PhD position in CD8+ T cell immunotherapy

The project:
CD8+ T cells are crucial players of immunity due to their paramount role in killing malignant and virally infected cells. This is why novel immunotherapy treatments use CD8+ T cells to eradicate cancer. In one of these treatments, the T cells are genetically modified to express artificial receptors that target specific proteins on cancer cells. This CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) T cell therapy uses patients’ T cells to recognise and fight cancer and achieves up to 90% clinical responses against some blood cancers. However, CAR-T cells usually die early after administration, and their persistence depends on tumour type and production method. CAR-T cell therapy also shows very low efficacy against solid tumours due to low CAR-T cell infiltration within the tumour and the inhospitable tumour microenvironment. Long-lasting CAR-T cells that can infiltrate tumours better and persist for longer periods are crucial for successful therapy and prevention of disease relapse.

This project will investigate how to produce fitter CAR-T cells that can persist for longer and infiltrate solid tumours better. To do that we will focus on determining the role of low oxygenation (hypoxia) in T cell responses. We want to uncover how and why hypoxia can have both beneficial and detrimental effects and use the gained knowledge to improve CAR-T cell persistence in solid tumours.

We are looking for:

• an enthusiastic candidate with an Master’s degree in a relevant field (eg. immunology, molecular/cellular biology, oncology) with good communication skills and committed to undertaking and supporting high quality research
• hands on experience, independent thinking, responsible and team-oriented
• good organizational skills, excellent record-keeping, and efficient
• proficiency in written and spoken English, high presentation skills
• willing to work with experimental animals (no experience required)

The successful candidate can grow in a lively and interactive working atmosphere within a well-connected network of PhD students and scientists

We offer:

• diverse and challenging wide-ranging studies in social sciences, clinical and translational
• research in a multi-disciplinary and enthusiastic international team;
• temporary position (project duration of four years);
• salary and conditions are according to CAO Sanquin;
• 8.33% end-of-year bonus; i.e. a thirteenth month in case of full-year employment;
• partial reimbursement of travel costs;
• pension plan with Pensioenfonds Zorg & Welzijn (PFZW);
• at fulltime employment (36 hours) 201 hours of leave per annum.