Are you interested in translation of Cellular Immune Therapies? For this project, we are looking for a motivated Senior Research Assistant with expertise and knowledge in cancer immunotherapy and genetic engineering of (immune) cells. Join our exciting CAR-NK therapy program and translational research team!

We offer a position for a Senior Research Assistant to set up and coordinate a long-term development plan and implement innovative engineering technologies. This project focuses on the development of a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliant platform for the generation of genetically engineered off-the-shelf allogeneic Natural killer (NK) cell therapy against ovarian carcinoma (OC). OC is the most lethal gynecological malignancy and is diagnosed in 1,400 patients in the Netherlands yearly. Due to a late diagnosis, most women relapse after treatment, resulting in a 5-year survival of only 28-46%. As women with relapsed or metastatic cancer have a dismal prognosis, there is an unmet need for new therapeutic strategies.

Chimeric antigen receptor engineered NK (CAR-NK)-cells provide an attractive source of effector cells for cancer immunotherapy. We have developed an unique GMP-compliant culture system for the off-the-shelf NK cell production from umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ stem and progenitor cells. Furthermore, we have developed genetic engineering with CARs targeting EOC-overexpressed antigens combined with transpresentation of IL15 tethered to IL15Ra to improve CAR-NK-expansion and anti-OC activity. Currently, we are preparing clinical phase I/II trials to investigate the safety and efficacy of our CAR-tIL15 NK cell products in relapsed OC patients.

You will work together with our research, manufacturing, clinical and regulatory team to build a long-term strategy plan with attention to logistical, business, health technology assessment and regulatory affairs planning. As Senior Research Assistant, you will be involved in arranging meetings, ICT management of documents and reports, costing analysis of the CAR-NK production, data analysis of manufacturing data by the quality-by-design approach and writing reports. In addition, you will be involved in the identification, development and implementation of enabling non-viral CRISPR/Cas engineering technologies in CAR-NK development.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contributing to the research and development of our CAR-NK program within the context of the department’s research program
• Setup up and coordinating costing analysis and document management system towards a common technical dossier for market authorization
• Setup database of research and manufacturing data
• Coordinates planning of project team meetings and writing reports
• Designs quality-by-design plan and analysis of CAR-NK production data
• Designs and implements enabling non-viral CRISPR/Cas engineering technologies in CAR-NK research
• Works in a team with non-clinical and clinical PhD students, technicians, scientist and pharmacist.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate with an interest in translating innovative cellular therapies to cancer patients. If you meet the following requirements and are interested in this position, we invite you to apply:

• You have a hbo or MSc degree in (medical)biology, biomedical sciences, life sciences, or other related fields.
• At least 3 years’ practical experience in cell therapy manufacturing and/or CRISPR/Cas engineering technologies, or have clear affinity with cell and gene therapy field.
• You work accurately, proactively and have a high sense of responsibility.
• You enjoy working in a dynamic and innovative environment.
• You have good organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team (consisting of scientists, pharmacists, QA and RA officers and technicians) is essential.
• Experience with GMP, QA and/or regulatory affairs is advantageous but not required.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year with a possible extension.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• A gross monthly salary of between € 3.655 and € 5.010 (scale 9) for full-time employment (36 hours per week). You will also receive an 8% vacation allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and, depending on the position, an allowance of 47% to 72% for working irregular hours.
• Plenty of opportunities to develop yourself. For example, you can follow various courses via our online learning environment. A lot of attention will also be paid to your wellbeing and vitality. For instance, you can take advantage of:
  
  • a 40% discount on gym membership at the Radboud Sports Center.
  • the Company Support Team and a personal coach if you experience a life-changing event.
  • a financially favorable option to work less through a generation scheme if you are approaching state retirement age.
  • support with achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. This includes advice and training (from ‘Millennial Dilemmas’ to ‘Your Career After 57’), activities at our own mindfulness center, and informal caregiving consultations if you have any questions about combining your work and caregiving tasks at home.
• 168 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. Want more vacation? You can buy additional vacation hours with your end-of-year bonus.
• 26 weeks of parental leave, of which 9 weeks are paid.
• Extra-favorable leave conditions. For example, our short-term caregiving leave is not 2 but 4 weeks per year and even 12 weeks per year for partner and child.
• Pension accrual with the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension contribution.
• Discount on the supplementary packages of two collective health insurance policies and on ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• A travel allowance via our Employment Conditions Selection Model and a working-from-home allowance of €2 per day.

Radboudumc

The Senior Research Assistant CAR-NK cell therapies will be embedded in the Translational Immunohematology research group of the Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud university medical centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Our translational research program comprises five intermingled themes:

• Development of novel strategies to boost antitumor immunity after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
• Co-signaling pathways involved in tumor immune escape.
• DC-based vaccination strategies against hematological cancers.
• NK cell-based immunotherapy against leukemia and ovarian cancer
• Early memory chimeric antigen receptor T cell-based immunotherapy against B cell malignancies.

Our research is embedded in the Radboud Research Institute for Medical Innovation. We provide a stimulating work environment within a group of enthusiastic non-clinical and clinical researchers with a strong national and international research network and track record.

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Email to Prof.dr. Harry Dolstra, head of the translational immunohematology research group. Use the Apply button to submit your application.