Doktorand/Utbildningsplats

Sahlgrenska akademin utlyser doktorandplatser med placering vid institutionen för medicin.Doktorandplatserna avser två års utbildningsbidrag och två års doktorandanställning och beräknas leda fram till doktorsexamen.

Projektbeskrivning

Genetic basis for the association of air pollution to inflammation and cardiovascular disease - gene-environment interaction studies
Description of the research project
Exposure to air pollutants, e.g.ambient pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), as well as tobacco smoke engenders inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to cardiovascular disease with increased morbidity and mortality for individuals.What is less clear are underlying mechanisms and determinants of individual susceptibility, including the role of genetic differences.This PhD project will use epidemiologic methods to investigate the link between ambient air pollution and airway inflammation with cardiovascular disease, and the role of genetic variation for this relationship.The project will primarily use data from the INTERGENE/ADONIX study (Gothenburg 2001-2006), a large study with both a population cohort component and a coronary heart disease (CHD) case-control component.In total the study included over 600 CHD cases and a cohort of almost 6000 population controls, with detailed exposure assessment for smoking, physical activity, obesity, blood pressure, medical history, education, psychosocial and work-related factors, alcohol consumption and, diet.In addition both short-term and long-term air pollution exposures have been assessed, and blood inflammatory and other biomarkers including C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), a non-invasive biomarker of airway inflammation, have been measured.The population cohort will also be followed up for new cases of disease (especially myocardial infarction) up to the present by linkage to national registry data.Statistical analyses will assess relationships between short- and long-term air pollution and various outcomes (CRP, FENO, CHD and myocardial infarction), and the interaction of genetic variation in selected genes with these relationships.Genes that have been genotyped for this population include the NOS genes that code for endogenous nitric oxide, GST genes (antioxidant defense) as well as recently identified genes associated with inflammation, cardiovascular disease risk and blood lipids.The project aims to increase our understanding of individual susceptibility to air pollution effects on cardiovascular disease, inflammation and related traits, and what mechanisms drive these effects.

Desired background
We are looking for a motivated person with scientific curiosity and imagination, who is interested in working in a multi-disciplinary research team at the intersection of public health, epidemiology, genetics/molecular science, etiologic science and statistics.Our department also has extensive scientific collaborations nationally and internationally.As a PhD student, we expect you to acquire a good understanding of your research area and work with your supervisors and other collaborators to progress and develop your research projects.A capacity to take personal initiatives, spontaneously seek help when required, and work in a team of researchers is desired.