Research Fellow (103618-1224)

Fixed Term Contract for 20 months

36.5 hours per week

Flexible start date March 2025

Stroke Association; Novel approaches for the treatment of ischaemic stroke

KEYWORDS:  – ischemic stroke, ATP, preclinical, neuroprotection,

What scientific question will you investigate?  / Outline of the project aims

An exciting opportunity is available to study a novel approach to the treatment of ischaemic stroke. Stroke deprives the brain of the substrates necessary to synthesise ATP, the cellular energy source. As a result, ATP levels decrease in the ischaemic brain initiating the pathological cascade that results in neuronal death. Moreover, the metabolites of ATP, such as adenosine, are lost from the brain into the circulation where they are no longer available for resynthesis into ATP. This prolongs the ATP deficit, worsening outcome, even after, and if, the blood supply to the brain is restored. We have pioneered an innovative approach to this brain bioenergetic crisis through providing the brain with ribose and adenine, two vital precursors of ATP, which the brain converts into ATP. Extensive in vitro validation and encouraging confirmatory results in an in vivo stroke model resulted in a project grant award from the Stroke Association to pursue ribose and adenine (RibAde) as a potential hyperacute point-of-care treatment for stroke, that could not only metabolically support the ischaemic brain, but may also increase chances for successful recanalization therapy.

The successful applicant will have a PhD or equivalent in neuroscience or a related discipline, will be familiar with the scientific literature pertaining to cerebral ischaemia and brain injury, and will have extensive experimental expertise in animal models of ischemic stroke.

You should either currently hold UK Home Office Personal License PILA-C or should be willing to undertake the course and hold this license prior to starting this role.

About the research group

The Frenguelli lab has a long track record of studying the release, role and replenishment of the purine molecules adenosine and ATP in the mammalian brain. Through these studies the lab has arrived at a potential treatment for stroke that will be tested in this project.

The Frenguelli lab is part of the Neuroscience Research Cluster in the School of Life Sciences at Warwick University. We are a diverse group of neuroscientists who study a variety of physiological and pathological process occurring in the nervous system. Through in silico, molecular, cellular and whole animal approaches, we investigate fundamental properties of synaptic transmission and plasticity, the influence of pathogenic proteins, and the impact and mechanisms of stress, pain and epilepsy.

The Frenguelli lab is located in the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB), a new £54m state-of-the-art research facility that combines cutting edge research infrastructure with award-winning architecture.

For more information about our lab visit https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/people/bfrenguelli/. 

Any requests for further information about the role can be directed to Bruno Frenguelli; b.g.frenguelli@warwick.ac.uk.

We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to present research finding at internal, local, national and international conferences.

Full details of the duties & selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the Apply button.