CRUK Major Centre PhD projects
Applications for our CRUK Major Centre PhD training schemes are now open.
For our CRUK Major Centre PhD schemes, please formally apply via The University of Manchester application portal, this will include adding your CV, name and contact details for referees and a personal statement (1000 words max) Please also comment on your suitability for the post, giving an overview of your relevant experience and training.
Deadline for applications is the 26th of April 2020
If you are successful in your application, you will be invited to interview at the Oglesby Cancer Research Building for the week beginning Monday 15th June 2020.
Project title: Development of a 3D in vitro lung cancer model to track genetic instability
Lead supervisor: Professor Sarah Cartmell
Co-supervisor(s): Dr Andrew Gilmore and Professor Angeliki Malliri
Funding: CRUK as part of the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED)
Type: Non-Clinical Studentship
Length: Four years
Project summary:
This interdisciplinary project will utilise a variety of material science and biological approaches to create an improved in vitro lung tumourigenesis model that can be used for therapeutic pre-clinical testing and biological mechanistic study. The projects overall goal will be to build an in vitro 3D tissue engineered model that closely mimics human lung tissue. This model can then act as test bed for understanding how different factors can initiate cancer in the lung.
The 3D tissue will be engineered using electrospun fibrous polymer scaffolds, that will provide an underlying physical support to primary murine endothelial cells. A bioreactor will be designed to house the 3D tissue and provide suitable air/fluid physiological boundaries. The model will then be tested and optimised for 3D tissue growth to determine if the engineered tissue offers a reliable mimic of lung physiology.
A variety of factors will then be applied and altered to the system such as (i) the application of mechanical forces to the developing construct to mimic the strains experienced locally during inhalation / exhalation, (ii) varying levels of oxygen and (iii) application of cigarette smoke. The levels of genomic damage and gene expression changes as a result of these factoral changes will be assessed.
Once the model has been established as described above with wildtype cells, KRAS mutant and KRAS/p53 double mutant cells will be cultured in the in vitro model to establish an in vitro tumourigenesis lung model and the responses to the mechanical forces, oxygen and cigarette smoke exposure will be assessed and compared to wildtype response.
The PhD student will co-create this project in conjunction with the lead supervisor (Prof Sarah Cartmell), a biologist working on lung tumourigenesis (Prof Angeliki Malliri) and a cancer biologist (Andrew Gilmore).
Submit your application here
For further information, please contact mcrctraining@manchester.ac.uk.
MB-PhD projects
Applications for our MB-PhD training schemes are now open. Please find a list of available projects below.
To apply to our fully-funded intercalated PhD in Cancer Sciences, please consult our Application Guidanceand apply using the Doctoral Academy’s Postgraduate Application Portal. The deadline for applications is Friday 27 March 2020.
You can use the contact details in the project advertisements to get in touch with Lead and/or co-supervisors. If you have any issues or queries, contact Dr Georgina Binnie, MBPhD Administrator.
If successful in your application, you will be invited to attend an interview at the Oglesby Cancer Research Building on Friday 17th April 2020.
Project title: Adolescent and adulthood BMI And Cancer risk using obese-year metrics (ABACus 2)
Lead supervisor: Professor Andrew Renehan
Contact: MCRCtraining@manchester.ac.uk
Co-supervisor(s): Dr Matthew Sperrin and Dr Glen Martin
Length: Three years
Location: Manchester Cancer Research Centre Building, Wilmslow Road, M20 4GJ
Deciphering evolution of Small Cell Lung Cancer from diagnosis to post chemotherapy disease progression: a search for new drug targets
Lead supervisor: Professor Caroline Dive
Contact: Caroline.Dive@manchester.ac.uk and Ekram.Aidaros-Talbot@manchester.ac.uk
Co-supervisor(s): Professor Fiona Blackhall, Dr Kris Frese and Dr Alastair Kerr
Length: Four years
Location: Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG until 2022, before moving to the new Paterson Building, Wilmslow Road, M20 4BX
Using AI for risk prediction and early detection of breast cancer
Lead supervisor: Dr Sue Astley
Contact: Sue.Astley@manchester.ac.uk
Co-supervisor(s): Dr Sacha Howell, Dr Yit Yoong Lim and Dr Martin Fergie
Length: Three years
Location: Manchester Cancer Research Centre Building, Wilmslow Road, M20 4GJ
Microenvironmental regulation of malignant blood clones in myelofibrosis
Lead supervisor: Professor Tim Somervaille
Contact: Tim.Somervaille@manchester.ac.uk
Co-supervisor(s): Dr Claus Jorgesen and Dr Dan Wiseman
Length: Four years
Location: Manchester Cancer Research Centre Building, Wilmslow Road, M20 4GJ
The leptomeningeal metastatic niche as a therapeutic target in secondary breast cancer
Lead supervisor: Professor Rob Clarke
Contact: Robert.Clarke@manchester.ac.uk and Ciara.O'Brien@christie.nhs.uk
Co-supervisor(s): Dr Ciara O’Brien and Dr Sacha Howell
Length: Three years
Location: Manchester Cancer Research Centre Building, Wilmslow Road, M20 4GJ
Exploiting Apoptosis to Enhance Anti-Mitotic Chemotherapy
Lead supervisor: Professor Stephen Taylor
Contact: Stephen.Taylor@manchester.ac.uk
Co-supervisor(s): Dr Natalie Cook, Dr Richard Unwin and Dr Anthony Tighe
Length: Three years
Location: Manchester Cancer Research Centre Building, Wilmslow Road, M20 4GJ
Investigation of a novel therapeutic target in KRAS mutant non small cell lung cancer
Lead supervisor: Professor Angeliki Malliri
Contact: Angeliki.Malliri@manchester.ac.uk
Co-supervisor(s): Dr Colin Lindsay and Dr Amaya Viros
Length: Four years
Location: Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG until 2022, before moving to the new Paterson Building, Wilmslow Road, M20 4BX
If you have any queries with this process, please contact Dr Georgina Binnie at mcrctraining@manchester.ac.uk.