VHIR-MSCA-PF-2026.006Postdoctoral Fellowship (Neurodegenerative Disorders)

NEURO-immune and GATEway-mediated mechanisms to counteract Parkinsons Disease (NEUROGATE-PD)

VHIR is seeking an outstanding and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to apply for a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship and join the Neurodegenerative Disorders Research Group.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF)

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) are part of the Horizon Europe programme and support postdoctoral researchers in developing an original research and innovation project through international mobility.

The programme aims to strengthen researchers careers through excellent science international collaboration and interdisciplinary experience while fostering integration in both academic and non-academic environments. The MSCA-PF call is highly competitive and represents an excellent opportunity to attract international talent and support researchers in consolidating their scientific careers through an ambitious mobility-based fellowship.

The 2026 call closes on 09/09/2026 (17:00 Brussels time). For candidates applying to a European Postdoctoral Fellowship the fellowship duration is from 12 to 24 months.

Full eligibility details: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026

Background

Parkinsons disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder affecting over 10 million people worldwide. Current treatments remain symptomatic and do not prevent disease progression. Although classically defined by dopaminergic neuron loss and α-synuclein aggregation PD is now recognised as a multi-system disorder.

Non-motor symptoms such as gastrointestinal dysfunction mood alterations and sleep disturbances often precede motor symptoms highlighting the gutbrain axis as a bidirectional communication network relevant for PD pathogenesis. Within this axis microbiota composition barrier integrity and immune signalling contribute to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Aging impairs both barrier function and immune PD these alterations are exacerbated increasing permeability immune cell infiltration chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration. However the relative contribution of aging versus environmental factors (e.g. infections pollutants) and the therapeutic opportunities derived from restoring these functions remain unclear.

To address these gaps this project will integrate clinical research experimental models and mechanistic studies in a multidisciplinary and international framework aiming to uncover mechanisms linking barrier dysfunction to neurodegeneration and to develop regenerative strategies targeting these interfaces.

This approach will advance our understanding of brainbody communication identify biomarkers and open new therapeutic avenues for PD and other age-related diseases.

Objective

NEUROGATE-PD aims to understand the principles of barrier-mediated brainbody interactions in Parkinsons disease (PD). This project will address key knowledge gaps essential for future biomarker discovery and therapeutic development aimed at preventing neurodegeneration through restoration of barrier addition it will investigate the impact of lifestyle factors (e.g. nutrition microbiota and environmental pollutants) on barrier integrity and how these factors influence PD onset and progression using relevant clinical cohorts and humanised experimental models.

Our Group

The PI is a junior group leader within the Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group led by Dr. Miquel Vila (ICREA Professor UAB). The group includes experts such as Dr. Marta Martínez-Vicente (autophagy research) and Dr. Jorge Hernández-Vara (clinical neurology). The team has established the Vall dHebron Parkinsons Initiative (VHIP) a key longitudinal cohort for this project. The group collaborates extensively with national and international experts and networks (CIBERNED ASAP GBA consortium). Their research addresses PD as a multifactorial disorder with significant societal impact combining mechanistic research clinical cohorts and translational innovation.

Main research lines:

• Clinical and Biomarker Research

VHIP includes >200 participants (patients carriers controls) combining clinical genetic imaging and biospecimen data. Objectives:

1. Biomarker discovery (risk diagnosis prognosis)

2. Disease stratification

3. Early pathophysiology understanding gender perspective is systematically integrated.

4. Translational Innovation and Therapeutics

5. Focus on gutbrain communication and neuroimmune modulation

6. Studying enteric α-synuclein pathogenicity

7. Dietary interventions

8. Targeting bacterial neurotoxins

• Social Innovation

1. Development of participatory initiatives involving patients and stakeholders to improve quality of life and promote societal impact.

• Applicants must hold a PhD degree or have successfully defended their thesis before the call deadline (09/09/2026)

• Applicants must comply with the mobility rule meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work/studies) in the host country for more than 12 months during the 36 months prior to the call deadline.

• Basic communication skills in English Good communication skills and fluency in spoken and written English.

• Experience and knowledge of basic laboratory histological techniques (e.g. stereological cell analysis IHC IF confocal microscopy) and molecular techniques (ELISA RTqPCR WB Dot Blot Flow Cytometry).

• Certification and experience working with animal models and knowledge of animal experimentation techniques (stereotaxic injection of AdenoAssociatedViral Vectors (AAV) behavioral tests oral gavage ip/iv/sc administration).

• Applicants must have a maximum of 8 years of postdoctoral research experience by the call deadline. This means candidates are generally eligible if they obtained their PhD on or after 10/09/2018 (possible extensions may apply e.g. parental leave or long-term illness).

• At least 3 years of experience working with preclinical rodent models.

• Proactive dynamic and outstanding organisational skills.

• Strong sense of responsibility initiative self-motivation and social skills as key personal abilities.

• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.

Deadline to apply:

VHIR embraces Equality and Diversity. As reflected in our values we work toward ensuring inclusion and equal opportunity in recruitment hiring training and management for all staff within the organisation regardless of gender civil status family status sexual orientation gender identity and expression religion age functional diversity or ethnicity.

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