Postdoctoral Scientist in Lewy Body Dementia Research

Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN), John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU

We are looking for a highly-motivated researcher to join a multidisciplinary research team funded by National Heath Institute (NIH) to dissect the aetiology of Lew body dementias (LBD). These include Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), which is the second most common progressive dementia, after Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it affects millions of individuals around the world. Despite its impact, basic questions remain unanswered. Specifically, it is not clear if PDD and DLB are distinct diseases with different underlying mechanisms or if they are clinical syndromes on a single mechanistic spectrum. Furthermore, there are virtually no tools that enable clinicians to make an accurate diagnosis of LBD, which can only be confirmed at autopsy. The lack of validated biomarkers for LBD contributes to delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and thus potentially exposes individuals affected by DLB to inappropriate medication use and results in the failure to
treat DLB-specific manifestations. Thus, determining if the DLB and PDD are molecularly distinct is necessary for the identification of disease-specific therapeutic targets and biomarkers that will lead to effective treatments. We will employ digital pathology with artificial intelligence (AI) and genotyping in a large cohort of PDD and DLB brain (n~1000) to perform the first GWAS assessing the role of genetics in relation to quantitative PD neuropathology that may pinpoint to mechanistic targets
Applicants must hold a PhD/DPhil (or close to completion) in Neuroscience or relevant subject area. You will have experience in general molecular biology techniques (e.g. immunohistochemistry, microscopy, DNA/RNA extraction) and good knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases as well as neuroanatomy. The ability to design experiments, trouble-shoot technical problems, be meticulous in practical work and in record keeping is essential. You will be part of a team but are also expected to work independently.