Prof Tim Illidge, Dr Jamie Honeychurch
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
More than 50% of patients receive radiotherapy during their cancer treatment. There is significant evidence that radiotherapy may stimulate anti-cancer immune changes, although these are not realised clinically due to immune suppressive factors in the tumour microenvironment.
Immunotherapies, which alter the contexture of the tumour microenvironment from an immune suppressed, pro-tumour state to an anti-tumour, immune stimulated one, are now standard-of-care treatments in the management of several different types of malignancy. Novel combination treatments which employ monoclonal antibodies that inhibit immunosuppressive checkpoints to enhance the immune stimulatory effects of radiotherapy have shown promise in early clinical trials. However, the majority of patients do not respond to these treatment regimens, in part due to a lack of anti-tumour T cells within the tumour microenvironment. Therefore, treatment strategies employing radiotherapy in combination with immunotherapies that enhance infiltration of T cells and polarise the tumour microenvironment to a more immune stimulatory phenotype may overcome this problem.
Toll-like receptors (TLR) are an important part of the immune system that sense proteins present on foreign pathogens. TLR3 recognises double stranded RNA produced during viral infection, leading to production of immune stimulatory cytokines and infiltration of T cells. Formulations which can be delivered intratumourally have been developed to negate toxicity associated with systemic TLR agonists.
The main aim of this project is to investigate how radiotherapy affects the immune landscape in the tumour microenvironment and if BO-112, a novel, intratumourally-delivered TLR3 agonist, can enhance radiotherapy-induced immune stimulatory effects in murine models of cancer. Should this strategy prove successful, this will pave the way for early clinical trials to investigate this premise in patients.
Candidates must hold, or be about to obtain, a minimum upper second class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in relevant subject. A related master’s degree would be an advantage. If you are interested, please make direct contact with the Lead Supervisor to discuss the project.
For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Informal enquiries may be made directly to the primary supervisor. You MUST also submit an online application form – choose PhD Cancer Sciences.
Funding Notes
This Non-Clinical Studentship is tenable for 4 years. We will provide running expenses, an annual stipend of £19,000 per annum and full coverage of University PhD fees at the UK/home fee rate. Where international student fees are payable, please provide evidence with your application of how the shortfall will be covered (approximately £19,500 per annum).
As an equal opportunities institution we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.