About the Project
People with diabetes have a greater risk of heart disease, or problems with their eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy) or nerves (neuropathy), which can ultimately progress to blindness, kidney failure and amputation. These complications are related to the poor function of the vascular system, particularly the smallest blood vessels, the microcirculation. These complications adversely affect peoples’ quality of life as well as placing a huge burden on overstretched health resources. What is needed is a more robust method to identify individuals at most risk of future complications and to do this early in the process so treatments can be instigated.
There is increasing interest in our eyes as a ‘window to our health’, with evidence suggesting that subtle changes in our retinal blood vessels predict future risk of heart disease and stroke. Retinal blood vessels can be non-invasively visualised in people using a number of imaging technologies, ranging from retinal cameras to advance 3D imaging modalities.
Using state of the art technology this studentship will examine whether subtle changes in the retinal blood vessels are associated with early signs of the clinical complications in the eye, kidney and nerves in people with type 2 diabetes. Data for this studentship will be gathered from ongoing clinical studies within Diabetes and Vascular Medicine that are recruiting individuals without diabetes, and individuals with type 2 diabetes with varying severity of clinical complications in the eyes, kidneys and nerves. The appointed student will work as part of the vibrant, multi-disciplinary Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research team working on these studies. Specifically, the student will assess the retinal vasculature in research participants using cutting edge imaging equipment and software that can, for example, non-invasively assess the real-time responsiveness of retinal blood vessels, 3D imaging of the retina and its vasculature, and appearance / disappearance of retinal microaneurysms (small bleeds, the earliest clinical sign of diabetic retinopathy). The student will also learn techniques to non-invasively assess nerve function and structure in research participants including, for example, imaging the nerves in the cornea, as well as standard clinical assessments. An additionally aspect of this studentship is to develop protocols for data capture and analysis for new retinal imaging techniques to be implemented in current and future studies.
Many resources are available to enable the student to make excellent progress in their studies, including access to ongoing study data, which includes novel measures of kidney and nerve health, as well as data from a previous longitudinal study (SUMMIT) collecting retinal, biomarker, vascular and clinical data over several time points. The project will offer the student opportunities to train in experimental medicine (clinical) research with particular emphasis in eye physiology and pathophysiology, protocol development, working with complex datasets, and engaging with research patients and participants.
This award provides annual funding to cover UK/EU tuition fees and a tax-free stipend. For students who pay UK/EU tuition fees the award will cover the tuition fees in full, plus at least £14,777 per year tax-free stipend. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for part of the international tuition fee and no stipend.
The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit for 3 years of full-time study to commence in 1 September 2018 or as soon as possible thereafter.
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