The impact of advanced age and age-related diseases on drug absorption

(ref. BAP-2021-692)

Laatst aangepast : 14/09/2021

The work will be performed in the Drug Delivery and Disposition research group (Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences; KU Leuven) under the direct supervision of Prof. Patrick Augustijns KU Leuven is one of the top 50 universities in the world (top 10 in Europe) according to the "Times Higher Education" ranking, and ranks #7 (top in Europe) in the "World’s Most Innovative Universities" ranking elaborated by Reuters. KU Leuven offers an exciting multi-disciplinary research environment, a broad range of training courses for PhD students, and full social and medical insurance.

Project

The absorption of drugs from oral dosage forms is largely controlled by drug dissolution in the gastrointestinal contents and drug permeation through the intestinal epithelium. However, the influence of age and age-related diseases on these processes is poorly understood. The overall goal of this project is to generate information on drug and formulation behaviour in older people and geriatric patients, and on physiological characteristics of their gastrointestinal tract relevant to oral drug absorption. More specifically, the impact of advanced age and of Alzheimer’s disease will be explored. Effects on dissolution-related processes will be evaluated by sampling and characterizing gastrointestinal fluids. Effects on drug permeation will be assessed by collecting intestinal tissue samples and determining the protein abundancy of transporters and metabolizing enzymes relevant for drug disposition (mass spectrometry-based proteomics). As such, unique reference datawill be generated on gastrointestinal physiology and drug behaviour in older people with or without Alzheimer’s disease.These data will contribute to the development of population specific PBPK models to predict drug absorption, thereby supporting the efficient development and use of oral drug products tailored to these fragile patients.

Profile

• Profile: Master degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences or in Biomedical Sciences
  

• Research experience: Master thesis work and/or experience in pharmaceutical sciences
• Communication skills: Ability to work both independently and in a team, direct communication style. Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory.

Offer
The project is funded by a European Union H2020-MSCA-ITN grant. 
It covers competitive salary, lab and conference expenses towards the completion of a PhD degree at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of KU Leuven.

We offer a fulltime PhD position for 2 years,extendable to 3 years after initial positive evaluation

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Patrick Augustijns, tel.: +32 16 33 03 01, mail: [email protected].

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