Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetes Cluster 3: Pre-operative optimisation of diabetic patients prior to major lower limb surgery

Summary of Cluster
Diabetes is a national and international epidemic. In the UK a new person is diagnosed every 2 minutes and care of diabetes costs the NHS £1million per hour, every hour. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects 1 in 3 people with diabetes over 50 years of age and the incidence of limb loss is 15 times higher in diabetics. These patients also suffer excessive mortality related to surgical interventions with up to 70% dying within 5 years of surgery. Outcomes for these patients locally are some of the worst in the UK.

To help address this problem he University of Hull is offering the following PhD projects which together will form a cohort of students bridging the gap between basic sciences and clinical applications and trials in this important disease. Projects include collaborations between some of the strongest and most active basic science and clinical research departments within the university.

Summary of PhD Project 3
Pre-operative optimisation of diabetic patients prior to major lower limb surgery

Diabetes leads to complex interplay of dysfunction in multiple physiological systems which lead diabetic patient to suffer an excessive morbidity and mortality with major surgical intervention. This project will investigate how this high risk group might benefit from a preoperative pathway to assess cardiac, respiratory and renal function, anaemia, nutritional status and diabetic control with targeted interventions for optimisation prior to surgery. Patients will also receive counselling for conditioning of expectations during and after surgical admission. The project will aim to develop and test the impact of such a pathway with regards feasibility of introduction, acceptability to patients, clinical impact on patient outcomes and health economic potential.

Applicants should have at least a 2.1 undergraduate degree in a related discipline, together with relevant research experience. It is anticipated that the successful applicant will have a 1st class undergraduate degree or Masters level qualification.
Medically qualified applicants in relevant specialties will have the opportunity to undertake clinical sessions and on call duties, with appropriate remuneration, alongside their research.

Applications should be made through the HYMS web site stating the project title and supervisor’s name for PhD in Medical Sciences 2018 October full time.

PhD students at the University of Hull follow modules for research and transferable skills development and gain a Masters level Certificate, or Diploma, in Research Training, in addition to their research degree.

Successful applicants will be informed of the award as soon as possible and by 23 April 2018 at the latest.