Postdoctoral Researcher

Email: research@uchceu.es; luis.dmarcogascon@uchceu.es; ana.checaros@uchceu.es

State/Province: Valencia

Postal Code: 46115

Street: Calle Assegadors 2

Description

UCH‑CEU is seeking excellent postdoctoral researchers interested in applying for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA‑PF 2026).

Hosting Research Group

The IDECAM research group (CEU Cardenal Herrera University, Spain) conducts high-impact translational research at the interface of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, addressing major global health challenges. Its work focuses on inflammation, oxidative stress, adiposopathy and endocrine-metabolic dysregulation as key drivers of disease progression and therapeutic response.

The group is strongly embedded in the clinical environment, with access to well-characterised patient cohorts in chronic kidney disease and metabolic disorders through established collaborations with tertiary hospitals. This unique positioning enables the generation of clinically relevant data and the identification of innovative biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

IDECAM is equipped for molecular and biochemical analyses (ELISA, PCR/qPCR), supporting mechanistic and biomarker-driven research. The group provides an interdisciplinary and internationally oriented environment, fostering excellence in doctoral training and contributing to the development of highly skilled researchers in translational medicine.

Scientific keywords

Inter-organ communication; precision medicine; metabolic inflammation; chronic kidney disease; therapeutic innovation

Relevant publications and projects

1. Checa-Ros A, Okojie OJ, Steib N, Bellasi A, Salvador-Martínez P, Fortea I, D'Marco L. SGLT2 inhibitors and their role in reducing adiposopathy and inflammation in diabetes and non-diabetes CKD patients. Int Urol Nephrol. 2025 Dec 17. doi: 10.1007/s11255-025-04965-6. Epub ahead of print. Erratum in: Int Urol Nephrol. 2026 Feb 16. doi: 10.1007/s11255-026-05028-0
2. Checa-Ros A, D'Marco L. Molecular mechanisms linking adipose tissue browning to reduced cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis. 2025 Dec;411:120564. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2025.120564.
3. D'Marco L, Checa-Ros A, Locascio A, Joshua Okojie O, Viejo I, Bermúdez V, Karohl C, Raggi P. C-peptide and epicardial adipose tissue in dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Sep 4;12:1650859. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1650859.
4. Checa-Ros A, Locascio A, Okojie OJ, Abellán-Galiana P, D'Marco L. Perirenal fat differs in patients with chronic kidney disease receiving different vitamin D-based treatments: a preliminary study. BMC Nephrol. 2025 Mar 5;26(1):119. doi: 10.1186/s12882-025-04041-2.
5. Checa-Ros A, Locascio A, Steib N, Okojie OJ, Malte-Weier T, Bermúdez V, D'Marco L. In silico medicine and -omics strategies in nephrology: contributions and relevance to the diagnosis and prevention of chronic kidney disease. Kidney Res Clin Pract. 2025 Jan;44(1):49-57. doi: 10.23876/j.krcp.23.334.

Research Project Description

The candidate will work for the ADIPO-CKD research project (NCT07309094). This project aims to investigate the clinical, morphometric and biochemical effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2-inhibitors (SGLT2i) on adiposopathy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a population with high cardiometabolic risk and limited therapeutic options. The study focuses on the role of dysfunctional adipose tissue as a key driver of inflammation, metabolic dysregulation and cardiorenal complications.

Using a prospective clinical approach, the project will evaluate the impact of these therapies on body composition, organ-specific adipose tissue distribution and circulating biomarkers related to inflammation, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. Particular attention will be given to the characterization of adipose tissue depots and their association with disease progression and therapeutic response.

The project integrates clinical data with molecular and proteomics analyses, enabling the identification of novel biomarkers and mechanistic pathways underlying adipose tissue dysfunction in CKD. This approach supports the development of more precise and personalised therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic and inflammatory pathways.

By bridging clinical research and translational investigation, the project addresses a major unmet need in cardiorenal medicine and contributes to the optimisation of emerging metabolic therapies. It also provides a training platform in clinical research, biomarker discovery and translational methodologies, fully aligned with the objectives of MSCA Doctoral Networks.

Research Area

Life Sciences (LIF)

Application profiles

PhD candidate with a strong background in biomedical sciences and omics approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics or metabolomics). Experience in data analysis, bioinformatics and integration with clinical data is desirable. Highly motivated, with strong teamwork and communication skills.

An expression of interest shall be sent to luis.dmarcogascon@uchceu.es (Attn.: D’Marco, Luis) AND ana.checaros@uchceu.es (Attn.: Checa-Ros, Ana), before 06/05/2026.

Your file should contain the following elements:

• A short CV (Max. 2 pages).
• Two letters of reference.

For MSCA-PF 26 call, at the deadline for the submission of proposals (09/09/2026) candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activities in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the abovementioned deadline.

Those files received before 15th of June will be considered for MSCA-PF 2026 call. Applications received after this date, will be considered for other calls after discussion with the candidate.