Brain on “FIRE” – investigating the role of microglia in epilepsy

Applications are invited for a three-year Postgraduate studentship, supported by Aston University’s Institute of Health and Neuroscience and Birmingham City Hospital, to be undertaken at Aston University. 

The position is available to start in October 2023.

Immune cells are increasingly recognised as significant contributors to developing epilepsy and are implicated in up to 40% of the most devastating epilepsy syndromes1. Drugs that target the immune system can be beneficial in some of these patients with severe and difficult-to-treat epilepsy, however, they are not specific and affect the whole immune system leading to harmful side-effects2. Microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, are primarily involved in the first and fast immune and inflammatory responses in the brain (i.e., the innate immune response). They are integral to maintaining brain function by removal of dying and non-functional neurons, synaptic pruning, and support of synaptogenesis3-5. Recent evidence points to microglia having critical roles in modulating neuronal activity6. Given their essential set of roles and responsibilities in the brain, it is not surprising that microglial dysfunction has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases including epilepsy7 In this PhD project we will generate disease models of difficult-to-treat epilepsy that genetically lack microglia and assess the impact on the underlying pathology, immunology, brain cell networks and signalling (electrophysiology). This work will build on existing work within the field of epilepsy in our laboratories.8,9 The successful candidate will benefit from learning established techniques of in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, and immunohistochemistry to create the novel models proposed in this study. Establishing the role of microglia in the disruption of the normal crosstalk between the immune system and the brain in epileptogenesis will provide a specific therapeutic strategy that would treat and even prevent epilepsy, one of the most common neurological disorders. This ambitious and novel project will provide the PhD student with a team comprised of experts in cutting-edge immunology and neuroscience research combined with the clinical background to enable direct translation of findings to the clinic.

Supervisory Team

Supervisory team: Dr Sukhvir Wright, PI (BCH and Aston); Professor Gavin Woodhall, Associate Supervisor (Aston); Dr Clare Pridans, External Supervisor (University of Edinburgh); Dr Manoj Upadhya, Associate Supervisor (Aston)

Person Specification

The successful applicant should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with a 60% or higher weighted average, and/or a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution) in clinical medicine. Preferred skill requirements include knowledge/experience of paediatric epilepsy.

Contact information

For formal enquiries about this project contact Sukhvir Wright by email at [Email Address Removed]

Submitting an application

As part of the application, you will need to supply:

·        A copy of your current CV

·        Copies of your academic qualifications for your Bachelor degree, and Masters degree (if studied); this should include both certificates and transcripts, and must be translated in to English

·        A research proposal statement*

·        A personal statement

·        Two academic references

·        Proof of your English Language proficiency

Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here. 

Please select “Research Health Sciences” from the application form options.

*The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project and should also be accompanied by a brief review of relevant research literature.

Please include the supervisor’s name, project title and project reference in your Personal Statement.

If you require further information about the application process please contact the Postgraduate Admissions team at [Email Address Removed]