Understanding primary and adaptive tumour immune resistance

The Biomedical Melanoma Research Group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, invites expressions of interest from outstanding postdoctoral researchers interested in developing competitive applications for the next Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) and/or AECC Talent postdoctoral calls.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF)

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) are part of the Horizon Europe programme and support postdoctoral researchers in developing an original research and innovation project through international mobility.

The programme aims to strengthen researchers’ careers through excellent science, international collaboration and interdisciplinary experience, while fostering integration in both academic and non-academic environments. The MSCA-PF call is highly competitive and represents an excellent opportunity to attract international talent and support researchers in consolidating their scientific careers through an ambitious mobility-based fellowship.

The 2026 call closes on 09/09/2026 (17:00 Brussels time). For candidates applying to a European Postdoctoral Fellowship, the fellowship duration is from 12 to 24 months.

Full eligibility details: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026

Background

Cancer immunotherapy has reshaped the treatment landscape for multiple cancers, offering long-lasting clinical benefit to some patients. However, a large proportion of tumours remain unresponsive or eventually acquire resistance, revealing a major gap in our understanding of how cancer cells communicate with and manipulate the immune system. Increasing evidence suggests that stress-signalling pathways within tumour cells can profoundly influence immune surveillance, inflammation, and the composition of the tumour microenvironment. In this context, p38α emerges as a compelling molecular hub linking tumour adaptation, immune suppression, and therapeutic response.

Objective

The proposed project will investigate how tumour cell–intrinsic p38α controls immune evasion and shapes the tumour microenvironment in the context of resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. Despite major advances in cancer immunotherapy, the mechanisms driving primary and acquired resistance remain insufficiently understood. Recent findings indicate that p38α regulates the expression of immune checkpoint molecules and promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment by enhancing macrophage and myeloid-derived suppressor cell activity while limiting CD8⁺ T-cell and NK-cell cytotoxicity; importantly, pharmacological inhibition of p38α synergises with PD-1 blockade to induce durable tumour regressions in vivo. The successful candidate will define the transcriptional and post-transcriptional programs controlled by p38α, identify the immune cell populations first affected by tumour-derived p38α signalling, and determine how these interactions remodel the TME. This project aims to uncover actionable mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance and support the rational development of combination treatments, including strategies to select patients most likely to benefit from p38α inhibition plus immune checkpoint therapy.

Our Group

Our group focuses on skin cancer, investigating the molecular mechanisms that drive disease to design effective therapies. We work in close proximity to patients so that discoveries can be translated to the clinic as rapidly as possible. Accordingly, we are a multidisciplinary team that brings together dermatologists, oncologists, pathologists and basic scientists who jointly define clinically relevant questions and generate the biological answers needed to address them. Our workflow integrates patient-derived information (tumour deep sequencing, immunohistochemistry, clinical history, etc.) and transfers these data into animal models and in-vitro systems. Experimental results guide the development of new therapeutic strategies and preclinical studies that, in turn, inform clinical implementation.

Main responsibilities and duties:

Education and qualifications:

Required:

• Applicants must hold a PhD degree or have successfully defended their thesis before the call deadline (09/09/2026)

• Applicants must comply with the mobility rule, meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work/studies) in the host country for more than 12 months during the 36 months prior to the call deadline.

• 1–2 years of postdoctoral experience, with the most recent years of research experience obtained outside Spain

Desirable:

• Knowledge bioinformatics

Experience and knowledge:

Required:

• Applicants must have a maximum of 8 years of postdoctoral research experience by the call deadline. This means candidates are generally eligible if they obtained their PhD on or after 10/09/2018 (possible extensions may apply, e.g. parental leave or long-term illness).

• Highly motivated and interested in melanoma biology, tumour immunology, cancer metabolism, and therapy response or resistance

• Experience in one or more of the following areas melanoma biology, tumour immunology, immunotherapy, cancer metabolism, immunometabolism, animal models, single-cell or spatial omics, bioinformatics, systems oncology or translational cancer research.

Desirable:

• Experience in one or more of the following:

  • Mitochondrial biology, cancer metabolism, extracellular vesicles, tunnelling nanotubes, live-cell imaging, CRISPR editing, omics or bioinformatics. Experience in fluorescence microscopy/confocal imaging

• Demonstrated ability to drive independent research

• Strong written and oral communication skills

Deadline to apply: 31-07-2026

VHIR embraces Equality and Diversity. As reflected in our values we work toward ensuring inclusion and equal opportunity in recruitment, hiring, training, and management for all staff within the organisation, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, age, functional diversity or ethnicity.

Information on Personal Data Protection:
Data Controller: Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca -VHIR-. Purpose: Personnel selection. Legal Basis: Your consent. Data retention period: One year. If you are selected, as long as the employment relationship is in force and legal responsibilities may arise. Data sharing: Does not occur, except for communications necessary to fulfill the purpose and those required by law to public and private bodies. Rights: You can access, rectify, delete, object to, and limit the processing of data, as well as request data portability where applicable, by contacting lopd@vhir.org. DPO: dpd@ticsalutsocial.cat. More information can be found here.
Data Protection Authority: APDCAT