Post-doc Neuro-immunology position opening at the Amsterdam UMC

The project

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating, neuro-inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system, leading to neurodegeneration. Loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and consequent immune cell trafficking are key mechanisms that drive disease progression. A better understanding of the machinery that regulates this altered BBB function will lead to new ways to modulate MS. However, to date we lack insights into the dynamic alterations that occur at the BBB in MS, due to the absence of complex human in vitro models that reflect the events as seen in patients.

Therefore, the overall goal of this Gli-BBB project is to define which glia-BBB interactions underlie MS pathology by creating novel human in vitro models.

• For this, you will build unique in vitro human models based on human inducible pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to mimic pathological interactions
• You will reveal how hiPSC-derived models from MS patients have an altered glia-BBB interaction using vessel on a chip technology and you will define how this contributes to immune cell trafficking using patient samples
• In addition, you will test if the model can serve as a future platform for drug candidate screens and assessment of brain drug delivery strategies, with the ultimate goal to halt MS progression

This translational project encompasses fundamental research questions, extensive analyses of MS patient material, and testing of new approaches in complex human in vitro models.

About your role

As a post-doc on this project you will:

• Develop and validate new in vitro models for the BBB using human induced pluripotent stem cells
• Mimic pathological events as seen in patients using these models
• Use high-end live-cell microscopy to monitor immune cell migration
• Work closely with our collaborators on this project at the MS center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC and UMCG
• Author manuscripts submitted to high quality journals
• Present at conferences
• Be involved in supervising PhD students

For more information about this position, please visit the website, or you can contact Prof. Dr. Elga de Vries via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Tanja Hart, Recruitment advisor, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via +31 6 21603178.