Postdoc in the project Maestro

We are looking for people (two post-doc projects) interested in research related to human molecular genetics, mostly RNA biology and neurobiology. Our team's interests focus primarily on molecular basis and the development of experimental therapy for neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases associated with trinucleotide repeat expansion (myotonic dystrophies - DM, and fragile X-associated syndromes - FXTAS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

In the first project, we focus on a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of DM (CUGexp) and FXTAS (CGGexp), especially those related to metabolism of toxic RNAs, the functions of individual splicing factors, and disturbances in non-canonical translation occurring directly on the sequence of trinucleotide repeats (the so-called RAN translation). We also focus on the development of therapeutic approaches using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small compounds that prevent the interaction of CUGexp (DM) and CGGexp (FXTAS) RNAs with proteins. 

In the second project, we will focus on better understanding molecular pathogenesis of AD, especially those related to RNA metabolism, in the context of changes in the alternative splicing profile. The project will be implemented by a scientific consortium of several European research teams, which previously identified several small compounds with therapeutic effects in animal models of AD. The main goal of the project is to decipher the mode of action of identified drugs and possibly identify novel druggable targets together with diagnostic or theragnostic-associated biomarkers of AD, that allow to monitor the effectiveness of the tested therapeutic strategies. We plan to use mainly whole-transcriptomic and bioinformatic approaches.