Dr J Gardiner, Dr Simon Webb, Prof Gordon Jayson
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Oligosaccharides are ubiquitous biomolecules on cell surfaces and the intra-cellular matrix, and are central to many critical biological regulatory processes, including cell-differentiation, cancer, bacterial and viral infections and inflammation. In particular, heparan sulphate oligosaccharides (HSOs) are essential to many such processes, so there is major interest in advancing our understanding of HS chemical biology and biomolecular interactions. A better understanding of the area will lead to new technologies that exploit carbohydrate structures for the development of related next-generation glycotherapeutics. Liposomal drug development is of interest because it allows delivery of potentially toxic drugs in a sustained manner to tumours, while reducing toxicity to non-target organs.
This project involves an exciting multidisciplinary combination of synthetic carbohydrate and oligosaccharide chemistry and liposome technology to develop a platform with potential across a number of biomedical targets. The project requires working in a multidisciplinary team to build on technologies developed at the University of Manchester. The synthesis of pure synthetic HSO-fragments and modified derivatives will be combined with forefront work on biomolecule-modified liposomes (see references) to create and analyze new HSO-liposomes. This technology will enable assessing their cell biological potential and efficacy at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.
Synthetic carbohydrate and oligosaccharide skills will be developed to provide novel structures suitable for conjugations alongside methods for manufacture, conjugation and structural studies of liposomes. This work will be conducted in two groups both based in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology / School of Chemistry. Biological work will be undertaken in the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, a new state-of-the-art research centre opened in 2016.
Gardiner group - http://www.gardinergroup.org.uk
Webb group - http://www.webblab.org
Jayson group - http://www.cancer.manchester.ac.uk/staff/1503/
Contact for further Information
For more details contact Dr John Gardiner ([Email Address Removed])
Funding Notes
This project is to be funded under the BBSRC Doctoral Training Programme. If you are interested in this project, please make direct contact with the Principal Supervisor to arrange to discuss the project further as soon as possible. You MUST also submit an online application form, full details on how to apply can be found on the BBSRC DTP website http://www.dtpstudentships.manchester.ac.uk/
Applications are invited from UK/EU nationals only. Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, at least an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
References
Hansen, S. U.; Miller, G. J.; Cole. C.; Rushton, G.; Avizienyte, E.; Jayson, G. C.; Gardiner, J. M. Nature Commun. 2013, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3016.
• Miller, G. J.; Hansen, S. U.; Cole. C.; Avizientye, E.; Rushton, G.; Jayson, G. C.; Gardiner, J. M. Chemical Science 2013, 4, 3218-3222.
• Coxon, T. P.; Fallows, T. W.; Gough, J. E.; Webb, S. J. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2015, 13, 10751–10761.
• Poli, M.; Zawodny, W.; Quinonero, O.; Lorch, M.; Webb, S. J.; Clayden, J. Science, 2016, 352, 575-580.
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