P09 - miR-21 as a target in lung fibrosis
Fibrosis is a hallmark of multiple organ diseases and considered as an important future therapeutic target. We previously demonstrated that synthetic antimiR molecules against microRNA-21 (miR-21) efficiently prevented fibrosis in the heart (Nature 2008, J Clin Invest 2011, Mol Therapy 2016). This concept has since then been successfully validated in several experimental fibrosis models including the lung. Based on these data that strongly support a critical role for miR-21 in lung fibrosis, the prospective PhD candidate will 1) determine in which pulmonary cell type miR-21 is abundant and subject to deregulation in disease, 2) identify the mRNA targets of miR-21 in lung and their respective functions and 3) devise an experimental therapy against lung fibrosis based on antimiR-21.
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Stefan EngelhardtTechnical University of Munich (TUM) +49 89 4140 3260 |