Vacancy PhD candidate ‘Vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease’

Job description

Join our innovative project to explore the effects of IP6 on calciprotein particles (CPP) metabolism, analyze biobanked samples, and conduct clinical trials in dialysis patients. Collaborate with an international team to advance diagnostics and therapies for cardiovascular calcifications. Contribute to groundbreaking research and complete your PhD with a scientific dissertation.

The prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and its cardiovascular complications are rapidly increasing, poised to become a leading cause of death by 2040. Current treatment options for vascular calcification, a hallmark of CKD, are limited. Strict diets and phosphate binders are imposed on patients with limited success. While disturbed mineral metabolism in CKD is a key factor in the pathogenesis of this ectopic calcification, its mechanism remains unclear. Recent findings suggest circulating nanocrystals, calciprotein particles (CPP), play a crucial role. IP6-SNF472, an inositol phosphate calcification inhibitor, has shown promise in retarding cardiovascular calcification by binding to CPP2, potentially mitigating its toxicity.

Understanding this mechanism of disease could lead to more effective treatments for CKD-related calcification, thereby eventually reducing CKD-associated cardiovascular risks. Novel IP6-based calcification inhibitors show promise in directly targeting calcification, potentially revolutionizing treatments. On the long-term, these advancements could also stimulate broader drug development and sophisticated diagnostics, promising cardiovascular health enhancements and driving medical science forward.

In this project, we integrate innovative treatments, diagnostics, and safe compounds targeting calcification score. Success would not only enhance health but also societal engagement, workforce longevity, and reduce healthcare costs. CSL-Vifor is a pharmaceutical company with a focus on nephrology and drug developments, which acknowledges the importance of vascular calcifications and a partner in this project. Admesy, a Dutch high-tech company aligns with their strategic goals, brings novel diagnostic tools to our consortium. This comprehensive approach not only offers medical advancements but also economic benefits and strategic alliances, fostering innovation in both treatment and diagnostics.

In this project, you will:

• study effects of IP6 on calciprotein particles (CPP) metabolism
• analyse biobanked samples of healthy individuals and dialysis patients
• perform a clinical intervention trial in dialysis patients
• perform measurements and interventions in CPP pathways
• work in an international multidisciplinary team of scientists, clinicians and patients to improve the diagnostics and therapy of patients with cardiovascular calcifications.

• Design and perform scientific research in the areas of nephrology and physiology.
• Generate and analyse the data in order to contribute to scientific publications and presents findings at scientific meetings.
• Complete the project with a scientific dissertation.

Place of work

This is collaborative project between the department of Nephrology and Medical Biosciences within the Radboudumc, and industrial partners. The PhD candidate will work within these two departments depending on the steps in the PhD project. These two departments will provide an international and stimulating working environment and are an exciting place to perform translational and clinical research and enjoy teaching.

The departments encompass complementary research groups whose interests range from cardiovascular disease, mineral disturbances and the molecular regulation of ion transport processes in the kidney to the study of metabolism in the body. Working collaboratively within these departments, we use our expertise to investigate how patients develop vascular calcification and how we might modulate their physiology to ultimately improve their health.

This project is funded by Health Holland where also companies as CSL-Vifor, Nova Biomedical and Admesy as well as the Dutch Kidney Foundation are part of the consortium. The PhD candidate will be embedded in a leading multidisciplinary graduate school within the domain of molecular mechanisms of disease and particularly in the fields of molecular medicine, physiology and translational research. 

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare. 

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Profile

You are a Phd candidate with the ambition to succeed in scientific research.You are a teamplayer with an independent and well-structured working style. Moreover you have: 

• A MSc in Medicine.
• Well-developed social skills directed to work in a team.
• BROK certificate course is a pre.

Employment conditions

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• The salary depends on education. Scale 10 will be offered to MSc medical graduates; you will start at scale 10, step 0(€ 3.493 full-time). Those holding degrees in other disciplines will be offered scale 10A: upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.017 full-time). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. 

And there is more..

• An Employment Conditions Selection Model, allowing you to use part of your employment conditions to your choosing. For example, you can use your gross salary to purchase additional vacation hours or hours for providing informal caregiving. Or, for example, you can use your gross end-of-year bonus to purchase a bicycle, so you pay less tax.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. 
• Your well-being and vitality are a priority. For example:
  • Save time for work-life balance leave. 
  • You can enjoy unlimited access to a variety of activities five days a month and take advantage of all the facilities at Radboud Sport & Culture for only €27.05 per month (instead of €41)
  • Healthy Professionals program to help you manage your energy. 
  • Company Support Team and a personal coach if you are going through a life-changing event.
  • Financially beneficial working less through a Generation Scheme as you approach state pension age.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. Examples:
  • Advice and courses on, for example, 'Millennial dilemmas' and 'Your Career After 57'.
  • Activities at our own mindfulness center.
  • Informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• In addition to statutory pregnancy and maternity leave, Radboud university medical center offers 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid. In addition, as a partner you can take a maximum of five weeks of supplementary partner leave. During supplementary partner leave and parental leave, we supplement the UWV benefit up to 100% of your salary.
• Pension accrual at the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. 
• Discounts on supplementary packages of two group health insurances and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• An allowance for your commuting costs of € 0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km one way. If you use public transport to commute, we will fully reimburse the public transport costs (2nd class). If you regularly work from home, you will receive a working from home allowance of € 2.40 per day.

Application procedure

Are you ready to think further for our patients and our care? We would like to receive a letter of intent outlining special interest in the position, overall related qualifications, experience and career goals, a curriculum vitae and names and addresses of professional references before 17 March 2025. We will then contact you shortly.

Good to know

• This position requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).
• You can find more information about our application procedure and frequently asked questions on our website.
• Will you be our new colleague? Then you will be given the time and space to get to know your role, your workplace, and your colleagues. An induction day for all new colleagues is an integral part of your onboarding program. 

We are recruiting for this position ourselves. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated, but do feel free to share the vacancy in your network!

Contact

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then call or email to 
Prof. Marc Vervloet via +316 11 46 99 54 or alternatively Prof.dr. Joost Hoenderop via +31 (0) 24-361 05 74. Use the Apply button to submit your application.