A postdoctoral fellowship is available in Professor Johan Richters group at Lund University, Lund, Sweden to develop gene therapy of infantile malignant osteopetrosis.
We use lentiviral vectors to correct the deficiency causing osteopetrosis (mutations in the Tcirg1 gene) in a mouse model of the disease (oc/oc mice) and more recently also in patient cells. We now aim towards a clinical protocol for the treatment of this lethal disease with hematopoietic stem cell targeted gene therapy in children. For this purpose we collaborate closely with clinical experts treating these patients in Europe and in Central America. The studies will among other things involve generation and testing of new lentiviral vectors, transduction of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and transplantation of these to NSG-mice and other new mouse models that we are generating.
We are looking for a post-doctoral candidate with a background in stem cell biology, hematopoiesis, and/or viral gene transfer methodologies. Experience with lentiviral vectors, lentiviral transduction of human hematopoietic cells, flow cytometry including sorting and work with immune deficient mice will be appreciated.
The laboratory is located at the Lund University Biomedical Center adjacent to the University Hospital and close to Lund city center. The scientific environment is excellent and is a part of the Hemato-Linne Program at Lund Stem Cell Center and the laboratory has an extensive network of local and international collaborators.
Selected publications:
M. Johansson, L. Jansson, M. Ehinger, A. Fasth, S. Karlsson and J. Richter. Neonatal hematopoietic stem cell transplantation cures oc/oc mice from osteopetrosis. 2006. Exp. Hematology, 34(2):242-9.
M. Johansson, T. J. de Vries, T. Schoenmaker, M. Ehinger, A. Fasth, S. Karlsson. V. Everts and J. Richter. Hematopoietic stem cell targeted neonatal gene therapy cures oc/oc mice from lethally progressive osteopetrosis. 2007. Blood. 109(12):5178-85.
M. Askmyr, J. Holmberg, C. Flores, M. Ehinger, T. Hjalt, and J. Richter. Low-dose busulphan conditioning and neonatal stem cell transplantation preserves vision and restores hematopoiesis in severe murine osteopetrosis. Exp. Hematology. 37:302-8 2009.
M. Askmyr, C. Flores, A Fasth and J. Richter. Prospects for gene therapy of osteopetrosis. Current Gene Therapy, 9:150-9 2009.
C Flores, T de Vries T, I Moscatelli, M Askmyr, T Schoenmaker, G Langenbach, M Ehinger, V Everts and J. Richter. Nonablative neonatal bone marrow transplantation rapidly reverses severe murine osteopetrosis despite low level engraftment and lack of selective expansion of the osteoclastic lineage. J Bone and Mineral Research, 9:2069-77, 2010.
Page Manager: Jens Forsberg
Last modified: 2012-03-16
