MINT and RMeS laboratories are looking to hire a postdoctoral fellow for an exciting project aiming at developing miRNA loaded lipid nanocaspules as intervertebral disc regenerative strategies.

ABOUT THE POSITION AND PROJECT

This postdoctoral position is funded for 30 months, by the French ANR. The first year will be in Angers, at MINT laboratory and then in Nantes at RMeS and the position will start the 1st of March 2023.

The degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD), at the origin of many cases of low back pain, is characterized by a degradation of the IVD extracellular matrix and a loss of IVD role in spine kinematic. There is currently no etiological treatment for these disorders. Our better understanding of the role of microRNAs (miR) in the physiopathology of IVDs allow to explore their use as therapeutics. miR are easily degraded and must be protected to reach their target. The NEMESIS project thus aims to develop peptide-functionalized lipid nanocapsules (fLNC) for the intradiscal delivery of miR155. The fLNC-miR155 will be successively produced, characterized and then tested in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo in a preclinical model of IVD degeneration in sheep. Finally, a clinical trial in dog with chronic discogenic low back pain will be conducted to provide clinical proof of this new concept. NEMESIS will associate 2 INSERM laboratories and the veterinary school of Nantes.

ABOUT THE TEAM AND ENVIRONMENT

More at https://mint.univ-angers.fr/en/index.html and https://rmes.univ-nantes.fr/

ABOUT THE PROFILE

We are seeking for a multidisciplinary profile between chemistry and biology with experience in organic nanomedicines and their characterization, cell culture, RT-qPCR and Western blot. Additionally, we are seeking for someone who is autonomous, motivated, a self-starter and who speaks and writes English fluently.

ABOUT THE APPLICATION

Interested in this opportunity? Please apply before Jan 13th, 2023 by sending a CV, a recommandation letter and explaining why we should work together on this project to johann.clouet@univ-nantes.fr and elise.lepeltier@univ-angers.fr.