Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) is a common cause of mortality and morbidity, with severe calcified aortic valve stenosis (AS) affecting between 2.9–3.4 per cent of elderly patients in developed countries. Without treatment, symptomatic, severe AS results in rapid deterioration and death with approximately 50 per cent mortality within two years of diagnosis.
Due to our limited understanding of the mechanisms that drive the progression of AS, there is no treatment for calcified aortic valve other than surgical or transcatheter valve replacement. Despite substantial advances in surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement, severe AS continues to carry a poor prognosis, with a 3-fold increased risk of mortality within 5 years.
This multidisciplinary project will utilise a newly bioengineered aortic valve model that mimics features of early and late stages of CAVD to enable systematic pathomechanistic studies.
We are looking for students with a very good degree in a Biomedical Sciences and an aptitude for experimental work, who are also highly committed to pursuing a PhD and a career in vascular biology.
This project is aligned with a recently awarded Category 1 research grant and provides an excellent opportunity to receive training in basic cell and molecular biology techniques such as immunoblotting, flow cytometry, fluorescence/confocal microscopy, intravital microscopy, in addition to tissue engineering and organ-on-a-chip. The student will join a skilled team of nationally and internationally recognised researchers in the fields of vascular biology and cardiovascular diseases and contributes to high-impact projects.