Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund funded PhD: Does Cancer Cell integrin avb8 promote pancreatic adenocarcinoma and represent a novel therapeutic target?

We are looking for a very ambitious, hard-working science graduate with, or who is expecting to achieve, at least an upper second class honours degree in a relevant biological subject for this project involving the study of integrins as a potential therapeutic target for therapy of pancreatic cancer. The successful candidate will have had significant laboratory experience.

The project will commence in June 2018 and has funding for 3 years. The student will be based primarily at the Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), Charterhouse Square in the City of London.

Project Outline:
Integrins are molecules on the surface of all nucleated cells in the body that integrate the intracellular environment with the extracellular environment. They serve as bidirectional signalling molecules that modulate cell behaviour that allows cells to survive, migrate and invade. Cancers often utilise integrins to aid their progression and several are considered potential therapeutic targets.

We have identified a poorly studied integrin that is expressed on pancreatic cancer. This largely incurable disease kills 95% of people diagnosed with it within 5 years and thus we need to understand this disease better in order to develop effective treatments. In this study we will establish how this integrin affects the biological behaviour of pancreatic cancer cells as it may represent a valuable therapeutic target.

For details on how to apply, please visit our website:
https://www.bci.qmul.ac.uk/en/study-with-us/postgraduate-research/phd-studentship-pancreatic-cancer