Technician on development of immunotherapy for cancer, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School GROW - Department of Internal Medicine

We are recruiting a PhD student and a technician to develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cells and to study their application in breast cancer.

NK cells are effector cells of our immune system that can kill malignant cells. We have demonstrated clinical efficacy of NK cells, both in models for M. Myeloma and breast cancer. In a consortium we will further explore the role of NK cells in metastatic (lobular) breast cancer, bringing groups together to combine knowledge on NK cells and preclinical breast cancer models. The anti-tumor effect of NK cells will be studied in mouse (PDX) models and human patient-derived tumor organoid (PDO) models. In the project, we will develop second generation NK cells, like Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-NK cells or siRNA inhibition of these cells, to optimize NK cell effectivity. The PDX and PDO models are expected to be predictive for clinical effects of NK and CAR-NK cells.

The successful applicants will work under the supervision of Prof. dr Gerard Bos (Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences and CEO of CiMaas BV)), Dr. Wilfred Germeraad (Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences and CSO of CiMaas BV), Dr Lotte Wieten (Maastricht University Medical Center+) in collaboration with Prof dr. Patrick Derksen (Utrecht University Medical Center), on a translational project using new DNA constructs, virus production, in vitro cell culture, animal models and GMP production of clinical grade (CAR)-NK cells.