EUVIRNA Marie Curie Initial Training Network
Virus infections remain a major cause of disease, with dramatic costs in mortality, morbidity, and economic loss worldwide. There is an unmet need for potent antiviral drugs, in particular against viruses with a (+)RNA genome which include many important pathogens of humans and animals. The EUVIRNA Initial Training Network (www.euvirna.eu) aims to train 17 PhD students and 3 postdoctoral researchers to become experts with multidisciplinary skills to advance this field.
Project description
Enteroviruses are highly prevalent and important human pathogens. This group includes among others, poliovirus (cause of paralytic poliomyelitis), coxsackievirus (major cause of aseptic meningitis and viral myocarditis), human rhinovirus (cause of respiratory tract infections and asthma exacerbations), and enterovirus 71 (cause of large outbreaks in Asia associated with severe neurological sequelae). Thus far, no potent antiviral drugs are available for treatment of enterovirus infections. The development of antiviral drugs against these viruses requires a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of virus replication and the identification of cellular proteins and pathways that are hijacked by the these viruses for efficient replication.
Recently, we have identified a number of new cellular factors / pathways that are essential for the replication of coxsackievirus through a genome-wide RNAi screen. In this project, the role of these proteins / pathways will be investigated in detail to identify their role in the viral life cycle.
Host institute
The department of Medical Microbiology, section of Virology, studies the molecular and cellular aspects of replication of (+)RNA viruses (such as enterovirus and Dengue virus) and aims to find and characterize new inhibitors of virus replication. The section of virology is, together with other research groups from the Radboud University Medical Centre, housed in Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences (www.ncmls.nl). This setting has created a unique scientific infrastructure allowing stimulating and innovative basic science and applied translational research.
Benefits
• Excellent scientific environment!
• Academic and industrial training combined
• Good funding according to Marie Curie guidelines
Requirements
• MSc degree in Biomedical or Molecular Sciences, Biology or related study.
• Experience with molecular, biochemical and cell biological techniques.
• Strong interest in cellular mechanisms and virology.
• Eligible for Marie Curie Initial Training Network (Full eligibility criteria on www.euvirna.eu): candidates should not have resided, worked or studied in The Netherlands for more than 12 months within the last 3 years.