Fully Funded PhD Position: Decoding Chromosome 1 Risk in AMD Using Stem Cell–Derived Retinal Models

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number: 101312030

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No

Offer Description

Fully Funded PhD Position: Decoding Chromosome 1 Risk in AMD Using Stem Cell–Derived Retinal Models

Host: Newcastle University (UNEW), UK
Consortium: MSCA Innovative Training Network Pandora
Start date: 1.02.2027 | Application deadline: 30th October 2027 | Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Are you passionate about tackling age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at the cellular and molecular level? Join the Pandora MSCA ITN consortium to investigate how Chromosome 1 (Chr1) AMD risk variants—including the complement factor H CFH Y402H polymorphism—drive intrinsic defects and cell death in photoreceptors, and how these cells crosstalk with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in health and disease.

The Challenge

AMD risk factors disrupt the delicate choroid/Bruch’s membrane/RPE/retinal interface, leading to progressive dysfunction and loss of choroidal endothelial cells, RPEs cells,and Photoreceptors in advanced disease. While Chr1 risk is known to impair RPE (e.g., mitochondrial, and lysosomal damage in iPSC-RPE carrying CFH Y402H), it may also cause direct, cell-intrinsic pathology in Photoreceptors, potentially accelerating degeneration independently of RPE.

This project will test that hypothesis and map the cell-type-specific pathomechanisms and intercellular crosstalk that underlie retinal vulnerability in AMD.

Your Project

As DC1 (Doctoral Candidate 1) within Pandora, you will:

• Differentiate iPSCs from controls and AMD patients carrying Chr1 risk variants (including CFH Y402H) into Retinal organoids enriched for photoreceptors.
• Profile disease-relevant phenotypes using molecular, cellular, and ultrastructural assays to assess:
  • Oxidative stress and mitochondrial function
  • Lysosomal/autophagy flux and waste disposal
  • Inflammatory signalling and complement activation
  • Cell survival, death pathways, and barrier integrity
• Validate findings in human tissue via collaboration with the HEETR eye bank (P1-UT), accessing AMD donor eyes for histological and molecular correlation.
• Model multicellular crosstalk by building RPE–Photoreceptor-choroid co-culture systems in perfusion platforms, enabling dynamic studies of nutrient/waste exchange, complement deposition, and stress propagation across the outer retina.

What You will Gain

• World-class training in stem-cell differentiation, retinal organoid engineering, vascular biology, and advanced imaging/omics.nei.nih+1
• Transnational mobility and secondments across the Pandora consortium (academia, clinics, and industry).
• Interdisciplinary skillset: from CRISPR/iPSC gene editing and single-cell transcriptomics to microfluidics, proteomics, and translational validation in human tissue.
• Career development: scientific communication, project management, IP/translation, and outreach—core components of MSCA ITN training.

Who Should Apply

We seek a highly motivated candidate with:

• An MSc (or equivalent) in biomedical sciences, stem-cell biology, ophthalmic research, neuroscience, bioengineering, or related fields.
• Experience (or strong interest) in cell culture, molecular biology, and ideally iPSC/organoid or endothelial/vascular models.
• A drive to solve clinically meaningful problems and work in a collaborative, international team.

Familiarity with AMD biology, complement/immune pathways, or retinal imaging/assays is advantageous but not essential.

Where to apply

E-mail: Majlinda.Lako@ncl.ac.uk

Requirements

Research Field: Neurosciences

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• An MSc (or equivalent) in biomedical sciences, stem-cell biology, ophthalmic research, neuroscience, bioengineering, or related fields.
• A drive to solve clinically meaningful problems and work in a collaborative, international team.

Specific Requirements

• Experience (or strong interest) in cell culture, molecular biology, and ideally iPSC/organoid or endothelial/vascular models.
• Familiarity with AMD biology, complement/immune pathways, or retinal imaging/assays is advantageous but not essential.

Languages: English Level: Excellent

Research Field: Neurosciences; Biological sciences

Additional Information

Benefits

• Gross salary of about £42,000 /year, family support and mobility allowance
• Excellent research facilities comprising state of the art tissue culture facilities, access to multiple core facilities including genomics, bioimaging, flow cytometry and bioinformatics support.

Eligibility criteria

The applicant

• shall not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies etc.) in UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date (unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention).
• shall not already be in possession of a doctoral degree (*).
• can be of any nationality.

(*) researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible

Selection process

Doctoral candidates will be selected based on scientific qualification and experience, research interest, additional knowledge/skills and their motivation to participate in an intersectoral research-training program.

Additional comments

Please send your CV, specifying the title of the position, a 1-page cover letter and the contact details of one or two academic referees to: Prof. Majlinda Lako at majlinda.lako@ncl.ac.uk

If you have informal enquiries- please contact Prof. Majlinda Lako at majlinda.lako@ncl.ac.uk

Website for additional job details: https://www.retinalstemcellresearch.co.uk/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: newcastle university

Country: United Kingdom

City: Newcastle upon Tyne

Postal Code: NE1 3BZ

Contact

State/Province: Tyne and Wear

City: newcastle

Website: https://www.ncl.ac.uk

Street: central parkway

Postal Code: NE1 3BZ

E-Mail: lindalako@gmail.com

Phone: 07725325494