Title: “Development of multimodal structural and functional neuroimaging biomarkers for the preclinical characterization, detection, prodromal diagnosis and prediction of Alzheimer’s Disease“

Aims: The primary objective of the Post-Doc position is to implement established and novel neuroimaging biomarkers through development of advanced mathematical modeling to identify sensitive and specific algorithms for the early detection/diagnosis/prediction of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in asymptomatic at risk individuals and prodromal patients compared to patients with neurodegenerative diseases and age-matched healthy controls

The Post-Doc will use existing cohorts of subjects and patients with preclinical to clinical AD, other neurodegenerative diseases and controls to develop a multimodal approach combining distinct MR-neuroimaging methods (e.g. volumetric MRI, advanced tractography, functional connectivity) and will closely work with researchers coming from other disciplines (such as mathematics, biochemistry, genetics) in order to: (i) develop and validate the function and performance of single versus multimodal imaging parameters; (ii) develop classifiers between age-related neurodegenerative diseases; (iii) translate them into clinical practice and implement them in AD prevention trials; (iv) correlate imaging data with available clinical, psychometric, genetic, as well as blood- and CSF based biomarker information.

Background: Findings derived from neuroimaging of the structural and functional organization of the human brain have led to the widely supported hypothesis that neural networks of temporally coordinated brain activity across different regional brain structures underpin cognitive function. Failure of integration within a network leads to cognitive dysfunction. The current discussion on AD argues that it presents in part a disconnection syndrome. Computer-based neuroimaging technologies, such as structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and tractography methods represent suitable methods to investigate this hypothesis. Moreover, several studies have highlighted that a number of different neuropathologies that are crucially involved in the development of AD and the causal interaction between these pathologies is not yet fully understood. In this regards, a multimodal approach using structural, functional, and tractography markers might be pivotal to investigate evolving early processes in the brain leading to AD pathological changes.

In conclusion, this work will substantially support the development of a multimodal modal biomarkers for early detection, prediction, diagnosis and characterisation of AD progression. The discovery and validation of novel hypothesis-based as well as exploratory markers that map the effects of disease modifying therapies on the brain, ultimately providing much needed surrogate biological outcomes that represent later clinical benefit, are of primary interest in the field AD research.

The successful applicant will work under the supervision and with the research team of the AXA Research Fund and UPMC Chair, Professor Harald HAMPEL, located at the Institute for Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IM2A) and the Brain & Spine Institute (Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, ICM), Paris, the leading French Institute on brain research, centrally located within the Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital – Charles Foix. The Brain& Spine Institute (http://icm-institute.org/menu/actualites) is a widely renowned research centre of excellence of international dimensions. It brings together motivated scientists from various horizons and countries in order to develop innovative and cutting-edge research in the area of Neuroscience. Research teams work at the Brain & Spine Institute independently but are strictly interconnected through cross-disciplinary research programs (both basic and clinical), thus encouraging the amalgamation of different skills. The multidisciplinary approach to Neuroscience (Neurobiology, Neurochemistry, Neurogenetics, Neuropsychology as well as structural / functional / diffusion / molecular Neuroimaging) taken by the Brain & Spine Institute represents a vital and dynamic advance in research.

Requirements :

The ideal Post-Doc candidate is expected to have a robust academic and science background and previous experience in the study of structural neuroimaging markers of AD. Candidates demonstrating competencies on structural and functional MRI methods, knowledge and experience with MRI-related data analysis packages (SPM, Matlab, Freesurfer), statistical softwares (e.g., SPSS or R) will have a strong advantage. The candidate has to be fluent both in written and spoken English.

The position is expected to begin December 15^th, 2015. Applications should include a full Curriculum Vitae. Applications together with all documents, should be submitted electronically to: [log in to unmask] with reference to “Post-Doc position" in the E-mail header. Applications must be received within the 30th of october 2015.