Marjo van der Knaap

The Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center at Amsterdam UMC is offering a four-year PhD position on Vanishing White Matter (VWM), a severe inherited disorder that affects the brain’s white matter. The project is embedded in a highly specialized, internationally recognized research environment focused on leukodystrophies, with expertise spanning clinical symptoms, neuropsychological effects, MRI, genetics, neuropathology, and molecular and cellular disease mechanisms. The doctoral researcher will work on the clinical aspects and biomarkers of VWM with the aim of improving diagnosis, prognosis, and patient guidance, as well as identifying possible outcome measures for clinical trials. A major strength of the project is the center’s large international patient registry, which captures the natural course of the disease and supports ongoing and upcoming international therapeutic studies. The student will analyze international patient data, examine biomarker results from body fluids, and contribute to work that informs both disease understanding and trial readiness. The project is closely connected to the VWM Expert Consortium and involves collaboration with international colleagues. The PhD candidate will work alongside a research data manager who is involved in the registry, and will be part of a multidisciplinary team including pediatric neurologists, neuropathologists, biologists, analysts, PhD candidates, and students. The position is based within the Department of Pediatric Neurology at Amsterdam UMC, offering a professional research setting with opportunities for personal and scientific development, training, and courses through ONWAR. This project is centered on improving care and research for patients with VWM through international data collection, biomarker analysis, and collaborative clinical research.