PhD position (m/f) in biology – EphB/ephrinB in stroke

The Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology of Heidelberg University, Working Group Neurovascular Research (Prof. Dr. Hugo H. Marti) offers a

PhD position

to study the impact of the EphB/ephrinB system on inflammation and edema formation during cerebral ischemia.

Stroke is one of the most relevant causes of death in the western world and responsible for 6 billion euro economic costs caused by illness in Germany annually. As the pathophysiological and regenerative mechanisms of this disease are only partially understood, no causative therapy dealing with the consequences of the ischemic insult is available. In this context, the role of the Eph/ephrin-receptor/ligand-system has not been investigated so far although it decisively controls genesis, architecture and function of the brain. This proposal is ought to investigate as to how the EphB/ephrinB-system regulates the function of endothelial and immune cells under these circumstances. Consequently, the working program is specifically focused on the analysis of (i) the relevance of ephrinB1/B2 for the function of the blood-brain-barrier with respect to the formation of brain edema as well as the transmigration of leukocytes (monocytes, granulocytes) and (ii) the ischemia-related activation of leukocytes and resident immune cells (microglia, astroglia) by the EphB/ephrinB-system.

Group and Working Environment:
This is a German Research Foundation-funded joint research project of Prof. H.H. Marti (WG Neurovascular Research) and Prof. T. Korff, both affiliated with the Division of Cardiovascular Physiology (director: Prof. M. Hecker) at the Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology. The division comprises 6 principal investigators, 5 postdocs and about 20 PhD and MD students from various countries.

Heidelberg, home to Germany’s oldest university and one of the premier centres of biomedical research in Europe, provides ample opportunity for scientific exchange not only within the university, but with other renowned research institutions as well.

References:
* Liu H, Devraj K, Möller K, Liebner S, Hecker M, Korff T: EphrinB-mediated reverse signalling controls junctional integrity and pro-inflammatory differentiation of endothelial cells. Thromb Haemost 112:151-63, 2014
* Kunze R, Wei Z, Veltkamp R, Wielockx B, Breier G, Marti HH. Neuron-specific prolyl-4-hydroxylase 2 knockout reduces brain injury after transient cerebral ischemia. Stroke 43: 2748-2756, 2012
* Braun J, Hoffmann SC, Feldner A, Ludwig T, Henning R, Hecker M, Korff T: Endothelial cell ephrinB2-dependent activation of monocytes in arteriosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 31:297-305, 2011
* Bauer AT, Bürgers HF, Rabie T, Marti HH: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 mediates hypoxia-induced vascular leakage in the brain via tight junction rearrangement. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 30:837-848, 2010

Methods that will be used:
in vitro culture of endothelial, immune and neuronal cells; wildtype and transgenic mice as experimental animal models for stroke; immunohistochemistry; light microscopy; protein biochemistry; molecular biology techniques

Personal Qualifications:
* Master or diploma in biology, biochemistry or related fields
* Keen interest to work in the competitive field of vascular/neuronal biology
* Knowledge of light microscopy, cell biology, and animal experimentation techniques or willingness to acquire the necessary skills
* Team-minded and flexible

The successful candidates will be enrolled in the Hartmut Hoffmann-Berling International Graduate School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (HBIGS) of Heidelberg University, which provides an educational framework for young graduate students, both with a bioscience and with a medical background.