White matter damage is increasingly common as people age, correlates with cognitive impairment and is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and death. This damage is thought to be a consequence of cerebral hypoperfusion and hypoxia.
In this project you will investigate how hypoperfusion and hypoxia lead to white matter damage and interfere with these processes to try and prevent pathology.
You will use in vivo 2 photon imaging of calcium signals and blood vessels in various white matter cells (neurons, oligodendrocytes, endothelial cells) in awake mice to understand white matter physiology and how this is perturbed during hypoperfusion (modelled using bilateral carotid artery stenosis). Alongside this, you will measure of brain blood flow, oxygenation and metabolism, to understand how changes in cell physiology relate to white matter energy supply.
You will work on this project together with an MRC-funded post doctoral research associate and technician. The team will work in close collaboration with Nicola Hamilton-Whitaker’s lab at Kings College London, who will be investigating the electrophysiological and structural underpinnings of changes in white matter function.
Eligibility
- This award will pay fees at the Home or the International rate.
- Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Merit (an average of 60% overall) in a Master's degree, in Psychology, Neuroscience or a related discipline.
- A-Level Maths and some experience in programming for data analysis are an advantage.
- Only full-time students can be accepted.
How to apply
Please read our Psychology PhD FAQS and our Prospectus before you start your application.
Visit the webpage at The University of Sussex for full details of how to apply
For queries with respect to the application process: [Email Address Removed]
To discuss the details of your research interests further, please contact Dr Catherine Hall at [Email Address Removed]
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