EASTBIO: Investigating Risk Factors and Causal Agents of Equine Grass Sickness

About the project
This exciting new 4-year CASE research studentship, supported by the BBSRC EASTBIO Doctoral Training Programme, is available at the internationally renowned Moredun Research Institute, in partnership with the Equine Grass Sickness Fund and the University of Edinburgh.
Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) is a devastating and often fatal disease of equines, where the causal agents, although currently unknown, are considered to be multi-factorial. This project will focus on examining host responses involved in equine grass sickness to improve understanding of the potential casual agents and the feasibility of developing a non-invasive diagnostic test to help compare host responses in acutely affected horses, those that survive the disease and control horses.

Years 1-3
Development of equine enteric organoid cultures
i) Obtain section of horse gut post-mortem and set up tissue culture
ii) Experiment with different growth factor media to establish culture
iii) Interrogate culture with candidate toxins – Clostridium botulinum and fungal mycotoxins
The student will have the opportunity to learn cutting edge, tissue culture techniques in the development of equine enteric organoids. The technique, critically, will allow in vitro testing of different potential toxin candidates and study host gut responses, important to the area of reduction of animals used in research.

Years 1-3
Development of a non-invasive test assay for horses to examine host immune responses to a range of candidate pathogens and toxins that may be involved in equine grass sickness, such as Clostridium botulinum and mycotoxins, and test its efficacy in a longitudinal study based in a breeding stud with a history of EGS cases, with access to a breeding stud and working herd of ponies and their environment for the collection of samples.
The assay will also be conducted on samples from horses with acute grass sickness compared to horses that survive the disease and control horses to see if there are any correlations with host responses to these candidate casual agents. The longitudinal analysis will also enable a correlation of specific immune responses over each month of the year which may also help to determine levels of exposure to the candidate casual agents relating to climate and season.

Years 1-3
National database and biobank establishment: Developing a national database of cases for research purposes, alongside collating and analysing this data to provide surveillance and prevalence information. Establishing a sample biobank, working with practising vets, horse owners and researchers, comprising biological and environmental sample collation from EGS cases and controls. A questionnaire survey will be undertaken, in collaboration with the equine industry, to gather epidemiological evidence for meta-data analysis associated with the biobank. Analysis of data and questionnaires will focus on the definition of diagnosis of EGS cases in the field and common risk factors associated with disease.

Year 4
Analysis of data collected in Year 2 and 3 studies, conduct knowledge exchange events to raise awareness of equine grass sickness and the biobank and to communicate findings from the project. Thesis write up and publication of results.

Training: This is a truly multi-disciplinary project where the student will be mentored by a team of scientists both within Moredun and with partner organisations. Training will be available in many diverse areas, including tissue culture, assay development, immunology, transcriptomics, database and biobank development; meta-data analysis; questionnaire development and analysis; statistics and modelling. Knowledge Exchange will be key to the project, with support and training being available to develop the skills required to translate scientific outputs to a ley audience and to promote the project and its results to improve horse health and welfare.

How to apply
Follow the instructions from the link below ensuring that all steps are completed:

http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0

After you have contacted the project supervisors download and complete the EASTBIO Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey https://edinburgh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/eastbio-dtp-equality-diversity-inclusion-form-2021 and then fill in the EASTBIO Application Form and submit the application form plus your academic transcripts to Moredun Research Institute Human Resources 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].

If you are nominated by the supervisor(s) of the EASTBIO PhD project you wish to apply for, they will provide a Supervisor Support Statement.

All EASTBIO (online) interviews will be in the week 8-12 February 2021 with awards made the following week.

Funding Notes
This 4 year CASE research PhD studentship is part of a competition funded by EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0. This opportunity is open to UK and International students and provides funding to cover stipend and UK level tuition (Unfortunately we are unable to provide funding to cover the difference in fees). Please refer to UKRI website and Annex B of the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions for full eligibility criteria.

We can only accept applications from individuals who have the right to work in the UK.