Advertised Positions
Candidates should direct their complete applications in one single PDF to application-EVIDENCE@web.de by including:
- Preferred ESR positions
- Letter of motivation
- CV including scientific experiences
- Certificates
- Contact information of 2 putative reference persons
Application deadline: 31. December 2019
Interview meeting: 24. – 26. January 2020
ESR1
Saarland University - Saarbrücken, Germany
- Project Titel
In vitro and In vivo investigation of red blood cells in physiologic and pathophysiologic animal models and comparison with human pathophysiologies
- Project Objectives
(i) Molecular and microscopic Investigation of human and mouse red blood cells. in mice with. (ii) Application of animal models including induced reticulocytosis and investigation of RBCs in splenectomised mice. (iii) Investigation of red blood cells in Hbbth-4/Hbb+ mice (thalassemia) and in Berkley mice (sickle cell disease).
- Principal Investigator
Lars Kaestner
ESR2
Saarland University - Saarbrücken, Germany
- Project Titel
Experimental verification of numerical simulation of the dynamics of blood cells in the blood stream.
- Project Objectives
Validation of the numerical results by comparison with well controlled microfluidic in vitro experiments. In these in vitro experiments both healthy and pathological cells will be used. This will assure that the numerical code is well adapted for the in vivo situation.
- Principal Investigator
Christian Wagner
ESR3
Sanquin - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Project Titel
Interaction of RBC with macrophages and extracellular matrix of the spleen
- Project Objectives
Study the interactions of RBC with the extracellular matrix proteins and macrophages of the human spleen to determine the molecular requirements of RBC entrapment in the spleen in health and disease. The knowledge gained from this project will result in improved lab-on-a-chip based diagnostics to predict clearance of RBC in the spleen.
- Principal Investigator
Robin van Bruggen
ESR4
Sanquin - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Project Titel
Generation of cultured red blood cells for transfusion: The effects of flow in a bioreactor
- Project Objectives
SCF bound to surface may alter the quantitative and qualitative output of cKIT signaling. We will investigate whether SCF presented on macrobeads will enhance expansion of erythroblast cultures, and (ii) we will investigate whether shear stress in erythroblasts cultured in stirred bioreactors alters Epo- and/or SCF-induced signal transduction, and (iii) how this affects expansion efficiency.
- Principal Investigator
Marieke von Lindern & Emile van den Akker
ESR5
University of Bristol - Bristol, UK
- Project Titel
Optimisation of erythroid culture bioreactor conditions and exploration of reticulocyte maturation.
- Project Objectives
Optimising in vitro haematopoietic stem cell expansion focusing on optimal growth factor presentation, cell density and signalling, (ii) Determining the effects of exposure of progenitors to different forms of shear stress at different stages of erythropoiesis and when using different culture conditions e.g static vs stirring vs perfusion vs agitation, (iii) Optimising production of mature RBC from cultured reticulocytes and efficient filtration, (iv) To better understanding how RBC and reticulocytes adapt to shear and can deform.
- Principal Investigator
Ashley Toye
ESR6
CNRS Biological Station Roscoff - France
- Project Titel
The hydration state of RBCs as an important parameter that ensures the functions of the cell in the blood flow
- Project Objectives
Determine the repertoire of channels involved in life ending by electrophysiological means in normal and pathological conditions. (ii) Accumulate enough data in specific conditions of electrophysiology in order to feed models developed. (iii) Implement dynamic behaviour channel activity in bookchin-Lew model based currently on constant electric field theory.
- Principal Investigator
Stephane Egee
ESR7
INSERM Paris - France
- Project Titel
A microfluidic tool to assess behavior of red blood cells in the microcirculation
- Project Objectives
Address finely the behavior of RBCs in sickle cell disease in the 3 sections of our biochip under controlled pressure/flow rates, focusing on the category of irreversibly sickled cells (ISCs). ISCs are poorly deformable cells and are believed to contribute to vaso-occlusion in SCD by blocking the microcirculation. Optimize the biochip and perform standardization assays to use it as a diagnostic tool in hemolytic anemias in which RBC elasticity is compromised such as SCD and hereditary spherocytosis; as well as a tool to screen for molecules positively impacting RBC deformability in human pathologies
- Principal Investigator
Wassil El Nemer
ESR8
CNRS Grenoble - France
- Project Titel
Simulation of Blood Flow in presence of Erythrocytes/Endothelium Adhesion
- Project Objectives
How does RBC-RBC interaction (via adhesion) affect the rheological properties in microcirculation? A rheological signature may be considered as a reliable diagnosis? On the fundamental level, the rheological properties determined numerically can be connected to already existing suggested laws? If not how to present and interpret the results? How do the above results transform when the RBCs-endothelium interaction is taken into account? This interaction will be represented either by a smooth potential or by a specific interaction taking into account the kinetics of bond-bond attachment/detachment.
- Principal Investigator
Chaouqi Misbah
ESR9
VHIR Barcelona - Spain
- Project Titel
New generation diagnostics for rare anaemias
- Project Objectives
Heterogeneity in Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with two factors: chronic haemolysis and vaso-occlusive crises. The degree of hemolytic or vaso-occlusive component is modified by the innate ability of the patient to produce HbF and the co-existence with alpha-thalassemia. Additional genetic variations that could potentially modulate the clinical expression of SCD have been identified. These new variants have to be correlated with certain clinical manifestations and markers need to be identified to predict and prevent the appearance of acute events. Accordingly, two main objectives are defined: to correlate SCD modifiers with clinical severity based on a NGS gene panel and to assess the usefulness of LoRRca to establish monitoring and/or prognosis indicators for SCD severity and acute events. Spanish language skills are required.
- Principal Investigator
Maria del Mar Mañú Pereira
ESR10
IBEC Barcelona - Spain
- Project Titel
Development of a splenic chip model for RBC mechanical properties evaluation
- Project Objectives
Development of a 3D in vitro model of spleen, spleen-on-chip, for a better understanding of its filtration function and for the in-vitro modelling of hereditary Rare Anaemias progression
- Principal Investigator
Maria Jose Lopez-Martinez & Josep Samitier
ESR11
RR Mechatronics - Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Project Titel
Red Blood Cell Oxidative Stress Response
- Project Objectives
Development of reagents and the assay on the Lorrca Ektacytometer that controls the incubation time and the concentration of a stress agent while measuring the RBC’s oxidative stress response. Do all forms of oxidative stress induce the same type of response? Or are there responses for the different forms of oxidative stress (i.e. superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, reactive oxygen species). What are the individual differences in oxidative stress response? e.g. in G6PD deficiency: paracetamol can be given safely to one person but should be avoided for another person. What are the factors that determine these differences? (e.g. G6PD genotype, cellular anti-oxidant status, reduced glutathione content) (iv) What is the pathophysiological mechanism(s) involved in oxidative stress-related haemolysis? What is the role of shear? Can the ultimate effect, i.e. haemolysis, be prevented with reducing agents, such as anti-oxidants (e.g. n-acetylcysteine), RCB deformability improving agents (Poloxamer, Gardos channel blockers), or monoclonal antibodies that reduce the adhesion between RBC and endothelium (Crizanlizumab). How does G6PD-deficiency compare to other red cell disorders such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassemia. What does an oxidative stress inducing disorder mean for these “continuously stressed” G6PD-deficient individuals. What does this mean? Can the obtained results be reproduced across the different platforms within the Consortium?
- Principal Investigator
Jan de Zoeten
ESR12
Nanion Technologies - Munich, Germany
- Project Titel
Electrophysiological characterization of RBCs in health and disease
- Project Objectives
We aim to extend our APC approach for RBCs to all known ion channels expressed in RBC membranes (e.g. hKCa 3.1 or Gardos, Piezo1, Cav 2.1, NMDA receptors, chloride channels). We plan to determine a quantitative ion channel profile of a healthy RBC population, and to screen mutated or diseased RBC populations against that. Not only will this screening approach allow for a detailed functional characterization of a disease, it will also indicate potential drug targets to address the symptoms.
- Principal Investigator
Andrea Brüggemann & Niels Fertig
ESR13
CTC Research - Saarbrücken, Germany
- Project Titel
Image analysis of RBCs recordings in vivo and under simulated in vivo conditions using artificial intelligence
- Project Objectives
Development of a fully automated video recording and streaming setup for in vivo experiments with mice. Data reduction by fully automated video processing and feature extraction. Design, optimization and implementation of artificial intelligence models to evaluate data sets. Since RBCs can take on a wide range of shapes rather than fall into distinct classes, we will focus on regression type neural networks.
- Principal Investigator
Stephan Quint
ESR14
University of Zürich - Switzerland
- Project Titel
RBC membrane stabilizing strategies assessing abnormalities in mechanoreception at the cellular level and interfering with it pharmacologically.
- Project Objectives
We shall explore the possible use of pharmacological tools to alter mechanosensitive responses. A battery of tests will be developed to test for the sensitivity of mechano-sensitive changes in RBC shape and suppress hyper-responsiveness to such stimulus.
- Principal Investigator
Anna Bogdanova
ESR15
Erytech Pharma - Lyon, France
- Project Titel
Structural and functional characterization of RBCs in health and disease
- Project Objectives
We shall use the toolbox developed at Erytech to characterize cultured RBCs (morphology, rheology, eryptosis markers, microparticles release, immunogenicity, erythrophagocytosis as well as in-vivo biodistribution) and to compare them with native RBCs. We shall identify critical parameters for in vitro RBC culture and behaviour to ensure the safety and the function of RBCs as a transfusion product. We shall implement strategies to increase the quality and the shelf-life of cultured RBCs. (iv) We shall use the toolbox to characterize RBCs in RBC-related diseases.
- Principal Investigator
Agnes Cibiel & Alexander Scheer