Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) are grave and poorly treatable diseases. Despite fundamental etiological differences, most forms of Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and Pulmonary hypertension (PH) are characterized by relentless fibrotic remodeling that takes place in either the lung parenchyma (PF) or vasculature (PH), and leads to scar formation and lung- and/or heart failure. Fibrotic remodeling and scar formation are driven by activated myofibroblasts (AMFB). Many experimental anti-fibrotic drugs therefore aim at silencing AMFB. However, their lack of selectivity often results in severe (side-) effects, making further clinical development impossible.
The FIBROTARGET project is a public-private collaboration between the Amsterdam UMC and LinXis Biopharmaceuticals, and is funded by the Dutch Lung Foundation. The project aims to develop ways of delivering therapeutics selectively to AMFB only, in order to establish therapeutics that are effective and safe.
To this end, LinXis have developed small antibody-like molecules (‘Fibrobodies’) that selectively bind to, and internalize into, AMFB. Fibrobodies can be equipped with anti-fibrotic therapeutics. The resulting Fibrobody-Drug Conjugates (FDCs) would allow selective drug delivery to AMFB with high precision.
Within the project we will construct and test several FDCs both
in vitro and
in vivo. for their potential to inhibit, halt or reverse fibrogenesis.
As a postdoc you will be part of the FIBROTARGET project team at Amsterdam UMC. You are responsible for the construction and pre-clinical evaluation of the FDCs for their targeting and therapeutic potential in lung fibrosis and for their safety. You will perform the experiments supported by our (bio)technicians and in close consultation with the supervising team at Amsterdam UMC and LinXis Biopharmaceuticals.
Your main duties and responsibilities are:
- Setting up and conducting the research;
- Performing data analysis and developing the FDCs towards clinical testing;
- Communicate and discuss the project with stakeholders;
- Writing scientific articles and performing congress presentations based on the results of your research;
- Strengthen current or build new (inter)national collaborations;
- Bringing your own ideas for follow-up studies, including grant applications is possible;
- Supervising students and some teaching duties may be part of your appointment.