PhD position: Impact of paediatric critical illness on development into puberty, adolescence and young adulthood

The Intensive Care Medicine Research Group is part of the department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Leuven (Belgium). We are a highly successful, multidisciplinary, translational basic/clinical research team that combines a research laboratory with a large intensive care unit (ICU). This unique combination allows effective cross-talk between knowledge generated from patient studies and from animal and molecular studies in the laboratory. Our research focuses on critical illness, which is any disease state in which the function of one or more organ systems is impaired to the extent that the patient would die shortly when not receiving intensive medical care in the ICU to support the failing organs. Our overall objective is to unravel key pathways involved in critical illness-induced organ failure and long-term debilitating consequences after critical illness that may persist up to years after hospital discharge.
Critical illness in children occurs at a time in their life when normally they develop, grow and mature. Consequently, these crucial developmental processes can be disturbed so that these children often survive with multi-domain health sequelae, summarised as “post-intensive care syndrome in children” or PICS-p. The focus of earlier studies on PICS-p was on childhood problems. However, the later impact of critical illness on the further development into puberty, adolescence and young adulthood remains unclear, meaning that any detrimental health consequences hereof beyond childhood are missed. Thorough characterisation of all milestones throughout development, with identification of (modifiable) risk factors and underlying mechanisms of developmental impairments opens perspectives for major progress towards prevention and/or early detection of specific somatic, psychological and psychiatric morbidity in a targeted population, while avoiding unnecessary follow-up of patients who are unlikely to develop such long-term problems.
Website unit

Project

Profile

• We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, critical, and creative Medical Doctor (you have or will obtain this degree in 2024) with strong interest in paediatrics.
• You are interested in scientific research and like to work with young people.
• You have good social and communicative skills, both towards the participants in the study and your colleagues.
• You are a good team player, but can also work independently.
• You are punctual in collecting and reporting of research data.
• You are prepared to do house calls, have a driving license B and have a car.
• You have solid knowledge of Dutch, French and English.

Offer

Interested?

For more information, please contact Prof. Dr. Ilse Vanhorebeek, tel.: +32 16 33 05 32, email: ilse.vanhorebeek@kuleuven.be; Prof. Dr. Jan Gunst, tel.: +32 16 34 40 21, email jan.gunst@kuleuven.be or Dr. An Jacobs, +32 16 34 38 40, email an.jacobs@uzleuven.be.

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.