PhD PhD

PhD Studentship in Molecular and Cellular Evaluation of Biomarkers of Response to Therapy in Rectal Cancer Patients
Barts and The London -Centre for Digestive Diseases Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science (BICMS)

Project Title: Molecular and cellular evaluation of biomarkers of response to therapy in rectal cancer patients

Supervisor: Professor Andrew Silver Co-Supervisor: Dr Cleo Bishop

Applications are invited from Biology/Biochemistry graduates with a BSc (First or Upper Second) or MSc (Distinction or Merit). Previous research experience would be an advantage This 3 year studentship will commence in July 2014 and the applicant will be based in the School’s Whitechapel Campus

This project aims to identify new biomarkers to distinguish rectal cancers likely to be refractory to neoadjuvant therapy, thereby sparing these patients unnecessary treatment and associated morbidity. The study may also uncover novel targets more suitable for therapy in patients unresponsive to current therapies. One particular feature of rectal cancer that can limit treatment success is hypoxia. We have linked hypoxic changes in rectal cancer cells to alterations in the expression key microRNAs, metabolites and pivotal members of the NADPH oxidase gene family. This multidisciplinary studentship will investigate the molecular mechanisms behind these changes and assess the utility of biomarkers of hypoxia and treatment response in patients. The project will involve collaboration with Dr Ricky Sharma, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford and there will be an opportunity to spend time in Dr Sharma’s laboratory.

The project will provide training in a range of molecular and cellular techniques and involve interaction with clinical and scientific colleagues in a highly collaborative and friendly environment. There will be access to a wide variety of cutting-edge technologies and state-of-the-are core facilities, as well as interaction with leading international researchers across a wide range of biomedical disciplines. Training will also be given in a number of transferable skills.

Informal enquires to Professor Andrew Silver (a.r.silver@qmul.ac.uk) or Dr Cleo Bishop (c.l.bishop@qmul.ac.uk)

This Studentship is sponsored by the Constance Travis Charitable Trust and comes with a minimum tax free stipend of £15,726.00 per annum. It is open to UK Nationals, EEA/Swiss migrant workers and non-UK nationals with indefinite leave to remain in the UK who all have three years ordinary residence in the UK prior to the start of the studentship.

Closing date for applications is 31st March 2014.

LINK: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIB419/phd-studentship-in-molecular-and-cellular-evaluation-of-biomarkers-of-response-to-therapy-in-rectal-cancer-patients/

PhD Studentship in Skin Immune Cell Interactions in Health and Disease
The University of Manchester -Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research

Professor Tracy Hussell and Dr Amy Saunders

The Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR) invites applications for a 3-year funded PhD due to commence October 2014. The studentship covers UK/EU tuition fees, research expenses and annual tax-free stipend of £17,000. The studentship is open to UK/EU nationals only due to the nature of the award.

The skin is one of the largest organs in the body and functions as a barrier to prevent the loss of substances and to prevent infection. To fulfil this role the skin harbours a wide range of immune cells poised to combat any invading pathogens. The lung and gut are other barrier sites and have been the focus of study for many immunologists in recent years yet surprisingly little is known about the skin immune system particularly in healthy individuals. We have recently identified that in the lung the default state of innate immune cells is to be actively restrained by signals from healthy tissue (Snelgrove, 2011) but as yet, there are little data in skin.Psoriasis is a highly prevalent inflammatory skin disease in which a wide range of immune cells are implicated (Griffiths, 2003; Griffiths, 2006). However, prior research has not focussed on cell to cell interactions. This project addresses the hypothesis that psoriasis is maintained due to a lack of regulatory mechanisms usually present in health. The PhD will analyse the contribution of these regulatory pathways to psoriasis in human skin explants and the mechanisms involved will also be explored using murine models. Training offers the opportunity to work on clinically relevant human disease and will include techniques such as flow cytometry, quantitative PCR, histology, murine models of inflammatory skin disease and human explant cultures.

This project will be hosted within the MCCIR. MCCIR is a partnership between the University of Manchester, AstraZeneca and GSK, allowing the successful applicant to gain an insight into applied research in industry. Ideal candidates will have a strong interest in immunology/dermatology and hold relevant laboratory experience.

Candidates are expected to hold a minimum upper-second (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in a relevant biological/medical science area such as immunology, dermatology and/or biochemistry. They must also have some prior laboratory experience, ideally involving some of the techniques to be employed in this project. A Masters qualification in a similar area would be an advantage.

Academic CV

Official academic transcripts
Contact details for two suitable referees
A personal statement (750 words maximum) outlining your suitability for the study, what you hope to achieve from the PhD and your research experience to date.
Any enquiries relating to the project and/or suitability should be directed to Dr Saunders at the address above. Deadline for applications: Friday 21 February 2014.

LINK: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIB308/phd-studentship-in-skin-immune-cell-interactions-in-health-and-disease/

Clinical Research PhD Fellowship
University of Edinburgh -Centre for Cancer Research

£31,838 – £47,175

Funded by a Cancer Research UK Fellowship, this post provides doctoral training in an internationally renowned research environment in the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health (adjacent to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh). The Fellow will work on a project focussing on strategies for early diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer addressing key research questions. The post is funded for 3 years leading to a PhD. Appointees will be highly motivated clinicians with an interest in pursuing an academic career. Possession of necessary clinical qualifications to enter a specialist training programme in their chosen medical speciality is essential. Research experience is desirable, but not essential.

Informal enquiries to Professor Philippa Saunders: p.saunders@ed.ac.uk.

Closing Date: 3 March 2014

LINK: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AIB238/clinical-research-phd-fellowship/

New Grants!

Societá Italiana di Patologia e Medicina Traslazionale (SIPMeT)

 

To promote the entry of young scientists into the mainstream of the basic science community and to encourage the participation of young investigative pathologists in the ASIP Annual Meeting, the Società Italiana di Patologia e Medicina Traslazionale (SIPMeT) is offering a limited number of Young Investigator Awards of $(Euro)600 to offset travel expenses for SIPMeT members to attend the Experimental Biology Meeting.

The ASIP Program Committee will select the recipients based on excellence of the scientific abstracts.  Abstracts will be selected for presentation in either poster sessions or in minisymposia.  These abstracts must be submitted to ASIP topic categories. Members of the SIPMeT who are age 40 years or younger and who submit an abstract to the meeting are eligible to apply for the SIPMeT Young Investigator Award.

Deadline to submit late-breaking abstracts and Young Investigator Award applications is February 21, 2014.

Original Announcement:https://www.asip.org/awards/SIP_younginvestigator.cfm

Consortium for Affordable Medical Technologies Innovation Awards Program

CAMTech’s $100K Innovation Awards program is a request for proposals for innovative health technologies targeting pressing global health challenges. The awards look not only for innovative technical solutions, but also for solutions that will be sustainable and scalable in LMICs in the long term.

With support from the Bacca Foundation and the Omidyar Network, we are pleased to announce the next round of Innovation Awards to accelerate innovative technologies to improve health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. We are initially requesting a one-page letter of intent (LOI) due February 13, 2014 followed by a full proposal for those invited to apply.

The awards provide US$100,000 for one-year of support for innovative technologies. Technologies are defined as devices and protocols, but excluding medicines and vaccines. CAMTech is agnostic to where the technology is in the product development process (e.g. prototyping, field-testing, market research for commercialization etc.) as long as the budget reflects the scope of work proposed.

CAMTech is looking for technologies that can strengthen the delivery of healthcare. Successful proposals demonstrate the applicant’s technology will improve health outcomes specifically in LMICs; incorporate the value of co-creation throughout the process; have an interdisciplinary team with partners from LMICs; identify a business strategy that is sustainable; and be technologically feasible and innovative compared to what is currently available.

Innovation Awards are provided to a range of recipients, including academic researchers, clinicians, engineers and business students, as well as for-profit institutions and NGOs. During the proposal development process, CAMTech urges applicants to contact the CAMTech team to ensure proposals meet all of the identified criteria. For example, proposals that include one of our LMIC partners in Uganda and/or India are preferred in order to enhance the CAMTech network and build capacity at our international sites. Proposals are submitted to CAMTech’s online platform – CoLab.

link: http://www.massgeneralcenterforglobalhealth.org/programs/camtech/innovation-awards/

Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Award

BCAN is pleased to announce this new award, supported by the James Family Foundation, in conjunction with Partner Fund Management, which will support the work of one investigator with an exceptionally novel and creative project with great potential to produce a breakthrough in the management of bladder cancer.  The Innovation Award will fund $300,000 over two years.  Applicants may apply for one award – the Young Investigator Award or the Innovation Research Award.

The aim of the 2014 Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Award is to support exceptionally novel and creative projects with great potential to produce breakthroughs in the management of bladder cancer.  Proposals will be accepted for creative ideas and innovative approaches that have direct application and relevance to bladder cancer.

“There have been so many advances in the cancer arena.  With this Innovation Award, we hope to bring new perspectives and forward-thinking ideas to bladder cancer research,” stated Chris James of the James Family Foundation and Partner Fund Management.  “This is the sixth most diagnosed cancer in the U.S., yet there have been no significant advances in the disease in more than 20 years.  We are hopeful that this research award will move us in the right direction.”

The 2014 Bladder Cancer Research Innovation Award will complement BCAN’s 2014 Young Investigator Awards, generously supported by The JPB Foundation.

Link: http://www.bcan.org/research/grants/bladder-cancer-research-innovation-award/

New Grants

Grants opportunities from American Society for Radiation Oncology

https://www.astro.org/Research/Funding-Opportunities/ASTRO-Supported-Grants/Seed-Grant/Index.aspx

and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/ACOG_Departments/Research_Fellowships_and_Awards/ACOG_2014-2015_Research_Awards_Program

Call for Applications: Assessing the Benefits of Treating Cancer

 

Deadline for Letters of Intent: Monday, February 3, 2014

Researchers and clinicians have made remarkable progress in the fight against cancer, and death rates are falling. However, the disease still causes enormous suffering and represents a substantial economic burden in the United States. While cancer medicines have extended millions of lives and offer trillions in societal benefits, this value often is not well understood or fully characterized. Social and economic benefits accrue across a range of direct and indirect effects (e.g., overall survival, quality of life, and productivity) and evolve over time as the body of evidence and standards of practice change. As our understanding of the basic science of cancer grows, and this understanding is translated into novel diagnostics and treatments, patients and society benefit from continual innovation in cancer care. The purpose of this RFP is to encourage research aimed at quantifying the benefits to society that has accrued from innovations in cancer treatment.

The grant will be awarded to candidates who establish a sound and innovative research project focused on developing a novel way of quantifying or describing the social, patient-centered and economic benefits of innovation in cancer treatment. Relevant research goals may include developing new methods to measure societal benefits from cancer care innovation (for example, contributing to an understanding of value across a wider range of outputs that can be more difficult to assess, capturing heterogeneity in value within and among populations, and accounting for variability in value over time and its relationship to long-term aggregate clinical gains against cancer). We are currently offering three types of awards to be granted for one year:

1. Pre-doctoral fellowship award of $25,000

2. Post-doctoral fellowship award of $55,000

3. Research starter grants of $100,000 for research faculty at the beginning of their career.

Investigators interested in applying should submit a (1-page) Letter of Intent briefly describing their research proposal and specific aims to Clara Soh at csoh@phrma.org by February 3, 2014.

For additional information, please visit www.phrmafoundation.org

Kathryn Barton Hobbs Medical Research Grant

 

Liam’s Land Organization is bringing lymphatic malformation research to the forefront. LLO will partner with prestigious childrens’ hospitals and reputable institutions to advance research efforts and clinical trials in lymphatic malformation.

LLO will award up to $25,000 in grant(s) money per year for projects with primary interest in LM. The Kathryn Barton Hobbs Medical Research Grant is considered once per year. Principal investigators must hold post-doctoral or beyond, and be affiliated with institutions with 501(c)(3) status or the equivalent for foreign institutions.

Grant application deadline must be postmarked by Friday, June 20, 2014 for consideration at the August 2014 Board of Director’s meeting.

link: http://www.liamsland.org/liams-land-medical-reseach-grants/

LLO does not directly conduct research projects. LLO funds research and it takes place a various institutions and hospitals around the world.

Landon Foundation-American Association for Cancer Research INNOVATOR Award for Research in Tumor Microenvironment

 

Application deadline: February 10, 2014, at noon, Eastern Time

Decision date: March 2014

Annual Grants Reception and Dinner at the AACR Annual Meeting 2014: April 8, 2014 – Grant recipient must attend the Grants Reception and Dinner and formally accept the grant. Grant funds may be used to support the grant recipient’s attendance at this annual meeting; complimentary registration will be provided.

Start of grant term: July 1, 2014

The Landon Foundation-AACR INNOVATOR Award for Research in Tumor Microenvironment was established to recognize the outstanding achievement of a junior faculty-level scientist working in the tumor microenvironment field, and support his or her research that, if successful, will have potential to advance knowledge on the tumor microenvironment. The goal of the grant program is to encourage junior faculty who are in the first five years of a faculty appointment (at the start of the grant term) to pursue novel tumor microenvironment research. Travel support is included to help foster interactions and collaborations among cancer scientists studying various aspects of cancer biology and to disseminate scientific knowledge about tumor microenvironment research within the field.

Proposed projects may be basic, translational, clinical, or epidemiological in nature and must focus on the study of various aspects of the tumor microenvironment; including, but not limited to, the role of stroma and extracellular matrix in tumor development, angiogenesis, immunity and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, as well as approaches to therapeutically target the tumor environment.

The grant provides $100,000 over two years ($50,000 per year) for expenses related to the research project, which may include salary and benefits of the grant recipient, postdoctoral or clinical research fellows, graduate students, and/or research assistants, research/laboratory supplies, equipment, publication charges for manuscripts that pertain directly to the funded project, other research expenses, and for attendance at an AACR annual meeting, any AACR tumor microenvironment-related conference, or other AACR meeting for the purpose of participating in scholarly exchange about the funded research.

It is anticipated that one grant will be funded.

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have a medical and/or doctoral degree (including Ph.D., M.D., D.O., D.C., N.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., Sc.D., D.N.S., Pharm.D., or equivalent doctoral degree) in a related field and not currently be a candidate for a further doctoral or professional degree.

At the start of the grant term on July 1, 2014, applicants must:

Hold a full-time faculty position with the title of instructor, research assistant professor, assistant professor, or an equivalent full-time faculty position;

Have held a full-time faculty position or the equivalent for no more than five years (i.e., cannot have had a full-time faculty appointment before July 2, 2009); and

Work at an academic, medical, or research institution anywhere in the world. (There are no citizenship or geographic requirements; however, an applicant applying from an institution located within a country where he or she is not a citizen or permanent resident, by submitting an application for this grant, assures that his/her visa status will provide sufficient time to complete the project and grant term at the institution from which they applied.)
Employees or subcontractors of a U.S. government entity or for-profit private industry are not eligible.

AACR membership is required. Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR active membership by Wednesday, February 12, 2014.

All applicants with questions about eligibility should contact AACR before submitting an application.

Research Project Criteria

Proposed projects may be basic, translational, clinical or epidemiological in nature and must focus on the study of various aspects of the tumor microenvironment; including, but not limited to, the role of stroma and extracellular matrix in tumor development, angiogenesis, immunity and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, as well as

Inquiries

Ashley S. Jones, Staff Assistant
Telephone: 215-446-7280
Fax: 267-825-9601
Email: grants@aacr.org

 

Foundation Fighting Blindness Invites Applications for Early Career Development Awards

The Foundation Fighting Blindness invites applications from outstanding early career clinical research scientists for its Career Development Award program, which is designed to encourage junior investigators to pursue vigorous research designed to identify therapies and cures for retinal degenerative diseases such as inherited orphan retinal degenerative diseases and non-exudative age-related macular degeneration.

The goal of the program is to facilitate advances in laboratory and clinical research; to elucidate the mechanisms for the etiology and pathogenesis of RDDs; to develop innovative strategies to prevent, treat, and cure these diseases; and to jump-start the careers of highly-qualified junior clinical researchers.

At least two five-year awards of up to $375,000 will be available. All award recipients must be mentored by one or more senior clinician-scientist.

Eligible applicants include clinician-scientists possessing an M.D., D.O., or recognized equivalent foreign degree and who are in their first, second, or third year of a junior faculty appointment. Applicants do not have to be citizens of the United States.

See the Foundation Fighting Blindness Web site for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

link: http://www.blindness.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=945&Itemid=273#cda

Robert Feulgen Prize

The Robert Feulgen Prize (3000 EUR) will be awarded for an outstanding achievement in the field of histochemistry. The contributions may be either towards the development of new histochemical and cytochemical techniques or in the application of existing technology towards solving important problems in biology and/or medicine. Addressed are scientists working in microscopical sciences (in the widest sense) as well as in biochemistry, cell biology, endocrinology, in situ molecular techniques, and neurosciences. Scientists in their mid-career (assistant or associate professor, priv. doz.) are encouraged to apply. The prize is not intended for lifetime contributions.

The application should contain a short curriculum vitae, a 1,000 word summary of the contributions of the applicant and PDF reprints of the pertinent publications.

All applications should strictly adhere to the rules. They should be submitted in electronic version before January 31, each year via a web submission form. Chairman of the evaluation board: Prof. Dr. W. Kummer, Institute für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany, email:wolfgang.kummer@anatomie.med.uni-giessen.de

KY Cha Award in Stem Cell Technology

   This is a $20,000 grant awarded by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and supported by an endowment from the Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation. The purpose of this award is to provide start-up funds to initiate an innovative research project in regenerative medicine and stem cell technology. Funds are available for salary support, technical assistance, supplies, durable equipment or other project expenses but may not be used for indirect costs, or institutional overhead.

   REQUIREMENTS

   A research project in which the applicant is the primary investigator is the essential core of the grant. A progress report and a financial report on the work sponsored by the KY Cha Award in Stem Cell Technology are required to be submitted to the ASRM Office at the completion of the project or within two years, whichever comes first. This report should be signed by the recipient of the award and the Chair of the Department. At the conclusion of the project, a manuscript should be submitted for review by the Editorial Board for publication in Fertility and Sterility, the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics or another peer reviewed journal if more appropriate. Any published report must carry the acknowledgment “Supported by the KY Cha Award in Stem Cell Technology.” If data are presented at a national or international scientific meeting, they should be presented at the ASRM Annual Meeting. If the applicant has other funding for the same project then the proposed project must represent a significant enhancement of the research already funded.

   ELIGIBILITY

   Candidates eligible for the ASRM Career Development Award:

   Earned an M.D., a Ph.D., a D.O., and/or a D.V.M. degree or their equivalents (M.D. degree not required)

   Be an independent investigator who has completed his/her training and has a full-time faculty/research staff appointment as of July 1, 2014; note that clinical and research students, residents, fellows and postdoctoral trainees are not eligible.

   Have been an associate or active member of the ASRM at least since January 1, 2013.

   Have not ever received any other ASRM research award (not including Reproductive Scientist Development Program, Frontiers in Reproduction Program, and SREI/ASRM traineeship [T32] awardees).

   APPLICATION

   There is no application form. The application consists of the following seven items in this order (10 point font or greater):

   Cover sheet – including title of research proposal, applicant’s name and degree(s), address, telephone, fax, and email.           Research Proposal – the description of the research project should be presented in NIH format using six pages or less, including references.           Budget– a one-page budget should be prepared and signed by the applicant and by the Department Chair.           Statement of Career Goals – briefly list and/or describe career goals.           Curriculum Vitae – this should include basic personal data, educational background, past and present positions, honors, achievements, and publications; limited to three pages, please.           Letter of Recommendation from Division Director or Department Chair – signed letter on company/organizational letterhead.           Letter of Intent from Chair of the Department – this letter should state that the award money will only be allocated to salary support for research time, project supplies, and/or support personnel for the project. The letter should also state that the award money will not be used for laboratory equipment, indirect costs or institutional overhead, and should affirm that laboratory space with proper equipment will be available for the investigator to carry out the project.

   APPLICATIONS DUE: March 3, 2014

   You will receive an email acknowledgement when your application is received. If you have not received an acknowledgement by March 7, 2014, please contact: Ms. Meredith Sauls, ASRM, 205-978-5000 x126, Fax 205-978-5005, or email msauls@asrm.org.

   SELECTION

   Selection of an award recipient is made by ASRM and is based primarily on the scientific merit of the proposed study and the qualifications of the applicant. Also, consideration is given to the availability of resources to conduct the proposed study and the identification of a suitable environment for the pursuit of the proposed project. The awardee will be notified by June 1, 2014, and funding will commence July 1, 2014. The awardee is required to attend the 2014 ASRM Annual Meeting to receive formal recognition and the 2015 Annual Meeting as an invited speaker.