Postdoctoral Research Project in Metabolism and Vascular Function

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Postdoctoral Research Project in Metabolism and Vascular Function

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Job description

USP-CEU welcomes postdoctoral researchers with an excellent track record to apply to the European Commission Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) or any other R2 reseach calls, such as: , or (Spanish Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation) or (Madrid Regional Goverment).Selected candidates will be provided with special assistance for proposal writing and development. Our University has been beneficiary of 7 MSCA PF since 2017, including one MSCA-PF with an evaluation of 100/100 in 2021.Brief description of Research Group:Our multidisciplinary team (Metabolism and Vascular function, MET-VASC) at San Pablo CEU University (Madrid, Spain) includes researchers from the fields of Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Nutrition, Mathematics and Physical Chemistry, specialized in the study of vascular alterations associated to metabolic diseases. Our current lines are:1. Study of intertisular communication between perivascular adipose tissue and the artery as the origin of vascular dysfunction associated with obesity and atherosclerosis.2. Brown adipose tissue transplantation as an anti-obesity tool.3. Activation of the protective branch of the renin-angiotensin system to prevent the loss of vascular function associated with obesity and atherosclerosis.Our equipment includes:

• Ex-vivo cardiovascular function determination (organ bath, wire myograph, pressure myograph, Langendorff).
• In-vivo non-invasive blood pressure determination.
• Molecular Biology techniques (Western Blot, qPCR..).
• Core services: cell culture rooms, vivarium, histological analysis, proteomics, and metabolomics services.

Further information about the team, lines of research, funding and publications can be found atPublications and on-going funding:

• González-Blázquez R, Alcalá M, Cárdenas-Rebollo JM, Viana M, Steckelings UM, Boisvert WA, Unger T, Fernández-Alfonso MS, Somoza B, Gil-Ortega M. AT2R stimulation with C21 prevents arterial stiffening and endothelial dysfunction in the abdominal aorta from mice fed a high-fat diet. Clin Sci (Lond). 2021 Dec 22;135(24):2763-2780. IF: 6.124 (Q1). ASSOCIATED PROJECT: Estudio de los mecanismos implicados en el desarrollo de rigidez arterial asociada a obesidad: papel del receptor AT2 del tejido adiposo perivascular. Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU – Banco Santander FUSP-BS-PPC-USP03/2017. IP: Marta Gil Ortega. 2017-2019. 15000 €.
• González-Blázquez R, Alcalá M, Fernández-Alfonso M, Steckelings UM, Lorenzo MP, Viana M, Boisvert W, Unger T, Ortega MG, Somoza B. C21 preserves endothelial function in the thoracic aorta from DIO mice: role for AT2, Mas and B2 receptors. Clin Sci (Lond). 2021 Apr 26:CS20210049. doi: 10.1042/CS20210049. IF: 6.124 (Q1). ASSOCIATED PROJECT: Estudio de los mecanismos implicados en el desarrollo de rigidez arterial asociada a obesidad: papel del receptor AT2 del tejido adiposo perivascular. Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU – Banco Santander FUSP-BS-PPC-USP03/2017. IP: Marta Gil Ortega. 2017-2019. 15000 €.
• Vega-Martín E, Gil-Ortega M, González-Blázquez R, Benedito S, Fernández-Felipe J, Ruiz-Gayo M, Del Olmo N, Chowen JA, Frago LM, Somoza B, Fernández-Alfonso MS. Differential Deleterious Impact of Highly Saturated Versus Monounsaturated Fat Intake on Vascular Function, Structure, and Mechanics in Mice. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 19;13(3):1003. doi: 10.3390/nu13031003. IF: 4.543(Q1). ASSOCIATED PROJECT: Cross-talk entre los astrocitos hipotalámicos y el tejido adiposo perivascular en el metabolismo energético y la función cardiovascular: impacto de modificaciones en la dieta. Ministerio de Economía y competitividad (BFU2017-82565-C2-2-R). IP: Soledad Fernández Alfonso y Beatriz Somoza Hernández. 2018-2021. 90000 €.
• González-Blázquez R, Alcalá M, Fernández-Alfonso MS, Villa Valverde P, Viana M, Gil-Ortega M, Somoza B. Relevance of Control Diet Choice in Metabolic Studies: Impact in Glucose Homeostasis and Vascular Function. Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 19;10(1):2902. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59674-0. IF:4.380 (Q1). ASSOCIATED PROJECT: Cross-talk entre los astrocitos hipotalámicos y el tejido adiposo perivascular en el metabolismo energético y la función cardiovascular: impacto de modificaciones en la dieta. Ministerio de Economía y competitividad (BFU2017-82565-C2-2-R). IP: Soledad Fernández Alfonso y Beatriz Somoza Hernández. 2018-2021. 90000€.
• Gil-Ortega M, Vega-Martín E, Martín-Ramos M, González-Blázquez R, Pulido-Olmo H, Ruiz-Hurtado G, Schulz A, Ruilope LM, Kolkhof P, Somoza B, Kreutz R, Fernández-Alfonso MS. Finerenone reduces intrinsic arterial stiffness in Munich Wistar Frömter rats, a genetic model of chronic kidney disease. Am J Nephrol. 2020 Feb 21:1- 10. doi: 10.1159/000506275. IF:2.961 (Q1). ASSOCIATED PROJECT: Efecto de la finerenona en un modelo de nefropatía diabética en rata. Bayer Pharma. 2019-2021. 70.000€.

Group PI: .Research Project Description:The candidate, according to his/her background and interests, may agree with the supervisor to develop the following priority line of research in our group: Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) acts as an exocrine organ, releasing vasoactive substances that modulate vascular function. Obesity induces phenotypic and metabolic alterations in PVAT that is associated with elevated circulating levels of PVAT-derived adipokines, inflammatory cytokines and growth factors that favors endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodeling and arterial stiffness. We have shown that angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) agonists, compound 21 (C21), reduce vascular damage in obesity.Role of PVAT on vascular function and structural and mechanical properties in obesity: role of AT2R stimulation: Vascular function and mechanics in aorta artery will be studied using organ bath and wire myograph and pressure myograph and confocal microscopy, respectively. We would also like to analyze the protective effect of treatment with C21 on PVAT-dysfunction and to investigate if improvement of PVAT function contribute to vascular homeostasis.Exosome-mediated crosstalk between perivascular adipose tissue and thoracic aorta: role of AT2R: Using both in vivo and in vitro approaches, we aim to identify candidate miRNAs in PVAT-derived exosomes that could participate in the regulation of vascular homeostasis both in male and female mice. In addition, we would like to investigate if the beneficial effects of AT2R agonism are related with a change in the miRNA fingerprint in PVAT-derived exosomes.Keywords: Obesity, atherosclerosis, Adipose Tissue, vascular dysfunction, cell therapy.Application Requirements:A solid background in Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Cell Biology and Molecular Biology is required; previous experience with adipocytes cell culture and organ bath will not be required but preferred. Candidates will be expected to develop their proposal with their host supervisor.An expression of interest shall be sent to (Attn.: Dr. Marta Viana). Your file should contain the following elements:☒ A short CV (Max. 2 pages)☒ A short statement explaining why CEU would be the best host institution for your research.☒ Two letters of reference.For MSCA-PF 24, at the deadline for the submission of proposals (11/09/2024), candidates shall have a maximum of 8 years of postdoctoral research experience and must not have resided or carried out their main activities in Spain formore than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the abovementioned deadline.Those files received before 15th of June will be considered for MSCA-PF 2024 call. Applications received after may be considered for other calls or future applications after discussion with the candidate.Share this page

Expected salary

Location

Boadilla del Monte, Madrid

Job date

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 07:32:55 GMT

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