Immunotherapy has demonstrated impressive anti-tumor effects in subgroups of patients. However, ultimately most patients develop progressive disease due to therapy resistance. Deprivation of oxygen, or hypoxia, is a common feature of solid tumors and it plays a key role in this therapy resistance. Therefore, novel approaches to kill hypoxic tumor cells are urgently needed.

In this project, funded by a VIDI grant in the NWO talent programme, we will develop agents that bind to hypoxic cells for application in targeted radionuclide therapy. The agents will be labeled with radionuclides that are suitable for imaging (Zr-89 and In-111) or therapy (Ac-225, Pb-212 and Lu-177). We will assess their cell binding properties to hypoxic tumor cells in vitro. Furthermore, tumor-targeting properties, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics will be determined in tumor-bearing mice. Dosimetric models will be developed based on imaging and biodistribution data, to determine the radiation dose that is needed to kill hypoxic cancer cells. In therapy experiments, we will determine therapeutic efficacy and toxicity, and effects of the therapy on tumor biology such as immune cell infiltration and metabolism. At last, we will demonstrate efficacy of targeted radionuclide therapy in combination with immunotherapy.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Design and perform scientific research with radiolabeled CAIX-targeting agents (radiolabeling, in vitro cell binding experiments, animal experiments, pharmacokinetic modelling, and dosimetry calculations).
• Analyze scientific data.
• Write scientific publications and present findings at (inter)national scientific meetings.
• Work in a team with other scientists and clinicians to plan, discuss, and perform research in a stimulating research environment.

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate who is strongly motivated to successfully complete a PhD. You have well-developed communicational and social skills directed towards working in a team.

Furthermore:

• Masters degree in (Medical) Biology, Biomedical sciences, Molecular life sciences, or equivalent.
• Permit to work with laboratory animals (or willing to obtain this permit).
• Permit to work with radioactivity (or willing to obtain this permit).

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Working at Radboud university medical center means that you are ahead of the curve and working together on the healthcare of the future. And there is more. Our secondary terms of employment are impressive. These are fully tailored to you thanks to our Employment Conditions Selection Model. At Radboud university medical center, you will be given trust, and you will take the responsibility to handle everything together. We provide annual courses, both professional and personal.

• In addition to your monthly salary and an annual vacation allowance of 8%, you will receive an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• If you work irregular hours, you will receive an allowance.
• As a full-time employee (36 hours per week), you are entitled to approximately 168 vacation hours (over 23 days) per year.
• Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. You pay the rest of the premium with your gross salary.
• You get a discount on health insurance as well: you can take advantage of two group health insurance plans. UMC Zorgverzekering and CZ collectief.

In addition to our terms of employment, we also offer employees various other attractive facilities, such as childcare and sports facilities. Want to learn more? Take a look at the Cao UMC.

Radboudumc

Working at the Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Anatomy. The Department of Medical Imaging has a long-standing research line on the development and application of radiolabeled tracers for imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy. Within the department, there is a strong focus on translational research by collaborations between basic scientists and clinical researchers. The department has excellent research facilities, including level B radionuclide laboratories and a preclinical imaging center (PRIME) with state-of-the art imaging facilities including microPET/CT, microSPECT/CT, IVIS fluorescence/bioluminescence, and small-bore high-field MRI. The research group consists of approximately 25 researchers, including senior scientists, PhD students, medical doctors, and research technicians.

Research Institutes
At the moment there are more than 1,300 PhD candidates at our medical hospital. This number includes PhD candidates on our pay roll as well as external candidates (those employed somewhere else but researching on our premises).

• Radboud Institute for Health Sciences: ± 700
• Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences: ± 400
• Donders Center for Medical Neurosciences: ± 200

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Radboudumc
Radboud university medical center is a university medical center for patient care, scientific research, and education in Nijmegen. Radboud university medical center strives to be at the forefront of shaping the healthcare of the future. We do this in a person-centered and innovative way, and in close collaboration with our network. We want to have a significant impact on healthcare. We want to improve with each passing day, continuously working towards better healthcare, research, and education. And gaining a better understanding of how diseases arise and how we can prevent, treat, and cure them, day in and day out. This way, every patient always receives the best healthcare, now and in the future. Because that is why we do what we do.

Read more about our strategy and what working at Radboud university medical center means. Our colleagues would be happy to tell you about it. #weareradboudumc