PhD positions in ‘Next Generation Imaging for Cardiac and Pulmonary Diseases’, University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands (2016)

Coronary heart disease (CHD), lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are most prevalent in the general population, and are expected to cause three quarters of deaths by 2050. For this so-called Big-3, early disease detection by CT screening may allow early treatment that can prevent, delay or stop progression of disease. With the use of a new ultra-low-dose CT technique, early imaging biomarkers of CHD, lung cancer, and COPD can be evaluated in one CT scan. 12,000 healthy individuals of the LifeLines cohort will undergo ultra-low-dose CT of the chest. PhD students will study lung nodules, lung density, bronchial wall thickness and coronary calcifications using dedicated software, to determine normal biomarker values and relationships with risk factors. Beforehand, validation of biomarker quantification and optimization of the CT scan protocol will be based on phantom and patient studies.
In patients at higher risk of CHD, new CT and MRI techniques for diagnosis of the extent of CHD will be investigated. The goal here is to explore whether innovations in non-invasive cardiac imaging can shorten the process from first symptoms to the decision whether invasive treatment is needed. New techniques to be studied include T1 mapping, myocardial perfusion quantification and/or CT FFR.

The PhD students will be actively involved in validation and implementation studies, including participant/patient and image data analysis, and outcome studies.
Requirements
- Candidates with a Master’s degree in Medicine or Technical Medicine, preferably from a Dutch university
- Demonstrable interest in cardiothoracic imaging/-research preferred, but not conditional

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. You may be required to build up sufficient protection against Hepatitis B before you can be appointed. Vaccination is provided by the UMCG if necessary.

Further details:
http://www.academictransfer.com