Systems modelling of the coagulation cascade

Systems modelling of the coagulation cascade
Modelling and Analytics for Medicine and Life sciences Doctoral Training Centre: PhD Scholarship

Supervisors: Professor John King (School of Mathematical Sciences), Professor Alison Goodall (University of Leicester)

Project description: The coagulation cascade is a complex network of protein reactions that is central to the formation of blood clots. While clots are essential to prevent bleeding when formed inappropriately they can lead to heart attacks and strokes. The assessment of coagulation is key in diagnosing thrombotic conditions but routine assays do not presently correlate with an individual’s risk of thrombosis. The aims of this project are to develop a definitive mathematical model of the coagulation cascade, validate the models against experimental data describing coagulation profiles in both healthy individuals and patients with cardiovascular disease and utilise the models to furnish understanding of the key drivers of the differences seen in the data to provide insights into therapeutic markers.

The MAML programme: The MAML doctoral training programme focuses on innovative modelling, simulation and data analysis to study real-world problems in medicine and biology. Maintaining a healthy society creates major challenges in areas including ageing, cancer, drug resistance, chronic disease and mental health. Addressing such challenges necessitates continuing development and implementation of a raft of new mathematical approaches and their integration with experimental and clinical science. Students will apply mathematical approaches (from areas such as dynamic modelling, informatics, network theory, scientific computation and uncertainty quantification) to research projects at the forefront of biomedical and life sciences identified through well-established collaborations with both academic and industrial partners.

MAML students will be provided with an excellent training environment within the Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology and collaborating departments. Students will undertake tailored training, complemented by broadening, soft-skills, wet-lab (where appropriate) and student-led activities. There will also be opportunities for training and exchanges with world-leading partners.

Summary: These 3.5 year PhD scholarships start in September 2018. Successful applicants will receive a stipend (£14,553 per annum for 2017/8) for up to 3.5 years, tuition fees and a Research Training Support Grant. Fully funded studentships are available for UK applicants. EU applicants who are able to confirm that they have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to the start date of the programme may be eligible for a full award, and may apply for a fees-only award otherwise

Applications: Please follow the instructions at the MAML website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mathematics/maml Applicants for the MAML programme should have at least a 2:1 degree in mathematics, statistics or a similarly quantitative discipline (such as physics, engineering, or computer science).

Completed applications and references should be submitted by Wednesday 28 February 2018.


For any enquiries please email: [Email Address Removed]