Applications now closed This project is one of 17 four year PhD Studentships funded by Medical Research Scotland (MRS) (https://www.medicalresearchscotland.org.uk) to be delivered jointly by the named University and External Partner Organisation (EPO). The Studentship will provide first-class academic, and additional training provided by the EPO, needed to equip the successful candidate for a science career in an increasingly competitive market."Drug discovery project to target kinases involved in brain cancer" to be delivered by the University of Edinburgh [Supervisors: Professor Asier Unciti-Broceta, Professor Neil Carragher (both Edinburgh Cancer Research, University of Edinburgh) and Professor Steve Pollard (Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh)] and Nuvectis Pharma Inc (https://nuvectis.com/) [External Partner Organisation supervisor: Dr Enrique Poradosu].Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain cancer. It is characterised by genetic alterations that results in disruption of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signalling. We have identified a new class of compounds that potently inhibits GBM cell proliferation by blocking the RTK CSF-1R. Phenomics studies across patient-derived GBM cells showed that the lead compound displays preferential activity against GBM cells of the mesenchymal subtype, one of the most invasive of all GBM subclasses.Given the prominent role of CSF-1R in tumour immune evasion in GBM and other cancers, with the support of Medical Research Scotland (MRS) we will recruit a PhD student and develop a lead optimisation campaign to progress to in vivo studies and IP protection. Joining forces with Nuvectis Pharma, the student will perform a cross-disciplinary project at the interface of medicinal chemistry, cancer biology and drug discovery, aiming to find a targeted therapy against the most life-threatening brain cancer.The project will be carried out at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (Edinburgh Cancer Research) and will be supervised by Professor Asier Unciti-Broceta (First Supervisor) and Professor Neil Carragher (Second Supervisor), drug discovery experts and inventors of the clinical drug candidate NXP900. The student will also benefit from close interactions with Professor Steve Pollard (Centre of Regenerative Medicine), expert in brain cancer biology. The PhD student will receive invaluable training in multiple cutting-edge techniques at the interface of chemistry and biomedicine (including organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, cell culture, phenotypic screening assays, IP protection and technology transfer) within a world-class research environment. Last but not least, direct interactions with our industry partner Nuvectis Pharma will provide a unique training experience for the student. This article was published on 2025-01-20