PhD Studentships in Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

A new National Graduate Dental Research School has been established at four Institutions in Sweden, funded by the Swedish Research Council, with approximately 2.5 MSEK per year for five years. Dental research will be supported within the Graduate School to create a network between the four Institutions, and research from medical and other faculties. A key aim is that graduate students will gain insight into both biomedical and clinical research, which will contribute to the establishment of a translational research environment.

Within this framework 2 PhD studentships are available at the Center for Oral Biology, to investigate;
Nerve-target interactions in teeth and bone. Neural growth factors and mineralization

Project 1: Nerve growth factors and mineralization
This project will test the hypothesis that neurotrophic factors, in addition to their roles in innervation, influence mineralization during dentinogenesis and osteogenesis. If so, malfunctions associated with these factors could cause disturbances both in sensory nerve functions and in hard tissue formation

Project 2: Cellular and biomolecular interactions of osteoadherin with neurotrophic factors
Mineralizing tissue cells are reported to synthesize and secrete neurotrophic factors, and it has been hypothesized that in addition to their role in neural development, these factors may influence hard tissue formation. Candidate molecules for such an interaction include the small leucine-rich family of proteoglycans (SLRPs), which are recognized as not only having a part to play in maintaining shape and providing biomechanical strength to organs and tissues, but also exhibit direct and indirect cell signaling properties. In turn this can affect cell recruitment, proliferation, migration and differentiation. This project will investigate in detail the cellular and biomolecular interactions of nerve growth factors with the only recognized hard tissue-specific SLRP reported to date, osteoadherin (OSAD).

For more detailed information on the projects www.ki.se/odont

Contact:

Professor Kaj Fried
+46 8 524 878 53
Kaj.Fried[ at ]ki.se

Dr Rachael Sugars
+ 46 8 746 02 35
Rachael.Sugars[ at ]ki.se

Last date of application: 15th December 2008

Applications to be sent to:

c/o Lena Jarsman
Karolinska Institutet
Institute of Odontology
Box 4064
14104 Huddinge, Sweden

Email: Lena.Jarsman@ki.se

Quote reference: 4117/2008 Project 1, 4119/2008 Project 2