NANO-IMMUNOTHERAPY: INTRACELLULAR TARGETING OF CANCER CELLS AND TAMs (2-INTRATARGET - EuroNanoMed III)

Project Summary:

Scientific research in the field of cancer immunology has led to the development of new potential cancer immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAb) or polynucleotides (RNA-based therapies), which have been designed to act inside cancer cells as well as inside immune cells. Despite their huge potential, these therapies suffer of a limited access to their cellular targets (cancer or immune cells) and tissue (primary tumor site and metastatic niches), often resulting in a poor efficacy/toxicity balance.

The main goal of this 2-INTRATARGET project is to use nanotechnology to improve the delivery of the novel immunotherapies towards their targets inside cancer cells or immune cells. For this, we will engineer multifunctional nanocarriers aimed to deliver: 1) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) into cancer cells, thus targeting intracellular oncoproteins, and 2) RNA molecules into the Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAM), in order to re-educate them and switch the tumor microenvironment to one that kills tumor cells and promotes adaptive immune responses. The 2-INTRATARGET consortium comprises the collaboration of 5 European Partners, with complementary expertise in the fields of Nanomedicine and Cancer Immunotherapy, working together on the development and evaluation of new nano-immunotherapies.

Requirements:

We are seeking a highly motivated scientist at the postgraduate or junior postdoc level to study the ability of new RNA-based nanomedicines to target and to re-educate TAM in vitro and in vivo (i.e. lung and pancreatic cancer models).

Graduate: at least 1-2 year post-graduate research experience in a competitive research laboratory, skills in molecular biology and in vivo models.

Postdoc: a PhD in Tumor Immunology and skills in molecular biology and in vivo tumor models.

In both cases, previous experience with RNA-based therapies or Nanoparticles will be considered a plus. Fluent English (written and spoken) is required. Full access to Humanitas facilities (flow cytometry, confocal and two-photon microscopy, Illumina station, BSL-3, SPF mouse house) will be granted. The contract is initially available for 1 year, renewable up to 3 years.

To apply, please send a motivation letter, your CV, and the contact information (or letters of recommendation) of at least two referees.

Contacts:

Dr. Fernando Torres Andón (Fernando.Torres_Andon@humanitasresearch.it)

Prof. Paola Allavena (Paola.Allavena@humanitasresearch.it)