Funded PhD opportunity - MSCA Doctoral Network_Research in Connective Tissue Disorders

1 Doctoral (PhD) position

Lab. Prof. Paolo Bonaldo

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9571-8140

Department of Molecular Medicina, University of Padova (Italy)

Matrix Biology and Functional Genomics Lab

Project: “Cellular Homeostasis ANd AGing in Connective TissuE Disorders (CHANGE)”

CHANGE is a Marie-Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Doctoral Network focused on investigating connective tissue (CT) disorders to identify key players in age-related decline in physiological functions to develop therapeutic strategies and identify treatment targets for common diseases and frailty associated with aging.

It is part of Horizon EUROPE programme of the European Union and 12 Doctoral Candidates (DC) will be appointed for 36 months each.

CHANGE project - summary

Lifespan has significantly increased but age-related disorders severely limit healthy aging and quality of life, and are a serious burden for the society. Musculoskeletal, cardio- and cerebrovascular failure are hallmarks of physical and cognitive decline in the elderly, but importantly, are also common traits in several early onset hereditary connective tissue disorders.

In CHANGE, 12 young scientists will combine skills in musculoskeletal and vascular developmental and cellular biology and pathobiology related to aging, with expertise in cell culture, animal models, -omics, innovative high-resolution imaging and functional techniques. Exchange of knowledge and multidisciplinary collaboration between these fields of research and partners within the consortium will provide the skills, multidisciplinary knowledge and on-the-job training experience necessary to tackle the main aspects of biology of aging and age-related disorders affecting bone, cartilage, muscle and vasculature.

PhD position at University of Padova:

The project of the Doctoral Candidate (DC) will focus on genetic muscular diseases linked to collagen VI deficiency to investigate the transduction mechanisms of collagen VI in disease & premature ageing. The DC will use the available Col6a1−/− mouse model mimicking human muscular diseases to correlate the progression of phenotypes (apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation/stemness, and senescence hallmarks) during ageing in skeletal muscle and associated vascular system, and patient-derived cell cultures to evaluate the translational potential of the identified hallmark features.

The candidate will be part of a Doctoral program of the University of Padova, within the CHANGE MSCA International Training Network funded by the European Union.

The fellowship is for 36 months, starting from February-March 2023.

MSCA salary standards, comprising fixed amounts of mobility and family allowances.

Applications must be sent ASAP at:  [email protected]