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Our lab has moved to Graz University! Check out our new website here: https://pharmazie.uni-graz.at/de/unsere-forschung/pharmakognosie/ |
Are you interested in doing your master thesis at our institute?
We can offer you the following topics and happily receive your request:
Novel Targets in ferroptosis
Project 1: Impact of the immune microenvironment on ferroptotic cancer cell death
Language: English
Ferroptosis is an immunogenic process and interacts with immune cells including macrophages, T cells, neutrophils and dendric cells, although the communication mechanisms remained largely unexplored. This project aims to investigate the communication between the immune microenvironment and cancer cells, with focus on immune cell function and the regulation mechanisms on ferroptotic cancer cell death.
Methods: Cell culture; MTT assay; Annexin V/PI staining; extraction and analysis of lipids (i.e., lipid mediators, phospholipids, oxidized phospholipids….) by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS; exploration of ferroptosis-regulating pathways (i.e, labile iron level, GSH/GSSG concentration, GPX activity); protein expression by Western Blot.
Supervisor: Rao Zhigang
Language: English
Project 2: Investigatating the link between epithelial-mesenchymal transition, lipids and programmed cell death in cancer
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a reprogramming process that is activated in metastatic cancer cells and associated with therapy resistance. Of interest, mesenchymal cancer cells are sensitive to ferroptosis, a newly defined programmed cell death that offers new opportunities to overcome therapy resistance. This project aims to elucidate the mechanisms between EMT, lipids and programmed cell death pathways (i.e., apoptosis, ferroptosis).
Methods: Cell culture; MTT assay; Annexin V/PI staining; extraction and analysis of lipids (i.e., lipid mediators, phospholipids, oxidized phospholipids….) by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS; exploration of ferroptosis-regulating pathways (i.e, labile iron level, GSH/GSSG concentration, GPX activity); protein expression by Western Blot.
Supervisor: Rao Zhigang/ Bereuter Leonhard
Project 3: Role of enzymes in retinoic acid pathway on cell death modulation
Language: English
Inducing programmed cell death in cancer cells is a powerful tool in cancer therapy. However, cancer cells acquire the ability to modulate their metabolism and metastasis, which promote their proliferation, evade immune surveillance, and increase their resistance to chemtherapy. Here, we find the retinoic acid signalling pathway that links cancer cell metastasis and resistance to chemtherapy. We are therefore focusing on the key enzymes in the retinoic acid pathway to investigate their role in cancer cell death sensitivity.
Methods: Cell culture; MTT assay; siRNA transfection; Protein expression by Western Blot; apoptosis assay; Cell Cycle assay.
Supervisor: Fengting Su
Preventing ferroptosis-driven degeneration
Project 1: Ferroptosis-modulating natural products
Language: English, German
Ferroptosis-inhibiting compounds protect non-malignant cells from pathological cell death during (neuro)degenerative diseases and organ injuries while ferroptosis-inducing compounds are cytotoxic and induce cancer cell death. Identification of potential novel lead structures either for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and organ injuries (anti-ferroptotic compounds) or cancer (pro-ferroptotic compounds).
Methods: During the master thesis, selected natural products will be investigated for their ferroptosis-modulating properties. Most promising candidates will be chosen for further investigations on the molecular mode of action (e.g., GPX4 activity, NRF2 activation, labile iron levels, GSH/GSSG level).
Supervisor: Koeberle Solveigh, Minh Bui-Hoang, Loc Le-Xuan
Targeting cancer resistance
Language: English
An aggressive malignant neoplasm Osteosarcoma (OS) develops from osteoblasts with mesenchymal origin and mainly arises in the long bones of the limbs. Substantial achievements owing to chemotherapeutic drugs development have been obtained in treating various cancers including OS. However, resistance to these drugs followed by metastatic spread limit the success of classical anti-cancer therapy. Preventive/therapeutic strategies overcoming resistance induction are therefore on high demand for different types of cancers including OS. Plant metabolites such as flavonoids reveal promising cytoprotective effects and were proposed to provide health benefits. In this project, we aim to specifically target chemotherapy-dependent resistance mechanisms using biogenic and bioinspired cytotoxic compounds.
Methods: Cell culture (drug-resistance establishment, screening of small molecules), 2- MTT assay, 3- Proliferation assays, 4- Crystal violet staining, 5- Annexin V/PI staining, 6- Western blotting.
Supervisor: Bonyadirad Ehsan
Resolving inflammation
Project 1: Biological evaluation of potential anti-inflammatory/proresolving agents
Language: English, German
This project aims to discover novel compounds that beneficially effect lipid mediator profiles in vitro and to gain insights into their mode of action.
Methods: Isolation of human primary immune cells, stimulation of immune cells, sample preparation via solid-phase-extraction, analysis of UPLC-ESI-MS/MS data as well as studies with recombinant enzymes.
Supervisor: Waltl Lorenz
If interested please contact Michael-Popp-Forschungsinstitut@uibk.ac.at