Interested in Immunology and Immunotherapy? Join our team and exciting translational research program!

This project focuses on the clinical exploration of Natural killer (NK) cell therapy against Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Complete remission can be achieved in AML patients after treatment with intensive chemotherapy and/or hypomethylating agents with or without consolidation with allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, prognosis remains poor due to high relapse rates. Persistent minimal residual disease prior to transplant has been associated with increased relapse rates and decreased survival post-transplant. Therefore, novel therapies are needed to induce deeper remission before allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Allogeneic NK cell infusion following lymphodepleting chemotherapy is a new therapeutic approach for AML, which is well-tolerated and exerts promising anti-leukemic activity. To exploit allogeneic NK cells in cancer therapy, we have developed a GMP-compliant culture system capable of generating clinically applicable NK cell products with high purity and functionality from umbilical cord blood-derived hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC). Promisingly, our pre-clinical studies demonstrate that AML cells are highly susceptible for killing by HPC-NK cells. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that intravenous infusion of HPC-NK cells is safe and well-tolerated in poor-prognosis AML patients. In this project financed by KWF, we will explore HPC-NK cell transfer as a novel bridge-to-transplant therapy in refractory and relapsed AML patients. The objective is to evaluate safety, toxicity, efficacy and expansion of intravenously infused ex vivo-generated UCB-NK cells in patients with refractory/relapsed AML.

For this project we are looking for an enthusiastic technician, who in close collaboration with other team members will perform NK cell manufacturing in the GMP cleanroom facility, immunomonitoring studies, document and report research results and contribute to scientific publications.

Tasks and responsibilities
The technician:

• Contributes to the development of new knowledge within the context of the department's research program.
• Performs NK cell product manufacturing in the ATMP cleanroom facility.
• Performs environmental monitoring and equipment maintenance in ATMP cleanroom facility.
• Performs stability assays on NK cell therapy manufacturing reagents.
• Performs immunomonitoring studies on samples of patients treated with NK cell therapy.
• Performs independently advanced cellular immunological and flow cytometry assays.
• Presents and discusses data (written reports, team meetings).
• Translates research findings to methods, protocols and SOPs.

• Hlo degree .
• You can work independently, are pro-active, enthusiastic and a team-player.
• You have affinity with cell manufacturing in cleanrooms.
• You have affinity with cellular immunological assays.
• You have ample experience with (stem) cell isolation and culture, multicolor flow cytometry and cellular immunology techniques.
• You have affinity with high-dimensional flow cytometry data analyses.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year with possible extension.

Upon commencement of employment we require a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and there will be, depending on the type of job, a screening based on the provided cv. Radboud university medical center's HR Department will apply for this certificate on your behalf.

Read more about the Radboudumc employment conditions and what our International Office can do for you when moving to the Netherlands.

Radboudumc

The research project will be conducted in the Immunotherapy research group of the Laboratory of Hematology and the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

We focus on the characterization and modulation of immune reactions involved in the antitumor response against cancer. Our translational research program encompasses five intermingled themes:

1. Development of novel strategies to boost antitumor immunity for (hematological) malignancies.
2. Co-signaling pathways involved in tumor immune escape.
3. DC-based vaccination strategies against hematological cancers.
4. NK cell-based immunotherapy against leukemia, multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer.
5. CART cell-based immunotherapy.

Our research is embedded in the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences ( RIMLS ). The studies indicated in this vacancy will be performed in close collaboration with clinicians of the Department of Hematology. We provide a stimulating work environment within a group of enthusiastic non-clinical and clinical researchers and technicians with a strong national and international research network and track record.

Radboudumc
Radboudumc strives to be a leading developer of sustainable, innovative and affordable healthcare to improve the health and wellbeing of people and society in the Netherlands and beyond. This is the core of our mission: To have a significant impact on healthcare. To get a better picture of what this entails, check out our strategy.

Read more about what it means to work at Radboudumc and how you can do your part.