Supervisors:
Professor Lora Heisler - University of Aberdeen, Rowett Institute - [Email Address Removed]
Dr Colin Murdoch - Systems Medicine, School of Medicine University of Dundee - [Email Address Removed]
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in people. However, why hearts fail is not well understood and this represents a significant knowledge gap affecting lives around the world. This PhD project will investigate a new way that the brain may control heart function.
Specifically, cardiac hypertrophy is associated with long term risk of heart failure and is highly prevalent in obese people. Overtime, remodelling of the cardiac muscle is accompanied by cardiac fibrosis (thickening or scarring of heart muscle) and inefficient calcium signalling and this leads to systolic and diastolic dysfunction. A particular part of the brain called the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is an important controller of cardiac function. A chemical made in the NTS called brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a key role in stress-induced cardiovascular responses. Moreover, genetic alterations in BDNF are associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. However, BDNF is produced in other brain regions as well as the heart and its function specifically within the NTS has not yet been examined. The primary hypotheses the PhD student will investigate are (i) that BDNF within the NTS plays a primary role in cardiac function and (ii) alternation in BDNF levels in the setting of obesity can lead to cardiac pathophysiology and disease.
The student will learn a range of state-of-the-art and multidisciplinary techniques to decipher new signalling pathways involved in the brain control of the heart function. The studentship will provide a stimulating and supportive environment to develop highly specialised skills of in vivo modelling of the brain and heart. These procedures will be applied to genetically modified models with cell specific alterations (e.g. via CRISPR) to clarify the direct role of BDNF in heart function. These techniques are well established to mimic the clinical situation and allow understanding of physiological and pathophysiological pathways. Further, the student will become expert in an array of biochemical and molecular methods such as western blotting, RT-qPCR and histological analysis to interrogate molecular pathways impacting heart function.
The student will also gain key translational and career enhancing skills through courses offered by the Universities of Aberdeen and Dundee and will have the opportunity to learn advanced skills directly from research experts.
By the end of the project, the student will have developed expertise in the latest neuroscience and cardiac techniques that will provide a springboard for a driven individual who is keen to establish a career in bioscience for an integrated understanding of cardiovascular health.
Application Procedure:
Please visit this page for full application information: http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0
Please send your completed EASTBIO application form, along with academic transcripts to Alison Innes at [Email Address Removed]
Two references should be provided by the deadline using the EASTBIO reference form.
Please advise your referees to return the reference form to [Email Address Removed]
Unfortunately due to workload constraints, we cannot consider incomplete applications
Continue with Facebook
