PhD Student: DNA Repair Mechanisms in Cancer

The DNA Repair and Chemoresistance Group headed by Dr. Eric Van Dyck (Department of Cancer Research (DoCR)) carries out fundamental and translational research on the molecular mechanisms governing DNA repair, chromatin dynamics and chemoresistance in cancer. Our main research interest resides in the identification & validation of novel DNA-repair based strategies to improve cancer treatment, with a particular focus on gliomas (see for instance: Nucleic Acids Res. 2021, 49(17):9906-9925. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkab785).

We have received funds from the FNR under the Bilateral AFR research grant scheme, to undertake a collaborative project with the Group of Dr. Jean-Yves Masson (Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec & Départment de Biologie Moléculaire, Biochimie Médicale et Pathologie, Université Laval, Québec). Through this bilateral international cooperation, the selected candidate will benefit from training opportunities in both institutions and countries, as well as joined supervision by Drs Van Dyck and Masson. Although the majority of the research activities will be carried out at LIH, the selected candidate will spend at least 20% of his/her research time in Québec.

The goal of this project is to investigate and target the molecular mechanisms underlying the repair of DNA double-strand breaks associated with the collapse of replication forks, induced by chemotherapeutic DNA damaging agents.