About the Project
Uveal melanoma is the most common primary cancer of the eye and its prognosis is strongly influenced by the occurrence of metastasis, which are both rapidly developing and mostly fatal. Uveal melanoma has been linked to a handful of somatic mutations, which are largely specific for this tumor type. The mechanisms through which these mutations cause, or cooperate in, uveal melanoma development are still under intense scrutiny, but the lack of suitable animal models impedes progresses. In this proposal we would like to address the roles of these mutations in the induction and progression of uveal melanoma by generating zebrafish models, which express the human mutant genes in uveal melanocytes.. The models will be used for:
a) studying the effects of these mutations on the functions of the encoded proteins in the context of uveal melanoma;
b) investigating the signaling pathways and cellular responses affected by specific mutations;
c) testing the role of additional mutations/genetic alterations discovered in UM patients.
d) predicting suitable therapeutics.
The ideal candidate should have a master in Biotechnology or similar fields. Should be highly motivated towards medical research studies, interested in cancer biology and be able to develop the project as an independent researcher. Expertise in molecular cloning and imaging would be highly beneficial to the project.
The project will be carried out in the laboratory of Experimental Cancer Biology at CIBIO (http://www.cibio.unitn.it/465/laboratory-of-experimental-cancer-biology)
Principal Investigator: prof. Maria Caterina Mione
Funding Notes
Applications are accepted regardless of gender, age and nationality, provided their eligibility by possessing a Master's degree valid for admission to a PhD studies.
Applications are also accepted from students expecting to obtain the required degree by October 31st, 2016.
Applicants will undergo a public selection to be admitted to the PhD Program in Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Trento, Italy. Only application on-line at http://www.unitn.it/en/ateneo/1961/announcement-of-selection will be accepted
References
1. Alghisi E, Distel M, Malagola M, Anelli V, Santoriello C, Herwig L, Krudewig A, Henkel C, Russo D, Mione MC*
Targeting oncogene expression to endothelial cells induces proliferation of the myeloerythroid lineage by repressing the notch
pathway.
Leukemia, 2013, 27(11):2229- 41
2. Francia S, Michelini F, Saxena A, Tang D, de Hoon M, Anelli V, Mione M,
Carninci P, ;Adda di Fagagna
F. Site-specific DICER and DROSHA RNA products control the DNAdamage response.
Nature. 2012 Aug 9;488(7410):231-5
3. York AG, Parekh SH, Nogare DD, Fischer RS, Temprine K, Mione M, Chitnis AB, Combs CA, Shroff H.
Resolution doubling in live, multicellular organisms via multifocal structured illumination microscopy.
Nat Methods. 2012 May 13;9(7):749-54.
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