Biology Education

Group: Systems Immunology Lab, Division of Molecular Hematology, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Supervisors: Chun-Chi Chang Ph.D., Camila Consiglio Ph.D.

PI: Camila Consiglio Ph.D.

Project Description

Biological sex differences in immune responses are strongly influenced by sex hormones, with testosterone emerging as a key immunomodulatory factor shaping immune activation. Effective immune responses, including those triggered by Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, require rapid metabolic reprogramming to support cellular activation, cytokine production, and antimicrobial effector functions. While testosterone is known to modulate immune signaling pathways, how testosterone exposure reshapes the metabolic programs that underpin immune activation in human immune cells remains poorly understood..

This project aims to define how testosterone regulates metabolic adaptation in primary human immune cells during stimulation. Using controlled in vitro manipulation of androgen signaling, immune cells from healthy individuals of different biological sexes will be exposed to testosterone or androgen receptor modulators, followed by stimulation with defined TLR agonists to mimic bacterial and viral sensing.  High-dimensional immunophenotyping and single-cell metabolic profiling (SCENITH) will be applied to characterize how key metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid metabolism, are selectively engaged during immune activation under testosterone-driven conditions.

By integrating functional immune readouts with metabolic measurements, this project will elucidate testosterone-dependent immunometabolic programs that govern immune cell activation, plasticity, and effector function. The findings will provide mechanistic insight into how testosterone shape cellular metabolism in distinct immune populations, helping to explain sex-biased differences in infection outcomes and inflammatory responses.

Technical Skills

• Isolation and culture of primary human immune cells (PBMCs and defined immune subsets)
• Targeted manipulation of testosterone signaling using androgen receptor agonists and antagonists
• Innate immune stimulation using defined Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists
• High-dimensional and spectral flow cytometry for immune phenotyping and activation profiling
• Single-cell metabolic profiling via SCENITH to assess glycolytic and mitochondrial pathway dependency
• Functional immune readouts, including production of cytokine and reactive oxygen species
• Data integration of immune phenotypes with metabolic signatures

We are offering Master’s thesis projects within our newly established research group at the Division of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University).

Our lab investigates how hematopoietic stem cells are regulated under normal conditions and how these mechanisms become dysregulated during stress and in leukemia.

Project focus

We offer M.Sc. projects connected to our ongoing research. Laboratory work may include techniques such as flow cytometry, cell culture, animal models (mouse), or various molecular assays.

Example M.Sc projects include:

*Investigating how genetic perturbations influence leukemia development and disease aggressiveness.

*Defining cellular and molecular safeguarding mechanisms that maintain hematopoietic stem cell function.

Who can apply?

We are looking for highly motivated Master’s students in biology, biomedicine, molecular biology, biotechnology, or similar fields. We are particularly interested in candidates who:

*Have prior wet‑lab experience (e.g., cell culture, flow cytometry, molecular biology).

*Are considering a Ph.D. and want to gain research experience.

Contact

If you are interested in joining the lab for your thesis work, please contact:

Alexandra Rundberg Nilsson
Alexandra.rundberg_nilsson@med.lu.se

We look forward to hearing from curious and driven students who want to contribute to our research on stem cell biology and leukemia!

Lab website: https://alexandrarundbergn.wixsite.com/home

Bioextrax is an innovation-driven company using industrial biotechnology to contribute to a more sustainable future. The company is originally a spin-off from the Department of Biotechnology at Lund University and is today a rapidly growing publicly traded company. Our vision is to be a world-leader in bio-based technologies accelerating the transition to a sustainable, green global economy. The company is consistently working to develop innovative and green solutions based on microbiology and biotechnology.

The core of our business is contributing to a sustainable and circular economy. Based on this platform, we are developing chemical-free methods to produce the bio-based and biodegradable biopolymers PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) and turn various protein-rich materials such as poultry feathers into valuable ingredients for feed, textile, and cosmetic applications. Read more about our company and work at www.bioextrax.com.

The main objective of this project is to evaluate sugar based substrate as alternative carbon source for PHBV production. For this purpose, the PHBV production process will be developed from different carbon sources through optimization of fermentation processes in fermenters. Moreover, the use of large-scale bioreactors will also be carried out for scale-up fermentation process.

Main points of the master’s thesis:

• Literature study on the use of sugar based substrate for PHBV production,
• Optimization of fermentation parameters to improve PHBV yield,
• Development of scale-up fermentation process,
• Determination of PHBV yield according to substrate and carbon content,
• Characterization of polymers according to the usage possibilities of PHBV,
• Summarizing the findings in a thesis and presenting the findings in both academic and industrial groups

Industrial supervisor: Dr. Taner Sar, tas@bioextrax.com and Mina Hassan Zadeh mhz@bioextrax.com at Bioextrax AB

Location: Department of Biology

Project length: preferably 60 credits (30/45 credits is optional) – start is flexible but will be September 2026.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, and liver metastasis is a major cause of CRC-related mortality. Our research group at the Surgery Research Unit in Clinical Research Center, Malmö investigates the molecular mechanisms driving CRC progression and metastasis, with a focus on microRNAs (miRNAs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and tumor–immune interactions.

Students will gain hands-on experience in experimental cancer research, working closely with postdoctoral researchers under direct supervision of the principal investigator. Projects involve laboratory work using cancer cell lines, animal models, and patient-derived samples.

Example MSc projects include:

Studying the role of microRNAs or genes in CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis using gain- and loss-of-function approaches.

Investigating how colorectal cancer–derived extracellular vesicles influence macrophage polarization and tumor growth.

Techniques may include cell culture, gene silencing or overexpression, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, extracellular vesicle analysis, and protein assays.

Project supervisor and PI: Associate professor Milladur Rahman, LU profile- https://portal.research.lu.se/en/persons/milladur-rahman/

Unite chief and PI: Professor Henrik Thorlacius, LU profile- https://portal.research.lu.se/en/persons/henrik-thorlacius/

If you are interested in participating in any of our ongoing projects as an MSc student, please contact milladur.rahman@med.lu.se for more information.

Epilepsy is a family of neurological disorders affecting 1% of the general population. About 30% of patients are resistant to current medications, and surgical treatment options are possible for only a minority of selected cases. Pharmacoresistant patients continue to experience seizures throughout their lifetime, with a severe impact on their quality of life. The development of novel and more effective treatment strategies is therefore highly needed, as well as preventive approaches that could block the progression of the disease.
The main objective of this project is to develop highly specific and precise gene therapy approaches that target critical cell populations involved in the development of epilepsy and seizures. By using a combination of advanced molecular biology, electrophysiological and imaging techniques, we will (i) identify hyper-active neuronal ensembles involved in the early stages of epileptogenesis, (ii) characterize their location, molecular identity and functional alterations, (iii) apply gene therapy approaches designed to limit the functional output of hyper-active neurons and prevent the development of chronic epilepsy. These approaches will be validated in different animal models of epilepsy, and will provide important new knowledge on the mechanisms of epileptogenesis, as well as basis for the development of preventive treatments that could further be translated in the human condition.

Methods
Depending on the progress state of the projects at the time of your joining, you will learn a combination of the following methods:
– molecular biology, plasmid cloning, qPCR, Western Blotting
– viral vector design and production
– in vivo vector injections
– animal behavioral studies
– electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in mice
– immunohistochemistry and microscopy

Contact

Marco Ledri (marco.ledri@med.lu.se)
https://portal.research.lu.se/en/organisations/epilepsy-center
https://portal.research.lu.se/en/organisations/molecular-neurophysiology-and-epilepsy-group
https://portal.research.lu.se/en/persons/marco-ledri

The long-term survival for high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) patients is lower than 50%. The occurrence of secondary tumors (metastases) fundamentally determines survival. Today, no available therapeutics successfully target metastases in NB. Common metastatic sites for NB are bone marrow and bone, followed by lymph nodes and the liver. Importantly metastatic spread patterns are different between various cancer types. Since metastatic progression is a non-random event, this strongly suggests that only tumor cells with specific capabilities can form metastases. We hypothesize that (i) these capabilities differ for metastatic tumor formation in bone marrow-, liver, and lung, and (ii) to cure children with metastatic NB, we will have to consider the metastatic sites and develop metastatic site-directed therapies. The project aims to reveal potential therapeutic target molecules on metastatic tumor cells (MTCs) by characterizing and comparing bone marrow, liver, and lung MTCs using unique NB patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and CRISPR /Cas9 system.

The research group is based at BMC, Lund University, within a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment. It comprises four PhD students, one postdoctoral researcher, and a part-time technician as well as a clinical pathologist. The group has full access to Lund University core facilities.

Catharina Hagerling

Catharina.hagerling@med.lu.se

We invite highly motivated students to join our research group at the Clinical Research Centre in Malmö and participate in our ongoing research projects for their MSc thesis laboratory work. Our group is dedicated to studying the role of the immune system in diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The projects involve laboratory work using a variety of primary cells, cell lines, purified proteins, and patient samples. You will gain hands-on experience in planning and conducting laboratory experiments that address fundamental cellular mechanisms underlying physiological and disease processes.

We will closely guide you throughout the project. The projects include state-of-the-art methods for the investigation of cell biology, such as flow cytometry, cell metabolism (Seahorse) and confocal microscopy, protein interaction analyses using the proximity-ligation assay, and genetic manipulation employing the Cas9/CRISPR system. In addition, you will have the opportunity to learn microbiological and immunological techniques and to express and purify recombinant proteins. We use Labguru, an online laboratory notebook, to document all experiments. By participating in our research projects, you will gain valuable experience in cutting-edge research techniques, broaden your understanding of cellular mechanisms in physiology and disease, and contribute to our mission to advance knowledge in the field of immunology.

You will also become a member of a large, international research group, with many opportunities to interact with colleagues and contribute as a valued member of our team.

Below are examples of available projects:

The role of intracellular C3 and CD59 in pancreatic b-cells: Our research focuses on two important proteins found in human pancreatic islets: the central complement protein C3 and the complement inhibitor CD59. We discovered that intracellular C3 plays a key role in regulating autophagy (a process where cells clean out damaged components) and helping cells survive during stress. Now, we are investigating how C3 may influence β-cell function and how it regulates gene expression in nucleus. In addition, we are studying CD59 to understand its role in insulin secretion and b-cell metabolism and its potential impact on diabetes. By uncovering how these proteins work, we aim to reveal new insights into pancreatic β-cell physiology, allowing for a deeper understanding of diabetes.

The role of oncogene COMP in cancer: we unexpectedly found that the expression of cartilage protein COMP is associated with metastases and a poor prognosis for patients with various types of solid cancers. Additionally, COMP contributes to cancer resistance to therapy and inhibits the immune system. We aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for these novel functions of COMP, particularly those related to basic cell biology and tumor immunology. Ultimately, our long-term goal is to develop biomarkers for cancer and resistance to chemotherapy and to provide a basis for the development of novel treatments.

– King B.C., et al. (2019) Complement C3 is highly expressed in human pancreatic islets and prevents b-cell death via ATG16L1 interaction and autophagy regulation., Cell Metabolism, 29, 202-210.

– Golec E., et al. (2022) Alternative splicing encodes novel intracellular CD59 isoforms that mediate insulin secretion and are downregulated in diabetic islets., PNAS, 119, e2120083119.

– Papadakos et al.(2019) Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein initiates cancer stem cells through activation of Jagged1-Notch3 signaling., Matrix Biology, 81, 107-121.

Start date is flexible. More information about our research and us can be found on our homepage: https://www.protein-chemistry.lu.se

If you are interested, please contact prof. Anna Blom, Dept of Translational Medicine, anna.blom@med.lu.se