PhD fellow in the fields of Medical biology, Biology or Medicine Pediatric Oncology and Pediatric Gastroenterology (Groningen)

Job description
——————————
Towards better nutritional support for chemotherapy-induced intestinal damage in children with cancer.

The long term cancer-free survival of pediatric cancer patients has significantly increased during the past decades due to more intensive chemotherapy treatment regimens. However, more intensive treatment has also resulted in serious morbidity and even mortality. One of the side-effects is mucosal damage (i.e. mucositis) in the gastro-intestinal tract, thereby loosing the epithelium necessary for the normal functions of the GI-tract, like the barrier function for bacteria and digestion and absorption of food.

In this research proposal we will study the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids using a mouse model of chemotherapy induced gastro-intestinal mucositis using nutrients labelled with stable-isotope tracers. Using the mouse model, further knowledge will be gained about the pathofysiology of mucositis and new prophylactic interventions can be studied.

The results of the studies will be used by dietitians to develop optimal feeding protocols for pediatric oncology patients with two objectives:
1 – to supply the GI epithelium with as much nutrients as possible, thereby promoting recovery.

2- to feed the patients most efficiently, resulting in the best available feeding status of the patient, related to decreased infections, more rapid recovery and, most importantly, increased survival.

The data will be published in scientific journals. After 4 years a thesis must be written and a PhD degree should be obtained.

Requirements
——————————
Required education/skills:- Masters degree in (medical) Biology or Medicine.
- Motivated and enthusiastic.
- Flexible and accurate.
- Willing to work with animal models.
- Good social and communicative skills.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. This may mean that you must build up enough resistance to Hepatitis B before you can be appointed.

Conditions of employment
The terms of employment that will apply are in accordance with those of the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the University Medical Centers.
Estimated maximum salary per month: € 2519,-
Employment basis: temporary for specific period.
Duration of the contract: four years.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Health)

Organization
——————————
Pediatric Oncology and Pediatric Gastroenterology The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)-recognized research establishment, the Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE), stimulates research into the development and utilization of drugs based on the knowledge of the pathophysiology of disease.

The GUIDE researchers work in multidisciplinary teams from the Faculty of Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences (University Center for Pharmacy). GUIDE is able to offer its Ph.D. students an extensive educational program, an investment that leads to wide versatility in the area of pharmaceutical research in pharmaceutical medical research establishments and in industry.

Conditions of employment
——————————
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: four years
Maximum hours per week: 38

Additional Information
——————————
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Wim Tissing, MD, PhD, pediatric oncologist / hematologist
Telephone number: 050-3614213

Or Edmond Rings, M.D., Ph.D., pediatric gastroenterologist
Telephone number: 050- 3614747
Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

- Applicationform - More information UMCG Application
——————————
You can apply for this job before 02-10-2007 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

University Medical Center Groningen
Wervingssecretariaat

P.O. Box 30.001
9700 RB GRONINGEN
The Netherlands
E-mail: G.S.Hansen.da.Silva.Monteiro @ med.umcg.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT FMW-7314.