Obesity and Leukaemia: An investigation into the impact of adipokines on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) outcomes

An exciting PhD studentship has become available funded by Kidscan, the children’s cancer charity. Candidates are who are motivated and ambitious are encouraged to apply. The successful PhD student will be housed in the newly renovated Translational Medicine research facility at the University of Salford, and will benefit from our established collaboration with clinicians at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Obesity is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a global epidemic. Links have been made between obesity and poorer outcomes for patients diagnosed with a range of diseases, including cancer. In particular, obese children diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) have a higher chance of relapse, the reasons for which are not yet fully understood. As part of a pilot study in collaboration with the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, we are currently collecting blood plasma samples from ALL patients before and after the Induction phase of treatment, in order to identify changes in expression of key molecules secreted by fat tissue in patient samples. Combined with cell culture experiments, we aim to use these data to identify which secretions may interfere with chemotherapy, and design new treatment strategies to improve the prognosis of obese childhood ALL patients. This project seeks to expand this valuable clinical dataset, to allow comparisons between patients who present with obesity and those of normal weight. This clinical link will also allow us to elevate this study to the next level, and test the effect of our proposed treatment strategy on patient whole blood samples containing leukaemia cells; an important step which could provide the foundation for a clinical trial.
Eligibility and requirements
• Candidates must have a minimum Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in Biological Science Discipline
• Experience in cell culture is desirable, but not essential

Tuition fees paid for 3 years
Annual Stipend of £14,553 tax free for 3 years