Group Leader - Oxford, United Kingdom - University of Oxford

University of Oxford

Verified Company

Oxford, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

An injectable cure for inherited heart muscle conditions that can kill young people in the prime of their lives could be available within a few years, are you interested in being a part of this opportunity then we are looking forward to hearing from you.

The global award, at £30m, is one of the largest non-commercial grants ever given and presents a "once in a generation opportunity" to provide hope for families struck by these killer diseases.

This project will seek to develop the first cures for inherited heart muscle diseases by pioneering revolutionary and ultra-precise gene therapy technologies that could edit or silence the faulty genes that cause these deadly conditions.

The team, made up of world-leading scientists from the UK, US and Singapore, was selected by an International Advisory Panel chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government.

Applications are invited for an outstanding scientist in oligonucleotide drug development, to act as a group leader under the direction of Professor Matthew Wood.

This work will be conducted under the auspice of the newly awarded Cureheart grant, an international programme grant focussed on using next-generation therapeutics for treatment of the spectrum of heritable cardiomyopathies.

This role is focussed on the development of novel, allele-specific oligonucleotide drugs and an exploration of the effects of chemistry on oligonucleotide efficacy and tissue distribution.

The successful applicant will work as lead of a dynamic team of post-doctoral molecular biologists and chemists to generate and evaluate novel oligonucleotide drugs in cellular and animal models of cardiac disease.

The overarching goal of this work is to generate therapeutic molecules that see use in human patients in the short to medium term.

The applicant will be responsible for leading funded high impact research programs focused on the development of oligonucleotide therapies and related novel drug delivery platforms to treat neuromuscular and neurological diseases.

The applicant will be a career scientist from academia and/or an industry environment with knowledge of the chemistry of oligonucleotide drug development, and ideally with some knowledge of cardiac genetic disorders, who is able to lead and conduct independent research, and will be willing to collaborate widely including with industry.

Applicants who fulfil most of the criteria are strongly encouraged to seek further information and to apply.

This position is offered full-time on a fixed-term contract initially for two years with the possibility to extend provided further external funding is available.

This role meets the criteria for a UK Skilled Worker visa.

To discuss the post in more detail, please contact Amarjit Bhomra, the Lab Manager, using the contact details below.