Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships - Search for funding opportunities.
Deadline: 14 May 2025
Wales
Closing date: 14 May 2025
Funding provider: Swansea University
Subject areas: Ovarian Cancer, Peritoneal metastasis, Immunology
Project start date: 1 July 2025
Supervisors: Dr Luke Davies (Primary), Dr James Cronin (Secondary) and Dr Megan Chambers
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Microbiology and Immunology
Mode of study: Full-time
Project description:
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynaecological cancers (>2000 deaths/year, UK). It is described as a silent killer as most diagnoses occur after it has spread to the peritoneal cavity (metastasis). It is known that peritoneal cells contribute to the growth of metastatic tumours. Previously, it was demonstrated that an immune cell-produced metabolite promotes peritoneal tumour growth. However, a host of interconnected metabolic and immune pathways likely regulate tumour progression.
Identification of these novel mechanisms will provide new targeted therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer.
The current MRC New Investigator Grant focuses on peritoneal dialysis for kidney disease and aims to add metabolites/drugs to improve this treatment, but this also opens the exciting possibility for using peritoneal dialysis as a tissue-targeted drug delivery tool for metastatic ovarian cancer. This includes utilising existing chemotherapies (e.g. Carboplatin) and targeting new peritoneal-specific mechanisms that promote tumour growth.
Research questions:
What cellular/molecular mechanisms promote peritoneal ovarian cancer growth?
Can we deliver chemotherapy and anti-metastasis drugs via peritoneal dialysis?
Objectives:
1) Determine how peritoneal cells support metastasis (co-cultures with immune/mesothelial/cancer cells, gene-editing strategies (CRISPR), metabolite-mass-spectrometry)
2) Develop a proof-of-principle model (in-vivo and in-vitro) to demonstrate that tumour growth can blocked using dialysis-chemotherapy
For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/microbiology-su-phd-tumour-growth-2025-rs813.php
Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations.
Applicants for PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis. See - Country-specific Information for EU and International Candidates.
English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
Funding
The studentship covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates
(currently £19,237 for 2024/25).
There is also an additional £1,000 for research expenses.
To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:
Microbiology and Immunology / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / October
When applying - please select the start date as October 2025 but there is scope to start in July 2025.
In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.
*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.
As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):
NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.
Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.
Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr. Luke Davies (l.c.davies@swansea.ac.uk)
*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.
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