15 fully-funded MSCA PhD positions in Advanced Glaucoma Research in the Netherlands, Norway, Germany or France!

Glaucoma is an age-related neurodegenerative eye disease. Despite efforts of the early detection and treatment of glaucoma, ~15% of all patients in the EU still become bilaterally blind. Our European MSCA Doctoral Network EGRET-AAA ('European Glaucoma REsearch Training program for Accelerating the Approach to Advanced Glaucoma') will focus on finding solutions for patients suffering from advanced glaucoma. We aim to bring revolutionary therapies for protecting and restoring vision in these patients a significant step closer to clinical deployment.

We offer 15 3-year Joint-Doctorate positions in academia, healthcare and industry (NL/DE/FR/NO), in the field of (ophthalmo)genetics, molecular biology, ophthalmology, visual neuroscience, and vision science technology.

4 Projects on furthering gene and stem cell-based treatment for advanced glaucoma using human retinal organoids

1. Experimental Regenerative Medicine: Stem Cell-derived Ganglion Cell Replacement Therapy in Glaucoma Models (NL/FR)
2. Functional Assessment of Glaucoma Candidate Disease Genes using Genetically Modified Retinal Organoids (NL/FR)
3. Retinal axon pathfinding: cellular events controlled by subcellular compartment-restricted second messengers (FR/NL)
4. Intrinsic mechanisms that drive axon guidance at the optic chiasm (FR/NL)

5 projects on developing new methods to offer remaining and new ganglion cells a healthy environment in terms of oxygen delivery and neuroprotection

1. From GWAS to neuroprotective pathways (DE/NL)
2. Mechanisms of Retinal ganglion cells/glial cells uncoupling by glaucoma-associated stress and their association with neuronal cell death (FR/NL)
3. The role of retinal Mononuclear Phagocytes and Macroglia cells in retinal ischemia (FR/NL)
4. Multimodal assessment of retinal function in end-stage glaucoma (DE/NL)
5. Multimodal imaging of retinal perfusion (DE/NL)

6 projects on developing new techniques to assess changes in retinal and visual pathway structure and function in advanced glaucoma

1. Eye movement-based evaluation of visual function in advanced glaucoma (NO/NL)
2. Functional assessment in advanced glaucoma (NL/DE)
3. OCT in advanced glaucoma: analysis of retinal tissue properties using deep learning (NL/DE)
4. Structural MRI-based assessment of the visual pathways in late-stage glaucoma (NL/DE)
5. fMRI-based assessment of connectivity in the visual cortex in advanced glaucoma (NL/DE)
6. Cortical plasticity in advanced glaucoma with 7T fMRI (DE/NL)

Eligibility conditions

1. You have not resided or carried out your main activity in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months during the previous 36 months
2. Are not already in the possession of a doctoral degree at the date of appointment

We are looking for someone with:

• Deep interest in vision (complex genetics, molecular mechanisms, pathobiology, retinal physiology, clinical research with advanced techniques for retinal imaging and function testing, visual neuroscience)
• Relevant skills and experiences, and strong scientific interest
• A MSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g., biology, biomedical engineering, genetics, medicine, neuroscience, (bio)physics)
• Passion for research and (williness to develop) the dissemination and outreach skills

Visit our website for more information on the projects, application procedures, network, consortium, training program, joint-doctorates, and benefits.

Movie of the predecessor of EGRET-AAA: MSCA-ITN EGRET+.