PhD Studentship - Panoz Pharmaceutical Innovation (Mantalaris)

Post Summary

Cell therapy is broadly defined as the transfer of viable cells from one host to another (allogeneic) or into the same individual after storage or manipulation (autologous). One of the most promising types of cells applied are the inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which have the capability to differentiate into every human cell type. Though the potential for impact is high, challenges remain; variability in reported patient responses can result from unpredictable heterogeneity of infused cellular therapeutics, highlighting the unmet need for robust and reproducible biomanufacturing. Cellular heterogeneity is classically characterized in terms of immunophenotype, genotype and transcriptome expression. Defining heterogeneity of similar cell types derived from different sources and how the bioprocess alters output products is critical to creating a robust platform for cellular therapeutics. Currently, “homogeneous” cell populations are defined by immunophenotype and/or limited genotype signatures. Using these current strategies, maturation efficiencies, product quality and clinical outcomes remain variable resulting in failure of cellular therapeutics to gain necessary approvals for more wide-spread clinical use. The dynamic sensitivity of metabolomic responses to environmental and cellular perturbations, including gene editing, results in heterogeneity during culture, is dependent on bioprocess conditions, and these changes impact epigenetic, genetic and phenotypic qualities of the final output. Metabolomics analysis has the required sensitivity to capture metabolic shifts associated with genetic and immunophenotypic changes before they occur and can help drive the desired function.

The aim of this PhD studentship is to characterize and direct cellular heterogeneity as a function of metabolism and standardize single cell analysis & metabolomics in the biomanufacturing workflow. To deliver the research aim, 3 tasks have been identified: T1 establishes the baseline of cellular heterogeneity, T2 characterizes cellular heterogeneity under different bioprocess parameters, and T3 constructs multi-omics cell signatures.

The expected outcome is capturing heterogeneity at single cell level (genotype and immunophenotype) and linking with metabolomic signatures, which will facilitate characterization, optimization and manipulation/control of the bioprocess resulting in robust cellular therapeutics manufacturing strategies with better QA/QC utilizing metabolism as the most dynamic and fundamental defining feature of cellular function.

 NOTE: Applicants must have been resident in an EU member state for 3 out of the last 5 years to be eligible for EU fees

Application Procedure

Applicants should email  

and will be sent link to preliminary application form.  Applicants will be shortlisted for interviews which will take place after the closing date of 10th May 2024.   

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