Non-invasive imaging of myocardial coronary micro-vessel morphology and flow dynamics in vivo using super-resolution ultrasound

Applications are invited for a BHF 3-year PhD studentship starting in October 2022 at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) in partnership with the Bioengineering Department at Imperial College. Students will join a well-established doctoral training program with bespoke teaching activities, seminars, mentors and workshops.

The Cardiovascular Sections of the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, are located within the Main Campus at South Kensington, the Brompton Campus and Hammersmith/White City Campus. Bioengineering is also located at Main Campus at South Kensington and at White City. Students will have the opportunity to work in state of the art facilities within a highly developed research environment where our ambition is to translate research findings to help those with cardiovascular diseases. All students benefit from a full programme of training in research and transferable skills organised through the Graduate School, the quality of which has been recognised several times at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.

Project summary

Coronary arteries supply the heart with vital blood and oxygen, and reduced flow within these vessels can predispose to ischemic heart disease, the leading cause of death in the western world. Despite tremendous advances in the different imaging modalities over recent decades, current clinical modalities have insufficient spatial and temporal resolution to noninvasively image the full spectrum of coronary vessels, due to their relatively small size and the significant motion that occurs during heartbeats. The aim of this PhD project is to develop a very high resolution ultrasound technology suitable for imaging coronary micro-vessels in a beating heart, through the use of: (i) appropriate animal models and ultimately, (ii) at the patients’ bedside. The project will take advantage of recent exciting advances in both ultrasound super-resolution imaging and advanced computing, aiming to characterise in detail the normal and dysfunctional coronary microvasculature. These data will in turn help to understand the critical role of the microvasculature in diseases affecting the heart.

Applicant Requirements

Applicants must hold, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject from a recognised academic institution. Candidates must fulfil College admissions criteria and meet BHF residency requirements.

A first degree in engineering, physics, computing or a related subject is required for this PhD project. Experience in ultrasound imaging and/or signal & image processing are desirable although not essential.

How to Apply

To apply, please email Jaya Rajamanie ([Email Address Removed]) with the following documents.

• Your CV
• The names and addresses of at least two academic referees.
• A personal statement of no more than 1,000 words explaining your interest in the project and please ensure that you specify your degree classification for your undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Selected candidates will get a tour of the relevant campus. Please assume that your application has not been successful if you have not heard from us within a month of the closing date.

Closing date for all applications: 20^th February 2022

Interviews will be held online at the end of March.