Post-doctoral Research Fellow

10 March 2021

**The Vall d´Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) Seeks a “**Post-doctoral research fellow**”**

**Reference**:Ref. 16-2021

**Number of vacancies**:1

**Job description**:
The group of **Joan Seoane** within the **Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona**, has an opening for a post-doctoral research fellow. We are looking for a highly motivated scientist to lead a line of research on brain cancer microenvironment.

Our main **field of interest** is the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in brain cancer.

Primary brain cancer and brain metastasis are among the most aggressive tumors and better and innovative therapies are needed to treat these dismal diseases. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the biology of brain cancer is essential for the development of successful and rational therapeutic strategies. Our approach is based on a tight collaboration with clinical researchers of the Vall d’Hebron Hospital and the study of patient-derived tumors. We analyze human biopsies and generate patient-derived models in order to better understand the complexity of cancer. Moreover, we participate in ongoing clinical trials obtaining critical information about the biology of human tumors. We aspire to translate our discoveries to benefit patients identifying molecular markers of diagnosis and prognosis, markers of response to therapies, and unveil new therapeutic targets against these deadly diseases.

**Selected references related to the field**:
Rubio-Perez C, Planas-Rigol E, Trincado JL, Bonfill-Teixidor E, Arias A, Marchese D, Moutinho C, Serna G, Pedrosa L, Iurlaro R, Martínez-Ricarte F, Escudero L, Cordero E, Cicuendez M, Ruiz S, Parra G, Nuciforo P, Gonzalez J, Pineda E, Sahuquillo J, Tabernero J, Heyn H**, Seoane J.** Immune cell profiling of the cerebrospinal fluid enables the characterization of the brain metastasis microenvironment. Nature Comm. 2021

Escudero L, Llort A, Arias A, Diaz-Navarro A, Martínez-Ricarte F, Rubio-Perez C, Mayor R, Caratú G, Martínez-Sáez E, Vázquez-Méndez É, Lesende-Rodríguez I, Hladun R, Gros L, Ramón y Cajal S, Poca M, Puente X, Sahuquillo J, Gallego S, **Seoane J.** Circulating tumour DNA from the cerebrospinal fluid allows the characterisation and monitoring of medulloblastoma. Nature Comm. 2020

Pascual-García M*, Bonfill-Teixidor E*, Planas-Rigol E, Rubio-Pérez C, Iurlaro R, Arias A, Cuartas I, Sala-Hojman A, Escudero E, Martínez-Ricarte F, Huber-Ruano I, Nuciforo P, Pedrosa L, Marques C, Braña I, Garralda E, Vieito M, Squatrito M, Pineda E, Graus F, Espejo C, Sahuquillo J, Tabernero J, **Seoane J.** LIF regulates CXCL9 in tumor-associated macrophages and prevents CD8+ T cell tumor-infiltration impairing the response to anti-PD1 therapy. Nature Comm. 2019

**Requirements**:
**Application**:
**About VHIO**:
Under the leadership of Josep Tabernero, the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), has established itself as a comprehensive cancer center of proven excellence internationally. It is also thanks to VHIO’s optimal organizational structure based on a purely multidisciplinary and translational model that VHIO talents continue to anticipate and tackle the many unresolved questions in combatting this multifaceted and heterogeneous disease.

Located within the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, our researchers closely collaborate and interact with Vall d’Hebron physician-scientists. Translational science and clinical research are therefore tightly connected which promotes superb interaction and teamwork which, in turn, accelerates the bench-bedside-bed cycle of knowledge. This privileged environment affords VHIO direct access to patients as well as the entire spectrum of oncology professionals who care for them, and a second-to-none appreciation of how cancer science can translate into more powerful, targeted treatments and better practice for the care of patients.

VHIO’s pioneering model and programs, coupled with its belief in combining strengths through cross-border collaborations, continue to spur advances in reversing cancer resistance, halting metastatic spread, and more effectively treating even the most undruggable tumor types.

**Vall d’Hebron Institute Oncology (VHIO) **endorses the Requirements and Principles of the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers promoted by the European Commission and follows Equal Opportunities policies.

On 10th April 2018 VHIO was awarded the “HR Excellence in Research” logo. Our Institute was consequently granted permission to use the HR Excellence in Research Award logo as demonstration of its stimulating and favourable work environment in line with the Charter & Code.