Overview
The Cancer Research UK London Research Institute (LRI) invites talented and motivated final year undergraduates or recent graduates to apply for a four-year PhD studentship for a multi-disciplinary project in the Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, headed by Dominique Bonnet.
Whereas it was previously believed that most or all cancer cells possess the property to self renew and replenish new cancer cells, it has recently become clear that cancers, as most normal tissues, are organized in a hierarchical fashion, and that only a small fraction of tumour cells have the ability to reconstitute a new tumour (1). The existence of such cancer stem cells (CSCs) with self-renewal potential was first documented in leukaemias (2), but has been extended now to solid tumours (3). As these CSCs are both required and sufficient to reconstitute a new tumour, they have immediate and important clinical implications. Thus, it has become evident, that CSCs might prove not only to be the most important but also difficult cancer cells to eliminate with conventional therapies, and that a specific monitoring and targeting of the elusive CSCs could become an important tool towards identification and characterization of improved cellular and molecular targets for development of improved cancer therapies.
A number of regulatory molecules such as Wnt/beta catenin; Bmi-1, Gfi-1, Notch have been implicated in the maintenance of the self-renewal of mouse HSC. At present nothing is known about their roles in the regulation of normal HSC and LSC. This project will aim at addressing the role of known regulatory pathways on normal and LSC.
This project will involve:
• Cloning the specific regulatory molecules in lentivirus vectors,
• Transducing both normal and/or leukaemic stem cells
• Functional studies using both in vitro and in vivo assays
• Gene profiling using microarray analysis
The successful applicant will be based in our Lincoln's Inn Fields laboratories (Central London), which are well-resourced and benefit from state-of-the-art equipment and scientific services. Our postgraduate students enjoy a supportive environment, challenging projects and tailored training in transferable and generic skills, which enable them to develop as independent scientists with good career prospects.
The PhD studentship will be available from 13th September 2010 with a stipend of £19,100 for the first year, and annual increases thereafter.
References:
1) Reya T., Morrison S.J., Clarke M.F., Weissman I.L. (2001). Nature, 414: 105.
2) Bonnet D, Dick JE. (1997). Nat. Med., 3:730.
3) Al-Hajj M., Wicha M.S., et al. (2003). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., 100, 3983.
Further Information
More information on the LRI and its PhD student programme can be found here: http://www.london-research-institute.org.uk/
Information about the Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory can be found here: http://science.cancerresearchuk.org/research/loc/london/lifch/bonnetd/?view=LRI
How to apply
Applicants should hold or expect to gain a first/upper second-class honours degree or equivalent and have laboratory research experience (either as part of or outside of a university degree course). Experience of working with stem cells and/or lentivirus vector construction in a research laboratory setting is highly desirable.
For an application form, or more information, please contact: LRIstudentships@cancer.org.uk quoting "HSC PhD Studentship" in the header field.
Application Deadline: 9th April 2010
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this opportunity
The Cancer Research UK London Research Institute (LRI) invites talented and motivated final year undergraduates or recent graduates to apply for a four-year PhD studentship for a multi-disciplinary project in the Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, headed by Dominique Bonnet.
Whereas it was previously believed that most or all cancer cells possess the property to self renew and replenish new cancer cells, it has recently become clear that cancers, as most normal tissues, are organized in a hierarchical fashion, and that only a small fraction of tumour cells have the ability to reconstitute a new tumour (1). The existence of such cancer stem cells (CSCs) with self-renewal potential was first documented in leukaemias (2), but has been extended now to solid tumours (3). As these CSCs are both required and sufficient to reconstitute a new tumour, they have immediate and important clinical implications. Thus, it has become evident, that CSCs might prove not only to be the most important but also difficult cancer cells to eliminate with conventional therapies, and that a specific monitoring and targeting of the elusive CSCs could become an important tool towards identification and characterization of improved cellular and molecular targets for development of improved cancer therapies.
A number of regulatory molecules such as Wnt/beta catenin; Bmi-1, Gfi-1, Notch have been implicated in the maintenance of the self-renewal of mouse HSC. At present nothing is known about their roles in the regulation of normal HSC and LSC. This project will aim at addressing the role of known regulatory pathways on normal and LSC.
This project will involve:
• Cloning the specific regulatory molecules in lentivirus vectors,
• Transducing both normal and/or leukaemic stem cells
• Functional studies using both in vitro and in vivo assays
• Gene profiling using microarray analysis
The successful applicant will be based in our Lincoln's Inn Fields laboratories (Central London), which are well-resourced and benefit from state-of-the-art equipment and scientific services. Our postgraduate students enjoy a supportive environment, challenging projects and tailored training in transferable and generic skills, which enable them to develop as independent scientists with good career prospects.
The PhD studentship will be available from 13th September 2010 with a stipend of £19,100 for the first year, and annual increases thereafter.
References:
1) Reya T., Morrison S.J., Clarke M.F., Weissman I.L. (2001). Nature, 414: 105.
2) Bonnet D, Dick JE. (1997). Nat. Med., 3:730.
3) Al-Hajj M., Wicha M.S., et al. (2003). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., 100, 3983.
Further Information
More information on the LRI and its PhD student programme can be found here: http://www.london-research-institute.org.uk/
Information about the Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory can be found here: http://science.cancerresearchuk.org/research/loc/london/lifch/bonnetd/?view=LRI
How to apply
Applicants should hold or expect to gain a first/upper second-class honours degree or equivalent and have laboratory research experience (either as part of or outside of a university degree course). Experience of working with stem cells and/or lentivirus vector construction in a research laboratory setting is highly desirable.
For an application form, or more information, please contact: LRIstudentships@cancer.org.uk quoting "HSC PhD Studentship" in the header field.
Application Deadline: 9th April 2010
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this opportunity
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