PhD - Modulating Targets, Human Neurodegenerative diseases

PhD - Modulating Targets, Human Neurodegenerative diseases

Arbetsbeskrivning

Combine your scientific drive with your strategic and tactical skills in a new exciting PhD position funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, jointly supervised by the Dept of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and the Translational Genomics Lab within AstraZeneca, Discovery Sciences in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The focus of the studentship will be finding new ways to treat common brain disorders, which are on the rise due to increased life expectancy. Neuronal proteinopathies, characterized by the aggregation of misfolded protein, affect millions of people globally and there is a high degree of unmet clinical need. Mechanisms that protect against protein aggregation are therefore therapeutically interesting and our aim is to modulate targets, important in a range of human neurodegenerative diseases, to reduce the accumulation of protein aggregates. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and schizophrenia are among the world's most common brain diseases and a similar basic defect is common to all three: errors in the body's ability to fold protein into the correct shape and the subsequent toxic accumulation of mis-shaped proteins. Current treatments can relieve patient symptoms, but there are no cures. Our aim in this study is to treat these disorders by developing new types of drugs aimed at reducing the amount of mis-folded protein.

The project goal is to establish the potential of proteasome activation to counteract the development of neurodegenerative disease through the clearance of misfolded protein aggregates. Specifically, the project aims to:

* Interrogate whether proteasome activation has a potential protective role in mouse models of neurodegenerative disease with altered protein expression levels of proteosome componens.
* We will utilize biochemical, histological and live mouse phenotypic analysis to determine if increased levels of proteasome activation protect against, and conversely whether decreased levels accelerates, protein aggregation.
* Guided by our biochemical and histological findings we will determine if proteasome activation protects against protein aggregation and whether this translates to an improvement in multiple neurodegenerative phenotypes related to cognition in mice.
* Determine if small activating RNA activation of proteasome activation is a viable therapeutic approach to treat neurogenerative disease in mouse models of disease.

The majority of the practical work will be performed at AstraZeneca's Gothenburg with the Translational Genomics labs which are fully equipped to support molecular biology, in vitro and in vivo activities. In addition, through sister teams in the department, we have access to key equipment and skilled personnel including protein science, Next Generation Sequencing and assay development.

What you'll do:
In this role you will be part of a team responsible for the development and delivery of target validation data packages using custom made, advanced transgenic mouse models and relevant readouts (e.g. metabolic and behavioral assays).

You will combine your scientific expertise and drive to deliver high quality results as a lab-based scientist. Additional accountabilities include:

* Be part of and support a team in delivering model and target validation data packages by providing scientific input and drive for the team, ensuring timely delivery of results in line with Discovery Sciences and all Therapeutic Area objectives.
* Work with external industrial and academic partners and leaders in the in vivo target validation field.
* Plan, design, execute and analyse data from experiments to generate high quality results to support project decisions and milestones.

Essential for the role:
This role requires a strong scientific drive together with a solid expertise in in vivo target validation combined with a strategic leadership profile. As well as:

* Industry experience in working with animal models of disease, developing in vivo assessment assays, and generating model validation data packages.
* Ph.D. in a relevant discipline or equivalent academic or industrial experience.
* Ability to work in a high performing team.
* Experience of interactions with academic partners as well as ability to communicate and influence both internal stakeholders.
* Demonstrable understanding of early target validation, target selection, and therapeutic development activities.

The right candidate for this position is passionate for people, want to do the right thing, have excellent problem-solving skills, and a drive to succeed.

Why AstraZeneca?
A company that genuinely follows the science and values individuals at all levels, you'll be backed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas to push the boundaries of science and continuously learn and explore.

So, what's next? If this sounds like the opportunity for you, apply today!

We welcome your application no later than 21st October, 2022.

If you're curious to know more then please reach out to responsible manager John Wiseman at john.w.wiseman(at)astrazeneca.com.

Kontaktpersoner på detta företaget

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

Sammanfattning

  • Arbetsplats: AstraZeneca
  • 1 plats
  • Tills vidare
  • Heltid
  • Fast månads- vecko- eller timlön
  • Publicerat: 29 september 2022
  • Ansök senast: 18 oktober 2022

Besöksadress

Pepparedsleden 1
None

Postadress

43183
0181, 43183

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