An NWO demonstrator grant has been awarded to provide proof of concept for a novel class of small molecule Notch inhibitors in breast cancer.

Background:
The Notch pathway is frequently deregulated in many cancers, including triple negative breast cancer for which there are no specific treatments available. Current Notch inhibitors target the aspartyl proteases presenilin are limited because they also target the Notch pathway in normal tissues causing toxicity. We have developed a new class of potent non-toxic Notch/g-secretase inhibitors that are more specific for tumor cells and less harmful to normal tissues. We expect these inhibitors to have improved anti-cancer activity since they are tolerated at higher dose and duration that current drugs.

The key objectives are investigating the efficacy of a novel class of potent small molecule inhibitors targeting the Notch pathway in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this project you will 1. Apply in vitro assays (cells and isolated enzyme complexes) to measure the potency of these inhibitors and ii. their efficacy using 3D breast cancer (organoid) models. You will also use RNAseq from these TNBC cell models and tumors to identify biomarkers of response.

We are looking for a Postdoc with a PhD in molecular biology and broad experience and track record with in vitro (primary) cell culture and protein/enzyme biochemistry.

General Profile:
We are looking for an open-minded, independent and result-oriented scientist to join our team. You are fluent in English, both in writing and speech.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

The position (1.0 FTE) is temporary for the duration of 1 year. Depending on experience and qualification, the maximum gross monthly salary is € 5.211,- (in accordance with scale 11).

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 20,000 students and 4,700 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

School GROW / Department of Radiotherapy

GROW Institute for Oncology and Developmental Biology (www.grow-um.nl).

Department:
The radiotherapy department (www.maastrolab.com) is a basic and translational research laboratory embedded within the GROW research institute of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Maastricht University and closely affiliated with Maastro patient clinic and the Maastricht Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Current research is focused on identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities in the tumor microenvironment to improve treatment response. The lab has four PI’s with research topics in the area of tumor cell metabolism (Kampen Group), Cell death (Bock group), Autophagy and extracellular vesicles (Rouschop group) and Stem cells and hypoxia (Vooijs Group). The Notch group has developed in vivo and in vitro primary patient-derived normal and cancer (stem) cell models to study Notch cell fate decisions.