University of Leeds Cell Biology PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Supervisors: Dr E W Hewitt, Prof S E Radford, Dr P Actis

Intraneuronal inclusions known as Lewy bodies are a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. Amyloid fibrils formed by the misfolding of alpha-synuclein are the principal component of Lewy Bodies. 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

How does myosin 10 contribute to filopodia formation and stability?

Supervisors: Prof M Peckham, Dr D Tomlinson

How do cells make filopodia? Filopodia are thin protrusions that act as pathfinders in cell migration, helping cells to sense where to go, and pulling cells through the extracellular matrix, especially important in driving cancer cell metastasis. 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

Exploring Synthetic Lethality Interactions through Targeting the SUMO Pathway for Therapeutic Insights

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

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

Supervisor: Dr C Bassi

Innovative Biological Scaffolds for Regenerative Replacement of Dysfunctional Heart Valves

Supervisor: Dr H.E. Berry

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

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

Disrupted SUMO signalling in epithelial cancers, implications for genome stability and response to therapy.

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

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

Supervisor: Dr A Garvin

Structural and mechanistic studies of fibroblast growth factor receptor signalling

Supervisors: Prof A.L. Breeze, Prof F. Sobott

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

Neuron-glia communication in peripheral somatosensory system and its role in nociception and pain

Supervisors: Prof N Gamper, Dr J. Johnston

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

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

Investigation of host-virus interactions

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

How to regulate plasticity in the brain

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

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

Supervisor: Dr J. Kwok

Cardiac and skeletal muscle progenitor cells - driving regeneration ability by tryptophan metabolites

Supervisors: Dr A.J. Smith, Dr T.S. Bowen

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

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

How does the E5 oncoprotein contribute to human papillomavirus replication and disease?

Supervisors: Dr A Macdonald, Prof A Whitehouse

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

The role of ubiquitin-modifying enzymes in angiogenesis

Supervisors: Dr S Ponnambalam, Dr M A Harrison

The School of Molecular & 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

Targeting protein acetylation to reduce microglia activation in neurodegenerative disorders

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

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

How do environmental cues affect reproduction?

Supervisors: Assoc Prof E.J. Duncan, Prof A Bretman

This project is available to self funded candidates only. The School of 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

Untangling the role of beta-1,3 glucan polymers in intercellular communication

Supervisor: Dr Y Benitez-Alfonso

Apply to join the Benitez-Alfonso team in their quest to dissect the mechanisms underpinning the function of beta-1,3 glucan polymers in plant growth and development. . Read more

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

Manipulation of neuroimmune responses and behaviour by infectious agents

Supervisors: Dr G Mcconkey, Dr S Clapcote

This project is available exclusively to self-funded students who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2023/24. The project focuses on how infectious agents modify the individuals that they infect and how neuroimmune responses to infection moderate behaviour changes in warm-blooded animals and humans. Read more

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

Ageing to Arrhythmias

Supervisors: Dr M K Lancaster, Dr M.A. Colman

Cardiac arrhythmias are a leading cause of sudden death and morbidity. This project aims to identify why they occur in the elderly and novel routes to therapies. Read more

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

NIHR Leeds BRC: Force sensing mechanisms of haemostasis in heart failure and diabetes

Supervisors: Dr R Ariens, Prof D J Beech, Dr E Levelt

Since the original identification of the role of PIEZO1 in vascular integrity and endothelial cell biology by our group in Leeds in 2014, there have been many publications on the role of PIEZO1 in endothelial function and its role in processes such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, cell-cell junctions, vascular permeability and leukocyte diapedesis. Read more

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

NIHR Leeds BRC: An interferon diagnostic to inform early detection and prevention strategies in Ana positive CTDs

Supervisors: Dr F Del Galdo, Dr R Ross

Type I interferons (IFN) play a role in a wide range of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), and strong evidence suggests that measurement of IFN activity could have clinical value, although testing has not progressed into clinical settings. Read more

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

Genetics: Investigating the functional effect of novel genes and genetic variants in malignant hyperthermia susceptibility using model systems

Supervisors: Prof P Hopkins, Dr M-A Shaw, Dr C Diggle

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited condition, where patients exposed to anaesthetic drugs are susceptible to a dramatic hyperthermic and hypermetabolic response that can contribute to a significant proportion of post-operative morbidity and deaths. Read more

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

Cancer: Characterization of EGFR signaling activated by the endothelium in the process of breast cancer metastasis to the brain

Supervisors: Dr G Mavria, Dr S Bell

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is important in normal physiology regulating epithelial development and homeostasis. In cancer, deregulation resulting from mutation, amplification or transcriptional upregulation promotes tumorigenesis. Read more

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

University of Leeds Faculty of Environment

Ethnic-specific markers and mediators of metabolism and disease risk

Globally, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular are the leading cause of death. These diseases are linked to a person's age, ethnicity, culture, genetics, and lifestyle habits, such as diet and exercise. . Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Zulyniak

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

Haematology: Oncogenic reprogramming of immune cells; novel mechanism for drug resistance in leukaemia

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

Under pathogenic challenges, cells of the haematopoietic system become epigenetically reprogrammed and establish immune memory. Read more

Supervisor: Dr P Laslo

Oncology: Evaluating Photodynamic Therapy in colorectal cancer using patient-derived organoids

Supervisors: Dr I Knot, Prof D Jayne

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common cancer worldwide. Surgery is first line treatment and often in adjunct with chemotherapy. Read more

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

Translational Medicine: Understanding the mechanism(s) of resistance to EPA to personalise therapy and improve outcome

Supervisors: Dr MA Volpato, Prof M Hull

Advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) is the UK’s second most lethal cancer, with limited treatment options for unresectable metastatic tumours. Read more

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

Cancer Biology: The role of Wnt signaling in glioblastoma therapeutic resistance

Supervisors: Dr G Mavria, Dr S Bell, Dr C Toomes

Glioblastoma is a deadly brain tumour treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with patient survival of 6-15 months. 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

Genetics: Unravelling the Norrin/beta-catenin signaling pathway and its role in retinal angiogenesis and blindness

Supervisors: Dr C Toomes, Dr J Bond, Dr S Bell

Our previous work on the genetic analysis of individuals with the inherited retinal disease Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), has helped identify a new angiogenesis pathway, the Norrin/beta-catenin pathway. Read more

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