Design and application of precision RNA oligonucleotides and aptamers for targeting gene fusion products in glioblastoma
A postdoc position for a talented postdoctoral researcher is available in the Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids unit of the Pasteur Institute, Paris, France.
Topic.. The recent identification of new fusion genes, which may constitute real drivers of cancerous disease, gives new hope for the development of new therapeutic tools for glioblastoma (GB). GB represent the most frequent and aggressive brain tumour in humans and have still a very poor prognosis. The aim of this project is to identify therapeutic oligonucleotides (i.e. antisense and aptamers) that can selectively target these fusion proteins. Aptamers can be used as drug delivery systems for the treatment of GB and antisense oligonucleotides can silence essential genes involved in fusion protein expression.
Representative publications and patent: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2020, 117, 16790-16798; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2003267117; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 5413-5424; doi:10.1021/jacs.1c00014; WO2020043846A1
Profile. A PhD in chemical biology with experience in therapeutic oligonucleotides. The candidate should be familiar with SELEX and related selection methods for aptamers. The candidate should also be familiar with the design of antisense oligonucleotides.
Conditions. The position is funded by the French cancer league (La Ligue contre le cancer) and will be carried out in close collaboration with the GLIAD Team led by Emmanuel Garcion at the University of Angers (team 5 of the CRCI2NA in Angers (https://crci2na.univ-nantes.fr/en/research/team-5)). The salary corresponds to the postdoc standard in France, including extended health coverage The contract will be for 24 months. The position is available from April 2023, but the exact starting date is negotiable (within the second trimester of 2023). People with work permission in the EU will be prioritized.
Application: Send a single pdf document with a detailed CV, a cover letter, and the names and contacts of two references.
Materials should be emailed as a single PDF file to the principal investigator Marcel Hollenstein (marcel.hollenstein@pasteur.fr), who can be reached for informal inquiries about the project and the research unit.