PhD student position in Immunology / Vaccinology

Unravelling the mechanism for mucosal tolerance-induction using the patented CTA1R7K-X-DD immunomodulating fusion protein: Effective therapeutic treatment against autoimmune disease

Application code: G213 1066/10. Deadline: April 20th 2010.

Description of the research project

The CTA1R7K-COL-DD fusion protein is a unique and therapeutically effective means to prevent collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. The current project aims to understand the tolerizing mechanism responsible for this effect, which will also greatly contribute to development better, more effective, treatments against rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

The project will develop new targeting strategies for the fusion protein and compare the original constructs with new constructs for an optimal tolerizing effect in vivo. In the course of this work the CTA1R7K- fusion proteins will also employ specific targeting through DC-specific single chain antibody constructs and analyse in detail their tolerizing function in vitro and in vivo. The work will be performed in a mouse model and involves both design and construction of novel fusion proteins as well as exploring in vitro and in vivo the mechanism of action in the mouse model. You will be part of a research team consisting of 15 members, who work with various aspects of mucosal immunomodulation, analyzing both innate and adaptive immune functions. The group is internationally well recognized and has made some pioneering contributions to the field of mucosal immunology and vaccine design.

Supervisor:
Nils Lycke, Professor; Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology.

Application procedure

Read more about the application procedure, and about entry requirements, on the Sahlgrenska Academy webpages.
The application form including appendices should be sent by mail to:
- Akademikansliet, Registrator, Box 400, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.

More information about:
- The project: look at the project web pages and contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
- The application procedure: contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

PhD student position in Immunology / Systems biology

Local inflammation in gastric cancer– mechanism for cancer development and biomarker for early gastric cancer?

Application code: G213 1065/10. Deadline: April 20th 2010.

Description of the research project

Stomach cancer is the most serious disease caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, and due to the large number of infected individuals throughout the world, it is a serious health problem. An important reason for the high number of deaths caused by stomach cancer is that the diagnosis is often late, due to diffuse symptoms.

In our studies we have recently shown that stomach cancer patients have high levels of several proinflammatory cytokines both in tumour tissue but also in the tissue distant to the tumour. Our preliminary data from a microarray experiment now show that certain of the cytokines are markedly increased in the cancer patients compared to H. pylori infected and uninfected patients without cancer.

In this project we will follow up and extend these studies, and investigate whether local or systemic levels of a combination of different cytokines may be used as biomarkers for early detection of stomach cancer. Furthermore, we expect that these studies will contribute to increased understanding of the mechanisms for development of stomach cancer due to H. pylori–infection.

Specific questions:
1. Which gene groups or gene clusters are activated/inhibited during gastric cancer development?
2. May signatures of local and/or systemic pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines be used as biomarkers of early gastric cancer?
3. Does an altered regulation of stimulatory and inhibitory cytokine receptors affect over-expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in gastric cancer patients?
4. Are polymorphisms of cytokine-related genes associated to cancer development?

Methods: The project will involve the use of advanced bioinformatic and systems biology methods to analyse array data, including cluster analysis and identification of enriched biological functions. Furthermore, a variety of immunological and molecular biology analyses will be used to detect cytokines, immune regulatory mediators and signalling molecules, as well as mRNA levels. Patient samples will be obtained through a recently initiated study in Nicaragua, where gastric cancer constitutes an important health problem.

Importance: Since the mortality of gastric cancer is high, and the survival prognosis is improved substantially if treated by surgery at an early stage, clinically relevant biomarkers would increase survival dramatically by allowing an earlier diagnosis. The project will also give important information about the mechanisms of cancer development in H. pylori-infected individuals, which would be of importance for the development of future therapies.

Main supervisor:
Samuel Lundin, Docent/Associate professor; Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology.
Cosupervisors:
Jens Nielsen, Professor; Systems Biology group, Chalmers University of Technology.
Åsa Sjöling, Docent/Associate professor; Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology.

Application procedure

Read more about the application procedure, and about entry requirements, on the Sahlgrenska Academy webpages.
The application form including appendices should be sent by mail to:
- Akademikansliet, Registrator, Box 400, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.

More information about:
- The project: look at the project web pages and contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
- The application procedure: contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Previously filled positions

PhD student - two positions, deadline April 2010.

Postdoctoral position - deadline November 2009.

Two Assistant professor positions - deadline September 7, 2009.

Postdoctoral position - deadline August 30, 2009.

Postdoctoral position - two positions, deadline April 20, 2009.

Project positions for medical students ("Amanuensprogrammet") - deadline, March 21, 2008.

Doctoral Position in Mucosal barrier functions and Innate immunity  - one position, deadline March 15, 2008.

Project leader, commercialization - one position, deadline September 27, 2007.

Postdoctroal scientists - four positions, deadline August 30, 2007.

Assistant professor - two positions, deadline February 4, 2007.

Postdoctoral scientist - one position, deadline February 1, 2007.

Scientist - two positions, deadline September 1, 2006.