We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated PhD candidate to characterise circulating Melanoma cells.
Melanoma is the most common cancer in young people and the most common cause of cancer related deaths in young males. While the vast majority of melanoma cases are cured after surgical excision of the primary tumour, in a growing number of cases, the tumour has become invasive before it has been removed, with the result that circulating melanoma cells invade the blood stream. There are no clinical signs of tumour spread until metastatic tumours are evident and at that stage, melanoma is almost impossible to cure.
The proposed PhD project will involve a genomic study of the circulating melanoma cells that can be isolated from melanoma patients. It is thought that mutations in the circulating cells enable them to evade the immune system, remain in the blood stream for long periods of time and ultimately form metastatic tumours.
The isolation of circulating cells is accomplished using immunomagnetic beads, commonly utilised in our laboratory. Thereafter, characterisation of the genomic and gene expression profile of circulating melanoma cells will be investigated relative to disease stage. The project will include genetic analyses with sequencing and /or microarray analyses. Information gained from this study will not only provide a valuable understanding of the characteristics of circulating melanoma cells, but it will also allow us to formulate a prognostic blood test and identify drug targets for treatment of melanoma progression.
Suitable PhD candidates must hold a First Class Honours degree and be Australian or NZ citizens eligible to apply for an Australian Postgraduate Award.
For further details please contact:
Assoc Prof Mel Ziman in Human Biology at ECU
A/Prof. Mel Ziman
ECU Melanoma Research Foundation
School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences
Edith Cowan University
100 Joondalup Drive
Joondalup
Perth, Western Australia 6027
Ph: +61-8-63045171
Fax: +61-8-63045717
Email: m.ziman@ecu.edu.au