The role of lipid stromal exposure in cancer progression in the brain
Closing date: 09/06/2025
MB-PhD Summer Placement Project: The role of lipid stromal exposure in cancer progression in the brain
Lead Supervisors: Dr Amaya Viros
Applications Deadline: Monday 9th June 2025
Project Keywords: Metastatic Skin cancer, Novel therapeutic approaches for melanoma, Skin cancer novel Biomarkers
Research Opportunity: MB-PhD Summer Placement Project
MB-PhD Summer Placement Project Outline
During this in-person placement, you will shadow scientists within the Skin Cancer and Ageing Lab. Our lab aim is to study how stromal cues in tissues, which vary by age, impact cancer growth, cancer metastasis and therapy response. We will focus the placement on learning about the impact of age on cancer incidence, metastasis and tropism, and the student will shadow real life in vitro experiments in the lab as well as our hybrid wet/dry lab work on computational metabolomics, lipidomics and transcriptomics of cancer organs.
Our research aims are to understand the mechanisms that drive more metastatic skin cancer in ageing patients and to develop novel therapeutic approaches for melanoma treatment by age, in metastatic organs. We also develop novel biomarkers that predict skin cancer outcomes.
Key activities
Over the course of a week, you will attend lab meeting and prepare experiments, join journal clubs, and discuss data with the supervisor in the lab and principal investigator.
Supervisor style
Our lab consists of two postdocs, two scientific officers and two scientific PhD students and 1 MB PhD student. We have an informal and welcoming structure where data is often presented informally and formally, and we promote discussion of results in the lab. We have an open and collaborative research culture. Our main aim is to study the metabolic adaptation during metastasis and at the sites of metastasis. We meet for lab meetings and often informally during the day. There is an open door policy
About Dr Amaya Viros (project Lead Supervisor)
Amaya is a Clinician Scientist who leads the Skin Cancer and Ageing group and undertakes clinical practice in dermatology. Her goal is to elucidate the mechanisms that drive metastasis in skin cancer patients and devise novel therapeutic strategies to treat or prevent metastatic spread.
Her research aims to understand the mechanisms that drive more metastatic skin cancer in ageing patients and to develop novel therapeutic approaches for melanoma treatment by age, in metastatic organs. Amaya also leads a BRC project to develop novel biomarkers that predict skin cancer outcomes.
Key information
Find answers to some common questions about our MB-PhD Studentships.
To apply for our MB-Phd Summer Placement Project, you must be:
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A current MBChB student (year 1 or year 2 of the MBChB or year 1 of GEM) at one of the following universities:
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The University of Manchester
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The University of Leeds
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The University of St Andrews (Medicine Manchester Pathway)
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Interested in pursuing a clinical academic career combining medical training with research in Cancer Sciences.
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Available to undertake the summer placement during the specified dates set out in the project details.
If you meet these criteria, we encourage you to apply and explore what a clinical academic career in cancer research could offer you.
Summer research opportunities include lab visits and research placements.
Lab visits will usually be one day in length and might include, but are not limited to: shadowing a staff member/PhD student; attending lab group/journal club meetings; assisting with any applicable experiments.
The length and start date of research placements will be agreed between staff and students, but would usually be one week maximum.
We encourage students to apply for many different opportunities to gauge interest in different supervisory teams.
Travel and accommodation reimbursements can be provided to summer research opportunity students where appropriate, with agreement from Dr Yasmin Noori, Postgraduate Programme Manager. Please apply for relevant opportunities, and we can discuss this post-application.
Students who are interested in any of the below opportunities should send the following details to Dr Yasmin Noori yasamin.noorijenaghard@manchester.ac.uk by Monday, 9th June 2025:
- Your name
- Institution
- Current year of study
- Are you intending to apply to the MB-Phd programme in future? (Yes/No/Undecided)
- Supervisor preference(s) [use staff members’ names] – please also indicate preference for research placement and/or lab visit with the relevant staff member/s if appropriate
- Supporting statement: 200 words maximum on why you are interested in the opportunities you have selected
Preference is likely to be given to students who are eligible to apply to the MB-PhD in the 2025-26 recruitment round.
Key dates
- Application deadline: Monday, 9th June 2025
- Decisions relayed to students: w/c 16th June 2025
- Start date: By the end of September 2025
Useful Links
MB-PhD Studentships
Find out more about our MB-PhD Studentships which allow you to study a fully-funded PhD alongside your medical degree.
Get in Touch
Contact Yasmin Noori, Postgraduate Programme Manager.
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