The School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs) and the Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine (MERLN) at Maastricht University in the Netherlands together with the BIOMED institute at Hasselt University in Belgium invite applications for a PhD position. The PhD student will perform cutting-edge research in computational modeling methods applied to cAMP signaling in the context of Alzheimer’s disease.
Nearly 50 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia. The progression of AD coincides with neurodegeneration and memory loss. Only five treatments have been approved for AD therapy, all of which have limited efficacy and severe side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and even swelling of the brain. Thus, alternative drug targets within neuronal cells should be considered. At the subcellular level, we have previously shown that the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling is important to consolidate information into memory. In addition, an association was found between increased phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) expression, a specific cAMP degrading enzyme, in the brain and greater decline of memory and thinking skills in AD, making PDEs promising drug targets. This research project aims to use an integrated in silico-in vitro methodology to identify the key PDE4 isoforms to target and improve current AD therapies.
More information: https://www.academictransfer.com/en/329464/phd-candidate-computational-modeling-of-camp-signaling-in-the-context-of-alzheimers-disease/
