Phd Position

TheVall d'Hebron Research Institute
(VHIR) is a public sector institution that
promotes and develops the research,
innovation and biosanitary teaching of the
Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Through
the excellence of our research, we identify
problems of society and we contribute to
spread them around the world.

In April 2015, the **Vall d’Hebron**
**Research Institute (VHIR) **obtained
the recognition of the European
Commission **HR Excellence.**

This recognition proves that VHIR
endorses the general principles of the
European Charter for Researchers and
a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment
of Researchers **(Charter & Code)**.

**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**
**organization, regardless of gender,**
**civil status, family status, sexual**
**orientation, religion, age, disability**
**or race.**

**PhD Position**
**MSCA-COFUND-TOUCH programme (Neurovascular Diseases Research Group)**
**TOUCH **(“Towards the next generatiOn of excellent yoUng doctoral researchers on mental health by developing an
intersectoral & transdisciplinary approaCH”) is a new excellent **doctoral programme** led by the Universitat Autònoma de
providing a new dimension through highly interdisciplinary and intersectoral research while fulfilling all the principles of
Open Science and maintaining the highest research quality standards. UAB is the main Beneficiary and coordinator of
the programme **(12 doctoral positions offered)** together with 7 institutions from the Sphere UAB-CIE as Implementing
partners by recruiting, hosting, and training PhD students.

**Research Project description**:
PhD will investigate the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of Mixed Alzheimer’s disease (with cerebrovascular disease).

Data from numerous clinical-pathologic cohort studies have shown that mixed pathology, especially Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) pathology plus cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of dementia, particularly in older persons.
However, most in vivo biomarkers and clinical trials focus on one specific underlying pathology contributing to cognitive
impairment.

Our main aim in this project will be to deepen into the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of Mixed Alzheimer’s disease
(with cerebrovascular disease). In order to do so, we have generated a cohort of 200 consecutive patients with Typical
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (n=140) and Mixed AD with cerebrovascular disease (Mixed AD/CVD) (n=60) with full clinical
and neuropsychological and behavioral characterization at baseline and after 2-year follow-up. Biofluid (plasma and CSF)
and imaging (MRI) markers will be explored in this cohort (and other pure vascular dementia cohorts) to evaluate their
usefulness as diagnostic and prognostic markers.

In parallel, the contribution of the cerebrovascular pathology will be investigated in different in vivo AD models exhibiting
or not different grades of vascular pathology (APP23 and 5xFAD transgenic mouse lines). Our aim will be to characterize
the models in terms of neuroimaging (cerebral MRI, fMRI and DCE-MRI) in order to define those parameters related with
BBB disruption and the appearance of ischemic and hemorrhagic brain lesions associated with advanced age, among
other structural and functional parameters specifically altered when a significant alteration of the cerebrovasculature
occurs caused by the brain beta-amyloid deposition in vivo. The association of the most relevant neuroimaging features
with behavioral disfunction and with biological markers in body fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid or blood, will be
accurately explored.

TheVall d'Hebron Research Institute
(VHIR) is a public sector institution that
promotes and develops the research,
innovation and biosanitary teaching of the
Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Through
the excellence of our research, we identify
problems of society and we contribute to
spread them around the world.

In April 2015, the **Vall d’Hebron**
**Research Institute (VHIR) **obtained
the recognition of the European
Commission **HR Excellence.**

This recognition proves that VHIR
endorses the general principles of the
European Charter for Researchers and
a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment
of Researchers **(Charter & Code)**.

**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**
**organization, regardless of gender,**
**civil status, family status, sexual**
**orientation, religion, age, disability**
**or race.**

Please consult the guidelines for applicants for more details of the TOUCH doctoral programme: Guideline for
applicants

**Research group description**:
The Neurovascular Research Lab at VHIR is a translatio