PhD positions
Alejandro Anido – Development of therapies targeting the oncogenic and immunologic activity of MYCN in neuroblastoma
| Institute: | The Institute of Cancer Research |
| Supervisor: | Prof. Dr. Louis Chesler |
| Co-Supervisors: | Prof. Dr. Frank Speleman and Dr. Esther Drent |
| Secondments: | Ugent (Belgium) and Roche (Switzerland) |
| Enrolment in Doctoral Program: | Cancer Biology |
| PhD awarded by: | University of London |
Objectives
MYCN is a driver of paediatric cancer, oncogene dependency and immunosuppression. We have developed initial small-molecule drugs and CAR-T therapies targeting MYCN, now entering clinical use. The objective now is to develop synergistic combination therapy with small-molecules and complementary T-cell directed drugs. We will characterize the immunologic and microenvironmental effects of treatment, correlate them with elimination of MYCN transcription and use them to develop rational combination therapy for a clinical trial.
Expected Results
We expect to: 1) develop detailed single-cell transcriptomic and proteomic data on maintenance of tumours and immune- microenvironment by MYCN, 2) develop in-vivo data on impact to tumour microenvironment, tumour progression and survival and 3) test a synergistic small-molecule CAR-T therapy approach for clinical trial.