PhD fellowship in "Development and exploitation of atrial fibrillation in horses"
PhD fellowship in “Development and exploitation of atrial fibrillation in horses”
The Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND), University of Copenhagen, Denmark is offering a PhD fellowship starting on March 1st, 2016.
The application deadline is November 1st, 2015.
Project description:
Background
Spontaneous atrial fibrillation (AF) is rarely observed in most animal species; however, in relatively young horses the AF prevalence has been estimated to be up to 4 %. For both horses and man, patho-physiological mechanisms leading to AF are not fully elucidated at present.
Treatment of AF is problematic as current anti-arrhythmic drugs often target ion channels in both atria and ventricles. Thus, there is a risk of unwanted ventricular side-effects in the form of ventricular fibrillation, which can be fatal. Another problem with the current compounds is that they have a low efficacy in abrogating AF episodes which last more than a few days. Hence, in recent years, focus on characterization of atrial-specific targets that may still play a role in persistent AF has increased. Such putative targets will be addressed in the proposed PhD project.
Aim
Overall, the project focus is on the electrophysiological effect of new potential anti-AF compounds such as modulators of small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK) and blockers of acetylcholine-activated potassium inward rectifier currents, IK,ACh in order to improve efficacy and safety. This aim will be accomplished by using well-established pharmacological models to analyse the effect of the compounds at the levels of the intact heart to the single cardiomyocyte. The aim of the study is therefore to disclose whether SK modulators and blockers of IK,ACh can be used as anti-arrhythmic compounds in an animal variant of a human disease. Furthermore, the project will employ computer modeling and simulation to elucidate the mechanisms of observed effects on AF of tested anti-arrhythmic compounds in both the single AF cardiomyocyte and AF tissues. Ex vivo studies using patch-clamping of hiPSCs for pharmacological testing will also form part of the project.
The in vivo experiments will be performed at the Large Animal University Hospital in Taastrup, Denmark where principal supervisor Rikke Buhl is allocated. The ex vivo investigations will be performed in University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany and the in silico studies will be conducted at Simula Research Laboratory, Oslo, Norway. Also training in large animal models will be conducted in collaboration with Acesion Pharma, Copenhagen, Denmark.
This PhD scholarship is an integrated part of AFib-TrainNet (http://afib.ku.dk/ . This doctoral training network consists of top European institutions and highly specialized biotech companies with the complementary competences needed to produce both outstanding research results and an excellent training environment for early stage researchers (ESRs). In the Network, 15 ESRs from the partner institutions will enroll simultaneously, and together benefit from an extensive web of training events. AFib-TrainNet also features a number of longer secondment periods to partners within the Network. This coordinated research exchange reflects our focus on top-level interdisciplinary science, and ensures that ESRs have the opportunity to forge strong relationships cross-network and reap the benefits of the world-class, highly interdisciplinary team of collaborating partners.
AFib-TrainNet is funded from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions as a European Training Network (ETN).
More information is available from the principal supervisor.
Principal Supervisor:
Rikke Buhl, Professor (MSO), DVM, PhD
E-mail: rib@sund.ku.dk
Direct phone +45 29217782
University of Copenhagen, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Section of Medicine and Surgery,
Højbakkegaard Alle 5, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Molly Maleckar
E-mail: mmaleck@simula.no
Direct phone: +47 47482159
Simula School of Research and Innovation, Norway
Project group members:
•Jonas Goldin Diness, Bo Hjorth Bentzen, Morten Grunnet and Ulrik Sørensen, Acesion Pharma, Denmark
•Thomas Eschenhagen and Torsten Christ, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
Required Qualifications :
•The applicant must be a veterinarian (DVM), or a DVM degree to be obtained no later than February 28th, 2016
•Documented clinical experience with horses
•Solid level of English (written and oral)
General job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at SUND are to:
•Manage and carry through your research project in Denmark, Germany and Norway
•Take the assigned PhD courses
•Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
•Participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings
•Teach and disseminate your research
•Participate in the teaching of undergraduate veterinary students
Key criteria for the assessment of candidates:
•The grade point average achieved
•Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD program
•Previous publications
•Relevant work experience
•Other professional activities
•Language skills
•The successful candidate is also required to be enterprising and to possess good interpersonal skills
Formal requirements
The position is available for a 3-year period for applicants holding a relevant master’s degree. As the PhD scholarship is a part of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions European Training Network, the candidate must only have stayed in Denmark 12 months during the last 3 years.
It is a prerequisite that the PhD candidate is enrolled as PhD student at the faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen according to the rules stipulated in "Bekendtgørelse nr. 18 af 14. januar 2008 om ph.d.-graden (Ministerial Order on the PhD Course of Study and on the PhD degree of January 14th, 2008)."
Terms of employment
Salary and other terms of appointment are set in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne) (Academics).
The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (2007).
For more information please contact Rikke Buhl (rib@sund.ku.dk )
Application procedure
Applications in English must include:
•Cover letter, stating the PhD project you are applying for and detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project
•Curriculum Vitae including a copy of your DVM certificate
•Diploma(s) and detailed transcription of records
•Personal recommendations
•List of publications if any
•A maximum of three relevant scientific works which the applicant wishes to have included.
The application will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no 242 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities of March 13th, 2012.
The University of Copenhagen encourages all interested in this post to apply.
The Department of Large Animal Sciences is one of the three veterinary departments at the University of Copenhagen, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. The department undertakes a number of scientific tasks involving large animals (production animals and horses), annual teaching of all master’s level veterinary and animal science students and development tasks and attendance of the authorities for ministries and industry. Several of the tasks are solved as commercial activities.
The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises app. 7500 students, app. 1500 PhD students and app. 3200 employees. The Faculty creates new knowledge and recognition through its core activities: research, teaching, knowledge sharing and communication. With basic research fields ranging from molecular studies to studies of society, the Faculty contributes to a healthy future through its graduates, research findings and inventions for the benefit of patients and the community.
Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark. With 37,000 students and 9,000 employees, it is among the largest universities in Scandinavia and one of the highest ranking in Europe. The University consists of six faculties, which cover Health and Medical Sciences, Humanities, Law, Science, Social Sciences and Theology.
Simula Research Laboratory A/S is a unique research institute organised as a limited company, currently owned entirely by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. This novel organization offers Simula flexibility in its management structure, direction, and recruiting; agility in its research foci; and freedom in exploitation and translation of its basic research results. Simula’s research aims at long-term impact in the fields of communication systems, scientific computing and software engineering. As of 2012, Simula is the highest-ranked research institution in its fields of expertise in Norway. Simula’s strong focus on basic research is combined with both graduate education and development of commercial applications. In 2007, Simula established its dedicated educational unit, the Simula School of Research and Innovation (SSRI), in order to ensure a more profound research education program for its Masters, PhDs, and postdoctoral scholars.
Simula combines academic traditions with recognised business management models. Simula is the parent company of Kalkulo A/S, Simula Innovation A/S and Simula School of Research and Innovation A/S, and the main research partner of Center for Cardiological Innovation, which allows an access to the state-of-the-art clinical facilities and expertise. The University of Oslo is a key partner of Simula and is the degree-granting institution which awards the largest part of Simula PhD degrees.
Deadline: November 1st, 2015.
Employer: Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet
Apply online
