neurodegeneration PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Imperial College London Institute of Chemical Biology

Unravelling the role of G-quadruplex structures in brain ageing and neurodegeneration

The increasing incidence of neurodegenerative disorders is posing a significant threat to the NHS and public health services world-wide. Read more

Supervisors: Dr M Di Antonio, Dr R Nativio, Dr S Galli

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

University of Reading Department of Biomedical Sciences

Investigating lysosomal (dys)function in ageing and neurodegeneration

Project Overview. Ageing is associated with a decline in the functions of an organism (López-Otín, C. et al. Cell, 2023) and correlates with an increased risk of developing diseases in the later life (Niccoli, T. Read more

Supervisors: Dr S Cogo, Dr E Kevei

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

University of Nottingham School of Life Sciences

Exosome biogenesis and organelle trafficking in neurodegeneration.

Scientific summary. Intracellular transport pathways are fundamental for cell structure and function. Due to their longevity, complex morphology (long axonal and dendritic extensions) and requirement to maintain synaptic transmission, neurons are heavily dependent upon intracellular transport. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Hume, Dr DS Scott, Dr F Dajas-Bailador

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Macquarie University Centre for MND Research

Applied optogenetics to study the influence of neuronal activity on neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases represent a significant and growing challenge to global health, affecting millions worldwide. Despite extensive research efforts, the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration are not fully understood, and there is a critical lack of effective treatments. Read more

Supervisors: Assoc Prof MM Morsch, Prof RC Chung

30 September 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

University of Reading School of Pharmacy

Ion channel regulation in models of neurodegeneration

Ion channels are important regulators of cellular physiology. There is now growing awareness that these proteins are invovled in pathological states, with relation to neurodegeneration voltage-gated potassium and voltage-gated calicum channels have been implicated. Read more

Supervisors: Dr M Dallas, Prof G J Stephens, Dr A Bithell

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

University of Dundee School of Medicine

Investigating Lysosomal Dysfunction in Ageing and Neurodegeneration

Lysosomes are key cellular organelles that degrade and recycle macromolecules, act as signalling hubs and are implicated in many diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) where old age is a major risk factor. Read more

Supervisor: Dr E Sammler

30 June 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

University of Reading Department of Biomedical Sciences

Exploring the interplay between ageing, gut microbiome, and neurodegenerative diseases

Project Overview. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease represent major health risks in ageing societies. Read more

Supervisor: Dr E Kevei

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

University of Leicester Department of Chemistry

Molecular Glues as Novel Tools for Tackling Big Challenges in Human Health

Background. The need for new medicines is greater than ever because of an ageing population and the complex clinical challenges brought about by drug resistance and/or side effects. Read more

Supervisors: Dr RD Doveston, Prof S Macip

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

University of East Anglia School of Biological Sciences

Exploring the roles of a novel prion-like protein in stress resistance and ageing (TAYLOR_U24DTP2)

Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Taylor . Secondary Supervisor: Prof. Tom Wileman (QIB) . Ageing is associated with increased rates of disease, including neurodegenerative conditions. Read more

Supervisor: Dr R Taylor

9 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences

Targeting protein acetylation to reduce microglia activation in neurodegenerative disorders

The School of Biomedical Sciences invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25. Read more

Supervisor: Prof I Wood

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Newcastle University Biosciences Institute

PhD studentship - Defining the mechanisms underpinning HIF-1 and HIF-2 dependent transcriptional specificity in hypoxia.

Award summary. 100% of home tuition fees paid and annual living expenses of £18,622. Overview. The cellular response to low oxygen levels (hypoxia), is crucial for cell survival and identity. Read more

Supervisor: Dr B Ortmann

14 June 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

University of Bristol School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience

MScR: Probing the projections of different types of dopamine neurons

What makes one neuron different from another? How can we define different “types” of cells? Are cell types important?. In Parkinson’s disease some dopamine neurons seem to be more vulnerable to neurodegeneration. Read more

Supervisor: Prof Paul Dodson

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Cardiff University Cardiff School of Medicine

The Contribution of Mitochondrial Dysfunction to Alzheimer's disease

Project Summary. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain. Read more

Supervisor: Dr G Smith

1 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

The INDICO-II Study – Effects of Body Composition and Dietary Improvement on Cell Membrane Dynamics and their Relationship with the Aetiology of Type II Diabetes

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

The InDiCo Study (Inflammation, Diets, body Composition) is a pre-clinical study conducted at the University of Worcester. The InDiCo Study is currently unravelling links between diets that favour a pro-inflammatory environment with biomarkers of cell function and body composition. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Bueno

The BCAT1 CXXC Motif and Oncogenesis in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

The BCAT1 gene is implicated in the pathogenesis of many cancer types, including acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)1–4. Recently, our group identified a novel antioxidant role for BCAT1 in AML cells5. Read more

Supervisor: Dr S Coles

Prognostic Markers in Bladder Cancer

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Bladder cancer is the ninth most common malignant disease in the world (Ferlay et al., 2015). Following removal of diseased tissue, cancer reoccurs in approximately 40% of patients and in 8% it metastasises into other tissues. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Cherry

In silico modelling of endocannabinoid evolution

Supervisor: Dr M Di Micelli

In the brain, the endocannabinoid (eCB) system maintains adequate neurotransmission (Lu and Mackie 2016). Indeed, the eCB system provides a negative feedback mechanism, preventing over-activation of synaptic transmission. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

University of Sussex School of Life Sciences

Development of LA1011 for high affinity binding to Hsp90 for use towards healthy ageing in patients showing Alzheimer’s symptoms

Research Group: Biochemistry

With 50 million global cases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and care costs of 1 trillion UK pounds (expected to triple by 2050), there is a pressing need to slow disease progression, sustain productive lives and reduce costs. Read more

Supervisor: Dr C Prodromou

5 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

University of Reading Department of Biomedical Sciences

Exploring the Ubiquitin-Proteasome system’s Impact on Ageing and Disease: The Interplay of Genetics, Lifestyle, and Environment

Project Overview. Unravelling the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving ageing to improve human health across the lifespan is a central aim of biomedical research. Read more

Supervisor: Dr E Kevei

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

University of York Department of Biology

Self funded PhD in Biology: Structure and function of CIZ1

Lead supervisor: Prof Dawn Coverley. Co-supervisors: Prof Fred Antson. The student will be registered with the Department of Biology. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Coverley, Prof F Antson

30 June 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

University of Liverpool Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology

Last chance to apply

Understanding the benefits and risks of the therapeutic targeting of the Nrf2 stress response

This studentship is fully funded for 4 years and is due to start in October 2024. Important. the tuition fee element of the studentship covers the fee rate for UK students only. Read more

Supervisor: Prof I Copple

19 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

University of Dundee School of Medicine

Evaluating the therapeutic potential of leptin-based hexamers in neurodegenerative disease

Translation of basic research into Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapies is hindered by our inability to turn promising lab results into drugs that can be taken by patients. Read more

Supervisors: Prof J Harvey, Dr C Henstridge, Dr A McNeilly

30 June 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

University of Dundee School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

Normative modelling of resting-state EEG across the lifespan for application in the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease

With a rapidly aging human population worldwide, neurodegenerative diseases represent a pressing medical and societal concern. Given the increase in life expectancy, dementia is expected to affect almost 152 million people by 2050 (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2018). Read more

Supervisor: Dr C Benwell

30 June 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

MSc by Research: Regulation of microglial phenotypes by adenosine and in contribution to ageing in the brain

Supervisors: Prof S Arthur, Dr A Lloyd

Microglia are the major innate immune cells in the central nervous system and are required for the response to invading pathogens, removal of damaged or… Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

MSc by Research: Understanding the beginning of life: the role of non- canonical ubiquitylation in early embryonic development

Supervisor: Dr V De Cesare

Ubiquitin is a small, yet influential, protein that is attached to other substrates to control their stability or activity in a process called ubiquitylation. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

MSc by Research: Targeted protein post-translational modification to rewire cell signalling

Supervisors: Prof G Sapkota, Dr S Virdee

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins, such as ubiquitylation and phosphorylation, are fundamental determinants of protein function and cellular signalling. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

MSc by Research: Unravelling the molecular mechanism underpinning Ubiquitin-like fusion protein proteolysis

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

The biological complexity observed in living organisms greatly exceeds the number of different forms of proteins (the proteome) that the encoding genomes would predict. Read more

Supervisor: Dr C Maniaci

University of East Anglia

Research at UEA Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Our diverse research programme includes links with our partners across the Norwich Research Park (Quadram Institute, John Innes Centre, Earlham Institute, The Sainsbury Laboratory), our NHS trust partners (NNUH, QEHKL, JPUH, NSFT, ESNEFT, NCH&C) and the ICB (Norfolk and Waveney, and Suffolk and North East Essex). Read more

Funded PhD Programme (Students Worldwide) 4 Year PhD Programme

University of Birmingham Institute of Inflammation and Ageing

The role of MicroRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases

We are seeking talented, motivated students with a passion for research in Neuroscience and Neurotrauma to join the team led by Dr Valentina Di Pietro (Dr Valentina Di Pietro - Institute of Inflammation and Ageing - University of Birmingham). Read more

Supervisor: Dr V P Di Pietro

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only