ABOUT US

The UCL Cancer Institute is the hub for cancer research at University College London, one of the World’s leading universities. The Institute draws together over 400 talented scientists who are working together to translate research discoveries into developing kinder, more effective therapies for cancer patients. In particular, it fosters links between basic cancer researchers across Biomedicine and with the clinical activities of our four partner hospital trusts, known as UCL Partners (University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), as well as the London School of Pharmacy and Cancer Research UK. The Institute has greater clinical links than any comparable centre in the UK, creating a unique opportunity for significant impact on the delivery of clinical service to cancer patients.
The UCL Cancer Institute is part of the CRUK City of London Centre, which draws together the expertise present in four leading centres for cancer research, UCL, Barts, KCL and the Francis Crick Institute. Further Information about the UCL Cancer Institute can be found on our website https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer/

ABOUT THE ROLE

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) is a rare form of acute leukaemia that affects both adults and children. The prognosis for patients who fail standard chemotherapy is dire and there is an unmet need for novel therapies.
In the last decade we have begun to appreciate the power of the immune system to fight cancer (immunotherapy). A major breakthrough has been the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, where a patient’s own T cells are extracted, genetically modified to fight cancer and then returned to the patient. This has been very successful in treating B-cell acute leukemia. At UCL we have the largest CAR T cell program in Europe with a number of phase 1 clinical trials across a range of diseases.
Our group has a particular interest in developing CAR-T cell therapies for T cell malignancies. Our recent work has focused on the pre-clinical development of anti-CCR9 CAR-T cells for T-ALL, with a phase 1 clinical trial due to open in 2025.
The post is funded for 7 months in the first instance with a start date of 1st September 2025. Interviews will be held in July 2025.
Applications should include a CV and a Cover Letter: In the Cover Letter please provide evidence of the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification part of the Job Description. (By including a Cover Letter, you can leave blank the ‘Why you have applied for this role’ field in the application form, which is limited in the number of characters it will allow.)

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme
• Staff Support Service Discounted medical insuranc