The Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Research Group is a multidisciplinary team of physicians, physicists/engineers and pharmacists/chemists. Together with our clinical partners, radiotracer imaging is developed as a key technology and used for innovative diagnosis of patients and detection of mechanisms of diseases at the molecular level. The research group has long-standing spearheads in multimodal molecular imaging of neurodegeneration, among others. Mid-2025, it will be the first in Europe to install an ultra-high-resolution (<1.5 mm) PET scanner. The CNS group is a diversified, internationally focused research group where team-oriented and supporting supervision of PhD students is at the forefront.
Project
- The project aims to use ultra-high-resolution (UHR) PET to study central circuits involved in neurodegeneration, with a focus on the brainstem (including the noradrenergic locus coeruleus, dopaminergic substantia nigra and serotonergic raphe), the limbic Papez circuit in cognitive and affective aspects in aMCI and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the motor circuit in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy-bodies. In addition to specific targets, including monoaminergic transporters, synaptic density and glucose metabolism (including metabolic connectivity) in these circuits will be studied, with their link to underlying proteinopathies (e.g. tau for aMCI/AD) investigated. The project also includes the preparation of normative datasets for comparison with pathological conditions and the use of advanced analytical techniques (e.g. spatial normalization and high-resolution parcellation), as well as use of MRI techniques (e.g. advanced structural connectivity).
- By using this new imaging technology, the project aims to gain a better understanding of the early disease mechanisms involved in dementia and parkinsonism, enable improved early/differential diagnosis and identify prognostic factors for cognitive/behavioral domains. This overall project has room for 2 suitable PhD candidates (e.g. dementia vs parkinsonism, or methodology optimization vs clinical evaluations).
- The PhD candidate will be able to perform and process multimodal imaging as well as (co-)administer clinical and neuropsychological scales via direct contact with patients and healthy control volunteers.
Profile
- You have a medical or biomedical master's degree, or master's degree in psychology, bioengineering, pharmacy or a discipline closely related to biomedical sciences, with very good study results;
- You have high interest and preferably good theoretical knowledge with or experience in imaging and biomedical research;
- You have good social and communication skills to work in a team and with patients;
- You can work accurately;
- You can also support practical work such as data acquisition and project administration, and have very good computer skills;
- You have good oral and written knowledge of English;
- Practical experience in clinical scientific research, good clinical practice and/or working with radiopharmaceuticals is a plus.
Offer
- A fascinating working environment where human contact and professionalism are very important;
- Participation in contacts with international research groups and industry partners:
- A unique infrastructure and prospective research;
- A position for 4 years (funding available, pursuing additional mandate funding is however requested)
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Koen Van Laere, tel.: +3216343711, mail: [email protected].
Upon finding (a) suitable candidate(s), the vacancy can be closed early.
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