Research Fellow in Translational AAV Technology

About us

UCL School of Pharmacy (UCL SOP) is one of the world’s leading centres of excellence for pharmaceutical science, education and professional engagement.

The Research Department of Pharmacology conducts diverse research and has recently nurtured its rapidly expanding Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs) research programmes, in particular gene, cell and tissue engineering therapies. It now also hosts the recently established GTxNeuro Viral Vetor Core Facility and the Centre for Nerve Engineering. The NIHR’s 20 Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) are collaborations between world-leading universities and NHS organisations that bring together academics and clinicians to translate lab-based scientific breakthroughs into potential new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies.

The NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital BRC (GOSH BRC), a partnership between GOSH and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH). In July 2022, the NIHR awarded BRC status to the GOSH BRC for a fourth term, which runs until November 2027. In this fourth term, as part of a wider national collaboration - a BRC National Paediatric Excellence Initiative has been set up between GOSH BRC and children’s hospitals in Birmingham, Sheffield and Liverpool. The aim is to transform the health of children by combining cutting edge research methods with world-leading clinical trial expertise, to accelerate discovery of new treatments for children with rare and complex conditions.

This role will be associated with the BRC’s Gene, Stem and Cellular Therapies (GSCT) theme focusing on innovative gene, stem and cellular therapies that can overcome the limitations of current treatments for a wide range of children with rare inherited and acquired disorders.

About the role

The candidate will oversee and managing a new pre-clinical gene therapy vector production facility as part of a collaboration between the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and UCL SOP. The candidate will also develop their own research programme into AAV technology. The role will involve cross-institutional collaborations and facilitating cutting-edge gene therapy programmes as part of the Novel Therapies Theme of the NIHR GOSH BRC.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. For more information please visit Conditions of Service for Research, Teaching and Professional Services Staff.

This is a fixed-term role until 31 March 2026 in the first instance.

About you

A Research Fellow with a PhD in gene therapy vector development and pre-clinical testing are a necessity along with experience in gene therapy vector production, purification and titration and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of gene therapy vectors. You must have a publications in high impact factor journals and experience in project management.

What we offer

As well as the opportunities this role presents, we also offer great benefits, visit UCL rewards and benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here.

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