MASTER’S THESIS

MASTER’S THESIS

NeuroRestore is a research and innovation center spanning EPFL and the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) that develops and applies medical therapies aimed to restore neurological functions. We integrate implantable neurotechnologies with innovative treatments developed through rigorous preclinical and clinical studies. These developments have led to breakthroughs for the treatment of paraplegia, tetraplegia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injuries. By working with our network of vibrant high-tech start-ups and established medical technology companies, we are committed to validate our medical therapy concepts and see them used every day in rehabilitation clinics worldwide.

Regenerative gene therapy to repair the spinal cord after paralysis

We are working on a ground-breaking biological repair strategy that involves gene therapy to achieve axon regeneration after a spinal cord injury to reverse paralysis.

The Master project will contribute to:

  • Assessing if our regenerative therapy successfully leads to axonal regrowth of the motor pathways of the spinal cord.

  • Assessing the effect of our regenerative therapy if delivered at different timepoints after SCI.

In terms of practical work, the student will perform:

  • Histology (immunohistological stainings, tissue sectioning)

  • Imaging (use of high-quality microscopes such as slide-scanner and confocal microscope)

  • Image analysis

  • Rodent experiment related work

Preferred skills:

  • Previous research experience

  • Cryostat tissue sectioning

  • Immunohistological stainings

  • Microscopy, image analysis

  • rodent animal work

  • R programming

  • Biology and neuroscience knowledge.

Preferred background: Biology, neuroscience, medicine and engineering.

By joining our team, the student will get the opportunity to collaborate with leaders of the field and to contribute in groundbreaking research with the potential to change the lives of paralyzed people. The student will receive all necessary guidance and support to acquire practical skills and carry out their project. As a team with a strong track record of scientific breakthroughs annually published in the journals Nature, Science and Nature Medicine, we are looking for an exceptional and talented student to join us.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: While we prefer a candidate with basic wetlab skills, we are mostly looking for highly motivated and exceptional students who are willing to learn and are receptive to feedback. Prior to contacting us, please make sure to familiarize yourself with the recently published work related to this project (Science, Squair JW, 2023).

Preferred starting date: Fall 2024

Contact (cc): jan.soriano@epfl.ch or remi.hudelle@epfl.ch

Jimmy Ravier