Master’s Thesis Project: Profiling of the liver extracellular matrix composition and remodeling in liver fibrosis

We are looking for a master's student to join the liver fibrosis team at Nordic Bioscience for the purpose of investigating tissue changes in liver fibrosis.
Project description
Chronic liver disease is characterized by excessive scarring of the liver, also known as fibrosis. Upon tissue injury, the physiological tissue architecture is disrupted causing changes in extracellular matrix (ECM). In this master thesis project, the objective is to explore the ECM composition in both rat and human healthy and fibrotic liver by investigating the abundance and localization of ECM fragments reflecting collagen synthesis and degradation. The specific ECM fragments already have an established clinical relevance for liver fibrosis when quantified in blood. With this project, the goal is to get a better understanding of the fibrotic liver tissue profile.

Project aim
The aim of the project is divided into three parts, in which you will:

• Develop a proof-of-concept method to measure ECM fragments in protease-degraded rat and human liver tissue.
• Investigate ECM fragments in rat and human liver tissue using immunohistochemical staining.
• Investigate the association of ECM fragments in blood samples from patients with liver fibrosis, degraded liver tissue, and stained liver tissue.

Methods
You will develop a method to measure ECM fragments in degraded liver tissue. Moreover, you will use immunohistochemistry (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). In addition, a substantial knowledge of assay development and serological biomarkers will be obtained.

The Hepatic Research Team
The Hepatic Research Team is part of the Fibrosis Department in the RnD facilities at Nordic Bioscience. Our key focus is to understand and quantify the ECM remodeling that is a central part of chronic liver disease. We aim to help patients by developing novel tools to improve patient care and aid drug development.

Are you interested?
If you want to hear more about writing your master project at Nordic Bioscience, please contact Research Fellow Emilie Skovgaard ([email protected]). We are evaluating applications on a continuous basis, so please apply as soon as possible. The application should include a few motivational lines about yourself, a transcript of grades, and a CV. Potential candidates will be invited for interviews as they apply, and we reserve the right to terminate before the posting expires.

Project starts August/September.

Department: Herlev Hovedgade 205 - 207, Herlev

Location: Herlev (Greater Copenhagen Area)

Application deadline: 27 Jun 2024