Virology (leeds) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Supervisors: Dr M Stacey, Dr J N Barr

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25 in the area of molecular virology. Read more

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

Control and inhibition of virus replication

Supervisor: Dr A.K Tuplin

The Tuplin laboratory utilises a range of cutting-edge approaches to investigate how arboviruses - specifically Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika viruses - control replication and translation of their genomes through interactions between RNA structures, host cell proteins and non-coding RNA, and the potential of such RNA elements/interactions as novel therapeutic targets. Read more

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

Cancer: Understanding the immunosuppressive role of fibroblast and macrophages in Breast cancer

Supervisors: Dr F Errington-Mais, Dr V Jennings

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) preferentially infect and kill cancer cells, and their clinical efficacy has been demonstrated against a number of different cancers. The most clinically advanced OV is a genetically engineered herpes simplex virus (T-VEC) which expresses GMCSF to aid the development of anti-tumour immune responses; T-VEC is approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Read more

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

Cancer: Complex 3D modelling of the tumour microenvironment for immunotherapy combination screening

Supervisors: Dr MA Volpato, Dr F Errington-Mais

Cancer immunotherapy holds significant promise for the treatment of a range of cancers. Read more

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

Virology: Unique Antiviral Therapy targeting Zika and Related Viruses

Supervisors: Dr S Griffin, Dr A Kalli, Dr C McKimmie

Zika Virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a new mosquito-borne threat to public health after the devastating South American outbreak. Read more

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

Virology: Sun exposure as a novel risk factor for Zika virus infection

Supervisors: Dr C McKimmie, Dr K Shams, Dr S Griffin

Mosquito-borne disease is now receiving unprecedented attention due to major outbreaks in new geographic areas including Brazil, Mexico, India, China, the Middle East and SE Asia. Read more

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

Immunotherapy: Killing Cancer using Dead Virus

Supervisors: Dr S Griffin, Dr A Samson

It is now accepted that our immune systems can hold the key to treating otherwise incurable cancers. So-called “immunotherapy” is an increasingly common method of treating tumours, leading to impressive increases in patient responses. . Read more

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

Uncovering the viral and cellular components that dictate the neurological outcome of tick-borne encephalitis virus infection

Supervisor: Dr NG Goonawardane

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

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

Employing molecular virology to investigate hepatitis E virus replication

Supervisors: Dr M.R. Herod, Prof M Harris

This project is available to self funded candidates only. The Herod lab has a broad interest in virus replication, with a particular interest in studying single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses important for human and animal health. Read more

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