Doktorander/Utbildningsplatser

Doktorander/Utbildningsplatser
med placering vid Sahlgrenska akademin

Sista ansökningsdag: 2010-04-20

Sahlgrenska akademin utlyser doktorandplatser med placering vid institutionen för biomedicin, institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, institutionen för medicin och institutionen för neurovetenskap och fysiologi.

Doktorandplatserna avser två års utbildningsbidrag och två års doktorandanställning, alternativt fyra års doktorandanställning, och beräknas leda fram till doktorsexamen.

För mer information och ansökningsblankett se:
http://www.sahlgrenska.gu.se/doktorandportalen/Doktor_Fran_start_till_mal/doktorandplatser




Development and validation of animal models of atherosclerosis on top of diabetes

Application deadline: 2010-04-20

Description of the research project
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases comprise a major cause of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients.With the pandemic incidence of diabetes and obesity, more cardiovascular events are expected in the near future.It is also now recognized that optimal glucose and other risk factor interventions do not reduce the macro- and microvascular complications in this patient group.Despite dedicated efforts, mechanisms driving the vascular complications in diabetes are still largely unclear.
By means of genetic engineering techniques, a number of mouse models of atherosclerosis have been created, facilitating detailed studies of certain aspects of this human disease.Also, various diabetic animal models have been identified to mimic aspects such as insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.However, no models have been created and validated in terms of diabetic atherosclerosis, which is more relevant for the human counterpart.This project aims at phenotyping a number of promising animal models of diabetic atherosclerosis in terms of in vivo cardiovascular status.Disease progression will be studied using novel micro-imaging techniques, and molecular mechanisms will be addressed and linked to the in vivo phenotype from plaque morphology to coronary artery status.A number of existing and novel therapeutic approaches will be subsequently tested in the established animal models of disease to validate the translatability.Finally, observations in the preclinical setting will be explored in a diabetic patient cohort with manifested coronary artery disease to further evaluate the potential clinical relevance.
Results from this project will contribute to establishment of a better characterized translational model of human diabetic atherosclerosis.Understanding of the underlying patho-physiological mechanisms will potentially generate novel biomarkers for identification of high-risk patients, as well as novel molecular targets for future therapeutic interventions.
Desired background
An appropriate candidate will have knowledge in preclinical atherosclerosis research and in vivo animal experimental skills.