MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship on "Mapping and resolving ecDNA/TME co-dependencies in pancreatic [...]

Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine

The Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine invites scholars to present expressions of interest in applying jointly with Prof. Vincenzo Corbofor a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) to investigate mechanisms through which ecDNA+ pancreatic cancer cells support functional niche architecture

Across large cancer cohorts, extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is found in around 60% of cancers and account for a sizeable fraction (~ 20%) of oncogene amplifications. In pancreatic cancer, ecDNA is a prevalent mechanism of high-level oncogene amplification, most notably involving MYC, a well-established driver of metastasis and resistance to RAS inhibition. A major unsolved question is how ecDNA interacts with the tumor microenvironment . Our preliminary data suggest that ecDNA+ tumors display reduced T cell infiltration. We therefore aim to determine whether ecDNA+ cells actively remodel the microenvironment to create an immune-cold state, or whether ecDNA+ clones simply preferentially emerge and expand within pre-existing immune-privileged niche. To address this question, we will combine unbiased approaches, including integrated single-cell and spatially-resolved transcriptomics of human tissues, with hypothesis driven experiments using organoid-based model systems

Hosting research group / Supervisor

Prof Corbo is a molecular and cellular biologist who has made important contributions to advancing or understanding of pancreatic diseases. His current research focuses on how PDAC phenotypes are shaped by the interplay between somatic genetic variation and microenvironmental signals (Veghini, Pasini et al. Nature Communications. 2024; Fiorini, Malinova, Schreyer et al. Nature. 2025). He has been invited to present his work at numerous international conferences including AACR, Pancreatic Cancer Research UK, and ESMO. His research is funded by AIRC, the Ministry of University and Research, the European Union, and the National Cancer Institute.

Selected candidates will be offered both academic and administrative support from the Department and the University of Verona Grant Office with regards to the proposal preparation.

ELIGIBILITY

• To have a PhD at the call deadline (September 9, 2026)
• To have up to 8 years research experience after PhD
• To be citizens of an EU State or of an Associated Country or long-term resident in Europe (only for Global Fellowship)
• Not to have resided or carried their main activity in Italy for more than 12 in the 36 months before call deadline (September 9, 2026) – for European Fellowship
• Not to have resided or carried their main activity in the country of the Host Institution in the third country for more than 12 in the 36 months before call deadline (September 9, 2026) – for a Global Fellowship.

Besides, candidates should be fluent in English, should have excellent teamwork attitude, organizational skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.

• A detailed academic CV including personal data (name, date of birth, present position) and the name/contact details of at least one referee.
• A short project (max 3 pages) structured in line with MSCA-PF evaluation criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation