Targeting the free fatty acid 4 receptor (FFA4) in asthma and COPD

MRC DTP in Precision Medicine iCASE studentships

Up to 2 fully funded studentship positions are available in the College of Medical Veterinary, Medical and Life Sciences.

The iCASE scheme:

• Provide students with experience of collaborative research with a non‐academic partner
• Offer students an experience of at least two distinct research cultures
• Provide access to a wider than usual range of technology, facilities and expertise
• Enable the student to spend a period of time with the non-academic partner (no less than 3 months over the lifetime of the PhD).

The iCASE scheme is intergrated with our MRC-funded Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) in Precision Medicine which involves the student spending at least 3 months over the lifetime of the PhD with a non-academic partner. This is a collobaroative programme with the University of Edinburgh. This DTP addresses key MRC skills priorities in Quantitative Skills (mathematics, statistics, computation, developing digital excellence) as applied to variety of data sources (from ‘omics’ to health records) or Interdisciplinary Skills including imaging, and stratified medicine. The programme has a tiered access model allowing students to undertake a 3.5 year PhD, for students who already have a Masters degree (in a relevant field), or a 4 year PhD for those entering with a BSc Honours (in a relevant field). The mandatory taught training element is a vital aspect of the programme and is designed to ensure students gain skills aligned with the MRC skills priorities outlined above. Students on the 3.5 year programme are required to take 30 credits and those on the 4 year programme 120 credits across the first 3 years, with 40 credits completed in Year 1. Mandatory taught elements will include Statistics, Research Ethics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Health Economics, Data Management and Bioinformatics.

Supervisors:
Prof Graeme Milligan, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology
Prof Andrew Tobin, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology
Dr Rudi Prihandoko, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology

Industrial Partner: AstraZeneca
Dr Stephen Rees

PhD Project Summary:
Free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFA4) is a cell surface G protein-coupled receptor that responds to medium and long chain fatty acids. The receptor has been associated with metabolic functions such as fat metabolism and glucose homeostasis following the intake of dietary fats such as omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oils. It is also clear that FFA4 regulates inflammation and promotes insulin sensitivity. Thus, FFA4 has been considered a potential drug target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In addition to metabolic functions, our team has made the novel discovery that FFA4 is also expressed in the lung and its activation mediates airway relaxation. The aim of this project is to further understand the signaling roles of FFA4 in the lung and validate the receptor as a novel target for respiratory diseases. The project will involve testing novel ligands using in vitro pharmacological assays and use both ex vivo and in vivo models of respiratory disease such as asthma and COPD. This will then be extended to study human lung samples from both control and patients to determine the therapeutic potential FFA4 for the treatment of human airway disease.

Enquiries regarding programme: [Email Address Removed]