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Post-doctoral Fellow in Biomedical Engineering
AO Research Institute
Effect of Nutrient Transport and Mechanical Loading on Cellular Response in
the Intervertebral Disc: an In Vitro Organ Culture Study
Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem, e.g. in industrialized countries
its prevalence is as high as 70%. Its socioeconomic impact is also quite
significant. In the Netherlands in 1991, the direct cost for treatment of
LBP was US$ 368 million and the indirect cost US$ 4.6 billion.
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is commonly regarded as one
underlying cause of LBP but its aetiology is unknown. In addition to
genetic predisposition, it has been proposed that nutrient transport
deficiencies and mechanical loading may be responsible for IVD
degeneration. Although there is much evidence to support these etiologies,
their inter-relationship in the pathogenic mechanism is not well
understood. This is in part due to difficulties with controlling the
mechanical environment and nutrient supply to the IVD in situ. In our
Institute, we have developed a static loading in vitro system to culture
entire IVDs. In this project, our aim will be to fully characterize a
dynamic loading in vitro system and then to use this system to study the
effects of nutrient supply and loading on solute transport, cell viability
and gene expression in the IVD.
The methodologies involved will be, histological (conventional,
immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and cryotechniques),
biochemical assays, real-time RT-PCR and in vitro biomechanical testing.
This project is a collaborative work between the AO Research Institute,
Eindhoven University of Technology, and Oxford University. Some traveling
to learn methodologies will be necessary.
We are looking for a highly motivated, innovative and knowledgeable person
with a PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering or Biology. Knowledge and
experience in areas of tissue engineering, histology, cell biology,
biochemistry, and/or molecular biology will be valued. Applicants must have
good language skills in spoken and written English to work in our
international group. The project is funded through the AO Foundation for up
to two years. The position is available immediately and salary is
commensurate with guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Please send letters of application with statement of research interest,
curriculum vitae with university transcripts and a list of three references
with contact information (preferably by e-mail) to: Prof. dr. Keita Ito,
keita.ito@aofoundation.org or Prof. dr. Mauro Alini,
mauro.alini@aofoundation.org, AO Research Institute, Clavadelerstrasse,
7270 Davos Platz, Switzerland.
--------------------------------------
PhD Candidate Position in Biomedical Engineering, Biology or Veterinary
Sciences
AO Research Institute
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zurich
"Nutrient Deficiency Induced Intervertebral Disc Degeneration"
Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem, e.g. in industrialized countries
its prevalence is as high as 70%. Its socioeconomic impact is also quite
significant. In the Netherlands in 1991, the direct cost for treatment of
LBP was US$ 368 million and the indirect cost US$ 4.6 billion.
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is commonly regarded as one
underlying cause of LBP but its aetiology is unknown. Because of its
limited vascular supply, it has been proposed that deficiencies in solute
transport (nutrients and/or metabolites) may be responsible for IVD
degeneration. Although there is much evidence to support this general
belief, a cause-effect relationship has never been demonstrated in the IVD
in situ.
The main source of perfusion to the inner IVD are the vascular buds
penetrating the vertebral endplate. With age and disease the endplate
openings become occluded with calcifications. Hence, we hypothesize that
with occlusion of the openings and decreased transport of nutrients and/or
metabolites, decreased cell function and viability will compromise their
ability to maintain a healthy matrix resulting in IVD degeneration. In
this project, our aim will be to develop an in vivo ovine model of IVD
perfusion and diffusion inhibition to study the pathophysiological process
and to demonstrate its affect on IVD degeneration.
The project will be divided into three phases: 1) demonstration of
perfusion and diffusion inhibition, 2) short term effect on cell viability
and gene expression, 3) longer term effect on matrix composition, structure
and biomechanics. Already, the surgical methods for creating the vascular
defect has been developed and preliminary tests have been conducted. The
methodologies involved will be, histological (conventional as well as
immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization), biochemical assays,
RT-PCR and in vitro biomechanical testing. This project is a collaborative
work between the AO Research Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology,
Oxford University and the University of Zurich. Some traveling to learn
methodologies will be necessary.
We are looking for a highly motivated, innovative and knowledgeable person
who would like to continue their education in the pursuit of a PhD degree
in Biomedical Engineering, Biology or Veterinary Medicine. Knowledge and
experience with histology, cell biology, biochemistry, and/or surgery would
be helpful. Applicants must have good language skills in spoken and written
English to work in our international group. The project is funded through
the AO Foundation for up to four years. The position is available
immediately and salary is commensurate with guidelines of the Swiss
National Science Foundation.
Please send letters of application with statement of research interest,
curriculum vitae with university transcripts and a list of three references
with contact information (preferably by e-mail) to: Prof. dr. Keita Ito,
keita.ito@aofoundation.org, AO Research Institute, Clavadelerstrasse, 7270
Davos Platz, Switzerland.
___________________________________________
Dr Rosemary Thompson
Research Associate
AO Research Institute, Clavadelerstrasse
CH-7270 Davos Platz, Switzerland
Phone: +41 81 414 24 48
Fax: +41 81 414 22 88
rosemary.thompson@aofoundation.org
http://www.aofoundation.org/ari
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AO Research Institute
Effect of Nutrient Transport and Mechanical Loading on Cellular Response in
the Intervertebral Disc: an In Vitro Organ Culture Study
Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem, e.g. in industrialized countries
its prevalence is as high as 70%. Its socioeconomic impact is also quite
significant. In the Netherlands in 1991, the direct cost for treatment of
LBP was US$ 368 million and the indirect cost US$ 4.6 billion.
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is commonly regarded as one
underlying cause of LBP but its aetiology is unknown. In addition to
genetic predisposition, it has been proposed that nutrient transport
deficiencies and mechanical loading may be responsible for IVD
degeneration. Although there is much evidence to support these etiologies,
their inter-relationship in the pathogenic mechanism is not well
understood. This is in part due to difficulties with controlling the
mechanical environment and nutrient supply to the IVD in situ. In our
Institute, we have developed a static loading in vitro system to culture
entire IVDs. In this project, our aim will be to fully characterize a
dynamic loading in vitro system and then to use this system to study the
effects of nutrient supply and loading on solute transport, cell viability
and gene expression in the IVD.
The methodologies involved will be, histological (conventional,
immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and cryotechniques),
biochemical assays, real-time RT-PCR and in vitro biomechanical testing.
This project is a collaborative work between the AO Research Institute,
Eindhoven University of Technology, and Oxford University. Some traveling
to learn methodologies will be necessary.
We are looking for a highly motivated, innovative and knowledgeable person
with a PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering or Biology. Knowledge and
experience in areas of tissue engineering, histology, cell biology,
biochemistry, and/or molecular biology will be valued. Applicants must have
good language skills in spoken and written English to work in our
international group. The project is funded through the AO Foundation for up
to two years. The position is available immediately and salary is
commensurate with guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Please send letters of application with statement of research interest,
curriculum vitae with university transcripts and a list of three references
with contact information (preferably by e-mail) to: Prof. dr. Keita Ito,
keita.ito@aofoundation.org or Prof. dr. Mauro Alini,
mauro.alini@aofoundation.org, AO Research Institute, Clavadelerstrasse,
7270 Davos Platz, Switzerland.
--------------------------------------
PhD Candidate Position in Biomedical Engineering, Biology or Veterinary
Sciences
AO Research Institute
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zurich
"Nutrient Deficiency Induced Intervertebral Disc Degeneration"
Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem, e.g. in industrialized countries
its prevalence is as high as 70%. Its socioeconomic impact is also quite
significant. In the Netherlands in 1991, the direct cost for treatment of
LBP was US$ 368 million and the indirect cost US$ 4.6 billion.
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is commonly regarded as one
underlying cause of LBP but its aetiology is unknown. Because of its
limited vascular supply, it has been proposed that deficiencies in solute
transport (nutrients and/or metabolites) may be responsible for IVD
degeneration. Although there is much evidence to support this general
belief, a cause-effect relationship has never been demonstrated in the IVD
in situ.
The main source of perfusion to the inner IVD are the vascular buds
penetrating the vertebral endplate. With age and disease the endplate
openings become occluded with calcifications. Hence, we hypothesize that
with occlusion of the openings and decreased transport of nutrients and/or
metabolites, decreased cell function and viability will compromise their
ability to maintain a healthy matrix resulting in IVD degeneration. In
this project, our aim will be to develop an in vivo ovine model of IVD
perfusion and diffusion inhibition to study the pathophysiological process
and to demonstrate its affect on IVD degeneration.
The project will be divided into three phases: 1) demonstration of
perfusion and diffusion inhibition, 2) short term effect on cell viability
and gene expression, 3) longer term effect on matrix composition, structure
and biomechanics. Already, the surgical methods for creating the vascular
defect has been developed and preliminary tests have been conducted. The
methodologies involved will be, histological (conventional as well as
immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization), biochemical assays,
RT-PCR and in vitro biomechanical testing. This project is a collaborative
work between the AO Research Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology,
Oxford University and the University of Zurich. Some traveling to learn
methodologies will be necessary.
We are looking for a highly motivated, innovative and knowledgeable person
who would like to continue their education in the pursuit of a PhD degree
in Biomedical Engineering, Biology or Veterinary Medicine. Knowledge and
experience with histology, cell biology, biochemistry, and/or surgery would
be helpful. Applicants must have good language skills in spoken and written
English to work in our international group. The project is funded through
the AO Foundation for up to four years. The position is available
immediately and salary is commensurate with guidelines of the Swiss
National Science Foundation.
Please send letters of application with statement of research interest,
curriculum vitae with university transcripts and a list of three references
with contact information (preferably by e-mail) to: Prof. dr. Keita Ito,
keita.ito@aofoundation.org, AO Research Institute, Clavadelerstrasse, 7270
Davos Platz, Switzerland.
___________________________________________
Dr Rosemary Thompson
Research Associate
AO Research Institute, Clavadelerstrasse
CH-7270 Davos Platz, Switzerland
Phone: +41 81 414 24 48
Fax: +41 81 414 22 88
rosemary.thompson@aofoundation.org
http://www.aofoundation.org/ari
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe send SIGNOFF BIOMCH-L to LISTSERV@nic.surfnet.nl
For information and archives: http://isb.ri.ccf.org/biomch-l
Please consider posting your message to the Biomch-L Web-based
Discussion Forum: http://movement-analysis.com/biomch_l
-----------------------------------------------------------------