Thesis work: New approaches for treatment of Vascular Anomalies

Job description
New therapeutic approaches for the treatment of Vascular Anomalies

Do you have an interest or expertise in molecular and cellular biology and passion for novel drug discovery? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact the development of new modality therapeutics in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca and this project might be of interest to you!

Thesis project: 30 credits
Student location: AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
Start: January 2022

Introduction
Vascular anomalies (VAs) are a group of rare diseases defined by malformed blood or lymph vessels. For these dysfunctions effective pharmaceutical treatments are lacking, which causes  chronic pain, disabilities, and sudden death in patients. We aim to address this unmet medical need by uncovering core mechanisms of disease initiation and maintenance and leveraging this information for establishing novel therapeutic strategies for VAs. Our pre-clinical studies, testing identified treatment strategies are relevant for VAs and for understanding aberrant vascular function in vascular-related diseases.

We are working with cutting-edge technologies including next-generation sequencing, CRISPR-Cas genome editing, generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and animal models and in vivo phage display to identify endothelial targets.

This position is within the Transgenic Mouse Model group which is part of the Discovery Biology (DB) department. Within the Transgenic unit, we aim  to be at the scientific forefront of generating and phenotypically characterizing transgenic mouse models as well as  performing world leading science and innovation.

Responsibilities
The main focus of the role will be to perform studies in complex cellular models expressing mutated genes important in vascular disease progression. These cell models will include CRISPR-Cas9 mutated iPSCs differentiated to relevant cellular types. We will use these cells to screen hundreds of AstraZeneca compounds which are relevant to the biochemical pathways important in vascular and cancer biology to try and identify compounds which are capable of preventing or slowing the progression of disease. 
 
Main duties are to run cellular assays using a large panel of small molecules specific to AstraZeneca and to collate and present the data.. Furthermore, we are planning to run cell based assay to test interesting compounds conjugated to small targeting peptides. 

Qualifications
Requirements:
As a person you are a productive and thorough co-worker and team-player being very well organised and focussed on delivery of high quality on time. 
Studies performed are conducted with quality and dedication.
Open and comprehensive scientific mindset.
Experience of cell culture based assays

Desirable Requirements (non essential):
Experience of working with mouse models would be an advantage but not essential as relevant training and education will be provided.


Application
Randstad Life Sciences is cooperating with AstraZeneca in this recruitment process. We only handle applications sent through Randstad’s website.

All chosen candidates need to pass a background check and an alcohol and drug test before starting the project.

Deadline for application: 2021-09-30

For more information: Veronika Knudsen veronika.knudsen@randstad.se or Kerstin Karlsson kerstin.karlsson@randstad.se

About the company
At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life changing medicines and strive to continuously meet the unmet needs of patients worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.

Our Gothenburg site is one of AstraZeneca's three strategic science centers. We thrive in a multinational environment working cross-functionally across the globe with AstraZeneca colleagues as well as academic and industry partners. Our way of life is to foster a working environment that nurtures collaboration, openness and innovation. Therefore, we have created space for meetings, socializing and relaxation, where spontaneous meetings can give birth to new innovations. The unexpected ideas or thoughts that can come from a chat over something as simple as a cup of  coffee or a stroll on our “walk and talk” meeting trail. AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law. AstraZeneca only employs individuals with the right to work in the country/ies where the role is advertised.