Development and utilization of new molecular & nanoscale compounds: probes, labels, sensors, diagnostics, therapeutics

The EPSRC funded Sci-Phy-4-Health CDT is a 4 year integrated PhD programme and is recruiting highly motivated 1st class students from Physical Sciences background who will pursue a research degree to develop a range of new physical science to address and impact three of the most important healthcare challenges currently facing the UK:
• Rebuilding the ageing and diseased body
• Understanding cardiovascular disease
• Improving trauma and emergency medicine

The 4 year integrated PhD programme is designed such that the 1st year of the studies consists of taught and ‘mini-project’ modules to train and enhance the background knowledge of the candidate in all areas of Physical Sciences in Healthcare, including Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Computer Sciences, as well as a range of public engagement and transferable skills. After the successful completion of the 1st year, the candidates choose and embark on the PhD research project.

More information at http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/psibs/index.aspx

We have a number of projects available that are centred on developing and labelling therapeutic cells to track their destinations and fates in the body to inform on tracking, differentiation and role in tissue regeneration. This includes development of new and quantifiable multimodal labels based on combined delivery of chemical labels through inorganic and polymer nanoparticle packaging to allow tracking and quantification of cell fate in luminescence, MRI and other modalities as well as the development of instrumentation that tracks them in, for example, animal models. Applications could include stem cell delivery to the liver for therapy and cardiovascular repair, muscle and cartilage for age-related repair and stem cells therapy in trauma patients.