Understanding the effects of exogenous androgens on normal breast tissue – friend or foe?
Closing date: 23/11/2026
Clinical Research Training Fellowship: Understanding the effects of exogenous androgens on normal breast tissue – friend or foe?
Lead Supervisors: Dr Hannah Harrison
Co-Supervisors: Professor Sacha Howell, Dr Andrew Gilmore, Kate Williams
Applications Deadline: 12:00pm Monday 23rd November 2026
Interviews: Friday 5th February 2027 (in Manchester)
Start date: September 2027
Project Keywords: Androgen, breast, risk
Research Opportunity: Clinical Research Training Fellowship leading to the award of PhD
Project Outline
Breast cancer incidence rises sharply in women before routine screening begins, and many cases in younger women may be preventable. Current prevention options, such as tamoxifen, can reduce the risk of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer but are not effective for all women and uptake is often limited by side effects. This PhD project will investigate whether activating the androgen receptor using testosterone could offer a new, potentially more tolerable approach to breast cancer prevention. The student will study how testosterone influences normal human breast tissue, asking whether it can reduce epithelial activity, remodel the surrounding stromal environment and alter hormone signalling pathways linked to breast cancer risk.
The project will combine two complementary systems: breast tissue collected from gender-affirming mastectomies, including individuals exposed to testosterone before surgery, and an established ex vivo human breast tissue explant model that enables controlled testing of hormone dose, timing and reversibility. Using spatial imaging, immunofluorescence, gene and protein expression assays, and multi-omic analysis, the project will map how different cell populations respond to androgen exposure and whether responses vary between individuals.
A key focus will be understanding whether testosterone-induced changes are consistent across normal-risk and increased-risk breast tissue, including tissue from women with familial or inherited risk factors. This studentship is intended for surgical trainees only, as the successful applicant will be trained in both the research programme and the surgical aspects of gender-affirming top surgery. Alongside this clinical training, the PhD will provide experience in human tissue research, advanced imaging, molecular profiling, data integration and translational cancer prevention biology.
The findings will help determine whether androgen receptor targeting could be developed as a personalised prevention strategy for women at increased risk of breast cancer.
Applications for this project are now open. Please complete your application on The University of Manchester website.
About Dr Hannah Harrison (project Lead Supervisor)
Dr Hannah Harrison is the Sarah Harding Young Women’s Breast Cancer Fellow and a research group leader at The University of Manchester.
She has more than 20 years’ experience in cancer research and leads a programme focused on understanding breast cancer risk and developing better prevention strategies, particularly for younger women. Her team has established an innovative ex vivo model that keeps donated human breast tissue alive in the laboratory, enabling researchers to study normal breast biology, investigate why preventive treatments work for some women but not others, and test new approaches in a physiologically relevant setting. Hannah’s wider research interests include breast cancer stem cells, tumour–microenvironment interactions and metastasis. She works closely with clinical and laboratory researchers across the Manchester Breast Centre and has extensive experience supervising PhD, master’s and undergraduate students. She is committed to supportive, collaborative training that gives researchers the opportunity to develop strong laboratory and translational research skills.
Key information
Before submitting an application, please ensure you have read the information below about the funding arrangements and eligibility for our Clinical Research Training Fellowships.
We also encourage you to get in contact with the lead supervisor to discuss the project and any particulars.
Further information is available on the Clinical Research Training Fellowships webpage.
The clinical fellowships are usually tenable for three years, although in certain circumstances they may be four years duration. The Fellowship covers:
- running expenses,
- an appropriate salary in line with the applicant’s current NHS salary and grade
- full coverage of University PhD fees at the UK/home fee rate.
International Candidates
The University of Manchester aims to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK.
We are able to offer a limited number of bursaries to high-performing EU and international candidates, covering PhD fees only. Bursaries do not include financial support for visa/health surcharges.
We assess each EU and international candidate’s suitability for a bursary at the application and interview stages.
You must be a post-registration clinician, and ideally have a specialist post in a related subject, to apply for our Clinical Research Training Fellowships.
Applicants must hold an MBChB degree or an equivalent medical qualification. You should also hold, or be about to obtain, a minimum upper second class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. A related master’s degree would be an advantage.
It is generally expected that CRTFs will return to a training programme in the UK upon completion of their research degree.
International applicants (including EU nationals) must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English Language) before contacting potential supervisors to express an interest in their project. Eligibility information can be found on the University’s Country Specific information page.
Applications for this programme are now open. Please submit your application on The University of Manchester application portal.
Key dates
- Applications open: Monday 5th October 2026
- Application deadline (all projects): 12:00pm Monday 23rd November 2026
- Clinical Interviews: Friday 5th of February 2027 (in Manchester)
- Start date: September 2027 with flexible starts for clinicians
Useful Links
Submit your application
Interested in applying for this opportunity? Submit your application on The University of Manchester application portal.
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