School of Medicine, Dentistry
and Biomedical Sciences
BELFAST CANCER RESEARCH UK CENTRE
CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP
The Belfast Cancer Research UK Centre seeks applicants for a three year clinical
Research Training Fellowship leading to a PhD to commence on 1 August 2011.
The fellowship will be administered by the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell
Biology at Queen’s University Belfast. The project will be supervised by
Professor Manuel Salto-Tellez and Dr Paul Mullan. Applications for this project
are invited from talented and motivated specialist registrars training in the United
Kingdom in a cancer-related discipline.
Completion of the Molecular Pathology of the Runt family of genes in
breast cancer and precursor lesions: biological and clinical implications
Supervisors: Prof Manuel Salto-Tellez (email: m.salto-tellez@qub.ac.uk)
Dr Paul Mullan (email: p.mullan@qub.ac.uk)
It is essential that applicants will have completed at least two years of their clinical speciality
training. It is desirable that applicants will be trainees in histopathology and demonstrate evidence
of prior research.
Further information is available on the School website at
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/mdbs/ (Click on Postgraduate Studentships). Potential candidates
are encouraged to contact the supervisor prior to submitting an application.
A major goal of molecular biology is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying
cancer development and progression in order to achieve early detection, better
diagnosis and staging and novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. The
Runt-related family of transcription factors 1-3 (RUNX1, 2 and 3) are key players
in oncogenesis. Our group has played a pivotal role to date in establishing the
current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of RUNX2 and 3 in cancer
development (Biochim Biophys Acta 2009; 1796 (2): 315-31). This PhD
studentship should elucidate the biological role of RUNX1, 2 and 3 in the
sequence leading from normal breast tissue to invasive carcinoma, and the
prognostic and predictive significance of these biomarkers. In parallel, this work
should allow us to investigate the possible connection of this family of
transcription factors with other key interests in our laboratory, namely the
BRCA1-dependent transcription and the basal-like phenotype in breast cancer.
The successful candidate will acquire important laboratory skills in the biological
interrogation of clinical samples, cutting across protein expression, gene
expression/amplification, methylation and sequencing; this will give the individual
involved in this PhD the necessary conceptual and technical armamentarium to
pursue a fruitful career in academic medicine.
CLOSING DATE: Wednesday, 11 May 2011 at 5.00 pm
The application consists of two different processes:
(1) Candidates should apply via the Queen’s on-line portal:
https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/user/u_login.php
(2) A copy of your Curriculum Vitae including a synopsis of laboratory
experience must also be submitted to pgoffice.smdb@qub.ac.uk by the
relevant closing date.
Please ensure that you adhere to the closing dates above.
For more information, please consult our website www.qub.ac.uk/ccrcb.
Eligibility for both fees and maintenance depends on the applicant being either an ordinary UK
resident or those EU residents who have lived permanently in the UK for the 3 years immediately
preceding the start of the studentship. Non UK residents who hold EU residency may also apply
but if successful may receive fees only.