PhD Student, Area: Biology, Clinical Science, Molecular Medicine, Integrated Life Science

University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Working Group Computational Medicine

PhD Student, Area: Biology, Clinical Science, Molecular Medicine, Integrated Life Science

Das Aufgabengebiet umfasst u. a.

Analysis of the pathophysiology and novel treatment options for chronic rhinosinusitis
The goal of the project is to improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)
and how the inflammation spreads. In previous projects and in collaboration with international partners (e.g.
Harvard Medical School), a novel pathway for the pathophysiology of CRS was identified: The PAPP-A/IGF-1
pathway. The PAPP-A/IGF-1 pathway plays an important role for cell growth and polyp recurrence and will be
analyzed in this project in detail for the first time. In all cell culture experiments, proliferation and vitality of
the cells will be measured as surrogate of the clinical status.
The project has the following goals:
1) Characterization of the PAPP-A/IGF-1 pathway in 2D undifferentiated epithelial and 2D fibroblast cell
cultures using overexpression and knock down/out of protein (e.g. CRISPR, siRNA)
2) Analysis of intercellular communication between cells in air-liquid-interface cell cultures using
exosomal transfer models
3) Identification of key players of the PAPP-A/IGF-1 pathway and analysis of complex interactions with
other pathways using biostatistical analysis methods
4) Therapeutic testing of known and novel medication for CRS targeting the PAPP-A/IGF-1 pathway
using 3D ALIs and explant cell cultures

Notwendige Qualifikation

• MSc degree in LifeScience, Molecular Medicine, Molecular Biology, Biology or comparable
  
• Specific Requirements: basic molecular biology and cell culture methods, knowledge in proteomics
  

and in vitro bench work, knowledge of biostatistics

• Structured and independent working practice, good communication and English skills

Bemerkungen

• Time frame: as soon as possible
  
• Duration: 3 years
  
• Funding: DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), TVL E13 – 65%