Ref Number
B02-10741
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
See advert text
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
Hybrid
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
22-Jul-2026
Our mission is to maximise and advocate for the holistic health of all children, young people and the adults they will become, through world-class research, education and public engagement. The UCL GOS ICH, together with its clinical partner Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, forms the largest concentration of children’s health research outside North America. The 2024-29 GOS ICH strategy focuses on its five scientific programmes. GOS ICH’s activities include active engagement with children and families, to ensure that our work is relevant and appropriate to their needs. GOS ICH generates the funding for our research by setting out our proposals in high quality applications to public, charitable and industrial funding bodies and disseminates the results of our research by publication in the medical and scientific literature, to clinicians, policy makers and the wider public. The Institute offers world-class education and training across a wide range of teaching and life learning programmes which address the needs of students and professional groups who are interested in and undertaking work relevant to child health. GOS ICH holds an Athena SWAN Charter Gold Award. Please only attach relevant documents to your application (qualifications, cover letters, supporting statements) and avoid attaching large files e.g. research papers, thesis, publications etc.
Applicants are invited for a 3-year post-doctorate research project funded by the Little Princess Trust. In this project you will work at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health under supervision of Prof Owen Williams. The aim of this project is to evaluate vulnerabilities associated with the transcription factor MYB in the context of novel small molecule inhibitor therapy of paediatric KMT2A-rearranged Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Rearrangements of the KMT2A gene, giving rise to KMT2A fusion genes, are prevalent in paediatric AML and generally associated with poor prognosis disease. Research into the mechanistic basis for KMT2A-driven AML has resulted in the development of targeted molecular therapies with remarkable clinical activity. This project will investigate whether these therapies can be improved by simultaneous targeting of pathways downstream of MYB, a transcription factor that functions in both normal and malignant haematopoiesis. The project will use leukaemia cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models to explore KMT2A-rearranged AML therapeutic susceptibilities in vitro and in vivo, and will involve lentiviral CRISPR drop-out screens. The salary offered in this role is £45,103 - £46,261 per annum and is funded until 18/09/2029 in the first instance.
Experience in tissue culture and molecular biology is essential, and experience with in vitro and in vivo cancer assays is an advantage. Applicants must have (or at least submitted) a PhD in experimental biology. Previous experience with a productive track record in the cancer biology research field is strongly recommended. Individuals without such experience, but with an exceptional track record in productive research in related areas, are also encouraged to apply.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan On-Site nursery On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
