About the Project
Key responsibilities
The aim of this project is to develop an intradermal tuberculosis vaccine by combining dissolvable microneedle arrays and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen-containing nanoparticles.
Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for about 1.8 million deaths and more than 10 million new TB cases every year world-wide. With these numbers TB is now the greatest killer worldwide due to a single infectious agent. The only currently registered vaccine, BCG, fails to prevent open lung TB in adults and can cause severe side effects in immune compromised individuals. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safer and more effective TB vaccines.
In this project a prototype of such a new-generation TB vaccine will be developed. Firstly, Mtb antigens will be encapsulated in various types of nanoparticles. The ability of these Mtb antigen-containing nanoparticles to activate human dendritic cells and macrophages will be examined in vitro, and their ability to present M. tuberculosis antigens examined Secondly, stable nanoparticles with optimal immune-stimulating activity will be selected for antigen loading and intradermal vaccination by combining the nanoparticles with microneedles. Microneedles are micron-scaled needle-like structures that can penetrate the skin and deliver the Mtb antigen-loaded nanoparticles into the skin. In vaccination studies in humanized mice, the strength and quality of the immune responses and the level of protection against TB will be assessed.
Selection criteria
• A recent Master’s degree in Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, Medical Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or equivalent;
• PhD students should be able to work at the interface between various disciplines and should have know-how in both antigen/protein formulation and immunology;
• Excellent technical skills, cell culture experience and experience with animal studies (“artikel 9, proefdierkunde”) is an advantage;
• You should display great team spirit, ability to collaborate with experts in different scientific disciplines, and easily communicate in English, both verbally and in writing.
Research at our faculty
The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.
The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organised in 8 institutes. These institutes offer 8 bachelor’s and 12 master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 1,300 staff and almost 4,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.
The Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) is a leading institute dedicated to world-class research and education in drug discovery and development. LACDR comprises a diverse and international team of approximately 150 researchers and is ideally located at the Leiden Bio Science Park, the largest life science cluster in The Netherlands. In the 2017 QS World University Ranking, the University of Leiden was listed number 17 globally in the area of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science and the website of the cluster BioTherapeutics https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/drug-research/biotherapeutics.
The Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) is a modern knowledge center with over 7,000 staff members who are passionate about combating disease and improving patient care through scientific research. The LUMC is a center for medical innovation that aims to improve patient care through leading international research. So as to also provide our patients with a safe and friendly environment, we need doctors, medical care specialists, support staff and academic researchers.
The Department of Infectious Diseases is a Center of Excellence in the research of Tuberculosis, and has a worldwide reputation in the field. You can find detailed information about our research projects and papers on https://www.lumc.nl/org/infectieziekten/medewerkers/tomottenhoff.
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Funding Notes
One PhD candidates will be appointed at Leiden University. Salary range from € 2,222.- to € 2,840.- gross per month.
The other PhD candidate will be appointed at Leiden University Medical Center according to the terms of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch University Medical Centers, for the duration of one year with an extension of three years after positive evaluation. Your salary will be € 2,244.- gross per month in the first year, progressing to € 2,874.- gross per month in the fourth year based on a full time position.
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