MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship on Innate immunity and cancer

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MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship on Innate immunity and cancer

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Prof. Marco A. Cassatella invites scholars to present expressions of interest in applying jointly with the Department of Medicine – Institute of General Pathology at the University of Verona for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) on Innate immunity and cancer.The lab offers several ongoing projects:1) Identification and molecular characterization of very immature CD34+/-neutrophil and monocyte progenitors in healthy human donors and cancer patients;2) to shed definitive light on the phenotypic, transcriptomic, and functional features of human monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) by investigating CD14+HLA- DRlow/⁻CXCR1- and CD14⁺HLA-DRlow/⁻CXCR1+ monocyte subtypes in different types of cancer patients and GDs. In addition, since an emerging question is whether M-MDSCs consist of normal mature monocytes that have acquired suppressive capacities or whether they represent cells that are reprogrammed during monocyte differentiation, we intend to investigate the ontogenesis of human M-MDSCs once the definitive CD14+HLA-DRlow/⁻CXCR1- and CD14⁺HLA-DRlow/⁻CXCR1+ phenotype of M-MDSCs is clarified;3) characterization of the fate of slan+monocytes in human tumors. Definition of which macrophage/dendritic cell populations they give origin to by bioinformatic approaches. These projects require expertise in cell and molecular biology/biochemistry methodologies, such as cell isolation and culture, flow cytometry and sorting, RNA isolation for bulk RNAseq and scRNAseq, ATAC-seq, and so forth. All these techniques are ongoing in the lab and thus can be learned. Recent papers focused on these projects have been published in Nature Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Cell Reports Medicine, Cancer Immunology Research, Cell Reports and Frontiers in Immunology.HOSTING RESEARCH GROUP / SUPERVISORWe are looking for applicants for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship to be presented with our Centre /Department as the main host institution.Cassatella’s scientific career has always focused on studies aimed at understanding, at the molecular level, the mechanisms regulating the effector functions of innate immune system cells in the field of innate immunity and cancer. Since established in Verona, Cassatella’s group has contributed by uncovering the notion that polymorphonuclear neutrophils are not only targets of cytokines/factors that modulate their effector/antitumor functions, but may also represent important sources of many immunoregulatory molecules, including cytokines themselves Prof. Cassatella has also made significant, if not the initial, contribution uncovering that human neutrophils represent key cellular players in regulating angiogenesis, either positively, particularly via the release of VEGF or negatively, particularly via the generation of massive amounts of angiostatinFurther contributions given by the Cassatella in oncology relate to his pivotal studies on the molecular mechanisms activating CD16/FcgRIIIA in human Natural Killer (NK) cells, as well as on the molecular mechanisms regulating the production of reactive oxygen intermediates by myeloid cells, which are important mediators for cancer cytotoxicity operated by myeloid cells. Recently, Casatella’s group has dedicated great research effort in characterizing the role of human slan+monocytes in tumors reporting their specific and selective involvement in the nodal immune responses towards carcinoma cells, and their ability to perform ADCC (at levels similar to those exerted by NK cells) Finally, Cassatella’s group has recently reported the identification of novel CD34+ and CD34dim/- progenitors (NCPs) of human neutrophils , which now requires an extensive characterization, as well as the definition of their potential role in tumors. Selected candidates will be offered both academic and administrative support from the Centre / Department and the University of Verona Grant Office with regard to the proposal preparation.ELIGIBILITYCandidates must be eligible according to the criteria established by the 2025 MSCA Postdoctoral fellowship call:

• To have a PhD by the call deadline (September 10, 2025)
• To have up to 8 years of research experience after PhD
• To be citizens of an EU State or of an Associated Country or long-term resident in Europe (only for Global Fellowship)
• Not to have resided or carried out their main activity in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline (September 10, 2025) – for European Fellowship
• Not to have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the Host Institution in the third country for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline (September 10, 2025) – for a Global Fellowship.

Besides, candidates should be fluent in English, should have an excellent teamwork attitude, organizational skills, and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.APPLICATIONCandidates should send to the address the following documents by 30/6/2025. * A one-page cover letter

• A short CV including personal data (name, date of birth, present position, the name of a referee who has agreed to send a reference letter for you
• A two-page research proposal
• One reference letter should be sent by a referee to the same address

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Location

Verona

Job date

Sun, 25 May 2025 02:15:47 GMT

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