PhD STUDENT

The Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute (IJC) is a nonprofit research institute based in Barcelona and dedicated to advancing our understanding about leukemia and related disorders, in partnership with the University of Barcelona and University Autònoma of Barcelona. The IJC has laboratories in three clinical campuses: i) Clinic Hospital, ii) Sant Pau Hospital and iii) Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital. IJC serves as a collaborative hub for basic investigators and physicians to work together on fundamental biological and clinical aspects of leukemia. The IJC offers an excellent work environment built around a multi-disciplinary fusion of ideas and state-of-the-art facilities.

For further information, please, visit our webpage: http://www.carrerasresearch.org/en and the Josep Carreras nonprofit organization: https://www.fcarreras.org/en .

The Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute is looking for a PhD student to provide scientific support to the T cell lymphoma group led by Dr. Laura Mondragón.

Research Description

T-cell lymphomas are a group of rare hematological diseases with a poor prognosis and a high incidence of relapse after treatment. This is the case of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma. Availability of preclinical mouse models for rare cancers is a prerequisite for determining therapeutic pathways and targets from which to design and test new treatments. The main objective of the project will be to contribute to the characterization of a new mouse model for the study of AITL by developing thymocytes maturation and T cell activation studies in order to determine possible defects in these processes leading to AITL appearance. Then, we will study the molecular pathways implicated in this aberrant behavior with the objective to identify new therapeutic targets. We will validate these new therapeutic targets employing immunodeprived in vivo mouse models with the final aim to achieve a specific, and effective therapy for treating AITL.

For more information, please visit our group webpage:

https://www.carrerasresearch.org/en/t-cell-lymphoma_177482

Main Responsibilities

• To characterize the phenotype of a preclinical mouse model for T cell lymphoma.
• Study of the molecular mechanisms leading to disease appearance in the context of T cell lymphoma.
• Thymocytes maturation primary cultures.
• Validation of new therapies based on free drugs or nanoparticles for treating lymphoma.