PhD tissue immunology and post-operative recovery after cancer

Colorectal cancer affects over 1.93 million people worldwide each year. In most cases, surgery to remove the tumor is necessary, and intestinal continuity is restored through an anastomosis. However, a serious complication, known as an anastomotic leak, occurs in up to 20% of procedures. This complication is associated with increase mortality rates, frequent re-interventions, prolonged hospital stays, increased risk of cancer recurrence. The incidence of anastomotic leaks remains high, largely due to poor healing and lack of recognition through biomarkers. The research group has addressed some of the clinical, microbial, and physiological factors that affect post-operative recovery after surgery. We aim to expand our understanding of complications of surgery, and immune mediated intestinal disease, in animal and human tissue.

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition Project “SMARTHEAL” is a collaborative project with Trinity College Dublin and the Istituto Italiano diTecnologia, in collaboration with Plio Surgical and Amsterdam UMC. The aim is to integrate the results of micro-sensor and nano-printing technologies into a disruptive smart magnetic anastomosis implant. This innovative implant will offer both healing and sensing capabilities, monitoring physical (temperature, impedance) and chemical (pH) parameters that signal inflammation and edema at the anastomosis site.

In this PhD project, we focus on the cellular responses and wound healing processes after intestinal trauma in clinical and preclinical setting. We aim to better understand the pathology of common intestinal complications after surgery, such as adhesions and fibrosis. However, the project will also build on earlier discoveries linking microbial factors that affect recurrence of colon cancer after surgery. The project will make use of novel implant technology, but also integrate state of the art in silico modelling, single cell transcriptomics, spatial technologies, and mass cytometry as facilitated through Amsterdam University Center Imaging suites. Expert assistance is available to facilitate complex technology platforms required for this work.

Would you like to know more about the different phases within the PhD trajectory? You can read more about this on this page.

As a PhD candidate you will take part in a dynamic and collaborative research program that focusses on intestinal diseases and complications of intestinal surgery by making use of state-of-the-art facilities and bioinformatic tools to study aspects of the disease progression and treatment success.

The role will be within the Dept of Pediatric Surgery, and the Tytgat Institute, attached to the Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Amsterdam UMC, where you will collaborate in a multidisciplinary international team of research fellows and engineers, as well as contributing to undergraduate and graduate teaching programs.

The function includes in varying proportions: research, teaching and scholarly activities, and supervision of graduate students and other research trainees. Specifically, you will be responsible for:

• Coordinating and managing data collection and screening.
• Performing (statistical) data analyses (experience in R or related software is preferred).
• Reporting your findings to the research group and consortium.
• Writing and publishing the research results in international scientific journals that lead to your PhD.
• Following training courses, such as for qualitative and quantitative research.
• Providing education or supervising students.

• You hold a (bio)medical or biology MSc and/or MD.
• You have affinity with microbiome and protein biochemistry, and bioinformatics workflows for analyses. Preferably you have demonstrable experience in (mucosal) immunology, and with integration of omics data.
• You are a team player and work well with translational clinical scientists and well as cell biologists and computational biologists within the consortium. You are willing to work with animals and tissue. Art. 9 qualification is a pre.
• You have an intrinsic drive and enthusiasm, demonstrated excellent internship achievements, and a strong drive to interdisciplinary collaboration and translational science.
• Excellent communication skills in English are required.