TARGETING EPIGENETIC CONTROL OF CLOCK GENES IN NEURAL STEM CELLS (NSCS)
Home institution: Bologna University – Italy (24 months)
Host institution: Hradec Kralove University – Czech Republic (10 months)
PhD Enrolment #1: Bologna University – Italy
PhD Enrolment #2: Hradec Kralove University – Czech Republic
Supervisor #1: Barbara Monti
Supervisor #2: Kamil Musilek
Intersectoral Secondment: Neuroscios – Austria
Objectives: The Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy, is looking to appoint a Marie Curie Research Fellow within a fixed term project entitled “Targeting epigenetic control of clock genes in neural stem cells (NSCs)”, in the framework of the Horizon Europe project “Targeting Circadian Clock Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)” (GA101072895), Acronym: TClock4AD.
The doctoral candidate will work for two years in Italy (Bologna University) and for 10 months in Czech Republic (Hradec Kralove University) and will be involved in a 2-month secondment to an Austrian company (NeuroScios Ltd).
Targeting epigenetic control of clock genes in neural stem cells (NSCs): the aim of the project is to identify epigenetic targets regulating circadian clock genes involved in AD pathological aging and to screen hits discovered by other fellows of the consortium, by using in vitro models of commercially available NSCs derived from healthy controls or AD (sAD or fAD) patients. i) HDACs and HATs activities, expression, subcellular localization and regulation through biochemical and molecular approaches, ii) pharmacological studies of HDACs and HATs role in CC genes regulation, as well as iii) histones’ post-translational modifications at clock genes promoters through ChIP assays will be studied in proliferation and neuro-glia differentiation of neurospheres from human iPSCs from healthy controls or AD-patients
Expected outcomes: The fellow is expected to carry out research in line with the project plan, being in charge for the planning and execution of the research activities, as well as to generate breakthrough ideas in the assigned area of research. The fellow is also expected to contribute to dissemination and communication activities, besides actively collaborating within the TClock4AD network. This DC will work closely with University of Hradec Kralove (CZ), as well as with NeuroScios Ltd (AT).
