Supervisors

Professor Wendy Noble, University of Exeter

Dr Cara Croft (Queen Mary University London)

Dr Maria Jimenez-Sanchez (King’s College London)

Dr Jon Witton, University of Exeter

Location:

Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Streatham Campus, Exeter

The University of Exeter’s Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences is inviting applications for a PhD studentship funded by BRACE to commence on 24 September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.  For eligible students the studentship will cover Home tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £19,237 for 3 years full-time, or pro rata for part-time study.  The student would be based in Clinical and Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the Streatham Campus in Exeter.

Project Description:

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is an umbrella term for diseases including dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia, which are characterised by abnormal aggregation and deposition of asynuclein (aSyn) in affected regions of the brain. There are no available therapies for LBD. This is in part due to incomplete understanding of the mechanisms underlying these diseases. In recent years, it has become apparent that inflammation in the brain contributes to the progression of dementia, and strategies to treat dementia by reducing inflammation are under investigation. P2X7R is a receptor that is predominantly expressed by non-neuronal cells in the brain and that is considered a master regulator of brain inflammation. This project will explore the contribution of P2X7R to Lewy body dementia. It will explore overall beneficial effects of P2X7R block, and determine how this receptor affects disease progression so that we can hone future treatment strategies. To do this, the project aims are to determine (i) in which type of brain cells P2X7R is acting to affect LBD progression, and (ii) the biological pathway responsible for providing protection upon receptor blockade. The project will build on our recently published work in which we showed that P2X7R is expressed in astrocytes and microglia in human brain, directing different types of inflammation in each cell type. Here, we aim to progress this work by determining the cell type through which P2X7R affects a-synuclein aggregation in a model of LBD and the precise pathways involved. This work also has relevance to AD since recent studies show an association of aSyn accumulation with cognitive decline in AD. This information gained from the project can be used to develop more effective P2X7R-based therapies and, importantly, to enable the development of strategies that can better track the effectiveness of future P2X7R-targetted drugs for dementing diseases. This project is a collaboration between the University of Exeter, King’s College London (Dr Maria Jimenez-Sanchez) and University College London (Dr Cara Croft).

This award provides annual funding to cover Home tuition fees and a tax-free stipend.  For students who pay Home tuition fees the award will cover the tuition fees in full, plus at least £19,237 per year tax-free stipend.  Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for part of the international tuition fee (~£24k) and no stipend. 
The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit for 3 years of full-time study to commence on 24 September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
International applicants need to be aware that you will have to cover the cost of your student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.
The conditions for eligibility of home fees status are complex and you will need to seek advice if you have moved to or from the UK (or Republic of Ireland) within the past 3 years or have applied for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of science or technology.   Should these criteria not be met, applicants may be considered who have achieved a minimum “merit’ classification at MSc level in a relevant subject. Prior laboratory experience is desired, but not essential.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the required level as per our guidance at https://www.exeter.ac.uk/pg-research/apply/english/

How to apply

Apply now

In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents. 
• CV
• Letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).
• Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)
• Two references from referees familiar with your academic work. If your referees prefer, they can email the reference direct to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk quoting the studentship reference number.
• If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Monday 12th August 2024. 

Interviews will be held virtually in the week commencing [19th August 2024 (TBC)].

If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk or phone 0300 555 60 60 (UK callers) +44 (0) 1392 723044 (EU/International callers)  Project-specific queries should be directed to the main supervisor.

Summary