Master thesis project
Evaluating the DNA damage response upon treatment with radioligand therapy in combination with radiosensitizer
Are you eager to work in a scientific setting while staying connected to real-world applications? Do you want to collaborate with skilled scientists to develop procedures that will create value for future drug development and healthcare? Then making your master’s thesis at Minerva Imaging may be just the right thing for you.
Project description
Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is an emerging cancer treatment that delivers targeted radiation to tumors. As several radioligand-based drugs will soon become standard-of-care treatments, RLT has recently gained significant attention as a key area of research and development within the pharmaceutical industry. With the increasing clinical use of TRT it becomes evident that some patients do not benefit from the therapy, while others develop a resistance to the therapy after an initial response. Hence, there is a growing interest in understanding the mechanisms of resistance to TRT and the need to develop therapies that are able to enhance its therapeutic effect. As the primary mechanisms of action of TRT is DNA damage, the investigation of DNA damage response (DDR) becomes crucial for optimizing treatment strategies. At Minerva Imaging, we provide validated immunohistochemistry staining protocols for key markers of DNA double-strand breakage to our clients, and we wish to expand this selection with other markers of DNA damage.
Establishing models for radioligand therapy is essential to uncover the mechanisms driving treatment resistance in cancer. We therefore want to develop cancer cell line models to investigate molecular and cellular changes that enable the cells to survive and adapt to TRT. Moreover, the cell lines will be ideal models to screen for TRT sensitizing molecular targets in high-throughput assays.
Project objectives
In this project, we will develop different TRT resistant cancer cell line models and in parallel, develop protocols for analyzing DDR marker using histological evaluation and/or flow cytometry. We will then evaluate the DDR of the sensitive and resistant cell line to understand the mechanism of resistance. Finally, and if time, the cells will be included in a screen of known radiosensitizer together with TRT to find possible therapeutic strategies.
Project success criteria
At the end of the project period the student will have created and characterized TRT resistant cancer cell lines that can be included in further studies focused on the development of novel therapeutics. The student will have gained valuable insights into the drug development industry, developed practical problem-solving skills and improved their communication and collaboration skills while gaining hands-on experience bridging academic learnings and industry practices.
The MI Scholar Program
As a master student you will be part of our internal Minerva Imaging Scholar Program. The program is designed to support Minerva Imaging’s continued development as a scientifically driven CRO and focuses on developing novel tools and procedures that expand the capabilities in our focus areas.
The project period is 9-12 months, and the start date is flexible although Q3 (August/September), 2025 is preferred. The project is open as both a master’s project and/or research year project. The research year is a unique opportunity to delve deeper into a topic and get a closer look at the world of research and life as a researcher. As a master’s project, it will also be possible to combine the project with a student job at Minerva Imaging. Throughout the project you will be assigned to an internal senior researcher that will supervise you.
Your profile
The ideal candidate is driven by cancer research and enjoys working in an international team. It is essential that you have a positive attitude, are proactive, take ownership of the project and drive it forward. You should be on a relevant master’s program (Human Biology, Molecular Biomedicine, DVM, engineer or other nature and life sciences programs).
Interested?
If you are interested in the project and want to learn more, please reach out to Department Manager, Sebastian Gnosa; email: seg@minervaimaging.com. Please submit your application via our website. The application must include a short, motivated cover letter and a CV. Applications are evaluated continuously.
