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


Investigation of environmental factors and genes which could be of importance for the aetiology and pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease

Application deadline: 2010-04-20

Description of the research project
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease.Presently, there is no curative or cytoprotective treatment available but several drugs with symptomatic effect can be used.Present available symptomatic therapies are impaired by several problems, such as insufficient efficacy and problematic side effects, especially following the initial treatment phase.Therefore, it is important to develop new strategies both for symptomatic, neuroprotective and prophylactic treatment.Degeneration of the neuronal pathway in the CNS originating in the substantia nigra and projecting to the striatum results in a deficit of dopamine and is the basis for the cardinal motor deficit symptoms in Parkinson's disease.However, for the overwhelming majority of patents with idiopathic sporadic Parkinson's disease the aetiology of this degeneration is unknown.
The project includes clinical research as well as experimental preclinical research with relevance for the aetiology and pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.
The aim of the clinical part of the project is to find genetic and environmental factors (for example infections with neurotropic virus) that could be of importance for the aetiology/pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.The basis for these studies are blood-samples from approximately 600 patients (including controls) and data from a newly launched advanced web-based Parkinson's disease patient research registry.
The aim of the experimental research is to gain further knowledge, with relevance for the pathophysiology of Parkinsons's disease, about the possible generation of toxic reactive oxygen species by cytochrome P450 2E1 located in dopaminergic neurons in the brain.Several techniques, including in vivo microdialysis and reactive oxygen species measurements will be used.
Desired background
Experience of animal research in general, and in vivo microdialysis in particular, is desirable.