Fully-funded PhD: Targeting Multi-Organ Gut Axes to Improve Cognitive and Functional Health in Middle-Aged Adults Through Supplementation and Dietary Strategies

This PhD programme of work, supported by HTC Health LTD in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University, aims to explore the multi-organ communication pathways of the gut, specifically the gut-brain and gut-muscle axes, as potentially key modulators of cognitive function, and physical health in middle-aged-to-older adults. 

The central theme will be to investigate how targeted supplementation of nutraceuticals, and dietary strategies can enhance gut health, and in turn influence downstream outcomes such as cognition, mood, weight regulation, and musculoskeletal function. 

This research is particularly aligned with HTC Health’s long-standing commitment to evidence-based nutritional solutions for human health and is informed by industry insights into weight management and consumer-driven demand for cognitive and mood-related benefits and the interaction with the gut. 

The successful candidate will work closely with the supervisory team and key stakeholders at HTC Health to develop the specific programme of work throughout the PhD. 

Project aims and objectives

The primary aims of this PhD project are as follows: 

1. To investigate how dietary supplementation modulates the gut microbiota and gut permeability, and how these changes correlate with improvements in muscle function, metabolic health, and early signs of cognitive decline.
2. To explore the axes of the gut-brain and gut-muscle to overall health in middle-aged populations.
3. To examine the bidirectional relationship between gut health and weight management.