Looking for candidates to apply to the MSCA-Postdoctoral Fellowship with DIBIOMEC research group

About

Our research group, DIBIOMEC, is dedicated to translational research in oncology, with a primary focus on unravelling the molecular mechanisms of urological cancers to address real clinical challenges. Our work is built upon a strong foundation in the study of the cytokine-receptor axis TWEAK/Fn14 in metabolic diseases, an expertise we have successfully translated to cancer biology since 2016, initially focusing on prostate cancer (PCa).

Our research extends to the tumour microenvironment, specifically the role of periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT). We have shown that PPAT fuels PCa progression by supplying fatty acids and through EV-mediated epigenetic modifications. Furthermore, we have characterized that the functional impact of PPAT-derived EVs varies with tumour grade. Based on this expertise, our current focus is on serum extracellular vesicles as predictive biomarkers in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

We are actively working on identifying molecular signatures from serum EVs that can stratify patients according to their response to treatment (ADT + novel antiandrogens), helping to guide therapy intensification or de-escalation.

Candidate profile

The candidate will be responsible for executing a research plan to identify serum EV-based molecular signatures that predict treatment response in mHSPC patients. This will involve:

•           Isolating and characterizing serum EVs from patient cohorts (responders vs. non-responders) using techniques such as NTA, TEM, and Western blot.

•           Performing transcriptomic (RNA-seq) and proteomic (LC-MS/MS) profiling of EVs, in collaboration with external platforms.

•           Analysing multi-omics data to identify differentially expressed miRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins associated with treatment response.

•           Developing and validating predictive biomarker panels using bioinformatics and statistical modelling (ROC, Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression).

•           Conducting functional validation in vitro using prostate cancer cell lines and osteoblasts to assess the biological role of candidate EV-derived molecules.

•           Working closely with clinical team members to correlate molecular findings with longitudinal clinical data from our biobank.

•           Contributing to data analysis, manuscript preparation, patent applications, and the development of new funding proposals.

The candidate should have a proven track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals and demonstrate excellent communication and teamwork skills. Experience with extracellular vesicle isolation and characterization is highly desirable. Fluency in English is required.

More information can be found on: https://www.iispv.cat/en/msca-pf-call-for-interest/

How to apply?

If you are interested in this opportunity, send your expression of interest to  upi@irbcatsud.cat, indicating the MSCA-PF + research group in the subject.