Characterisation of extracellular vesicles specificity

Extracellular Vesicles (EV) are small nanometer scale “bags” of molecules secreted in large amounts by cells. Information about EVs is currently limited. Worldwide many scientists and clinicians are working to understand biology/physiology of EVs as well as develop applications for EVs in diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The particular approach investigated here is inspired by the hypothesis that EV could participate in targeted biological communication pathways. This proposal will focus on ascertaining if EVs secreted by one cell are targeted towards other related cells. Evidence for EV targeting will be sought for natural cellular combinations that are involved in metastatic cancerous and infertility related disease mechanisms. The new methods and instrumentation developed in this investigation will provide fundamental tools to allow the role of EVs in disease and other biological processes to be investigated, which will in turn lead to healthcare advances.

This is an exciting interdisciplinary project, allowing the candidate to work across the medical and physical science fields. The student will gain experience in reproductive and molecular biology, cell culture, cell to cell communication/interaction, and chemical labelling methods, the essential tools for a research or industrial biologist. Additional physical science experience will be gained in laser particle tracking, image analysis, a wide range of optical and electron microscopies and microfluidics. The studentship will consequently be ideally suited to candidates with a biological sciences background looking to gain a wide variety of interdisciplinary skills, or a well skilled physical scientist looking to apply their knowledge to study biological systems. The involvement of an industrial partner (Particle Metrix) will allow the successful candidate to spend time being directly trained in skills relevant to the industrial applications of the new instrument platforms that are required to test the proposals hypothesis.

The academic supervisors are experienced scientists, and run successful, comprehensive and well-funded laboratories in Medical school and Chemical and Biological engineering departments in the university of Sheffield. Both supervisors have well established international collaborations allowing the successful candidate to work in a very international oriented setting.

Eligibility Requirements
The preferred candidate should have a 1st or 2nd Upper class biological degree. Candidates with relevant MSc experience will be prioritised. The applicants should have a good knowledge of cell biology, immunology, nano-particles and physics.