Medicines have changed with our increased capabilities to use biological cells to manufacture and we are in a time of incredible innovation for life-changing medicines. These are expensive products – made in cell-based processes and required analytical verification for structural and functional purity – and very major driver is to drive down the cost of manufacture. A major determinant is the quality of the cell-based systems. Just how recombinant genes are expressed and their products are handled by cell processes is a feature that remains uncertain. The interactions between the molecular status of cell factories and the genetic elements used to ensure maximal yield and quality of product are critical.
This is what you will examine in this exciting collaborative project. Using a combination of molecular and cellular biological techniques you are going to derive the best possible cells (CHO and HEK), genetic elements and culture conditions to allow expression of model recombinant proteins and viral vectors and you will look at both yield and quality of products. As part of these studies, you will also examine the molecular characteristics (via a multiomics interrogation) that underpin the optimal conditions. The outcomes from your project will be cell lines genetic reagents and process conditions that will form the basis of manufacture of several products as well as information that will enable predictive, short-cutting for development of manufacture of innovative products that will form future therapeutic.
Whilst the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (https://www.mib.manchester.ac.uk) will be your primary research base, you will spend time at CPI (https://www.uk-cpi.com/capabilities/biologics). Each site is superbly equipped for the work that will enable your project, with state of the art analytics and automation that will allow you to progress the ambitious work programme. The division of your time will be driven by development of the project and the fit to technology access required at specific stages. The Dickson lab and CPI have undertaken several successful collaborations in the past and share common interests in the information and materials that will arise from this project.
Dickson lab https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/alan.dickson.html
CPI Biologics https://www.uk-cpi.com/capabilities/biologics
Eligibility
Applicants 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, engineering or technology.
Before you Apply
Applicants must make direct contact with preferred supervisors before applying. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to meet with potential supervisors, prior to submitting a formal online application.
How To Apply
To be considered for this project you MUST submit a formal online application form - full details on eligibility how to apply can be found on the BBSRC DTP website https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/bbsrc-dtp/
Your application form must be accompanied by a number of supporting documents by the advertised deadlines. Without all the required documents submitted at the time of application, your application will not be processed and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you have any queries regarding making an application please contact our admissions team [Email Address Removed]
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full Equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on the website https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/equality-diversity-inclusion/
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