Taking a patient centred approach to the development of next-generation cancer treatments

The Future Human theme will support multidisciplinary collaborative research on the use of science and technology for human enhancement and its wider social implications. Research in this field will explore the opportunities, limits, challenges, and risks of using science and technology for human advancement. Four sub-themes will provide a shared focus for a range of disciplines to explore the ways in which human enhancement will affect our lives in the areas of health (the Healthy Human), society (the Everyday Human), work (the Working Human), and performance (the Super Human). The research and innovation activities embraced by Future Human will be focused on priority areas for society and industry. In its first phase, there will be a series of consensus workshops to bring together stakeholders from business and the public sector, and the establishment of an industrial and public steering committee.

The University of Kent is delighted to invite applications for the Future Human Signature Research Project: Taking a patient centred approach to the development of next-generation cancer treatments.

This project will be supervised by Dr J. Hiscock (School of Chemistry and Forensics), Prof. M. Garrett (School of Biosciences), Dr K. Taylor (School of Sports and Exercise Science) and Mr. S. Kommu (NHS Consultant Surgeon), starting in the academic year 2022 (from September 2022).

Project summary:

Within the scope of this PhD, you will develop our novel supramolecular self-associating amphiphile (SSA) technology to produce next generation treatment strategies against cancer.

Within this PhD you will:

• Consider in-clinic patient challenges associated with treatment and explore how alterations within treatment development could be implemented to improve patient experience. Skills gained in: Mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) data collection and interpretation.
• Design, synthesise and characterise the physicochemical properties of next-genoration SSAs driven by patient need. Skills gained in: Chemical synthesis, Dynamic Light Scattering, Zeta Potential, NMR, CMC determination, Mass Spectrometry, Tensiometry, X-ray Crystallography.
• Evaluate the anticancer activity and mode of action for these next generation SSAs. Skills gained in: Human Cell Culture, Cell Proliferation Assays, Western Blotting, Fluorescence Microscopy, Flow Cytometry. 

Scholarship information

Signature Research Theme scholars will receive the following:

• Annual stipend at UKRI rates (£15,609 in 2021/22);
• Annual tuition fees at Home rate. 

Entry requirements

Applicants to a PhD programme should normally hold a good Honours degree (First or 2:1) or a Master’s Degree (at Merit or Distinction) in a Chemistry or Biology discipline, or the equivalent from an internationally recognised institution. In addition, programmes of study at individual schools have specific entry requirements that need to be fulfilled (for these, please check under the ‘entry requirements’ tab on Kent’s course finder page).

The University of Kent requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. For more information on English language requirements, please visit this page.

How to apply

New students wishing to be considered for these scholarships must apply for a PhD place at Kent by Sunday 13 February 2022

Your Kent application will go to an academic panel for review, at this stage you may be invited to an interview. (Interviews will take place at the end of February 2022/beginning March 2022).   

Applicants should follow the University of Kent’s online application process. As part of the process, you should include the following:

• your reasons for study
• At the top of your response please add the following: Preferred supervisory team: Dr J. Hiscock, Prof. M. Garrett, Dr K. Taylor and Mr. S. Kommu
• Proposed research topic: Future Human
• Research proposal: Taking a patient centred approach to the development of next-generation cancer treatments
• your research proposal;
• how your research fits with the Signature Research Theme;
• details of your qualifications;
•  two academic references;
•  other relevant personal information and supporting documentation.

For any queries about the theme, please get in touch with the Future Human team at [Email Address Removed]. For application enquiries please get in touch with [Email Address Removed].