Research Fellow – Tissue engineering and GMP optimisation

Job title:

Research Fellow – Tissue engineering and GMP optimisation

Company

University College London

Job description

About us The mission of the UCL GOS Institute of Child Health is to maximise and advocate for the holistic health of all children, young people and the adults they will become, through world-class research, education and public engagement. The UCL GOS ICH, together with its clinical partner Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, forms the largest concentration of children’s health research outside North America. The 2024-29 GOS ICH strategy focuses on its five scientific programmes. GOS ICH’s activities include active engagement with children and families, to ensure that our work is relevant and appropriate to their needs. GOS ICH generates the funding for our research by setting out our proposals in high quality applications to public, charitable and industrial funding bodies and disseminates the results of our research by publication in the medical and scientific literature, to clinicians, policy makers and the wider public. The Institute offers world-class education and training across a wide range of teaching and life learning programmes which address the needs of students and professional groups who are interested in and undertaking work relevant to child health. GOS ICH holds an Athena SWAN Charter Gold Award.About the role We are looking to appoint an experienced, enthusiastic and highly motivated research fellow with knowledge and skills in developmental and stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. The successful candidate will work on an exciting translational project to develop GMP-compliant methods for tissue-engineered oesophageal grafts preparation with the longer aim to initiate a first-in-man clinical trial for TE oesophageal graft transplantation in patients with Long Gap Oesophageal Atresia (LGOA).Oesophageal atresia (OA) is a rare congenital condition, where instead of normally connecting the gullet to the stomach, the oesophagus ends in a blind-ended pouch, meaning babies cannot feed until the ends are joined surgically. Complex congenital and acquired oesophageal pathologies may require oesophageal substitution to restore anatomical continuity but this is associated with significant morbidity. The aim of our group is to generate functional circumferential tissue-engineered grafts for treatment of LGOA, based on an already established protocol which generated successful grafts tested in a porcine model. This project will create tissue-engineered grafts using techniques closer to GMP-compliance by developing human cells and grafts with GMP-grade reagents and materials, and optimising cell delivery and uniform coverage of the scaffold using automated microinjection.The successful candidate will join a vibrant and multidisciplinary lab working with Professor Paolo De Coppi, and the wider project team – Dr Marco Pellegrini, Dr Natalie Durkin, and Professor Simon Eaton, as well as the patient group for LGOA – TOFS, and industry collaborators. The post is available from 1st September 2024 and will be funded for 12 months in the first instance with possibility for extension for an additional 12 months, and is funded from the GOSHCC/Lifearc Translational Research Accelerator grant.About you Candidates will have experience in derivation and culture of primary cells from biopsy samples; preparation and analysis of histological stains and immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry; qPCR; Strong interest and experience in using interdisciplinary approaches in their research program.They should demonstrate evidence of ability to learn quickly and to work as part of a multidisciplinary team (i.e. biologists, bioengineers and medical doctors/surgeons).Excellent organizational and proven problem-solving skills are required. They should be able to communicate their work effectively in writing and oral presentations at internal meetings and conferences.Candidates must have a PhD in a relevant life science subject, for example in stem cell biology/molecular biology/ developmental biology. Proven research aptitude and wet laboratory experience is essential, as well as experience in cell culture, particularly human tissue, and cellular biology.Knowledge and experience in stem cell transplantation, GMP procedures, and scaffold preparation using decellularization methods/bioreactor technology is desirable. We welcome candidates with experience of working in translational biomedical sciences and exposure to working with regulatory bodies. Experience and interest in working with patient groups is also desirable.What we offer As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
On-Site nursery
On-site gym
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
Discounted medical insuranceOur commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/Available documents

Expected salary

Location

North West London

Job date

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:42:15 GMT

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