The severity of haemophilia is graded according to the level of FVIII or FIX activity. The clinical bleeding phenotype, however, may differ in patients with comparable clotting factors activities. Up to 10% of severe haemophilia patients had a mild phenotype with almost no joint deterioration.

Other variables than FVIII or FIX obviously influence the haemostatic capacity.  Global haemostasis assays such as the thrombin generation assays (TGA) might give a more precise measurement of an individual’s  overall coagulation’s capacity.

The TGA is based on the premise that measurements of thrombin generation is a better indicator of the overall coagulating capacity of the individual.

This project is part of the national cross-sectional study in hemophiliacs in the Netherlands (HiN 6 study: lumc.nl/organization A-Z/clinical epidemiology/research/projects/HiN-6)

Study objectives: 1. To evaluate the results of thrombin generation assays in assessing the clinical bleeding phenotype in patients with severe, moderate and mild haemophilia; 2. To assess the value of the thrombin generation assays in the treatment of patients with hemophilia after administration of coagulation factors or undergoing new therapies with inhibitors of anticoagulation.

This project is divided in three parts. During the first part specific sample conditions will be established after in vitro experiments to generate reliable and robust TGA outcome parameters. During the second part frozen plasma samples obtained from the national HiN6 study will used to study the correlation between bleeding phenotype and TGA outcomes. In the last and third part the TGA will be evaluated in patients with hemophilia before and after treatment or during surgical interventions (an amendment to the study protocol has to be set up).

This project requires laboratory and clinical skills, knowledge of statistical datamanagement, writing scientific papers in English and the ability to work together with other researchers on a regional and national level.

This PhD studentship for a 1.0 fte position for 3-4 years is eligible for enthusiastic candidates with a MD degree, who are eager to combine patient-related activities with basal scientific laboratory experiments.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/support/um-employees

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,300 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

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