Aplastic anemia is a rare disorder characterized by bone marrow failure caused by destruction of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and is life threatening due to bleeding complications or severe infections as a consequence of cytopenia. Aplastic anemia is thought to be autoimmune-mediated because immunosuppressive therapy can be effective, resulting in recovery of bone marrow function and subsequently peripheral blood counts. However, the exact pathogenesis remains largely unclear. Our goal is to improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia in order to improve the treatment of aplastic anemia patients. The project will focus on the immune composition of the blood and bone marrow compartment including the interaction with the stem cell niche of aplastic anemia patients. We will use state of the art technology such as (imaging) mass cytometry and single cell genome sequencing. Therefore, an  important part of the project will consist of bioinformatics for analysis of big data sets. This project is a new research line and will offer you a lot of opportunities to develop your own research ideas. The ultimate goal of the project is to apply the outcomes directly in patient care.

In short

·       You will have a PhD position at the Department of Hematology

·       You will use state of the art techniques to study the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia

·       You will use multiple bioinformatic tools for big-data analysis

·       The project is a new research line on aplastic anemia which offers the opportunity to develop your own research ideas

·       The outcomes of the project will contribute to the improvement of the treatment of aplastic anemia patients

We are looking for an ambitious candidate with an MSc degree in biomedical sciences or a related field. You have an interest in immunology and hematology. Experience in the field of immunology is desirable. Experience or a strong affinity with bioinformatics is an absolute must. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are essential. We are looking for someone with a proactive attitude and we expect you to be able to collaborate with multiple research groups.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

As a PhD candidate, you will be appointed for the duration of four years. Your salary is a maximum of € 2,422 in the first year, amounting to a maximum of € 3,103 in the final year (scale PhD students, Collective Labour Agreement University Medical Centers).

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!

Department of Hematology

The Dutch center of expertise on aplastic anemia is embedded within the Department of Hematology. In addition to patient care, the center of expertise performs clinical and translational research on aplastic anemia. For this project the Department of Hematology closely collaborates with the Department of Immunohematology and Blood transfusion. Both departments perform ground breaking research with state of the art technologies.  This project is funded by the Dutch charitable fund Dioraphte.