Dr James Smith
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only
About the Project
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a technique that offers selected targeting of cancer cells (usually brain tumours) by the preferential accumulation of specific boron-containing agents followed by treatment with thermal neutrons. A local nuclear reaction takes places in the cancer cells, producing alpha particles that preferentially kills the cancer cells.
There has been renewed interest in BNCT and in a recent PhD project, we synthesised a couple of carborane compounds tagged to mitochondrial dyes that preferentially targeted cancer cells. We have also looked at their formulation into liposomes as nanocarriers. The aim of this project is to extend this work and investigate the efficacy of these and other compounds with various types of cancer cells.
The project will be carried out jointly within the Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Research Group and Cellular and Molecular Neuro-oncology Research Group, both within the Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences (IBBS). The student will be trained in a number of techniques including synthetic chemistry, spectroscopy, nanoparticle formulation, fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, tissue culture, live cell imaging and flow cytometry. The collaborative project will be carried out with our partners at Kingston University and University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
In addition you will have access to a skills development programme run by the University’s Graduate School. The experimental and analytical skills developed during this project will prepare the student well for a future career in academia or industry.
This self-funded PhD project can be accommodated either full-time (3 years) or part-time (max 6 years, but likely to be completed in less time). If run part-time, the applicant must be available to carry out laboratory work at the University during their studies (for a mutually agreed period). Therefore non-EU/UK students can only be considered on a full-time registration.
PhD projects usually commence in October or February each academic year, but can start a month later if appropriate.
Please email me to express and interest or if you have any queries ([Email Address Removed]).
For more information:
Research Group Web Site http://www.port.ac.uk/school-of-pharmacy-and-biomedical-sciences/research/
Own website: http://www.jamesrsmith.net
Portsmouth is a vibrant waterfront city on the south coast of England and is within easy reach of London. The city is compact and friendly with the university at its heart. More information about living in the city and working at the university can be seen here: http://www.port.ac.uk/virtualtour/
Funding Notes
Self funded - University tuition fees, Full-time: currently, £13,100 per annum for International Students and £4,052 pa for Home and EU students; Part-time: UK/EU fees approx. £1,500 pa. Projects will need to be self-funded with a bench fee (consumables) at £3000 pa (full-time rate, and pro rota for part-time).