Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here.
About the Project
In addition to memory problems, people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) also experience ‘non-memory’ behavioural symptoms including depression, anxiety, and agitation. Even though these symptoms greatly reduce quality-of-life, there are currently no effective treatments and little understanding of why they happen. Zinc deficiency (low zinc) is commonly seen in people with AD and scientists think it makes AD worse. In a mouse model of AD we have shown a zinc deficient diet causes poorer memory. Zinc deficiency is also suggested to cause changes in behaviour and mood including depression and anxiety. We have identified changes in the brains of zinc deficient AD mice that could affect their behaviour. We will therefore test in these mice whether zinc deficiency makes the ‘non-memory’ behavioural symptoms of AD worse and whether zinc supplementation can improve these behavioural problems. Our initial discoveries have given us a clue as to how zinc deficiency could affect AD, possibly by increasing inflammation (the body’s response to harm). We will therefore test if increased inflammation is the reason why zinc deficiency makes the behavioural symptoms of AD worse. Overall our results could show that zinc supplements are a potential therapy for the behavioural symptoms seen in people with AD.
Training/techniques to be provided:
The student will join well-equipped labs that contain all the expertise necessary to complete the proposed experiments. This project crosses several scientific areas including neuroscience and immunology. The student will use an integrated and multidisciplinary approach that will involve in vitro cell biology, whole animal in vivo experimentation and ex vivo analyses. The student will also receive extensive training, including animal handling and long-term behavioural/memory assessments. The student will also relevant histological and immunohistochemical techniques including flow cytometry, cytometric bead array, ELISA and immunohistochemistry.
Entry Requirements
Candidates are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a related area/subject. Candidates with previous laboratory experience, particularly in cell culture and molecular biology, are particularly encouraged to apply.
How To Apply
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. On the online application form select PhD Genetics
For international students, we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full Equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on the website https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/equality-diversity-inclusion/”
For international students we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences. For more information please visit http://www.internationalphd.manchester.ac.uk
Funding Notes
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.
Email Now
Why not add a message here
The information you submit to The University of Manchester will only be used by them or their data partners to deal with your enquiry, according to their privacy notice. For more information on how we use and store your data, please read our privacy statement.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Search suggestions
Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters.
Check out our other PhDs in Manchester, United Kingdom
Check out our other PhDs in United Kingdom
Start a New search with our database of over 4,000 PhDs

PhD suggestions
Based on your current search criteria we thought you might be interested in these.
A Nutrigenetics approach to study the impact of genetic and dietary factors on cardiometabolic disease outcomes
University of Reading
Assessing the Impact of Aggregation-Prone Proteins on the Mitochondrial-Metallome Interplay in a Novel 3D Spheroid Cholinergic Cell Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
University of Birmingham
Executive Dean’s PhD Studentship in: The impact of disease-specific Lamin A mutations.
Brunel University London