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Dr Poppy Lamberton
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Medical Research Scotland
PhD Studentship Award
This project is one of 13 four year PhD Studentships funded by Medical Research Scotland (http://www.medicalresearchscotland.org.uk) to be delivered jointly by the named University and Company. The Studentship will provide the first-class academic and commercial training needed to equip the successful candidate for a science career in an increasingly competitive market.
"Point-of-care lateral flow assay (LFA) for schistosomiasis diagnosis for use in low intensity infections and drug-efficacy monitoring" to be delivered by the University of Glasgow [Supervisors: Dr Poppy Lamberton (Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow), Professor Jonathan Cooper (School of Engineering, University of Glasgow), Dr Govert van Dam (Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center) and Professor Paul Corstjens ((Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center)] and NG Biotech (http://ngbiotech.com/) [Company supervisor: Dr Milovan Stankov].
Schistosomiasis affects >240 million people worldwide, with 90% living in Africa. Schistosomiasis is also the most frequently reported parasitic disease in Scottish travellers.
Current egg diagnostic methods cannot detect low infection intensities, such as those seen in return travellers and in some endemic areas. Antibody tests cannot differentiate between someone who is currently infected or who has previously been infected. Egg microscopy and antibody tests are therefore not suitable for measuring treatment success.
We need improved point-of-care diagnostics. Detection of egg-derived DNA is highly sensitive for low egg numbers, while our assays for determination of worm antigen can detect just single-worm infections. At present, however, these methods require laboratory equipment or processes and expensive disposables. Accurate, point-of-care diagnostics are needed for logistical, economical and ethical reasons, enabling rapid and appropriate treatment protocols. A carbohydrate structure released by feeding worms (circulating anodic antigen (CAA) is the target for highly sensitive diagnosis of all active human schistosome infections. This PhD will develop, validate and apply a commercial point-of-care rapid diagnostic CAA test (like a pregnancy test), deployable in low-resource settings. Alongside novel paper-based DNA detection the student will assess accuracy, field applicability and acceptability as well as the product market of CAA tests.
The successful candidate will primarily be based in Glasgow, but will spend some time in the Netherlands and France, working with the collaborating organisations.
ENQUIRIES:
Enquiries should be sent by email to Dr Poppy Lamberton:
[Email Address Removed]
APPLICATIONS:
Candidates must have obtained, or expect to obtain, a minimum 2.1 undergraduate degree, or equivalent for degrees obtained outside the UK, in a relevant discipline. A Masters degree in a relevant subject is desirable, as well as practical and theoretical experience in: infectious diseases, diagnostics, schistosomiasis or similar macroparasites or neglected tropical disease, and/or industry.
Candidates should send a full Curriculum Vitae (including all degree information, courses taken, course results and final grading), the contact details of 2 academic references (including email addresses), and a covering letter, including details of any relevant field and laboratory experience and explaining why they wish to carry out this project, by email to Dr Poppy Lamberton:
[Email Address Removed]
Interviews are expected to take place approximately 3-4 weeks after the closing date for applications.
It is anticipated that the PhD Studentship will start in December 2018.
PhD Studentship Award
This project is one of 13 four year PhD Studentships funded by Medical Research Scotland (http://www.medicalresearchscotland.org.uk) to be delivered jointly by the named University and Company. The Studentship will provide the first-class academic and commercial training needed to equip the successful candidate for a science career in an increasingly competitive market.
"Point-of-care lateral flow assay (LFA) for schistosomiasis diagnosis for use in low intensity infections and drug-efficacy monitoring" to be delivered by the University of Glasgow [Supervisors: Dr Poppy Lamberton (Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow), Professor Jonathan Cooper (School of Engineering, University of Glasgow), Dr Govert van Dam (Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center) and Professor Paul Corstjens ((Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center)] and NG Biotech (http://ngbiotech.com/) [Company supervisor: Dr Milovan Stankov].
Schistosomiasis affects >240 million people worldwide, with 90% living in Africa. Schistosomiasis is also the most frequently reported parasitic disease in Scottish travellers.
Current egg diagnostic methods cannot detect low infection intensities, such as those seen in return travellers and in some endemic areas. Antibody tests cannot differentiate between someone who is currently infected or who has previously been infected. Egg microscopy and antibody tests are therefore not suitable for measuring treatment success.
We need improved point-of-care diagnostics. Detection of egg-derived DNA is highly sensitive for low egg numbers, while our assays for determination of worm antigen can detect just single-worm infections. At present, however, these methods require laboratory equipment or processes and expensive disposables. Accurate, point-of-care diagnostics are needed for logistical, economical and ethical reasons, enabling rapid and appropriate treatment protocols. A carbohydrate structure released by feeding worms (circulating anodic antigen (CAA) is the target for highly sensitive diagnosis of all active human schistosome infections. This PhD will develop, validate and apply a commercial point-of-care rapid diagnostic CAA test (like a pregnancy test), deployable in low-resource settings. Alongside novel paper-based DNA detection the student will assess accuracy, field applicability and acceptability as well as the product market of CAA tests.
The successful candidate will primarily be based in Glasgow, but will spend some time in the Netherlands and France, working with the collaborating organisations.
ENQUIRIES:
Enquiries should be sent by email to Dr Poppy Lamberton:
[Email Address Removed]
APPLICATIONS:
Candidates must have obtained, or expect to obtain, a minimum 2.1 undergraduate degree, or equivalent for degrees obtained outside the UK, in a relevant discipline. A Masters degree in a relevant subject is desirable, as well as practical and theoretical experience in: infectious diseases, diagnostics, schistosomiasis or similar macroparasites or neglected tropical disease, and/or industry.
Candidates should send a full Curriculum Vitae (including all degree information, courses taken, course results and final grading), the contact details of 2 academic references (including email addresses), and a covering letter, including details of any relevant field and laboratory experience and explaining why they wish to carry out this project, by email to Dr Poppy Lamberton:
[Email Address Removed]
Interviews are expected to take place approximately 3-4 weeks after the closing date for applications.
It is anticipated that the PhD Studentship will start in December 2018.
Funding Notes
PhD Studentship provides: an annual tax-free stipend of £17,500, increasing to £18,000 over the four years; tuition fees at UK/EU rates only; consumables; and contribution to travel expenses.
International fees are not covered. International students applying for the Studentship must provide evidence by the date of interview that they are able to finance the fee top-up required to the international fee level.
International fees are not covered. International students applying for the Studentship must provide evidence by the date of interview that they are able to finance the fee top-up required to the international fee level.
References
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