ppSchool of Pharmacy, University of Granada CIBERehd /p pOrganisation / Company University of Granada Department Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2 Laboratory School of Pharmacy, University of Granada CIBERehd Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No /p pbMSCA-PF: Joint application at the University of Granada. Department ofBiochemistry and Molecular Biology 2. /b /p pbProfessor Olga Martínez Augustin /b, from the bDepartment ofBiochemistry and Molecular Biology 2 /b at the bUniversity of Granada /b, welcomes postdoctoral candidatesinterested inapplying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF)in 2026 at this University. Please note that applicants must comply with the Mobility Rule (for more information about the 2026 call, please consult this link ) . /p pbBrief description of the institution: /b /p pThe University of Granada (UGR), founded in 1531, is one of the largest and most important universities in Spain.With more than 57,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and almost 7,000 members of staff, the UGR offers 97 undergraduate degrees, 157 master’s degrees (7 of which are double degrees) and 28 doctoral programmes via its 124 departments and nearly 50 centers. Accordingly, the UGR offers one of the most extensive and diverse ranges of higher education programmes in Spain. /p pThe UGR has been awarded with the "Human Resources Excellence in Research (HRS4R)", which reflectsthe institution’s commitment to continuously improve its human resource policies in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.The UGR is also internationally renowned for its excellence in diverse research fields and ranked among the top Spanish universities in a variety of ranking criteria, such as national RD projects, fellowships awarded, publications, and international funding. /p pThe UGR is one of the few Spanish Universities listed in the bShanghai Top 500 ranking - Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) /b. The 2025 edition of the ARWU places the UGR in 301-400th position in the world and as the 3-8 highest ranked University in Spain, reaffirming its position as an institution at the forefront of national and international research. From the perspective of specialist areas in the ARWU rankings , the UGR is outstanding in Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence and Dentistry Oral Sciences (ranked between 51th-75th position), Computer Science Engineering, Education and Hospitality Tourism Management (between 76-100th position), and in the areas of Food Science Technology and Business Administration (between 101-150th position). A little lower in the ranking, the UGR also stands out in the areas of Earth Sciences, Law, Management, Nursing, Psychology and Statistics, in which the UGR is positioned in the 151-200th position. /p pInternationally,



the University of Granada is firmly committed to its participation in the calls of the Framework Programme of the European Union. For the duration of the prevoius Framework Programme, bHorizon 2020 /b, the UGR obtained a totalofb124 projects /bwith a total funding of more thanb€30 million /b.For the current Framework Programme, bHorizon Europe /b, the UGR has obtainedb136 projects /b, so far, with a total funding of more thanb€38 million /b. /p pbBrief description of the Centre/Research Group: /b /p pOur research group works in the field of pathophysiology (ion transport, alkaline phosphatase, inflammatory markers) and pharmacology (flavonoids, glycomacropeptide, oligosaccharides, bisphosphonates, corticosteroids) of inflammatory bowel disease and obesity/metabolic syndrome. Central to both is an alteration of the function of intestinal barrier, a fundamental element of intestinal homeostasis involved in inflammatory processes such as inflammatory bowel disease, but also many other intestinal and systemic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, acute pancreatitis, liver disease, sepsis, etc. /p pWe use various cellular models, including intestinal organoids, and animal models, such as KO mice for the intestinal epithelial glucocorticoid receptor Nr3c1 (developed by our group), haplodeficient mice for tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase ( Alpl ), immunodeficient mice Zucker rats, etc. The experimental techniques used include molecular techniques, FACS, immunohistochemistry, gene silencing, studies of electrolytic transport, metagenomics of fecal microbiota, pharmacogenomics, etc. /p pWe have received about 650,000 € in the last 5 years, coming mainly from competitive public projects but also from contracts with companies and projects financed by foundations. Our group is a member of the Center for Biomedical Research in the Liver and Digestive Diseases Network (CIBERehd), which brings together the most prestigious groups active in the research of gastroenterology in Spain. Our publications profile is available at /p pThe intestinal barrier function (IBF) can be defined as the ability of the intestine to provide adequate containment of microorganisms and molecules present in the lumen, while preserving the ability to absorb nutrients. The alteration of IBF has been related to a wide variety of disorders linked directly or indirectly to the intestine, including allergy, septic shock, inflammatory bowel disease or necrotizing enterocolitis. It has been hypothesized that it is possible to treat or prevent diseases derived from a defect in IBF by reinforcing it. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOS)



are the gold standard of functional oligosaccharides and present specific profiles. HMOS act as prebiotics, contribute to the maturation of the IBF and regulate the immune system. Therefore, effects on allergy, infection and intestinal inflammation have been described. Nevertheless, HMOS have not been available in high amounts so that only a few studies have tested them in animal models or in clinical trials. In addition, only a few studies have simultaneously assessed effects of different HMOS in a comparative fashion, and non prebiotic effects of these non absorbable oligosaccharides have been poorly studied. Finally, the molecular/mechanistic bases of the protective effects of HMOS against infections and allergy, and their modulatory effects on inflammation have not been studied in depth. This project aims to decipher the molecular bases of the functionality of HMOS. In particular, to deepen our understanding of the relationship between HMOS and the IBF to better prevent and/or treat highly prevalent systemic and intestinal diseases (allergy, sepsis and diseases that involve colitis). We will provide the basis for the development of new, scientifically supported foods. /p pOur starting hypothesis is that specific HMOS modulate the IBF, and that a concrete structure-activity relationship can be defined. To this end we will use five newly synthesized HMOS, commercially available in large quantities, whose structure is idoneous for structure-activity studies (2- fucosyllactose, lacto-N-tetraose, lacto-N-neotetraose, 6-sialyllactose and 3-sialyllactose). We have designed a set of experiments what will allow us to ascertain prebiotic and non-prebiotic effects of HMOS. We propose in vitro experiments using state of the art technologies including omics (conventional and single cell RNAseq and metagenomic analyses) and 3D tissue cultures (human intestinal organoids). Regulation of gene expression by HMOS in duodenum and colon human organoids will be assessed. In the case of colon organoids homogenates of HMOS fermented with feces of healthy children and children with inflammatory bowel disease and with food allergy will be studied. An ex vivo lymphocyte transformation test with peripheral blood mononuclear cells of food allergy patients has also been designed. Finally, we propose the use of germ-free mice and preclinical mouse models of sepsis and colitis. The results derived from our experiments will be integrated to characterize the mechanism of action of HMOS and their structure-activity relationship, as well as to design an HMOS formula that will also be tested. We count on the generous donation of HMOS by DSM-FIRMENICH that has expressed their interest in the results, ensuring transference to industry. We have also designed a dissemination plan that includes scientific aspects, but also the translation of basic information about HMOS to society. /p pbResearch Area: /b /p ulliLife Sciences (LIFE) /li /ul /p #J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 MSCA-PF: Joint application at the University of Granada. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2. (España)
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