Research Assistant/Associate - Renal Ciliopathies National Network - CILIAREN

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

The Role
Following recent success in securing an MRC funded UK Rare Disease Research Platform Node, Renal Ciliopathies National Network - CILIAREN, we are seeking a research assistant/associate to join our internationally renowned multi-disciplinary team in Newcastle.

This position provides an opportunity for an outstanding research assistant/associate to develop their career within a team that brings together clinicians and academics in a vibrant translational research environment that works closely with patients and their families.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/siblings-who-developed-kidney-failure-17535415
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/newcastle-university-kidney-research-sayer-15431046

You will be skilled in bioinformatics, large data handling, and experience within Biosciences.

We are looking for an exceptional individual who can learn new laboratory techniques as well as perform in silico data analysis.

Renal ciliopathies are a group of inherited cystic kidney diseases that represent around 10% of all patients with kidney failure. The most prevalent form worldwide is called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) secondary to mutations in the cystogenes PKD1 and PKD2. Cystogenesis secondary to these mutations is driven by upregulated cAMP which can be modified in animal and human studies by arginine vasopressin antagonists such as tolvaptan. Pharmacological treatments and genetic interventions that prevent or switch off the disease are still lacking. Therapies for the related autosomal recessive (AR) disorders ARPKD and nephronophthisis is completely lacking despite shared disease mechanisms. Collectively these disorders are termed renal ciliopathies. The Renal Ciliopathies National Network - CILIAREN, aims to improve genomic interpretation of underlying genetic variants and develop well characterised groups of patients who are trial ready for new personalised medicine treatments. In doing so, we aim to create a national system of support for ciliopathy patients and their families through partnerships with patient groups and charities. This will allow better interfaces with clinical care teams and researchers. We believe that involving using the ADPKD translational pathway we can shape the translational landscape for all renal ciliopathies, leading to better mechanistic understandings, well designed preclinical and clinical trials and identifying therapies that would be used in these patient groups.

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/

Find out more about our Research Institutes here https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/

This post is full time, fixed term for a period of 3 years.

For informal enquiries contact: Professor John Sayer john.sayer@newcastle.ac.uk.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

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