Job offer Microbiology and Immunology: Fully Funded PhD Studentship: Tumour Growth

Job Offer

Job: Microbiology and Immunology: Fully Funded PhD Studentship: Tumour Growth

Organisation/Company: Swansea University

Department: Central

Research Field: Computer science

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Country: United Kingdom

Application Deadline: 14 May 2025 - 12:59 (Europe/London)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 35

Offer Starting Date: 1 Jul 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer 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.

Requirements

Research Field: Computer science

Education Level: Undergraduate

Skills/Qualifications:

• IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Additional Information

Benefits:

• 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.

Eligibility criteria:

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.

Selection process: Please see our website for more information.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Swansea University

Country: United Kingdom

City: Swansea

Postal Code: SA2 8PP

Contact

State/Province: West Glamorgan

City: Swansea

Street: Singleton Park

Postal Code: SA28PP

E-Mail: l.c.davies@swansea.ac.uk

Phone: +44(0)1792602768

Status: EXPIRED

#s1-Gen

Research Field
Computer science

Education Level
Undergraduate, IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent., 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 European Applicants 2019 and Country-specific Information for International Applicants 2019.

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 (https://doi.org/10.1172/jci99169). 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.

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.
Eligibility criteria

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