In this unique project you will assess normative and societal aspects regarding the use of iPSCs in combination with gene-editing technology and potential application of bioreactor-derived gene-corrected autologous stem cells for transplantation. Together with our User Committee, representing all stakeholder groups (donors, patients, clinicians, policymakers, regulatory bodies, general public) you examine the fragile balance between individual and collective interests within the ethical and legal boundaries of these evolving therapies and technologies.

We are looking for a PhD candidate Responsible Research & Innovation in the development of stem cell therapies for rare diseases

Embedding
This project is part of the large Consortium Programme TRACER ( treating hereditary anemias through stem cell research). A short summary of the TRACER programme:

The production or function of blood cells is impaired in a plethora of diseases presenting early in life such as congenital anemias, and blood formation also decreases upon aging. Blood transfusion is often the only therapeutic option, and stem cell transplantation the only curative treatment for severe anemias. Unfortunately, a lack of immune-matched cells often hampers these therapies. Incomplete knowledge of disease mechanisms, often due to scarce availability of patient-derived HSCs, impedes development of new therapies. Our multidisciplinary team aims to employ iPSCs to: 1) study disease mechanisms, 2) generate engraftable HSCs and 3) develop curative therapies. We will focus on mechanisms involved in congenital anemias, and on the production of mature blood cells and HSCs from gene-corrected iPSCs. Advanced single-cell analysis methods will delineate how HSCs are generated from iPSCs. Bioreactor technology will be applied to expand and differentiate iPSCs under controlled conditions. To ascertain maximal benefit, we will examine the ethical, legal and societal impact of these new technologies on patients, clinicians, policymakers, regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical enterprises and the general public.

More information on the TRACER programme and the consortium members can be found on our website www.tracer-consortium.info

Tasks
As a PhD candidate on this multidisciplinary scientific project, your tasks are to:

• Conduct a literature review and automated text analysis of traditional and social media articles and posts about iPSCs for biobanking, research, and as gene-edited products for transplantation;
• Conduct focus groups and obtain (expert) opinions of different stakeholder groups on the use, culturing, processing and editing of iPSCs for their personal lives or respective work fields;
• Administer a survey and vignette study of different scenarios about development and application of iPSC-derived products in combination with gene-editing technology among a representative sample of the general public;
• Organize meetings with the User Committee and other stakeholders; (fluency in Dutch is necessary)
• Organize dissemination and outreach activities with stakeholders and other interested parties.

The research team
This project is a collaboration between the department of Donor Studies at Sanquin Research and the department of Cell Biology at Erasmus MC.

The PhD candidate will probably be enrolled in the Graduate School of Social Sciences of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam with which the department of Donor Studies has a longstanding collaboration.

The department of Donor Studies is an internationally recognized center for high-quality (blood) donor research. Staff at the department consists of about 15 researchers, including 5 PhD students. The Erasmus MC Department of Cell Biology has ~100 researchers, including ~25 PhD students.

Profile of the candidate we are looking for

• You are highly motivated and have received excellent training in the social, behavioral or biomedical sciences, evidenced by an MSc degree, preferably in a Research Master program;
• You have outstanding organizational skills, and have the flexibility to work at different locations;
• You have excellent communication skills and are fluent in Dutch for data collection with different stakeholder groups and the ability to work in a team;
• You have experience and affinity with qualitative research methods, i.e., focus group discussions, scenario development, and some experience with survey research;
• Excellence in written and spoken English is required. The dissertation will consist of a series of journal articles in English.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

• Salary and employment conditions in accordance with CAO (collective bargaining agreement) Sanquin;
• A temporary appointment for a period of 4 years;
• A 36-hour-week;
• Reimbursement of travel expenses;
• Working hours will be determined on the basis of mutual agreement;
• 8,33% year-end;
• 201 vacation hours on the basis of full-time employment.