Register for PhD Students - Ribocure - Internship Project VT24

Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB

Target group
PhD student

About the company
Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB is a newly established Swedish biotech company with a business focus on the development of cutting-edge RNA-based therapeutics. Ribocure’s primary focus lies in addressing the significant medical gaps in rare diseases involved in the fields of cardiovascular, renal, and oncology. The company is dedicated to the discovery and development of groundbreaking drug assets utilizing advanced oligonucleotide technologies. Operating as a subsidiary of Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd., Ribocure leverages the advantages of a vertically integrated oligonucleotide research platform and excels in translational and clinical operations. Our comprehensive technological platforms encompass the entire process, from sequence design, screening, and optimization to delivery technologies and large-scale commercial CMC capacity.

The project
siRNA therapeutics conjugated to N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) targeting the hepatocytes is well understood and approved for clinical use. There is a huge interest in the field to resolve cell specific delivery of oligonucleotides (and other drugs) beyond the liver to expand the indications where this modality could be used. The task is challenging, and no one has yet achieved this in a sufficient way.
At Ribocure Pharmaceuticals and Ribo Life Science, we have a couple of programs exploring
extrahepatic delivery of siRNA or other payload, using aptamer, small molecule, antibody, 
nanoparticles, or peptide-based technologies. We are seeking a PhD student for a short internship at our preclinical laboratory at Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB in Mölndal. The work includes screening of oligosequences and mechanistic studies of our targeted siRNA, in relevant cell systems. The projectwill involve both basic and more advanced cell culture work, followed by analysis using methods such as Western blot, RT-PCR, and imaging. The ambition with this short placement is to facilitate the collaboration between academia and industry, and more specifically lead to fruitful knowledge sharing between us and KI. The placement would also be an introduction for the PhD student on the work processes at a biotech and pharmaceutical company. The optimal start of this internship would be September 2024, but could be discussed based on the candidate selected.

The candidate
Molecular biologist or cell biologist with experience of cell culturing and general 
biochemical/molecular biology analytical methods. Knowledge of working with siRNA and delivery systems is a bonus but not a requirement. The candidate should have good communication skills in both Swedish (preferred) and English (essential).

Contact information
Name: Hanna Wallentin, PhD, lab manager
Email: hanna.wallentin@ribocure.com
Telephone: +46 (0) 72 218 98 96

Name: Julia Grönros, PhD, Project Director External Innovation
Email: julia.gronros@ribocure.com
Telephone: +46 (0) 73 094 61 08

Company website: https://ribocure.com/