The Santos Lab is a clinical translational research group formed of clinicians and scientists at various career stages. Our research focuses on food allergy – improving the diagnosis of food allergy and our understanding of the immune mechanisms of food allergy and oral tolerance to identify new targets for a definitive treatment. We are a friendly, enthusiastic, supportive and inclusive team that thrives on collaboration across disciplines. We are proud of our positive work culture and our shared commitment to making a real impact through outstanding research. We are part of the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine of King’s College London, based in central London, with the lab near London Bridge and the clinical trials unit near Westminster.

Food allergies are increasing, affect 8% of children and 10% of adults and can be life-threatening. With no cure, patients must avoid allergens and carry emergency medication, leading to restricted social lives and anxiety. While immunotherapy can raise the reaction threshold, it does not eliminate life-style limitations and risk of reactions. Urgent action is needed to develop definitive treatments for food allergies.

 

Exposure to food allergens through the gastrointestinal tract is tolerogenic. Peanut consumption from the first year of life reduced peanut allergy by 81% in a randomised-controlled trial. This impressive effect was allergen-specific and sustained over time. However, the underlying immune mechanisms of oral tolerance induction to peanut are not well understood.

 

In this research programme, we will use unique samples from young children undergoing their first oral exposure to peanut to explore the changes in the immune response to peanut induced by oral exposure. This work will be done in close collaboration with the Neves Lab at King’s College London, where a novel co-culture of human gut organoid models will be established with patients’ immune cells. This collaborative effort will allow us to pinpoint key pathways involved in establishing oral tolerance to food allergens and explore how they can be modulated to develop curative treatments for food allergies.

 

The postdoctoral research associate is expected to develop the project, to maintain accurate records of performed experiments, to analyse and summarize research results, to write reports and manuscripts, to prioritize work and meet deadlines, to join in research group and departmental activities, and to contribute to their positive and inclusive research culture.

 

This is a full-time post (35 Hours per week), based at Guy’s Campus, and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 3 years, starting no earlier than the 1st November 2025.

 

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the  Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the  Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.