POSTDOCTORAL POSITION

Stroke, Gene Expression, Blood-Brain Barrier

This position requires a Ph.D. or M.D. and a person with strong laboratory skills who is capable of relatively independent work. Our group discovered that insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are neurotrophic factors that can support axon regeneration and neuron survival in vitro and in vivo (Ishii, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86: 2898-2902, 1989; review, Ishii and Pu, Handbook of Exptl Pharmacology 134: 119-146, 1999). IGF receptors are on virtually all neurons, and IGFs can support a wide variety of CNS and PNS neurons. Reduced IGF gene expression is associated with clinical neurological disorders, and transgenic over-expressing mice can have enlarged brains.

IGFs are recently found to cross the blood-brain-barrier, and the risk of opening the skull to administer protein IGFs is averted (Pulford and Ishii, Endocrinology 142: 213-220, 2001). IGFs can prevent CNS injury by crossing the BBB (Pulford et al., Exptl Neurol 159: 114-123, 1999). The position is to investigate the effect of subcutaneously administered IGFs on stroke volume, cognitive behavior, immunocytochemistry, neurogenesis and gene expression. Other studies may include cloning and sequencing the carrier molecule that takes IGF up from blood into CSF. Experience with the rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion, gene cloning/molecular biology, and/or immunocytochemistry is preferred.

Fort Collins is a very pleasant community of approximately 115,000 persons situated 1 hour north of Denver near the beautiful Rocky Mountains. There are about 22,000 students at the university, and approximately 30 faculty members in an interactive neuroscience program. Areas of investigation include synaptic plasticity, stroke, diabetic neuropathy, learning/memory, ion channels, epilepsy, neuroendocrinology and other neurobiological problems using a variety of molecular, cellular and electrophysiological methods. The Biomedical Sciences Department has $5.1 M in extramural research grants. Applications will be reviewed beginning July 1, 2002 and continue until the position is filled. Send contact information for three references, full curriculum vitae, and reprints to: Dr. Douglas N. Ishii, Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80535. Email: dnishii@aurogen.com. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding affirmative action requirements in all programs. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services. In order to assist Colorado State University in meeting its affirmative action responsibilities, ethnic minorities, women and other protected class members are encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.