away, and it affects every living being on the planet. Human activities can affect the ocean on a global scale. Therefore, we have the power to influence such events, no matter where we live. I think the format of the game is ideal to raise children’s interest in our oceans, to help them understand the vital role they play in our lives and the profound implications of climate change on a global scale. I also hope the game will inspire their interest in scientific research, and help them appreciate the role of research in mitigating risks.” Storm Force has been funded by the  AXA Research Fund  and developed by games studio  Team Cooper . Try Storm Force Here!

### Computer Games on Crowd Evacuations

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/computer-games-on-crowd-evacuations
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Nikolai BODE

How do you encourage people in the midst of an emergency to stay calm and prioritize their safety over their possessions? University of Bristol researcher Nikolai Bode, former AXA Post doc fellow Nikolai Bode, devised a game to help, by encouraging players to be more risk-awareand better prepared for crowd evacuation. More than providing actual evacuation advice (which strongly depend on each specific context), the game was intended to raise awareness on the risks inherent to crowd evacuation, allowing people confront their own behaviors and biases in crisis situation so they can act in the most appropriate way when facing a similar situation in the real world. Studies into human behaviour in emergencies have shown that the decisions people make during evacuations, be it the exit they choose or whether they collect their personal belongings, can cause significant delays. Evacuation drills can prove an effective remedy in improving safety and response, but they have limitations. For instance, testing the evacuation procedure for every large football stadium design before it is built would be prohibitively expensive. Increasingly, researchers are turning to mathematical or computational models to provide a solution, predicting how crowds of people might move through a building based on assumptions about ordinary human behaviour. "The trouble is, the assumptions and consequently the models, are not always accurate," said  Dr Nikolai Bode , who has devised a series of virtual experiments, packaged as ' the Evac Game ', which have been tested out on more than 4,000 people aged seven to 77, encouraging them to act out the way they would respond in an emergency. "Experiments can be expensive and simulating crowd evacuations could be stressful, meaning people might get hurt. So we needed to find additional approaches for research. Using virtual environments to conduct experiments offers us a safe and controlled way to see how people behave in emergencies." The game has three levels, each of which tests how people make decisions based on the behaviour of others, the risks involved, where the exit routes are, how long the queues are to leave a building and perception of time pressure. Each level is directly derived from a scientific experiment. Participants, or gamers, are presented with a top-down view of a building floorplan that contains one simulated pedestrian who is controlled via mouse clicks, as well as a computer-controlled pedestrian crowd. As part of the research project, the different levels of the game were played by over 4,000 people. Some of them were visitors at the London Science Museum, others at public outreach events at the University of Essex where Dr Bode began his research, and some participated as part of a larger study on pedestrian movements in Düsseldorf, Germany. Amongst other findings, Dr Bode and his team found that when under time pressure, significantly fewer people were willing or able to adjust their decisions on which exit to use, even if this meant they had to wait in a queue for longer. Dr Bode has since been carrying out further research and considering adapting the game for use by event planners, architects and safety stewards, in the hope that the interactive experience it offers could be useful for designing safe evacuation procedures., as well as exploring whether the game could be incorporated into online safety training courses.

### Climate Change Impact on Coasts

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/climate-change-impact-on-coasts
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Roshanka RANASINGHE

Coastal zones around the world are on the frontlines of climate change, facing unprecedented challenges from rising sea levels, shifting wave conditions, intensifying storm surges, and altered river flows. These changes threaten not only the physical landscape but also the livelihoods, infrastructure, and safety of millions of people. Recognizing the urgent need for action, AXA Chair in Climate Change Impacts and Coastal Risks, Professor Roshanka Ranasinghe, led a groundbreaking outreach project at IHE Delft to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public awareness. To prepare highly vulnerable and low-adaptive-capacity countries for climate change impacts on their coastlines, raising awareness among frontline professionals, the general public, and younger generations is essential. The project therefore aimed to empower those coastal communities by equipping them with accessible, actionable information about the risks they face and the strategies they can adopt to adapt. The project delivered two key resources designed to make complex scientific insights understandable and actionable for a broad audience. -          The first was a visually engaging booklet that used a combination of illustrations and graphics to showcase the diverse impacts of climate change on coastlines. -          The second resource was an interactive online PowerPoint presentation that delved deeper into the scientific drivers of coastal impacts and provided a methodological framework for developing effective adaptation strategies. Together, these tools served as a vital first step in raising awareness and fostering resilience in some of the world’s most at-risk regions. Supported by the AXA Research Fund, this outreach project was a collaborative effort involving Professor Ranasinghe and his team, including Trang Duong and Ali Dastgheib. By translating cutting-edge research into practical, user-friendly formats, the project not only increased awareness of climate change impacts on coasts but also laid the groundwork for informed, on-the-ground adaptation measures. This effort has made a lasting contribution to empowering communities to face the challenges of a changing climate with knowledge and preparedness. For further insights, explore the booklet and PowerPoint presentation .

### Geo-Education Outreach Project on Emerging Contaminants

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/geo-education-outreach-project-on-emerging-contaminants
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Natalia OSPINA-ALVAREZ

This outreach project, related to the ISPETI-project funded by the AXA Research Fund, highlighted the importance of sampling and extraction methods to identify environmental risks related to thallium. The project was focused in thallium - and other elements such as antimony and arsenic- as examples of Emerging Contaminants in the environment. Modern technologies to determine the concentration of toxic materials in soil, water and food might become an integral part of the environmental policy for example in mining regions with a growing population, and increased demand for land, soil and water. Schools, out-of-school projects, museums, and other educational venues provide exceptional opportunities to initiate a dialogue between scientists, the public and decision-makers. HD video is available in  English  and  German . More information here Projects - Natalia Ospina-Alvarez PhD

### Levering Knowledge Gaps To Understand And Anticipate Risk From Methylmercury Exposure

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/levering-knowledge-gaps-to-understand-and-anticipate-risk-from-methylmercury-exposure
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Lars-Eric HEIMBURGER

This project from Former AXA Fellow explored mercury exposure in the Arctic, a region highly vulnerable to contamination, serving as a model for global exposure pathways. It included Arctic expeditions on the icebreaker Polarstem, sharing experiences through public photo exhibitions, movies, and seminars in France and port cities along the Mediterranean coast. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about mercury risks from fish consumption, offering simple, individual mercury exposure tests via hair analysis. Results will be shared online, targeting over 500 people directly and reaching more than 5,000 through social media, with the goal of promoting safer fish consumption and environmental awareness. Read the interview in French : Lars-Éric Heimbürger-Boavida, chercheur au CNRS : « de fortes concentrations de mercure chez les animaux arctiques et leurs consommateurs humains » - Le Parisien

### Antarctica Science Awareness

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/antarctica-science-awareness
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Outlooks
Researchers: Marc OLIVA

Antarctica, a continent of extremes and unparalleled importance to Earth’s natural systems, remains one of the least understood and most remote regions of the planet. Despite its critical role in regulating global climate and its unique ecosystems, public awareness of Antarctica is often limited to dramatic and catastrophic narratives about climate change, leaving its rich natural heritage and scientific significance largely untold. Marc Oliva, a former AXA Postdoctoral Fellow from the University of Barcelona, embarked on an ambitious project to uncover the secrets of Antarctica’s climate history, a journey that has now reached its conclusion. Supported by the AXA Research Fund, his research focused on analyzing lacustrine sediments—layers of material deposited in lakes—to reconstruct the climate evolution of Antarctica over the past 10,000 years. This innovative approach provided a cost-efficient means of gathering critical data about the region’s climate, offering insights into the delicate balance between natural climate variability and the impact of human activities on the continent’s current warming trends. To complement the scientific research, the project also prioritized outreach and awareness-raising activities. Beginning in September 2018, these efforts aimed to bring the mysteries of Antarctica closer to the public and inspire a deeper understanding of polar research. A variety of initiatives were undertaken, including video conferences broadcast directly from Antarctica, exhibitions, school talks, and interactive street stands. Lectures were also delivered at the Spanish and Chinese research bases in Antarctica, as well as at the University Complutense of Madrid, with additional talks held in Spain during the spring. The project’s impact extended beyond public engagement. At the University of Barcelona, two research groups were created to enhance the visibility of polar studies: the “Antarctic, Arctic and Alpine Environments” (ANTALP) and the multidisciplinary “Espai Antàrtida” group. Together, these initiatives have laid the groundwork for a lasting legacy, ensuring that the importance of understanding Antarctica’s climate continues to resonate within both the scientific community and the broader public. For more info : Dissemination Articles, Internal Documents, Reports, Videos - Marc Oliva, PhD

### Chaire Aging UP!

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/chaire-aging-up
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Thomas RAPP

By 2040, it is anticipated that 350,000 people will lose their autonomy due to the ageing of the population. In this context, the French policy on ageing well is based on two main objectives: keeping  people at home and preventing the loss of autonomy. In the absence of reliable data, our autonomy policies are not sufficiently focused on the expectations of people and those around them.   The objective of the Chaire AgingUP!, held by Prof. Thomas Rapp, is to better understand people's expectations with regard to options for managing loss of autonomy. By combining qualitative and quantitative methods, we identify the preferences of older people and their entourage for the organization of autonomy care, the prevention of loss of autonomy, and its financing .   The AgingUP! surveys aim to identify the trade-offs acceptable to older people and their carers between home care and entry into nursing homes, and preferences with regard to prevention strategies, such as ICOPE (WHO). The data from these surveys make it possible to define a long-term care and prevention offer that meets people's expectations, particularly with regard to factors such as the quality of care, well-being and affordability. The results will help guide public policies towards greater efficiency, and guide investments to increase the value of care.

### AGENOMICS : Using Genomic Data from Centenarians and Longitudinal Cohorts to Develop New Anti-Aging Strategies

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/agenomics-using-genomic-data-from-centenarians-and-longitudinal-cohorts-to-develop-new-anti-aging-strategies
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Jean-François DELEUZE

Age-associated diseases are numerous and heterogeneous in their manifestations and evolution, and they constitute a major public health challenge. They lead to dependency, reductions in quality-adjusted life expectancy, and overall mortality. Consequently, improved therapeutic and preventive strategies are urgently needed.  Centenarians represent a striking counterexample, with a healthy life expectancy significantly higher than the general population. Centenarians have resisted cancer and escaped the diseases of advanced age. In France, there were 29,995 of them in 2022, with a projection reaching approximately 211,000 people by 2070. A major explanation is the genetic/epigenetic component, as shown by the centenarians in the Chronos cohort (more than 1,000 centenarians born between 1880 and 1900 experienced war, famine, and less medicalization).  The AGENOMICS project led by Jean-François Deleuze, in collaboration with Jean-François Zagury, aims to e xploit advances in genomics to investigate the genetic determinants of age‑related diseases and longevity by analyzing a cohort of centenarians . It is based on the partnership of 3 internationally recognized research teams, the CEPH, a pioneer in human genetics, the CNRGH, the French national center dedicated to the sequencing of human genomes, and the GBCM Laboratory of Cnam, expert in the bioinformatics exploitation of genomic data.   Thanks to the unique cohorts of the AGENOMICS project and the revival of a European collaboration, the consortium will identify genetic and epigenetic markers associated with susceptibility or enhenced resilience to age-related diseases (neurodegenerative, cancers, infections). These markers are useful as diagnostic and predictive tools for ageing well. The genotype–phenotype associations discovered should also clarify underlying molecular mechanisms, facilitating the rational identification of candidate molecules and intervention strategies to modulate aging and promote healthy aging.  This project should help us understand the mechanisms at play in "healthy" aging, to develop screening tests for age-related fragilities, and propose active agents that can beneficially modulate aging. 

### Medicine and Humanities Program

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/medicine-and-humanities-program
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Emmanuel DIDIER

Today, medical humanities departments are flourishing in universities around the world. An interdisciplinary reflection is underway, building a new knowledge on medicine within the framework of the social sciences. This knowledge is made available to practitioners, with a view to a modern medicine that is more aware of its approaches and more attentive to the condition of patients.   Anchored at the crossroads of Science and Literature, the ENS is at the forefront of interdisciplinary research. It is therefore an ideal setting for the Medicine and Humanities program.  The Medicine and Humanities program, directed by Emmanuel Didier, is a program of Ecole normale supérieure open to medical student who wish to complete their professional training with an adapted curriculum at the highest level in the Humanities. It is a program of excellence where students can relate the general principles of the humanities to the most novel questions raised by the knowledge and practices of medicine.   Each year, 5 medical students are recruited at the end of a competitive examination and join a Literature department of the ENS. Students receive a scholarship of €1,000 per month for 3 years, in addition to a housing opportunity granted by the ENS.  The three years of the Medicine-Humanities program allow students to obtain, in parallel with medical studies, a Master's degree in Humanities and the Diploma of ENS.   The ambition of this project is to train doctors who are more attentive to the human and social problems inherent in medicine, concerned with the ethical, social and economic problems that this discipline raises.  

### Mother AI : Early Detection of Motor Disorders in Children

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mother-ai-early-detection-of-motor-disorders-in-children
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: François JOUEN, Jean BERGOUNIOUX

The motor activity of infants is very characteristic and very homogeneous in the sense that each child in an age group presents movements or sequences of movements that are directly related to his age and characteristic of it. If a discrepancy between these motor skills and the child's age appears, it may be either a simple delay in acquisition, or a sign that an underlying disease is hindering the child's progress. For example, most infectious, metabolic, genetic or neurological diseases will modify this spontaneous motor skills.   This project led by François Jouen and Jean Bergounioux consists of early detection of serious illnesses in children under the age of two, whether acute or chronic, constitutional or acquired, using computer vision. This system will make it possible to analyze the child's spontaneous motor skills very precisely, to recognize whether it is normal, abnormal or if it corresponds to a particular disease. It offers caregivers, wherever they are, an early diagnosis aid that allows the practitioner to be guided towards the right decision and thus better anticipate the risks of developing a severe neuromotor impairment.  

### Sharing Behavior and Risk Attitudes in the Urban World

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/sharing-behavior-and-risk-attitudes-in-the-urban-world
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Joint Research Initiative
Researchers: Marco PERCOCO

Spurred with the growth of Uber and Airbnb, the sharing economy has disrupted a number of industries, profoundly changing the face of urban markets. In a Joint Research Initiative (JRI) with AXA Italy, Prof. Marco Percoco, associate professor of transport and urban economics at Università Bocconi in Milan, aims to study the impact of innovative and collaborative business models on consumers’ behaviour and on the structure of existing markets for transport and housing. The project’s overarching goal is to provide policy briefs with the geography of regulatory frameworks and of public actions to be undertaken. 

### Just Culture for Managing Human Aspects of Cyber Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/just-culture-for-managing-human-aspects-of-cyber-risk
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Barnaby CRAGGS

Cyber security work, and particularly risk mitigation, has often focussed upon technical advancement, the role of humans being viewed as little more than a hazard, one who through error or mistake (intentional or otherwise) is at fault or to blame for security problems. Whilst this may be true to some extent – the human is an intrinsic component of any system socio-technical or organisational – the culture of blame has led to a misconception that better security comes from better systems, where better smarter technology ideally removes the need for or use by humans.  In May 2017, the ransomware WannaCry targeted Microsoft Windows XP based computers around the globe. Speculation immediately turned to the role of the user in perhaps having clicked a malicious link, propagating the spread of the worm. In the United Kingdom the National Health Service (NHS) was crippled, surgical operations were cancelled, and the attack was estimated to have cost in excess of £92M. In the days and weeks after WannaCry surfaced, much attention was paid to whom was to blame for the attack. The list of potentially blameworthy parties was long and the need to find a cause, or person/party, responsible is somewhat fundamental to human nature, as to not do so implies a loss of control and is distressing. The reality is they all played a role. But the initial race to assign blame did nothing to help understand and dissect the problem, nor to ensure it could not happen again. The reason being that when blame is applied to error, especially very public potentially life-threatening error, all parties are keen to separate themselves from being held accountable. And when the users, owners, developers and maintainers of a system all actively seek to avoid what might be a punitive situation, the facts of what and how something occurred become lost in obfuscation.  Being able to identify, recognise and learn from those errors and risks is fundamental in designing better, less risky, more resilient systems. However, the very viewpoint of seeing humans as merely users, and worse still the ones to blame for those errors, creates an obstacle to gaining this perspective.  Objective  This fellowship is designed to capture this perspective, by furthering development of the new Security Ergonomics paradigm, proposed as being a key requirement for designing and implementing security in complex socio-technical systems. By developing novel methodology, based upon work from the Human Factors / Ergonomics (HF/E) field, this fellowship will provide a transformative understanding for managing human aspects of cyber risk – providing empirical grounding on if, how and why humans, when empowered, can actually be security heroes more than the colloquial weakest-link by overcoming barriers to understanding cyber risk.  Just Culture as Methodology  The failings of blame culture in understanding incidents have long been understood in safety-aware domains such as aviation and healthcare. To counter this, Just Culture provides a culture of trust, learning and accountability ,creating a safe environment, after an incident has occurred, within which interactions between the components of socio-technical systems, including organisations, can be understood. Further, Just Culture draws a line between blameless and blameworthy actions and allows for an iterative and continuous system improvement towards removing active failure (human error). Rather than merely applying new technology to the problem or engineering the human-in-the-loop out, Just Culture provides method for gathering foundational knowledge of how human error has occurred – it is about understanding the risk to the system based upon prior events.  By way of an example; current research looking to understand the cyber security risks within UK universities has highlighted that of those interviewed all have policies around the use of IT (often referred to as “acceptable usage policy”) and how disciplinary action (blame) may result in the event of transgression (active failure / human error). However, no university has actually expressed any formal distinction between deliberate and inadvertent human error. Nor does there appear to be any consistency in how such policies are applied with, in general, a culture of overall leniency towards all cyber security related error.  This would be consistent with prior work, looking at security cultures, finding that “organisations fail to work in a coherent manner” and tend to a culture-based approach to organisational behaviour and work. This cultural leniency shares similarities with aspects of Just Culture, and this less formal approach to handling cyber events may well be evident in other organisations. However, with no current academic research into the use of Just Culture for cyber security, it is necessary to first understand the extent of blame cultures, and secondly assist in shifting organisational culture towards that position of being able to understand cyber risk.  Impact  The empirical insights into how, by using Just Culture, organisations can gain a clearer view on when, how and why cyber events occur will be unique in the field of cyber security and cyber risk management. Moreover, this work provides a paradigm shift in how humans are viewed—as an integral component of the system rather than merely a user–and hence how they are engaged in understanding and managing risk within complex socio-technical systems. 

### Securing Smart Device Using Smarter Binary Analysis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/securing-smart-device-using-smarter-binary-analysis
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Giuseppe Antonio DI LUNA

Hackers are increasingly targeting IoT devices as a place to implant malware. One way to reduce these threats is to mass analyze the firmware inside these systems looking for vulnerabilities. The recipient of an AXA Post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Giuseppe Antonio Di Luna, of the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), is building new machine learning techniques capable of analyzing the code contained in the firmware in it raw binary form. The aim is to facilitate automated analyses of a very large number of firmware, to mitigate hazards to their users, or the threat of coordinated attacks on public networks. The result of his research will be released under an open-source license. 

### Baby Crying : a Tool to Assess Neurodevelopmental Risk

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/baby-crying-a-tool-to-assess-neurodevelopmental-risk
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Nicolas MATHEVON

Although part of the daily lives of millions of humans, babies' crying remains poorly understood. The information encoded in the cries allows the baby's caregivers to adapt their response to the baby's demands. However, deciphering and interpreting newborns' cries remains a real challenge for many parents as well as for perinatal professionals. A particular challenge is to identify through crying risks or pathological problems that the baby is facing.   Does the crying of a newborn make it possible to assess a future neurological risk at an early stage? 

### CHRONOS-SARC : Preventing loss of autonomy in older patients by improving the diagnosis of sarcopenia and muscle monitoring with innovative high-definition surface electromyography technology

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/chronos-sarc-preventing-loss-of-autonomy-in-older-patients-by-improving-the-diagnosis-of-sarcopenia-and-muscle-monitoring-with-innovative-high-definition-surface-electromyography-technology
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Kiyoka KINUGAWA-BOURRON

Sarcopenia is a serious muscle-related condition because it is associated with a loss of autonomy, an increased risk of falls, and higher mortality rates among older people. It is common among the older people and carries significant medico-economic costs. In France, nearly 3 million people aged 70+ are hospitalised at least once a year, and 1.6 million people aged 80+ are hospitalised each year. Furthermore, up to 23% of older adults admitted to geriatric wards are sarcopenic (EWGSOP2 definition; Bertschi, 2021). 

### ODYCÉ: Perinatal Exposure to Omega 3 and 6 During the "First 1,000 days" and Dys Disorders in Children

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/odyce-perinatal-exposure-to-omega-3-and-6-during-the-first-1000-days-and-dys-disorders-in-children
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Barbara HEUDE

The first 1,000 days of life represent a critical period for brain development, during which perinatal exposure to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may influence child’s neurodevelopment. While associations between PUFAs and IQ, autism spectrum disorder, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have already been documented, their links with specific learning disorders ("dys" disorders) — which affect 7% of children and have major consequences — remain unexplored. Few epidemiological studies have addressed this issue, despite the lasting impact of these disorders on academic performance and quality of life.

### Brain mosaicism in epilepsy: targeted molecular and therapeutic bases

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/brain-mosaicism-in-epilepsy-targeted-molecular-and-therapeutic-bases
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Stéphanie BAULAC

Brain mosaicism plays a key role in several neurodevelopmental diseases, including focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). Focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) are rare brain malformations that occur during fetal development. These malformations affect the cerebral cortex - the brain's region responsible for complex neurological functions, such as intelligence, voluntary movement and   consciousness. FCDs manifest in young children as epilepsy that is resistant to conventional antiepileptic drugs, often accompanied by developmental delays.    The treatment of FCDs frequently requires major brain surgery to remove the area generating epileptic seizures . However, successful surgery cases concern only 50% of patients, and in other cases, the operation is not an option due to surgical inaccessibility. Treatment of FCDs therefore represents a major medical   challenge with an urgent need for new therapeutic approaches . 

### Characterization of the Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/characterization-of-the-genetics-of-alzheimers-disease
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Jean-Charles LAMBERT

Described as the "disease of the century", Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most feared diseases, affecting more or less all families. The projections from the PAQUID study, supplemented by estimates from the National System for Diagnosis and Care (SNDS), estimate that 1,750,000 people will suffer from dementia in 2030 in France. However, despite these already major impacts, our ability to manage this disease is limited, due to the lack of early diagnosis tools and an effective therapeutic arsenal. In this context, studying the genetic component of AD appears to be an essential approach because of its importance (estimated at between 60 and 80% of the attributable risk in twin studies) 

### Healthy Aging Intervention Study : ICOPE TRIAL.Fr

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/healthy-aging-intervention-study-icope-trialfr
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Bruno VELLAS

Public health and medicine are facing an unprecedented increase in the number of older people whose medical needs are not fully met. Currently, medicine focuses on the treatment of proven diseases and prevention efforts are often limited to screening and vaccination of a very limited number of diseases. Thus, life expectancy has increased to 80 years on average in Europe, but healthy life expectancy is limited to around 67 years.  

### TAKE CARE :  Preventing Iatrogenic Dependence Related to Hospitalization in Elderly Patients with Neurocognitive Disorders

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/take-care-preventing-iatrogenic-dependence-related-to-hospitalization-in-elderly-patients-with-neurocognitive-disorders
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Jacques BODDAERT

The number of dependent elderly people is expected to double in France between 2010 and 2060, from 1.1 to 2.3 million. Hospitalization precipitates dependency due to care and an environment that is not adapted to the needs of the elderly, particularly when they have AAD. Iatrogenic hospitalization-related dependence (IDLH) affects 10 to 30% of elderly patients, i.e. at least 150,000 elderly patients per year in France, but could be avoided 8 times out of 10, by screening, correcting and preventing 6 key factors: immobilization, confusion, malnutrition, falls, urinary incontinence and adverse drug reactions. 

### ExpoMIN: Influence of Environmental Exposures to Air Pollutants and PFAS on the occurrence of Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/expomin-influence-of-environmental-exposures-to-air-pollutants-and-pfas-on-the-occurrence-of-sudden-unexpected-death-in-infancy-sudi
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: David BOELS

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUDI) is the leading cause of infant mortality in France between 1 month and 1 year of age, with approximately 300 deaths each year. Despite thorough post-mortem investigations, nearly half of these deaths remain unexplained. According to the “triple risk” model, SUDI may result from a combination of an infant’s intrinsic vulnerability, a critical developmental period, and exposure to external stressors — particularly environmental factors. However, the effects of air pollution and persistent chemical substances such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) remain largely understudied in this context.   

### Prevention of Falls for Vigorous Elderly People

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/prevention-of-falls-for-vigorous-elderly-people
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Laure DE DECKER

The ageing of the population and the desire to age at home pose the major challenge of maintaining autonomy in people over 80 years of age and preventing falls, which is one of the first markers of the loss of autonomy. In addition, the repercussions of the deterioration of autonomy also impact the social life of the elderly, who will reduce their physical activities, their outings and gradually isolate themselves for fear of relapse, accelerating the process of loss of autonomy.   Developing a care pathway that integrates advanced practice nurses in primary care trained in geriatrics becomes essential. 

### Towards personalized medicine in Parkinson's disease

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/towards-personalized-medicine-in-parkinsons-disease
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Christine BREFEL-COURBON

Parkinson's disease currently affects more than 200,000 patients in France. The heterogeneity of its symptoms makes a personalized medicine approach necessary to improve their quality of life.

### OMIN X: Intervention to Optimize Parenting Practices for Sleep to Reduce Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/omin-x-intervention-to-optimize-parenting-practices-for-sleep-to-reduce-sudden-unexpected-death-in-infancy-sudi
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Fabien FENOUILLET

Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is defined as the sudden and unexplained death of an infant under one year of age when there was nothing in its known history to suggest it and the cause of which is not obvious before investigation. This tragedy affects thousands of families every year. In France, SUDI’s death rate is one of the highest in Europe with about 300 deaths per year, despite prevention campaigns. Parents' implementation of safe sleeping recommendations is suboptimal. In 2021, 20% of 2-month-old infants not lying exclusively on their back (ENP 2021). 

### BIOMINRISK: : Biomarker-Based Risk Stratification of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/biominrisk-biomarker-based-risk-stratification-of-sudden-unexpected-death-in-infancy
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Fleur LORTON

Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is defined as the death of an infant under 2 years of age that occurs suddenly and without an obvious cause. In France, SUDI is the leading cause of post-neonatal infant mortality with about 300 deaths per year, one of the highest incidences in Europe.   Each death is likely the result of the interaction of several factors that vary from situation to situation, making it very difficult to identify a single cause. Although external risk factors (sleep environment, exposure to tobacco/drugs during pregnancy) and internal vulnerability (genetic, anatomical, biological) have been identified, 50 to 70% of SUDI cases remain unexplained, leaving bereaved families without answers and hindering the development of prevention strategies. 

### Evidence-Based Growth Monitoring (EBGM)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/evidence-based-growth-monitoring-ebgm
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Pauline SCHERDEL

Growth monitoring aims to identify severe pediatric health conditions early and improve their prognosis. Substantial empirical evidence shows that current growth monitoring practices are suboptimal, with very long diagnostic delays (on average 2.3 to 5.2 years) for some severe conditions, and a large number of futile referrals of children (on average 95%) with non-pathological variants of growth. This may be due to a lack of validated, personalized, and effective tools for identifying abnormal growth in children.

### The Role of Financial Institutions in Mitigating Rising Economic Inequalities

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/the-role-of-financial-institutions-in-mitigating-rising-economic-inequalities
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Inequalities have far-reaching consequences, including impeding human capital development, eroding social cohesion, exacerbating polarization, increasing vulnerabilities in the financial sector, and restraining economic dynamism—ultimately threatening long-term stability. Large institutional investors, such as AXA, as universal owners, have a critical stake in addressing the growing economic disparities to support stronger societal, economic, and financial performance over the long term, typically by investing in companies that safeguard human rights, ensure good work conditions, advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, and create products and services that benefit all income classes. In the scope of these actions, the high levels of income inequalities and their relationship to wage policies, demand further investigation. In an era marked by growing disparities, the OECD Centre on Well-Being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE Centre) and the AXA Research Fund are embarking on a critical mission to explore how financial institutions can serve as catalysts for reducing inequality. This partnership brings together the OECD’s expertise in economic and social policy with the AXA Research Fund’s commitment to advancing knowledge that addresses global challenges. This research initiative seeks to address a critical gap in the current evidence and knowledge base by providing deeper insights into the role of investors and financial institutions in influencing changes in economic inequalities and to provide actionable recommendations for investors to address these issues in their investment processes.  The partnership may also enhance existing knowledge and evidence on how investors and businesses influence people and inequality, while also guiding asset managers in developing strategies to address excessive inequality within the market economy. Such efforts could bridge research gaps and provide valuable input to the technical working groups and the TISFD research network. Through this collaboration, the OECD WISE Centre and the AXA Research Fund aim to bridge the gap between research and action, offering evidence-based solutions to one of the most pressing issues of our time. This partnership aspires to create a future where economic growth is inclusive, sustainable, and shared by all. This initiative is not just about understanding inequality—it is about transforming the financial sector into a force for more sustainable and equitable distributions of economic resources. In doing so, it supports the OECD Observatory on Social Mobility and Equal Opportunity by providing fresh insights into how the private sector can help address rising inequality and foster a more level playing field. For more details about their initiatives, please visit their websites:  WISE | OECD and Observatory on Social Mobility and Equal Opportunity | OECD

### Accelerating drug innovation with the Euridis school and its DDD Challenge

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/accelerating-drug-innovation-with-the-euridis-school-and-its-ddd-challenge
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Laurence SABATIER

The discovery and development of new medicines is a long, complex, and highly regulated process. Yet, many severe pathologies still lack effective treatments: aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma or metastatic breast tumors, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, neurodegenerative and demyelinating disorders, as well as chronic pain and inflammatory syndromes that are often only managed symptomatically. France has considerable assets and internationally recognized expertise at every stage of the therapeutic innovation cycle, from fundamental research to clinical evaluation. However, the national drug development ecosystem remains fragmented at the academic level and is insufficiently connected to the network of biotechnology companies. These companies have proven to be critical drivers of breakthrough therapeutic strategies, particularly in addressing new medical challenges. Strengthening integration between academic, clinical, and industrial stakeholders is therefore essential to accelerate the availability of innovative solutions, shorten development timelines, and respond to major unmet medical needs. 

### New Molecule to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Childhood Sepsis

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/new-molecule-to-combat-antibiotic-resistant-childhood-sepsis
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Nalini RAMA RAO

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health issue. According to the WHO, 5 million people die each year worldwide because of antibiotic resistance.  By 2050, antibiotic-resistant infections could become the leading cause of death worldwide, with 10 million cases per year if no action is taken. Thus, the identification and characterization of new molecules targeting innovative bacterial targets and original mechanisms of action is urgent, particularly with regard to the main pathogens involved in sepsis. Sepsis is a generalized inflammatory response to a serious infection resulting in loss of organ function and a life-threatening risk to the patient.  Neonatal sepsis is the 3rd leading cause of neonatal death in the world with 350,000 deaths per year, 2/3 of which are due to resistant bacteria.   

### ENCode-ID: Elucidating the contribution of coding and Non-Coding genomic variations to Intellectual Disability for therapeutic discovery

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/encode-id-elucidating-the-contribution-of-coding-and-non-coding-genomic-variations-to-intellectual-disability-for-therapeutic-discovery
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Laïla EL KHATTABI

Intellectual disability, also referred to as intellectual development disorder (IDD), is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes a wide range of disability, profoundly affecting the lives of patients and their families. IDD affects 1 to 3% of the world's population, i.e. several million people, hence representing a major public health challenge. It is predominantly of genetic origin and displays the greatest gene heterogeneity of all genetic disorders. Among the main challenges related to IDD are, on the one hand, the lack of molecular diagnosis in more than 50% of cases, despite the use of state-of-the-art genetic technologies, and on the other hand, the lack of therapeutic avenues. EnCode-ID aims to address these by elucidating the impact of different types of genomic variations including those in the non-coding genome.  

### Macu-Life : Lifestyle Exposome and risk of Age-related Macular Degeneration

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/macu-life-lifestyle-exposome-and-risk-of-age-related-macular-degeneration
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Bénédicte MERLE

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual loss in France and industrialized countries. After the age of 80, about 1 in 5 people have AMD. Treatments are limited and do not prevent visual loss. 

### Testing the causal impact of social media around the globe

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/testing-the-causal-impact-of-social-media-around-the-globe
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Steve RATHJE

With more than half of the world’s population using social media, its influence on our lives is undeniable. However, much of the existing research on social media’s effects has been concentrated in the US and UK, leaving a significant gap in understanding how these platforms impact individuals in other parts of the world. Emerging evidence suggests that social media’s effects may vary widely across different cultural, economic, and political contexts. This raises critical questions about its role in shaping polarization, intergroup attitudes, and well-being globally. To address this gap, Dr. Steve Rathje and his team at New York University are leading a global field experiment across 23 countries, involving over 8,000 participants. The project aims to provide rare causal evidence on how social media influences key psychological outcomes, such as polarization, trust, political participation, and belief in misinformation. By examining these effects on a global scale, the study seeks to uncover how social media’s impact varies across diverse cultural and national contexts. The methodology of this ambitious project is modelled after prior social media deactivation studies. Participants will be incentivized to reduce their social media screen time for two weeks. During this period, researchers will assess changes in their news knowledge, exposure to online hostility, intergroup attitudes, and overall well-being. The study will also explore how country-level factors, such as income inequality and democratic strength, as well as individual differences, moderate the effects of social media cessation. This large-scale field experiment is a collaborative effort involving over 200 researchers from around the world. Pilot studies have already been conducted in the US, UK, and Brazil, and the team is preparing to launch primary data collection soon. The global dataset resulting from this research will offer invaluable insights into the nuanced effects of social media, informing ongoing debates about its role in society.

### Characterization of the Chemical Exposome in the elderly General Population and Relationship to Brain Health

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/characterization-of-the-chemical-exposome-in-the-elderly-general-population-and-relationship-to-brain-health
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Cécilia SAMIERI

The risk factors for dementia, which affects 1.2 million people in France and 50 million worldwide, are only partially understood. A vulnerability of the brain throughout life to environmental chemical agents has been established. However, only a tiny fraction of the tens of thousands of chemical substances on the market have been studied and the extent of this chemical exposome is unknown

### Head and Heart Chair

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/head-and-heart-chair
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Laurence LEGEAI-MALLET, Sigolène MEILHAC, Jeanne AMIEL

In France, birth defects affect about 3.2% of births each year. Their consequences on children's health make them one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and pediatric hospitalization in developed countries. They therefore remain a major public health issue.  Despite constant advances in research, the genetic origins of these malformations often remain unknown: about 50% of affected children do not yet benefit from an accurate genetic diagnosis, which limits the possibilities of personalized care. 

### MENTALO Project: Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health: Realities and Prevention

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/mentalo-project-adolescent-and-young-adult-mental-health-realities-and-prevention
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Karine CHEVREUL

Adolescents and young adults between the ages of 11 and 24 are experiencing a period of restructuring during which mental ill-being is common and a majority of mental disorders appear. In France, over the last decade, surveys show an increase in malaise and the risk of depression. The numbers of suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalizations corroborate these results. However, mental health remains a taboo subject that many do not want to talk about. Thus, it is necessary to overcome the limitations of existing studies to have a better understanding of the phenomenon while normalizing the subject of mental health.  The MENTALO project led by Karine Chevreul is a longitudinal study co-constructed with 300 adolescents and young adults whose ambition is to acquire knowledge on the state of young people's mental well-being and on the factors associated with greater vulnerability or resilience. A cohort of teenagers and young adults is followed for a year trough a dedicated application.  As of June 2025, the Mentalo study had 16,000+ participants.  The data from Mentalo will make it possible to take stock of the mental well-being of young people and their areas of concern, and to develop adapted programs and interventions, including the development of Mental+, a digital tool for monitoring mental well-being, co-constructed with young people and professionals. Mental+ will allow adults and young adults to assess their mental well-being, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and access personalized resources to take action to strengthen or restore their strength. This system aims to promote autonomy and early prevention .   Mentalo – La 1ère grande étude scientifique nationale pour le bien-être mental des 11-24 ans !

### E-health at the Service of Ageing Well with the ICOPE Program (WHO)

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/e-health-at-the-service-of-ageing-well-with-the-icope-program-who
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Néda TAVASSOLI

For the World Health Organization (WHO), healthy ageing is a right that must be offered to the population. The WHO has identified six key functions (mobility, nutrition, vision, hearing, cognition, psychology) that define a person's intrinsic capacity and are considered necessary for maintaining independence as people age. A dependency prevention program called ICOPE (Integrated Care for Older People) has been developed with the aim of intervening early when one of the 6 functions is altered before the alteration is irreversible. The program is based on the implementation of an integrated care pathway with 4 steps.  After developing the tools necessary for the identification and evaluation of functions (steps 1 and 2), Néda Tavassoli's project proposes to develop tools to monitor the personalized prevention and follow-up interventions of the WHO's ICOPE program (steps 3 to 4).  The interest of the tools will be evaluated in a mixed approach combining qualitative research and quantitative descriptive research.  The overall long-term objective of the project is to delay the loss of autonomy of seniors by facilitating their follow-up by caregivers (digital tools for the management of the ICOPE pathway) and by improving the adherence of seniors to a preventive approach (e-learning platform).  

### CLIMABRAIN: Impacts of Extreme Weather on the Most Vulnerable Living with Alzheimer's disease

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/climabrain-impacts-of-extreme-weather-on-the-most-vulnerable-living-with-alzheimers-disease
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Tarik BENMARHNIA

Over the past ten years, France has experienced the worsening impacts of climate change, through the increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves. These extreme heat episodes are often accompanied by pollution spikes, especially for ozone, which could have immediate and combined adverse health effects. People living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias could be particularly vulnerable to these extreme weather events (heat waves and spikes in air pollution) for several reasons. They often have multiple comorbidities and take medications that may weaken the immune system, impair thermoregulation or reduce sweating, all of which can contribute to increased susceptibility. Cognitive impairments can hinder their understanding of environmental threats and their ability to respond to them, while communication difficulties can limit their ability to express distress or seek help. In addition, reduced mobility or social isolation may further increase their exposure and limit their ability to respond.  However,  the health effects of heat waves and pollution peaks in this specific population are still largely understudied.   

### PréVÉO: Prevention of Ordinary Educational Violence

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/preveo-prevention-of-ordinary-educational-violence
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Olivia PAUL

Ordinary Educational Violence (VEO) is still widely used despite its legal prohibition since 2019. These practices raise crucial questions about children's rights and the quality of family relations. A recent survey indicates that more than 80% of parents in France continue to use VEOs, highlighting the need for targeted intervention and increased awareness. The PréVÉO project, led by Olivia Paul, aims to identify the mechanisms that encourage parents’ use of Ordinary Educational Violence (OEV), as well as to design and evaluate tailored prevention programs. The project also examines the representations and needs of health and education professionals regarding parenting support. PréVÉO raises the critical issue of violent practices that remain used, accepted, and tolerated in the context of childrearing, despite their legal prohibition and the extensive body of research documenting their harmful effects on children’s development. To this end, the project will combine a parental survey with the experimental evaluation of three awareness-raising programs, as well as focus groups with professionals. PréVÉO adopts an intervention-oriented approach with parents to reduce the use of ordinary educational violence by promoting positive parenting practices. In doing so, it seeks to generate an indirect yet significant impact on children’s well-being, while also strengthening the role of professionals in supporting parents. In the long term, PréVÉO aspires to transform practices at the collective level and contribute to lasting societal change, in line with both the law and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

### HerpBioMA - Herpes Virus and Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/herpbioma-herpes-virus-and-alzheimers-disease-biomarkers
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Catherine HELMER

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, affects approximately 50 million people worldwide and 1.2 million in France. This disease is characterized by progressive cognitive decline  - particularly affecting memory - as well as behavioral disorders such as apathy, irritability, and aggressiveness. AD has serious consequences not only for patients but also for those around them, and it represents a significant societal cost. A growing body of evidence suggests a link between herpes viruses - especially herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) - and AD. These viruses may trigger or contribute to the pathological changes associated with AD.  The HerpBioMA project, led by Catherine Helmer, aims to decipher the involvement of the herpes simplex-1 virus (HSV1) - the virus responsible for "cold sores" - in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The project will assess whether HSV1 promotes the development of the main brain lesions of AD and will also identify the genetic and immune factors that promote these lesions in infected people.   This epidemiological research will be based on the B cube cohort, a French population-based study on brain aging.   Through a better understanding of the infectious mechanisms involved in AD, the HerpBioMA project ultimately aims to improve the prevention of cognitive decline and AD, and to pave the way for preventive strategies such as anti-infective or immunomodulatory treatments, or even vaccination

### IBSoFACTo: Identification of Clinical, Genetic, and Bacteriological Factors Involved in the Development of Severe Bacterial Infections in Pediatrics.

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/ibsofacto-identification-of-clinical-genetic-and-bacteriological-factors-involved-in-the-development-of-severe-bacterial-infections-in-pediatrics
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Nicolas VINCE

Severe bacterial infections (SBIs) have become rare in countries with a high economic level but remain severe pathologies responsible for a significant morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. There is great individual variability in the susceptibility of children to develop IBS. Indeed, when they are infected by bacteria, children will, most of the time, present a mild infection, but some will exceptionally develop an invasive bacterial infection. This variability is multifactorial, and the mechanisms at work are not yet fully understood. It has become clear for several years that genetic factors influence the susceptibility to develop IBS and its evolution.  The project led by Nicolas Vince aims to identify clinical, immunological and genetic factors involved in the development of SBI. It relies on a nationwide French cohort of 497 children admitted in pediatric intensive care unit in France. They will be followed up 5-10 years post-infection to evaluate their development, sequelae, and immune-related manifestations (e.g. immune deficiency). Our genetic study will utilize a single biological sample collected from each participant at a single time point during the initial inclusion period to perform whole exome sequencing, focusing on protein coding genome region. This to identify genetic variations influencing the susceptibility of developing SBI. We expect to identify rare, potentially pathogenic variants, whether common to SBI in general or specific to certain pathogens (pneumococcus, meningococcus…) or clinical presentations. Finally, all these children will undergo a standardized immunological evaluation to measure their immune system’s performance. Our IBSoFACTo study aims at preventing SBI consequences by better understanding the mechanisms involved. The integration of clinical, genetic, and immunological data will provide novel insights into pediatric SBI susceptibility. Expected outcomes include therapeutic opportunities targeting dysfunctional proteins, and in the longer term, tailored prevention strategies such as a genetic testing at birth. Ultimately, IBSoFACTo has the potential to  transform early detection, prevention, and management of pediatric sepsis, hence reducing mortality and long-term sequelae.

### CAPRICE: Surveillance of Serious Pediatric Community-Acquired Bacterial Infections in France

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/caprice-surveillance-of-serious-pediatric-community-acquired-bacterial-infections-in-france
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Michaël LEVY

Severe childhood infections still represent a major cause of death (from 5% in high-income countries to 35% in low-income countries) with about 30% of serious sequelae (amputation, neurological impairments, deafness, etc.). Vaccination has led to a decrease in some infections, but it is essential to monitor the emergence of new pathogens for better prevention and understanding of serious infections.  The CAPRICE project, led by Michaël Levy, pediatric intensivist in Strasbourg University Hospital, will be a national prospective multicenter cohort study conducted in all French pediatric intensive care units.  The overall objectives of the project are to assess the number of cases and to describe the clinical characteristics, organ failure, biological and microbiological data of cases of severe community-acquired bacterial invasive infections hospitalized in pediatric intensive care units in France as well as to describe the particularities of the host's inflammatory and immune response.   The long-term impacts are an improvement in the care of the general pediatric population, who will have access to better prevention (vaccines, immunization, information) and early management (information campaign, targeted anti-infective treatments) following the results of this work. 

### Under Antarctica — A Kite-Ski Science Expedition to Map Ice-Sheet Dynamics

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/under-antarctica-a-kite-ski-science-expedition-to-map-ice-sheet-dynamics
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Heidi SEVESTRE, Matthieu TORDEUR

Starting in November 2025, French glaciologist Heidi Sevestre and explorer Matthieu Tordeur will undertake a 3 month unprecedented kite-ski crossing of Antarctica, to do a radar mapping of the ice cover. They will tow 2 ground-penetrating radars to map both old and young ice layers to better predict Antarctica’s future contribution to sea level rise and to support climate change modelling.  The radars will also detect crevasses, englacial lakes, subglacial topography and snow accumulation—a treasure trove of data.  Heidi and Matthieu will cover more than 3,600 kilometers, relying on innovative and environmentally friendly kite-skiing for transport.  Through this one-of-a-kind expedition they will provide critical insights into Earth's climate system—knowledge essential for developing effective strategies to protect biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and adapt to its global impacts.  For more info about the expedition: Under Antarctica Expedition

### Systemic Risk for Transition

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/systemic-risk-for-transition
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Projects
Researchers: Danny RALPH

The world is facing a new era of risk, where global trends, such as climate change, technological advancement, demographic shifts, and increased connectivity are making societies more vulnerable to large-scale, interconnected threats. These “systemic risks” can cascade across sectors and borders, amplifying their impact on health, security, business, and overall wellbeing. This project, co-funded by AXA XL is part of the Cambridge Systemic Risks Hub (CSRH) at the Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies. The research goal is to deepen understanding of systemic risks, with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities arising from the global transition to a low-carbon economy (“climate transition risk”). The shift to a low-carbon economy will have far-reaching effects on geopolitics, technology, social cohesion, and business. By focusing on climate transition risk, the project aims to help societies and businesses anticipate and manage the uncertainties and opportunities of this transformation. The key Research Activities include : Developing scenarios, models, and counterfactual studies that combine insights from natural sciences, economics, politics, and social sciences to map out how systemic risks might unfold. Translating complex research into practical proposals and communication activities to raise awareness and support decision-makers in managing these risks. Maintaining a flexible, responsive research approach, with annual planning cycles to adapt to new findings and emerging threats. This initiative brings together leading researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to foster innovation in risk management and build a more resilient future for all, aiming at informing the insurance industry and broader stakeholders on how to better respond to complex, interconnected risks. It will also support the development of new risk management tools and financial instruments. 

### Tracking Adolescents' Susceptibility to Misinformation in the Digital Age

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/tracking-adolescents-susceptibility-to-misinformation-in-the-digital-age
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Jiemiao CHEN

In the digital age, social media has become a primary source of information for adolescents. While these platforms offer opportunities for social connection and learning, they also expose young people to a vast amount of misinformation which could be false or misleading content that can influence their beliefs and behaviors. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable because their cognitive and critical thinking skills are still developing, and social influences such as peer presence can amplify their susceptibility. The spread of misinformation among youth poses serious health, safety, and societal risks, including participation in harmful challenges, vaccine hesitancy, and the endorsement of conspiracy theories. Understanding how adolescents process and respond to social media content is essential to develop targeted and fool-proof strategies to foster resilience against misinformation and protect their healthy development.    This project seeks to investigate how adolescents perceive, attend to, and judge social media content, with a focus on understanding the visual and social factors that influence their susceptibility to misinformation. By conducting 2 studies to identify what captures their attention and how a highly naturalistic environment impacts their judgments, Dr Chen’s research at Leiden University aims to uncover the underlying cognitive and social mechanisms that make adolescents more vulnerable to false or misleading information online. She even theorizes that susceptibility to misinformation leads to increased costs for insurance companies as misinformation fuels dangerous social media trends which negatively affect adolescents more than adults.    In order to bring this issue to light, the study will employ innovative eye-tracking techniques to observe adolescents’ visual attention as they freely browse social media videos in settings that closely resemble their real-life social experiences. Study 1 will use a remote eye-tracker to examine attention allocation and veracity judgments during social media browsing. Study 2 will employ wearable eye-tracking glasses to investigate how peer presence influences adolescents’ attention and judgments, simulating real-life social interactions. Combined, these studies will generate precise, ecologically valid data on visual attention patterns and decision-making processes related to misinformation.    The findings are expected to reveal key visual and social cues that draw adolescents’ attention and influence their judgments about the truthfulness of social media content.  Insights from this research will even give a peek into adolescent’s information preferences on platforms such as Tik Tok or Instagram that may inform the design of targeted educational programs aimed at enhancing critical thinking and attention management skills among youth. Additionally, the results will support the development of more effective, evidence-based communication strategies for schools, policymakers, and scientific organizations to better engage adolescents on social media platforms. Ultimately, this project aims to contribute to safeguarding adolescent development by promoting informed, critical engagement with digital information, thereby reducing the societal impact of misinformation in the digital age.   

### Treating Neurodevelopmental Disorders Caused by Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Dysfunction with Therapeutic Targets Using Brain Organoids

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/health/treating-neurodevelopmental-disorders-caused-by-ubiquitin-proteasome-system-dysfunction-with-therapeutic-targets-using-brain-organoids
Field of research: Health
Grant type: Mécénat des Mutuelles
Researchers: Stéphane BEZIEAU

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) affect more than 3% of children worldwide. About 5–7% of these, TND-UPS, are caused by mutations in genes in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (1200 genes in total). The UPS system normally participates in protein homeostasis by degrading proteins for recycling. Since 2017, we have identified more than 250 mutations in 30 UPS genes in TND-UPS children and built a unique biocollection (BioTND-UPS) of 300 blood cell samples from children and their healthy parents.  The project led by Stéphane Bezieau aims to better understand the group of severe rare diseases that constitute the TND-UPS. Poorly diagnosed due to a lack of specific biomarkers and no available treatment, TND-UPS leaves patients without a solution for years. The objectives are to identify (i) specific biomarkers allowing early diagnosis, personalized follow-up and better clinical management; and (ii) therapeutic targets paving the way for the development of effective treatments, in order to improve the quality and life expectancy of patients and reduce the socio-economic impact of NSD-UPS.  The project innovates by reproducing in vitro the specific neuronal alterations of patients with TND-UPS, a group of rare neglected diseases, using genetically edited brain organoids. The approach thus illustrates the notion of personalized medicine towards which health professionals are striving, by identifying targeted therapies based on the morphological, cellular and molecular characteristics of mutated cells.  

### Impact of Misinformation & Mistrust on Environmental Issues & Democracy: A Comparative Study

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/socio-economy-new-tech/impact-of-misinformation-mistrust-on-environmental-issues-democracy-a-comparative-study
Field of research: Socio-economy & New Tech
Grant type: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Researchers: Minos Athanasios KARYOTAKIS

Environmental disasters and the way information about them is shared can affect how well democracy works and how people get their information. This can lead to more division among people and society and even allow outside groups to spread false information to make things worse for the country dealing with the disaster. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in today’s digital age, it is alarmingly easy to generate and spread false or misleading information, which can exacerbate these problems.  This project aims to systematically investigate how online misinformation shapes public understanding and responses to environmental crises. Focusing on three global case studies: the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), water pollution in the United States, and European  wildfires  (with an emphasis in Greece), Dr. Karyotakis’ research seeks to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms and impacts of environmental misinformation in diverse geopolitical contexts.  To achieve this, the project will analyze digital news coverage from twelve leading news outlets, including Washington Post, South China Morning Post, Euronews, Politico Europe, utilizing Ideological Discourse Analysis (IDA) to identify patterns of misinformation and the ideological forces behind them. By examining how misinformation is constructed and disseminated in relation to these environmental issues, the study will explore its effects on public perception, trust, and policy-making on environmental issues.   Adopting a comparative approach, the research will reveal both commonalities and unique features of environmental misinformation across different regions, crises and news outlets. This nuanced perspective will clarify how misinformation operates and highlight the specific risks it poses to governance and environmental sustainability across different contexts.   The project’s findings will be made accessible through open-access publications and targeted public engagement initiatives. The research aims to make a tangible impact by equipping policymakers with actionable recommendations to counter the spread of misinformation and restore public confidence. Furthermore, by raising awareness among local communities and the broader public, the project seeks to promote ethical standards in the use of AI and digital communication. Ultimately, these efforts will help strengthen societal resilience, enabling communities and institutions to better confront both environmental crises and the complex information threats that accompany them. 

### DFrisk: Mitigating Debris-Flow Risks in a Warming Climate

URL: https://axafoundation.org/en/science/funded-projects/climate-environment/dfrisk-mitigating-debris-flow-risks-in-a-warming-climate
Field of research: Climate & Environment
Grant type: AXA Chairs
Researchers: Markus STOFFEL

Debris flows (DF) are fast-moving mixtures of water, fine sediments, and rocks that cause widespread destruction in mountain regions, with risks intensifying due to climate change. In the European Alps, warming is occurring 2 to 3 times the global average, accelerating glacier melt, snow cover shrinking and permafrost thaw, thereby destabilizing mountains, triggering more landslides, rockfall, debris flows and cascading hazards that threaten communities and infrastructure. At the same time, hotter summers and more intense storms are fueling sudden, high-impact events floods. The deadly summer of 2024, which resulted in fatalities and destroyed entire villages in France, Switzerland, and Italy, exemplifies this growing global threat. These hazards pose a serious risk to expanding infrastructure and development plans in mountain areas. However, significant gaps in observations and understanding of debris-flow processes limit our ability to accurately forecast, assess risk, and implement effective adaptation measures. This urgent challenge highlights the need to advance understanding of DF dynamics. Prof. Markus Stoffel, AXA Chair in Mountain Disaster Risks at the University of Geneva, leads this pioneering research to develop a comprehensive approach for quantifying and evaluating future debris-flow and other mountain disaster risks. The program aims to reconstruct past and contemporary activity to identify the climatic drivers of these processes. It will assess how debris-flow supply and transport conditions have evolved over time by integrating historical records with geomorphic change detection, climate analysis, and numerical modelling. The insights gained will inform innovative risk ‑ mitigation strategies for the European Alps. The program will provide a comprehensive approach to quantify and evaluate future mountain disaster risks and help define strategies, together with public and private actors, to limit loss and damage in the future, enabling Alpine countries to take a leading role in this emerging field.    The findings are expected to be adopted globally, with new geographies applying these insights to their own conditions. The project aims to advance knowledge on sediment supply under extreme storm regimes, integrate two-phase debris-flow models, and improve the realism of debris-flow spread simulations while enhancing mitigation efforts. All of this will be crucial for policy makers, advance hazard management, inform public discourse on climate impacts, and support training the next generation of researchers and practitioners,   Prof. Dr. Markus Stoffel is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary environmental scientist renowned for advancing understanding of climate-change impacts on high-altitude and high-latitude environments. His work focuses on mountain disasters and their societal implications across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. His research combines process reconstructions using tree rings and historical archives, field observations, remote sensing, climate analysis and process-based modelling to better understand and ultimately quantify where and when slopes fail, how far destructive flows can travel, and what this means for exposed communities and critical infrastructure . He has led extensive international collaborations across most mountain ranges, founded the Swiss Tree-Ring Lab, and established the Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA) program at the University of Geneva.