Translational Research in Liver Pathologies. Expressions of Interest for MSCA-PF-2024: University of Cordoba (UCO, Cordoba, Spain). Prof. Manuel D. Gahete / Dpt. Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology

HOST DESCRIPTION:

Prof. Manuel D. Gahete welcomes expressions of interest from Postdoctoral researchers with an excellent track record of research and publication to apply jointly from UCO to the European Commission Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme in 2024 (MSCA-PF-2024), which call will be open on 10^th April 2024.

My group investigates the cellular and molecular causes underlying the development of different liver pathologies. It is a consolidated group at IMIBIC composed of a multidisciplinary team of postdoctoral and predoctoral researchers with experience in different areas of Biomedicine. 

This research focuses on the study of the dysregulation of gene expression control mechanisms, RNA biogenesis, mRNA metabolism (splicing, NMD, RNA-exosome, etc.) and protein synthesis and maturation in the development and progression of different liver pathologies such as fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. We also study the involvement of metabolic dysregulation (obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome) and, therefore, the associated cellular, molecular, and endocrine systems (somatostatin, ghrelin, adipokines, hepatokines, etc.) in these liver pathologies. To this end, we use different genetic and cellular and molecular biology approaches, as well as cell culture techniques, preclinical animal models and clinical samples obtained through collaboration with different groups at IMIBIC and other centres.

The ultimate goal of this research is to identify new molecular targets that can be used to improve the diagnosis of patients with liver diseases, to estimate their prognosis more accurately or to help develop new therapeutic approaches for their treatment. To this end, we have received continuous public and private funding over the last few years, which has resulted in the publication of several research articles and the establishment of patents that protect the possible clinical application of this research.

The most recent publications of the group are:

• 1) López-Cánovas JL, Del Rio-Moreno M, García-Fernandez H, Jiménez-Vacas JM, Moreno-Montilla MT, Sánchez-Frias ME, Amado V, L-López F, Fondevila MF, Ciria R, Gómez-Luque I, Briceño J, Nogueiras R, de la Mata M, Castaño JP, Rodriguez-Perálvarez M, Luque RM, Gahete MD. Splicing factor SF3B1 is overexpressed and implicated in the aggressiveness and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett. 2021; 496:72-83, doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.10.010.
• 2) López-Cánovas JL, Hermán-Sánchez N, Moreno-Montilla MT, Del Rio-Moreno M, Alors-Perez E, Sánchez-Frias ME, Amado V, Ciria R, Briceño J, de la Mata M, Castaño JP, Rodriguez-Perálvarez M, Luque RM, Gahete MD. Spliceosomal profiling identifies EIF4A3 as a novel oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma acting through the modulation of FGFR4 splicing. Clin Transl Med. 2022; 12(11):e1102. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.1102.
• 3) López-Cánovas JL, Hermán-Sánchez N, Del Rio-Moreno M, Fuentes-Fayos AC, Lara-López A, Sánchez-Frias ME, Amado V, Ciria R, Briceño J, de la Mata M, Castaño JP, Rodriguez-Perálvarez M, Luque RM, Gahete MD. PRPF8 increases the aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating FAK/AKT pathway via fibronectin 1 splicing. Exp Mol Med. 2023; 55(1):132-142. doi: 10.1038/s12276-022-00917-7.

If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please, forward your CV and a short motivation letter including your research area, project idea and how you, and your research, could contribute to my research lines.

Expressions of interest must be forwarded before 30^th April 2024 to bc2gaorm@uco.es stating in the subject “EoI_MSCA-PF-2024”. The selected candidate will be invited to work in the application together with Prof. Manuel D. Gahete and the International Projects Office from UCO from the month of May’2024. Please, ensure your agenda allows for full dedication to the proposal preparation during the summer months, since the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship deadline is 11^th September 2024.

HOST INSTITUTION:

The University of Cordoba (UCO, Cordoba, Spain), established in 1972, is a non-profit High Education and Research Institution considered at the forefront of research in Andalusia and ranking among the top research institutions at the National level. With more than 20.000 students, 1.650 professors and 830 employees in 2020, UCO has the capacity and dynamism to face the third decade of the 21st century as a university of high teaching quality and proven scientific solvency. UCO has a commitment with society, promoting innovation, research and technological development as an instrument for the social and economic progress, and has received the "Human Resources Excellence in Research" (HRS4R) European Commission Award, which publicly recognises that we have improved our human resource policies to align them with the principles of The European Charter for Researchers and The Code of Conduct for Recruitment of Researchers.

Three main offices related to international promotion, funding, transfer of knowledge and protection of results operate at UCO: the International Relations Office (ORI), the Results Transfer Office (OTRI) and the International Projects Office (OPI). Thanks to their support, UCO has a large experience in coordinating, managing and implementing international projects since 2^nd Framework Programme (2FP_1987–1991). During the last Framework Programme (H2020_2014-2020), UCO obtained 45 projects funded, plus 51 projects funded by other European programmes, meaning almost 20 M€ in income. Currently, UCO has been granted with 15 projects funded through Horizon Europe and 34 projects funded by other European programs (since 2021).

UCO is equipped with cutting-edge centralized research facilities (SCAI), located at the Rabanales Campus, including a Scanning Confocal Electron Microscope (SCEM), a Genomics and Proteomics Unit, a NIR/MIR Spectroscopy Unit, a Mass Spectrometry Unit, and a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Unit, among others. UCO also has greenhouses, its own Meteorology Station and a Central Animal Experimentation Unit, which complies with national and European legislation concerning research with genetically modified animals.