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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
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Use one form per project
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Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie
as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
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In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details: Corrado Santocanale -Prof. of Molecular Medicine and SFI
Principal Investigator
Centre for Chromosome Biology and National Centre for
Biomedical Engineering and Science
National University of Ireland, Galway
University road, Galway,
Ireland
Phone:+353-(0)91-495174
Email: corrado.santocanale@nuigalway.ie
School of Natural Sciences School:
Has project been agreed with head (or nominee) of proposed registration school?
Research Centre / group affiliation:
Research group / centre website:
Centre for Chromosome Biology,
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Science http://www.chromosome.ie
PI website / link to CV: http://www.chromosome.ie/researchers/santocanale/
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them here.
Our laboratory is interested in studying the mechanisms that regulate genome replication in human cells with particular emphasis on the Cdc7 kinase and in exploiting the results of this research for therapeutic purposes. Cdc7 acts as a molecular switch for DNA synthesis and is also thought to participate in several other processes that regulate normal cell cycle progression and chromosome dynamics. Cdc7 inhibitors have promising anticancer activity in preclinical models and are under investigation as experimental drugs in humans. By understanding how Cdc7 kinase functions at the molecular level in the different phases of the cell division cycle we will increase our knowledge of cell division and its regulation.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Assessing Cdc7 kinase function in mitosis.
The role of the Cdc7 kinase in the initiation of DNA replication and in the DNA replication checkpoint

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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras have been studied by many laboratories. However recent results from our laboratory also suggest that Cdc7, in addition to its S phase role, may play a critical role when replicated chromosomes are divided between mother and daughter cells, during mitosis.
The aim of this project is to dissect the potential role of Cdc7 in mitosis at the molecular level. We will use techniques such as immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, kinase substrate identification and siRNA knockdown to elucidate the function of Cdc7 in mitosis. The availability of
Cdc7 inhibitors will aid in our efforts to identify the M-phase specific function of Cdc7.
Consequences for the cell if Cdc7 is depleted or inactivated during this critical period of the cell cycle will also be investigated.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
This project will allow the student to receive specific training in techniques related to Proteomics,
Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Analytical Biochemistry that will be an essential part of the project.
The student will be integrated within the Centre of Chromosome Biology. S/He will present and discuss results/progress regularly thus receiving essential feedback and support from approximately
70 scientists (including 11 PIs)with expertise in related fields of investigation.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences) x
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy

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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ _Y___
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _N____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____