Research Scientist Position within the Field of Cancer Nanomedicine for inhalation

 

InhaTarget Therapeutics is a spin-off company of the ULB (“Université libre de Bruxelles”) specialized in the development of innovative and targeted dry powders for inhalation (DPI) that aims to improve

treatment of severe and/or chronic respiratory diseases, with a focus on Lung Cancer. Based on more than 10 years of dedicated applied research and a strong IP portfolio, InhaTarget Therapeutics is currently active in the preclinical and clinical development of innovative treatments of lung cancer by inhalation, based on dry powder formulations of conventional chemotherapy compounds. DPI chemotherapy is a breakthrough therapeutic approach to be used in combination with current standards of care (such as immunotherapy) and is very promising in improving lung cancer patient care.

The company is currently located on two sites:

– the corporate headquarters in Gosselies (South of Brussels – Biopark), where in vivo preclinical activities are performed in cooperation with local partners;

– ULB’s laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics(Brussels) which incubates other R&D activities (formulation-product development-analytical).

The position at stake would be located in Brussels (“ULB – Campus de la plaine” – Ixelles)

The current company team is composed of 5 people (CEO, CSO, Principal Scientist in immunooncology, two laboratory specialists (R&D manufacturing and analytical activity and in vivo preclinical studies).

 

Mission Description

This Research Scientist position within the field of cancer nanomedicine is related to a new project of the company to initiate the development of an innovative product for inhalation to treat lung tumours. In the project, you will develop new nanocarriers entrapping different drug, small chemical entities as well as biomacromolecules, and evaluate them in vitro (in different cell lines) and in animal models. Nanomedicine presents many advantages in cancer therapy. This is especially true for pulmonary anticancer drug delivery in lung cancer therapy. The advantages include the potential to increase local drug bioavailability, overcome biological barriers (e.g. mucus, cell membranes), enhance the solubility of drug, avoid or reduce phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages, prolong pulmonary residence time, protect drug from degradation, accumulate drug preferentially into tumors, enhance drug internalization by cells and selectively and specifically recognize cancer cells. The performance of the newly developed nanocarriers to reach these properties will be central to the project and to InhaTarget R&D program in general. The development of such a project requires multidisciplinary approach which will be lead in part by the researcher.

 

Responsibilities – Analytical Execution

Main responsibilities:

– Design, development and characterization of nanocarriers with drug cargo (small chemical entities, biomacromolecules).

– The applicant will work on synthesis of nanocarriers with the perspective of a tech transfer and scale up for industrial manufacturing.

– The applicant will work on biodistribution and targeted delivery of their formulations using in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (mouse models) systems.

– Imaging techniques will be central in the project with different techniques implied e.g. fluorescent microscopy, confocal microscopy, FACS, in vivo fluorescent imaging technique, in vivo optical imaging.

– The applicant will propose and design novel targets and/or methods for improving targeted delivery of their therapeutic cargo.

Candidate profile

– A PhD completed (or yet to be completed in the coming months) linked to pharmaceutical technologies, nanomedicine, particle engineering, drug delivery or the like.

– Skills and knowledge in oncology/immunology and nano/biomedicine is a plus.

– Experience with the synthesis and characterization of nanocarriers, e.g. solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, polymeric particles, self-assembling copolymers.

– Experience with performing in vitro and in vivo tests related to toxicity, encapsulation efficacy and therapeutic efficacy of loaded nanoparticles.

– Experience with in vitro cell imaging (fluorescent microscopy), FACS or in vivo imaging technique.

– Any experience with preclinical studies (biodistribution, therapeutic efficacy) is a plus.

– Having a certificate for animal handling (Felasa B or higher) is a plus, but not a requirement.

– Applicants must be enthusiastic, dynamic, reliable and accurate, willing to incorporate previously learned techniques into new approaches.

– The applicant is a good team player, who will work closely with the CSO and collaborate with the team.

– Must have a great sense of responsibility and good organizational skills.

– Applicants must have good communication skills in English. French is a plus.

Offer

 A team of complementary experts in a dynamic and flexible environment.

 Permanent contract with attractive salary package.

 Potential for growth within the organization.

For more information, please contact info@inhatarget.com

Applications should be sent to remi.rosiere@inhatarget.com