Showing posts with label breast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breast. Show all posts

Monday, 20 May 2013

VACANCY: Postdoc “Novel Anticancer Targets for Killing Drug Resistant Breast Tumor Cells”


Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen

Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research

The Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research (LACDR) is part of the Faculty of Science. The LACDR is a leading institute, which performs fundamental and strategic scientific research in the field of innovative drug research.
The division of Toxicology is part of the LACDR. The mission of the division is to understand the signal transduction networks in cancer development, progression and treatment with the ultimate aim to develop better and safer anticancer therapies. A focus of the division is on understanding the mechanisms that underlie drug resistance in breast cancer using synthetic lethality screening approaches.
The division of Toxicology is looking for a;
Postdoc “Novel Anticancer Targets for Killing Drug Resistant Breast Tumor Cells” (38 hours per week) Vacancynumber 13-132
Project Description
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that has a poor disease prognosis. These tumors lack estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and lack all receptors for which there are currently in breast cancer targeted agents available. Patients with TNBC are still treated with non-specific toxic chemotherapeutic drugs such as anthracycline and/or taxane-based chemotherapy. Newly developed targeted (combination) therapies are urgently needed for this heterogeneous subgroup of breast cancer patients. Genomics analysis of TNBC has identified various gene products that are associated with poor disease prognosis, yet their role in drug resistance is unclear. This project will involve a systematic RNA interference-based knock down screen of candidate modulators of drug resistance. We will use a small representative panel of human TNBC cell lines for synthetic lethality screens to identify novel drugable targets that can sensitize TNBC to common anticancer drugs. High content imaging-based approaches will be used. The role and mechanism of candidate genes will be studied in further detail in relation to DNA damage responses and/or mechanisms of cell death using molecular cell biology approaches. This project is a direct collaboration with the department of Medical Oncology at the Erasmus MC supporting the translation of the in vitro findings to the patient.

Requirements

We seek a talented and highly motivated candidate with proven experience in cell and molecular biology, cell signalling and cellular imaging. The candidate should have a PhD degree in the area of Oncology or Molecular Cell Biology and have demonstrated experience with screening and (breast) cancer. Experience or affinity with bioinformatics and cellular imaging is highly recommended.

We offer

The candidate will work within the Leiden Cell Observatory using state-of-the-art high content screening equipment. We are situated in the Gorlaeus Laboratories on the Science Park Leiden. Currently, 25 researchers including technicians, PhD students, and Postdocs work in the Division of Toxicology. The candidate will become part of a young and dynamic team with a strong expertise in cancer research and signal transduction. We offer a vibrant, research-driven work environment with emphasis on team spirit, excellence, and skills development.
Appointment will be according to the terms of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten), for the duration of one year. An extension of two years after positive evaluation is possible. The function is validated in the University Function Ordening system (UFO) under the profile “Onderzoeker 4”. The salary will be set, depending on education and work experience, between the gross minimum of € 2403,- and gross maximum of € 3793,- per month, based on fulltime employment (salary scale: 10). Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package which includes an end-of-year premium of 8.3%, opportunities for personal development and possibilities for ‘personalized’ benefits via our Cafeteria model. More information about employment at Leiden University can be found at: www.leidenuniv.edu.

Information

For more information, please contact Prof.dr. Bob van de Water; telephone: +31-(0)71 527 6223; email: water_b@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl
Additionally, you can visit the websites of the Division of Toxicology, the Faculty of Science, and the LACDR: toxicol.lacdr.gorlaeus.net; www.science.leidenuniv.nl; www.lacdr.nl.

Applications

Do you identify with the profile above and aspire a career in bioscience? Please apply by sending your written application, full Curriculum Vitae and two letters of reference before May 13th, 2013 to the attention of Prof. dr. Bob van de Water.
Please follow this link to our application site; http://jobs.lacdr.leidenuniv.nl/2013/lacdrpd1

Found here: http://www.werkenbij.leidenuniv.nl/vacatures/wetenschappelijke-functies/13-132-postdoc-novel-anticancer-targets-for-killing-drug-resistant-breast-tumor-cells-.html 

Monday, 30 July 2012

VACANCY: PhD students for research in medical image analysis for personalised breast screening

Specifications - (explanation)
Location Nijmegen
Function typesPhD positions
Scientific fieldsHealth, Computer Science, Physics, Engineering or Biomedical Sciences or similar
Hours 36.0 hours per week
EducationUniversity Graduate
Translations
Apply for this job within 16 days

Job description

Currently, breast screening is almost exclusively performed with mammography, even though it is known that some women are at a much higher risk to develop breast cancer or have dense breasts, in which sensitivity of mammography for detecting cancer is low (<60%). The aim of this project is to develop methods to personalise breast cancer screening. Firstly, reproducible quantitative markers characterizing breast density patterns in mammograms will be investigated and these will be related to the risk of developing breast cancer and the risk of missing a cancer with mammography. Secondly, techniques will be developed to increase feasibility of automated breast ultrasound imaging in women with dense breasts. These will include automated image analysis methods for computer aided decision support and advanced visualisation tools to combine ultrasound and mammography, or to compare screening exams over time. Research will be carried out in a large EU funded consortium in which ten partners cooperate.

Requirements

  • You should be a creative and enthusiastic researcher with an MSc degree in Computer Science, Physics, Engineering or Biomedical Sciences or similar
  • Interest in medical imaging and affinity with biomedical research
  • Excellent communication skills in English, both writing and speech
  • Expertise in software development, preferably in C++

Conditions of employment

  • Schale 10A: max € 38090 gross per year at full employment
  • Closing 15-08-2012
You will be appointed as a PhD student at the Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, department of Radiology, with the standard salary and secondary conditions for PhD students in the Netherlands. Your performance will be evaluated after 1 year. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 3 years. The research should result in a PhD thesis.

Organisation

Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (RUN MC)
Nijmegen www.umcn.nl/ UMC St Radboud
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (RUN MC) is a leading academic centre for medical science, education and health care. Knowledge forms the heart of our organisation, connecting research, education and patient care. Over 10,000 staff and 3,500 students are committed and ambitious to contribute to the future of health care and medical science.
Driven by knowledge, empowered by people.

Department

Radiology
The project will be carried out in the Diagnostic Image Analysis Group (DIAG) at the department of Radiology. DIAG investigates and develops computer aided diagnosis methods to support clinicians in a broad range of medical imaging applications. Research topics include image analysis, image segmentation, machine learning, and the design of decision support systems. Application areas include breast, prostate, and lung imaging. Key to the success of the group is close cooperation with clinical partners and a disease oriented approach. Currently the group consists of 35 researchers, including 20 PhD students.

Additional information

For further information please contact Prof. Nico Karssemeijer (n.karssemeijer@rad.umcn.nl) or Dr. Bram Platel (b.platel@rad.umcn.nl). Use these email adresses only for information, for application use the apply button.