The new European AD–RIDDLE project aims to develop, test, and deploy a modular toolbox platform that can reduce existing barriers to the timely detection, and therapeutic approaches in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), thus accelerating AD innovation. By focusing on health system and health worker practices, AD-RIDDLE seeks to improve and smooth AD management at and between each key step of the clinical pathway and across the disease continuum, from at-risk asymptomatic stages to early symptomatic ones.

This project, supported by the EU Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) public private partnership, forms an interdisciplinary consortium with 24 partners. One of the aims of the project is to develop and test the AD-RIDDLE toolbox platform and its components individually and in combination in six European countries. Expected results from this cross-sectoral research collaboration include tools for earlier detection and accurate diagnosis; validated, novel digital cognitive and blood-based biomarkers; and improved access to individualized preventative interventions (including multimodal interventions and symptomatic/disease-modifying therapies) across diverse populations, within the framework of precision medicine.

Alzheimer’s Disease requires innovative approaches for early detection and prevention. Compared with standard paper-and-pencil testing, digital tools have great potential due to their higher sensitivity to early disease and better ecological validity. Moreover, by removing the need for individuals to travel for their assessment(s), sensitive, specific, and valuable cognitive measures could be captured on a large scale with ease, while offering greater cost-efficiencies, accessibility, and data aggregation.

As part of AD-RIDDLE project, we will focus in Amsterdam on the following 4 tasks:
I) Preparing a choice-menu of digital cognitive biomarkers, taking the different aspects of digital cognitive biomarkers (smartphone, tablet, computer, active vs passive monitoring) into account;
II) Perform pilot studies in different participating centers to ensure reliable remote assessment;
III) Perform a large-scale study testing digital cognitive biomarkers in real-world settings across 6 European countries (Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, UK), with repeated assessments, and including implementation measures (such as motivations and diagnostic confidence);
IV) Integrative analyses including high-dimensional data and qualitative data, using a broad mixed-methods approach, ultimately leading into guideline for optimal implementation of digital cognitive assessments.

As a PhD-student, your most important tasks and responsibilities include:

• (International) collaboration and communication with different stakeholders;
• Providing an overview of (psychometric) quality of digital cognitive assessments;
• Coordination of international data-collection and analyzing and presenting quantitative and qualitative data;
• Writing scientific papers on the above-mentioned topics, leading to a PhD-thesis;
• Active participation in Academic on-site meetings.

• Affinity and experience with scientific research;
• Affinity with novel digital neuropsychological assessments;
• Experience with data handling, statistics and epidemiology is considered a pro;
• Good communicative skills;
• Clinical experience is considered a pro.

• A flying start to your career in scientific research.
• Plenty of room for personal development with a wide range of training & development of academic skills
• Working on large-scale and own research, with motivated colleagues
• A pleasant, informal atmosphere with plenty of room for humour, music and table football!
• A contract for 12 months with the prospect of extension for the duration of the PhD program.
• Salary scale: OIO € 2.901 - € 3.677 (based on a 36 hour week), depending on qualifications and experience.
• Additional benefits including an 8.3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday pay. Calculate your net salary here.
• Your pension is accrued at The Dutch Pension Fund for government and education employees (ABP). Amsterdam UMC contributes 70% of this scheme
• We reimburse 75% of your OV travel costs (commuting costs).

For more information about our employment conditions, please visit our website.

Amsterdam UMC

The research will be conducted at Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, an (inter)national leading center in the field of top clinical care and high-quality scientific research into dementia. The Alzheimer Center Amsterdam is a stimulating workplace with more than 100 employees where an informal atmosphere goes hand in hand with ambitions and attention to personal development.