Using the UK Biobank to study multi-organ ageing

Project proposal

The UK Biobank provides a prospective population study and is acquiring highly-detailed multi-organ MRI data (of brain, heart, and abdomen (liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen) and muscle) on 100K of its participants, with participants invited to attend a repeat set of scans two or more years after their initial visit. Along with imaging data the Biobank provides biomarker data, genetic data and measures of socioeconomic status. This project will use data collected within the UK Biobank to explore multiple-organ dysfunction associated with different multimorbidity.

The project will:

• begin with a review of the literature on the effects of single organ fibrotic disease on single-organ changes and assess corroboration by analyses of imaging-derived phenotypes with clinical biomarkers available in the UK Biobank
• delve deeper into the associations between interaction between brain structural and functional changes and heart and abdominal measures associated with known fibrotic diseases (such as liver disease, kidney disease, pancreatic disease)
• study and develop models of the biological age of a given organ system (brain, heart, liver, kidney, pancreas) based on chronological age, chronic disease, lifestyle and genetic risk. Study the multi-organ nature of human aging in health and chronic disease
• assess the imaging changes which occur on repeat scans and their association with clinical markers of disease, lifestyle and genetic risk

The studentship will also be aligned with the DEMISTIFI (Defining MechanIsms Shared across mulTI-organ Fibrosis to prevent the development of long-term multi-morbidity) consortium, with a research group comprising MR physicists, Computational Neuroimaging specialists, biomedical scientists and clinicians.

Before you apply

Check your eligibility. You need to meet two key criteria in order to be eligible to apply:

1. Residency
2. Qualifications

Residency

UK and international students can apply for this programme – access more information. Our funding is sufficient to provide fees and stipend at the standard UKRI rate for Home students. We are able to offer places to international students, but you will be charged at an international fee rate.

Qualifications

You need a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant area of science or technology, or equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, to be eligible to apply. 

If you have a 2:2 or lower, you may still be eligible to apply if:

•  you have a masters degree in a relevant subject
• you have three or more years of full-time work experience that is relevant to your undergraduate degree, or to the PhD projects you are applying for 

You may still be eligible to apply if you were not able to complete your degree or achieved unexpectedly low degree results due to extenuating circumstances.

If English isn't your first language

If English isn't your first language, you will also need to meet the relevant English language requirements. An IELTS score of 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element) is required, though we also accept alternative qualifications. 

If you require additional support to develop your language skills, you may be able to attend a presessional course at the Centre for English Language Education.

Applying

Share your motivation and how your skills and experience are relevant to the programme. You should also demonstrate how you would benefit from participating in the doctoral training programme and how you will contribute to your academic community as a result.

Please ensure you have submitted your application by midnight on Wednesday 14 June 2023 as we cannot accept late applications.  

Once you have completed your application form, you can submit it online along with your academic transcripts. We do not accept CVs with applications. Your name, age, gender and previous institutions of study will be removed from your application prior to sifting and you must not make reference to this information on your application form.

We want to make the application process as easy as possible for you, so you do not need to contact potential supervisors at this stage. If you are shortlisted, we will arrange for you to discuss your project areas with the supervisors of your preferred projects.

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to our research community at the Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre.

References

You need to supply the details of two referees. We will request references if you are shortlisted for interview.

Interviews will be held on 26th and 29th June 2023.