JAEPRE23 - Predoctoral researcher in light-responsive anticancer drugs

We are seeking a highly motivated student to join an ambitious and impactful project at the intersection of chemistry and biology! A big limitation of current treatments for cancer is their lack of selectivity for tumour cells, which derives in side effects for patients. Photopharmacology is an emerging field that uses light to activate drugs at a specific space and time. Our hypothesis is that light-responsive molecules could provide a localised therapeutic effect only in the tumour area, thereby solving the limitations of current anticancer drugs. In this context, the aim of your PhD project will be to develop inhibitors of FGFR3 that can be activated with external light, offering a highly selective treatment for bladder cancer. Your responsibilities will include: • Designing these molecules using computational tools. • Developing synthetic routes towards the designed molecules and synthesising them using organic chemistry techniques. • Evaluating their photochemical properties to determine the necessary light conditions for activation. • Studying the ability of your molecules to inhibit FGFR3 and to eliminate cancer cells under different light conditions. This project offers a unique opportunity to engage in a highly interdisciplinary project encompassing computational modelling, organic synthesis, photochemistry, enzyme assays, and cell culture.