Postdoctoral Research Fellow on paediatric high-grade glioma

We are looking for a researcher with experience in a relevant area of biosciences or medical sciences (for example cancer, cell senescence, mouse modelling) to work on a research programme focused on the role of cellular senescence in paediatric High-Grade Glioma (pHGG). These are clinically aggressive, malignant tumours with an abysmal prognosis. The focus will be on histone-mutated diffuse high-grade glioma, but the successful candidate will be encouraged to develop parallel research projects on other brain cancers. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced postdoc to have an active role in leading a research programme with a focus on senescence and cancer. The post is supported for 5 years from a Research Programme funded by the Brain Tumour Charity.

Senescent cells have been shown to contribute to tumour promotion through their paracrine signals in adult and paediatric tumours, including brain tumours (e.g. PIMD: 29670296; PIMD: 35241831). Building on our current findings (e.g. PMID: 37267953; PMID: 37414988; unpublished results), the appointed candidate will explore the interactions between senescent cells within the tumour and tumour microenvironment in vitro and in vivo in mouse and human models. The appointee will dissect the role of senescent cells using combined approaches, including cell culture, organoid culture, mouse modelling and molecular data (e.g. single cell RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics).

The host lab has proven experience in the generation of preclinical models and the study of cellular senescence in vivo (e.g. PIMD: 29670296; PMID: 24094324;PMID: 21636786;PMID: 31699993;PMID: 29180744; PMID: 29541918; PMID: 33378554). More information on the lab research can be found at: https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=JPMAR49

The post will be based within the new Birth Defects Research Centre, at the UCL Institute of Child Health. The appointed candidate will join consortium and will interact closely with research leaders in the field such as Profs. Chris Jones, Darren Hargrave and Jesus Gil, and Dr Manav Pathania.