"Research Associate in Neuro-Immunology and Extracellular Matrix Biology (ImmunoMatrix)"

There is exquisite control of immune cell recruitment to all bodily tissues. In injury and disease, such control is important to appropriately resolve the insult or infection whilst limiting inflammation that can drive pathology. In the brain, this takes on critical significance, as central nervous system neurons do not regenerate, therefore limiting damage by infiltrating inflammatory immune cells is crucial to retain function. Chemokines are molecules that mediate immune cell recruitment, and are heavily implicated in pathological brain inflammation, but have not been successfully therapeutically targeted during inflammation due to limited understanding of their basic biology.

Our Glyco-Immunology (Dyer) lab has produced published and preliminary data demonstrating that an under-appreciated structure, the glycocalyx, on endothelial- and immune- cells regulates immune cell recruitment by:

• Physically regulating the interaction between endothelial and immune cells, that is required for recruitment into the inflamed brain.
• Containing proteoglycans that can directly act as chemokine receptors to drive immune cell recruitment during pathological neuroinflammation.

This position will transform our understanding of how the glycocalyx regulates cell trafficking to the inflamed brain, using stroke as a model condition.

During this position, the post-holder will undertake a range of activities including: a multi-disciplinary approach (intravital imaging, flow-cytometry and immunofluorescence) to analyse the role of the glycocalyx on different cells and chemokines in orchestrating recruitment of immune cells to the brain during inflammation. Initially this will focus on using stroke as a preclinical disease model. These approaches will also be combined with analysis of samples from human patients for clinical relevance.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit. Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.