PhD position Molecular Pharmacology (1.0 FTE)

The Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP) of the Faculty of Science and Engineering has a position for a PhD candidate in the department of molecular pharmacology. The project is funded by a collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating progressive lung disease, characterized by fibrogenesis that is not reversible, and deteriorates progressively. The key problem underlying IPF is abnormal tissue repair in vulnerable individuals. Current therapies slow down the progression of the disease to some extent, but do not modify the course of the disease. Accordingly, developing new therapeutic strategies is necessary. The major hurdle in the development of new therapies is the immense lack of knowledge on the mechanisms that impair adequate tissue repair in IPF. We hypothesize that the diseased local tissue microenvironment is the primary driver of impaired tissue repair in IPF by skewing endogenous WNT pathway activation from protective, reparative functions towards detrimental fibrotic functions. It should be feasible to reactivate lung repair by pharmacologically targeting this WNT pathway switch.

The PhD candidate will work with advanced disease models for lung fibrosis including cell culture, lung organoids and precision-cut lung slices to study the role of the WNT pathway in lung fibrosis in more detail. For the project you will be working closely with researchers from Boehringer Ingelheim and spend part of your research project working within the research premises of Boehringer Ingelheim in Biberach an der Riß, Germany.

The prospective starting date will be between May 1st, 2024 and August 1st, 2024.

Organization
Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programs and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. As one of the best research universities in Europe, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global centre of knowledge.