CryoEM structure of cannabinoid receptor CB2 with a biased ligands

The project will focus on obtaining a CryoEM structure of CB2 receptor in complex with several biased ligands using CryoEM. The student will learn mammalian cell culture, membrane protein biochemistry and single-particle CryoEM techniques. These skills will be complemented with training pharmacological assays to characterise pharmacology of novel ligands inspired by the structural data.
The results of the project will establish a link between the structural changes induced in receptors to their signalling properties and would promote the development of the next generation of "biased" therapeutics.
The student will be embedded in the Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), a unique collaboration between the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, a centre of GPCR excellence in Europe and worldwide. It offers a vibrant community of over 40 PhD students and post-docs to develop research and presentation skills and an academic network. Additionally, they will work at RCH on CryoEM structure determination and further expanding their academic network.