MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship on the Biological Relationship between Congenital Lung Malformatio[...]

Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology

Università degli Studi di Verona – Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology Laboratory Prometeo NanoLab Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Professor Luca Giacomello invites scholars to present expressions of interest in applying jointly with Prometeo NanoLab for a Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship on the biological relationship between Congenital Lung Malformations and malignant lung tumors.

Congenital lung malformations (CLMs) are rare developmental anomalies of the lung including a spectrum of entities: congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), pulmonary sequestration, either intralobar (ILS) or extralobar (ELS), congenital lobar overinflation (CLO), bronchogenic cyst (BC), and isolated congenital bronchial atresia (CBA).

The estimated incidence of CLMs is approximately 4 cases per 10,000 live births. In most cases, diagnosis is established prenatally by ultrasound, while confirmation is typically obtained in the first months of life through computed tomography angiography (CTA). Clinical presentation at birth ranges from complete absence of symptoms to varying degrees of respiratory distress. Surgical treatment represents the gold standard for symptomatic cases, whereas the management of asymptomatic patients remains controversial.

One of the main arguments in favor of prophylactic surgical resection is the prevention of complications, including recurrent infections and potential malignant transformation. The incidence of neoplastic transformation is not yet clearly defined; it is a rare but unpredictable event that can occur at any age and is often associated with non‑specific symptoms. Furthermore, imaging studies do not always allow a definitive diagnosis nor can they reliably exclude malignant transformation.

Associations between various CLMs, particularly CPAM, pulmonary sequestration, and bronchogenic cysts, and malignant lung tumors have been described in both pediatric and adult populations. More recently, epigenetic alterations have been identified in CLMs, including abnormal DNA methylation patterns similar to those observed in lung cancers. In malignant tumors, these alterations typically involve global hypomethylation accompanied by hypermethylation of promoter regions of genes involved in cell growth regulation and oncogenic pathways.

In addition, genomic instability and rare genetic variants associated with tumor development have been identified in CLMs, regardless of histopathological subtype and clinical history. The presence of genomic instability, considered a predisposing factor for malignant transformation, in lesions identified in infancy is particularly striking. Genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer, including lung malignancies, and increases the likelihood of acquiring DNA mutations. Multiple factors may contribute to this instability, including environmental exposures (such as smoking, air pollution, and radiation), mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, defects in DNA repair mechanisms, and telomere dysfunction.

In light of these findings, the aim of the present project is to further investigate the biological relationship between CLMs and lung malignancies, to better characterize the mechanisms of genomic instability within these malformations, and to identify potential factors that may promote or trigger malignant transformation.

Hosting research group / Supervisor

We are looking for applicants for a Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship to be presented with our Centre / Department as main host institution.

Prometeo NanoLab headed by Prof. Luca Giacomello is a joint laboratory born from the collaboration of the University of Verona and the company Nanomnia. The team combines different professional expertise in terms of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, with a focus on translational medicine and signal transduction.

The laboratory is equipped with cutting‑edge technologies such as the confocal microscopy Cell Discoverer 7, which also allows live cell imaging, two 3D bioprinters (extrusion‑ and DLP‑based), RT‑PCR machines, cell incubators, sterile hoods, microscopes, a flow cytometer, a cell sorting facility, a Leica‑Thunder microscope, mass spectrometry apparatuses and spectrophotometers.

The laboratory of Prometeo NanoLab is located in the L.U.R.M. (University Laboratory of Medical Research) Research Center of the University of Verona, a multidisciplinary center equipped with different instrumentation and dedicated staff. As part of L.U.R.M., Prometeo NanoLab has full access to technological equipment.

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

Eligibility

Candidates must be eligible according to the criteria established by the 2026 MSCA Postdoctoral fellowship call:

• 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 short CV including personal data (name, date of birth, present position, the name of a referee who has agreed to send a reference letter for you)
• A two‑page research proposal

One reference letter should be sent by a referee to the same address.