PhD in Improving efficacy of CAR T cell therapies for solid tumors

Job No.: 640507

Location: Clayton campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3-year fixed-term appointment with a possible 6-month extension

Remuneration: $34,013 tax-free 

The Opportunity

The MURAL cohort of patient prostate cancer xenografts is a world class pre-clinical platform for drug discovery and testing. It is particularly suited to evaluating combination therapies since the scale and scope of preclinical studies is far greater than that which can be assessed in individual patients.

This capability has fostered access to new and emerging drugs and drug targets from industry. This includes CAR T cell therapies which we have shown can reduce tumour size to <1% of starting volume when given in combination with agents that modify the tumor microenvironment [TME].

A major focus of ProsTic is the use of Lu-PSMA as a ground-breaking approach to the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. As there is emerging evidence that Lu-PSMA alters TME, there is a rationale for a likely combination of Lu-PSMA and CAR T cell therapies to eliminate the tumor.  

Thus, we postulate that Lu-PSMA in combination with Her2 CAR T cells, can completely eliminate tumour cells, preventing tumour recurrence and overcoming resistance.

The goal of this project is to determine efficacy of Lu-PSMA in combination with Her2 CAR T cell therapies using PDX lines established from patients that are treatment naïve or heavily pre-treated including Lu-PSMA failed patient.

This project will be run in partnership with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

About you

To be considered for these opportunities you must have/be:

• Previous research in related fields, such as biotechnology or biomedical science
• Applicants will be considered provided that they fulfil the criteria for PhD admission at Monash University and demonstrate excellent research capability. Details of the relevant requirements are available at www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/apply
• The ability to begin the project before the end of 2022

Enquiries

Dr Dianne Ruka, [email protected]

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

EOIs shall comprise:

• A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of any published works, conference presentations and relevant work experience
• A full statement of academic record, supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
• An outline for a research plan that responds to the scholarship application
• A copy of the applicant’s honours or master thesis
• Contact details of two academic referees

It is important that you contact Dr Dianne Ruka prior to submission of the EOI to discuss the project. Since this project needs to begin in 2022, you must have the ability to be in Australia before December 2022.

Closing Date

Tuesday 9 September 2022, 11:55 pm AEST

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