The Structural Genomics Consortium at the University of Toronto in close collaboration with the SickKids Hospital seek an ambitious and experienced cell and molecular biologist to work in a multidisciplinary environment to identify optimal conditions to derive, maintain and screen pediatric brain tumor cell lines and xenografts directly from patient tumors (medulloblastoma and posterior fossa ependymoma). This will greatly facilitate future research aimed to identify, validate, and clinically develop specific targeted therapies against these malignancies. These primary patient sample-derived cellular systems will be used to establish tumor cell relevant cellular readouts as robust assays for compound screening. Major emphasis will be on screening epigenetic modulators using a collection of chemical probes developed at the SGC: http://www.thesgc.org/chemical-probes/epigenetics
The combined cancer cellular models and chemical biology approach will enable identification of key pathways driving tumorigenicity as well as discovery of new therapeutic strategies.
Qualifications:
- Strong experimental skills in: tissue culture, stem and primary cell culture, cell and molecular biology techniques, cell-based assays.
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Strong organizational, team and communication skills.
- Independence in experimental design, data analysis and interpretation and troubleshooting and ability to draw meaningful conclusions.
Recent selected publications relating to the project:
- Morissy, AS et al. Divergent clonal selection dominates medulloblastoma at recurrence. Nature. 2016; 529(7586):351-7. doi: 10.1038/nature16478.
- Mack, S et al. Epigenomic alterations define lethal CIMP-positive ependymomas of infancy. Nature. 2014; 506(7489):445-50. doi: 10.1038/nature13108.
- Vanner et al. Quiescent Sox2(+) cells drive hierarchical growth and relapse in sonic hedgehog subgroup medulloblastoma. Cancer Cell. 2014;26(1):33-47.
Links to the labs: http://www.thesgc.org/
http://www.sickkids.ca/Research/Dirks-Lab/index.html
http://www.sickkids.ca/Research/Taylor-lab/index.html
The SGC is a not for profit, public-private partnership working with academia and pharmaceutical companies to carry out open access basic science relevant to human health and drug discovery.
http://www.thesgc.org
http://www.thesgc.org/scientists/epigenetics
The University of Toronto and its affiliated hospital research institutes comprise one of the largest and most productive centers of biomedical research in North America. Located in vibrant downtown Toronto, the University provides an outstanding opportunity for scientific research, and career development.
Position is available immediately. Interested Candidates please send CV, cover letter and contact information for 3 references to hrsgctoronto@thesgc.org with “Pediatric brain tumor postdoc” in the subject line. Position open until filled.