Neurovascular breakdown in atherosclerosis

This project will combine a pre-clinical (mouse) model of atherosclerosis with state of the art multi-modal neuroimaging methods in order to investigate how neurovascular function is altered by cardiovascular disease. It is hoped that these findings will form a basis for pilot human neuroimaging studies involving atherosclerotic patients in the latter stages of the project. The PhD student will work closely with their immediate supervisors and the wider NICAD Network, co-ordinating their research and dissemination activities in order to contribute to the cross-disciplinary team. The project will be jointly based in the laboratories of Dr Jason Berwick and Professor Sheila Francis, with the Department of Psychology as the ’home’ department.

Background Information

The Neuroimaging in Cardiovascular Disease (NICAD) Network has recently been established by The University of Sheffield in order to prime new collaborations between existing areas of research excellence in neurovascular function, neurodegeneration, neuroimaging and cardiovascular disease. As part of this, a PhD Studentship is available which will combine state-of-the-art in-vivo neuroimaging methods in pre-clinical models with other techniques in order to advance understanding of how cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors affect brain health. The NICAD Network comprises academics, research staff and other PhD students in the Departments of Psychology (Neurovascular and Neuroimaging Research Group), The Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiovascular Science and Academic Radiology Groups) and the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN).

For informal enquiries or more information relating to the project, you are welcome to email us at [Email Address Removed]