Postdoctoral position (M/F) in medicinal chemistry: understanding the role of ML-IAP TAMs in Glioblastomas

Job Description

Missions

Glioblastomas (GBM) are the most common and aggressive primary brain tumors in humans. Immunotherapies, which revolutionized the treatment of systemic tumors, remain inefficient for GBM, most likely due to a high immunosuppressive environment. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the major immune cell population in GBM, play key roles in immunosuppression, tumor progression and treatment resistance. Their function is heterogeneous and the specific roles of the different TAM subsets remain poorly understood, due to the lack of adapted models and tools.
ML-IAP, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein, was identified as a marker of poor prognosis in GBM and recently, the GlioME team (INP UMR CNRS 7051) demonstrated that the GBM immune landscape could be shifted toward an anti-tumor response using the ML-IAP inhibitor. This project now aims at developing derivatives of this ML-IAP inhibitor to prepare bioconjugated systems capable of specifically targeting ML-IAP TAM subsets and to decipher their roles in immunosuppression, tumor progression, and treatment resistance.

Activity

• Synthesize and characterize different ML-IAP inhibitors
• Functionalize specific antibodies to target ML-IAP TAM subpopulations
• Determine the optimal conditions for the release of the inhibitor
• Select the most effective systems in vitro

Your Profil

Skills

PhD in chemistry and solid expertise in organic synthesis with knowledge in peptides and protein functionalization via bio-orthogonal methodologies. Additional skills in bioinorganic chemistry and spectro-electrochemistry would be appreciated.
Soft skills: autonomy, rigor, critical thinking; proficiency in English (oral and written); good organizational and communication skills; ability to work in interdisciplinary and cross-team environments; knowledge of confidentiality rules.

Your Work Environment

The iSm2 (Institut des Sciences Moléculaires de Marseille) is a mix research unit associated to CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université and Ecole Centrale Méditerranée (https://ism2.univ-amu.fr/fr). The Institute specializes in molecular chemistry and is part of the AMUTech and IM2B multidisciplinary Institutes of Aix-Marseille University. These institutes are built on the synergy of skills and resources of different physic, chemistry and biology research units (UMR) of the Aix Marseille Université sites and work on the study of materials, nano- and biotechnologies, microbiology, new therapies, bioenergies, and the chemical aspects and processes of living systems.
The successful candidate will be integrated into the BiosCiences team headed by Thierry TRON, and will join the interdisciplinary consortium of an INSERM-funded PCSI project which gathers 4 partners: iSm2-BiosCiences UMR CNRS 7313 (Dr. Olga Iranzo), INP-GlioME UMR CNRS 7051 (Dr. Aurélie Tchoghandjian-Auphan), IBGC-GBmetabo UMR CNRS 5095 (Dr. Thomas Daubon) and IBGC-Computational Biology and Bioinformatics UMR CNRS 5095 (Dr. Macha Nikolski). The researcher will work under the supervision of Dr. Olga Iranzo. The chemistry and biology laboratories of the consortium are well-equipped and have all the infrastructure needed to develop the project.

Constraints and risks

Optional: missions for congresses, training-workshops, meetings with collaborators.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Between €3,131.32 and €4,341.70 depending on professional experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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