a PhD Candidate/Fellow in the Laboratory of Immunology

We are recruiting to the OPUS project No. 2023/49/B/NZ7/03915 entitled "Unraveling protease activation in stimulated CAR-T cells to identify new biomarkers for assessing their clinical efficacy" funded by the National Science Centre and carried out at the Laboratory of Immunology at the Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences (MMRI PAS). The project is led by Dr. Małgorzata Firczuk. The Laboratory of Immunology is a new, rapidly developing scientific unit at MMRI PAS, bringing together young scientists and collaborating with numerous clinical and research teams in Poland and abroad. Currently, the Laboratory is implementing twelve projects funded by external agencies. We are looking for a candidate with a genuine passion for research, enthusiasm for discoveries, and a commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.

Information about the research project in which the candidate would participate:

Cell therapy using T cells modified with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T) is a novel and groundbreaking method for treating the most challenging cases of hematologic cancers, already applied in clinics, also in Poland. The project's goal is to identify new biomarkers for monitoring the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy. In particular, we will investigate proteases activated in CAR-T cells after their contact with tumor cells. In collaboration with the team led by Dr. Marcin Poręba from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, a partner in the project, we plan to develop probes enabling a precise assessment of protease activity using flow cytometry and mass cytometry. It is worth emphasizing that, while the project focuses on basic research to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of CAR-T cell activation, the results obtained also carry translational and commercialization potential.