The development of better drugs for heart failure

History and purpose

Are you passionate about cutting-edge drug development and eager to make a real-world impact? The Ferrier Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington is offering an exciting PhD scholarship to help transform the treatment of heart failure. Join our steroid chemistry team in the quest to develop a next-generation mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) that could bring significant benefit to heart failure therapies.

This project aims to design and synthesize new steroidal MRAs with the potential to treat heart failure more effectively, minimizing the dangerous side effects of existing medications. In collaboration with the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia, you’ll contribute to research that targets the heart’s mineralocorticoid receptor - one of the primary drivers of heart failure progression.

Why is this research important? While current MRA drugs show promise, their severe side effects - such as hyperkalemia and reduced kidney function - limit their use in clinical practise. By developing selective MRAs that overcome these challenges, we aim to develop a safer, more effective heart failure treatment.

Based at the Ferrier Research Institute, Gracefield Research Centre, in Wellington, New Zealand, this PhD project will involve compound design using molecular modelling software, multi-step chemical syntheses of target compounds, their purification and characterisation by NMR and MS spectroscopy, HPLC analysis, etc. The PhD candidate must be in New Zealand or able to get to New Zealand to carry out this study. Drs Andreas and Joshua Buckler will be the supervisors.

Eligibility

• Candidates that hold a BSc (Hons) or MSc in organic or medicinal chemistry, synthetic drug discovery or a related discipline, ideally with experience in synthetic organic chemistry.
• The applicant must be eligible for admission to the PhD programme at Victoria University of Wellington. A GPA of 7.5 or greater (on a 9 point scale), first class honours or Master’s grade and demonstration of proficiency in English are essential.

Application process

Please apply to our Postgraduate Coordinator Dr Alison Daines ferrierPGC@vuw.ac.nz to express your interest in this project and how this relates to your previous experience.

Scholarship specific documentation

Please include a copy of your

• CV
• Full academic transcript
• an expression of research interests
• the names of at least two referees.

Regulations and conditions

The recipient will need to sign a Victoria University of Wellington Research Scholarship contract and a confidentiality agreement.