The newly established four-year Medical Sciences & Translational Research PhD with integrated studies in Engagement for Impact Programme will combine medical science and translational research projects with integrated and credited teaching in science communication, public engagement, patient involvement, data design and informatics, via established MSc courses and/or new Engagement for Impact courses. Our vision is to teach a generation of researchers equipped to address and solve real-world problems through excellent science and who have the engagement and impact skills we believe will give them an edge in their future careers. https://www.ed.ac.uk/inflammation-research/postgraduate-training/phd-programme
This potential PhD project, selectable by successful applicants to this Programme, is supervised by Prof Andrew Horne (https://www.ed.ac.uk/centre-reproductive-health/professor-andrew-horne) at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, with co-supervisors Prof Philippa Saunders (University of Edinburgh), Dr David MacIntyre (Imperial College London), and Dr Siobhain O-Mahoney (University of Cork)
Project Summary:
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and is associated with debilitating pelvic pain and infertility (Horne and Saunders, 2019). There are no accurate non-invasive biomarkers of endometriosis and diagnostic delay is common (~7–9 years). Current treatment options are limited to surgical removal of lesions (high rates of recurrence) or drugs that have side effects. Health care professionals and patients agree there is a pressing need to develop new approaches that focus on symptom relief rather than surgery (Horne et al., 2017). Women with endometriosis often explore lifestyle changes (e.g. diet and exercise) to alleviate their symptoms but evidence of effectiveness is lacking. Recent papers have highlighted a role for the gut-brain axis in regulation of pain symptoms (Lin et al., 2020; Muller et al., 2020) but this mechanism has never been explored in the context of endometriosis. This project will test the hypothesis that diet and gut metabolites may influence the pain experience of women with endometriosis. The programme of work will involve engagement with patients (surveys, focus groups) and metabolic profiling data of plasma, urine and faecal extracts as well as training in data-analysis. The results of the study will inform both understanding of pain mechanisms and the development of patient-focused advice on diet.
Engagement for Impact:
The student will join the EXPPECT team [http://www.exppectedinburgh.co.uk/] a multidisciplinary group which includes clinicians, Fellows, discovery scientist's, research and clinical trials staff as well as PhD and Masters trainees. The team is active patient and public engagement and in the last 4 years members of the team have presented at the Edinburgh Science Festival, held research days attended by ~50 patients and their families, appeared on TV and in print media and worked with policy makers and patient advocate groups to raise the profile of endometriosis and the debilitating impact it has the quality of life of patients. The team is active on social media. The topic of this project is one that has been strongly endorsed by patients.
It is anticipated the student will develop their own strand of public/patient engagement activities with support from the public engagement experts based in the Centres for Reproductive Health and Inflammation - this could include website or other online platforms or other tailored educational/information resources. Patients have identified a need for more age-appropriate educational tools aimed at young people as one unmet opportunity. There will be an opportunity to undertake media training and to participate in work influencing policy makers.
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