We are seeking talented, motivated students with a passion for research in acute or chronic pulmonary diseases (e.g. Pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Interstitial Lung Diseases) to join Dr Rahul Mahida’s team in the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/inflammation-ageing/mahida-rahul.aspx). Applicants should have a first or upper second-class degree in a relevant scientific discipline, and who are self-funded or have typically applied for, or secured funding for their studies from their government, employer or associated charitable organisations.
Dr Mahida is an Associate Professor in the Birmingham Acute Care Research (BACR) group, a core theme of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham. His translational research focuses on the role of inflammatory pathways, extracellular vesicles and macrophage dysfunction in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic respiratory diseases. The group’s aim is to develop novel immunomodulatory therapies to promote the resolution of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis.
Broadly speaking we have three main areas of interest:
• Characterising extracellular vesicle populations and their cargo in patients with acute and chronic pulmonary diseases to identify novel biomarkers.
• Investigating the role of innate immune dysfunction in the pathogenesis of inflammatory pulmonary disease.
• Investigating common pathogenic mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis across patients with differing aetiologies
We have ongoing projects examining:
• the role of extracellular vesicle-mediated immune dysfunction in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
• the pro-fibrotic role of extracellular vesicles on leukocytes and fibroblasts in patients with Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis
• the development of antagomir therapy to target pathogenic microRNAs in pulmonary diseases
• the role of hypoxia-induced immune dysfunction and clinical progression in patients with Interstitial Lung Diseases
• the real-world clinical impact of anti-fibrotic therapies on patients with Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis
We combine a range of translational research skills, including flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, PCR, metabolic profiling, and innate immune functional assays utilising primary human cells and tissue from patients. We incorporate these data with a systems biology approach to large omics datasets (e.g. microRNAseq, metabolomic and proteomic data) and murine models of pulmonary inflammation.
The Institute of Inflammation and Ageing is embedded within the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, which hosts the largest single-site ICU and one of the largest regional Interstitial Lung Diseases services in the UK. This enables access to large patient cohorts for clinical, translational and data based studies.
PhD projects, using these approaches, answering clinically and/or translationally relevant research questions are available to self-funded or scholarship-funded graduates interested in joining BACR.
Applicants with research experience and/or Master’s degree should apply directly to the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing for a 3 or 4 year full-time PhD – https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/research/med/inflammation-ageing.aspx. This route requires applicants to submit a drafted research proposal.
Applicants seeking additional research experience or who have yet to complete a Master’s degree should apply to the 4 year Integrated Doctoral Training Programme in Life Sciences for Health, which combined a MRes and PhD – https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgr/idtp/index.aspx.
Applicants will need to submit the following documentation during the application process.
• Detailed CV, including your nationality and country of birth;
• Covering letter highlighting your research experience/capabilities and why you wish to undertake a PhD in the team;
• Names and addresses of two referees;
• Copies of your degree certificates with transcripts written in English;
• Evidence of your proficiency in the English language, if applicable.
• Evidence of scholarship application/funding or independent funding.
How to apply:
Applying directly to the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing for either a 3 or 4 year full-time PhD – This route requires applicants to submit a drafted research proposal which should first be agreed with the proposed supervisor (Dr Mahida): https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/research/med/inflammation-ageing.aspx.
Applying to the 4 year Integrated Doctoral Training Programme in Life Sciences for Health, which combined a MRes and PhD – https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgr/idtp/index.aspx.
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