About the Project
Background: In recent years there has been a major push to develop the use of cell transplantation therapies to treat spinal cord injury. We have focused on the advantages of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), which can be isolated from adult sources including bone marrow and adipose tissue and transplanted autologously. Our findings suggest that MSCs promote spinal cord repair through neurotrophic, angiogenic and immunomodulatory activity by secreting factors that change the wound healing responses of cells at the sites of injury (see references).
Project aims: This project will examine the underlying mechanisms by which MSCs change the activity and phenotype of responder cells involved in spinal cord repair. You will test how MSC secreted factors influence neuronal, endothelial and immune cells, determining which factors are most important in contributing to repair processes. The longer-term aim is to identify which of these MSC factors can be delivered clinically in patients.
Skills and environment: You will develop skills in cellular and molecular techniques, along with tissue histology, e.g. using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Prior experience would be an advantage, but full training will be provided. The Johnson group consists of a number of other PhD students working on related projects, along with Masters students, and has dedicated research facilities and equipment for this project. The University of Chester has a fully integrated training programme designed to meet the individual needs of postgraduate students, which includes additional generic skill sets needed for a career in research. As the project develops, you will work more closely with clinical colleagues at the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries (UK) and the University of Fukui (Japan) to examine how MSC-based therapies can be applied in vivo.
Funding Notes
Entry requirements: A minimum of 2:1 honours degree or equivalent, in a Bioscience subject.
We welcome year-round applications from Home/EU/Overseas self-funded students and applicants able to secure funding to cover all costs involved with PhD study, including living costs, tuition fees (and bench fees where required).
Overseas candidates should also be competent in English and have achieved, as a minimum, IELTS-6.5
For further details regarding making an application, go to:
http://www.chester.ac.uk/research/degrees
or
For International students (PhD) go to:
http://www.chester.ac.uk/international/apply/research
For informal enquiries regarding this research project email 1st supervisor.
For further details regarding research in Biological Sciences go to:
http://www.chester.ac.uk/departments/biological-sciences/staff
References
1. Wright KT, El Masri W, Osman A, Chowdhury J, Johnson WE. (2011) Bone marrow for the treatment of spinal cord injury: mechanisms and clinical applications. Stem Cells. 29(2):169-78.
2. Watanabe S, Uchida K, Nakajima H, Matsuo H, Sugita D, Yoshida A, Honjoh K, Johnson WE, Baba H. (2015) Early transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells after spinal cord injury relieves pain hypersensitivity through suppression of pain-related signaling cascades and reduced inflammatory cell recruitment. Stem Cells. 33(6):1902-14.
3. Wright KT, Uchida K, Bara JJ, Roberts S, El Masri W, Johnson WE. (2014) Spinal motor neurite outgrowth over glial scar inhibitors is enhanced by coculture with bone marrow stromal cells. Spine J. 14(8):1722-33.
4. Al Delfi IR, Sheard JJ, Wood CR, Vernallis A, Innes JF, Myint P, Johnson WE. (2016) Canine mesenchymal stem cells are neurotrophic and angiogenic: An in vitro assessment of their paracrine activity. Vet J. 217:10-17.
5. Nakajima H, Uchida K, Guerrero AR, Watanabe S, Sugita D, Takeura N, Yoshida A, Long G, Wright KT, Johnson WE, Baba H. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells promotes an alternative pathway of macrophage activation and functional recovery after spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma. 29(8):1614-25.
Continue with Facebook
