A Sustainable Approach for the Discovery of MultitaRgEt Agents against GlioblastoMa (SUS-DREAM)

Position: Research appointment (pre-doc) Institute: Uni. Pavia
Posted on: 12/01/2026 Deadline: 16/02/2026

Scientific-Disciplinary Group

03/CHEM-07 - Medicinal, Toxicological, Nutraceutical-Food, Fermentation And Health And Wellbeing Products Chemistry

Description

The research program focuses on identifying effective antitumor agents against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) that act through a multitarget mechanism. GBM is a highly aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. The project aims to develop new multitarget ligands by combining two emerging targets: Sigma Receptors (SRs), involved in cell proliferation and overexpressed in tumors, and the proteasome, whose dysfunction promotes tumor growth. The simultaneous modulation of SRs and the proteasome is unexplored and potentially therapeutic. The multitarget ligands will be tested on GBM cell lines to assess their cytotoxicity and mechanism of action. The resulting data will guide SAR studies, and the most promising candidates will be evaluated using organoids, mouse pharmacokinetic studies, and zebrafish assays, in compliance with the 3Rs, to select the best molecules for in vivo testing.

Funding body

Università di Pavia