Discovery of novel mechanisms in Polycystic Kidney Disease
Gabriel Loeb, Professor
Medicine, UCSF
Applications for Spring 2025 are closed for this project.
Polycystic Kidney Disease is the most common genetic cause of kidney failure. We know the genes that are mutated in Polycystic Kidney Disease but still do not have good treatments for patients with this disease.
Our laboratory, which is led by a physician-scientist works on mechanisms underlying polycystic kidney disease and is asking the following questions:
1) How do mutations in the proteins that cause Polycystic Kidney Disease disrupt protein function?
2) Can the effect of mutations on Polycystic Kidney Disease proteins be rescued by small molecules (future therapies)?
3) What is the cellular signaling that is disrupted in Polycystic Kidney Disease?
4) Can we model patient-specific mutations in Polycystic Kidney Disease using kidney organoids? Can these models be used to test novel therapies?
Qualifications: Role: Candidates will work with the professor and a postdoc in the laboratory. We are a young and growing laboratory, so the student will have significant opportunities to learn directly from the professor (who spends lots of time in the laboratory) and other trainees in the laboratory.
Potential techniques and experience acquired during the training include:
- Advanced microscopy;
- Molecular cloning and genome editing using CRISPR;
- Cell culture;
- CRISPR screening
Qualifications: This position is open to all who are highly motivated and very organized. Research experience and experience with cell culture is preferred.
Please include in the application
(1) Your career plan
(2) Schedule of committed hours to perform research in the lab (please exclude the commute time). The laboratory is at UCSF Mission Bay (555 Mission Bay Blvd S, San Francisco).
(3) Prior research/laboratory experience if any.
(4) (optional) experience that demonstrates attention to detail.
Hours: to be negotiated
Off-Campus Research Site: UCSF Mission Bay Cardiovascular Research Institute 555 Mission Bay Blvd S San Francisco
Biological & Health Sciences