PhD position: Blood vessels and dementia

How do blood vessels contribute to dementia? Join research into the blood-brain barrier, glymphatic system and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), using advanced imaging and preclinical models.

The cerebral vascular bed does more than supply blood to the brain. It also maintains the blood-brain barrier and helps remove waste products through the so-called glymphatic system.

The glymphatic system consists of channels surrounding the blood vessels. Through these channels, substances move into and out of the brain. In various forms of dementia, disease processes affecting the cerebral vascular bed play an important role.

Reduced blood flow, leakage of the blood-brain barrier and the accumulation of harmful proteins often occur together. In this project, we test the hypothesis that leakage of the blood-brain barrier disrupts the glymphatic system. This may accelerate the aggregation of amyloid beta in and around blood vessels, a condition known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).

Would you like to know more about the different phases within the PhD trajectory? You can read more about this on this page.

In this project, you will conduct preclinical studies using animal models, including a model for human CAA. You will investigate whether the blood-brain barrier is disrupted in this model and whether interventions targeting the blood-brain barrier influence the course of CAA.

You will use a range of techniques to study these processes, including:

• MRI;
• immunostaining;
• confocal microscopy;
• ex vivo assays on blood vessels.

We are looking for a graduate researcher with an interest in dementia, the cerebral vascular system and preclinical research. You have:

• a degree in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience or Cardiovascular Sciences;
• an interest in preclinical research into neuroscience or the cardiovascular system;
• experience with MRI or other imaging techniques, which is an advantage;
• experience with preclinical research in neuroscience or the cardiovascular system, which is an advantage;
• Article 9 status, or at least eligibility to obtain Article 9 status.
• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
• A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of four years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
• Classification in salary scale OIO: € 3.217 to € 4.077 gross for full-time employment (depending on experience). In addition to a good basic salary, we offer 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Calculate your net salary here.
• Holiday hours: 194.4 per year for full time and a possibility to save additional hours.
• 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs. If you travel by foot, bicycle, or car, a mileage allowance of €0.21 per km applies (up to a maximum of 40 km one way by car).
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.

Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.

You will join an enthusiastic team of researchers with a shared interest in the cerebral vascular system and preclinical imaging. Together, you investigate the glymphatic system, high blood pressure and the blood-brain barrier across several research projects.

The team works within national and international collaborations. The current project is part of the Zon Mw-funded consortium Mechanisms of Dementia (MODEM). You will have access to a broad range of research techniques, including MRI, 2-photon microscopy, ultrasound, histology and myography.

You will work in a research environment where different imaging and experimental techniques come together to investigate mechanisms involved in dementia.

More information about the team can be found on the Brain Clearance research group…