PhD student Translational Cartilage Biofabrication

This project aims to develop a regenerative and personalized therapy for treating damaged load-bearing cartilage by integrating clinically validated cell therapy with advanced biofabrication techniques. Our goal is to establish a single-stage treatment that enables efficient clinical translation. By incorporating cells into biofabricated constructs, we aim to enhance their instant mechanical stability, functional remodeling, and in vivo integration.

The “IMPACT” cell therapy treatment for cartilage defects combines autologous chondrons with allogeneic MSCs and is currently in phase III clinical trials. This project will build further on our expertise in this therapy and our pioneering biofabrication research. You will study cell behavior and MSC-chondron crosstalk using innovative techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing. You will apply this knowledge to optimize the integration of cell therapy and biofabrication, for example, by adjusting cell concentrations or cell ratios for application within 3D tissue constructs. You will investigate the effect of precise cell or aggregate deposition on cartilage formation and organization, and cell signaling in vitro. This research project will involve close collaboration with medical doctors at the UMC Utrecht. You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including the Orthopedic Clinic and the Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht (which houses the Utrecht Biofabrication Facility). You will coordinate your research within an (inter)national network of collaborators and be part of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, veterinarians, materials scientists, biologists, and engineers. Additionally, you will co-supervise master’s and bachelor’s students during their internships, with teaching opportunities. As a PhD candidate within the Utrecht Graduate School of Life Sciences, you will receive comprehensive training, supervision, and mentorship, providing a strong foundation for an independent academic career.

The maximum salary for this position (36 - 36 hours) is € 3.824,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

This position is hosted at the Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht (RMCU) and you will be appointed to the Department of Orthopedics of the UMC Utrecht. Located at the Utrecht Science Park, the RMCU brings together the largest group of researchers in regenerative medicine in the Netherlands, who closely work together to translate scientific and technological discoveries into patient benefit. The Department of Orthopedics at the UMC Utrecht is a global leader in the development and application of novel regenerative technologies, such as cell-based therapies, 3D (bio)printing, and the application of biomaterials and controlled release systems.

Contact our colleague:
Jos Malda
088-7556971
biofabrication@umcutrecht.nl