Supervisor 1 Dr Paloma Garcia

Supervisor 2 and 3 Dr Eva Peterman and Dr Agnieszca Gambus

Project Description

Applications are invited for a 3-year MRC/College PhD Studentship starting October 2015.

Cancer cells proliferate indefinitely owing to lack of growth- and cell cycle checkpoint controls present in normal cells. Deregulation of proliferation by oncogenes and replication stress has been linked to chromosome instability (CIN) and cancer aggressiveness. Thus, cell cycle regulated genes are becoming increasingly important as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in cancer.

The B-Myb gene has a general role in the regulation of proliferation and its down-regulation has been related to genome instability. Moreover, it has been implicated for many years in different types of human cancer. Although it is widely accepted from in vitro studies using adult somatic cells that B-Myb is essential in cell cycle progression, its function in vivo has remained elusive due to early embryonic lethality (between E4.5 and E6) of mice engineered to lack expression of the protein. This time during development coincides with the formation of the inner cell mass (ICM) from which ESCs are derived, suggesting that B-Myb is necessary for ESC formation or maintenance.

My group has accumulated experimental evidence demonstrating an as yet uncharacterized important function for B-Myb during S-phase in both somatic cells and ESCs, pointing to an essential role of this protein in the intra S-phase checkpoint, when proper DNA synthesis and genome integrity are assessed. Moreover, we have evidence that DNA repair pathways are affected by the absence of B-Myb as well.

The purpose of the project will be to study the molecular mechanisms behind the S phase phenotype observed in the absence of B-Myb. These studies will allow us to shed light on the molecular mechanisms by which deletion of B-Myb affects genome integrity. They will provide an invaluable contribution to our understanding of molecular events associated with the maintenance of chromsome stability in somatic versus the therapeutically promising stem cells.

Person Specification

Applicants should have a strong background in Cancer/Oncology, Molecular Biology and/or Stem Cell Biology. They should have a commitment to research and hold or realistically expect to obtain at least an Upper Second Class Honours Degree in any of the relevant subjects above. 

How to apply

Enquiries and applications should be directed to Vikki Harrison at V.B.Harrison@bham.ac.uk

To apply, please send:

• A Detailed CV, including your nationality and country of birth;
• Names and addresses of two referees;
• A covering letter highlighting your research experience/capabilities;
• Copies of your degree transcripts;
• Evidence of your proficiency in the English language, if applicable.

Funding Notes

To be eligible for a full MRC/College Studentship award (stipend and university fees) you must have:

• Settled status in the UK.
• Been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for three years prior to the start of the studentship.
• Not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. (This does not apply to UK or EU nationals).

Students from EU countries other than the UK are generally eligible for a fees-only award. To be eligible for a fees-only award, a student must be ordinarily resident in a member state of the EU.