The role of bile acids in gastrointestinal diseases

PhD Study Opportunity at the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University

Are you interested in how bile acids — traditionally regarded merely as detergents — can influence our health and perhaps even our behavior? Would you like to explore how the gut "talks" to the liver? Join a research project that seeks to push the boundaries of knowledge in the field of bile acid biology.

Bile acids are not just by-products of cholesterol breakdown or simple detergents facilitating lipid digestion. They are crucial signaling molecules that regulate a wide range of physiological processes. The composition of bile acids (their spectrum) can vary significantly between individuals, influenced not only by health status and lifestyle but also by the populations of microbes inhabiting our intestines. However, we still do not fully understand how the bile acid spectrum is shaped, nor how this knowledge could be utilized for diagnostics and therapy of certain diseases.

The goal of the offered PhD project is to study the role of selected bile acids in gastrointestinal diseases. The primary focus will be on analyzing the bile acid spectrum in patient cohorts, followed by investigations into their biological functions.

Throughout the PhD program, the student will delve into bile acid metabolism (including atypical bile acids) and master the necessary experimental techniques. Key methods will include chromatographic techniques, primarily LC-MS/MS, and, as needed, fundamental molecular biology techniques such as cloning, reporter assays, recombinant protein production, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and more.

We are looking for motivated students interested in chromatography, biology, medicine, and modern research, who are not afraid to venture into unexplored scientific territory. Join us and help expand the frontiers of knowledge

More info at: martin.lenicek@lf1.cuni.cz.

More about admission requirements here

Submit your application here