RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (Immunology) POST AT Dr. TIM TREE’S LAB At KING’S COLLEGE OF LONDON
POST: Research Associate
RESEARCH DIVISION: Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology
JOB REFERENCE: G6/MII/844/11-TC 04/12/2011
SUMMARY: The post-holder will be working in Dr Tim Tree's laboratory, which is located in the Programme of Infection and Immunity, at Guy's Hospital.
This position is a full-time position for three years. The post-holder will participate in a project funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as part of an international consortium to investigate the role of autoreactive memory T cells in the pathogenesis of human type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Type 1 diabetes is caused by the specific destruction of the insulin producing pancreatic beta cells, a process orchestrated by autoreactive T cells. These autoreactive T cells can be detected in the blood of individuals before, during and after the onset of T1D. Recent studies have suggested that similar autoreactive T cells may also be responsible for destroying new beta cells transplanted into individuals undergoing islet transplantation many years after the initial onset of T1D.
This project will define the intrinsic properties of these pathogenic autoreactive memory T cells and determine if these cells were already present in these patients prior to transplantation. This will be achieved by studying the immune response in islet transplant recipients who are monitored very closely to detect signs of islet destruction. We will then isolate the cells responsible for this destruction and perform detailed characterization of these cells including the assessment of their susceptibility (or resistance) to immune suppression and regulation. We will then examine archived pre-transplant samples to determine if the same cells that caused destruction of the islets after transplantation were present before transplantation and whether they share the same key characteristics when they are at rest (pre-transplant) as they do when they are actively involved in killing islets (post-transplant).
These studies are not just of relevance to those undergoing islet transplantation but are also highly relevant to individuals in the process of developing T1D, those with newly diagnosed T1D and also those with longstanding T1D all of whom are likely to harbor these same memory T cell populations. Knowledge gained by these studies including identification of the intrinsic properties of these cells and determining their susceptibility to regulation could aid the rational development of strategies to target these cells in all patients with T1D.
DETAILS :The post holder will be expected to have extensive experience of human immunology and be capable of performing complex cellular based assays with large datasets. In particular, experience in assays including: cytokine ELISpot, multi-parameter polychromatic flow cytometry and the isolation generation and propagation of human T cell clones would be advantageous.
The post-holder will also need excellent liaison skills as the position involves substantial liaison with clinicians, research nurses and academic collaborators.
SALARY The appointment will be made, dependent on relevant qualifications and experience, within the Grade 6 scale, currently £33,193 to £39,185, per annum, inclusive of £2,323 London Allowance, per annum.
POST DURATION This position is a full-time position for three years.
CONTACT FOR AN APPLICATION PACK
FOR APPLICATION PACK: |
Alternatively, please email jcmbjobs@kcl.ac.uk. All correspondence should clearly state the job title and reference number G6/MII/844/11-TC.
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