Combine advanced imaging and molecular biology to identify microRNA biomarkers of equine osteoarthritis. Supervisor(s): Dr S Taylor, Dr M Clinton Centre/Institute: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh Closing date: 17th May 2019 Applicants can apply here. Job Purpose The aim and focus of this project is to establish the suitability of miRNAs to be used as biomarkers of osteoarthritis (OA) of the equine distal interphalangeal joint. Objective one: Determine the basal levels of selected miRNAs (including miRNA 140-5p) in equine sera and synovial fluid collected from horses with distal interphalangeal osteoarthritis identified by low field MRI (figure 1), high field MRI and contrast enhanced CT with histological evidence (figure 2) of cartilage damage (n=10) compared to a control population (n=10). Objective two: Determine the effects of miRNA 140-5p agomir (double stranded miRNA mimic or agonist) on cell culture of equine chondrocytes harvested from normal and diseased distal interphalangeal joints in terms of COL2A1, MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5 gene expression. Evaluate the miRNA response of these normal and diseased chondrocytes when allogenic conditioned serum is applied in cell culture. Objective three: Experimentally validate miRNA:target interactions identified from rna-seq and miRNA target prediction programmes from objective 1 using cells from objective 2. Application deadline: Deadline: 17th May 2019 Applicants can apply here. Relevant links Applicants can apply here. Dr S Taylor Dr M Clinton College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine The Dick Vet Equine Hospital Edinburgh Imaging Facility Easter Bush Publication date 07 May, 2019
