Inhibiting hnRNPA1 to promote an immune response against osteosarcoma

An opportunity has arisen for a 4-year PhD studentship within the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London funded by the Clement Wheeler-Bennett Trust.

The project expands on previous research published from the lab on FGF2 signalling through S6K2 and hnRNPA1 in cancer and focusses on the role of this pathway in regulating the immune response to osteosarcoma. In particular, the project will:

•          Determine the activity of the 6 identified hnRNPA1 inhibitors in osteosarcoma cells and screen additional derivatives

•          Test the ability of an S6K2 inhibitor to interfere with hnRNPA1’s functions in cells

•          Test the most promising compounds on the IFN-γ and immune response in vitro

•          Evaluate the very best compound in mouse models of osteosarcoma in combination with immunotherapy to determine its ability to help the immune system eliminate tumours.

This project will be run in collaboration with Dr Filippo Prischi (University of Essex), Prof Matthias Gehringer (Universität Tübingen, Germany) and Prof Dominique Heymann (University of Nantes, France).

Applicants must be EU nationals or have permanent leave to remain in the UK and should hold or expect to obtain a first or upper-second class honours degree or equivalent in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or Biochemistry. A Master’s degree in one of the above fields would be advantageous.

The annual stipend will be £ 18,000 tax-free.

Applicants should submit their CV and a covering letter, including full contact details of two referees, to Dr Olivier E Pardo ([Email Address Removed]). Imperial College PhD entry requirements must be met and the successful applicant will subsequently need to apply online. For further information please contact Dr Olivier E Pardo ([Email Address Removed], tel: 07946914196).