PhD: Metabolic Modulation in Mechanical Circulatory Support

This position is available in the Laboratory of Intensive Care Medicine, within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at KU Leuven. Our group combines a research laboratory with a large Intensive Care Unit (67 beds, > 2600 admissions/year), providing an excellent environment for translational research in critical illness.

Project

Patients requiring Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) represent one of the most vulnerable populations in (cardiac) intensive care. Cardiogenic shock remains associated with very high short-term mortality despite increasing use of modern MCS strategies, and acute brain injury is a major contributor to poor outcome in this population. The project therefore will investigate specific metabolic interventions that may both improve cardiac function and provide brain protection in patients requiring MCS.

The PhD student will work at the interface of bedside clinical research, advanced cardiovascular and neuro m...