PhD fellow in the fields of Medical biology, Biology or Medicine Pediatric

PhD fellow in the fields of Medical biology, Biology or Medicine Pediatric
Oncology and Pediatric Gastroenterology (Groningen), 38 hours per week

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 (
http://www.umcg.nl/azg/nl/werken/6315/61464/61683/)
- More information UMCG (
http://www.umcg.nl/azg/nl/english/werken/)

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@...l?subject=ApplicationPhD%20fellow%20in%20the%20fields%20of%20Medical%20biology,%\
20Biology%20orMedicine>

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT FMW-7314.