Phd Student

**Salary**: $37,000 per annum (pro rata if part time)

**The opportunity**:
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated student interested in personalised medicine and pharmacogenomics to undertake a PhD program jointly funded and conducted between MCRI (A/Prof Rachel Conyers) and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Dr Marliese Alexander).

Within MCRI you will join the Cancer Therapies group within the MCRI Stem Cell Medicine Theme. Our Group focuses on cancer therapeutics and adverse drug reactions, with a particular desire to address prediction of and protection against adverse drug reactions and prioritisation of evidence-based medicines.

Within Peter Mac you will join the Pharmacy Research group affiliated with the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology. Our group aims to optimise medication-related outcomes through the quality use of medicines in cancer care and includes clinical, health services and discovery research streams.

**Project Description**:
Pharmacogenomics is a highly interesting arm of personalised medicine. Pharmacogenomics, often shortened to PGx, is a field of medicine that studies how a person's genes affect their response to medication. The cytochrome P450 genes, often abbreviated as CYP genes, are a large and important family of genes that code for enzymes called cytochrome P450 (P450s) which play a crucial role in the metabolism of many medications, including cancer and supportive care therapies. The pharmacogenes are well described and different variants can increase or decrease metabolism in any individual. However, inflammation, medications and disease can all influence the actual activity of these enzymes such that there is a difference between pharmacogene genotype and phenotype - a process known as phenoconversion.

This PhD is to undertake a feasibility followed by prospective trial “PEGASUS” investigating the Change in Metabolism Phenotype in Paediatric, Adolescent & Young Adults With Hodgkin or Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. PEGASUS aims to test acceptability and feasibility of studying phenoconversion (the change in metabolism phenotype) us paediatric oncology patient population. The study will be conducted in patients (6-25 years of age) with Hodgkin lymphoma exemplar cohort, but with the understanding that cancer-directed and supportive care medicines of the CYP3A4, CYP2C1 pathways are commonly utilised for the treatment of many paediatric, adolescent, young adult, and adult cancers. The study involves administration of the probe medication at timepoints which align with pre-determined hospital visits for subsequent blood draws to measure the metabolism of the probe medications. The acceptability and feasibility of this study will inform the prospective PEGASUS trial within the paediatric cancer population.

**Your responsibilities include**:
Performs cell culture experiments using pluripotent stem cells
Performs genetic modification of pluripotent stem cells
Performs and supports phenotypic drug screens
Works to support the smooth running of the Laboratory
Assists with organisation of stocks and reagents
Conducts ethical research at the highest level of integrity and in line with the Australian Code for Responsible Conduct of Research and MCRI/Peter Mac policies
Assists and contributes to data generation for research and publications
Works to improve skills base in research productivity and methodology
Assists in high calibre, competitive research
Follows standard operating procedures, study protocols and study guidelines
Continuous maintenance of neat and orderly records, electronic lab books and data storage
Fosters relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
Is engaged in the campus culture including professional development activities and attending internal/external campus conferences and seminars
Is aware of, and adheres to, MCRI policy on Intellectual Property/Material Transfer Agreements/Contracts/Clinical and Public Health Outcomes

**What we need from you**:
Acceptance at University of Melbourne
Appropriate qualification/s in Science, Pharmacy or related discipline
Appropriate level of expertise gained from a combination of experience, training or professional accreditation
Demonstrated capacity to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
Excellent time management, organisational and analytical problem-solving skills
Demonstrated basic understanding of pharmacogenomics and pharmacology
Prior research involvement and desirable to have experience in clinical trials
Good Clinical Practice [GCP] accreditation
Ability to work as part of a broad team, with excellent communication skills and a team-player

Who we are

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute envisions a transformative future for child health. Our institute is a hub of impactful scientific breakthroughs, particularly in early interventions, enhanced diagnosis, prevention, and potential cures. We thrive on collaborative, multidisciplinary problem-solving to addr