Our team in involved in the H2020 European Project Folsmart ( http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/200186_en.html ) dedicated to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using a new strategy targeting folate receptors with a liposome-based nanovector. We are in charge of the pre-clinical evaluation of this nanovector and the investigation of its mechanism of action in mice. We will use in vivo imaging techniques to address these questions, including high resolution ultrasound, opto-acoustics (also called photoacoustics), in vivo bi-photon imaging and ultra-fast ultrasound imaging.
We offer a 2-year post-doctoral position to implement these tools in order to characterize and provide early assessment of the therapy in preclinical models of rheumatoid arthritis. Date of Employment should be between 17th October and the end of December 2016.
References:
Enhancing Methotrexate Tolerance with Folate Tagged Liposomes in Arthritic Mice. Nogueira E, Lager F, Le Roux D, Nogueira P, Freitas J, Charvet C, Renault G, Loureiro A, Almeida CR, Ohradanova-Repic A, Machacek C, Bernardes GJ, Moreira A, Stockinger H, Burnet M, Carmo AM, Gomes AC, Preto A, Bismuth G, Cavaco-Paulo A. J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2015 Dec;11(12):2243-52.
Ultrasound and Doppler micro-imaging in a model of rheumatoid arthritis in mice. Clavel G, Marchiol-Fournigault C, Renault G, Boissier MC, Fradelizi D, Bessis N. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 Dec;67(12):1765-72.
Single-side access, isotropic resolution, and multispectral three-dimensional photoacoustic imaging with rotate-translate scanning of ultrasonic detector array. Gateau, J., Gesnik, M., Chassot, J.-M., & Bossy, E. (2015). Journal of Biomedical Optics, 20(5), 056004.
Applicant must have a strong experience in ultrasound image formation and ideally in ultra-fast sequence computing. Previous experience on small animal experimentation is not mandatory but would be appreciated.
Gross annual salary 31 000€
The small animal imaging facility of Institut Cochin performs studies in ultrasound and bioluminescence imaging for both academic teams and private companies. It is specialized in in vivo evaluation and characterization of pathologies and runs 2 high resolution scanners (VEVO 2100, VEV0770, Visualsonics) and one ultrafast ultrasound scanner (Aixplorer, Supersonic Imagine). Our team has also strong experience in the development and evaluation of mice models of rheumatic diseases and their imaging using various modalities (ultrasound, bioluminescence, MRI, CT, ..).
