New European H2020 research project

The influence of endocrine disruptors on the male and female thyroid gland. The new European collaborative project SCREENED aims to develop three-dimensional (3D) cell-based in vitro tests to better characterize the effects of endocrine disruptors on thyroid functions. This method will overcome the limitations of existing tests, being more sensitive, at low doses of exposure to chemicals, and enabling the prediction of their toxicity on human health in a sex-specific manner. Sabine Costagliola Lab at IRIBHM is the Belgian partner of this ambitious and innovative project.

 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 825745.

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Contact:
Sabine Costagliola
ULB – IRIBHM, Faculty of Medicine
scostag@ulb.ac.be

Technicien.ne de laboratoire pour le développement d’organoïdes cellulaires pour modéliser des pathologies humaines (IRIBHM-ULB, Faculté de médecine)

Description de l’offre Le laboratoire de développement d’organoïdes humains à partir de cellules souches dirigé par le Professeur Sabine Costagliola est un laboratoire de recherche de l’ Institut de Recherche en Biologie humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM) de l’Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) situé sur le campus Erasme à Anderlecht. Ce laboratoire développe des organoïdes humains (Mini-organes in Vitro) pour modéliser le développement et les pathologies thyroïdiennes et pulmonaires. Le/la technicien.ne travaillera dans un environnement international et participera à des projets de recherche de pointe. https://iribhm.org/  

Missions: Pratiquer les techniques usuelles de biologie moléculaire (extraction d’ARN, qPCR..) Préparer des cultures cellulaires de cellules souches et d’organoïdes Effectuer des coupes au cryostat et coupes en paraffine Effectuer de l’immunohistochimie Acquisition d’images par microscopie à fluorescence

Profil : Être titulaire d’un bachelier ou d’un master en sciences ou en biologie médicale reconnu par la FWB Les personnes possédant un diplôme n’émanant pas de la Fédération Wallonie Bruxelles ni de la Communauté flamande devront en obtenir une équivalence par la FWB : (http://www.equivalences.cfwb.be/index.php?id=486)

Connaissances et compétences requises: Bonne connaissance de l’anglais (B2) Techniques de biologie moléculaire et de culture cellulaire (requises)

Qualités: Motivation et dynamisme Capacité rapide d’intégration et d’apprentissage Esprit d’équipe Proactivité Curiosité

Nous offrons: Un cadre de travail agréable et dynamique au sein d’une institution avec des valeurs sociétales fortes Une formation permanente pour enrichir son CV Une échelle barémique conforme aux barèmes de la FWB qui tient compte de l’expérience acquise (sous conditions) Des avantages extra légaux (régime de congés attrayant, possibilité d’affiliation à une assurance hospitalisation, pension complémentaire, intervention dans les frais de déplacement…)

Complément d’information CDD d’un an à temps plein renouvelable  

Personnes de contact Professeur Sabine Costagliola Sabine.costagliola@ulb.be Véronique Janssens, Lab Manager janssens.veronique@ulb.be  

Postdoc position in organoids research for modeling rare diseases

The Costagliola lab, at IRIBHM, ULB, Brussels, (https://costalab.ulb.ac.be/ ; https://iribhm.org/) is seeking a creative, motivated and highly independent postdoctoral fellow with a good expertise in Human stem cell-derived organoids. The project aims to uncover the molecular pathways responsible for resistance to Thyrotropin, a rare human disorder initiated by a newly identified genetic variation unique to primates.

This position is fully funded for 3 years. Salary commensurate with experience.

Project Background

The thyroid gland’s primary role is to capture iodide and synthesize Thyroid hormones (TH), crucial for normal growth and metabolism, which exert effects on nearly all tissues. Resistance to Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (RTSH) denotes a syndrome where the thyroid displays variable hypersensitivity to biologically active TSH, a hormone from the pituitary gland. This condition is characterized by elevated serum TSH levels, a normal or underdeveloped thyroid, and varying serum TH levels, dependent on the degree of TSH insensitivity. RTSH is categorized as fully compensated, partially compensated, or uncompensated based on TH levels, with the latter indicating hypothyroidism due to low TH production. While loss-of-function mutations in the TSH receptor are a common cause of RTSH, an identical phenotype has been observed without such mutations, suggesting alternative genetic factors. In some patients, dominantly inherited RTSH has been linked to mutations in a Short Tandem Repeat (STR) in several families with RTSH (in press). Our proposed project aims to utilize human thyroid organoids as a model for RTSH. Based on our expertise in generating functional human thyroid organoids from pluripotent stem cells (Antonica et al, Nature 2012; Romitti et al, Nat. Commun, 2022) and genome editing of stem cell lines, we will conduct functional assays, transcriptome and chromatin accessibility analyses in both wild-type and mutated organoids. This approach will enable us to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to RTSH. Interestingly, this STR is exclusive to primates, prompting an additional aspect of the project to explore its role in evolutionary endocrinology.

Postdoc benefits

As a postdoctoral researcher in our team, you will benefit from cutting-edge imaging and cell biology facilities and collaborate closely with experts in organoid technology. You will engage in a multidisciplinary project encompassing organoids, gene editing, imaging and transcriptomics, addressing significant questions in the fields of thyroid biology and evolutionary endocrinology. Candidates should demonstrate a track record of research productivity through publications.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

• Implement new models of Thyroid organoids.
• Generate genetically modified/edited human stem cells lines.
• Conduct single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptomic analysis.

Qualifications in several of the following areas:

• PhD in Biology, Bioengineering or a related field.
• Proficiency in Human and/or mouse stem cell-derived organoids
• Experience in CRISPR-based genome editing.
• Experience in Confocal microscopy and image processing
• Experience in Bioinformatic for transcriptome analysis
• Developmental biology

This project is ideal for an ambitious and enthusiastic candidate who thrives in a dynamic environment. Proficiency in scientific English—speaking, reading, and writing—is essential.

To complete your application, kindly provide a cover letter detailing your research interests and career aspirations, along with an updated CV and the contact details of three references.

Contact: Sabine Costagliola sabine.costagliola@ulb.be