Biomechanical signalling in human heart disease

About the Project

The human heart undergoes more than 2 billion beats throughout an individual's lifetime, with its rhythm precisely regulated by signalling events that continuously adapt to the biomechanical stress exerted on the ventricular walls. Biomechanical signalling plays a significant role in the development of heart disease. Altered mechanical forces on the heart can trigger intracellular signalling pathways that negatively impact pumping function, promote abnormal growth, and activate extracellular matrix remodelling. However, our understanding of how these signalling pathways impair heart function remains limited. It is crucial to unravel the complex interplay between biomechanical signalling and heart disease to develop targeted therapeutic interventions.

To address this knowledge gap, a PhD project will be undertaken, utilising an extensive collection of human cardiac tissue samples, and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines available through the Melbourne Children's Heart Tissue Bank. The project's primary objective is to explore the biomechanical defects that underlie heart disease by employing cardiac physiology. By integrating these physiological findings with state-of-the-art mass spectrometry techniques to analyse signalling changes in heart tissue (such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination), the project will establish a comprehensive map of the signalling events responsible for mechanical dysfunction in human heart disease. Ultimately, this research aims to identify potential new therapeutic targets for the treatment of heart disease.

About the Candidate

A PhD position is available for an outstanding student to work on an exciting project at the nexus of heart function, cellular signalling, and human pluripotent stem cell disease modelling. Students will be enrolled through the University of Melbourne and will work within the Heart Disease and Heart Regeneration groups at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. The project will involve biomechanical assessment of cardiac cell function and state-of-the-art mass spectrometry. Therefore, a strong physiology or molecular biology background is highly desirable. Familiarilty with Python, R, or similar platforms would be looked upon favourably.

English language requirements for the University of Melbourne can be located here It is desirable that the student would be eligible and competitive for a PhD scholarship with the University of Melbourne.

When applying, please email your CV, academic transcripts, and evidence of English proficiency (see above) to [Email Address Removed]. Please also explain why you would be suitable for the project.