PRR Project

Summary

This position of Assistant Researcher will be integrated in one of the translational research groups of IPO Porto Research Center, specifically, the Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group (CBEG), which is a multidisciplinary research group that includes researchers, pathologists, urologists, Pathology technicians, PhD and MSc students. CBEG integrates the CI-IPOP since 2008, under the coordination of Prof. Carmen Jerónimo, and its long-term goal is to portray the epigenetic mechanisms implicated in tumorigenesis, with an emphasis on genitourinary cancers to deliver knowledge transferable to better patients’ care.Over the years, CBEG research has successfully pursued this goal by working in 2 CI-IPOP’s main research lines (development of new generation strategies for early cancer detection/screening and expansion of research to deliver Precision Oncology) in Medical and Health Sciences, namely in Oncobiology. In alignment with the EU Mission, CBEG has explored DNA methylation and miRNAs as biomarkers for early detection using minimally invasive approaches (which led to a patent approval, Methods and biomarkers for detection of bladder cancer-US 20130210011/ EP 2630261 A1/ WO 2012052844 A1) and demonstrated the improvement of cost-effectiveness of cervical cancer screening population-based program using DNA methylation biomarkers (PMID 34460099). Also, CBEG has a major involvement in testicular germ tumors research, contributing to the validation of microRNA371a-3p as a novel biomarker, which has recently reached clinical implementation (PMID: 35756620; PMID: 36568207; PMID: 33288479). Focusing on Personalized Cancer Medicine, CBEG has been devoted to the development and validation of predictive biomarkers for risk stratification and treatment decisions in prostate cancer patients, exploring immunostains (PMID: 29174711, ProstARK-Provisional patent application) as well as liquid biopsies (PMID: 29174711; PMID: 28143614). The second research line concerns the identification of novel epigenetic actionable targets to be tested as a standalone treatment or in combination with standard treatment regimens (PMID: 35483199; PMID: 37840069; PMID: 33318475). Recently, CBEG has secured funding from international consortia (MindGap DOI:10.3030/829040; TRANSCAN-UciPredict Doi:10.54499/TRANSCAN3/0001/2021; PROSTAMET DOI: 10.3030/101120283; CCI4EU DOI: 10.3030/101103746) to support both research lines.The assistant researcher to be hired is expected to play a critical role in the two major research lines, further incrementing CBEG sustainability and scientific outputs: 1) Validating epigenetic biomarkers for population-based screening of 3 most prevalent cancers, in collaboration with Northern Regional Health Administration and National Program for Oncological Diseases. 2) Identifying epigenetic machinery factors in tumor (and microenvironmental) cells, that may constitute actionable targets, fostering personalized cancer medicine.He/She/x will be involved in a) participation in the design, development, and implementation of scientific projects within the scope of CBEG and CI-IPOP; b) in vitro and in vivo studies and phenotypic assays for unveiling new epigenetics-targeted therapies that might be used as co-treatment or sensitizers for already established treatment options such as immunotherapy and radiotherapy; c) translational studies for biomarker validation using biological samples from the institutional biobank; d) writing applications for grants and scholarships as principal investigator to seek for project funding; e) (co)supervising students, mainly PhD students; f) collaborating with the group coordinator in training programs and laboratory management activities; g) participating in scientific dissemination and outreach activities for the scientific and general community with the involvement with all stakeholders of the national comprehensive cancer center network.The Assistant Researcher should have: i) PhD in Biomedical Sciences or similar areas with a focus on oncology, with more than 6 years of post-doctoral experience in Cancer Epigenetics basic and translational research; ii) Scientific experience in urological cancers research, supported by scientific achievements such as publications, international and national communications (poster and oral), and students’ supervision (PhD, and MSc students); iii) Strong publication record in high profile, peer-reviewed international scientific journals, including as first, and senior author; iv) International experience; v)PI/Co-PI/WP leader in Funded projects; vi) Previous “hands-on” experience in in vitro studies, in vivo models, cancer metabolism or cancer immunology, epi-drug treatments; vii) Prior involvement in planning and implementation of scientific dissemination and outreach activities.