We have a range of exciting and diverse PhD projects at our 3 partner University institutions of Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham which are now open for application for a September 2026 start.
Projects with an industry partner (iCASE projects) offer a unique opportunity to undertake translational research.
How to apply
Please complete the AIM 2026 application form including a 2 page CV and 1 page screenshot confirming you have submitted the anonymous Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) form before the deadline of midday (GMT) Friday 9 January 2026.
Applications should be submitted as ONE complete document containing the application form, CV and ED&I Screenshot.
Complete applications should not exceed 7 pages and should include:
- This main application form should not exceed 4 pages. Application forms should be formatted as follows: minimum font size 11, single space, “standard” margins (2.54cm all round). Please complete word count boxes where applicable.
- A CV consisting of no more than 2 pages of A4
- A 1-page screenshot of the thank you message confirming that you have completed the ED&I form. Applicants only need to complete the ED&I form once regardless of how many applications they submit.
- Applications should be named: “Surname_FirstName_MRCAIM_Application”.
Applicants can apply for a maximum of 3 projects although there is no expectation to apply for more than 1. Please ensure you complete a separate application for each project and submit it to the host institution where the project lead supervisor is based.
We strongly encourage you to contact the supervisor(s) of the project(s) you are interested in before applying. Supervisor(s) are aware that applicants may approach them about their project and welcome the opportunity of discussing the project with applicants.
Please ensure you complete the online ED&I form. The form is anonymous and responses on the form have no reflection on whether an applicant will be shortlisted for interview. Applicants only need to complete the ED&I form once regardless of how many applications they submit. Applicants will need to take a screenshot of the thank you message once the form has been completed and submit the screenshot with the rest of the application documentation.
You will need to submit your application to the host institution of the project lead supervisor.
Birmingham applications to be submitted to mrc-aim@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Leicester applications to be submitted to aimphd@leicester.ac.uk
Nottingham applications to be submitted to mrc-aim-dtp@nottingham.ac.uk
The application deadline is midday (GMT) Friday 9 January 2026. Applications which exceed 7 pages or are submitted late will not be considered and will not be responded to.
Residency requirement
We welcome applications from home, EU and international applicants. Due to stipulations from the funders, recruitment for international applicants to the DTP is capped at 30% of the whole cohort.
Academic requirement
Applicants must hold, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant subject. A master’s qualification in a related area could be beneficial, as could additional relevant research experience.
More details can be found on the MRC website
Applicant webinar
The DTP Leads are holding two applicant webinars for prospective applicants interested in applying to the DTP, the first will be on Tuesday 9 December at 18:00 – 19:00 GMT and second on Wednesday 10th December 2025 at 12:00 – 13:00 GMT. Both sessions will last no longer than 1 hour and will be held via Zoom. If you are thinking of applying to the DTP, you are encouraged to attend one of these sessions.
If you are interested in attending the webinar on 9 December please register here
You will then be set an email from Zoom with details of how to join on the day.
If you are interested in attending the webinar on 10 December please register here
You will then be sent an email from Zoom with details of how to join on the day.
What happens after you have submitted your application?
After the closing date, midday (GMT) Friday 9 January 2026, the project supervisors will review all applications submitted for their project and shortlist a maximum of two applicants for interview.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by 13 February 2026 via email. Please do not email to check the status of your application. If you don’t receive an email by 13 February 2026 then we are afraid that your application has not been shortlisted and you will not be invited for interview. Unfortunately, due to the number of applications the DTP receives, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. For those applicants who aren’t shortlisted, we would like to thank you for your interest in the DTP and wish you well for your future career.
Shortlisted applicants will then be invited for interview during the week commencing 23 February 2026. Please ensure you are available for the whole week as if you are invited for interview, we are unable to offer any alternative interview dates/times.
Applicants who are ranked highest at interview will be offered a place on the DTP and will be recommended for the PhD position. Successful applicants will then be sent details of how to make the formal application at the project host institution and will be subject to standard admissions checks which is standard procedure. The host institution admissions team will then send out formal offer letters and details of how to complete the online registration process.
Projects open for application are listed below (full list available by Tuesday 2nd December).
Prof Adam P Croft a.p.croft@bham.ac.uk
Dr. Georgiana Neag
Dr. Christoph Rau
The Rheumatology Research Group (RRG), based at the University of Birmingham and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, headed by Prof Adam Croft, is recruiting a PhD student for research into the complex relationship between synovial fibroblasts and osteocytes in inflammatory arthritis. This project is addressing a critical gap in our understanding of inflammatory bone loss by aiming to modulate the interaction between pro inflammatory fibroblasts in the joint and osteocytes in the bone cortex. You will employ cutting-edge 3D imaging microscopy techniques, including light sheet and confocal microscopy of optically cleared samples as well as synchrotron tomography, to visualise bone cellular organisation and microarchitecture with unprecedented detail. The project will also utilise state-of-the-art spatial transcriptomics to uncover molecular pathways driving osteocyte- mediated bone loss in inflammatory arthritis. You will develop expertise in advanced microscopy imaging, spatial transcriptomics, and bioinformatics, working with a multidisciplinary team led by clinician-scientist Prof Adam Croft (University of Birmingham) and collaborating with experts in 3D tissue imaging and synchrotron tomography at the Diamond Light Source, Oxford. This research project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of novel therapies aimed at preserving bone integrity in inflammatory arthritis patients. Join us in this groundbreaking endeavour to improve patient outcomes through innovative science.
Professor Aga Gambus a.gambus@bham.ac.uk
Professor Andy Wilson
Inhibitors of DNA replication are established as a promising approach for cancer treatment, with many progressing thorough clinical trials. We recently identified a novel essential replication initiation factor: DONSON. Using cryoEM we have solved a structure of DONSON in action, bridging the core of replicative helicase Mcm2-7 with its essential cofactor: GINS complex. It is specifically a short N-terminal helix of DONSON that binds GINS. We have synthesised this helix in constrained lactam form (N-Dnsn-helix) and found that it can block DNA replication initiation at a similar stage as DONSON depletion. The N-Dnsn-helix therefore has potential to be a very useful inhibitor for DNA replication research but also to be tested for therapeutic potential. The aim of this project is to characterise the mechanism of action of N-Dnsn-helix as a DONSON/GINS inhibitor both in vitro (biophysical assays) and in vivo (in Xenopus egg extract and in cancer cell lines). We will use N-Dnsn-helix as a tool to enrich initiating replication machinery prior to GINS incorporation and visualise it using cryoEM. Finally, we will test how N-Dnsn-helix affects viability and proliferation of a spectrum of cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines using high throughput microscopy.
Prof Ferenc Mueller f.mueller@bham.ac.uk
Prof Dov Stekel
Prof Andrew Beggs
Global changes in transcriptional regulation and RNA metabolism are crucial features of cancer development and are part of the adaptive process facilitating cancer growth and survival. We recently discovered how the core promoter of genes is a source of transcript variation which defines transcript identity and post-transcriptional messenger RNA fates (stability and translation), which is particularly pronounced during tumourigenesis. We have discovered a previously unappreciated selective regulation of transcription start site choice, i.e. the nucleotide position where Polymerase II starts production of mRNAs. This initiation site choice defines mRNA stability and translation upon metabolic stresses and is distinctly regulated by PI3K/Akt/mTOR and DNA damage pathways in various cancers. In this PhD project, supervised by an interdisciplinary supervisory team, we will use state of the art single cell transcriptomics technologies, in vivo imaging and system biology approaches to understand how transcription initation choice regulate metabolic-demand driven translation of mRNAs in colorectal cancer organoids. We will dissect where and in what cell states promoters regulate mRNA fate in the complex mix of cell populations in growing tumours and how they contribute to distinct transcriptomic profiles, distinct mRNA fates and how they explain varying degree of therapy responsiveness. The project will offer training in genomics data generation, next generation sequencing data analysis, culturing and in vivo high-resolution imaging of cancer organoids and in system biology tools for integrative analyses of complex genomics and 4D imaging datasets.
Prof. Matthew Apps m.a.j.apps@bham.ac.uk
Prof. Clare Anderson
Dr. Selma Lugtmeijer
Poor sleep and reduced motivation can have major impacts on mental and physical health,
even in otherwise healthy people. Moreover, disorders of motivation and sleep are highly
common in many neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s Disease. Yet, we know little
about how these two symptoms intersect, despite evidence suggesting poor sleep impacts on
the systems in the brain that motivate us.
When people sleep badly, does it reduce their motivation? This PhD will answer this question,
using a combination of online studies, brain imaging, controlled sleep lab protocols, and
working with patients with Parkinson’s Disease. You will get the opportunity to learn the most
cutting-edge tools in cognitive computational neuroscience including computational
modelling and model-based fMRI from a multidisciplinary supervisory team including Prof.
Matthew Apps, Prof. Clare Anderson, Prof. Andy Bagshaw and Dr. Selma Lugtemijer. As part of
the Motivation and Social Neuroscience lab (www.MSN-lab.com) you will be supported to
learn all the skills you need in our leading brain imaging centre, the Centre for Human Brain
Health.
This PhD will develop a new framework for how motivation is impacted by sleep with the
potential for understanding something that severely impacts on millions of patients with
neurological disorders.
Professor Jo Morris j.morris.3@bham.ac.uk
Associate Professor Richard Doveston
Professor Gary Middleton
PIN1 is an enzyme that changes the shape of target proteins after their phosphorylation, acting as a key regulator of DNA repair, cell growth, and stress responses. When PIN1 goes wrong, it drives cancer and other major diseases. New PIN1 inhibitors already show promise in preclinical models, but exactly how PIN1 works at the molecular level is still unclear.
This project will investigate how PIN1’s two domains regulate different sets of protein partners and how modifications of PIN1 control its function. You will gain training in cutting-edge techniques, including chemical biology, proteomics and cancer cell biology. The findings will advance understanding of PIN1 biology and support the future development of new therapeutic strategies
Dr Jose R Hombrebueno j.m.romero@bham.ac.uk
Professor Parth Narendran
Professor Fabian Spill
This exciting interdisciplinary and cross-institutional project (University of Birmingham, Mary Lyon
Centre at MRC Harwell, and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London) aims to evaluate a novel class of
therapeutics for the multisystem management of diabetes. Our approach focuses on repairing
mitochondria, a major interest of our research group (Nature Communications 2024) which has the
potential to transform diabetes treatment, especially given the current lack of preventive therapies.
The successful candidate will lead an interdisciplinary PhD project to validate the therapeutic
potential of our drug candidates at a preclinical level. You will employ a wide range of innovative tools
(in vivo models, mitophagy reporters, bioenergetic and metabolic assays and molecular techniques)
to explore how mitochondrial restoration can alleviate pathology in peripheral tissues and the
immune system.
You will also receive advanced training in computational modelling of mitochondrial networks,
enabling the prediction of multisystem pathology in diabetes for clinical translation. This PhD offers
an exceptional opportunity to join an experienced supervisory team with expertise in translational
medicine, mitochondrial biology, clinical research, and applied mathematics. The training will provide
you with transferable skills to analyse and interpret complex datasets, driving the development of
innovative, multi-purpose strategies to improve diabetes care and other metabolic disorders.
Professor Patricia Lockwood p.l.lockwood@bham.ac.uk
Dr John Tully
Dr Todd Vogel
Conduct disorder is the most common reason for referral to child and adolescent mental health
services, yet remains one of the least studied psychiatric disorders. Antisocial behaviour is a
hallmark of conduct disorder, which is also associated with a lack of empathy and guilt that
confers risk for adult psychopathy. However, we still understand little about why individuals with
conduct disorder and people in the general population act antisocially. New advances in cognitive
computational neuroscience hold promise for providing novel insights. In particular, effort-based
decision making, where people decide whether to perform effortful actions or not, is a
computational framework that can be used to study antisocial behaviour. This interdisciplinary
project will combine expertise from cognitive neuroscience, computational modelling, and
forensic psychiatry to understand antisocial behaviour. The successful student will have the
opportunity to conduct a large-scale online study, a clinical study, and a lab-based fMRI study. We
will measure behavioural responses, develop computational models of antisocial effort, and link
them to brain-imaging data. The student will therefore develop a range of cutting-edge cognitive
neuroscience skills with a highly supportive team of scientists across the University of
Birmingham and the University of Nottingham.
Dr Damian Cruse d.cruse@bham.ac.uk
Dr Katrien Segaert
Dr Dhruv Parekh
This PhD project aims to develop a groundbreaking brain-based tool to identify consciousness
in patients who appear unresponsive after severe brain injury. Current clinical assessment
methods rely on movement to commands, but many patients cannot move reliably because of
their injuries — leading to misdiagnosis and life-changing consequences.
Our solution uses electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain responses to speech,
focusing on personalised interactions with family members. By recording brain activity from
both patient and relative simultaneously (“hyperscanning”), we will look for synchronisation
patterns that reveal shared understanding — a powerful marker of consciousness that can
revolutionise clinical assessment.
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, artificial
intelligence, and clinical practice. You will gain hands-on experience in EEG acquisition and
advanced analysis, including the ethical use of methods from artificial intelligence. You will gain
advanced coding skills that will further support your future career. You will work closely with
clinicians and families in a range of neurorehabilitation settings, ensuring your research has
direct impact on patient care. You will have access to our broad network of experts in Disorders
of Consciousness, allowing for unique training and networking opportunities.
Dr Charlotte Reese Marshall t.r.marshall@bham.ac.uk
Dr Anna Kowalczyk
Professor Steven Marwaha
Women experience depression at 135% the rate of men, but women’s mental health has historically been systemically underfunded. In this project you will work on developing the evidence base for the next generation of treatments for clinical depression in women.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is a common treatment for depression where antidepressants have not worked. TMS involves repeated application of magnetic pulses to the brain to change the way it functions. It is an effective treatment, but there may be ways to make it more effective. For example, in menstruating women, brain activity has been shown to systematically vary across the menstrual cycle. This raises the exciting question; could we identify a point in the cycle where a TMS treatment has the greatest effect on the brain? This could boost treatment efficacy and eventually change lives.
During this project you will use both TMS and state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques (Optically Pumped Magnetometers, OPM). You will recruit a cohort of menstruating women and measure their behaviour and brain activity with TMS and OPM across one menstrual cycle. You will learn to plan and conduct neuroscience research studies and acquire and analyse neuroimaging data in a field of critical importance for women’s mental health.
Dr Michael Cox m.j.cox@bham.ac.uk
Dr Aaron Scott
Dr Rachael Clifford
Adults breathe about 7 litres per minute which equates to around 10,000 litres every 24 hours. This air brings with it its share of challenges for both the lung’s immune system and the respiratory microbiome that resides there, with pollution, smoking and vaping affecting both and potentially leading to chronic lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
We have shown that smoking is associated with big shifts in the lung microbiota. We don’t know whether this impact is direct or mediated by impacts of smoking on innate immunity. We don’t know what part the microbiome plays in the response to other common inhaled pollutants such as vaping or vehicle exhaust.
In this PhD you will be using advanced models of smoking, vaping and exhaust fumes at the University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham to understand how these environmental challenges impact the respiratory immune system, its response to pathogens and the wider respiratory microbiome. This multidisciplinary research project will train you in cutting edge microbiology, respiratory tract models and immunology using culture, DNA and RNA sequencing techniques. We aim to understand environmental challenges and help interrupt the progression from infection and inflammation to chronic debilitating lung disease.
Dr Jon Hazeldine j.hazeldine@bham.ac.uk
Dr Aaron Scott
Dr Dhruv Parekh
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease that leads to progressive scarring
and breathing failure. We know that fragments of DNA circulate freely in the blood and lungs of
IPF patients, and higher levels of this cell-free DNA (cfDNA) are linked to faster disease
progression. However, we do not yet understand why cfDNA accumulates and if this is an
outcome or a driver of disease.
This project will explore whether the increase results from overactive immune cells called
neutrophils – which release DNA NETs to trap microbes – or from a failure of enzymes that
normally clear this DNA.
The student will use patient samples to measure cfDNA and its breakdown, study neutrophil
behaviour, and visualise DNA traps within lung tissue using advanced microscopy. They will also
investigate how persistent cfDNA affects lung cells and contributes to tissue damage.
This interdisciplinary project combines immunology, cell biology, and translational respiratory
research. The student will gain cutting-edge laboratory skills in cell isolation, imaging, enzyme
assays, and biomarker analysis, working alongside clinical and laboratory scientists. Findings could
reveal new biomarkers and therapeutic targets to improve the lives of patients with pulmonary
fibrosis
Dr Alex Wadley a.j.wadley@bham.ac.uk
Dr Francesca Kinsella
Professor Alex Thompson
Every year, over 90,000 people worldwide receive stem cell transplants to treat conditions such as blood cancers. Stem cells are unique, ‘immature’ cells that help rebuild a patient’s immune system after treatment. Before transplant, stem cells are collected from a patient or volunteer donor—a process that typically takes around three hours. However, challenges remain with collection, transplantation, and engraftment.
Our early findings suggest that incorporating light cycling during donation could significantly increase the number of stem cells collected. This PhD project will be the first to rigorously test this idea in both hospital and industry settings. Working with donors—either patients with myeloma or healthy volunteers—you will compare standard donation procedures with those that include cycling. The research will explore whether cycling improves donation speed and examine its practicality and safety.
You will use cutting-edge biological techniques to analyse the number and function of collected cells and conduct a national survey to understand donor and healthcare professional perspectives. This is a truly multidisciplinary project, spanning laboratory science, clinical trials, and behavioural research.
The successful candidate will work across the University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and the Anthony Nolan Collection Centre in Nottingham. We are looking for someone with a strong background in biological sciences, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to coordinate clinical studies and engage with patients.
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Dr Aneika Leney a.leney@bham.ac.uk
Dr Rosa Cookson
Dr Richard Doveston
Using drugs that ‘glue’ proteins together, or ‘molecular glues’, is a powerful, alternative therapeutic strategy to modulate protein-protein interactions which are disrupted in disease. Measuring how well these drugs glue proteins together is challenging and knowledge on how the good ‘glues’ work is lacking, preventing us from designing better ones. This project will involve gaining knowledge on how molecular glues are designed (at Biotech company, Ternary Tx), and then testing these ideas out. To evaluate their performance, we will adapt, refine and use techniques called native mass spectrometry and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. Both technologies have been recently developed and applied by the Leney and Doveston laboratories to study molecular glues and both have exciting potential for speeding up molecular glue discovery.
The project will focus on the design and optimisation of glues for targets that are in high clinical need. These targets include cancers, inflammation and fibrosis. Together, the highly interdisciplinary project will provide world-class training in native mass spectrometry techniques, chemical biology and computational drug design, including using the latest AI and ML methods, that will provide excellent foundations for a successful career within the pharmaceutical industry and beyond.
Dr Carrie Willcox c.r.willcox@bham.ac.uk
Professor Guy Pratt
Professor Benjamin Willcox
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy preceded by a chronic neoplastic condition (MGUS, monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance). Although previous studies have suggested MGUS is under adaptive immune control by conventional αβT-cell subsets, the contribution of unconventional T-cells, which can recognise cancerous target cells in an MHCindependent fashion, to ongoing preneoplastic immunosurveillance is unclear. This studentship will examine unconventional adaptive γδT-cell immunity to MGUS and how this differs in MM. The project will provide an outstanding training in cellular and molecular immunology, backed by a supervisory team with internationally leading expertise in unconventional T-cells and myeloma. It will integrate cutting-edge phenotyping approaches of patient samples (eg spectral flow cytometry,
multispectral immunofluorescence), cellular assays to assess unconventional plasma-cell-specific responses, and molecular approaches to characterise γδTCR clonotypes (eg single cell PCR, TCR transduction, reporter assays) and their recognition of MGUS/MM cells. Importantly, the γδTCRs characterised are likely MHC-independent, and hence applicable across diverse patient groups. The student will have ample opportunity for high quality publications, will be working on a project with genuine therapeutic and commercial potential, and will emerge post-PhD strategically positioned for diverse opportunities in the highly active immuno-oncology field.
Dr Lucy Isobel Crouch l.i.crouch@bham.ac.uk
Dr Liang Wu
Dr David Tourigny
Uncharted territory – the Akkermansia muciniphila import system Akkermansia muciniphila is a human commensal microbe residing in the large intestine, which feeds exclusively on human mucus glycoproteins. The presence of A. muciniphilia within gut microbiota is associated with substantial anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects, making it important to understand the factors that support this beneficial symbiont. Species of Akkermansia have a long evolutionary history with mammals and they are from the relatively understudied Planctomycetota-Verrucomicrobiota-Chlamydiota (PVC) superphylum. Recent work has made progress in understanding the activities of the A. muciniphila enzymes that break down mucus (Crouch Lab), but this organism also has a completely novel and uncharacterised mucin import system, which appears to interact with mucin-degrading enzymes to form a multicomponent mucin breakdown machine. This interdisciplinary project will focus on characterising the interactions that form this machine (Crouch Lab), imaging it directly in the bacterium using advanced cryo-electron tomography (Wu Lab), and mapping its activity using machine learning-based mathematical modelling (Tourigny Lab). This project will also benefit from an industrial collaborator Ludger, where the student can learn cutting-edge glycoanalytical techniques.
Dr Maryam Afzali
Professor Gerry McCann
Professor Sue Francis
This PhD project will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to investigate how abnormal blood flow and tissue remodelling interact in patients with aortic stenosis. In aortic stenosis, narrowing of the aortic valve produces turbulent blood flow and high stresses on the heart, leading to thickening, scarring, and changes in the heart muscle’s microscopic structure. Valve replacement surgery restores blood flow, but recovery varies between patients.
This project is jointly led by the University of Nottingham and is part of an exciting collaboration between the University of Leicester and the University of Nottingham. The student will use two MRI methods: diffusion MRI, which maps organisation of heart fibres, and four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI, which measures blood flow patterns in the aorta. By studying patients before and after valve replacement, the project will explore how turbulent flow and microstructural changes are linked, and whether combined imaging measures can predict recovery.
Research will be conducted at both the University of Leicester and the University of Nottingham, where the student will gain experience in image acquisition, analysis, and modelling. The supervisory team includes academics from both universities, providing training in MRI physics, cardiovascular imaging, and translational research, with strong potential to improve healthcare.
Dr Suzanne Freeman suzanne.freeman@leicester.ac.uk
Professor Sylwia Bujkiewicz
Dr Brett Doleman
This PhD is all about using big data to answer important questions in healthcare research. You’ll work at the intersection of medicine and data science, figuring out how to appropriately combine results of clinical trials with real-world health records to answer one big question: Which treatments work best for patients?
You’ll focus on two important areas: lung cancer (where outcomes such as survival are measured over time) and post-operative pain (where pain scores and morphine use change daily). Current methods for analysing these types of data often over-simplify assumptions about data, missing the full picture. Your research will help to resolve these issues, so that organisations like the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) can make smarter decisions and improve patient care.
You will learn advanced statistical modelling, data analysis, and R programming. You’ll work with large health datasets, build models that handle complex, changing outcomes, and create visuals that make your findings easy to understand. The supervisory team includes academics and clinicians from the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham and you will have the opportunity to collaborate with an industry partner to make sure your work has real-world impact.
Dr James T. Hodgkinson JTHodgkinson@le.ac.uk
Dr Harriet S. Walter
Prof. Sarah Dimeloe
B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a transcription factor that drives aggressive B-cell cancers such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), enabling cancer cells to survive and resist treatment. While small-molecule inhibitors of BCL6 have been developed, they show limited clinical benefit and none remain in clinical development.
This PhD project takes a cutting-edge approach: targeted protein degradation. Rather than inhibiting BCL6, we aim to eliminate it from cancer cells through targeted degradation. This strategy, using molecular glue degraders and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), is pioneering new cancer therapies, with two BCL6 degraders already in clinical trials.
You will design and synthesise novel molecules that induce BCL6 degradation (Dr J.T. Hodgkinson, University of Leicester) and evaluate their effects on cancer cell viability and growth (Dr H. Walter and Prof M.J. Dyer, University of Leicester) and metabolism (Prof S. Dimeloe, University of Birmingham).
This interdisciplinary studentship spans synthetic organic chemistry, chemical biology, and translational cancer research, offering access to world-class facilities and joint training at the University of Leicester and the University of Birmingham. Ideal for candidates with a background in synthetic chemistry, chemical biology, or related disciplines who are motivated to contribute to fundamental research with potential for real clinical impact.
Dr. Edward Jarman ejj11@leicester.ac.uk
Prof. Sheela Jayaraman
Prof. Kevin Gaston
This project investigates how chronic liver inflammation promotes early genetic changes in biliary epithelial cells that may lead to cholangiocarcinoma. Our work shows that cells with oncogenic mutations can misinterpret immune signals during early tumour emergence, but how these early lesions evolve into genetically complex cancers remains unclear.
As a collaboration between Dr. Ed Jarman (UoL) and Professors Jayaraman and Gaston (UoN), we will examine how the inflammatory microenvironment drives DNA damage and mutation accumulation through oxidative stress and mitogenic signalling during early tumour development, and determine whether this can be prevented using anti-inflammatory or antioxidant therapies.
The successful applicant will analyse tissue and single-cell RNA sequencing data to identify DNA damage markers and assess how liver inflammation modulates repair. Using CRISPR-edited murine organoids with p53 and Pten mutations, they will model how genetic background influences susceptibility to inflammation-induced mutagenesis. Building on these findings, the student will have the opportunity generate human bile duct organoids from healthy, inflamed, and tumour tissues at UoN to test if similar processes occur in patients and whether agents such as aspirin or resveratrol reduce inflammation-associated DNA damage in this context. In doing so we hope to inform novel cancer prevention strategies for high-risk groups
Dr. Abhinav Koyamangalath Vadakkepat akv10@leicester.ac.uk
Prof. Julie Morrissey
Prof. Joan Geoghegan
We invite applications for a fully-funded PhD project to study how methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) manages copper toxicity. The human immune-system uses copper toxicity to kill bacteria during infections. However, S. aureus has evolved mechanisms to survive this by using copper-transporting proteins called CopA, CopB and CopX. This project will focus on understanding structure and function of these proteins and how they help MRSA survive copper-rich environments. Using molecular biology, membrane-protein biochemistry, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), you will investigate how these pumps work to export copper from bacterial cells. This project provides a unique opportunity to be at the cutting edge of antimicrobial-resistance research, working with an interdisciplinary supervisory team involving research groups from University of Leicester (UoL) and University of Birmingham (UoB). The knowledge gained could lead to new ways of targeting these pumps to weaken MRSA and improve infection control. You will be based within UoL which offers a vibrant multicultural interdisciplinary research environment and access to world-class research facilities for structural-biology including the state-of-the art 300 kEV Titan Krios and all sample-vitrification facilities. We welcome candidates with a background in microbiology, biochemistry, or structural biology who are interested in addressing the global challenge of AMR.
Dr Katy Roach kmr11@leicester.ac.uk
Dr Rachel Clifford
Dr Richard Allen
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a life-limiting lung disease in which relentless and irreversible scarring reduces the lungs’ ability to function. Current treatments can only slow the disease, and new approaches that directly target the scarring process are urgently needed.
This project is part of an exciting collaboration between the University of Leicester (UoL) and the University of Nottingham (UoN). It will investigate the role of a signalling protein called Protein Kinase N2 (PKN2), which early evidence suggests may regulate how lung cells respond to injury and contribute to the development of fibrosis. By understanding how PKN2 behaves in both healthy and diseased lung tissue, we aim to uncover why scarring continues to progress in IPF and how this drives declining lung function in patients.
The student will use state-of-the-art molecular, cellular and tissue-based techniques to explore how PKN2 influences lung fibroblasts—the key cells responsible for producing scar tissue. They will be primarily based at UoL, with the opportunity to spend dedicated time at UoN developing complementary skills and benefitting from the wider collaborative expertise across both institutions.
This project offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful, translational research tackling one of the most urgent challenges in respiratory medicine.
Dr Sarah E Seaton sarah.seaton@leicester.ac.uk
Dr David Lo
Prof Laila J Tata
Each year, around 18,500 children are admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) across the UK and Ireland, with many emergency admissions due to respiratory conditions such as bronchiolitis. Some children may experience multiple healthcare interactions before reaching PICU, yet these care trajectories remain poorly defined or understood.
This PhD will use large-scale linked datasets (including Clinical Practice Research Datalink, Hospital Episode Statistics, and the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network) to explore how children interact with healthcare services prior to PICU admission. The focus will be on respiratory disease, with particular attention to patterns of GP visits, emergency department attendances, and hospital admissions prior to PICU admission.
Using advanced statistical methods such as multistate modelling and sequence analysis, the project will identify pathways and risk factors associated with PICU admission. It will also examine inequalities in access and outcomes, including differences by ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
The findings from this PhD will inform opportunities for earlier intervention and improved recognition of deterioration, contributing to safer paediatric care. This is a data-driven project suited to candidates with strong quantitative skills and an interest in child health. The student will benefit from high quality supervision from the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham.
Prof Chris Talbot cjt14@leicester.ac.uk
Dr Adam Webb
Dr Kerstie Johnson
Radiotherapy saves lives—but for some breast cancer patients, it can leave lasting side effects such as breast pain, changes in appearance, or arm swelling (lymphedema). These complications can affect comfort and mobility for years after treatment.
This PhD project aims to change that. We are investigating why some patients experience these side effects while others don’t, looking at genetics, treatment timing, and other biological factors. For example, could the time of day you receive radiotherapy influence your outcome? Early evidence suggests it might—and your research could help uncover why.
You’ll join a unique collaboration between world-leading genetics researchers in Leicester, clinical oncologists in Nottingham, and our industry partner Therapanacea who are a pioneer in AI-driven radiotherapy software. This means you’ll gain experience across cutting-edge genomics, clinical oncology, and artificial intelligence.
Using data from thousands of patients, you’ll develop advanced computer models that combine genetic profiles, imaging, and clinical details to predict individual risk. These AI-powered tools will help clinicians provide personalised risk reports before treatment begins—empowering patients to make informed choices and reducing long-term harm.
Your work will contribute to safer, smarter, and more personalised cancer care, improving quality of life for survivors worldwide.
Professor Louise V Wain louisewain@le.ac.uk
Professor Sue Francis
Dr Richard Allen
Dr Eleanor Cox, University of Nottingham
Fibrosis (scarring) is the natural process of wound-healing, the body’s response to insult and injury. However, fibrosis can become pathological (damaging), affect organ function, and is a feature of multiple common diseases affecting almost any organ in the body. Despite this, there are limited treatments for fibrosis and it accounts for around 30% of deaths. Fibrotic diseases often differ in prevalence between males and females and may co-occur more often than expected with fibrotic diseases in other organs. Studying fibrosis across different organs simultaneously could accelerate our understanding and development of new treatments. Identification of genetic variation associated with development of fibrotic disease can give us new information about which genes are involved and new insight into the mechanisms at play. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can reveal organ changes that are indicative of fibrosis, even before it is diagnosed. In this project, you will discover genes involved in fibrosis and correlate these findings with MRI metrics in order to better understand fibrosis development. Based primarily at the University of Leicester, you will develop skills in statistical genetics, epidemiology and functional genomics, with around 3 months spent at the University of Nottingham to develop your image analysis skills, including machine-learning approaches.
Dr Ning Wang nw208@leicester.ac.uk
Dr Anthony Bates
Dr Douglas Ward
Want to make a real impact in the fight against cancer? Join a cutting-edge PhD programme that
integrates discovery science, advanced technologies, and industry collaboration to address one of the UK’s biggest health challenges.
We are offering a fully funded 4-year MRC AIM DTP PhD studentship investigating the ATP-gated ion channel P2X4 receptor (P2X4R) in prostate cancer (PCa). PCa is the most common male cancer in the UK and, once metastatic, remains a major cause of mortality. Our findings suggest that P2X4R may act as both a driver of metastasis and a valuable biomarker, opening new opportunities for predicting and treating aggressive disease.
As part of an exciting collaboration between the Universities of Leicester and Birmingham, you’ll receive hands-on training in patient explant culturing, spatial multiplex imaging, next generation sequencing, liquid biopsy approaches (EV/cfDNA profiling), and bioinformatics skills. You’ll also
benefit from a placement with Nonacus Ltd, an innovative diagnostics company, building unique experience across academia, industry, and clinical translation.
Professor Leigh Breen L.breen@leicester.ac.uk
Dr Sophie Joanisse
Dr Nathan Hodson
Targeting muscle loss in obesity and ageing through USP19 inhibition
Are you passionate about muscle biology, metabolism, and translational science? This exciting PhD project explores a novel therapeutic strategy to combat sarcopenic obesity—a condition where excess body fat and muscle loss coexist, leading to frailty and poor metabolic health in older adults.
You will investigate how inhibiting a protein called USP19 affects muscle growth, energy production, and glucose metabolism. Using advanced lab models that mimic ageing and obesity, you’ll test a new compound developed by our industry partners, Almac Discovery, and assess its potential to protect muscle and improve metabolic function. You’ll also explore how this treatment interacts with new and emerging weight-loss therapies.
The student wil have the opportunity to spend time at the Universities of Leicester, Nottingham, and Birmingham, providing access to world-class facilities and expertise.
This project will provide hands-on training in:
Skeletal muscle cell culture modelling
Molecular and biochemical techniques
Microscopy and imaging
Metabolic and functional assays
Data analysis, interpretation and industry collaboration
You’ll also have the opportunity to work with an industry partner, gaining valuable experience in translational research and drug development. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a growing field with real-world health impact.
Prof Kostas Tsintzas kostas.tsintzas@nottingham.ac.uk
Prof Simon W Jones
Dr Sophie Joanisse
The decline of muscle mass and function with age (sarcopenia) and the corresponding increase in adiposity is a major healthcare concern, resulting in increased frailty and risk of developing metabolic disorders. With ageing and obesity, adipose tissue releases extracellular vesicles that transport cargo which drives the impairment of muscle growth and its function. However, critical gaps remain in our understanding of how these vesicles regulate these processes and the extent to which they influence the capacity of muscle to recover from mechanical and inflammatory injury. Therefore, the overarching aim of this studentship is to investigate the role of these adipose tissue vesicles from lean and obese individuals in muscle growth, metabolic function and regenerative capacity during ageing in order to identify novel pathways and targets for the development of interventions to combat sarcopenia.
This exciting PhD studentship will provide rich interdisciplinary training in a wide range of techniques including human primary cell cultures, extracellular vesicle isolation and imaging, molecular biology (including Western blotting, qRT-PCR and next generation sequencing), metabolic assays, human physiology and bioinformatic analysis. In addition to the training offered at the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, the studentship will provide cross-sectorial training through engagement with clinicians at NHS Trust Hospitals.
Prof Mark Humphries mark.humphries@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Kajtja Kornysheva
Restoring someone’s ability to move their arm, walk unaided, or speak to loved ones after damage to their nervous system was once science fiction. Advances in brain-computer interfaces that translate signals from the brain into intended movement have brought restoration close to reality. State-of-the-art interfaces turn directly-recorded cortical activity into intended movement commands by leveraging AI to translate between the two. But these data- and training-intensive interfaces are limited to a handful of clinical patients, cannot generalise between tasks or people, and inevitably fail over time as the brain signals degrade.
This project will develop a new approach to brain-computer interfaces, by leveraging our new understanding of how the neural activity in the motor cortex encodes an intended arm movement. We will test this theory in multiple datasets of cortical recordings during arm movements, and we will develop new brain-computer interfaces that directly translate the encodings of motor cortex into intended movements.
To do this, the student will get to handle state-of-the-art neural activity data, learn how to analyse the links between neural activity and behaviour, and be trained in dynamical systems analysis, recurrent neural network modelling, and AI decoders.
Professor Alex Thompson Alex.Thompson@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Sophie Kellaway
Professor John Schwabe
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous blood cancer with low survival rates. Mutations in a spectrum of transcription factors (e.g. RUNX1) and chromatin modifiers result in altered gene regulation, leading to differentiation block and accumulation of myeloid blasts. We have recently identified a specific type of RUNX1 mutation resulting in a frameshift producing a novel oncoprotein with a 116-amino acid extension. This mutation is largely uncharacterised but is thought to interact with chromatin modifiers to drive the leukaemia. By combining structural and biochemical analysis of the oncoprotein and its interaction partners with state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing methods and computational biology, you will determine how this mutation causes leukaemia. Using induced pluripotent stem cells from a patient who had this mutation, you will test how disrupting gene regulation via specific chromatin modifiers impacts on blood development. Together, this will inform strategies to improve treatment in AML patients with a type of mutation that has been, up until now, unknown.
Prof. Marcus Kaiser Marcus.kaiser@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Paul Briley
Prof. Steven Marwaha
Dr Mohammad Zia Katshu
Brain stimulation is already a NICE-approved treatment for depression. However, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is limited by the need to be administered in a hospital setting. Finding ways to stimulate the brain using mobile devices at home would massively increase the number of patients that could be treated and would, at the same time, reduce intervention costs.
The novel wearable Zenbud device (http://zenbud.health/) is targeting the vagus nerve (auricular branch). In a pilot study with anxiety patients, symptom scores were reduced by more than 50% within three weeks of intervention (five minutes per day, delivered at home). Moreover, depression scores of the anxiety patients were also reduced.
In this project, the student will test for outcomes observing changes in mood/depression scores and physiological effects of vagus nerve stimulation (heart rate variability). They will seek to understand patient experiences and identify the best ways to deliver ultrasound vagus nerve stimulation approaches. Depending on project outcome, working across centre at the University of Nottingham and the University of Birmingham, the student will contribute to the design of a future clinical trial.
Dr Mattéa Finelli Mattea.finelli@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Ekene Anakor
Dr John Curd
Over 3.4 billion people are affected by brain diseases worldwide, with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease contributing largely to this burden. However, for many of these conditions limited treatments are available and most clinical trials for brain diseases fail. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop advanced preclinical models of the brain to study brain disease mechanisms and find new treatments.
Stem cell-derived cellular models are powerful in vitro preclinical tools used in biomedical research and pharmaceutical industry. However, commonly-used stem cell-derived cellular models do not mimic the features associated with the brain and often rely on the use of animal-derived products.
Therefore, this collaborative project between the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, and company PeptiMatrix aims to generate and characterize in-depth an animal-free 3D multicellular model of the human brain, and to test it as a screening platform for drug discovery.
Longer-term, the cellular model that will be developed in this project will be used to find and test new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases and potentially other brain diseases.
The PhD student on this project will learn advanced techniques in stem cell technology, bioengineering, proteomics, and will acquire quantitative and interdisciplinary skills.
Professor John King FRS john.king@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor Neil Morgan
Professor Alison Goodall
This project offers the opportunity to combine mathematical and computational modelling and laboratory work to advance research in haemostasis, by exploring new ways to target anti- and pro-thrombotic therapies in a personalised way. The project would suit a candidate with a background in applied mathematics or a related discipline, with an interest in gaining experience in biological systems, including some guided, hands-on laboratory work, or with a biosciences/biomedical background interested in gaining expertise in modelling and advanced data analytical methods. You would join an existing collaborative network with a strong track record in postgraduate supervision, and the skills and resources to support the training needed. Throughout the studentship, you will acquire valuable technical skills, including data-driven computational modelling, model validation and laboratory techniques such as thrombin generation assays. You will also gain expertise in integrating computational models with experimental data and the machine learning and statistical skills required to analyse large multi-variate datasets. This is an exciting opportunity to acquire cross-disciplinary skills, alongside insights into a wide range of clinical conditions including diabetes and inherited bleeding disorders.
Prof. Penny Gowland Penny.gowland@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr. Akram A Hosseini
Prof. Elizabeta B. Mukaetova-Ladinska
Prof. Richard Bowtell
This project aims to develop new sensitive, non-invasive techniques to measure neurochemistry related to changes in brain metabolism in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with and without, proven early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. This could assist in the search for new therapeutic targets for dementia.
Initially the student will develop and optimize rapid proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) and 31P CSI at 7T for imaging brain metabolites of relevance in early disease.
The student will join the team running the ongoing BiTAN (Brain Iron Toxicity and Neurodegeneration) study in MCI, which has already successfully detected changes in volume and tissue properties of the hippocampus in MCI. The student will scan some BiTAN patients to understand if there are differences between brain chemistry in MCI patients with and without diagnosed early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The student will be based in Nottingham at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre but also work with University of Leicester, who will provide contribute expertise in recruiting a diverse group of subjects. In particular, we want to recruit a subgroup of patients high BMI or type two diabetes (T2D) to investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome on neuroinflammation in MCI patients with and without AD.
Dr Amanda Tatler Amanda.tatler@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Dave Cole
Dr Katy Roach
This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of drug-development for a terminal lung disease which currently has no cure. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease where average survival is just 3 years post-diagnosis and its incidence is rapidly increasing globally. New, effective therapies are desperately needed to prolong life for patients with IPF.
The student will work with Accession Therapeutics on a biotechnology-academic collaboration to re-engineer Accession’s disease-targeting TROCEPT virus as a novel, first-of-its-kind treatment for IPF. TROCEPT’s unique properties mean that it can target diseased cells in IPF, and this project will redesign TROCEPT so that it delivers effective anti-fibrotic treatments directly to those diseased cells.
The student will learn a range of interdisciplinary techniques including molecular biology, virology, drug-development, ex vivo tissue models of disease, and state-of-the-art microscopy and imaging techniques. The project will involve a 3-month placement working at Accession Therapeutics, with the remainder of the project being based at the University of Nottingham’s flagship research facility the Biodiscovery Institute. This collaborative project will ensure that the student is exposed to a diverse range of skills, training opportunities and experiences, enabling them to shape the future of their career throughout the PhD project.
Prof Jonas Emsley jonas.emsley@no;ngham.ac.uk
Prof Ian Sayers
Sam Moss
This exciting PhD project will explore the structure and function of ADAMTS8, a protease
(protein-cutting enzyme) that plays important roles in the body and has been linked to
respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Proteases like ADAMTS8 are produced in an
inactive form and only become active at the right time and place. Understanding how this
“on–off switch” works is vital, since defects can lead to disease.
The project has two key aims: first, to determine the three-dimensional structure of
ADAMTS8 using cutting-edge techniques including cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM)
and X-ray crystallography. These methods allow us to visualise proteins at atomic detail,
revealing how they are built and how they function. Second, the project will investigate
genetic mutations in ADAMTS8 that are linked to inherited respiratory conditions, to
uncover how small changes in its structure may disrupt normal activity.
The student will gain training in advanced protein expression and purification, structural
biology (cryo-EM, crystallography, molecular modelling with Alphafold), and data
analysis using state-of-the-art software. This is an opportunity to contribute to an exciting
and fast-moving area of biomedical research with clear links to human health, while
developing highly transferable technical and problem-solving skills for a future career in
science.
Professor Dorothee Auer Dorothee.auer@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Alireza Mohammadinezhad
Dr Richard Allen
Professor Stam Sotiropoulos
Professor Louise Wain
This PhD will investigate how genetic risk for organ fibrosis, using established markers for body organ fibrosis (such as liver and heart) in the UK Biobank, can affect brain health and contribute to early ageing or cognitive decline. This is particularly timely given recent fundamental discoveries of brain fibroblasts and the g-lymphatic system (brain waste clearance thought to be a driver of neurodegenerative diseases) as we hope to finding out whether these may be causally linked.
You will use large-scale imaging and genetic data to discover how organ health and inflammation relate to brain structure and function. The project will identify measurable brain changes linked to waste clearance and tissue maintenance, and test whether these are causally related to genetic fibrosis risk. The findings could help identify new targetable mechanisms and inform novel strategies to protect brain health in the fight against dementia and neuro-psychiatric comorbidity in organ fibrosis.
You will develop skills in neuroimaging, statistical genetics, and large-scale data analysis, and learn how to apply causal inference methods such as Mendelian randomisation. This interdisciplinary project bridges systems biology, neuroscience, and population data science, providing robust training for research careers in academia or industry.
Dr Anna Malecka anna.malecka1@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Judith Ramage
Dr Carmela de Santo
Mast cells (MC) and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are immune cells which infiltrate the tumour microenvironment. Recent research has demonstrated that communication between these cells plays an important role in the regulation of anti-cancer immune responses and cancer growth. This collaborative project between the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham aims to understand further the unique role that these cell populations play in the tumour microenvironment. The student will use our world-leading spatial biology platform, AI and bioinformatics to characterise the interactions between MC and MDSC in colorectal tumour tissue. To complement this work, the student will develop multi-cellular in vitro models of immune cells and tumour cells to investigate the signalling mechanisms involved in MC – MDSC communication. Mechanisms involved in this crosstalk will be assessed by flow cytometry, ELISA, and RNAseq. Understanding the interaction between MC-MDSC in the tumour environment will allow identification of novel therapeutic targets and strategies to treat cancer. This project provides skills in spatial biology, bioinformatics and cell culture. The student will be supported by friendly teams of co-supervisors and other PhD students and will be encouraged to present their data at conferences and in publications.
Professor Meritxell Canals m.canals@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor Dylan Owen
Dr Luke Clifton
Drug-related deaths are now at the highest ever recorded in the UK, the majority involving opioid drugs such as fentanyl. Yet, the pharmacology of fentanyl and how it causes its highly potent adverse effects when compared to other opioids is poorly understood, although likely related to its ability to partition into cell membranes.
Using a combination of cell biology, pharmacology and biophysical approaches, the student on this project will investigate the pharmacology of fentanyl and design strategies by which its harm can be reduced.
Dr Amanda Tatler Amanda.tatler@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Dave Cole
Dr Katy Roach
This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of drug-development for a terminal lung disease which currently has no cure. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease where average survival is just 3 years post-diagnosis and its incidence is rapidly increasing globally. New, effective therapies are desperately needed to prolong life for patients with IPF.
The student will work with Accession Therapeutics on a biotechnology-academic collaboration to re-engineer Accession’s disease-targeting TROCEPT virus as a novel, first-of-its-kind treatment for IPF. TROCEPT’s unique properties mean that it can target diseased cells in IPF, and this project will redesign TROCEPT so that it delivers effective anti-fibrotic treatments directly to those diseased cells.
The student will learn a range of interdisciplinary techniques including molecular biology, virology, drug-development, ex vivo tissue models of disease, and state-of-the-art microscopy and imaging techniques. The project will involve a 3-month placement working at Accession Therapeutics, with the remainder of the project being based at the University of Nottingham’s flagship research facility the Biodiscovery Institute. This collaborative project will ensure that the student is exposed to a diverse range of skills, training opportunities and experiences, enabling them to shape the future of their career throughout the PhD project.
Dr Anna Malecka anna.malecka1@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Judith Ramage
Dr Carmela de Santo
Mast cells (MC) and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are immune cells which infiltrate the tumour microenvironment. Recent research has demonstrated that communication between these cells plays an important role in the regulation of anti-cancer immune responses and cancer growth. This collaborative project between the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham aims to understand further the unique role that these cell populations play in the tumour microenvironment. The student will use our world-leading spatial biology platform, AI and bioinformatics to characterise the interactions between MC and MDSC in colorectal tumour tissue. To complement this work, the student will develop multi-cellular in vitro models of immune cells and tumour cells to investigate the signalling mechanisms involved in MC – MDSC communication. Mechanisms involved in this crosstalk will be assessed by flow cytometry, ELISA, and RNAseq. Understanding the interaction between MC-MDSC in the tumour environment will allow identification of novel therapeutic targets and strategies to treat cancer. This project provides skills in spatial biology, bioinformatics and cell culture. The student will be supported by friendly teams of co-supervisors and other PhD students and will be encouraged to present their data at conferences and in publications.