1 Internship Position in Cancer Research (Master 2 student)

Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) is the leading public research center in Luxembourg for basic, pre-clinical and clinical research in biomedicine and public health. Our clinically-oriented biomedical research activities in Oncology, Infection & Immunity and Population Health encompass the generation of knowledge on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of diseases with large impacts on public health and the epidemiological surveillance of these diseases. With the mission to deliver scientific, economic and societal value for Luxembourg, LIH aims to translate knowledge into clinical applications impacting on healthcare systems while shaping personalized medicine.

To be part of the Tumor Stroma Interactions research team (Head: PI: Dr. E. Moussay and Dr. Jérôme Paggetti) within the Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research of LIH, we are currently looking for:

1 Internship Position in Cancer Research (Master 2 student)

Available for 6 months, early 2018 (Can be adjusted according to the specific requirements of the University)

Background. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) represent the most frequent leukemia in adults. Despite recent advances in treatments, CLL remains a deadly uncurable disease. This cancer is caracterized by an accumulation of abnormal, apoptosis resistant, B lymphocytes in the blood and lymphoid organs of the patients. CLL progression is highly dependent on complex interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Indeed, CLL cells can modify stromal cells and immune cells to promote their survival and to escape from the immune surveillance system.

Objectives. Our team focuses on the mechanisms leading to leukemia progression, in particular the influence of CLL cells on stromal cells and immune cells located in their microenvironment, with the goal to identify new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Training and research environment. Tumor Stroma Interactions is a dynamic and multinational team whose current members originate from France, Belgium, Germany and Italy. It belongs to the Department of Oncology, whose research activities focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tumor progression using a wide range of cutting edge technologies, including genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, as well as in vitro and in vivo imaging modalities using state-of-the art animal models for cancer research. Master students will assist one of our projects that aims to explore the interplay between leukemic cells and their microenvironment, and will be co-supervised by Dr. E. Moussay (PI), Dr. J. Paggetti (PI) and experienced scientists from the team.

Recent related reference (open access): Paggetti J*, Haderk F, Seiffert M, Janji B, Distler U, Ammerlaan W, Kim YJ, Lichter P, Solary E, Berchem G, and Moussay E* (2015) Exosomes released by chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells induce cancer-associated fibroblast formation. Blood 126(9):1106-17. (IF:13.164)

What we offer and conditions

- Students will have the opportunity to work in an interactive and international scientific environment, attend conferences by eminent scientists from abroad, and present their own work during lab meetings.

- They will receive training in basic biochemistry, molecular and cell biology techniques, such as Western-blotting, real-time PCR, and cell culture, as well as confocal imaging, flow cytometry and in vivo experiments on mouse models.

- Applicants must be affiliated to their own University. English is mandatory.

- Master students will receive 500€/month unless they have their own funding source, e.g. Erasmus grant.

Scientific contact

Dr. Jérôme PAGGETTI, PhD

Luxembourg Institute of Health, 84 Val Fleuri

Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research

L-1526 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Tel: 00352 26 970 340

jerome.paggetti@lih.lu

Located in Luxembourg, LIH offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic, international and multilingual

environment that values personal respect and professional achievement based on the highest intellectual

and ethical standards. The job advertisement is also published on our website www.lih.lu.

The applicants should submit before 30th November, 2017 a letter detailing their motivation and a curriculum

vitae via our website with the ref. : VD/ICRM0717/JP/LECR-TSI