Vasoactive intestinal peptide controls the inflammatory response after peripheral nerve injury”: PUPSMD-09-INT-16-17

We are seeking to attract PhD candidates of outstanding ability to join an exciting and rapidly expanding programme of internationally-rated research. PUPSMD are committed to research excellence with a recent £25 million investment in staff and facilities. Medical research at PUPSMD was ranked first for outputs in REF2014.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified graduates, 2:1 or above, and preferably a relevant MSc or MRes qualification. International students must also have an IELTS score of 7.0 or above (with no less than 6.5 in any element).

The project
Infiltrating macrophages play an essential role in successful peripheral nerve regeneration after injury. However, infiltrating macrophages are required to leave the injured peripheral nerve in the late stage of regeneration in order to prevent chronic inflammation. Currently, signals that are required for macrophage clearance during peripheral nerve regeneration have not yet been identified. Our recent studies have identified that axon secreted vasoactive intestinal peptide plays a key role in controlling the peripheral nerve inflammatory response and the late stage macrophage clearance. The successful applicant will be studying how the vasoactive intestinal peptide terminates the peripheral nerve inflammatory response during peripheral nerve regeneration and developing novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of peripheral neuropathies. This project will give the successful applicant a very wide range of training in both in vivo and in vitro techniques such as mRNA purification, cDNA synthesis, real time PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and cell culture, all of which will stand them in good stead to move onto the next stage in their research career.

For further project information, please contact: Dr Xin-peng Dun
([Email Address Removed]). However, applications must be made in accordance with the details shown below.

To Apply:
Follow the link https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/postgraduate and click ‘Apply’ to access the application form. Please mark the application ref: PUPSMD-09-INT-16-17. Please Note: you do not need to submit a project proposal with your application.

Further information on the application process is available at: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/the-graduate-school/applicants-and-enquirers or contact [Email Address Removed]

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 03/02/2017. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received an offer of a place by 1st October 2017 should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.