Postdoctoral Research Associate

Location: John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU 

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. The current post is within the activities of the recently established MRC/BHF Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Advanced Cardiac Therapies (REACT). The Centre aims to develop the first therapies to stimulate heart repair and regeneration in patients with heart failure, for which there are currently no effective treatments. REACT is a joint initiative of King’s College London (Prof. Mauro Giacca), University of Oxford (Prof. Paul Riley and Prof. Robin Choudhury), and University of Edinburgh (Prof. Andrew Baker).

The subject of the research project within the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford is to re-programme immune cells as part of a larger programme to develop novel therapeutics (viral vector and/or extracellular vesicle-based) for myocardial regeneration.

Key project goals are to develop and to deploy novel gene/cell-based therapeutics to restore cell-specific expressions of particular genes, at an appropriate time point, location, and in a relevant cell type, with the intention of recreating a microenvironment that will promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and consequent healthy myocardial regeneration.

The successful candidate will report to Professor Robin Choudhury (Cardiovascular Medicine, Oxford) and work closely with Professor Paul Riley (IDRM, Oxford) and Professor Mauro Giacca (King’s College, London).

The successful candidate will play key roles in planning, managing, executing and analysing experiments, and ensuring that key deliverables:

• Generation of 1st **GENE**AAV vector;
• Transfection of endothelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles with **GENE**-mRNA;
• In vivo delivery of first vector and evaluation of expression/distribution;
• In vivo delivery of first vector in acute MI and evaluation of expression/distribution;
• Analysis of response at the level of myocardium (scar and cellular characteristics) are met.

This is a full-time appointment on a fixed-term contract for two years. The post-holder will be based at the Centre for Human Genetics, Old Road Campus, Oxford.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via the Oxford University website (via the above ‘Apply’ button); you will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement which explains how you meet the selection criteria for the post, as listed in the job description.

Only applications received before midday on October 20^th, 2025 can be considered. Interviews are scheduled to take place on October 27^th, 2025.

The University of Oxford offers an attractive range of competitive benefits available to all staff for both work and personal life - https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

For informal queries about the post please contact Professor Robin Choudhury – robin.choudhury@cardiov.ox.ac.uk

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