Eurizon.eu

Organization: University of Liverpool - Institute of Translational Medicine

Location: Liverpool, UK

Field: Biological engineering

Requirements:

Master Degree or equivalent in Biological sciences;
ENGLISH: Excellent

Abstract:

A fully funded 3 year PhD studentship is available for European students with excellent qualifications, who show potential for research at the highest level. The studentship is available to start in April 2011 and will be based in the Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK. The successful candidate must be able to take up this position *before July 1st 2011

Description:

Regenerative therapies involving stem cells are now beginning to realise their potential. Bone marrow transplantation is already a clinical reality and the potential use of stem cells for the treatment of diseases associated with other organs and systems is currently being evaluated in clinical trials throughout the world. One of the challenges in stem cell therapy is the possibility to monitor the fate of transplanted cells once they are administered to a patient. This is of relevance in order to better understand the biology of stem cells once they are transplanted and also to verify their homing to the target tissue. In this project, kidney progenitor cells that have been recently identified by our research group, will be genetically modified to express reporter proteins that will enable them to be tracked via magnetic resonance imaging. Viral transduction will be applied to induce the overexpression of genes such as ferritin, an iron transport protein, or magA, a gene responsible for the formation of magnetite crystals in magnetotatic bacteria. The relaxivity of the tranduced cells will be investigated as well as their differentiation potential. Clonal lines which are shown to maintain their stemness and to be suitable for long-term tracking in vitro will be then administered in a mouse model of renal injury where their migration and engraftment will be monitored via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The appointed candidate will be a member of the Liverpool Stem Cell Consortium and trained in techniques such as vector design, viral transduction, stem cell culture and differentiation, quantitative real-time PCR, cytotoxicity evaluation, MRI and animal experimentation.
The candidate should have obtained a good BSc degree (high 2(i) or 1st class), and/or a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in cell or molecular biology (or a related area) by the end of June 2011, and be a national of an EU member country or a permanent resident of the UK.
 
How to apply:
A motivation letter and CV, including the names and contact details of three academic referees, should be sent to patricia.murray@liv.ac.uk

Deadline: 30-04-2011

Contacts:

Email: taylora@liv.ac.uk

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