Molecular Mechanisms of liver regeneration

The liver possesses a unique capacity to regenerate, carried out by proliferation of all cell populations, particularly hepatocytes, which is stimulated by a number of cytokines including HGF, EGF, TGF, IL-6, TNF-alpha, norepinephrine, insulin, and further factors. Remarkably, knock down of individual cytokine results only in a delayed time course of regeneration. The lack of major influence of individual cytokine or growth factor knock out could be explained by the ability of alternative factors to compensate for the deleted cytokine. An alternative explanation is that some key cytokines and mechanisms of liver regeneration have not yet been discovered.

Our laboratory has discovered several new molecules with potential important effects in liver regeneration. We have validated so far a number of effects in cultured hepatocytes. We will further address their roles by using mouse models of liver damage and regeneration, including knock out mice, siRNA technology (ni vitro and in vivo), confocal microscopy, histological analysis, computer-based reconstructions of liver regeneration, primary cell culture, FACS, qPCR, immunoblot, and further molecular biology methods.

Our institute offers an international environment, with a young and enthusiast team of scientists, and excellent collaborations with the Leibniz Centre Borstel, the Institute of Analytical Sciences (ISAS) and Heidelberg University.

We invite applications by enthusiastic, committed and highly talented individuals who wish to join our laboratory as PhD student. Stipend is provided for up to three years. The institute offers a very international environment with English being the language spoken in the laboratory.

The Leibniz Society is committed to employing more handicapped individuals and especially encourages them to apply. The Leibniz Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.
Please send your CV and certificates to:
Mr. Michael Paul,
Geschäfstführer der Forschungsgesellschaft für Arbeitsphysiologie und Arbeitsschutz
Ardeystrasse 67
44139
Dortmund

For further information, please contact:
Dr. Patricio Godoy