This PhD project is part of a large Dutch national consortium that just started, named Lifelong VISION, a Gravitation project funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (2024- 2033) that will develop new treatments against blindness. Are you the enthusiastic PhD candidate to join our team? We would like to get to know you!

Blindness is among the top 15 most disabling conditions, and can manifest in many different ways. In young people, a hereditary retinal condition is the main cause, while age-related macular degeneration is the main cause in the elderly. The Lifelong VISION program is developing a new generation of treatment strategies to prevent blindness: genetic therapies, treatments that target the disease mechanism, and cell therapies. State of the art cell and animal models will be developed to test these new therapies in vitro and in vivo. The suitability of each patient group, and the optimal timing for therapeutic intervention is predicted using artificial intelligence, so that the right patient receives the right treatment at the right time. The innovative technologies and strategies developed for eye diseases within our project may serve as blueprints for other diseases and organs.

In our workgroups, we aim to identify genetic variation underlying inherited retinal disease, elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms, and develop novel interventions. Specifically, in this PhD project, we aim to combine state-of-the art molecular technologies and disease-relevant model systems to identify novel therapeutic interventions that act at the DNA or RNA level, e.g., by correcting disease-causing mutations, or pathogenic risk alleles.

The project is led by prof. dr. Caroline Klaver from Radboudumc. Other institutions include Amsterdam UMC, Erasmus MC, University of Twente, Hubrecht Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Tilburg University, and Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience.

You are an enthusiastic PhD candidate with a master's degree in Molecular Life Sciences or a related field. You have a solid theoretical background in molecular and cell biology, as well as hands-on experience with standard molecular techniques such as PCR, cloning, RT-PCR, western blotting, microscopy, cell culture and stem cell technology.

Familiarity with retinal and/or multifactorial diseases is considered a plus. Your ambition is to excel in science and you are result-oriented. Your communication skills in English are strong, both written and verbal. You possess a critical scientific attitude and are able to work both independently and in a team.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year, with propect of extension.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.017 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3.824 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week.

Radboudumc

The wet-lab work will be conducted at the department of Human Genetics at the Radboudumc, that fosters an inspiring, international environment where different workgroups work on different genetic diseases. The teams of prof. Collin (Collin lab) and dr. Roosing (Roosing lab) each consist of ~10 employees and students, that study various genetic and therapeutic aspects of inherited retinal diseases.

State-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure includes specialized facilities to differentiate retinal organoids, high-resolution microscopy, innovative sequencing platforms and a bioinformatics core.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare.

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then send an email to Rob Collin, Full Professor Molecular Therapies for Inherited Retinal Disease. Use the Apply button to submit your application.