PhD studentship, Rome, Italy

16 Jan 2012


Via http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess. PhD studentship is available at the Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy to study 'Multipotent stem cells isolated from human extrahepatic biliary tree, and their differentiation into liver and pancreatic cells: preclinical studies and potential clinical applications'.

Stem cell therapy for liver disease and diabetes is the subject of several studies. Recently it was demonstrated that peribiliari glands of extrahepatic biliary tree contain adult multipotent stem cells (MPSC-b), these were isolated and induced in vitro to differentiate in hepatocytes, cholangiocytes and pancreatic cells that secrete insulin. These cells seem to correct experimental diabetes. The possible use of MPSC-b in the treatment of liver disease and insulin dependent diabetes requires further study. In this study the aim is to: establish the ideal conditions of culture, differentiation and cryopreservation; identify biological matrices, and bioartificial scaffolds that promote the engraftment of MPSC-b; identify the mechanisms of differentiation of the MPSC-b in liver or pancreatic cells; identify models of liver damage and diabetes, the site and the ideal conditions for the transplantation of MPSC-b.

Click on the link below to view the job advert. The closing deadline for applications is 9 February 2012.

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