PhD in cell therapy for hereditary eye diseases: A vision for the future

AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

BeFrank pension

Public transport reimbursement

Bike scheme

End-of-year bonus (8.3%)

Job summary

Amsterdam UMC Research BV, in collaboration with the Lifelong VISION program, is seeking a First Stage Researcher (R1) to develop and characterize patient-based preclinical models for inherited retinal diseases. You will work with patient-derived stem cells, differentiate protocols for retinal cell models, and explore in vivo constructs to evaluate cell therapy approaches.

This four-year PhD connects model systems and cell-based therapy within Emma CPM.

Qualifications

• Master's degree completed in a biomedical field.
• Experience in experimental lab research and cell culture; stem cells/differentiation is an advantage.
• Interest in disease models and in the relation between genetic variation, cellular function and clinical characteristics.
• Willingness to work with in vivo models and to undertake required training; Article 9 qualification is an advantage.
• Good communication skills in English; proficiency in Dutch is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop, characterize and apply patient-based preclinical models.
• Work with patient-derived stem cells and optimize differentiation protocols for retinal cell/tissue models.
• Characterize new in vitro models at molecular, cellular and functional levels and reflect disease characteristics.
• Develop and characterize patient-based in vivo models and establish outcome measures for disease progression and treatment.
• Integrate experimental findings with genetic and clinical patient data in collaboration with researchers and clinicians.
• Present results within Lifelong VISION, Emma CPM and at scientific meetings and contribute to publications and PhD thesis.

Skills

Communication skills

English proficiency

Dutch advantage

Education

Master's degree in biomedical sciences / related field

Job description

Organisation/Company Amsterdam UMC Research Field Medical sciences » Medicine Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 22 Nov 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 36.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Developing new treatments starts with models that accurately reflect the disease in the patient. In this four-year PhD project, you will develop and characterize new patient-based preclinical models, both in vitro and in vivo, for inherited retinal diseases, including gyrate atrophy and retinitis pigmentosa. Using these models, you will investigate disease mechanisms and evaluate the potential of cell therapy.
You will work with patient-derived stem cells and develop and optimize differentiation protocols for relevant retinal cell and tissue models. You will characterize how patients' genetic and clinical characteristics are reflected in the morphology, molecular properties and function of these models. In addition, you will work on the development and characterization of patient-based in vivo models. By connecting findings from cell and tissue models, in vivo models and clinical practice, you will investigate which models and outcome measures are suitable for evaluating new treatments.
These model systems will subsequently form the basis for preclinical cell therapy research. You will investigate how stem cell-derived cells and biomaterials can be combined to create transplantable cell constructs and evaluate their survival, integration and function after transplantation.
The project connects Platform A: Model systems and Pillar 3: Cell-based therapy of the Lifelong VISION consortium . The development of relevant disease models and the development of cell therapy therefore go hand in hand. Through the Emma Center for Personalized Medicine (Emma CPM) , the research aligns with the broader ambition of connecting diagnostics and therapy development for rare hereditary diseases.
Lifelong VISION, a Gravitation project funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (2024-2033), will develop new treatments against blindness.
Blindness is among the top 15 most disabling conditions and can manifest in many different ways. In young people, a hereditary retinal condition is the main cause, while in the elderly, age-related macular degeneration is a prominent reason. The Lifelong VISION program is developing a new generation of treatment strategies to prevent blindness: genetic therapies, treatments that target the disease pathways, and cell therapies. State of the art cell and animal models will be developed to test these new therapies in vitro and in vivo. The suitability of each patient group, and the optimal timing for therapeutic intervention is predicted using artificial intelligence, so that the right patient receives the right treatment at the right time. The innovative technologies and strategies developed for eye diseases within our project may serve as blueprints for other diseases and organs.
Ten research institutions participate in the Lifelong Vision project. The project is led by prof. dr. Caroline Klaver from Radboudumc and Erasmus MC; other institutions include Amsterdam UMC, University of Twente, Hubrecht Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Tilburg University, and Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience.
Would you like to know more about the different phases within the PhD trajectory? You can read more about this on this page .
Your main responsibility will be to develop, characterize and apply patient-based preclinical models. In doing so, you will work closely with researchers from Human genetics and clinicians from the Emma Children's Hospital and the department of Ophthalmology at Amsterdam UMC. Together, you will translate clinical questions into experiments and discuss what the results mean for understanding disease mechanisms and developing new treatments.
Your tasks will include:

• culturing patient-derived stem cells and developing and optimizing differentiation protocols for retinal cell and tissue models.
• characterizing new in vitro models at the molecular, cellular and functional levels and investigating the extent to which they reflect characteristics of the disease;
• contributing to the development and characterization of patient-based in vivo models and establishing relevant outcome measures for disease progression and treatment;
• applying the models to investigate cell therapy, including combining stem cell-derived cells with biomaterials and performing and evaluating preclinical transplantations;
• integrating experimental findings with genetic and clinical patient data, in collaboration with researchers and clinicians;
• presenting your results within Lifelong VISION, Emma CPM and at scientific meetings, and incorporating them into scientific publications and a PhD thesis.
• a completed Master's degree in biomedical sciences, biology, biotechnology, regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering or a related field;
• practical experience in experimental laboratory research and cell culture; experience with stem cells, differentiation or complex tissue models is an advantage;
• an interest in developing and characterizing disease models and in the relationship between genetic variation, cellular function and clinical characteristics;
• an interest in cell therapy and biomaterials, and a willingness to work with in vivo models and undertake the required training; relevant experience and an Article 9 qualification are an advantage;
• a critical, precise and persistent research attitude: you take initiative, analyze carefully and contribute ideas for solutions;
• good communication skills in English and an enjoyment of working collaboratively with researchers and clinicians from different disciplines. Proficiency in Dutch is an advantage.

Physicians registered in the Dutch BIG register are not eligible for this position.

Additional Information

• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV. The intended start date is no later than 1 March 2027.
• A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of four years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
• Classification in salary scale OIO: € 3.217 to € 4.077 gross for full-time employment (depending on experience). In addition to a good basic salary, we offer 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Calculate your net salary here .
• Holiday hours: 194.4 per year for full time and a possibility to save additional hours.
• 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs. If you travel by foot, bicycle, or car, a mileage allowance of €0.21 per km applies (up to a maximum of 40 km one way by car).
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.

Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.

Additional comments

During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely.
The first round of interviews is scheduled to take place between 30 November and 11 December 2026. A second round of interviews will follow.
If you have any questions about this position, please feel free to contact dr. Céline Koster, assistent professor Human genetics and Emma CPM, via [e-mail] .
A reference check, screening and hiring assessment may be part of the procedure. Read here whether that applies to you. If you join us, we ask you for a VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct).
Internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates in case of equal suitability.
Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be considered.