PhD student in neuroscience (m/f/d)

The Institute of Neuropathology is an accredited facility for comprehensive neuropathological patient care and has been an integral part of laboratory diagnostics at the University Medical Center Göttingen since it was founded over 50 years ago. In addition to the diagnostic service spectrum of all areas of neuropathology, the Institute is available for reference pathology questions with a focus on inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. The Institute has several working groups and is involved in high-ranking national and international research projects.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a disease of the central nervous system caused by the JC polyomavirus (JCPyV). PML is an opportunistic infection, i.e. a latent infection is reactivated during immunosuppression/immunomodulation. With the increasing use of immunomodulating therapeutics, the incidence of PML is increasing.

The establishment of PML models is difficult because JCPyV is an exclusively human pathogenic virus that infects glial cells. PML models are therefore to be established as part of the doctoral thesis. Firstly, human stem cells (hiPSCs) are to be differentiated in vitro into so-called brain organoids - three-dimensional tissue structures that contain glial and neuronal cells. These will then be infected with JCPyV in order to mimic PML. Secondly, hiPSCs will be differentiated into glial progenitor cells, which will then be implanted into myelin-deficient mice. The progenitor cells differentiate in vivo into myelin-forming oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. These glial chimeric mice can then be infected with JCPyV.