Research Assistant/Associate in Cancer Research

Company description:

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Job description:

Salary:

Research Assistant: £31,396 to £32,982 per annum

Research Associate: £33,966 to £36,024 per annum 

The Role

Your role is to take ownership and deliver this proposed and exciting research project within the time limits specified by the JGWP project grant (1 year). You will receive supervision and support from 2 principal investigators based at the Newcastle University Centre for Cancer and have access to the full suite of infrastructure required to successfully complete this project. You will work in the vibrant and stimulating research environment at the Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre. Attendance and presentation of research progress at inter / -national conferences will be strongly encouraged.

Our group has previously shown drug synergy between Dexamethasone and Dasatinib resulting in enhanced activation of the GR transcriptional programme and cell kill. (PMID: 32139432) We wish to determine the molecular mechanism of drug synergy and exploit this knowledge to reverse Dexamethasone resistance and improve outcomes for patients with ALL/LBL.

We have generated mass spectrometry proteomics data using our in-house developed APEX2-/TurboID peroxidase-directed proximal biotinylation assay. The candidate will analyse our GR interactome proteomics data and identify differential chaperone recruitment to the GR complex in function of selected drug pressure. The functional role of candidate proteins could be validated using a variety of techniques, including chromatin and RNA immunoprecipitation, CRISPR knock-out and/or small molecule inhibitors.

We know that GR can also translocate to mitochondrial DNA and may thus play a role in the observed synergy. This angle has not been explored and you will undertake studies to confirm GR translocation and evaluate GR transcriptional activation in the mitochondria.

Finally, in a parallel project, we are interested to understand the role of the CYLD tumour suppressor in drug resistance. We have acquired 2 CYLD knockout cell lines that will allow the determination of CYLD downstream pathways that play a potential role in drug resistance. Once identified, we aim to explore small molecule inhibition of these pathways to reverse drug resistance.

This full time post is offered on a fixed term basis for a period of 12 Months.

For informal enquiries contact: Dr Frederik W van Delft, Frederik.van-delft@ncl.ac.uk

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/

Find out more about our Research Institutes here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

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