Electronic pacemakers constitute the present state-of-the-art treatment for patients with disease-causing failure of impulse formation and/or conduction in the heart. Although these devices have greatly improved the care of patients with sinus node dysfunction, acquired atrioventricular block and specific types of fascicular blocks, electronic pacemakers have a number of shortcomings and may cause serious complications. Accordingly, there is a clear demand for alternative approaches to treat the aforementioned heart rhythm disorders. It is for this reason that the Amsterdam Medical Center and Leiden University Medical Center together with the companies PacingCure and Biotronik initiated a project called “BioPace - Towards clinically applicable biological pacemakers as cure for heart rhythm disorders”. The aim of this project to provide a biological alternative for the use of electronic pacemakers consisting of viral vector-mediated transfer of genes that endow working cardiomyocytes with pacemaker properties. Within this project, your main tasks are to construct, produce, purify, test and apply state-of-the-art viral vectors to genetically modify cardiac muscle cells and cells of the cardiac conduction system in order to provide a biological treatment for heart rhythm disorders caused by nodal dysfunction. In the performance of these tasks you will receive technical support of your team members and guidance from the consortium leaders. In addition, you will be (involved in) writing one or two papers for publication in reputed peer-reviewed international scientific journals on the results of the BioPace project.

In short

·         You are a skilled molecular biologist with a special interest (and preferentially some expertise) in viral vector development and (in vivo) gene transfer

·         You hold a PhD degree in biology or related life sciences, medicine, pharmacy, chemistry or another relevant scientific discipline

·         You will construct, validate and apply viral vectors to convert working cardiomyocytes into pacemaker cells and/or to regenerate defective sinoatrial and/or atrioventricular node

We seek a postdoctoral fellow with a proven track record in cell/molecular biological research and a special interest in heart rhythm disorders. Having experience with adenovirus and/or adeno-associated virus vector production and being in the possession of an article 9 certificate for working with laboratory animals are considered an advantage. In addition, you possess good written and verbal English communication skills (CEFR level C1/C2) and preferentially speak Dutch. As to your personal qualities, you are goal-oriented, forward-thinking person with good analytical skills and an eye for technical details, who likes to work in a team and to stay up to date with new developments in cardiac gene delivery and therapy.

Fixed-term contract: 2.5 years.

You will be employed on the basis of 36 hours per week. Appointment is for 2,5 years. Your salary is based on your education and experience and is a maximum of  € 4,615  gross per month for a full time position (scale 10 in the Collective Labour Agreement for University Hospitals).

LUMC

At the Leiden University Medical Center, we continuously work on improving patient care. We invest in groundbreaking, international research and work with the latest equipment. Together with our team of doctors, medical specialists, teachers, academic researchers and supporting staff, we aim for the best quality in health care, education and international research. And we need you to realize our goals!

Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology

The research of the Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology focuses on the understanding and treatment of heart damage and rhythm disorders for which all necessary facilities, equipment, skills and knowledge are available, including the support of dedicated technical personnel. The laboratory is internationally recognized for its research on optogenetics, cell line development (using a unique conditional cell immortalization approach dubbed immortogenetics) and application and the genetic modification of cardiomyocytes. The Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology houses a highly motivated and committed multidisciplinary team of researchers from different countries with backgrounds in biology, medicine, electronics, physics and mathematics. As part of the Heart Lung Center Leiden, the team members maintain close contacts with clinicians.