|
The
research will be carried out in the UCL Cancer Institute, a
new purpose-built facility opened in 2008 with state-of-the-art
laboratories in the Paul O'Gorman building located close both
to the main UCL campus and the UCLH tower. This building houses
over 350 scientists involved in cancer prevention, early detection,
basic biology and novel therapeutics in over 4,500 m2 of space.
The Cancer Institute has exceptional core equipment facilities,
an active research seminar series, and a full time Graduate
Tutor who mentors students, follows their progress and organises
student seminars.
The successful applicant will be expected
to spend a period of time in Merck-Serono headquarters in
Darmstadt – Germany. This position is for a U.K. national
or those who meet the U.K. recognised residency requirement
as detailed in the link above.
Project outline
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
pathway has been extensively investigated in colorectal cancers
and over-expression of EGFR is associated with worse prognosis
and advanced disease. Previous work by a number of groups
has shown that EGFR inhibition can work in synergy with chemotherapy
and radiation treatment in pre-clinical studies and in cancer
cell lines. The mechanisms of these interactions remain unclear.
However, recent studies have demonstrated that inhibition
of EGFR resulted in inhibition of repair of DNA strand breaks
and DNA interstrand crosslinks and that this involved the
DNA-dependent protein kinase pathway.
Better understanding of the interactions between EGFR expression
and inhibition, and DNA repair, will allow optimization of
combinations in clinical studies, although effects of EGFR
inhibition on modulating DNA repair have been described, the
specific ligands and downstream events within the EGFR pathway
influencing these effects are not known. Therefore colorectal
cancer cell lines and in-house microarray technology will
be used to precisely define specific ligands, receptors and
downstream genes affecting repair of specific DNA lesions.
This position is funded for university
fees and a stipend at standard MRC rates (for an October 2009
start). Project related enquiries (but not applications) may
be directed to Professor Daniel Hochhauser (d.hochhauser{at}ucl.ac.uk).
Applications including a CV, names and
addresses of two referees and a covering letter should be
sent to Danielle Cahill (d.cahill{at}ucl.ac.uk)
The closing date for applications
is April 30th, 2009.
| 
contact@cancer.ucl.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7679 6500