The Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine is a leader in medical education and research, providing a vibrant and supportive environment for its faculty and students. By joining King’s, you will be part of an institution that values innovation, collaboration, and the advancement of knowledge in genetics and beyond.

 

 The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics is located in the life sciences cluster in historic and vibrant London Bridge. It hosts advanced research facilities for genetic investigations of both common and rare diseases, alongside studies of fundamental mechanisms of gene regulation. With internationally recognised programs in both computational and experimental genetics, the department serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research, encouraging collaboration across various scientific and clinical disciplines and maintaining strong connections with international research communities.

This post-doctoral position is funded by a LEO Foundation research grant held jointly by Prof Timothy Vyse (PI), Dr Deborah Cunninghame Graham (co-PI) and Dr Thomas Tull (co-PI).  The post-holder will work in a multi-disciplinary group based in the Departments of Medical and Molecular Genetics and Dermatology.

 

Discoid lupus (DLE) is an autoimmune skin of unknown aetiology, characterised by persisting inflamed, debilitating skin lesions. These lesions contain clusters of T and B lymphocytes, which may assemble into tertiary lymphoid aggregates (TLA). The factors driving skin homing, residence and the maintenance of TLAs are largely unknown.  Co-stimulatory molecules, such as OX40 and OX40L, expressed on activated T and B cells respectively, mediate the immune response in systemic lupus. Given the overlap of DLE with systemic disease, we propose that these co-stimulatory signals mediate persistence of skin lesions.

 

The post-doc will be expected to use multi-parameter flow cytometry and/or immunofluorescence microscopy to identify the lymphocyte subsets in DLE lesions, distinguish potential skin homing molecules on their cell surface and characterise the immune environment bathing the TLAs.  The successful applicant will ascertain whether co-stimulatory molecule gene expression is enriched in TLAs and determine the immune co-factors driving it.  The post-holder will work extensively with paraffin embedded skin biopsy samples as well as in vitro co-culture systems and a 3D organoid model of skin disease to assay the co-stimulatory potential of TLA-like immune cells, identify the immune co-factors maximising co-stimulation and their influence on the effectiveness of costimulatory blockade by monoclonal antibodies.  The post-doc will work in a multi-disciplinary environment, alongside data analysts in a group including PhD students as well as master’s and undergraduate students undertaking research projects.  The post-holder will take responsibility for explaining the experimental approaches to the data analysis team and working with the dry-lab scientists to contribute to the biological interpretation of the data.

 

This is a full time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 2 years.

 

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the  Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the  Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.