Postdoc in Cancer Immunology and Lipid Metabolism in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment

Description

The Jo Van Ginderachter lab is looking for an excellent postdoctoral scientist interested in understanding the mechanisms that regulate the heterogeneity and pro-tumoral activity of tumor-associated macrophages, and how we can use such mechanisms to optimize immunotherapy. In particular, we want to understand how lipids and altered lipid metabolism regulate tumor-associated macrophages and whether we can reprogram the macrophages by interfering with lipid metabolism.

This project is embedded in an ambitious, excellence-based research consortium on strategic basic research with an economic finality (FWO-SBO program LipoMacs) consisting of six Flemish partners (Jo Van Ginderachter-VIB/ Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Johan Swinnen-KULeuven, Massimiliano Mazzone- VIB/KULeuven, Jerome Hendriks-UHasselt, Charlotte Scott, VIB/UGent). The candidate will be an active part of this consortium and will interact and collaborate with the other partners.

The project relies on cutting-edge lipidomics, spatial lipidomics and spatial multiomics technologies to map the heterogeneity of macrophages at the level of lipid metabolism. This project is also further supported by a bioinformatician in the JVG lab.

The JVG lab is located at the Science/Humanities campus of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in the center of Brussels and in the heart of Europe, and is part of the excellence-based VIB Center for Inflammation Research (director: Bart Lambrecht).

Selected references:

Geeraerts X, Fernandez-Garcia J, …, Van den Bossche J*, Fendt SM*, Van Ginderachter JA*. *Equal contribution. Macrophages are metabolically heterogeneous within the tumor microenvironment. Cell Reports 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110171.

Pombo Antunes AR, Scheyltjens I, ...Van Ginderachter JA*, Movahedi K*. *Equal contribution. Single-cell profiling of myeloid cells in glioblastoma across species and disease stage reveals macrophage competition and specialization. Nature Neuroscience 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41593-020-00789-y

Van Damme H, …, Laoui D*, Van Ginderachter JA*. *Equal contribution. Therapeutic depletion of CCR8+ tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells elicits antitumor immunity and synergizes with anti-PD-1 therapy. Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer 2021, doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001749

Bieniasz-Krzywiec P, …, Van Ginderachter JA, Mazzone M. Podoplanin-expressing macrophages promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphoinvasion in breast cancer. Cell Metabolism 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.07.015

Laoui D, Keirsse J, ..., Van Ginderachter JA. The tumour microenvironment harbours ontogenically distinct dendritic cell populations with opposing effects on tumour immunity. Nature Communications 2016. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13720

Profile

• Ph.D. in biology, bio-engineering sciences, medical sciences, biomedical sciences, or related disciplines
• Solid publication record
• Experienced in immunology, preferably myeloid cell biology and/or metabolism of immune cells
• Experienced in working with mouse models (FELASA B or C required)
• Experience with flow cytometry and lipidomics or other omics technologies is highly beneficial
• Experience in tumor immunology is beneficial
• Excellent spoken and written English skills
• Creative, highly motivated, independent, team player

We offer

• The possibility to independently lead your research project, but with sufficient guidance and mentoring
• Excellent training conditions, with the possibility to learn a wide set of cutting-edge technologies
• A friendly, dynamic, and scientifically stimulating working environment, with a team of highly motivated scientists
• Long-term career opportunities
• Funding for up to 4 years. However, you will be encouraged to also apply for personal fellowships

Starting date

1 October 2022

How to apply?

• A detailed CV, containing a full list of publications
• Motivation letter
• Summary of past research
• Names and contact information of 2-3 referees