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.