Extracellular Vesicles (EV) in Skin Health: Targeted Interventions for Inflammatory Disorders and Burn Wound Healing

PhD position in Veterinary Comparative, Regenerative, and Translation Biomedicine Research

Proposed Thesis title & description:

Extracellular Vesicles (EV) in Skin Health: Targeted Interventions for Inflammatory Disorders and Burn Wound Healing.

This research explores the therapeutic potential of naturally occurring extracellular vesicles (EVs) encapsulated in hydrogels for treating skin inflammatory disorders and burn wounds. EVs possess immune-regulatory properties and potential for wound healing. Incorporating them into hydrogels offers controlled release and targeted delivery. Additionally, their antibacterial effects against common pathogens are investigated. Conventional treatments for these conditions face limitations such as resistance and adverse effects. By addressing these challenges with EV-loaded hydrogels, this approach provides a dual benefit: alleviating skin disorders and combating secondary infections. Overall, this innovative strategy offers targeted and effective solutions for managing inflammatory skin disorders and burn wounds, potentially improving patient outcomes.

This doctoral research investigate the utilisation of EVs sourced from natural origins, coupled with the integration of advanced microbiological techniques. Employing both 2D and 3D in vitro cell culture models will enable a comprehensive exploration of their therapeutic potential. Additionally, the research will focus on the development of biocompatible hydrogels tailored for optimal delivery of EVs. Through this multifaceted approach, novel therapeutic interventions will be engineered to address the complexities of healing skin inflammatory disorders and burn wounds.

Study period: Four years full-time basis (1.00)

Qualification of the candidate:

·         Competition is open for both local and international students who fulfill the basic doctoral school admission requirements stipulated by the Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia. Please visit the web link for more information: https://www.emu.ee/en/admissions/doctoral-studies/admission-requirements/  .

·         Possession of the first degree plus master’s degree level qualification in human medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture, animal science, or biological sciences streams.

·         Experience in cell cultures and basic microbiology, cell & molecular biology techniques.

·         Experience in working with extracellular vesicles (not essential but preferable)

·         Experience in transcriptomics and proteomics work with basic bioinformatics knowledge (not essential but preferable)

·         Experience in publishing research outcomes in conferences and reputed scientific journals (not essential but preferable)

·         Fluency in writing and speaking in English

Research Team: COMBIVET ERA chair and OH-BOOST are EU-funded research projects that are being run by a multidisciplinary research team with a proven track record on high-quality cutting-edge research on extracellular vesicles based in the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu Estonia. For more information please visit https://www.combivet.ee/   and https://sites.google.com/view/ohboost/home .

The successful candidate will be supervised jointly by Professor Alireza Fazeli  alireza.fazeli@emu.ee, Prof. Külli Kingo kylli.kingo@ut.ee and Dr. Dulmini Nanayakkara Sapuagahawatte Dulmini.sapugahawatte@emu.ee

What we offer: A four-year fully funded tuition fee free PhD position for the ideal candidate with a monthly salary of EUR 1718 (pre-tax) with other fringe benefits attached to the junior research fellow position at the EMU and under Estonian government regulations.

Applications:

 Please send a motivation letter with an updated CV to Dr Dulmini N. Sapugahawatte (dulmini.sapugahawatte@emu.ee)

Application deadline: 10^th May 2024