Fully funded PhD studentship in Biomedical Photonics: Near-patient rapid on-chip spectroscopy for the diagnosis of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in critically ill patients - a pathway for individualised therapy

Supervisory Team:  Prof. Senthil Murugan Ganapathy and Dr. Ahilanandan Dushianthan

Project description

Acute hypoxic respiratory failure is a significant problem in the intensive care unit setting. Supplemental oxygen is essential for treatment of acute hypoxic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), where impaired gas exchange results in severe hypoxaemia. While oxygen is a ubiquitous adjunct to mechanical ventilation, it is not without harm, and recent studies suggest adverse outcomes with overzealous use of oxygen.

This project will explore an “omics” approach to oxygen-induced alveolar damage with a comprehensive quantification of alveolar and serological markers of redox signalling, oxidative stress, lung surfactant lipidomic and proteomics candidates that govern the heterogeneous nature and endotypes of hypoxic/hyperoxic organ injury. Better understanding of metabolic signatures may enable further improvements in diagnosis and management of hypoxia/hyperoxia mediated organ damage. However, laboratory analysis often takes too long to inform critical clinical decisions. Real-time optical spectroscopic measurements in combination with machine learning have the potential to enable rapid bedside analysis of multi-model metabolomic data within few minutes without sample preparation and basic prototypes are already under development for neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (nRDS) application. The ultimate vision of this project is to develop benchtop analytical platforms exploiting disposable spectroscopic chips (developed in our cleanrooms) that can be deployed to guide individualised therapy in critically ill patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting. This multidisciplinary project will be undertaken collaboratively between Optoelectronics Research Centre and Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Southampton/University Hospital Southampton.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Prof. Senthil Ganapathy, Email: smg@orc.soton.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 7811

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: Applications are accepted throughout the year and several start dates throughout the year are possible. Applications for the typical Sept./Oct. 2023 start should be received no later than 30 June 2023.

Funding: For UK students, Tuition Fees and a stipend of £20,000 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years.

How To Apply

Apply online: PhD Application | Research | University of Southampton. Select programme type (Research), 2023/24, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, next page select “PhD ORC (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Senthil Murugan Ganapathy

Applications should include:

Curriculum Vitae

Two reference letters

Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk