Research Assistant (Fixed Term) Cambridge, East of England, England
Job description
Investigating novel therapeutic targets of liver disease in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
We are seeking a Research Assistant to join our lab in The Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR) to study the mechanism of action of exciting new treatment strategies. Applicants are expected to have laboratory experience and a degree in biological science level. Expertise in mammalian cell culture is essential. Experience in proteomics, flow cytometry, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, RT-PCR, confocal microscopy and stem cells culture and differentiation would be advantageous, but training will be provided if required.
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is an important monogenic disease affecting over 3.4 million people and is the most common genetic cause of childhood liver disease. The commonest pathogenic mutation of alpha-1 antitrypsin, named the Z allele, is overrepresented in patients requiring liver transplantation for both non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, indicating its role in common diseases. Treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency related liver disease is currently limited liver transplantation, highlighting an acute need for both novel therapeutic targets and insight into mechanisms of pathology.
The Marciniak lab combines cell biology, biochemistry, and translational medicine to understand the role of proteotoxicity in human disease (https://www.cimr.cam.ac.uk/staff/professor-stefan-marciniak).
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 1 years in the first instance.
Recent relevant papers include Chambers JE, Zubkov N, Kubánková M, Nixon-Abell J, Mela I, Abreu S, Schwiening M, Lavarda G, López-Duarte I, Dickens JA, Torres T., Kaminski CF, Holt LJ, Avezov E., Huntington JA, St George Hyslop P, Kuimova MK, Marciniak SJ. (2022). Z-alpha-1 antitrypsin polymers impose molecular filtration in the endoplasmic reticulum after undergoing phase transition to a solid state. Science Advances 8:eabm2094. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abm2094.
Ordonez A, Harding HP, Marciniak SJ, Ron D (2021). Cargo receptor-assisted endoplasmic reticulum export of pathogenic alpha1-antitrypsin polymers. Cell Reports doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.10914
Chambers JE, Kubankova M, Huber, R, López-Duart I, Avezov E, Bond P., Marciniak SJ, Kuimova, M (2018) An Optical Technique for Mapping Microviscosity Dynamics in Cellular Organelles. ACS Nano 12:4398-4407. *Joint senior
Holcman D, Parutto P, Chambers JE, Fantham M, Young LJ, Marciniak SJ, Kaminski CF, Ron D, Avezov E. (2018). Single particle trajectories reveal active endoplasmic reticulum luminal flow. Nat Cell Biol 20:1118-1125 doi: 10.1038/s41556-018-0192-2
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please contact Professor Stefan Marciniak at [email protected] and Dr Joe Chambers at [email protected] for further information.
Please quote reference SC34930 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
