Posted on : Friday 20 July 2018

Job title : 2018/10/02- Post-doctoral position: MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound in experimental model (18 months)

Organization : The Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière – ICM (Brain & Spine Institute) – is an international brain and spinal cord research center whose innovative concept and structure make it the only institute of its kind in the world. The ICM brings patients, doctors and researchers together with the aim of rapidly develop treatments for disorders of the nervous system and enable patients to benefit from them as quickly as possible.

The Langevin Institute is a research unit affiliated with ESPCI Paris and CNRS. The researches conducted at the Institute aim at developing at he best world-level the physics of waves bringing together high level fundamental research, applied research, and company start ups in a thoroughly cross-disciplinary way.

Mission : A full-time18-month postdoctoral position is available at the Center for Neuroimaging Research (CENIR) at ICM (Paris) in collaboration with the Institut Langevin (Paris) and the Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group (Barcelona, Spain) to work on a new project recently funded by the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (ANR) untitled “Focused ultrasound modulation of neuromelanin (NM) accumulation in a humanized murine model of Parkinson’s disease (PD)”. The goal of the project is to evaluate whether transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS), an emerging non-invasive technology, can lower NM levels below their pathogenic threshold in NM-producing PD experimental models and prevent, halt or delay neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. If successful, this proposal will lay the groundwork for the development of a novel disease-modifying therapy for PD based on the modulation of NM levels with tFUS. CENIR is the ICM’s neuroimaging platform directed by Pr. Stéphane Lehéricy. This imaging facility consists primarily of human MRI scanners (3T), a small animal MRI scanner (Bruker Biospec 117/16 USR) equipped with an Image Guided Therapy (IGT) ultrasound system, and MEG, EEG, TMS and PET/MRI systems to study brain structure and function in normal and pathological conditions. Institut Langevin is expert in focused ultrasound technology (Drs. Jean-Francois Aubry and Michael Tanter).
The overall project will involve transversal collaborations between experts in PD, experimental models, MRI and ultrasounds, cellular imaging and histology within and outside the Institute. Pr. Miquel Vila is the principal investigator at the Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group (Barcelona, Spain) and has developed the NM-producing PD experimental models.
The post-doctoral fellow will be involved in methodological developments of this new approach to trigger and enhance NM clearance. In this framework, the candidate will oversee the acquisition and analysis of data at 11.7T in murine model of Parkinson’s disease. He/She might also be involved in behavioral and histological studies.

Recruitment starting date: October 2018

Locality : ICM, CENIR , Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière 47 Boulevard de l’Hôpital - 75013 Paris.

Remuneration : Based on experience

Degrees required : The ideal candidate will have a PhD in medical imaging physics, ultrasound, MRI, biomedical engineering, neuroimaging, or related fields. She/he should have previously worked with murine models and have experience in ultrasound and/or MRI.

Skills required : Animal handling. Good programming skills (Matlab, Python, C…). will be a plus. Good oral and writing skills in English and the ability to work independently and in collaboration are expected.

Contact : Send CV and motivation letter to: mathieu.santin@icm-institute.org and jean-francois.aubry@espci.fr