PhD-Position in T Cell Immunology: Viral Hepatitis C and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Dept of Clin Research, Hepatology Group
University of Bern

CD4+ T cell responses in hepatitis C virus infection and hepatocellular car-cinoma

The group is involved in the investigation of the role of T cell immunology in viral hepatitis such as Hepatitis C (HCV) and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), respec-tively. Several studies have shown the important role of T cells in elimination and immunopathogenesis of HCV infection. In HCC, Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) is overexpressed in 50% of the patients. In the mouse model, the induction of T cell responses were associated with significant protective anti-tumoral T cell responses.
The goal of this PhD project is to achieve new aspects in HCV-specific CD4+ T cell responses in chronic and eliminated HCV infection as well as HCC-specific CD4+ T cell responses in HCC.

Requirements:
Young motivated PhD student with a strong interest in sciences. We offer an intensive supervision with the unique chance to achieve a broad spectrum of modern immunological tech-niques. Knowledge in FACS technique would be desirable, but not manda-tory.

Deadline 31 October 2011