Looking for a Job or an Employee?

Sistemic Ltd

Bioinformatician

Alba Bioscience Limited

Sales and Marketing Assistant

Commercial Manager

Human Resources Assistant

Quality Control Analyst

Engineering Manager
 

Medical Research Scotland has awarded several PhD studentships to Scottish Member companies details below:


The four-year PhD Studentships funded by Medical Research Scotland (http://www.medicalresearchscotland.org.uk/funding.htm) are delivered jointly by the named University and Company. The Studentships will provide the first-class academic and commercial training needed to equip the successful student for a science career in an increasingly competitive market.


The PhD Studentships provide: an annual tax-free stipend of £16,000, increasing to £16,500 over the four years; tuition fees at UK/EU rates only; and consumables. Please note international fees are not covered.


Applications should be made through the named University.


Novel small molecule modulators of the antioxidant response pathway: potential for therapy in cancer/inflammatory disease – delivered by the University of Aberdeen and Aquapharm Bio-Discovery Ltd (http://www.aquapharm.co.uk)


Academic Supervisors: Professor Gabrielle Hawksworth & Dr Heather Wilson; Company Supervisor: Dr Tim Morley


Oxidative stress causes damage to multiple cellular components such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, and is implicated in various human diseases including cancer, inflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, and aging. When cells encounter oxidative stress, the NRf2-ARE (Antioxidant Response Element)-mediated cellular response is activated to counteract the harmful effects of oxidative agents or xenobiotics. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that binds to the antioxidant response element of a broad range of protective genes, leading to an ARE-directed transcriptional response. The ARE-directed genes are involved in protective effects, including production of direct antioxidants, direct inactivation of reactive oxygen species, and detoxification of toxic xenobiotics. The project is a collaborative venture between University of Aberdeen and Aquapharm BioDiscovery Ltd whose current therapeutic focus is to identify small molecules derived from marine sources of microorganisms that possess NF-kB/Nrf2modulating activity that can be optimised and developed as anti-cancer or anti-inflammatory therapies. They have already identified extracts that show strong modulation of the Anti-oxidant Response Element (ARE) /Nrf2 pathway.


The aims of the proposed PhD studentship are to develop a tiered screening strategy to detect the activity of novel secondary metabolites from extracts of marine organisms as Nrf2 inducers and immune modulators to develop lead compounds for two therapeutic areas – anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs. Initially purified compounds that show strong functional ARE/Nrf2 induction with minimum cell toxicity or induction of cell apoptosis will be identified. Secondly, the specific mechanisms by which these compounds act as Nrf2 inducers and the cell signalling pathways they engage will be determined. Finally their pharmacological effects in both in vitro model tumour cell systems and in established inflammatory cell systems will be established. The project will employ up-to date cellular and molecular biology technology including primary cell culture, reporter assay development, siRNA technology and microarray and would suit a molecular biologist with a good first degree and interest in pharmacology/immunology. Understanding the mechanisms of action and likely clinical effectiveness of potent, non-toxic and non-electrophilic ARE inducers from natural marine-based secondary metabolites will be of huge benefit in developing lead compounds with minimum ‘off target’ effects for these two important therapeutic areas.


Interviews will be mid-April 2012.


Applications should be submitted through: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply.php