- Department/Institute:
- Department of Medicine IV, Diabetes Center, LMU Hospital
- Subject area:
- Xenotransplantation to cure adrenal insufficiency (M. Addison, congenital adrenal hyperplasia)
- Name of supervisor:
- Prof. Dr. med. J. Seißler, Dr. med. vet. L. Wolf-van Buerck
- Number of open position:
- 1
- Project title:
- Cell therapy of adrenal insufficiency with adrenocortical cells from gene-modified pigs
- Project time plan:
- Doctoral Thesis (MD) 36 months
- Language requirements:
- English
- Academic requirements:
- Master of Medicine
Project description:
Year 0-0.5: Learning of methods: isolation of wildtype/genetically modified (hCD47-tg, hPD-L1-tg) porcine adrenocortical cells (pACC), single cell preparation and organoid generation, qRT-PCR, FACS, immunohistology.
Years 0.5-2.0: In vitro studies: optimization of cell isolation and organoid formation, modulation of immune cell reactivity (T cells and NK cells) by specific transgene expression
Years 1.0-2.5: generation of optimized cell products for transplantation studies. Analysis of pACC grafting after transplantation in immunocompromised NSG mice and NSG mice carrying a human immune system. Analysis of severity of immune cell activation by FACS (splenocytes and blood cells) and severity of immune cell infiltration (immunhistology).
Porcine ACC transplantation in mice will be performed by group members with extensive experience; the applicant can learn the methods by assistance during surgery.
Years 2.0-3.0: writing of publications and thesis
To applicants: Please send following initial application documents to LMU-CSC Office before 15th December:
- Resume and Research Motivation Letter
- Certificate of Proficiency in English, equivalent to IELTS Test Academic 6.5 (no module below 6) or TOEFL IBT 95, is required
- Two letters of recommendation directly sent from your current Supervisors/Professors to LMU-CSC Office
Contact LMU-CSC Office: csc.international@lmu.de