Pre-doctoral CANcer CURe Early Stage Researcher
Department of Biology, Cancer Research Unit, University of York, UK
Vacancy reference: DR06269
Applications are invited for a Cancure Early Stage Research Postion in the YCR Cancer Research Unit. Fellows will register for a PhD and follow a programme of training and research for a period of three years. The position is available for early stage researchers (reserachers with 0-4 years` postgraduate research experience and who do not have a PhD). Applicants should not have resided or performed their main activity in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 year period immediately prior to the start date.
Lineage tracking of prostate cancer stem cells using prostate-targeted lentiviruses
Supervisors: Norman Maitland & Anne Collins
The cancer stem cell (CSC) model postulates that mutations only occur in stem cells and that prostate tumour heterogeneity results from the variable ability of CSC's to produce progeny that are characteristic of prostate tissue. To resolve the issue of lineage, we propose to track marked, isolated CSC's in vivo and in vitro. To overcome the low number of CSC's in S phase, the student will generate families of pseudo-typed lentiviral vectors, which express marker genes such as EGFP under the control of differentiation-specific promoters. These lentiviruses readily infect prostatic epithelial cells. The project will have a wider application, to permit the study of new genes, whose expression changes in prostate cancer development and metastasis, isolated as part of the various linked programmes. The modular nature of Virapower technology (Invitrogen) permits 'mixing and matching' of promoters and genes. Close collaboration exists with Rotterdam (experience of xenografting) and Tampere (study of genetic instability in the grafted tumours).
Starting salary will be approximately £20,000 to £24,000 per annum, plus travel and career exploratory allowances (see further particulars for full details).
