Description du sujet de thèse

PhD candidate in radiobiology and neuro-oncology “Deciphering the formation of brain tumors after exposure to low doses of radiation (UBT-Rad-PhD)” M/F

The incidence of pediatric brain tumors is rising steadily. Among the established risk factors in children, hereditary genetic mutations and exposure to ionizing radiation are the most well-documented. A recent epidemiological study reported a linear increase in the relative rate of brain cancer with the dose of radiation deposited on the brain during CT imaging examinations.
In this context, we hypothesize that low-dose irradiation (LDIR) in children could be a determinant of tumor transformation of brain cells in the presence of genetic alterations. Our aim is to investigate the involvement of other potential mechanisms on radiation-induced carcinogenesis, focusing on the brain microenvironment, the immune response and oxidative stress. In addition, we aim to identify and target factors that inhibit tumor progression.
Using healthy brain cells (neural stem cells and astrocytes) bearing genetic modifications, the effects of LDIR on neoplastic transformation will be determined and the underlying intrinsic mechanisms investigated. The role of the brain microenvironment, in particular microglia, astrocytes and endothelial cells, in LDIR-induced brain carcinogenesis will be assessed using different methodological approaches in cell cocultures and organotypic slices.
The UBT-Rad-PhD project aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the response of brain tissue to low-dose irradiation, and should lead to the identification of targets to prevent brain tumor formation.

Skills required:
The candidate should have an engineering degree and/or a master's degree in Biology or Neurobiology/Neuroscience. We are looking for a young researcher who is committed to his or her project, curious, with a degree of autonomy and strong motivation to develop/acquire radiobiology skills in the field of neuro-oncology. In addition, the candidate must be able to work in a team on international multidisciplinary projects. Fluency in written and spoken English is essential for this project involving international collaborations.
Notions of radiobiology and neuro-carcinogenesis will be highly appreciated.
On a technical level, the candidate should have experience in cell culture, and classical cell and molecular biology techniques (nucleic acid and protein extraction, quantitative RT-PCR, western blot, immunocytochemistry or histology, flow cytometry). Experience in cell irradiation and primary culture of brain cells and organotypic brain slices would be highly appreciated.

Contexte de travail

The person recruited will carry out his/her thesis within the ISTCT “Imaging and therapeutic strategies for cancers and cerebral tissues” unit (www.istct.cyceron.fr), which specializes in neuro-oncology and the use of biomedical multimodal imaging, under the supervision of Elodie Pérès and Juliette Aury-Landas. The research unit will provide the human and material resources required to complete the thesis. The person recruited will also have access to the unit's equipment (cellular and molecular biology laboratories, physiology, etc.), the CYCERON platform (irradiators), and the US PLATON platforms to carry out this project.

Contraintes et risques

Travels to Germany will be required for experiments related to the study of genomic instability. Occasional shifts and weekend work may be required, depending on experimental constraints.

Subject to funding by the Normandy Region.