Job ID: 122624
PhD offer for an international project on biotherapy
Position: Ph.D. Student
Deadline: 1 June 2025
City: Lille-Hellemmes
Country: France
Institution: Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, University of Lille, Inserm
Department:
Description:
Platelet Biotherapy and Tauopathies
The platelet secretome contains a synergistic cocktail of trophic factors, including growth factors, cytokines, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant molecules, which have the potential to promote neuroregeneration and neurorestoration in brain impairments associated with cognitive decline. Building on more than 12 years of preclinical research that has validated platelet secretome preparations in models of Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, this project aims at investigating the impact of intranasal (i.n.) administration of platelet biomaterial in mouse models of tauopathy and determine underlying mechanisms from the molecular to the functional levels. The project will be focused on Tau pathology development and seeding; Tau-dependent neuro-inflammation and neurogenesis impairments; cognition and neuroimaging; and molecular outcomes using proteomics and transcriptomics. Overall, the PhD project aims at providing new insights into the mechanisms of action of platelet-derived therapies and to develop a translatable and globally accessible biotherapy to combat cognitive and memory decline in tauopathies. This translational project bridges the leading expertise of Pr. Thierry Burnouf (Taipei Medical University) in platelet biotherapy to the expertise of Pr. Grégory Kuchcinski (Lille Neuroscience & Cognition research center) in the neurodegenerative field.
We are seeking for a highly motivated applicant holding a Master in Neuroscience (or an equivalent level) with a strong background in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and the ability to work autonomously in interaction within a multidisciplinary team. The project involves a diverse set of techniques, including animal behavior, brain imaging, stereotaxy, immunostaining, confocal microscopy, Imaris analysis and biochemistry. Experience with animal models, behavioral studies and holding an animal experimentation certificate are a plus.
The PhD student will work in the Lille Neuroscience & Cognition research center (France) headed by Pr. Luc Buée. The project will be funded for three years by an international program between Lille University and Taipei Medical University, with a start date at the autumn 2025.
Interested applicants should send their applications (CV + motivation letter + contact details of references) as soon as possible and no later than June 1st to thierry@tmu.edu.tw and gregory.kuchcinski@univ-lille.fr