PRR Project

Summary

Job Description:We are looking for a talented pharmaceutic/biochemist with expertise in the inflammatory diseases, CKD and breast cancer. The ideal candidate will have experience in clinical (hematological and biochemical) analysis, molecular and genetic studies, with the goal of1) identifying early biomarkers of renal tubular and glomerular injuries, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and biomarkers of disease progression and infertility biomarkers;2) understanding the molecular mechanisms of treatment resistance, to identify new target molecules for breast cancer therapy.Responsibilities:Lead and contribute to the preparation of grant applications and secure funding for research initiatives focused on important global health problems, chronic kidney disease, infertility and breast cancer, contributing to reduce their prevalence and related health costs, and to improve well-being.Develop and execute optimized bioinformatics tools for data analysis.Develop and carry out experiments to identify and validate diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers, including biological and genetic studies, like PCR, cell cultures, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometryStay up-to-date on latest technologies and translational strategies for biomarker discovery.Collaborate with clinicians to evaluate the utility of identified biomarkers or therapeutic targets in patient samples and cohorts. Work with interdisciplinary teams to transition biomarker leads, through assay optimization and clinical validation.Supervise graduate students at master´s and PhD levels, and manage mentorship of junior researchers.Disseminate findings through high-impact publications, patent filings, and presentations at conferences and public engagements.Scientific profile:A strong background in clinical analysis, molecular and genetic analysis, focused on chronic inflammatory/neoplastic diseases. The candidate should have documented expertise in conducting biochemical, histological, cell, molecular and genetic studies, using in vitro studies in cell cultures, and in in vivo studies using animal models and humans.Additionally, should have a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry or a related field, with a specialty in Biochemistry or a closely related discipline; a publication record on the scientific area of this application; experience in supervising pre- and postgraduate students; and communication skills, with proficiency in public engagement and scientific dissemination, including outreach activities.Rationale:The recruitment of UCIBIO/i4HB Chair in drug targets and disease biomarkers is in line with UCIBIO´s/i4HB strategy of translating research into future products and patient care.  This work falls under the UCIBIO "Disease Pathways and Biomarkers” research group, which is committed to the elucidation of the underlying causes and mechanisms of health, aging and disease, and to the identification of biomarkers and discovery of new therapeutic targets/drugs, supported by a multidisciplinary approach, a defining characteristic of our Unit.There is an unmet need for novel biomarkers that can enable early diagnosis, disease progression, treatment resistance, for conditions like chronic kidney disease, breast cancer and infertility. Targeted hiring in this area can help address this gap.The International Society of Nephrology, in its latest report, refer that 10% of the world population has CKD and that is expected to climb to 5th cause of mortality by 2040. Portugal has one of the highest rates of incidence and prevalence of patients on dialysis treatment, in Europe. Early identification of CKD is an important unmet need, not only to predict and prevent disease progression, but also to further improve patients’ survival and reduce comorbidities. Hence, more sensitive, and early biomarkers are needed to achieve that goal.The most recent statistical data from 2020 reports almost 2.3 million new breast cancer cases and more than 680.000 deaths, making it the most diagnosed cancer worldwide and the deadliest cancer in women.A huge number of people is affected by infertility; according to the most recent WHO report, 17.5% of the adult population, roughly 1 in 6 worldwide, experience infertility.These conditions are major public health concerns, deserving a continued research, effective public health strategies, and targeted interventions for an early diagnosis and patient’s management, to prevent their high impact on well-being and health costs.The recruitment of this position will be crucial to go deeper into the understanding of these diseases and associated complications, unveiling new biomarkers/target and therapeutic strategies, that can lead to innovative technologies to improve diagnosis, prognosis and self-management of these patients, in line with UCIBIO´s strategic vision that aims not only to expand our knowledge but also to translate these findings into effective healthcare solutions.