Research Associate in Sonodynamic Therapy of Paediatric Brain Cancer - Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

Research Associate in Sonodynamic Therapy of Paediatric Brain Cancer - Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

About Us

The School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences at King’s College London is a world-leading centre for translatable methods of diagnosing and treating disease. Hosted within St Thomas’ Hospital, our facilities include pre-clinical and clinical MRI, PET, SPECT scanners, as well as research ultrasound platforms. The Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging and Interventions (QUIIN) laboratory is developing advanced ultrasound techniques for imaging and therapeutic interventions, spanning from focused brain ultrasound for drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier, to super-resolution ultrasound imaging and multi-transducer ultrasound methods.

About The Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic Research Associate to lead a highly translational pre-clinical project on sonodynamic therapy of paediatric brain tumours.

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of chemical synthesis and experience in using novel therapeutics for hard-to-treat diseases. The post involves preparation of sonosensitizer nanoparticles and their delivery into the brain of paediatric tumour mouse models. Focused ultrasound and circulating microbubbles will be used to non-invasively disrupt the blood-brain barrier in a localised and reversible manner. The candidate will first perform in vitro experiments with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) cells, to establish the efficiency of sonodynamic therapy in patient-derived cancer cell lines. In vivo experiments aiming at non-invasive sonodynamic treatment of DMG in a mouse model will follow successful in vitro implementation.

The post-holder will join an exciting project in the heart of London, funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity and LifeArc. The project has a strong translational focus, and its results will be used for the design of future clinical trials in DMG patients, in collaboration with our academic and industrial partners. In addition, the post holder will be involved in imminent clinical trials using focused ultrasound to perform targeted drug delivery in DMG patients. The project will be based in the Department of Surgical & Interventional Engineering, within the School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, at King’s College London. In vitro and in vivo experiments will be conducted at St Thomas’ Hospital. Chemical synthesis and characterisation of sonosensitizer nanoparticles will be conducted in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at King’s College London, under the supervision of Prof. Maya Thanou.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 18 months after the start date.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers , applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.