About Us
The post will be based in Dr. Richard Vile and Dr Sheeba Irshad’s Teams at the Guy’s Hospital Campus, and will also involve interaction with colleagues based in the Breast Cancer Now Research Unit at KCL and the Breast Cancer Now Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, both under the Directorship of Professor Andrew Tutt.
About The Role
Unlike in hematologic malignancies, the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T cells in solid tumors such as breast cancer has been very limited. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) encoding a variety of transgenes have been evaluated as therapeutic tools to increase the efficacy of CAR-modified T cells within the typically immunosuppressive solid tumour microenvironment (TME). Using fully systemic delivery of OVs and CAR T in fully immunocompetent mouse models, we have defined a new mechanism by which OVs can potentiate CAR T efficacy against solid tumours. Our novel approach shows that stimulation of the native T cell receptor (TCR) in the CAR T cells against either OV-derived viral antigens, or against OV-encoded tumour antigens, gives rise to enhanced proliferative and functional properties and distinct memory phenotypes of the CAR T. In vivo expansion of dual specific (DS) CAR T (specific for both CAR target antigen through the CAR and viral/tumour antigen through the TCR) was leveraged by in vitro pre-loading with oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis virus (VSV) or reovirus. This allowed for a further in vivo expansion/re-activation by homologous boosting, which led to high cure rates in murine models of subcutaneous melanoma and intra-cranial High-Grade Glioma (HGG) (Evgin et al., 2022 Science Translational Medicine). We now plan to test this strategy pre-clinically in the treatment of breast cancer leading directly to the generation of IND-enabling data to translate DS CAR T cell therapy into a fully systemic protocol for CAR T/OV combination therapy against breast tumours which, critically, does not require direct access to the tumour for administration.
This is a full time (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 29th June 2028.
About You
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential Criteria
* PhD awarded in cancer immunology, virology, cell biology or molecular biology
* Experience in working in multidisciplinary teams and being highly collaborative
* Motivation for translational cancer research
* In depth understanding of cancer immunology and immunotherapy
* Track record of publishing in cancer immunology, immunotherapy, virology and/or animal models.
* Strong problem-solving abilities
* An independent and innovative thinker
Desirable Criteria
* Experience in the study and analysis of components of the immune system such as innate lymphoid cells, natural killer cells, monocyte/macrophage, and T regulatory cells
* Basic knowledge of data analysis
Further Information
This post is subject to Occupational Health clearances. We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.
We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.
To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.
We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.
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