The TRANSCEND doctoral network (DN) aims to develop and evaluate a new transdisciplinary approach to translational research on complex, chronic conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). In each of the 13 PhD projects, we seek to transcend reductionist approaches to unidirectional reasoning from bench to bedside, thereby practically exploring a new epistemology of translational medical research. We do so by combining philosophical assessments of the logic of new biomedical research approaches with the development and application of such new research designs within basic, preclinical and clinical research.
Simple, reductionist approaches have failed to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of these conditions – especially when personalized patient-centered outcomes are considered. The TRANSCEND DN aims to advance translational research on these conditions by exploring how new research designs can transcend known limitations of traditional bench-to-bedside approaches.
Moreover, the DN will propose more generalizable amendments to translational medical research by combining projects and educational activities in the biomedical sciences, neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy of science through an innovative mixture of interdisciplinary secondments within the individual projects, discipline-spanning work packages and transdisciplinary engagement with non-academic stakeholders in policy and industry. The 13 TRANSCEND doctoral candidates (DCs) will be uniquely equipped to expand beyond the status quo in the translational medical landscape and lead future efforts to involve important insights and methods from the humanities and social sciences into biomedical studies.
This specific PhD project explores how animal research can better reflect human brain. Instead of focusing on single causes, we re-use already available data on tasks that mirror human cognitive challenges, such as impulsivity and difficulty with flexible thinking. By combining brain imaging and cellular analyses, we aim to connect behavior with brain features across different scales. This ‘backward translation’ approach will create animal models that are more relevant for understanding complex brain disorders, ultimately improving how research translates to patients.
For more information check out the TRANSCEND website
Applications for the PhD position can be submitted here
Partners:
Beneficiaries
- Aarhus Univeristy (Denmark)
- University of Oslo (Norway)
- University of Porto (Portugal)
- University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
- University of Leuven (Belgium)
- Radboud University (Netherlands)
- Bielefeld University (Germany)
- San Raffaele Hospital (Italy)
- Bordeaux Montaigne University (France)
- UMC Utrecht (Netherlands)
Associated partners
- Orikami (Netherlands)
- Ink (Netherlands)
- Federal Ministry of Health (Germany)
- European Animal Research Association (UK/Belgium)
- ETH Zürich (Switzerland)
- Stichting MS Research (Netherlands)
- Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Switzerland)
- Saber Bio SAS (France)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Università Vita-Saluta San Raffaele (Italy)
- Utrecht University (Netherlands)
Funders: Horizon Europe, Marie Curie Cost Actions doctoral network (MSCA-DN)