Dear NMusers,
Are you interested in joining our group in Berlin as a Postdoctoral
Research Fellow?
We are looking for a motivated person for the exciting and
multidisciplinary FAIR project, which is aiming to develop a new
treatment strategy for bacterial pneumonia using an immunomodulator as
adjunct to antibiotic therapy. For more details, please see below.
Kind regards,
Linda
We are an interdisciplinary, international, research-oriented group
applying high scientific standards and innovative methodologies with the
ultimate aim to foster the rational use of medicines while empowering
young scientists to perform clinically relevant research
(http://www.clinical-pharmacy.eu/).
Our group is grounded on two research pillars: (1) Bioanalysis,
microdialysis, cell culture, and (2) Pharmacometric (data) analysis. As
key feature, the two pillars are bridged, as our pharmacometric projects
are based on in vivo or in vitro data obtained by the experimental
research pillar, while innovative dynamic in vitro systems utilise
modelling and simulation approaches. In addition, many of our projects
are realised as parts of clinical studies. Typically, our research is
embedded in consortia at a national and international level (EU, global).
We are looking for a full-time postdoctoral fellow in the field of
optimising drug therapy and drug development by applying innovative
translational modelling and simulation techniques to join our research
group for a period of at least 1 year; extension possible. To be
eligible for the positions, a PhD and a strong record in the
pharmacometric research area is needed. Additionally, experience in
either or (i) evaluating pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic or systems
pharmacology data and pharmacometric analysis with NONMEM, R or similar
pharmacometric software, (ii) Bayesian analysis using STAN or similar
platforms, or (iii) one of our experimental platforms (LC/MS-MS,
microdialysis, bacterial infection models, in vitro metabolism) is
required. The positions also offer supervision of PhD and Master/Diploma
students.
Applications in English should include a letter of motivation along
with a description of research interests and relevant qualifications for
the position. In addition, a curriculum vitae including a list of
publications and names/email addresses of 2-3 referees should be provided.
Please submit your application to: [email protected] and
[email protected]
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Project summary
Currently, respiratory tract infections represent the third leading
cause of death worldwide (about 3 million deaths per year). Bacterial
pneumonia (either community-or hospital-acquired) is a leading cause of
morbidity, quality-adjusted life year loss, and mortality in children,
adults, and the elderly. In Europe, pneumonia costs €10 billion each
year. Although antibiotics have transformed the management and treatment
of bacterial pneumonia, their effectiveness is declining -because of
antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that bacterial infections due to AMR will outcompete any cause
of death by 2050, meaning that it is crucial to develop new strategies
to improve antibacterial treatment. In 2017, the WHO defined a priority
list of bacteria for which new antibacterial therapies are urgently
needed; it includes the major pneumonia-causing pathogens Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pneumonia.
The FAIR project (European grant H2020 -call SC1-BHC-14-2019) proposes a
unique approach: aerosol delivery of an immunomodulatory protein (by
nebulization), achieving direct release into the airways, prompting
innate immunity activation in the lungs and preventing systemic immune
activation. FAIR’s objectives are to:
develop nebulization modalities for optimal airway targeting
and rapid action at the infection site
demonstrate that nebulized flagellin strengthens the response
to antibiotics in relevant preclinical models of antibiotic-resistant
pneumonia
identify host immune factors required for the gain of protection
with systems biology
implement pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics model-based design
and simulation for clinical validationassess nebulized flagellin’s
safety in a Phase I clinical trial.
analyze the acceptability and economic relevance of the therapy
The responsibility of work package 5 is to refine the preclinical
experiments in cell-based and animal models (WP2, WP3, and WP4) by
developing a PK/PD modelling and simulation, "ModSim" platform based on
a combination of nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) and
physiologically-based (PB) modelling approaches (the ‘middle-out’
approach). This platform will be combined with a translational
statistical model, in order to evaluate the dose-response relationship
and enable dose-finding for the Phase I clinical trial (WP6) and the
characterisation of the biologic’s safety and PK profile in humans.
Please visit our website, https://www.clinical-pharmacy.eu for more
information. The project is included in a research grant program “FAIR”
(https://fair-flagellin.eu/) gathering European teams and coordinated by
J.C Sirard, Inserm,Lille, France.
Job profile
· Performance and publication of research projects in
pharmacometric and translational modelling
· Contribution to EU project “FAIR” of the Horizon 2020 initiative
(11 European partners from 6 different countries; Work package 5:
Development of a translational modelling and simulation platform for
flagellin PK/PD)
· Contribution to conception and realisation of new research ideas
and collaborations
· General services in research (co-supervision of junior members;
IT/Cluster contact) and research organisation
Qualification profile
Requirements:
· Graduation in Pharmaceutical or Life sciences or related field
· Qualified PhD thesis in Pharmacometrics, systems pharmacology or
PBPK modelling, preferentially PK/PD modelling of therapeutic proteins
Assets:
1. Profound knowledge in pharmacometrics software: e.g. NONMEM/PsN,
Berkeley-Madonna, Monolix, nlmxR or similar
2. Good knowledge in the software programs R, PKSim, STAN, Pirana or
similar
3. In-depth experience in organisation and performance of research
projects and in scientific publication in the area of pharmacometrics
4. Experience with or interest for in vitro work such as bacterial
infection models, in vitro microdialysis or in vitro metabolism experiments.
5. High intrinsic motivation/high level of commitment
6. Excellent team player
7. Strong verbal/written communication skills
8. Language skills: English excellent
