Postdoc on the development of targeted therapeutics for fibrotic lung disease

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Postdoc on the development of targeted therapeutics for fibrotic lung disease

Are you curious about the development of next generation targeted therapeutics in lung fibrosis within a public-private collaboration? Apply now for this postdoc position!

Deadline Published on Vacancy ID 13990

Academic fields

Health

Job types

Postdoc

Education level

Doctorate

Weekly hours

32—36 hours per week

Salary indication

€3493—€5504 per month

Location

Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam

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Job description

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.

Requirements

As a postdoc, you are an ambitious scientist and have an interest in lung disease research and (industrial) drug/tracer development. You are intrinsically motivated, scientifically curious, and skilled in working within a scientific team. Moreover, you meet the following requirements:
  • A PhD degree in biomedical sciences, medicinal (bio)chemistry, or pharmaceutical sciences.
  • Experience with the following lab techniques: immunohistochemistry, Western blot and qPCR;
  • Strong affinity with pre-clinical models.
  • Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.
  • You work well independently, but also as part of a team. You will work closely with technicians at LinXis Biopharmaceuticals who are experts on the underlying (radio)chemistry of the Fibrobody development and a clinical researcher who performs a proof-of-concept clinical study using the Fibrobodies.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills in English are essential for communicating in our international team.

Finally, it is a plus if you have experience:
  • With animal models (Article 9 of the Experiments on Animals Act).
  • Working with radioactivity.

Conditions of employment

  • A flying start to your career in scientific research.
  • Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare.
  • Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world.
  • The chance to work in an internationally recognized research institute that offers groundbreaking research opportunities in lung diseases (Interstitial Lung Diseases and Pulmonary Hypertension in particular).
  • You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
  • A contract for 12 months with the option for a two year extension after an evaluation at 12 months.
  • Salary scale 10: € 3.493 to € 5.504 gross per month based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here.
  • Holiday hours: 190,4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours.
  • Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.
  • For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way.
  • Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.

Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.

Employer

Amsterdam UMC

You will be employed at the Pulmonary Medicine department, specifically within the PUFFIN (PUlmonary Fibrosis and INflammation) laboratory headed by Dr. Jan Willem Duitman. In the PUFFIN group we focus on the pathophysiology and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in interstitial lung diseases. The PUFFIN laboratory is located at location AMC of Amsterdam UMC.

You will closely collaborate with the other partners in the FIBROTARGET consortium at the Pulmonary Medicine department of Amsterdam UMC (pulmonologists Prof. dr. Harm Jan Bogaard and Dr. Esther Nossent) and LinXis Biopharmaceuticals (Dr. Bart Nijmeijer and Prof. dr. Guus van Dongen) both located at location VUmc of Amsterdam UMC. LinXis Biopharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotech company developing first-in-class therapeutics and diagnostics for fibrosis and their laboratory is housed in imaging center of Amsterdam UMC, a the state-of-the-art facility for imaging techniques, tracer development and related therapeutics. You will be working at both locations that are connected by a shuttle.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

Watch the video to find out more.

Together @ Amsterdam UMC

Amsterdam University Medical Centers is a leading medical center that combines complex high-quality patient care, innovative scientific research and education of the next generation committed health care professionals. Together we discover the healthcare of tomorrow.

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