We are looking for a PhD Candidate 'Dietary prevention of vascular calcification'. The aim of this project is to determine which nutrients can prevent CPP formation and thereby contribute to the early prevention of vascular calcification. Rather than only screening of nutrients, we aim to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular calcification.

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), accounting for 40-50% of all deaths in stages 4-5. CKD represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, in addition to traditional risk factors as smoking and hypertension. As early as CKD stage 3, the risk of cardiovascular disease is 2-fold higher than in individuals with a normal kidney function.

Vascular calcification has been demonstrated to be a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in CKD. Our research demonstrates that formation of vascular calcification can be prevented, but is difficult to treat once in place. Prevention of vascular calcification may reduce cardiovascular complications in CKD.

Over the last decade, research into the pathogenesis of vascular calcification has demonstrated that circulating calcium-phosphate-particles (CPPs) play an essential role in the onset of the disease.

In this project, you will:

• Examine ex vivo human CPP formation and maturation, using X-ray diffraction, nano-tracking analysis and electron microscopy.
• Perform in vitro experiments to test the effects of nutrient on endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells.
• Test the effects of an anti-calcification diet in a rat model of chronic kidney disease.
• By examining the effects of nutrients on CPP formation and vascular calcification, we will develop dietary strategies that contribute to early prevention of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients with early CKD.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Design and perform scientific research in the area of cell biology, biochemistry and physiology.
• Generate and analyse the data in order to contribute to scientific publications and presents findings at scientific meetings.
• Work in a team with other students and scientists to discuss, plan and perform research in a stimulating environment.
• Work in an international research group with fellows from many countries.
• Complete the project with a scientific dissertation.

You have strong motivation to succeed in scientific research. You have well-developed social skills directed to work in a team. You also have an independent and well-structured working style.

Furthermore:

• MSc in (Medical) Biology, Biomedical Sciences or Medicine.
• Experience with (bio)medical research and molecular level of thinking.
• Article 9 Certificate for animal experiments.

Fixed-term contract: 4 jaar.

working at Radboud university medical center means that you are ahead of the curve and working together on the healthcare of the future. And there is more. Our secondary terms of employment are impressive. These are fully tailored to you thanks to our Employment Conditions Selection Model. At Radboud university medical center, you will be given trust, and you will take the responsibility to handle everything together. We provide annual courses, both professional and personal.

• In addition to your monthly salary and an annual vacation allowance of 8%, you will receive an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• If you work irregular hours, you will receive an allowance.
• As a full-time employee (36 hours per week), you are entitled to approximately 168 vacation hours (over 23 days) per year.
• Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. You pay the rest of the premium with your gross salary.
• You get a discount on health insurance as well: you can take advantage of two group health insurance plans. UMC Zorgverzekering and CZ collectief.

In addition to our terms of employment, we also offer employees various other attractive facilities, such as childcare and sports facilities. Want to learn more? Take a look at the Cao UMC.

Radboudumc

The department of Physiology provides an international and stimulating working environment for its 50 employees and is an exciting place to perform basic research, translational and clinical medicine, and enjoy teaching. The department encompasses complementary research groups whose interests range from cardiovascular disease, molecular regulation of ion transport processes in the kidney to the study of metabolism in the body. Working collaboratively within the department, we use our expertise to investigate how molecules, cells, organisms and humans function and how we might modulate their physiology to ultimately improve health in the patient.

This project will be executed in the Molecular Physiology group and is part of the Renal Disorders Theme within the Radboudumc, a leading multidisciplinary graduate school within the domain of molecular mechanisms of disease and particularly in the fields of molecular medicine, cell biology and translational research.

Research Institutes
At the moment there are more than 1,300 PhD candidates at our medical hospital. This number includes PhD candidates on our pay roll as well as external candidates (those employed somewhere else but researching on our premises).

• Radboud Institute for Health Sciences: ± 700
• Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences: ± 400
• Donders Center for Medical Neurosciences: ± 200

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Radboudumc
Radboud university medical center is a university medical center for patient care, scientific research, and education in Nijmegen. Radboud university medical center strives to be at the forefront of shaping the healthcare of the future. We do this in a person-centered and innovative way, and in close collaboration with our network. We want to have a significant impact on healthcare. We want to improve with each passing day, continuously working towards better healthcare, research, and education. And gaining a better understanding of how diseases arise and how we can prevent, treat, and cure them, day in and day out. This way, every patient always receives the best healthcare, now and in the future. Because that is why we do what we do.

Read more about our strategy and what working at Radboud university medical center means. Our colleagues would be happy to tell you about it. #weareradboudumc