iPLACENTA Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN Early Stage Researcher ESR6 - Genome-wide investigation in patients with early/late-onset preeclampsia (PE)

INSERM Institut Cochin U1016 (Paris) and Université Paris-Descartes are looking for an Early Stage Researcher (ESR) with a focus on developing a personalized medicine analysis of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure, proteinuria and in one third of the cases associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In severe cases, kidney, liver, and brain can be affected, with long term consequences for the cardiovascular health of the mother and progeny.

About INSERM
INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale – French National Institute for Health and Medical Research) is the French Institute devoted to medical research. The Cochin Institute is a research unit of INSERM, grouping ~650 persons, inside which the team FGTB (From Gametes To Birth) focuses on human reproduction diseases. The Cochin Institute (https://www.institutcochin.fr/?set_language=en) uses 10 core facilities, allowing for the use of high throughput techniques, light imaging, electronic imaging, CrispR/cas9 models, etc.


Project description:
The project is part of iPlacenta (www.iplacenta.eu), a new European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme ETN, to model the placenta for early detection of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, and to train the next generation of Translational Scientists for Maternal and Fetal Health.

The focus of the project is to define a combination of genes that will be explored in RNA samples from placentas (Controls, Intra-Uterine Growth-Restriction – IUGR –, Mild Preeclampsia, Severe Preeclampsia with IUGR, Severe preeclampsia without IUGR). Besides, the placental DNA will be analysed by 250K-500K SNP genotyping. The expression will tentatively be associated with the variants found in the different samples. For analysing in detail the pertinence of interesting genes, we will use human trophoblastic cell models. Trophoblasts can be located inside the placental villi (Villous Cytotrophoblasts or CTV) or outside (extravillous trophoblasts or EVT). CTV can fuse into syncytiotrophoblasts (SCT). We use BeWo cells as a model of CTV that fuses under treatment by forskolin and turn into SCT, and JEG-3 cells, as a model of EVT. In the lab, we have generated from these cells models that are in a ‘preeclamptic’ situation with the permanent transfection of the transcription factor STOX1A. This tool is a very original asset to analyse the transcriptional, proteomics, metabolic effects mechanistically, from what was identified during the discovery stage. In sum the project will allow to classify the patients and to understand more precisely what the differences induce in terms of cellular biology. Our cell models can be modified by siRNA/ CrispR-cas9, or by additive transgenesis, they can also be treated by specific inhibitors, all this being possibly usable as an in vitro model for starting evaluating anti-preeclamptic treatments.

Candidate profile:
- Interests in developing and translating technology to answer medical questions and solve healthcare problems in women health
- Strong understanding in Cell and Molecular Biology
- Good knowledge of bioinformatics, Epigenetics

- Able to communicate with scientists, engineers and clinicians of different disciplines;
- Have a motivated, flexible and positive work attitude;
- Proficiency in English language.
- be flexible to travel throughout the Europe in order to exchange expertise between the partners of iPLACENTA consortia

Eligibility:
To this position applies a mobility rule. The respective candidate must not have worked for more than 12 months in France within the last three years. Furthermore, the candidate needs to be in his/her first four years of his/her research career. The four years are counted from the date a degree was obtained which formally entitles to embark on a doctorate in the country either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided.

Starting date: 1st Sept 2018
Duration: 36 months

How to apply:
Submit an application to [Email Address Removed]
Application form can be downloaded from www.iplacenta.eu
Interviews by teleconference: June-July

Deadline for application: Monday 18th June 2018 (Midnight-GMT)