Institut Imagine is a leading European center for genetic disease research, located in Paris and affiliated with Inserm and Université Paris Cité. The institute hosts 30 research teams covering fundamental and translational approaches in rare genetic diseases.
It provides a highly collaborative environment with state-of-the-art core facilities, access to rare disease cohorts, and strong interactions with clinical departments and reference centers.
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Engineer to join a translational research program dedicated to the development of innovative gene therapy approaches for inherited retinal dystrophies.
The project focuses on evaluating and expanding the therapeutic applications of an AAV-based retinal gene therapy platform, across multiple disease models, integrating patient-derived iPSC systems, retinal organoids, and in vivo mouse models.
The successful candidate will work in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment integrating cutting-edge cellular models, genome editing technologies, and in-depth functional and molecular analyses.
Autonomy is essential for this position.
https://www.institutimagine.org/en/jean-michel-rozet-192
1. iPSC-derived retinal organoid models :
• Generation of patient-derived iPSCs and isogenic CRISPR-edited control lines ;
• Differentiation into retinal organoids ;
• Treatment with AAV-based gene therapy vectors and control vectors (AAV-GFP) ;
• Multimodal comparative analyses including :
o Histology and immunohistochemistry ;
o Molecular profiling (degeneration, stress, inflammation, apoptosis markers) ;
o Functional and structural analyses ;
o Multi-omics approaches (bulk and single-cell RNA-seq, proteomics).
2. In vivo retinal disease models :
• Establishment and maintenance of genetically engineered or pharmacological retinal disease models ;
• In vivo administration of gene therapy vectors versus controls ;
• Longitudinal phenotyping including :
o Retinal electrophysiology (ERG scotopic and photopic) ;
o Multi-electrode array (MEA/EMA) recordings ;
o Visual behavior assays ;
o Histology and retinal immunohistochemistry ;
o Molecular and structural analyses.
3. Data analysis & integration :
• Integration of functional, histological, and molecular datasets ;
• Transcriptomic and proteomic signature analyses ;
• Contribution to mechanistic understanding of retinal gene therapy mechanisms ;
• Participation in translational interpretation of results ;
• Rigorous experimental data reporting, documentation, and quality control ;
• Preparation and presentation of data in scientific and pharmaceutical contexts (internal meetings, lab meetings, and external conferences).
• PhD or MSc/Engineering degree in biology, neuroscience, cell biology, or a related field ;
• Hands-on experience in molecular and cellular biology ;
• Experience in genome editing (strong asset) ;
• Experience with iPSC and/or organoid systems (strong asset) ;
• Experience with in vivo experimental models (strong asset) ;
• Strong interest in gene therapy and retinal diseases ;
• Experience with omics data analysis (RNA-seq, proteomics) is a plus ;
• Strong ability to report, structure, and communicate experimental data in a rigorous and reproducible manner ;
• Ability to present and communicate data in scientific and pharmaceutical environments, including lab meetings, internal reviews, and external conferences ;
• Autonomy, scientific rigor, and ability to independently drive experimental work are essential.
• Position: Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Engineer ;
• Duration: 36 months ;
• Start date: flexible ;
Application : please send CV and cover letter.