General information
Offer title : Doctorate (M/F) (H/F)
Reference : UMR7284-VALVOU-005
Number of position : 1
Workplace : NICE
Date of publication : 11 July 2025
Type of Contract : FTC PhD student / Offer for thesis
Contract Period : 36 months
Start date of the thesis : 1 October 2025
Proportion of work : Full Time
Remuneration : 2200 gross monthly
Section(s) CN : 24 - Physiology, ageing, tumorigenesis
Description of the thesis topic
Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are characterized by inflammation and fibrosis within pulmonary alveolar walls, significantly impacting patients' quality of life and prognosis. Effective treatments for ILD are currently lacking. We have developed a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the P2X7 purinoreceptor (P2RX7) that promotes TH1 immune responses in the presence of extracellular ATP. This modulator efficiently reduces pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in the bleomycin mouse model. Our project aims to expand these findings in both mouse and human experimental models of ILD, elucidate the mechanisms of action of the drug, and explore the structure-activity relationships of our lead compound. This effort seeks to develop an eagerly needed new drug to benefit patients with ILD.
The project is to explore how our novel positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the P2RX7 receptor can combat inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs. To address this question, we will employ complementary approaches, including mouse models of lung fibrosis, organotypic co-cultures, and ex vivo lung tissues from patients with ILD, combined with high-resolution microscopy, biochemical analyses, and transcriptomic tools. We'll also investigate how combination therapies can enhance fibrosis resolution, bringing us closer to new therapeutic strategies for ILD.
Work Context
This project will be conducted at the Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice France (IRCAN) and RespirERA IHU endowed with well-established and recognized technical platforms, experimental in vivo and ex vivo models as well as human samples.
The successful candidate will be funded through a grant from the French National Agency (ANR).
Constraints and risks
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a master's degree in biology or biomedical sciences, and an excellent academic record. The ideal candidate should have knowledge on molecular and cellular biology. Authorization to work with animal models would be a significant advantage