Mechanisms of neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Institute of Neurology to start 1st October 2018.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two devastating mid-life neurodegenerative disorders for which no cure is currently available. Large expansions of a hexanucleotide GGGGCC-repeat in the first intron of the C9orf72 gene is the most common genetic cause of both ALS and FTD. We have made several advances in this area e.g. (Mizielinska et al Science 2014, 345:1192-1194; Simone et al EMBO Mol Med 2018,10:22-31). This studentship will investigate the mechanisms by which the expanded repeat causes neurodegeneration with a focus on cellular modelling, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute.

Entry requirements

Applicants who have or expect to obtain a 1st or upper 2nd class honours degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, biomedical sciences or related disciplines.

Applications

Informal enquiries: Please email Professor Adrian Isaacs for further information about the project ([Email Address Removed])
Application procedures: Application is by CV and covering letter emailed to: [Email Address Removed]

Closing Date: 5pm Friday 11th May 2018