In Vitro In Vivo Translation Industrial Placement - 2022 Intake

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In Vitro In Vivo Translation Industrial Placement

Multiple roles available. Please read below about the positions we are recruiting for, when you apply you will be able to select 3 preferences. We will accommodate your preference where possible.

Degree requirements:

You will have completed a minimum of 2 years of your undergraduate degree; but will not have graduated at the start of your placement. You may be expected to provide evidence from your university to show you will be an undergraduate student for the duration of the placement year and they are supportive of your placement. Must be undertaking a Life Sciences degree in a Biology/Chemistry/Pharmacology related field.

Role 1: Immunological Toxicology

GSK’s Immunological Toxicology team are a group of immunologists who support drug development across the business by providing vital immune safety data to enable the selection and development of medicines with favourable immune-related benefit-risk profiles. We are looking for a hard-working, ambitious and intellectually curious IP student to join us, to contribute to our work supporting advanced drug modalities such as adoptive cellular therapies.

The successful candidate will gain insights into experimental non-clinical safety assessment relating to immunological toxicology, as well as broader experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry. You will learn in vitro techniques such as multi-colour flow cytometry, ELISA/MSD, transcriptomic analysis, cell culture, and associated analysis techniques. There will be many opportunities to build transferable skills such as by giving presentations. If you are interested in immunology, safety assessment and drug discovery/development then we look forward to hearing from you!

Role 2: Comparative and Translational Sciences (CTS)

Comparative and Translational Sciences (CTS) contributes to the development of medicines for patients by improving the choice and validation of translational preclinical models and enhancing the conduct of efficacy and safety studies.

CTS comprises of veterinarians, PhD investigators and scientists working in partnership with drug discovery, pharmacology, toxicology and welfare experts to design, develop, and report reproducible, translatable models. Each team member specialises in a different research area, from palatability and immunology to oncology and biomarkers, allowing a placement student to develop knowledge and gain experience across a range of topics within preclinical research and development.

CTS is highly diverse, rapidly moving group, aligned with current and prospective business areas of research including: design of custom gene expression cards for transgenic model characterisation; bespoke immunofixation assay to assess clinical trial endpoints; development of CAR T-cell therapy; and gut microbiome assessment of in vivo models. The placement student will provide scientific support to project teams for the utilisation of models and novel biomarkers and contribute to the characterisation of human relevant models such as those used for dermal, respiratory, liver or oncology diseases.

In addition to assay development and technology evaluation skills, the candidate will develop scientifically through hands on lab work, in-depth literature reviews, data analyses and correlating findings with pathophysiological endpoints. Students will be encouraged to publish and present their work within and external to GSK.

Role 3: Evaluation of different xeno-free synthetic ECMs for suitability in supporting biological function in complex in vitro models

Our group Complex In Vitro Models (CIVM) sits under the In Vitro In Vivo Translation (IVIVT) Department and our mission is to develop more predictable, physiologically relevant in vitro models to increase clinical translation. We are utilising a variety of technologies to create relevant complex models ranging from 3D organoids to microfluidic systems and Organ on Chip. Almost all these models heavily rely on the presence of a supportive, tissue relevant extracellular matrix (ECM) as a barrier, scaffold, or a 3D support.

Currently, like many other scientists, we are using mainly animal derived ECMs e.g. Matrigel, collagen, fibronectin etc. In many cases these matrices show high variability from batch to batch and are not fully characterised. Additionally, using animal derived matrix is not ideal when creating fully human in vitro models, and can change the translatability of the model to the clinic.

We are looking to improve our models by replacing these animal derived matrices with xenofree synthetic ECMs that are fully characterised and validated in our systems. The aim of this project is to evaluate synthetic ECMs and demonstrate how they could support cells in organoids, 3D multicellular in vitro systems, tissue on chips, and 3D printing of cells in tissue systems. A crucial part of this evaluation is the characterisation of these matrices within these tissue systems in order to demonstrate that they can support physiological relevance of the tissues we are building.

Role 4: Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Scientist

You will join a pioneering discovery drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) group, influential in steering discovery projects towards the selection of the best potential future medicines for development. The placement will integrate you within the group where chemistry, biology and pharmacology disciplines are utilised to characterise the DMPK profile for new compounds with decision making data and interpretation to direct project progression.

You will work closely with your supervisor to plan and carry out experimental work to support in vitro and in vivo studies designed and carried by the department.

The excellent hands on training provided during the placement will enable you to perform in vitro assays and conduct quantitative bioanalysis to a high level of independence using state of the art instruments.

• You will gain valuable experience, personally running automated platforms to perform in vitro assays, prepare analytical calibration standards and extract biological samples.
• Using liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) systems, you will develop new bioanalytical methods and process qualitative and quantitative results using bespoke software.
• Understanding, interpreting and reporting results will also be a key aspect of the placement role.
• During the placement, in addition to study support work, you will conduct an individual piece of project work to build on scientific understanding or capabilities for the department.
• The data you generate will be used to guide the design of future compounds, define the pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship and help to ensure that compounds are optimal for development into medicines.

Role 5: Bioanalyst

In this role you will work within the UK Bioanalysis & Biomarkers team, part of the worldwide Bioanalysis, Immunology and Biomarkers group. Our team develops robust analytical methods to measure drug concentrations in a variety of biofluids and tissues. These methods are used to deliver high-quality data for preclinical and clinical studies across the GSK portfolio.

• You will have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art analytical instruments, including liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and immunoassay platforms, and to provide bioanalytical support at multiple stages of the drug development process
• We offer extensive, hands-on training in a range of laboratory techniques, as well as the aforementioned instrument platforms. Working alongside experienced scientists in our team, you will learn how to design and execute experiments, interpret analytical datasets, collaborate with other scientific teams, and improve your scientific communication skills
• The role encompasses a wide variety of activities on a daily basis, including (but not limited to): developing, validating and using analytical methods for the measurement of drugs and metabolites in biological samples, using and maintaining analytical instrumentation, processing bioanalytical results using the appropriate software and producing reports on completed studies
• You will be expected to ensure that work is conducted in compliance with the relevant good clinical practice/good laboratory practice (GCP) regulations, and follow safe working practices for your health and safety as well as that of your colleagues

Role 6: Biomarker Scientist

We have an exciting position working in the Biomarker Assay Group within Bioanalysis, Immunogenicity and Biomarkers (BIB). The role of the Biomarker Scientist is to work closely with pre-clinical and clinical project teams to define and deliver biomarker strategies to support translation of GSK’s rapidly expanding biopharmaceutical and small molecule portfolio into successful early phase clinical studies.

Working as part of a dedicated biomarker team, your role will be to develop and validate new biomarker assays to assess target expression, target engagement and pharmacodynamic drug effects. This placement provides the opportunity to work on a broad spectrum of techniques and technologies, including Protein Simple’s JESS (automated western blotting platform), ELISpot assays, and also Ligand binding assays with Meso-Scale Discovery technology, ELISA and high sensitivity platforms such as Quanterix’s HDX & SRX and Protein Simple’s ELLA.

You will be working across multiple disease areas, such as oncology, respiratory and immuno-inflammation. An understanding of working in a regulated environment may also be gained. Our aim is to develop students to be highly independent in planning, executing and interpreting scientific data as well as presenting results and collaborating with other scientists. Working within the Exploratory Biomarker Group also provides ample access to scientific presentations and seminars as part of the vibrant Stevenage GSK science hub.

Role 7: Cell Imaging & Dynamics Biologist

The Bioimaging department was formed in 2016 and brings together key areas of in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging to understand drug distribution and the effect of that distribution on intact biological systems. The focus of the newly formed Ultrastructural and Cellular Bioimaging group is to support all aspects of Research, and the wider GSK, using Bioimaging at cellular & ultrastructural resolutions. As well as using existing modalities we keep aware of developing technologies and analytics through an extensive internal and external network.

We work closely with in vivo, clinical and MALDI Bioimaging, making use of resources available across R&D and as such you will learn and develop the skills needed to interact with teams and scientists at all levels. The ability to determine the distribution of unlabelled drug related material and endogenous metabolites at cellular resolutions give us the ability to address key factors for compound efficacy and safety.

You will work as part of the Cell Imaging & Dynamics group within the Ultrastructural and Cellular Bioimaging team based in Stevenage, the GSK UK Science Hub, to provide critical mass spectrometry imaging data to progress the development of new medicines across a range of programmes supporting the numerous therapeutic areas within GSK.

The team continues to pioneer leading edge technology through extensive external collaborations and to develop these approaches to deliver enhanced knowledge of compound distribution and its concomitant outcomes on biological processes.

Your role will contribute to this advancement, with a particular focus on the application of advanced mass spectrometry, a highly desired skill set in biological analysis. You will learn to use cutting edge technology to study the uptake of compounds into cells and determine the effect such perturbations have on the underlying biology.

This placement will give you training on the use of mass spectrometry to identify endogenous and exogenous molecules from individual cells, sampling from live cells and both optical and mass spectrometry imaging at cellular and sub cellular resolutions. In addition, you will perform cell culture and live cell imaging.

About GSK

GSK are a science-led global healthcare company that researches and develops innovative Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines products. Our challenging and inspiring mission is to enable people to do more, feel better and live longer by developing innovative products and improving access to healthcare for patients around the world.

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button below.

Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.

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