JOBS
THE PROJECT
In 2035, cancer will have become the leading cause of death in the EU. Therapy resistance is a key contributor to high recurrence rates, morbidity, and mortality. Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the most common type of esophageal cancer in the Western world, and a prime example of a cancer that is highly resistant to therapy. Despite recent developments of treatment strategies, long-term survival remains low. Prominent factors that contribute to the poor outcome of EAC are a high degree of acquired resistance, and heterogeneous responses to therapies. Additionally, to improve EAC treatment outcome, molecular and cellular mechanisms of resistance need to be further understood.
The PRESSURE consortium brings together expert groups from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Czech Republic, France, and Denmark, to address key challenges that preclude the effective treatment of EAC: A consensus treatment in the EU based on real-world efficacy data is lacking. Establishing such data and unified treatment will avoid the detrimental effects of some therapies. Likewise, the current fragmentation of expertise and tools across Europe prevents an effective development of new approaches. PRESSURE members have independently amassed a wealth of samples, disease models, clinical data, scientific know-how, and cutting-edge technologies. In the consortium, these elements will be joined to develop novel and optimized treatment strategies and diagnostics. We will employ 10 researchers to address these scientific challenges by performing research in academic and industrial groups, and by doing so receive exhaustive training across relevant disciplines and sectors.
POSITIONS OFFERED
Nine PhD position are currently offered, of which one will start November 2023, and eight on February 2024. A tenth position starting on November 2024 will be posted at a later moment. The offered individual research projects are biomedical, epidemiological, and biophysical in nature. Below are listed descriptions of the available positions, also stating candidate requirements, and planned secondments to other consortium members.
Note that the MSCA-ITN mobility clause applies; the applicant may not have spent 12 months or more in the past 3 years in the country where the position is offered. Candidates may not already hold a doctoral degree. Candidate must be eligible to work according to your host country’s regulations (for instance visa requirements), and to work in other European countries for secondments and meetings.
SELECTION PROCESS
Please submit your application until November 1st. Note that your application may be forwarded to other Beneficiaries in the consortium.
Please include the following documents:
- Letter of motivation/research statement (1-2 pages). This should include a description of past work, but also a vision on how you see yourself fit in the consortium and the position you are applying for.
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Contact information for 2-3 references
WORK LOCATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS
HOST: React4Life, Genoa, Italy
SUPERVISORS: dr. Silvia Scaglione (s.scaglione@react4life.com) and Elisabetta Palama’ (e.palama@react4life.com)
DURATION: 36 months, starting November 2024
PROFILE: A candidate with a Master’s degree in life sciences, other (bio)medical sciences, or related, with strong English communication skills. Proficiency in cell culturing skills are a plus.
DESCRIPTION: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cells quickly develop resistance to therapy, necessitating a deeper understanding of these mechanisms. This research project focuses on the adoption of novel organ-on-chip (OOC) platforms to culture tumor cells in matrix-based 3D structures mimicking the tumor microenvironment.
The researcher will set up the 3D dynamic culture of human cancer model enriched with the immune component. Different fluid flow dynamic conditions will be set up, different matrices resembling the tumor microenvironment will be tested for culturing human cancer cells. In the context of immune-cancer cells cross-talk, the researcher will evaluate immune cells infiltration and activation, by measuring specific biomarkers, and tumor cells death, by using microscopic and cytofluorimetric analysis.
Additionally, this research project will focus on the efficacy testing of novel therapeutic approaches and repurposed drugs, investigated by other PRESSURE partners. The researcher will integrate heterogenous cell culture readouts, in terms of tumor cells viability, immune cells infiltration into tumor models, and tumor cell apoptosis induced by drugs. The obtained results in pre-clinical studies could lead to the development of innovative antitumor therapies for the treatment of esophageal adenocarcinoma and gastric cancer patients.
The ultimate goal is to validate a novel in vitro experimental method, alternative to animal models, enabling to better understand mechanisms behind tumor progression and drug resistance.
As part of the project, the doctoral candidate will intern at Univ. Amsterdam (2 months, supervisor supervisor Maarten Bijlsma) and the Stichting VUmc, dep. Medical Oncology (Italy, 2 months, supervisor Sarah Derks).
