Modelling cardiac hypertrophy/hyperplasia in the zebrafish

The King’s College London British Heart Foundation (BHF) Centre of Research Excellence offers an outstanding environment for cardiovascular research training. It includes a large number of internationally rated investigators whose expertise encompasses a very broad range of cardiac and vascular biomedicine. The unit performed exceedingly well in the recent RAE, being the only institution to be in the top 3 both on average quality score and research power.

We are inviting applications for 3-year interdisciplinary studentships to commence from October 2012 that are each co-supervised by a cardiovascular and a non-cardiovascular PI with distinct complementary expertise. All principal supervisors on the programme have a strong track record of publications, grant income and successful supervision. Applications from non-biomedical graduates with relevant training are particularly welcome.

Project Information

Supervisors: Professor Simon Hughes and Professor Michael Marber

Cardiac muscle hypertrophy contributes to all forms of heart failure. This project will combine the expertise of the Hughes and Marber groups to develop a new model of cardiac hypertrophy in Zebrafish and to investigate the role of Mef2/SRF transcription factors in pathological hypertrophy.

The initial phase of the project will involve analysis of cardiomyocyte growth, hyperplasia and hypertrophy in wildtype and Mef2 mutant zebrafish larvae using confocal microscopy of transgenic fish with GFP-labelled hearts. Equipment and fish lines for this work are in place in the Hughes lab.

Subsequently, the project will develop simple cardiac growth/injury models by taking advantage of knowledge from mice and the ease of in vivo imaging, genetic, surgical and drug manipulations in zebrafish larvae. Mutants and antisense RNA to Mef2Ca, Mef2Cb, Mef2A, Srf, Srfl, p38a1 and p38a2 are available. In addition, several lipid-soluble small molecule inhibitors of p38 kinase activity exist as do the reagents to specifically track p38 kinase substrates in zebrafish heart homogenates.

The project will be supported in Professor Hughes’ lab with expertise in zebrafish muscle experimentation, imaging and genetic manipulation and in the Marber lab with cardiomyocyte signalling and disease, particularly stress signalling and in-vivo modelling experience.


NOTE: THIS IS 1 OF 4 AVAILABLE PROJECTS. FOR INFORMATION ON THE OTHER 3 PROJECTS SEE THE ''ALL PHDS IN THIS DEPT" LINK ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE. STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE UP TO 2 PROJECTS TO APPLY FOR.


Candidates must possess, or be expected to achieve, a 1st or good upper 2nd class degree in a relevant subject and must meet BHF residency requirements. Current 1st year BHF stipend rates for London are £21,629 pa.

For further information please visit our website via the link below

Application procedure:

- Apply online https://myapplication.kcl.ac.uk/ for the School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Division MPhil/PhD (Full-time) programme and quote reference 03/12PHD on the ‘Research Proposal’ page

- There is no need to write a research proposal. Instead please state which project(s) you wish to apply for in this section of the form.

- Please include a personal statement outlining your suitability for the programme and why you are interested in pursuing a PhD in the subject area.


Closing date: Wednesday 11th April 2012

Enquiries:
Should you have any enquiries please contact Elizabeth Halton, Assistant Divisional Manager, on [Email Address Removed] or (020) 7848 0263.


Please ensure that you quote 03/12PHD on your application and state clearly which project(s) you wish to apply for. Details on the other available projects can be found on our web site or by clicking on the 'All PhDs in this Dept' link on the right