A possibility exists at the LCSB for a paid life science internship project for 6 months from December 2015 or January 2016.

Project description:

The project consist of analysis of the injury-response factors Immune-response gene 1 (Irg1) and ubiquitin-specific protease 9 (USP9) gene expression in a mouse model of Alzheimer-associated neuronal toxicity induced by Abeta amyloid oligomers.

Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease affecting cognitive function in the elderly, and a tremendous burden on Western societies. Yet no cure exists. Over the last few years, it has emerged that the Alzheimer typical Abeta deposits, or plaques, are not the primary culprits of the disease, but rather that soluble Abeta moieties, or oligomers, are at the root of the neurodegenerative process. Neurotoxicity induced by these oligomers can be modeled in vivo.

The candidate will measure the time-dependent expression of Irg1 and USP9 in the brain of mice challenged by Abeta oligomers, and relate the results to neuropathological analyses. The candidate will also actively participate in a RNA profiling/ systems analyses of the oligomer challenged brains and compare the data to human gene expression data available on public data websites. These studies are expected to pave the way for mechanistic investigations of potential causal roles of Irg1 and USP9 in the induction of Alzheimer pathology.

To apply and for further info, please contact:

Manuel Buttini
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine
University of Luxembourg
7 ave des Hauts Fourneaux
L-4362 Esch/Alzette
T + 46 66 44 61 83
E manuel.buttini@uni.lu