Prof N Elvassore, Prof P De Coppi
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
A 3-year PhD Studentship funded by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity is available within the Section of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. The studentship will be carried out in a well-established research group, under the supervision of Prof Nicola Elvassore and Prof. De Coppi, and will contribute to our intestinal tissue engineering research programme.
The purpose of the proposed investigation:
The incidence of intestinal failure as a result of chronic intestinal diseases and congenital conditions is increasing among the paediatric population. Replacement therapies offer the possibility of restoring intestinal function, therefore providing a long term solution to the clinical management of intestinal failure. At The UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health we are in the unique position to explore the treatment of intestinal failure using regenerative medicine. Our aim is to develop and standardise protocols required to bioengineer custom-made autologous tissue for implantation into children with intestinal failure.
Sections of the intestine from animals and humans can be decellularized to form a scaffold on which healthy cells can grow. Healthy intestinal tissue from patients can be used to isolate stem cells which when seeded onto a scaffold in the laboratory, produce sections of intestinal tissue. One important feature of the human intestine is the crypts and villi, these structures are essential to the function of the organ. For this reason, it is vital that the tissue engineered intestine we create contains these structures. Indeed, regeneration of the intestinal crypts in vitro is essential for successful clinical translation.
This project aims to mimic, in vitro, the biological processes occurring during intestinal development in man. We will further our understanding of the fine mechanisms that are responsible for the development and maintenance of the crypt structures. This will give us the knowledge to replicate the conditions necessary to grow intestinal crypts in the laboratory; allowing for the generation of a tissue engineered intestine which is similar to the healthy human intestine.
The use of bio-engineering techniques can provide optimal conditions for intestinal niche development using stem cells derived from the patient themselves. Once fully mature crypt structures are obtained, they can be used to repopulate decellularized intestinal scaffolds derived from animals, thus creating a functional implant for clinical use. The unique combination of medical, biological and engineering expertise within the group offers a major advantage to the clinical translation of the project.
Project Description (see http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ich/education/fellowships-studentships/phd-studentships/phd-studentships-2016-17/de-coppiprojdesc)
The project will be suitable for a student with a BSc in a Biology related discipline. Experience in the field of bio-engineering would be advantageous.
Applicants should have or expect to receive a first class or upper second class honours degree and should be ordinarily resident in the UK or EU. Knowledge and laboratory experience of regenerative medicine research would be an advantage. The student will receive a stipend starting at £16,553 per annum as well as the cost of tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. The studentship is funded by Great Ormond Street Charity.
To apply, please send a current CV including the contact details of two referees, and a covering letter explaining your reasons for applying for this studentship, and giving details of any relevant experience.
The application should be sent to Gemma Molyneux, [Email Address Removed].
Enquiries regarding the PhD can be made directly [Email Address Removed]
Deadline for receipt of applications: 10th August, 2017
Interviews: 5th September 2017