LabTAU – Research unit U1032 Lab. Of Therapeutic Applications of Ultrasound

PostDoctoral Position available (one year)

Design and validation of an in-vitro sonoporation system Context: Our team in LabTAU U1032 is conducting research on therapeutic applications of ultrasound cavitation, with a main research theme dedicated to cell transfection and sonoporation. SonInCaRe (Controlled cell Sonoporation by In-vivo Cavitation Regulation) is an international project funded by the French National Agency for Research and composed of a multidisciplinary consortium (biologists, physicists, clinical applications specialists). The key objectives of the project are to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying sonoporation process (ultrasound enhancement of molecule uptake into cells) and to design a controlled sonoporation system dedicated to the in-vitro and in-vivo cell sonoporation. Preliminary results have shown the high potential of regulating cavitation activity during an ultrasound shot to enhance the reproducibility of biological effects on cells (transfection efficiency and viability). The existing system is currently a prototype and only enables transfection for in-vitro studies in continuous wave exposure; improvements and design of a new and ergonomic sonoporation system for in-vivo applications have now to be carried out. Subject: In a first stage of the project, a sonoporation system will be designed, based on our prototype. Improvement will be done by implementing a regulation based on an inertial cavitation indicator and allowing regulation process for pulse-mode exposure. The best ultrasound exposure mode in focused configuration has to be defined in terms of cavitation activity. In a second stage, the system will be validated through cell transfection experiments, by comparing cell tranfection efficiency, cell mortality and viability. This project aims at preparing further in vivo experimental research, in collaboration with the unit INSERM U590 “Oncogenèse et Progression Tumorale”.

Profile: The candidate should have competences in the field of ultrasound instrumentation, acoustics or physics. Knowledge and interest in biological aspects of the project would be appreciated. Length of the contract: 12 months (possibly renewed for 12 months more) Contact: Interested candidates should contact Jean-Christophe BERA ([email protected]) or Claude INSERRA ([email protected]). tel: 33 4 72 68 19 40, fax : 33 4 72 68 19 31 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR INSERM 1032 “Therapeutic Applications of Ultrasound” 151, cours Albert Thomas 69424 Lyon Cedex 03 France http://labtau.univ-lyon1.fr/

République française

LabTAU - Unité de recherche U1032 Bâtiment INSERM, 151 Cours Albert Thomas 69424 Lyon Cedex 03, France Tél : 04 72 68 19 30 Fax : 04 72 68 19 31 E-mail : [email protected]