Looking for MSCA postdoctoral fellowship candidates: aorta-on-a-chip for thoracic aortic aneurysm

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a pathological enlargement of the body’s largest artery and a life-threatening condition with limited treatment options. Mouse models have been widely used to study disease mechanisms and evaluate potential therapies, but important differences between mice and humans still limit their translational value. Patient- and control-derived vascular iPSC models more accurately reflect human biology; however, conventional 2D cultures fail to capture the complex three-dimensional structure and physiological environment of the aortic wall. This project aims to establish and benchmark patient-derived 3D aorta-on-a-chip models using iPSC-derived vascular cells, providing a complementary physiologically relevant platform to study TAA and assess therapeutic strategies.

Desired expertise:
iPSC culture
Organ-on-chip modelling
Vascular biology

Interested and eligible applicants are invited to submit their CV together with a short document outlining their motivation and preliminary ideas for the project by mail to aline.verstraeten@uantwerpen.be.

Selected candidates will be provided with dedicated support throughout the application process.