Introduction of 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine (Gardasil9®): Characterisation of dose and age factors affecting early immune responses and their long-term serological protection

Background
We will be conducting a clinical trial of the 9-valent HPV vaccine (Gardasil9®) which will compare the immune responses to a 1st and subsequent doses of the vaccine in 3 ages groups (4-8 year-olds, 9-14 year olds and 15-26 year-olds). There is significant global interest in the use of 1 dose HPV vaccine schedules to facilitate vaccine rollout, particularly in low and middle income countries, and a number of clinical trials and other studies are currently investigating one dose regimens.

Within a sub-study of the main trial, we aim to more fully characterise the early immune responses to the vaccine at a cellular level and transcriptional level and to investigate other factors including HLA type which may influence the long terms protection HPV vaccines generate.

Objectives
This PhD will characterise the early innate, plasma call and memory B-cell responses following one and subsequent doses of an HPV vaccine in a subset in females in the different age groups enrolled into the main trial and relate these responses to the magnitude and duration of the subsequent serological response to the vaccine.

According the interests and skills of the successful candidate the associations between HLA type and serological responses will also be examined in the entire cohort

Understanding the factors determining the long term serological protection the HPV vaccines generate is expected influence vaccine scheduling decisions and future HPV vaccine development

Requirements
- MSc in biomedical sciences, immunology, infectious diseases or microbiology with at least 2 years-experience in laboratory research
or
- BSc 1st class honours in biomedical sciences, or Infectious Diseases with at least 3 years- experience in supporting laboratory research work
or
- Medical degree with at least 3 years in supporting clinical trials or laboratory research
Additional experience of bioinformatics and/or statistical analysis using appropriate statistical packages may be an asset

Supervisors
Director of Studies: Dr Ed Clarke, MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM [Email Address Removed]
Co-Supervisors: Professor Beate Kampmann, MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM
Dr Sophie Roetynck, MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM
Professor Martin Holland, LSHTM, UK
Dr Harry Pickering. LSHTM, UK

Applications
Deadline for applications: 13th August 2018. Candidates are required to submit completed application forms with supporting documents by email to [Email Address Removed]. Only short listed candidates will be contacted