Postdoctoral Researcher - Hereditary Cancer

Ref.: 24-019_R_CL

About the research group

We are a multidisciplinary research group working on Hereditary Cancer. Our work, whether clinical- or research-oriented, is focused on the improvement of healthcare of patients with a personal or a family history of cancer.

The overarching goal of our research activity is to gain insight into the molecular bases of hereditary cancer -with a particular interest in gastrointestinal cancer, Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Rare Tumor predisposing syndromes – to personalize risk assessment for patients and relatives, as well as to individualize management regarding follow-up, treatment, and prophylactic and preventive measures.

The group participates in international and national initiatives aimed to improve variant classification in hereditary cancer genes, define clinical guidelines for hereditary cancer patients, and implement genomic-based personalized medicine in the National Health System.

About the role

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a highly aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma type. Approximately half of MPNSTs develop sporadically and the other half develops in patients with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a cancer predisposition syndrome. MPNSTs affect both young people and adults and have a very bad prognostic due to its aggressiveness and metastatic potential. Compared with other soft-tissue sarcomas, MPNSTs have the highest risk of sarcoma-specific death. Complete resection with wide margins is the mainstay of therapy for MPNST but is not always feasible. Radio and chemotherapy provide very limited benefit and thus there is a clear need for effective treatments.

Our group has public-private collaboration with Oryzon Genomics within the MODERN-RETOS project (High throughput technologies and Models Optimized for the Discovery and target validation of new Epigenetic inhibitors foR the treatment of Neurological alterations). This project aims to use our preclinical platform of tumor-derived cell lines and Patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models to test new therapeutic approaches for MPNST, bridging basic, preclinical, and clinical research. The researcher work will also include the expansion of this preclinical platform to increase the number of available MPNST models, as well as the performing of precision medicine strategies in collaboration with clinicians.

The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in i) the generation of new in vitro/in vivo MPNST models using tumors from patients managed in the different participating clinical centers during the prospective course of this project; ii) the testing of treatments in cell models and MPNST-PDOX models from both sporadic and NF1-associated MPNSTs; iii) to test the suitability of using genomic information and avatar models to aid the treatment of patients developing MPNST relapses or metastasis in co-clinical pilot assays.

Job requirements

Professional experience

• Experience in public research
• Experience in collaborative projects with clinicians

Education and training

• PhD in Life Sciences or equivalent (essential)
• Certificate to use experimental animals in research

Technical & soft skills

• Advanced technical skills in laboratory work
• Advanced skills in cell culturing
• Advance skills in animal experimentation
• Competences: planning and organizational skills, communication, proactivity, problem-solving, teamwork

Languages

• Good command of the English language

We will value, but not required

• Experience in human genetics and molecular biology (including cancer biology)
  
• Co-authorship in communications to meetings and publications
  
• Previous experience in the NF1 and MPNST field
  
• Usage of Graphpad and programs for the calculation of synergism (CompuSyn)
  
• Experience in in vitro and in vivo preclinical trials
  
• Experience in the usage of image processing program like ImageJ

What do we offer

• No. of positions: 1

• Estimated start date: 01/04/2024

• Contract duration: 18 months

• Estimated annual gross salary: According to IDIBELL salaries and candidate experience
  
  

• You will be part of a multicultural team. We have a fun loving and friendly international work environment.

• Flexible working schedule - We know you have a life outside of work and we will work with you to make sure it's kept that way.
  
  

• Possibility to work some days in remote - Teleworking

• 26 working days of holiday per year

• System of accumulated hours for employees, from 88 to 104 hours depending on the year (11 to 13 working days), to attend to personal matters.

• Paid leave package

• Benefits of constant training are offered

• We offer and promote diverse and inclusive conditions. Applicants are made free from any discrimination. Specifically IDIBELL works to improve gender equality in all areas with the aim of achieving gender balance, but maintaining the most scrupulous respect to any choice at the level of gender identity. Please express yourself freely, safely and non-binarily, if that's the case.
  

Deadline: Please submit your application by 25/02/2024

Data protection notice

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Our institute

IDIBELL is a research center that integrates the biomedical research of the Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), and the University of Barcelona in the Bellvitge Campus (UB), and the Viladecans Hospital (HV). The research focuses of IDIBELL are cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. Research, innovation and society are the pivots on which researchers work every day in order to improve the quality of life of citizens.

Observations

The 'HR Excellence in Research' award represents IDIBELL’s commitment to the implementation of Human Resources policies, which oversee the attracting and development of talent in an open, transparent, and based on personal merit, in alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment Researchers (Charter and Code).