BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER (BBB) AND ORGAN-ON-CHIP MODEL TO STUDY AD
Home institution: Biofabics LDA – Portugal (24 months)
Host institution: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri – Italy (12 months)
PhD Enrolment #1: Santiago de Compostela University – Spain
PhD Enrolment #2: University of Verona– Italy
Supervisor #1: Pedro Costa
Supervisor #2: Diego Albani
Intersectoral Secondment: not needed
Objectives: BIOFABICS LDA, located in Porto (Portugal), is looking to appoint a Marie Curie Research Fellow within a fixed term project entitled “In vitro assessment of Circadian Clock Dysfunction effect in Alzheimer’s Disease”, funded by the Horizon Europe project TClock4AD.
The doctoral candidate will work for two years in Portugal (Biofabics) and for 1 year in Italy (Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri).
The main objective will be to develop/validate microfluidic devices (organ-on-chip) able to mimic in vitro the most relevant characteristics of AD. Such devices will also be integrated with sensors. Validation of the devices (with a strong emphasis on cell culture testing) will be performed in close collaboration with University of Santiago de Compostela and University of Verona. The final prototype should be robust, connectable to standard lab equipment and user-friendly. Standard operating procedures/protocols will be also developed to assure an appropriate utilization of the devices by future end-users.
Expected outcomes:
The fellow is expected to generate breakthrough ideas in the assigned area of research, as well as to carry out research in line with the project plan. The fellow is also expected to contribute to dissemination and communication activities, besides actively collaborating within the TClock4AD network. This doctoral candidate will work closely with consortium partners at University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and University of Verona (Italy).
