Post-Doctoral Fellow in Cancer Research

BACKGROUND

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) represents the most frequent leukemia in adults. Despite recent advances in treatments, CLL remains a deadly incurable disease. This cancer is characterized by an accumulation of abnormal, apoptosis resistant, B lymphocytes in the blood and lymphoid organs of the patients. CLL progression is highly dependent on complex interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment. We recently demonstrated that deregulation at the level of mRNA translation is an important feature of CLL, that can be targeted by specific therapy.

OBJECTIVES 

This project aims at better understanding the drivers of this aberrant mRNA translation and to characterize these aberrations in the immune cells of the leukemic microenvironment.

TRAINING AND RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

Tumor Stroma Interactions research group is a dynamic and multinational team whose current members originate from France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, UK, Indonesia, and Argentina. The group belongs to the Department of Cancer Research, whose research activities focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tumor progression using a wide range of cutting edge technologies, including genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, as well as in vitro and in vivo imaging modalities using state-of-the art animal models for cancer research. The post-doctoral researcher will work on a FNR CORE-funded project that aims to explore the mRNA translation as a therapeutic vulnerability in CLL and its microenvironment, and will be co-supervised by Dr. E. Moussay (PI) and Dr. J. Paggetti (PI). This is a collaborative project with Dr Pierre  Close (PI) from the University of Liège (GIGA, Belgium).

RECENT RELATED REFERENCES

Largeot et al., Inhibition of MYC translation through targeting of the newly identified PHB-eIF4F complex as therapeutic strategy in CLL.Blood 2023 Jun 29;141(26):3166-3183

Rapino et al., Codon-specific translation reprogramming promotes resistance to targeted therapy. Nature 2018 Jun;558(7711):605-609

KEY SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences or Immunology. Prior experience in cancer research would be an advantage.
• Experience in cell culture, biochemistry, molecular biology, imaging, flow-cytometry required. Mouse experimentation techniques would be an advantage.
• Excellent time management, rigor, perseverance, scientific creativity and originality, writing skills, sense of priority and ability to work with others.
• Fluency in English is mandatory.

GENDER EQUALITY

The LIH is an equal opportunities employer. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff. The LIH is attentive to gender representation among its leadership staff and aims to eliminate obstacles to the recruitment and promotion of female leaders and their career development.