A postgraduate research opportunity at the University of Otago.
Details
- Close date
- Friday, 19 February 2021
- Academic background
- Sciences, Health Sciences
- Host campus
- Christchurch
- Qualification
- Honours
- Department
- Pathology and Biomedical Science (Christchurch)
- Supervisors
- Associate Professor Gabi Dachs, Professor Margreet Vissers
Overview
Vitamin C is often considered by patients with cancer, yet robust data for its clinical efficacy is lacking. This vitamin is a vital cofactor for a superfamily of enzymes that control cellular processes potentially important in cancer progression.
Our research in cells and mice has shown that vitamin C is important in the fundamental cellular response of cancer cells to low oxygen conditions (hypoxia), and was able to slow tumour growth. We also saw an association between higher vitamin C content and lower hypoxic response in clinical samples from patients with cancer. We have measured vitamin C levels in patients with cancer and conducted small clinical trials.
There are numerous outstanding questions and several potential research projects associated with this research topic, including epigenetic analysis and CRISPR knockout studies.
We encourage any student who is interested to join our multidisciplinary research team to contact Gabi or Margreet to discuss their interests and options.
Preferred student expertise
Science or health science student with an interest in cancer biology and who ideally has some laboratory experience.
Further information
This is one of a number of projects on offer for the 2021 intake of BBiomedSc(Hons) at the University of Otago, Christchurch campus.
