Rhythms characterise all living things, and our physiology can be a considered as a state of continuous dynamic equilibrium. Despite this, almost all clinical tests of human health consist of single time point measurements, which inevitably do not reflect normal and inherent daily or even hourly variation. To overcome this, we have developed a novel microdialysis‐based ambulatory technology which allows 24‐hour ambulatory, minimally invasive, blood free sampling (U RHYTHM, www.designworks.studio/ultradian‐u‐rhythm, www.u‐rhythm.co.uk/).
Using the technique we have successfully demonstrated the dynamics of adrenal hormones including the stress hormone cortisol in hundreds of human participants (www.ultradian.eu). To broaden the use and impact of the technique we now wish to investigate the use of U‐RHYTHM to understand dynamics of other hormones crucial to normal growth and development, in particular sex and thyroid hormones that exhibit differential effects across tissues and the lifespan.
The student will undertake a multidisciplinary programme of work to test the hypothesis that sex and thyroid hormone dynamics can be measured in subcutaneous tissue. This will involve learning and applying the technique of U‐RHYTHM microdialysis, using state of the art physical chemistry methods to describe the interaction of hormones with the U RHYTHM microdialysis system and conducting a proof‐of‐principle clinical trial in human participants.
The project will be based at the University of Bristol within the Labs for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology and the Department of Chemistry. The student will learn techniques for the analysis and interpretation of dynamic data under supervision of the Department of Mathematics for Healthcare at the University of Exeter. The project will be supported by clinical experts at the University of Cardiff and Bristol.
Our aim as the SWBio DTP is to support students from a range of backgrounds and circumstances. Where needed, we will work with you to take into consideration reasonable project adaptations (for example to support caring responsibilities, disabilities, other significant personal circumstances) as well as flexible working and part‐time study requests, to enable greater access to a PhD. All our supervisors support us with this aim, so please feel comfortable in discussing further with the listed PhD project supervisor to see what is feasible
University of Bristol, Bristol Medical School:
Bristol Medical School is the largest and one of the most diverse Schools in the University of Bristol, with approximately 1100 members of staff, 1350 undergraduate, 250 postgraduate taught and 240 postgraduate doctoral research students. The Head of School is Professor Ashley Blom. The Medical School has two departments: Population Health Sciences and Translational Health Sciences. The School is a leading centre for research and teaching across these areas. Research in the School is collaborative and multi-disciplinary, with staff coming from a wide range of academic disciplines and clinical specialties.
The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) confirmed the University of Bristol’s position as a leading centre for health research. Bristol Medical School contributed to three Units of Assessment including UoA1 (Clinical Medicine), UoA2 (Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care) and UoA4 (Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience). The UoA2 submission, comprising predominantly Medical School staff. was ranked 3rd in the UK with 94% of our submitted research outputs rated as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*). Submissions to UoA1 and UoA4 were shared with varying degrees of representation with the Faculty of Life Sciences. Respectively UoA1 and UoA4 had 94% and 84% of submitted research ranked as 4* or 3*, which represented increases in each category in the proportions of 4* ranked papers as well in growth in GPA rankings above the previous REF2014.
How to apply:
Apply here. Search for South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (PhD) under 'find a programme' Full details on how to apply for this project can be found here
Funding includes a tax free stipend at UKRI rates (currently £17,668 for 22/23), research and training costs and tuition fees. Funding is also available for a limited number of international students.
Closing date:
Midnight, Monday 5th December 2022
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