Fully Funded PhD Studentship: Characterising the Role of Tumourigenic Markers in Prostate Cancer Invasion through 3D Tumour-Bone Stromal Cell Models

Swansea University is a UK top 30 institution for research excellence (Research Excellence Framework 2014), and has been named Welsh University of the Year 2017 by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship in Medicine.

Early prostate cancer confined to the gland is not always life threatening and in many patients the tumours are dormant, not requiring immediate treatment such as major surgery or radiotherapy. However, development of metastases in prostate cancer patients is associated with an ominous prognosis and there is an urgent need for novel, effective therapies for the management of patients with aggressive disease. Molecular markers that are overexpressed in aggressive prostate cancer may have key roles in driving the tumour(s) invasive properties. Hence, characterising the mechanistic role that such tumourigenic markers have in prostate cancer can provide insight into the signalling pathways of importance, which drive tumour invasion and metastasis. This understanding is critical in the identification of biomarkers for aggressive disease that can be used to aid prognosis and clinical management. Additionally, this mechanistic knowledge is crucial to support the discovery of novel drug targets to improve the treatment options for those patients that have aggressive prostate cancer.

This studentship will focus on the mechanistic evaluation of key tumourigenic markers identified in our research group. These markers will be knocked out in prostate cancer cells using CRISPR technology and the subsequent modified cells will undergo a range of analyses to explore the impact of these markers on the invasive phenotype. This will involve both standard cell culture techniques in addition to the use of more physiologically realistic models based on introduction of a hypoxic environment and use of 3D prostate cancer-bone stromal cell models.

A unique aspect of this studentship is that it is a joint PhD between Swansea University Medical School (Wales, UK) and Houston Methodist (Texas, USA). The successful candidate will therefore spend their time split between state-of-the-art facilities in both the Institute of Life Sciences in Swansea University (http://www.swansea.ac.uk/medicine/research/) and the Nanomedicine Faculty at Houston Methodist (http://www.houstonmethodist.org/research/our-research/nanomedicine/faculty/). The PhD candidate will be supervised by Professor Shareen Doak.

Main techniques that will be used:

a) Tissue culture (2D and 3D culture technique)

b) Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry

c) Western blots

d) RT-PCR

e) CRISPR technology

Functional experiments (e.g. cell proliferation, cell cycle analysis, cell survival, invasion / migration assays, gene expression analyses).

The successful candidate is expected to begin their studentship on either 1st October 2017 or 1st January 2018.

Eligibility

Applicants should have (or expect to obtain) a first class or upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) and/or distinction at Master’s in a biological or medical-related discipline.

Applications are sought from enthusiastic individuals. Experience of tissue culture or molecular biology-based assays (e.g. gene / protein expression analysis such as Western blotting, real-time PCR) is desirable.

Due to funding restrictions, this studentship is open to UK/EU candidates only.