Juravinski Cancer Centre Biophotonics PostDoctoral Position Available INO

Juravinski Cancer Centre Biophotonics Post-Doctoral Position Available INO (National Optics Institute) is Canada’s leading center of expertise in applied optics and photonics. Founded in 1985 as a private, nonprofit corporation, INO provides contract R&D to industry and maintains a significant internal research program. INO designs and develops innovative solutions that incorporate the latest advances in optics and photonics. Our innovations in biophotonics have found applications in optical mammography, molecular imaging and hypoglycaemic monitoring. The Institute employs 200 people at its 189, 500 sq. ft. facility. JCC (Juravinski Cancer Centre) is one of Canada’s largest comprehensive cancer treatment facilities. JCC is affiliated with Mc. Master University and is part of Hamilton Health Sciences - together we are working to bridge clinical and fundamental cancer research. JCC conducts scientific research in photodynamic therapy and related dosimetry, tissue optics and optical diagnostics, radiotherapy, as well as the fundamental cell biology of cancer development and metastasis. The research group is composed of more than 50 researchers, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and technical/administrative staff. POSITION DESCRIPTION DESIRED PROFILE INO and the Juravinski Cancer Centre/Mc. Master University have a joint project entitled “Elucidating Reaction Dynamics of Photodynamic Therapy compounds in vivo from Luminescence Affected by an External Magnetic field” for which they seek a post-doctoral candidate. The work is funded by a CIHR grant and by INO and is an 18 month position. You hold a Ph. D. in chemistry, physics, biochemistry, biophysics or other related field of study. Your research experience must include at least one of biomedical optics, photodynamic therapy or chemical reaction kinetics. Interested applicants should forward their résumés along with a letter of presentation to: INO, Human Ressources • 2740 Einstein Street • Sainte-Foy, Québec • Canada G 1 P 4 S 4 • www. ino. ca Ressources. humaines@ino. ca • Fax: (418) 657 -7009

Juravinski Cancer Centre Elucidating reaction dynamics of photodynamic therapy compounds in vivo from luminescence affected by an external magnetic field During a photodynamic therapy treatment (PDT), the physico- and bio-chemical behavior of photosensitive agents may be quite variable. The effects of photobleaching, limited oxygen supply to cancerous tissues along with the hydrophobicity and protein binding characteristics of a photosensitiser (PS) can limit the effectiveness of photodynamic treatment. Since PS bio-uptake and chemistry affects treatment efficacy, optimal drug formulation, and light dosing must be optimized. Unfortunately, researchers involved in developing new PDT compounds often have no real time and direct way of knowing how well a drug performs in vivo. Presently, one determines the effectiveness of the drug by evaluating the changes in tumor size, and measure the extent of cell apoptosis and immune response with analytical bioassays. In literature pertaining to the effect of magnetic fields on chemical kinetics, it is known that radical ion pairs, neutral radicals and the potential energy surfaces of triplet-triplet annihilation reactions may be affected by an external magnetic field. Particular references to the effect of magnetic fields on planar metallophthalocyanine compounds, a group which includes PDT compounds, can also be found. We propose to use a variable magnetic field to affect the reaction dynamics of photoreactive compounds in vivo. The concomitant perturbations in luminescent emissions (fluorescence and phosphorescence) should arise mainly from the production of radicals and triplet exciplexes produced in the reaction pathways. By measuring the differences in fluorescence and phosphorescence lifetimes and properly calibrating this with the cell death fraction, it may be possible to determine singlet oxygen production rate. This, in turn, would indicate PDT efficacy. It may also be possible to describe local chemical tissue environments via the magnetic field strength. As most biologically interesting PS compounds share a common chemical structure and follow similar reaction pathways, it is conceivable that a device based on the technology discussed above could be employed for monitoring a wide variety of photodynamic applications. The use of variable magnetic fields to induce changes in time-resolved luminescence characteristics of PS compound during photodynamic therapy may allow not only pharmaceutical companies to better understand the pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs in development but allow for real time assessment of therapeutic treatment. As a post-doctoral researcher, you would design, build and characterise the frequency domain system used to measure changes in fluorescence and phosphoresence lifetimes. You would carry out the necessary experiments using PDT agents in cellular suspension media. It is expected that the work would be published in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. Interested applicants should forward their résumés along with a letter of presentation to: INO, Human Ressources • 2740 Einstein Street • Sainte-Foy, Québec • Canada G 1 P 4 S 4 • www. ino. ca Ressources. humaines@ino. ca • Fax: (418) 657 -7009