UPDATE: The application of international students for this project closed 31/07/22. This is now open for AUSTRALIAN students only and will close 31/08/22.
Background
3D organoid model technologies have led to the development of innovative tools for precision medicine in cancer treatment. Yet, the lack of resemblance to native tumours, and the limited ability to produce organoids and test drugs in a high-throughput mode, have limited translation to practice. This project will progress organoid models by using advanced tissue engineering technologies and high-throughput 3D bioprinting to recreate ‘mini-tumours-in-a-dish’ from a patient’s own tumour cells, and study the effects of various components of the tumour microenvironment on drug response.
In better modelling the clinical context in vitro, drug candidates will be tested to better support personalised clinical decisions in breast cancer, the second most common cancer in women in Australia.
Research Activities
The project aims to develop novel preclinical models of breast cancer research and thus focus on the following three main research axes:
1) Develop new hydrogel systems for breast cancer 3D organoid culture and optimise printability on a high-throughput bioprinting platform.
2) Collect breast cancer tumour tissues from consented patients undergoing tumour resections in Brisbane and optimise tissue processing for bioprinting on the high-throughput platform. We will characterize the resulting bioengineered breast tumour organoids and do drug testing, to match the right patient with the right therapy.
3) Develop a tissue-engineered preclinical bone tumour microenvironment and co-culturing with breast tumour organoids to screen which patients exhibit high potential to metastasise to bone, informing whether progression to an incurable stage of the cancer may happen. Drug testing will further help to indicate which clinical drug regimen is best for patients with existing metastases.
Skills and Experience
Eligible candidates considered should be:
• Passionate about biomedical cancer research
• Self-motivated, able to plan and prioritise work to meet deadlines
• Able to take initiative and undertake complex problem-solving activities
• Able to work in a multidisciplinary team environment
• Interested in learning and utilising a large range of laboratory-based techniques merging dissimilar fields (biomaterials, tissue engineering, cancer research)
• Excellent in verbal and written communication skills
Eligibility details
Australian and international applicants are eligible to apply. International students must meet all entry requirements for QUT listed here https://www.qut.edu.au/research/study-with-us/how-to-apply#Step_1_Entry_requirements
Other requirements
• Masters of Science (Oncology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or similar), with a significant research component
• Laboratory experience
• Ability to work full-time
• Strong track record (minimum of one research publication in a scientific peer-reviewed journal)
What you receive
• A QUT Stipend Scholarship, tax exempt and indexed annually, $28,854 per annum for a period of 3 years will be provided to the successful applicant. You will also receive a $3,000 student allocation to travel to conferences.
• For international students, you will also receive a QUT Tuition Fee Waiver Scholarship.
• The opportunity to work in a world-class multidisciplinary institute https://www.tri.edu.au/translational-research-institute-australia and international team
• The opportunity to work in a REAL WORLD University (https://www.qut.edu.au/), named ‘Top Young University in Australia’ (https://www.qut.edu.au/news?id=165228).
• The opportunity to work in partnership with industrial partners and clinicians.
Your opportunity
We are seeking a full-time, highly motivated PhD candidate to perform cutting-edge research in bioengineered humanized models for bone metastatic cancer. The successful candidate will be working under the direct supervision of Dr Nathalie Bock, Principal Investigator and Group Leader of the Bone & Tumour Bioengineering group at QUT, and have access to a versatile international team of associate investigators (engineers, researchers, clinicians) that have extensive background in both basic, translational and clinical research.
During the course of this PhD, the candidate will drive a highly interdisciplinary project in the field of cancer research, by cross-fertilizing with the fields of tissue engineering, materials science and preclinical science, ultimately addressing a significant gap in metastatic bone cancer, an incurable condition. Via this project, the successful candidate will not only advance knowledge in breast cancer but will also develop novel state-of-the-art pre-clinical humanized platforms for cancer research in general. High-quality publications will be expected from this project (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abg2564). Travel to national and international conferences will be available to the successful candidate.
This project will be based at the picturesque Translational Research Institute (TRI) in Woolloongabba (QUT), which houses all the equipment and facilities required to perform this project. TRI is an Australian-first initiative of translational medical research located at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) campus and is a unique facility with a strong focus on translational cancer research that groups top researchers from the University of Queensland, QUT (IHBI), Mater Medical Research Institute and the PAH. The TRI building houses more than 500 researchers and comprises four floors of laboratories with first-class cell culture/analysis equipment and animal facilities
How to apply
Submit your application to [Email Address Removed] with the following subject: ‘PhD-AQIRFBPBCA-2022–Your Surname’ .
Your application must include:
• A cover letter by the applicant (maximum 2 pages)
• An up-to-date CV indicating previous lab experience and skills
• Full academic transcript
• Details of three referees (email addresses)
An interview will be organized should you be shortlisted.
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