PRR Project

Summary

FMUP and RISE Associate Laboratory promote clinical and translational research in different thematic lines. A RISE research field, that crosses many thematic lines, is the translational neurourology field. The neurobiology group of RISE, which works in the translational neurourology field, investigates health problems related to chronic pelvic pain and functional lower urinary tract pathologies like urinary incontinence. The research is performed by a translational scientist (Norma Transitória do DL 57/2016, presently the group leader) and urologists, all with a long track record in the field. Due to the present transient position of the scientist group leader, and to maintain the level of research activity of this group in RISE, there is the need to open a Principal Researcher position in the translational neurourology field.In the proposed position, the Principal Researcher will contribute to the investigation and teaching of translational neurourology and related subjects. It will be responsible for promoting research in chronic pelvic pain and urinary incontinence, bladder outlet obstruction, and detrusor under activity, which affects many patients in the clinical Departments. The Principal Researcher is expected to test new effective treatments using different approaches (e.g. drug repurposing, strategies that do not rely on drugs that may cause dependency, third-wave therapy, among others), find diagnostic and/or predictive biomarkers having in mind the patient´s phenotype, develop software tools (e.g. App) to improve patient-different specialist communication – aiming to achieve individualized medicine. In addition, the Principal Researcher is expected to monitor clinical proof of concept clinical studies.As a Principal Researcher, it is expected to coordinate research activity and apply for national and international funding. The Principal Researcher will also be responsible for making a bridge between its research activity and research peers – patients/patients advocate – society – industry.The Principal Researcher to be hired should have research experience in the neurourology field (at least 35 papers and an h-index superior to 15 – source: Scopus). It should have experience coordinating experimental work (BSc, MSc, PhD) and experience in working with urologists and multidisciplinary teams.It should have experience working or creating models of chronic pelvic pain and lower urinary tract dysfunction. It should have a DGAV authorization to work with laboratory rodents and be the Principal Investigator in projects that use animal models. It should have experience in performing behavior tests and in the application of sensory tests in animal models. It should know how to work with software to analyze animal behavior. It should have experience in working with home cage analysis; it should have experience using in vitro models, namely cell cultures. It should have experience with common molecular and cellular biology techniques, as with basic/advanced microscopy.The Principal Researcher to hire should have experience in the monitorization of clinical studies in the urology field. It must have experience and license to perform QST – quantitative sensory testing in patients. It should have participated in national and international projects in the neurourology field. It should have experience in coordinating international projects in the neurourology field. It should have experience in the dissemination of scientific outcomes or in the dissemination of translation of urology-related subjects. It should have experience with patient advocate groups. It should be on the editorial board of journals in the field of neurourology field. It should have an active national and international collaborative network in the neurourology field. It should have experience in teaching basic medicine and research-related subjects. It should have experience in creating continuous education courses.