Developing RNA therapeutics to target heart attack and stroke at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

This project is no longer listed on FindAPhD.com and may not be available.

Click here to search FindAPhD.com for PhD studentship opportunities

Prof Paul Evans No more applications being accepted Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Sheffield United Kingdom Biochemistry Bioinformatics Biomedical Engineering Cell Biology

About the Project

The build-up of fatty deposits in arteries (called atherosclerosis) can lead to heart attack and stroke. This disease develops at branches and bends of arteries that are exposed to complex blood flow patterns which causes damage to vascular endothelial cells (a vital sheet of cells at the inner surface of arteries). The PhD will be supervised by Prof Paul Evans (Sheffield, UK; https://www.paulevanslab.com) and Dr Dave Keng Boon Wee (A*STAR Institute, Singapore). The Evans laboratory recently found that the production of hundreds of RNA molecules is altered in endothelial cells that are exposed to disease-causing patterns of blood flow. However, it is not known which of these RNAs contributes to heart attack or stroke. This A* Star PhD Studentship will identify the RNAs that drive heart attack and stroke pathology by combining expertise in RNA metabolism and therapeutics (Wee Laboratory) with cardiovascular biology expertise from Evans (Sheffield, UK). It will provide state-of-the art training in bioinformatics, RNA therapeutics, vascular cell culture, gene silencing, transgenic zebrafish models, CRISPR targeting and other molecular and cell biology expertise.

Funding Notes

This A*STAR scholarship provides fees and stipend for the duration of this four year programme, during which the student's time is spent 50% in Sheffield and 50% at the partner institution in Singapore. An allowance towards airfare will be provided.
How to apply:
Please complete a University Postgraduate Research Application form available here: www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply

Please clearly state the prospective main supervisor in the respective box and select 'Infection, Immunity & Cardiovascular Disease' as the department.

References

References
1. Gomez I, Ward B, Souilhol C, Recarti C, Ariaans M, Johnston J, Burnett A, Mahmoud M, Luong LA, West L, Long M, Parry S, Woods R, Hulston C, Benedikter B, Bazaz R, Francis S, Kiss Toth E, van Zandvoort M, Schober A, Hellewell P, Evans PC, Ridger V. . Nat Commun 2020; 11: 214.
2. Souilhol C, Serbanovic-Canic J, Fragiadaki M, Chico TJ, Ridger V, Roddie H, Evans PC. Endothelial responses to shear stress in atherosclerosis: a novel role for developmental genes. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2020 17(1):52-63.
3. Li J, Hou B, Tumova S, Muraki K, Bruns A, Ludlow MJ, Sedo A, Hyman AJ, McKeown L, Young RS, Yuldasheva NY, Majeed Y, Wilson LA, Rode B, Bailey MA, Kim HR, Fu Z, Carter DA, Bilton J, Imrie H, Ajuh P, Dear TN, Cubbon RM, Kearney MT, Prasad RK, Evans PC, Ainscough JF, Beech DJ. (2014) Piezo1 integration of vascular architecture with physiological force. Nature 515(7526):279-282
5. Koh, C.M., Bezzi, M., Low, D.H.P., Ang, W.X., Teo, S.X., Gay, F.P.H., Al-Haddawi, M., Tan, S.Y., Osato, M., Sabò, A., Amati, B., Wee, K.B., Guccione, E. MYC regulates the core pre-mRNA splicing machinery as an essential step in lymphomagenesis. Nature (2015) 523, 96–100.
6. Georgilis, A., Klotz, S., Hanley, J.H., Herranz, N., Weirich, B., Morancho, B., Leote, A.C., D'Artista, L., Gallage, S., Seehawer, M., Carroll, T., Dharmalingam, G., Wee, K.B., Mellone, M., Pombo, J., Heide, D., Guccione, E., Arribas, J., Barbosa-Morais, N.L., Heikenwalder, M., Thomas, G.J., Zender, L., Gil, J. PTBP1-Mediated Alternative Splicing Regulates the Inflammatory Secretome and the Pro- Tumorigenic Effects of Senescent Cells. Cancer Cell (2018) 34, 85-102.

Where will I study?

University of Sheffield

Our University has a reputation for world-class teaching and research excellence across a variety of disciplines. At Sheffield, you’re welcomed into a diverse, supportive community of scholars from all over the world.

We’ve won a FindAMasters and FindAPhD Postgrad Award!

As a previous winner of a Postgrad Award, our university community has been recognised for their excellence in, and dedication to, postgraduate education. Studying with us means you’ll be part of a supportive environment that has been celebrated for its achievements and positive impact on our postgraduate students.

Find out more