How leukaemia reshapes its ancestors?

Home Opportunities For Research MB-PhD Summer Placement How leukaemia reshapes its ancestors?

Closing date: 19/06/2026

MB-PhD Summer Placement Project: How leukaemia reshapes its ancestors?

Lead Supervisor: Dr Kiran Batta

Applications Deadline: Friday 19th June 2026

Project Keywords: Leukaemia, Blood cancers, Precancerous condition, Clonal evolution, Epigenetics, Splicing, Biomarkers of drug response

Research Opportunity: MB-PhD Summer Placement Project

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MB-PhD Summer Placement Project Outline

The main goal of this placement is to provide a genuine insight into academic research. You will gain a better understanding of what the daily life of a PhD student typically entails. You will go beyond the bench to understand our methodology, from the hypothesis to the critical analysis of results. We want you to appreciate how lab-based discoveries eventually reach the bedside to benefit patients, as well as the challenges we face during this process. Beyond technical skills, you will learn to synthesize and communicate complex ideas. Finally, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the proposed project through literature appraisal and discussions with the supervisory team.

Key activities

Conduct literature around given topic and generate hypotheses

Propose experimental strategies for testing them.

Present and defend proposed hypotheses and experimental approaches to the research group.

Prepare a concise written summary outlining the hypothesis and proposed experimental plan.

Observe laboratory researchers to gain an understanding of the day-to-day realities of academic research.

Shadow a consultant haematologist, Dr. Daniel Wiseman, in a clinical setting.

Participate in research group meetings to develop insight into effective presentation of experimental data.

Engage with our group members to learn about their ongoing projects and research perspectives.

Meet with other group members in the Division to discuss projects on other cancer subtypes.

Attend external seminars to stay informed about recent advances in cancer research.

Supervisor style

Our international laboratory accelerates breakthroughs in leukaemia research through a dedicated culture of inquiry and collaboration. By integrating diverse perspective ranging from undergraduate students to senior postdoctoral fellows, we work to decode the molecular drivers of disease and therapeutic response. Led by a unique partnership between clinical and academic investigators, our team provides a multifaceted approach to translational research.

About Dr Kiran Batta (project Lead Supervisor)

Kiran Batta is a Senior lecturer in cancer Biology in the Division of Cancer Sciences, TheUniversity of Manchester. In 2017, Kiran was awarded Oglesby Leukaemia ResearchFellowship to start his independent group.

Kiran’s research focuses on understandingepigenetic dysregulation leading to the onset and progression of leukaemia with a specialfocus on Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. In close collaboration with clinician scientistsat The Christie hospital, Manchester, UK Kiran’s lab is working towards identifyingpotential molecular targets for therapeutic benefit in leukaemia patients.

Kiran’s lab getsfunding from Medical Research UK, Blood Cancer UK, Cancer Research UK and OglesbyCharitable trust.

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