Patient centric medicine design - investigation into understanding and enhancing patient preferences for oral solid dosage forms

Supervisors: Dr Dan Kirby1, Dr Ian Maidment1, Professor Afzal Mohammed1, Charlotte Miller2, Shahrzad Missaghi2 and Dr Ali Rajabi-Siahboomi2
1Aston Pharmacy School, LHS; 2Colorcon, Inc., Harleysville, PA 19438, USA

Applications are invited from ambitious, self-motivated candidates to investigate the factors that enhance patient compliance, reduce medication error, while enabling age appropriate dosage form design to increase medication adherence. This opportunity is open to UK and EU students who have at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent in Pharmacy, Biological, Chemical Science or a related subject area.

This project is a truly multi-disciplinary studentship, linking Aston-based expertise in formulation science (Dr D Kirby and Professor A U R Mohammed) and medication management (Dr I Maidment) with industrial pharmacy perspectives (Colorcon Ltd).

Despite properties such as shape, size, colour and format playing a pivotal role in an individual’s decision to adhere to therapy and obtain benefit from the treatment, there is scant research in this area. Furthermore, the views of the patients and carers towards such factors is essential. The overall aim of this project, therefore, will be to develop, through survey and laboratory experimental work, a well-contextualised understanding of the tablet trade dress and formulation issues (with a focus on oral solid dosage forms), how these issues affect the patient/carer, and their views on appropriate formulations and packaging.

Aston University was ranked 5th out of 94 UK Higher Education Institutions for research in Allied Health Professions (REF 2014) and was ranked 1st for research environment. Additional information about research in the School can be found at http://www.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/. Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Dan Kirby (E-mail: [Email Address Removed]).
Financial Support:
The studentship comprises of the current RCUK tax-free stipend of £14,296 p.a. and payment of Home/EU tuition fees only. The studentship is available for three years, subject to satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year with an anticipated registration in April 2017.
Application Requirements:
● Eligible Applicants should hold at least a Bachelor (Hons.) Degree of either 1st Class/ 2.1 or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
● EU Applicants will need to demonstrate adequate proficiency in English Language skills, with a minimum overall score of 93 (Internet Based) (with a minimum score in each section of: R: 18, W: 23, L: 19 and S: 19) in TOEFL or IELTS with minimum marks of 6.0 in each section and an overall band of 6.5.
● Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr Dan Kirby (E-mail: [Email Address Removed]; Telephone: 0121 204 3006).
● To apply please complete the on-line application form at
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/postgraduate-research/apply/ (Select: ‘Full Tine Research Health Sciences’ Programme) quoting the Reference: ‘PhD_Kirby’ on all applications.
● The Closing Date for All Applications is: Sunday, 25th June 2017.

Please Note that only candidates who have been selected for interview will be contacted. If you have not received an invitation to attend an Interview within approx. two weeks of the closing date, you may assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.