FPI Fellowship: PhD Position in Immune Therapy Research

The Immune Therapies group led by Dr. Juan R. Rodriguez-Madoz at CIMA Universidad de Navarra, is seeking to hire a PhD researcher for a FPI position funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICIU) 2025 R&D grant PID2025-173188OB-I00 to explore HLA-Independent sdAb-based T cell (HINT) receptors for the development of innovative therapies in Multiple Myeloma. This position offers integration into a consolidated research group, full funding, and access to state-of-the-art facilities.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our research group under a 4-year FPI fellowship within the framework of the project “Engineering HLA-Independent Nanobody-redirected T cells as a novel therapeutic strategy for Multiple Myeloma (HINT4MM)”, we envision bringing these receptors to the next level by the application of synthetic biology strategies that will contribute to surpass some of the current limitations of conventional engineered T cell therapies, such as CAR-T and transgenic TCR-T cells. Our novel HINT receptors will combine state-of-the-art technologies providing additional advantages, that will lead to the generation of an innovative advanced cellular product, being able not only to eliminate cells with low antigen expression but also limiting the impact of antigen downregulation as a mechanism of tumor scape.

The candidate will join our group with a large experience in the field of adoptive cell therapy against cancer. The group comprises a multidisciplinary team of basic and clinical researchers focused on: i) the development and characterization of innovative CAR-T therapies in advanced preclinical models; ii) the implementation of CAR-T therapies for clinical use; iii) the characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in the responses and resistance to these treatments.

The PhD student will receive multidisciplinary training and will participate in:

• Molecular and cellular studies using human and mouse Multiple Myeloma cancer models, genome editing, gene expression, signaling and functional assays.
• Studies using patient-derived samples to investigate therapeutic responses in clinically relevant models.
• Development and evaluation of innovative approaches for engineered T-based targeted therapies.
• Use of state-of-the-art multiomics technologies.
• Integration and interpretation of molecular and cellular preclinical data, as well as preparation of scientific publications and presentation of results at national and international conferences.

Overall, the thesis will provide comprehensive training in immunotherapy, molecular oncology, genomics, preclinical cancer models and translational research.

This position is related to a Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICIU) 2025 R&D grant PID2025-173188OB-I00.