Location: The Francis Crick Institute, Midland Road, London
Short summary
Our laboratory focuses on the study of the regulation of the immune response during immune challenge and infection with either pathogens or pathobionts. The host elicits a pro-inflammatory response to infection which if uncontrolled, can lead to host damage. Our goal is to identify immune cells, pathways and targets of protection and pathogenesis determining disease outcome, with a major emphasis on cytokines, and CD4+ T cells and myeloid cells.
Key Responsibilities
The person(s) successful for these position(s) will conduct in vivo experiments in CD4-transcription-factor-targetted gene deleted mice, and reporter mice available in the lab, as well as other relevant genetically mutated mice, and/or with administration of blocking antibodies, to study the pathways and mechanisms of the immune response regulated by these transcription factors which result in the different forms of colitis in response to oral infection with H. hepaticus, as compared to effects during peripheral or oral infection with T. gondii or E.coli. These findings may then be compared with published studies of human colitis.
The aims of this project are to identify pathways of protection or pathology in mice infected with T. gondii and E.coli in the periphery and the gut, to mice orally infected with H. hepaticus. The successful candidate(s) will use cutting-edge state-of-the art advanced molecular and cellular technologies, and will be supported to analyse gene expression changes using RNA-Seq, ATAC-Seq and single-cell-(sc)-RNA-Seq, in the gut and peripheral tissues. The goals are to define immune cells, cytokines and new targets, which contribute to protection, chronic infection and/or immunopathology, which may then be tested for their function in these processes.
Key experience
- PhD in in vivo immunology in experimental models – or in the final stages of PhD submission
About us
The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work is helping to understand why disease develops and to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.
An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King’s College London.
The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under in one building in Europe.
The Francis Crick Institute will be world-class with a strong national role. Its distinctive vision for excellence includes commitments to collaboration; developing emerging talent and exporting it the rest of the UK; public engagement; and helping turn discoveries into treatments as quickly as possible to improve lives and strengthen the economy.
- If you are interested in applying for this role, please apply via our website.
- The closing date for applications is 01.08.2022
- All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.