African researchers are invited to express interest in a multidisciplinary collaboration examining the biological, biophysical and computational determinants of heterogeneous chemoimmunotherapy response in non-small-cell lung cancer.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
About the collaboration
The study integrates public bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, peripheral immune and T-cell receptor data, spatial transcriptomics, drug-transport biophysics and tumor-effector mathematical modeling.
Core analyses and an initial manuscript have been completed. The current phase seeks specialist scholarly input to strengthen biological interpretation, clinical framing, methodological reporting, model evaluation and critical review before journal submission.
No major new primary analysis is currently anticipated.
The remaining work is primarily editorial, interpretive and methodological.
Expertise sought
The call is open to researchers across Africa, with particular encouragement to applicants from sub-Saharan Africa. Relevant expertise includes:
- Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, tumor immunology or tumor-microenvironment biology.
- Clinical or translational oncology, including non-small-cell lung cancer and thoracic oncology.
- Cancer biophysics, pharmacology, therapeutic delivery or drug resistance.
- Systems oncology, bioinformatics, transcriptomics, spatial biology or single-cell analysis.
- Mathematical, computational or mechanistic modeling of cancer-treatment response.
Researchers based at cancer-specialist institutions, including the Ocean Road Cancer Institute and comparable centers across Africa, are particularly encouraged to apply. Experience in funded cancer or immunology research, multicenter collaboration, consortium development or competitive grant preparation will be considered an advantage.
Expected contribution
- Critically review manuscript sections aligned with the applicant's disciplinary expertise.
- Strengthen biological, clinical or translational interpretation.
- Evaluate methodological choices, model assumptions and study limitations.
- Participate in focused virtual scientific discussions.
- Review the final manuscript and contribute to future consortium concepts and funding proposals.
Authorship and contributorship
Submission of an expression of interest does not guarantee authorship. Authorship will be determined after contributions have been completed and will follow the target journal's policy and recognized biomedical authorship criteria. Contributors who do not meet authorship requirements may be acknowledged, subject to their permission.
How to express interest
Applicants should submit:
- A brief expression of interest describing the expertise they would contribute.
- A short curriculum vitae.
- Up to three selected publications relevant to the call.
- A concise summary of relevant grant, consortium or collaborative experience.
Reuben Maghembe, PhD
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences
Email: rmaghembe@sfuchas.ac.tz
Copy: rmaghembe@gmail.com
STUDY ABSTRACT
Omics-informed tumor-effector modeling reveals delivery, trafficking, resistance and cytotoxic-synapse modules of chemoimmunotherapy response
Background: Chemoimmunotherapy has improved outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer, but response remains heterogeneous because therapeutic efficacy emerges from coupled processes involving tissue access, intracellular drug handling, tumor resistance, antigen presentation, immune-cell recruitment and cytotoxic killing.
Methods: Public bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, peripheral immune and T-cell receptor data, and spatial transcriptomics were integrated within a delivery-trafficking-resistance-killing framework. Six biological modules were mapped to a transport-coupled tumor-effector model.
Results: The T/NK cytotoxic-synapse module showed the largest responder-associated effect, while antigen and HLA activity showed a moderate-to-large effect. Single-cell, peripheral immune and spatial analyses localized response-associated signals across immune, macrophage, endothelial and circulating effector compartments.
Conclusions: Integrating omics, biophysical transport and mathematical modeling exposes a coordinated chemoimmunotherapy response architecture in which tumor visibility, effector competence, delivery, intracellular handling and resistance jointly shape tumor control.
Keywords: chemoimmunotherapy; non-small-cell lung cancer; tumor microenvironment; single-cell RNA sequencing; spatial transcriptomics; biophysical transport; mathematical modeling; drug resistance
Full study abstract and figure
The complete study abstract and interdisciplinary scientific figure are included in the official call document.
View full call document