PhD position in PET imaging of immune cells and fibrosis

Project description

The aim of the project is to develop and evaluate PET radiopharmaceuticals for in vivo molecular imaging of immune cells and fibrosis. Recruitment of immune cells is an important protective mechanism in response to e.g. infections or cancer. However, chronic or dys-regulated inflammation can instead be responsible for promoting disease and is associated to e.g. metabolic disease and COVID19 lung injury. Similarly, fibrosis is in normal physiology an encapsulating and reparatory process in response to injury. However, excess formation and deposition of connective tissue, i.e. pathological formation of fibrosis, is an important feature in diseases affecting e.g. liver and lung.

It is today very difficult to study immune cell and fibrosis in the human body, without resorting to biopsy. This project will develop PET radiopharmaceuticals, which specifically targets different populations of immune cells, as well as critical processes involved in the formation of fibrosis. 

The PhD student will be responsible for the in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation of PET radiopharmaceuticals in different disease models including immunotherapy of cancer and lung inflammation. The project will be performed in close collaboration with a team of radiochemists, biologists and clinicians. Apart from research, the PhD student may participate in teaching and routine maintenance of the lab.  

Contact information

For further information about the research project, please contact: Associate senior lecturer/Assistant Professor Olof Eriksson, mail: olof.eriksson@ilk.uu.se

University