Graduate student position – University of Manitoba

We are looking for a motivated graduate student interested in pursuing experimental cancer research work at the Master’s or PhD level.

The research project investigates the immune responses upon laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) of brain tumors.

The research project received funding from national, provincial, and industry sources and utilizes immunocompetent mouse models for laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) treatment in brain tumors. The project has already absorbed significant work to establish the LITT methodology in the PI's lab and they are the only research lab in Canada offering the LITT mouse methodology. We will determine the full immune responses to heat ablation of tumor cells in the brain over time. We also assess small molecule compounds with immunomodulatory function for their ability to synergize with LITT to improve tumor reduction and post-LITT outcomes.

The student will be trained to perform brain tumor xenografting in mouse brains and administer the unique mouse LITT treatments. They will monitor tumor growth and treatment response by small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They will also be trained in multiplex immunofluorescence techniques developed in the PI's lab to monitor spatiotemporal changes in cellular responses in the brain tumor microenvironment. Previous experience with animal work is an asset but is not essential to this work.

This research is positioned in an area with significant novel research potential, particularly for self-directed research at the PhD level, providing the flexibility in developing and implementing hypotheses, methodologies, and data analyses. In addition to the investigation of brain immune responses, potential research directions in this project expand to the investigation of systemic immune responses, inflammation, TME changes, abscopal effects or antigenicity/mutational burden.

The PI's labs and this project offer the possibility to learn and utilize many different lab techniques, including IHC/IF, flow cytometry, ELISA, and cutting-edge technologies like spatial -omics analysis of LITT-treated brain tissues. The student has the opportunity to showcase their work at national and/or international conferences and will regularly present at meetings with our industry partners.

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