Immune and molecular biomarkers in a clinical trial of probiotic therapy in multiple sclerosis: a translational approach
VHIR is seeking an outstanding and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to apply for a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship and join the Clinical Neuroimmunology Research Group.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF)
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) are part of the Horizon Europe programme and support postdoctoral researchers in developing an original research and innovation project through international mobility.
The programme aims to strengthen researchers’ careers through excellent science, international collaboration and interdisciplinary experience, while fostering integration in both academic and non-academic environments. The MSCA-PF call is highly competitive and represents an excellent opportunity to attract international talent and support researchers in consolidating their scientific careers through an ambitious mobility-based fellowship.
The 2026 call closes on 09/09/2026 (17:00 Brussels time). For candidates applying to a European Postdoctoral Fellowship, the fellowship duration is from 12 to 24 months
Full eligibility details: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026
Background
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system, characterised by demyelination and immune dysregulation. Emerging evidence highlights the role of gut microbiota as a key environmental factor influencing MS pathogenesis, through its interaction with the immune system. Dysbiosis has been consistently described in MS patients and is associated with pro-inflammatory immune responses.
Preclinical studies, including those performed by our group, demonstrate that probiotic administration can modulate immune responses, reduce neuroinflammation, and improve disease severity in experimental models.
However, the mechanisms underlying these effects in humans remain insufficiently understood, particularly at the level of immunological and molecular biomarkers, which are critical for translating microbiota-based interventions into clinical practice.
Objective
The overall aim of this project is to characterise the immunological and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of probiotic administration in patients with MS.
Specific objectives include:
To assess the impact of probiotic treatment on immune cell subsets.
To quantify changes in serum biomarkers associated with neurodegeneration and inflammation.
To evaluate metabolic biomarkers (short-chain fatty acids) linked to microbiota activity.
To characterise changes in gut microbiota composition and explore its association with immune and molecular responses to treatment.
To integrate these data with clinical and imaging outcomes to identify biomarkers of treatment response.
Our Group
The researcher will join the Clinical Neuroimmunology Group at VHIR/Cemcat, led by Carmen Espejo Ruiz, an experienced investigator in MS pathogenesis, immunology, and biomarker discovery.
The group has strong expertise in:
Experimental model of MS (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE]).
Translational immunology and biomarker identification.
Clinical trials in MS, with access to large patient cohorts and biobanked samples.
The project benefits from a highly collaborative ecosystem including:
Clinical Trials Unit at Cemcat.
VHIR technological platforms (flow cytometry, SIMOA, statistics unit, biobank).
External collaborations for microbiota sequencing and metabolomics.
The postdoctoral researcher will lead the laboratory-based biomarker characterisation within an ongoing randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in MS.
The fellow will be responsible for:
Immunophenotyping using multi-parameter flow cytometry.
Quantification of molecular biomarkers (SIMOA, ELLA).
Integration and interpretation of biomarker data.
Microbiota analysis will be performed through external collaboration, allowing the fellow to focus on high-impact translational immunology and biomarker discovery.
The project is embedded in a multidisciplinary environment combining clinical neurology, immunology, and advanced biomarker platforms at VHIR.
Applicants must hold a PhD degree or have successfully defended their thesis before the call deadline (09/09/2026)
Applicants must comply with the mobility rule, meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work/studies) in the host country for more than 12 months during the 36 months prior to the call deadline.
Strong background in immunology and translational research.
Excellent command of English (spoken and written).
Experience in neuroimmunology or multiple sclerosis research.
Training in biomarker development.
Applicants must have a maximum of 8 years of postdoctoral research experience by the call deadline. This means candidates are generally eligible if they obtained their PhD on or after 10/09/2018 (possible extensions may apply, e.g. parental leave or long-term illness).
Hands-on experience in flow cytometry and immune profiling.
Experience in handling human biological samples (PBMCs, serum).
Data analysis and interpretation skills.
Experience with SIMOA/ELLA or similar biomarker platforms.
Experience integrating multi-modal datasets (clinical + molecular).
Deadline to apply: 31-07-2026
VHIR embraces Equality and Diversity. As reflected in our values we work toward ensuring inclusion and equal opportunity in recruitment, hiring, training, and management for all staff within the organisation, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, age, functional diversity or ethnicity.
Information on Personal Data Protection:
Data Controller: Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca -VHIR-. Purpose: Personnel selection. Legal Basis: Your consent. Data retention period: One year. If you are selected, as long as the employment relationship is in force and legal responsibilities may arise. Data sharing: Does not occur, except for communications necessary to fulfill the purpose and those required by law to public and private bodies. Rights: You can access, rectify, delete, object to, and limit the processing of data, as well as request data portability where applicable, by contacting lopd@vhir.org DPO: dpd@ticsalutsocial.cat More information can be found here
Data Protection Authority: APDCAT
We are a public sector institution that promotes and develops the biomedical research, innovation and teaching at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, the hospital of Barcelona and the largest of Catalan Institute of Health (ICS). The members of our Board of Trustees are the Catalan Ministry of Health, the Catalan Ministry of Economy and Knowledge (we are a CERCA center), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Bank of blood and tissues, the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), of which we are an accredited research institute, and the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), which together with VHIR is part of Accredited Institute of Campus Vall d’Hebron Institute by the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII).
Since its creation in 1994, VHIR works to find solutions to the health problems of society, and contribute to spread them around the world. In more than 20 years we have achieved leadership in biomedical research at hospitals in our country, and we want to be recognised in 2020 as an excellent and competitive European Institute leader in clinical and traslational research linked to a university hospital.
In our institute are working more than 1,300 people, of which over 1,200 doing research and others, around 100, help to do it or transfer it to the society once made, whether in the form of projects, technology transfer and innovation, communication or fundraising, among others.
The best of our institution and its research staff is doing research to solve people’s health problems. Our task is not only basic or translational, we are leaders in clinical research. We have the beds of the hospital separated in less than 50 meters of laboratories and our patients will benefit from our research. In this we believe, and our efforts are focused on it. This is understood by industry leaders who are committed to our hospital, making it a world reference for its first clinical trials.
