3-year PhD position for an MD at the Paediatric Oncology Research Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen

A 3-year position as MD PhD fellow at the Paediatric Oncology Research Laboratory (Bonkolab), Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, is available starting April 1, 2025, with the possibility of an earlier start. We are looking for a medical doctor with an interest in cancer cell biology (including cancer genetics), pharmacology, immunotherapy, and treatment response monitoring by liquid biopsy for an international research project addressing the treatment of sarcomas in children and young adults.

Background

The most common childhood sarcomas (Ewing, osteo-, synovial and rhabdomyosarcomas) are all highly malignant mesenchymal tumors with a relatively poor prognosis on 1st-line therapy, a 5-year overall survival (OS) of ~60%, and few survivors after relapse, even when relapse surgery leads to complete macroscopic remission. The prognosis of refractory/high risk/relapsed sarcoma has changed little over the last decades, and innovative treatment approaches are needed.

Most sarcomas are immunologically silent with low tumor mutational burden and a “cold” microenvironment. Accordingly, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment has generally been disappointing with little or no responses. In an international network, including Barcelona, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Prague, Vienna, and Zürich, we are developing novel strategies that can enhance the efficacy of ICIs towards high-risk sarcomas.