Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here.
This project is no longer listed on FindAPhD.com and may not be available.
Click here to search FindAPhD.com for PhD studentship opportunitiesAbout the Project
Several viruses require interaction with lysosomal proteins or autophagosomes in order to either facilitate infection of the host cell or ensure maturation and release. Lysosomal dysfunction most often manifests in organisms as either neurodegeneration or neurological decline that is almost always associated with impaired autophagy and clearance of damaged cellular organelles. Perhaps it is therefore unsurprising that consequences of viral infection often include prolonged hallmarks of neurological impairment that is sustained after the infection has been cleared. These include; the recent discovery that 1 in 3 Covid-19 patients manifest with neurological symptoms, HIV is associated with dementia, chicken pox in adults can subsequently cause long term peripheral nerve pain, polio virus impairs motor neuron function and cytomegalovirus is the most common viral cause of developmental neurological impairment. In all cases these viruses induce lysosomal or autophagosome-lysosome impairment, but the mechanisms underlying these cellular changes remain unclear.
The first aim of this project is to utilise our expertise in lysosomal cell biology to explore and identify lysosomal targets that underpin viral entry/egress and that induce cellular dysfunction in human iPSC derived neuronal models. The second aim is to identify viral effectors of lysosomal dysfunction and determine their impact on iPSC neuron function post-infection. The final aim is to utilise high throughput screening approaches to identify and develop small molecule candidates to restore cellular function in iPSC neurons post virus infection.
Self funded students with an interest in this project should contact the supervisors for further information prior to making an application.
Funding Notes
References
Applicants should apply to the Doctor of Philosophy in Subject with a desired start date of year/year.
In the research proposal section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project and copy the project description in the text box provided. In the funding section, please select the ‘self-funding’ option.
How good is research at Cardiff University in Biological Sciences?
Research output data provided by the Research Excellence Framework (REF)
Click here to see the results for all UK universities
Search suggestions
Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters.
Check out our other PhDs in Cardiff, 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.
Understanding the mitotic DNA damage checkpoint in order to develop new cancer treatments
University of Sheffield
Investigation of the critical roles of platelets at the interface between thrombosis and inflammation in order to develop improved therapeutic strategies for the treatment and/or prevention of cardiovascular/inflammatory diseases
University of Reading
Understanding the role of the hippo signalling pathway in ependymoma tumour biology
University of Plymouth