Research Technician – IgA Antibody Production and Development

About PHARMIgA

Most therapeutic antibodies currently used to treat disease are based on a single antibody class: IgG. While highly effective in the bloodstream, IgG antibodies are often less effective at mucosal surfaces such as the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. These tissues are central to major unmet medical needs, including respiratory infections, inflammatory diseases, and several forms of cancer.

In contrast, IgA antibodies are naturally abundant at mucosal surfaces, where they play a key role in immune defense. IgA can efficiently neutralize pathogens and engage immune cells through mechanisms distinct from IgG. Despite their therapeutic potential, very few IgA-based therapeutics have reached the clinic. Development remains technically challenging due to complex production processes, limited scalable manufacturing methods, and the lack of standardized models and infrastructure.

PHARMIgA was established to address these challenges by bringing together expertise, technologies, and facilities within a single collaborative network. Rather than focusing on one specific therapeutic candidate, the consortium aims to develop a comprehensive platform and toolbox that will accelerate the discovery, production, and translation of IgA-based therapeutics.

The consortium combines expertise from Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht, in collaboration with Sanquin and PD-Value, as well as partners across the Utrecht Science Park and industrial collaborators from the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and nutrition sectors.

The Role
In this hands-on laboratory position, you will work closely with the postdoctoral researcher and consortium partners on the production, purification, characterization, and optimization of IgA antibodies. You will contribute directly to the day-to-day execution of experiments and help establish robust workflows for generating and analyzing different IgA formats.

Responsibilities

• Perform recombinant antibody expression and purification experiments
• Support the development and optimization of production workflows for different IgA formats
• Perform molecular biology, cell culture, protein production, and biochemical assays
• Assist with antibody characterization and quality control analyses
• Maintain accurate experimental records and contribute to data analysis and reporting
• Work closely with the supervising team to execute experimental plans and troubleshoot workflows
• Contribute to maintaining laboratory organization, equipment, and safety standards
• Participate in consortium meetings and communicate experimental progress with team members

Consulent zorgregistratie

Als consulent zorgregistratie ben je samen met het team verantwoordelijk voor een tijdige, juiste en volledige registratie van de geleverde zorg. Iedere consulent draagt hierbij de verantwoordelijkheid voor een of meerdere specialisme(n) of onderwerp(en). Kennis van de wet- en regelgeving is binnen deze functie een vereiste. Met jouw actuele kennis ben je vraagbaak voor zorgprofessionals én ben je proactief betrokken bij de instructies over en optimalisatie van de registratie. We werken binnen UMC Utrecht toe naar het ‘first time right principe’ waarin de consulenten een grote rol spelen. Dit uit zich in het analyseren van de registratie van jouw specialisme, periodiek overleg met de betrokken contactarts, het geven van instructies aan (nieuwe) zorgprofessionals en deels ook het wegwerken van fouten in HiX en Notiz-controles.

Je neemt deel aan specialisme specifieke of UMC brede verbetertrajecten en werkt intensief samen met de andere consulenten zorgadministratie. Daarnaast onderhoudt je contact met de consulenten zorgadministratie van de andere specialismen en de andere afdelingen betrokken bij de registratie.

Medewerker zorgregistratie

Als medewerker zorgadministratie draag je samen met het team bij aan een tijdige, juiste en volledige registratie van de geleverde zorg. Je signaleert onjuistheden in de registratie, helpt bij het herstellen van deze onjuistheden en onderhoudt de stamtabellen. Kennis van DBC’s, HiX en wet- en regelgeving is een pré. Met jouw kritische en klantgerichte blik, voer je correcties door in de registratie, zorg je voor het up to date houden van de stamtabellen en ben je beschikbaar voor vragen van collega's. Continu verbeteren vormt een belangrijk onderdeel van je takenpakket. Daarnaast werk je veel samen met je collega's uit het zorgregistratie team, de stafadviseurs en de DIT.

Research Technician – IgA Antibody Production and Development

About PHARMIgA

Most therapeutic antibodies currently used to treat disease are based on a single antibody class: IgG. While highly effective in the bloodstream, IgG antibodies are often less effective at mucosal surfaces such as the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. These tissues are central to major unmet medical needs, including respiratory infections, inflammatory diseases, and several forms of cancer.

In contrast, IgA antibodies are naturally abundant at mucosal surfaces, where they play a key role in immune defense. IgA can efficiently neutralize pathogens and engage immune cells through mechanisms distinct from IgG. Despite their therapeutic potential, very few IgA-based therapeutics have reached the clinic. Development remains technically challenging due to complex production processes, limited scalable manufacturing methods, and the lack of standardized models and infrastructure.

PHARMIgA was established to address these challenges by bringing together expertise, technologies, and facilities within a single collaborative network. Rather than focusing on one specific therapeutic candidate, the consortium aims to develop a comprehensive platform and toolbox that will accelerate the discovery, production, and translation of IgA-based therapeutics.

The consortium combines expertise from Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht, in collaboration with Sanquin and PD-Value, as well as partners across the Utrecht Science Park and industrial collaborators from the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and nutrition sectors.

The Role
In this hands-on laboratory position, you will work closely with the postdoctoral researcher and consortium partners on the production, purification, characterization, and optimization of IgA antibodies. You will contribute directly to the day-to-day execution of experiments and help establish robust workflows for generating and analyzing different IgA formats.

Responsibilities

• Perform recombinant antibody expression and purification experiments
• Support the development and optimization of production workflows for different IgA formats
• Perform molecular biology, cell culture, protein production, and biochemical assays
• Assist with antibody characterization and quality control analyses
• Maintain accurate experimental records and contribute to data analysis and reporting
• Work closely with the supervising team to execute experimental plans and troubleshoot workflows
• Contribute to maintaining laboratory organization, equipment, and safety standards
• Participate in consortium meetings and communicate experimental progress with team members

Postdoctoral Researcher in IgA-like Antibody Development

About PHARMIgA and Oncode Accelerator

Most therapeutic antibodies currently used to treat disease are based on the IgG antibody. While highly effective in the bloodstream, IgG antibodies are often less effective at mucosal surfaces such as the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. These tissues are central to major unmet medical needs, including respiratory infections, inflammatory diseases, and several forms of cancer.

In contrast, IgA antibodies are naturally abundant at mucosal surfaces, where they play a key role in immune defense. IgA can efficiently neutralize pathogens and engage immune cells through mechanisms distinct from IgG. Despite their therapeutic potential, very few IgA-based therapeutics have reached the clinic. Development remains technically challenging due to complex production processes, limited scalable manufacturing methods, and the lack of standardized models and infrastructure.

PHARMIgA was established to address these challenges by bringing together expertise, technologies, and facilities within a single collaborative network. Rather than focusing on one specific therapeutic candidate, the consortium aims to develop a comprehensive platform and toolbox that will accelerate the discovery, production, and translation of IgA-based therapeutics.

The consortium combines expertise from Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht, in collaboration with Sanquin and PD-Value, as well as partners across the Utrecht Science Park and industrial collaborators from the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and nutrition sectors.

Oncode Accelerator
The current process to develop cancer therapies is expensive, time-consuming and high-risk. More importantly, newly developed therapies are often only effective in a small group of the intended patient population.

The medical, financial, and societal burden of the disease is growing, and so is the demand for effective, safe and personalized treatments. Preclinical development is a crucial step in advancing a new cancer therapy towards clinical application. However, too many of the innovations that make it through the preclinical development process fail in late-stage clinical trials. Therefore, there is a clear need to increase the likelihood of success.

To truly make a difference in the lives of cancer patients, the preclinical development process needs to be revolutionized. Oncode Accelerator is taking on this challenge, driven by a profound commitment to improving patient outcomes. Our novel approach will allow for earlier predictions of cancer therapy effectiveness and safety, leading to a significantly faster process and better patient outcomes.

This postdoctoral position will be a combination of both programs: the development, optimization, and scale-up of IgA antibody production platforms, as well as the work on next-generation antibodies for Oncode Accelerator.