Examining the mechanisms that cause cardiovascular disease by studying the heart or adipose tissue

Heart failure has a serious impact on our society and once diagnosed has a poor survival rate. In the United Kingdom, there are about 1.5 million people living with the after-effects of a heart attack. Worldwide, heart failure is becoming an increasing concern even in developing countries. There are many causes of heart failure which result in poor heart function. However, the exact mechanism by which heart failure occurs is still poorly understood. One of the goals of my laboratory is to determine how the heart and heart cells respond to the mechanical stresses that normally lead to heart failure. We also study the effect of obesity and ageing on the heart. Studying these processes will help us understand the biological pathways involved, leading to the development of new drugs which will help cure and/or prevent heart failure.

More recently, my laboratory is also studying adipose tissue and how it remodels in response to obesity, exercise, stress and ageing. We are particularly interested in understanding how the adipose tissue around the heart (pericardial fat) remodels since this is known to have a big impact on heart function. Therefore these projects will give you an opportunity to study the heart and/or adipose tissue or blood markers of disease from clinical studies.

These projects will involve cell/molecular biological techniques such as histological analysis, tissue culture, real-time RT-PCR, Western immunoblotting, gene expression analysis, siRNA knockdown, confocal microscopy and much more.

If you choose to study in the Boateng lab you will experience an exciting and dynamic atmosphere with many opportunities to present your work at national and international conferences. The work in my lab has been extensively featured by the British Heart Foundation (the biggest supporter of cardiovascular research in the UK), the University of Reading and the BBC news. Please see the websites below for more details on our lab work.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-22443975

https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-matters-magazine/research/sam-boateng

http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/staffportal/news/articles/spsn-504278.aspx

School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading:

The University of Reading, located west of London, England, provides world-class research education programs. The University’s main Whiteknights Campus is set in 130 hectares of beautiful parkland, a 30-minute train ride to central London and 40 minutes from London Heathrow airport.

Our School of Biological Sciences conducts high-impact research, tackling current global challenges faced by society and the planet. Our research ranges from understanding and improving human health and combating disease, through to understanding evolutionary processes and uncovering new ways to protect the natural world. In 2020, we moved into a stunning new ~£60 million Health & Life Sciences building. This state-of-the-art facility is purpose-built for science research and teaching. It houses the Cole Museum of Zoology, a café and social spaces.

In the School of Biological Sciences, you will be joining a vibrant community of ~180 PhD students representing ~40 nationalities. Our students publish in high-impact journals, present at international conferences, and organise a range of exciting outreach and public engagement activities.

During your PhD at the University of Reading, you will expand your research knowledge and skills, receiving supervision in one-to-one and small group sessions. You will have access to cutting-edge technology and learn the latest research techniques. We also provide dedicated training in important transferable skills that will support your career aspirations. If English is not your first language, the University's excellent International Study and Language Institute will help you develop your academic English skills.

The University of Reading is a welcoming community for people of all faiths and cultures. We are committed to a healthy work-life balance and will work to ensure that you are supported personally and academically.

Eligibility:

Applicants should have a good degree (minimum of a UK Upper Second (2:1) undergraduate degree or equivalent) in Biological Sciences or a strongly-related discipline. Applicants will also need to meet the University’s English Language requirements. We offer pre-sessional courses that can help with meeting these requirements.

How to apply: Submit an application for a PhD in Biological Sciences at http://www.reading.ac.uk/pgapply.

Further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/biologicalsciences/SchoolofBiologicalSciences/PhD/sbs-phd.aspx

Enquiries: Dr. Sam Boateng, email s.boateng@reading.ac.uk

Please contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to working with you.