Dr H Young, Dr Jonathan Hardman
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that affects more than 1 million people in the UK and may contribute to an increased risk of CVD / metabolic syndrome through its detrimental effects on lifestyle and behaviour. Obesity is associated with increased risk of developing psoriasis and body mass index correlates with clinical severity of psoriasis. In previous research, funded by The Psoriasis Association, we identified that patients with psoriasis do not exercise to the extent recommended for cardiovascular health and that this increases further their psoriasis-specific risk of CVD and metabolic syndrome. We also identified several key psoriasis-specific barriers to exercise, which significantly limit the ability of suffers to follow currently available exercise programmes and to benefit from health-promoting levels of physical activity. Others have shown that exercise ameliorates a pro-inflammatory phenotype and may have utility in reducing the extent and severity of psoriasis.
Regular exercise offers significant health benefits for patients with psoriasis – psoriasis control; weight management, reduced CVD / metabolic syndrome risk; and increased wellbeing and psychosocial functioning. We recently developed an evidence-based, 12-week, exercise programme for patients with psoriasis, designed in partnership with patients, to specifically remove barriers that prohibit physical activity in the psoriasis population. This translational proposal will investigate the therapeutic utility of our exercise programme, in patients with psoriasis and determine the mechanism by which the “exercise effect” is mediated. This work will enhance the opportunity to offer personalised therapeutics for psoriasis management in the future.
Entry Requirements
Applicants are expected to hold, or about to obtain, a minimum upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in biomedical science, sports medicine / science, psychology (or related field). A Masters degree in a biomedical science, sports medicine / science, psychology (or related field) is desirable. A background in molecular biology / genetics is desirable. A strong interest in translational medicine is highly desirable.
Funding Notes
This is a fully funded studentship covering fees and stipend. Applicants must be from UK/EU. For information on how to apply for this project, please visit (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Please choose Dermatological Sciences as the programme title.
As an equal opportunities institution we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
References
1. Griffiths CEM et al. Lancet 2007; 370: 263-71.
2. Gelfand JM et al. JAMA 2006; 296: 1735-41.
3. Setty AR et al. Arch Intern Med. 2007; 167: 1670-5.
4. Raychaudhuri SP et al. Cutis 2000; 66: 348-52.
5. Auker LM et al. Br J Dermatol 2015; 173: 45.
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