University of Leeds Genetics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Garvin

Investigation of host-virus interactions

Supervisors: Dr M Stacey, Dr J N Barr

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25 in the area of molecular virology. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Employing molecular virology to investigate hepatitis E virus replication

Supervisors: Dr M.R. Herod, Prof M Harris

This project is available to self funded candidates only. The Herod lab has a broad interest in virus replication, with a particular interest in studying single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses important for human and animal health. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Targeting protein acetylation to reduce microglia activation in neurodegenerative disorders

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

The School of Biomedical Sciences invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25. Read more

Supervisor: Prof I Wood

NIHR Leeds BRC: Utilising genetic and genomic predictors of vasculitis and disease/treatment complications for application in routine clinical practice

Supervisors: Prof A Morgan, Dr MM Iles, Dr R Mujica-Mota

There is substantial interest in using genetic biomarkers to predict those most at risk of disease and treatment complications; this is one of the focuses of Our Future Health, a national study aiming to recruit 5M participants ( https://ourfuturehealth.org.uk/ ). Read more

26 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

NIHR Leeds BRC: Exploring the impact of 'hidden' antibiotic resistance

Supervisors: Prof A O'Neill, Dr K Davies, Dr J Sandoe

Antibiotics make possible the treatment of life-threatening infections and have added over a decade to average human lifespan. Read more

26 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Epigenetics and Cancer: Determining how Mistakes in V(D)J Recombination Trigger Leukaemias and Lymphomas

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

V(D)J recombination is essential to produce an effective adaptive immune system but since the reaction involves breakage and rejoining of DNA, it is highly dangerous and errors have long been thought to lead to leukaemias and lymphomas. Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Boyes

Genetics: Investigating the functional effect of novel genes and genetic variants in malignant hyperthermia susceptibility using model systems

Supervisors: Prof P Hopkins, Dr M-A Shaw, Dr C Diggle

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited condition, where patients exposed to anaesthetic drugs are susceptible to a dramatic hyperthermic and hypermetabolic response that can contribute to a significant proportion of post-operative morbidity and deaths. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Cancer: Investigation of accentuated mitochondrial ROS and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in cystic fibrosis and colorectal carcinoma.

Supervisors: Prof D Peckham, Prof D Jayne, Dr S Savic, Miss LR Caley

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with an accentuated inflammatory response to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), increased resting energy expenditure and a higher than expected prevalence of gastrointestinal and other malignancies. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Cancer: Characterization of EGFR signaling activated by the endothelium in the process of breast cancer metastasis to the brain

Supervisors: Dr G Mavria, Dr S Bell

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is important in normal physiology regulating epithelial development and homeostasis. In cancer, deregulation resulting from mutation, amplification or transcriptional upregulation promotes tumorigenesis. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Haematology: Oncogenic reprogramming of immune cells; novel mechanism for drug resistance in leukaemia

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Under pathogenic challenges, cells of the haematopoietic system become epigenetically reprogrammed and establish immune memory. Read more

Supervisor: Dr P Laslo

Genetics: Unravelling the Norrin/beta-catenin signaling pathway and its role in retinal angiogenesis and blindness

Supervisors: Dr C Toomes, Dr J Bond, Dr S Bell

Our previous work on the genetic analysis of individuals with the inherited retinal disease Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), has helped identify a new angiogenesis pathway, the Norrin/beta-catenin pathway. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Haematology: Oncogenic mechanisms causing malignant transformation of B cells and plasma cells

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Cancers of B cells and plasma cells, lymphomas and multiple myeloma, can be very aggressive, and often the cancer rapidly reoccurs after standard therapy. Read more

Supervisor: Prof U Klein

Genetics: Investigating the molecular basis of optic nerve degeneration in glaucoma to try and develop a personalized medicine strategy for treatment

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

The optic nerve is a special sensory nerve that transmits visual impulses from the retina to the brain. Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a chronic, progressive optic neuropathy of multifactorial origin that affects 1 in 10 elderly individuals. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Ali

Genetics: Genetic studies of developmental eye disorders to investigate genotype-phenotype correlations

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Developmental eye defects that affect the front of the eye give rise to a spectrum of congenital ocular phenotypes that affect the cornea, lens, iris, trabecular meshwork or the globe itself. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Ali