NEUROTRAIN ::: VACANCIES ::: DESCRIPTION

PhD Studentship / Prof. Kokaia

Medical Faculty at Lund University (Lund, Sweden)
Experimental Neurology at the Wallenberg Neuroscience Centre

The Lab:
Experimental Epilepsy Group is a part of Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and has a long experience in epilepsy research and was the first to discover the involvement of neurotrophins (BDNF) in epileptogenesis. The group is already hosting one Marie Curie Early Training fellow as a part of Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Chemical Center consortium established at Lund University.

Project:
Mechanisms of epileptogensis and seizure suppression: In vivo and ex vivo transfer of genes for neurotrophins and neuropeptides.

Background:
epilepsy is a devastating neurological disorder affecting 1% of the general population. Despite of a wide range of pharmacological and surgical treatments available today, about 40-60% cases still remain resistant, and there is a need for alternative treatment strategies. Therefore, we are developing new gene and cell therapy-based strategies to deliver and ectopically over-express endogenous seizure-modulating agents, such as neuropeptides and neurotrophic factors in epileptic brain. Knowledge about the mechanisms of action of ectopically expressed genes is limited. Moreover, functional integration of transplanted stem cells in the local circuitry and their electrophysiological properties are not explored. These fundamental aspects of gene transfer and stem cell neurobiology are important to understand the possibilities and limitations of using these tools in a clinical set-up.

Methods:
Direct (in vivo) gene transfer using AAV- and Lenti-viral vectors. Indirect (ex vivo) gene transfer and cell replacement using transplantation of genetically modified neural stem cell lines. Animal models of epilepsy: kindling and status epilepticus. In vitro electrophysiology: Whole-cell patch-clamp in acute and organotypic brain slices (including human brain slices from epileptic patients).

Contact information:
merab.kokaia@med.lu.se