Reducing the risk of blood cancer treatment: delivering personalised transplant medicine

Closing date: 15/11/2024

Clinical Research Training Fellowship Project: Reducing the risk of blood cancer treatment: delivering personalised transplant medicine

Lead Supervisors: Dr Mark Williams 
Co-Supervisors: 
Dr Florent Mouliere, Prof. Tim Somervaille, Prof. Caroline Dive

Applications Deadline: Friday 15th November 2024
Interviews: Friday 17th January 2025
Clinical Research Training Fellowship start date: September 2025

Project Keywords: Transplantation, Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), Biomarkers 
Research Opportunity: Clinical Research Training Fellowship leading to the award of PhD

Project Outline

A stem cell transplant is the only way to cure many patients with blood cancer. While this treatment works by introducing immune cells which eliminate residual cancer, the engrafted donor cells may also damage healthy tissues, a common and potentially life-threatening complication called graftversus-host disease (GvHD). Strategies to prevent GvHD, by suppressing donor immune cells, increase the risk of cancer returning and together these complications represent the major barrier to improving patient outcomes. This study aims to develop blood tests that accurately determine the risk of developing GvHD, enabling withdraw of suppressive medications for low-risk patients, reducing their risk of relapse, whilst giving additional treatment to prevent GvHD for high-risk cases – thereby increasing the success of this critically important blood cancer treatment.

This study will use samples from our unique collection of blood taken at eight timepoints from 300 transplant recipients collected across Manchester. The student will measure the concentration of several hundred plasma proteins and identify those whose abundance correlates with the risk of GvHD. These studies will reveal which timepoints are most informative and how soon after a transplant we can predict GvHD.

DNA is released following cell death and its abundance in blood reflects tissue damage. The CRUK National Biomarker Centre has recently developed a sequencing method to characterise the chemical modification of DNA molecules in blood. The pattern of modification can be used to identify the tissue of origin and contains information about the type of immune response. This project will investigate the potential of this approach to predict GvHD.

This project will provide the successful candidate with direct experience of leading-edge biomarker discovery platforms, a solid grounding in bioinformatics and a research network that can support subsequent clinical development of novel biomarkers – setting the scene for their own future research independence and leadership.

Applications for this project are now open. Please complete your application on The University of Manchester website.

About Dr Mark Williams (project Lead Supervisor)

Mark Williams obtained his medical degree from the University of Cambridge before moving to Manchester for clinical training in Haematology. He joined the CRUK Manchester Institute in 2015, undertaking a PhD in leukaemia biology and epigenetics. In 2022, Mark was awarded an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship to establish his laboratory which aims to understand the mechanisms that allow leukaemia to evade the donor immune system leading to post-transplant relapse and to develop novel therapeutic approaches for relapse prevention and treatment. He is an Honorary Consultant in Haematology at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, with a practice in stem cell transplantation.

Mark Williams headshot

Key information

Before submitting an application, please ensure you have read the information below about the funding arrangements and eligibility for the Leeds-Manchester 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.

Fees and Funding
Eligibility
Applications Timelines

Useful Links

Submit your application

Interested in applying for this opportunity? Go to The University of Manchester website to submit your application.

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