Unravelling the dietary culprit of Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is an incurable inflammatory condition of the gut. It is associated with high morbidity, poor quality of life and significant health expenditure. The cause of Crohn’s disease remains unknown but current evidence suggests a complex interaction between diet and gut microbiota in people with genetic susceptibility to the illness. This PhD study aims to identify the dietary culprit of Crohn’s disease by systematically characterizing the diet and the gut microbiota interactions in Crohn’s disease patients during and following successful treatment with exclusive enteral nutrition. This project may lead to the development of new, more effective and personalised, dietary management for people with Crohn’s disease.

This PhD opportunity is collaboration between academia, clinical colleagues and an industrial partner specialised in the production of proprietary enteral nutrition feeds for the management of active Crohn’s Disease. The eligible candidate should have a 1st class BSc (Hons) or a 2:1 with an MSc in Life or Nutritional Sciences and good evidence of laboratory experience. During the course of the PhD the student will receive training in dietary assessment, human nutrition, microbiology and immunology methodology. Dietary assessment will be performed using conventional and novel dietary assessment methods. Gut microbiota will be profiled with next generation sequencing and targeted and untargeted metabolomics. A panel of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines will be measured and comprehensive immunophenotype of peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be performed.

Supervisors of this project are:
Dr Konstantinos Gerasimidis; Senior Lecturer in Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow
Professor Simon Milling; Professor in Immunology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow
Professor Richard Russell; Professor in Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

When applying, please enter the project title in the programme description box on the online application form.

For further details please contact:

Dr Konstantinos Gerasimidis; [Email Address Removed]; Tel: 0044 (141) 201 8689
Professor Simon Milling; Professor of Immunology; [Email Address Removed]; Tel: 0044 (141) 330 6419