Call for applications for a fully financed PhD fellowship

Project description

In Denmark, annually over 550 (18%) breast cancer patients need a re-operation after initial breast conserving surgery, due to incomplete removal of the cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, pre-stage of cancer). The need for reoperation is determined days after surgery based on microscopic identification of cancer/DCIS at the edge of the surgically removed tissue (= surgical margin). Ideally, the tissue should be evaluated in the operating room, allowing for immediate additional tissue removal, preventing re-operations. Several intraoperative technologies have been developed for this purpose but with disappointing results, especially in finding DCIS, which is the leading cause for re-operations.

We have developed a novel imaging technique, a spectral photon counting micro computed tomography (CT) scanner, potentially overcoming the deficiencies of existing intraoperative technologies.

In this translational study, we aim to evaluate the performance of spectral microCT scanning for margin assessment in a clinical setting at the pathology department. We will examine this in three subprojects:

1. routine BCS specimens will be scanned and spectral CT data correlated with histology. This will define the relation between the novel imaging data (specifically the spectral information) and the gold standard (histology).
2. the acquired data will be used to develop artificial intelligence tools to support fast, reliable assessment of surgical margins.
3. the performance of the margin assessment tool will be tested prospectively in a consecutive patient cohort without clinical intervention.

This study will provide clinically relevant insight into the potential of spectral microCT imaging for fast, intraoperative surgical margin assessment in BCS; a tool that may be extended to other cancer types.

 The PhD student will be a part of both the research environment at Department of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital aswell as ass.professor Jasper Nijkamps group at Danish Centre for Particle Therapy.

The study includes national collaboration and related to ACROBATIC (Danish Research Center for Cancer Surgery).

The main supervisor is research leader and responsible for breast pathology at Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital.

Qualifications

• The candidate must have a Masters degree in Medicine.
• The candidate must have an introductory year in clinical pathology or similar extensive skills in microscopy of human tissue and knowledge in handling of pathological specimens.
• The candidate must have excellent English writing and oral communication skills.
• The candidate must have excellent Danish writing and oral communication skills for communication to facilitate the prospective study

How to apply

Please submit your application via this link. Application deadline is 12 May 2024 23:59 CET. Preferred starting date is 1 August 2024.

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide.  

Further information

Please contact Associate Professor Trine Tramm, tramm@clin.au.dk for more information.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.